NUDT15 is a key genetic factor for prediction of hematotoxicity in pediatric patients who received a standard low dosage regimen of 6-mercaptopurine

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is commonly used for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The incidence of hematotoxicity caused by this drug is quite high in Asians even using a standard low dosage regimen. The present study was aimed to elucidate the impact of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT), a nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15 (NUDT15), inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) and ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 4 (ABCC4) polymorphisms on hematotoxicity in pediatric patients who received a standard low starting dose of 6-MP. One hundred and sixty-nine pediatric patients were enrolled and their genotypes were determined. Patients who carried NUDT15¹3 and NUDT15¹2 genotypes were at a 10–15 fold higher risk of severe neutropenia than those of the wild-type during the early months of the maintenance phase. Risk of neutropenia was not significantly increased in patients with other NUDT15 variants as well as in patients with TPMT, ITPA or ABCC4 variants. These results suggest that NUDT15 polymorphisms particularly, NUDT15¹3 and NUDT15¹2, play major roles in 6-MP-induced severe hematotoxicity even when using a standard low dosage of 6-MP and genotyping of these variants is necessary in order to obtain precise tolerance doses and avoid severe hematotoxicity in pediatric patients.     

A review of neurocognitive functioning of children with sex chromosome trisomies: Identifying targets for early intervention

Sex chromosome trisomies (SCT) are among the most common chromosomal duplications in humans. Due to recent technological advances in non-invasive screening, SCT can already be detected during pregnancy. This calls for more knowledge about the development of (young) children with SCT. This review focused on neurocognitive functioning of children with SCT between 0 and 18 years, on domains of global intellectual functioning, language, executive functioning, and social cognition, in order to identify targets that could benefit from early treatment. Online databases were used to identify peer-reviewed scientific articles using specific search terms. In total 18 studies were included. When applicable, effect sizes were calculated to indicate clinical significance. Results of the reviewed studies show that although traditionally, the focus has been on language and intelligence (IQ) in this population, recent studies suggest that executive functioning and social cognition may also be significantly affected already in childhood. These findings suggest that neuropsychological screening of children diagnosed with SCT should be extended, to also include executive functioning and social cognition. Knowledge about these neurocognitive risks is important to improve clinical care and help identify targets for early support and intervention programs to accommodate for the needs of individuals with SCT.     

Pangenomic Classification of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors

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Translocation between chromosome 5q35 and chromosome 11q13 – an unusual cytogenetic finding in a primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia

Cytogenetic abnormalities are observed in approximately two‐thirds of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chromosome rearrangements are associated with specific subtypes of AML and associated prognosis. We report a patient with AML, M2, who was primarily refractory to standard induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine. Flow cytometry of a bone marrow aspirate showed aberrant expression of B‐cell markers including CD19. Cytogenetic studies disclosed a translocation between 5q35 and 11q13. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses demonstrated that neither the NSD1 nor MLL genes were involved in this case. Further study is required to define conclusively the genes involved and their contribution to pathogenesis in this case.     

三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的关系

目的 探讨三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1(ATP binding cassette transporter A1,ABCA1)在人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达变化及作用机制.方法 收集24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本和10例肠系膜动脉标本(对照组),采用RT-PCR测定ABCA1 mRNA和视黄酸X受体α(RXRα)mRNA表达水平,并采用Western Blot检测ABCA1及RXRα的蛋白表达水平.24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本按病理分级,比较病理组织为Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉粥样硬化组织间ABCA1 mRNA、RXRαmRNA表达水平及蛋白表达水平.结果 颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组的ABCA1 mRNA(0.79±0.04)和RXRα mRNA(0.73±0.04)表达与对照组相比上调,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);ABCA1 mRNA与RXRα mRNA增加水平相关(P＜0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的ABCA1蛋白表达(0.22±0.03)下调水平与对照组(0.53±0.03)相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉硬化斑块ABCA1mRNA、RXRα mRNA及蛋白表达水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 ABCA1及RXRα蛋白表达水平下调可能是进展性动脉粥样硬化损害的关键因素.     

X chromosomal and autosomal loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability in human cervical carcinoma

The study analyzes tumor material and normal tissue from 27 patients with pure squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) on 14 autosomal and 11 X chromosomal loci. Overall, 4-40% of the informative cases showed LOH at autosomal regions with the highest frequency at 3p (21-40%) and a marked frequency at 2q35-q37.1 (12.5%) and 17p13.3 (10%), representing regions with putative tumor suppressor gene (TSG) function. The frequency of X chromosomal LOH ranged from 4% to 20%, with a maximum at Xq28 (20%) and Xq11.2-q12 (17%), again indicating alterations in TSG. A 12% LOH was seen at Xq21.33-q22.3, a region encoding a protein with a regulatory function in the cell cycle via cyclin-dependent kinases. MSI was detected in autosomal regions in up to 7% in regions linked to the X chromosome in up to 11%, probably indicating alterations of mismatch repair mechanisms. Our results and those obtained from the literature suggest that autosomal LOH and MSI in carcinomas of the cervix uteri are predominantly found at regions with putative TSG function. Beside TSG alterations, X chromosomal LOH is probably more strongly connected to disturbances in cell cycle regulation.     

东莨菪碱诱发染色体畸变的剂量效应

东茛菪碱五个剂量(1、2、5、10、20μg/ml作用于12名健康成人外周血淋巴细胞培养液诱发染色体畸变,并设空白对照组(生理盐水)。染色体畸变率分别为3.±0.5,9.6±1.1,11.7±1.1,13.6±2.3,18.0±3.0和17.5±2.0％;细胞畸变率为3.1±0.6,9.2±0.6,10.0±0.8,10.8±1.5,11.6±1.8和12.2±14.％。各剂量组与对照组比较差异高度显著(P<0.01)。方差分析,各剂量组间变异的差异高度显著(P<0.01)。相关系数和回归系数也非常显著(P<0.01)。结果表明,东莨菪碱剂量与染色体畸变率和细胞畸变率有线性关系。     

无精子及严重少精子症的遗传学缺陷分析

目的 探讨遗传缺陷在无精子、严重少精子症中的检测意义。方法 采用细胞遗传学技术及多重聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术对65例无精子及严重少精子症患者进行染色体核型分析、Y染色体无精子因子(AZF)检测，同时行精索输精管诊察，阴性者行精液果糖定量实验。结果 染色体核型异常8例(12．3％)，AZF因子缺失7例(10．8％)，输精管缺如2例(3.1％)。结论 遗传学检测在男性无精子、严重少精子症有重要意义。