Optimal stem cell source for allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a standard treatment for many hematological malignancies. Three different sources of stem cells, namely bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and cord blood (CB) can be used for HSCT, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that there is no significant survival advantage of PBSC over BM in Human Leukocyte Antigen-matched sibling transplant for adult patients with hematological malignancies. PBSC transplant probably results in lower risk of relapse and hence better disease-free survival, especially in patients with high risk disease at the expense of higher risks of both severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In the unrelated donor setting, the only RCT available suggests that PBSC and BM result in comparable overall and disease-free survivals in patients with hematological malignancies; and PBSC transplant results in lower risk of graft failure and higher risk of chronic GVHD. High level evidence is not available for CB in comparison to BM or PBSC. The risks and benefits of different sources of stem cells likely change with different conditioning regimen, strategies for prophylaxis and treatment of GVHD and manipulation of grafts. The recent success and rapid advance of double CB transplant and haploidentical BM and PBSC transplants further complicate the selection of stem cell source. Optimal selection requires careful weighing of the risks and benefits of different stem cell source for each individual recipient and donor. Detailed counseling of patient and donor regarding risks and benefits in the specific context of the patient and transplant method is essential for informed decision making.     

Minimally invasive technology in the management of breast disease

Minimally invasive surgery is gaining popularity around the world because it achieves the same or even superior results when compared to standard surgery but with less morbidity. Minimally invasive breast surgery is a broad concept encompassing new developments in the field of breast surgery that work on this minimally invasive principle. In this regard, breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy are good illustrations of this concept. There are three major areas of progress in the minimally invasive management of breast disease. First, percutaneous excisional devices are now available that can replace the surgical excision of breast mass lesions. Second, various ablative treatments are capable of destroying breast cancers in situ instead of surgical excision. Third, mammary ductoscopy provides a new approach to the investigation of mammary duct pathology. Clinical experience and potential applications of these new technologies are reviewed.     

Mutation spectrum and genotype-phenotype analyses in Cowden disease and Bannayan-Zonana syndrome, two hamartoma syndromes with germline PTEN mutation

The tumour suppressor gene PTEN , which maps to 10q23.3 and encodes a 403 amino acid dual specificity phosphatase (protein tyrosine phosphatase; PTPase), was shown recently to play a broad role in human malignancy. Somatic PTEN deletions and mutations were observed in sporadic breast, brain, prostate and kidney cancer cell lines and in several primary tumours such as endometrial carcinomas, malignant melanoma and thyroid tumours. In addition, PTEN was identified as the susceptibility gene for two hamartoma syndromes: Cowden disease (CD; MIM 158350) and Bannayan-Zonana (BZS) or Ruvalcaba-Riley-Smith syndrome (MIM 153480). Constitutive DNA from 37 CD families and seven BZS families was screened for germline PTEN mutations. PTEN mutations were identified in 30 of 37 (81%) CD families, including missense and nonsense point mutations, deletions, insertions, a deletion/insertion and splice site mutations. These mutations were scattered over the entire length of PTEN , with the exception of the first, fourth and last exons. A 'hot spot' for PTEN mutation in CD was identified in exon 5 that contains the PTPase core motif, with 13 of 30 (43%) CD mutations identified in this exon. Seven of 30 (23%) were within the core motif, the majority (five of seven) of which were missense mutations, possibly pointing to the functional significance of this region. Germline PTEN mutations were identified in four of seven (57%) BZS families studied. Interestingly, none of these mutations was observed in the PTPase core motif. It is also worthy of note that a single nonsense point mutation, R233X, was observed in the germline DNA from two unrelated CD families and one BZS family. Genotype-phenotype studies were not performed on this small group of BZS families. However, genotype-phenotype analysis inthe group of CD families revealed two possible associations worthy of follow-up in independent analyses. The first was an association noted in the group of CD families with breast disease. A correlation was observed between the presence/absence of a PTEN mutation and the type of breast involvement (unaffected versus benign versus malignant). Specifically and more directly, an association was also observed between the presence of a PTEN mutation and malignant breast disease. Secondly, there appeared to be an interdependent association between mutations upstream and within the PTPase core motif, the core motif containing the majority of missense mutations, and the involvement of all major organ systems (central nervous system, thyroid, breast, skin and gastrointestinal tract). However, these observations would need to be confirmed by studying a larger number of CD families.      

Differential BMP-1 expression in injured anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1

目的 观察在转化生长因子-β1(transforming growth factor betal,TGF-β1)作用下,损伤的前交叉韧带(anterior cruciate ligament,ACL)和内侧副韧带(medial collateral ligament,MCL)中骨形态发生蛋白-1(bone morphogenetic protein-1,BMP-1)基因的表达,找出TGF-31、BMP-1之间的关系,揭示机械损伤后ACL和MCL细胞中BMP-1的表达差异.方法 采用反转录PCR(RT-PCR)和实时荧光定量PCR方法检测1、5、50 ng/ml TGF-β1处理后2h受损的ACL和MCL细胞中BMP-1的表达以及5 ng/ml TGF-β1作用2、6、12、24h受损的ACL和MCL细胞中BMP-1的表达;Western blot检测5 ng/mlTGF-β1处理48 h后受损的ACL和MCL细胞中BMP-1的表达.结果 受损的ACL和MCL细胞中BMP-1的基因表达比正常状态下偏高,并随着TGF-β1浓度的增大而增高,在MCL中的增高程度比在ACL中高出近1倍(P＜0.05);与正常组相比,在5 ng/ml TGF-β1处理24h后,ACL细胞中BMP-1的表达在24h达到最高比例(约为6.1倍),而在MCL中12h达到最高比例(约为9.84倍,P＜0.05).5 ng/ml TGF-β1处理48 h后BMP-1蛋白也明显上调,与无TGF-β1处理的对照组相比,ACL细胞中BMP-1上调2.32倍,MCL细胞中BMP-1上调3.84倍(P＜0.05).结论 TGF-β1刺激BMP-1的变化可能直接影响到细胞外基质中活性赖氨酰氧化酶的表达,对损伤ACL和MCL的修复有极其重要的参考价值和临床意义.     

Is homozygous α-thalassaemia a lethal condition in the 1990s?

Two cases of homozygous α-thalassaemia who received active treatment in accordance with parental wishes are reported. One infant survived and the other, although successfully weaned off mechanical respiratory support, unexpectedly developed portal vein thrombosis and died. Homozygous a-thalassaemia, a condition previously considered to be universally fatal, and an indication for therapeutic abortion, is now potentially curable with advances in diagnostic technology and treatment. However, active management of these cases raises serious ethical questions and has major financial implications on the health-care system. Invasive prenatal and intensive postnatal interventions should remain experimental and cannot be recommended as routine clinical practice until the questions of long-term neurodevelopmental outcome, and the morbidity and mortality associated with bone-marrow transplantation have been fully addressed. As a result of advances in information technology, more and more parents of affected foetuses are likely to request active treatment.