Response to 2'-deoxycoformycin after failure of interferon-alpha in nonsplenectomized patients with hairy cell leukemia

Two patients with hairy cell leukemia with massive splenomegaly and severe pancytopenia were treated with recombinant alpha-A interferon (IFN-alpha-2a). There was no significant response to a trial of IFN- alpha-2a (11 and 20 weeks) with respect to blood counts or spleen size. Subsequent treatment with 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF) for 8 consecutive weeks (4 mg/m2/wk) resulted in normalization of spleen size and a normalization of peripheral blood counts and bone marrow in one patient. The second patient demonstrated a reduction in spleen size and improved blood counts following 9 weeks of dCF therapy but eventually became refractory. This demonstrates that dCF is non-cross-resistant with interferon and confirms the efficacy of dCF in nonsplenectomized patients.     

Evaluation of drugs for elimination of leukemic cells from the bone marrow of patients with acute leukemia

Relatively nonmyelotoxic drugs and drug combinations were investigated for their ability to eliminate malignant cells from human bone marrow. In vitro 90% inhibitory concentration (IC90) doses were established on granulocyte macrophage colony-forming units (GM-CFU) in culture of bone marrow by using the GM-CFU assay for the following drugs: 4- hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), Adriamycin, L-asparaginase, bleomycin, hydrocortisone, VP-16, spirogermanium, Taxol, and vincristine. The leukemic cell kill efficiency of these drugs at IC90 doses was compared with that of 4-HC on acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) cell lines by using the limiting-dilution assay. Under these conditions, no single drug was superior to 4-HC. To increase the in vitro effect in leukemic cell kill, combinations of vincristine with hydrocortisone, Adriamycin, VP-16, and 4-HC were investigated. Vincristine at 1 to 5 micrograms/mL increased the marrow cytotoxicity of hydrocortisone, Adriamycin, and VP-16, but it was protective (subadditive) with 4-HC. Vincristine and 4-HC in combination was additive to supraadditive on ALL cell lines, increased the leukemic cell kill by one to two logs above 4-HC alone at IC90 doses (P less than .05), and was not affected by the addition of excess marrow cells. The recommended doses for chemopurging in clinical studies are vincristine, 1 to 5 micrograms/mL, plus 4-HC, 5 micrograms/mL.     

Brefeldin A affects early events but does not affect late events along the exocytic pathway in pancreatic acinar cells.

Brefeldin A (BFA) blocks protein export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi complex and causes dismantling of the Golgi complex with relocation of resident Golgi proteins to the ER in some cultured cells. It is not known whether later steps in the secretory process are affected. We previously have shown that in BFA-treated rat pancreatic lobules, there is no detectable relocation of Golgi proteins to the ER and, although Golgi cisternae are rapidly dismantled, clusters of small smooth vesicles consisting of both bona fide Golgi remnants and associated vesicular carriers persist even with prolonged BFA exposure. We now report the effects of BFA on transport of proteins through the secretory pathway in exocrine pancreatic cells; we pulse-labeled pancreatic lobules with [35S]methionine and then chased for various times before adding BFA. When BFA was added at pulse, treated lobules released less than 10% of radioactive protein in comparison with controls, regardless of whether or not the lobule cultures were stimulated with carbamoylcholine. However, when lobules were pulsed and then chased for 30, 45, or 60 min before BFA addition, the amount of labeled protein released was comparable in both BFA-treated and untreated cultures. Furthermore, the kinetics and amounts of basal and carbamoylcholine-stimulated release of unlabeled alpha-amylase from storage in zymogen granules were similar in both control and BFA-treated lobules. Therefore, in the rat pancreas, BFA blocks ER to Golgi transport but does not affect later stages along the secretory pathway, including intra-Golgi transport, exit from the Golgi complex, formation and concentration of secretory granules, and exocytosis.     

Effects of monoclonal antibody therapy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

A phase I clinical trial was initiated to treat patients with stage IV B-derived chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the IgG2a murine monoclonal antibody T101. This antibody binds to a 65,000-mol wt (T65) antigen found on normal T lymphocytes, malignant T lymphocytes, and B- derived CLL cells. All of the patients had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced B-derived CLL and were refractory to standard therapy, and more than 50% of their leukemia cells reacted with the T101 antibody in vitro. The patients received T101 antibody two times per week, over two to 50 hours by intravenous administration in 100 mL of normal saline containing 5% human albumin. Twelve patients were treated with a fixed dosage of 1, 10, 50, or 100 mg, and one patient was treated with 140 mg of antibody. It was demonstrated that patients given two-hour infusions of 50 mg developed pulmonary toxicity, with shortness of breath and chest tightness. This toxicity was eliminated when infusions of 50 or 100 mg of T101 were prolonged to 50 hours. All dose levels caused a rapid but transient decrease in circulating leukemia cell counts. In vivo binding to circulating and bone marrow leukemia cells was demonstrated at all dose levels with increased binding at higher dosages. Antimurine antibody responses were not demonstrated in any patients at any time during treatment. Circulating free murine antibody was demonstrated in the serum of only the two patients treated with 100 mg of antibody as a 50-hour infusion and the patient treated with 140 mg of antibody over 30 hours. Antigenic modulation was demonstrated in patients treated at all dose levels but was particularly apparent in patients treated with prolonged infusions of 50 and 100 mg of antibody. We were also able to demonstrate antigenic modulation in lymph node cells, which strongly suggests in vivo labeling of these cells. Overall, T101 antibody alone appears to have a very limited therapeutic value for patients with CLL. The observations of in vivo labeling of tumor cells, antigenic modulation, antibody pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and antimurine antibody formation may be used in the future for more effective therapy when drugs or toxins are conjugated to the antibody.     

The Impact of the Good Behavior Game,a Universal Classroom-Based Preventive Intervention in First and Second Grades,on High-Risk Sexual Behaviors and Drug Abuse and Dependence Disorders into Young Adulthood

The Good Behavior Game (GBG), a method of teacher classroom behavior management, was tested in first- and second-grade classrooms in 19 Baltimore City Public Schools beginning in the 1985–1986 school year. The intervention was directed at the classroom as a whole to socialize children to the student role and reduce aggressive, disruptive behaviors, confirmed antecedents of a profile of externalizing problem outcomes. This article reports on the GBG impact on the courses and interrelationships among aggressive, disruptive behavior through middle school, risky sexual behaviors, and drug abuse and dependence disorders through ages 19–21. In five poor to lower-middle class, mainly African American urban areas, classrooms within matched schools were assigned randomly to either the GBG intervention or the control condition. Balanced assignment of children to classrooms was made, and teachers were randomly assigned to intervention or control. Analyses involved multilevel growth mixture modeling. By young adulthood, significant GBG impact was found in terms of reduced high-risk sexual behaviors and drug abuse and dependence disorders among males who in first grade and through middle school were more aggressive, disruptive. A replication with the next cohort of first-grade children with the same teachers occurred during the following school year, but with minimal teacher mentoring and monitoring. Findings were not significant but generally in the predicted direction. A universal classroom-based prevention intervention in first- and second-grade classrooms can reduce drug abuse and dependence disorders and risky sexual behaviors.     

Carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts,its implication in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a mini review

The communication between tumor stromal and parenchymal cells provides an insight to tumor progression. One of the main elements of the stroma, a major contributor to the extracellular environment of tumors, is carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts. They can originate from either normal fibroblasts in the immediate vicinity of the tumor or from circulating bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells. These myofibroblasts can arise locally from an endothelial–mesenchymal transformation at the invasive edge of the cancer and are physically associated with carcinoma cells, that is, in the development of high‐grade malignancies and poor prognosis. These carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts feed the epithelial tumor cells in a host–parasite relationship establishing its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression.     

化疗联合HLA不全相合G-PBSC输注治疗恶性血液病的临床分析

目的初步探讨化疗联合HLA不全相合G-PBSC输注(微移植)治疗恶性血液病的临床应用。方法回顾性分析2015-05～2016-12接受微移植治疗的13例恶性血液病患者的临床及随访资料。根据病情,对13例患者行不同的预处理方案化疗后,计划给予微移植3～4次。观察微移植后患者的缓解情况,生存时间,血象恢复时间,急、慢性移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)及其他不良反应发生情况。结果随访至2017-04,中危组8例,其中存活6例,死亡2例;高危组5例,其中存活2例,死亡3例。中位生存期为9个月(4～24个月)。微移植治疗后,中性粒细胞和血小板平均恢复时间分别为8 d(5～14 d)和11 d(6～20 d)。所有患者在微移植过程中均未出现急、慢性GVHD及其他不良反应。结论微移植在供者选择上不受限制,移植后血小板及中性粒细胞恢复较快,且无急、慢性GVHD及其他不良反应发生;微移植在中高危恶性血液病的临床应用尚处于探索阶段,仍需多中心、大样本的临床研究来进一步验证。     

燕滨扶正胶囊治疗代偿期及失代偿期肝硬化临床疗效观察研究

目的 研究中药燕滨扶正胶囊治疗肝硬化（代偿期或失代偿期）临床疗效。方法 选择代偿期及失代偿期肝硬化患者41例,随机分为治疗组（21例）及对照组（20例）。治疗组给予燕滨扶正胶囊1500 mg/次,口服,2次/日。对照组给予扶正化瘀胶囊2500 mg/次,3次/日。两组疗程均为48周。两组依据病情给予抗病毒,护肝降酶、对症支持等一般治疗（替比夫定、甘利欣、消炎利胆片、茵栀黄胶囊等）,观察两组患者症状、血常规、肝功能、门静脉宽度、腹水、肝脏及脾脏形态。结果 中药燕滨扶正胶囊联合抗病毒药物可使代偿期及失代偿期肝硬化患者门静脉宽度、脾肿大回缩或复常,可使纤维化指标复常或大幅下降且肝脏功能好转或复常。结论 燕滨扶正胶囊可改善肝硬化。     

Meniscal impingement syndrome

The meniscal impingement syndrome consists of three elements: impaction on the anterior medial femoral condyle by the leading edge of the medial meniscus, articular cartilage damage of at least Outerbridge grade 3, and knee hyperextension of at least 5°. This report reviews this condition in a series of seven knees with an average follow-up of 39 months. The time from the onset of symptoms until surgery averaged 45 months. Treatment consisted of a thorough arthroscopic knee evaluation and debridement of the articular cartilage fragmentation and any impinging synovitis. Postoperative rehabilitation includes extension block bracing, hamstring strengthening, and closed-chain exercise. With this regimen, there was improvement in the Tegner scores and a reduction in postoperative knee hyperextension. Identification of this uncommon condition requires a complete evaluation of the medial femoral condyle in patients with knee hyperextension.