[Hepatic adverse events associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To explore the incidence and severity of hepatic adverse events (AEs) and identify factors associated with hepatic AEs in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Methods: Liver biochemistry parameters [including ALT(alanine aminotransferase), AST(aspartate aminotransferase), ALP(alkaline phosphatase), and TBil(total bilirubin)] during the first 6 months on imatinib (Gleevec(®)), dasatinib (Sprycel(®)) or nilotinib (Tasigna(®)) in CML-CP patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 436 patients were enrolled in this study, including 271 with imatinib, 58 with dasatinib, and 107 with nilotinib. The incidences of any abnormality of liver injury were 21.8%(59/271), 15.5%(9/58) and 32.7%(35/107) in the imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib groups, respectively. Most of the hepatic AEs were CTCAE grade 1 or 2 and mild or moderate liver injury except 1.9% of TBil CTCAE grade 3 in the nilotinib group. Multivariate analyses showed nilotinib [OR=2.9(1.3-6.6), P=0.012; OR=4.4(1.2-15.6), P=0.023] and male gender [OR=2.3(1.4-3.9), P=0.002; OR=3.0(1.2-7.6), P=0.018] were significantly associated with moderate liver impairment. Conclusions: TKIs including imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib were well tolerated with mild to moderate hepatic AEs in CML-CP patients. Nilotinib and male sex were associated with occurrence of liver biochemistry abnormalities and moderate hepatic injury.

[Comorbidity profile and its impact on reported outcome in Chinese patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase receiving tyrosine kinase-inhibitor therapy]

Objectives: To explore the comorbidity profile and its impact on reported outcome of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) receiving tyrosine kinase-inhibitor (TKI) therapy in China. Methods: From September 2015 to March 2016, anonymous questionnaires were distributed to adult CML patients who were receiving TKI treatment in China. The questionnaires included demographics, comorbidity(ies), TKI(s) therapy, annual out-of-pocket expense for TKIs, treatment responses, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), satisfaction with therapy, impact of TKI therapy on work and daily life. Results: Data from 1 108 respondents in CML-CP were analyzed, 701 (63.6%) were male, median age was 42 years (range, 18-88 years), 76.4% were currently on imatinib, median TKI-therapy-duration was 29 months (range, 3-178 months). Of them, 300 (27.1%) had ≥1 comorbidity(ies), including hypertension(30.3%), diabetes (21.0%), coronary heart disease (12.3%), gastro-intestinal disease (12.3%), liver disease (11.7%), kidney disease (8.3%), cerebrovascular disease (6.7%) and lung diseases (5.7%), thrombosis (1.3%), other benign diseases (15.3%) and other cancer (8.0%), and 74 (24.7%) had ≥2 comorbidities. Multivariate analyses showed the comorbidity profile of other benign diseases was significantly associated with lower HRQoL score and TKI therapy affecting work and daily life, but it did not significantly affect patients' satisfaction with TKI treatment. Female and no complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) were associated with lower HRQoL score, education level ≥bachelor degree and TKI-therapy duration ≥3 years were associated with higher HRQoL score. Switching between first and second generation TKIs and no CCyR were associated with dis-satisfaction or extreme dis-satisfaction with TKI therapy, free out-of-pocket expense for TKI was associated with better satisfaction. Age<60 years and no CCyR were associated with TKI therapy affecting work and daily life. Conclusions: The survey showed that 27.1% Chinese adult patients with CML-CP receiving TKI-therapy had comorbidity(ies). Different comorbidity profile had different impact on patients' HRQoL and different impact of TKI therapy on work and daily life.

[Prognostic significance of early assessment of minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia with mutated NPM1 patients]

目的

探讨NPM1突变阳性急性髓系白血病（AML）患者化疗后早期微小残留病（MRD）水平与预后的关系。

方法

回顾性分析137例初治成人伴NPM1基因主要突变（A、B、D突变）AML患者的治疗结果，以及化疗后早期时间点MRD（NPM1突变转录本）水平对预后的影响。

结果

在137例患者中，男67例（48.9%），中位年龄49（16~67）岁，染色体正常核型107例（78.1%），FLT3-ITD突变阳性57例（41.6%），初诊时NPM1基因突变转录本中位水平84.1%（4.1%~509.9%）。在134例可评估的患者中，115例（85.8%）最终获完全缓解（CR）。多因素分析显示，WBC<100×10⁹/L（OR=0.3，95% CI 0.1~0.9，P=0.027）和初始诱导治疗为“IA10”方案（OR=0.3，95% CI 0.1~0.8，P=0.015）是获得CR的有利因素。在108例可评估的CR患者中，存活患者中位随访24（2~91）个月，3年无病生存（DFS）和总生存（OS）率分别为48.0%和63.9%。多因素分析显示，FLT3-ITD突变阳性（HR=3.2，95% CI 1.6~6.7，P=0.002）、巩固治疗2个疗程后MRD高水平（NPM1突变转录本水平较治疗前下降<3个对数级，HR=23.2，95% CI 7.0~76.6，P<0.001）、未接受异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）（HR=2.6，95% CI 1.0~6.6，P=0.045）是影响患者DFS的不利因素；MRD在首次获得CR时高水平（NPM1突变转录本水平下降<2个对数级，HR=2.5，95% CI 1.0~6.1，P=0.040）和巩固治疗2个疗程后高水平（HR=4.5，95% CI 2.0~10.3，P<0.001）是影响患者OS的不利因素。进一步分析78例接受化疗（或自体移植）的CR患者，3年DFS和OS率分别为39.7%和59.1%，FLT3-ITD突变阳性和巩固治疗2个疗程后MRD高水平是独立影响患者DFS（HR=3.5，95% CI 1.6~7.6，P=0.002和HR=8.9，95% CI 3.8~20.7，P<0.001）和OS（HR=2.7，95% CI 1.1~6.9，P=0.036和HR=3.1，95% CI 1.2~8.0，P=0.021）的共同不利因素，此外，首次获得CR时MRD高水平（HR=3.1，95% CI 1.2~8.0，P=0.022）也是影响患者OS的不利因素。

结论

在NPM1突变阳性AML患者中，伴有FLT3-ITD突变和化疗后早期MRD高水平预示不良预后。

[Outcomes of adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia received idarubicin plus cytarabine regimen as induction chemotherapy]

Objective: To explore outcomes in adult with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received IA10 (10 mg/m(2) d1-3 idarubicin plus cytarabine 100 mg/m(2) d1-7) regimen as induction chemotherapy. Methods: From January 2008 to February 2016, data of consecutive newly-diagnosed AML (non-M(3)) adults treated with IA10 who achieved morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) but not accepted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were assessed retrospectively. Results: A total of 198 patients were included in this study with 96 (48.5%) male and a median age of 42 years old (range, 18-62 years old). Using the SWOG cytogenetic classification, 45 (22.7%), 104 (52.5%), 24 (12.1%) and 25 (12.6%) patients belonged to favorable, intermediate, unfavorable and unknown categories, respectively. 6 (3.0%) patients had monosomal karyotype, and 28 (14.1%) positive FLT3-ITD mutation. A complete remission (CR, defined as MLFS with ANC ≥ 1×10(9)/L and PLT ≥ 100×10(9)/L) achieved in 168 (84.8%) patients, a CRp (defined as MLFS with incomplete PLT recovery) in 16 (8.1%) and a CRi (defined as MLFS with incomplete ANC and PLT recovery) in 14 (7.1%). With a median follow-up period of 15 months (range, 1 to 70 months) in survivors, the probabilities of cumulative incident of relapse (CIR), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 2-year were 45.2%, 46.9% and 62.9%, respectively; the median durations of relapse, DFS and OS were 34, 20 and 37 months respectively. At the time of achieving first MLFS, multivariate analyses showed that positive FLT3-ITD mutation and CRi were common adverse factors affecting CIR, DFS and OS; unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria was an adverse factor affecting CIR and DFS; monosomal karyotype was associated with shorter OS. After first consolidation therapy, FLT3-ITD mutation positive and unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria had negatively impact on CIR, DFS and OS; peripheral blasts ≥ 0.50 and positive MRD (defined as RQ-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥ 0.6% or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) after first consolidation therapy were common adverse factors affecting CIR and DFS; CRi was an adverse factor affecting DFS and OS. Conclusions: In adult with de novo AML received IA10 regimen as induction regimen, unfavorable molecular markers or cytogenetics at diagnosis and CRi independently predicted poor outcome. In addition, a higher percentage of peripheral blasts, monosomal karyotype and positive MRD after first consolidation therapy had negatively impact on outcomes.

Strain tuned InSe/MoS2 bilayer van der Waals heterostructures for photovoltaics or photocatalysis

InSe/MoS₂ heterostructures with tunable properties entail new opportunities for fundamental researches and applications in high performance electronic devices.

Interface effect on the cohesive energy of nanostructured materials and substrate-supported nanofilms

The cohesive energy is a key quantity to determine the mechanical, physical, chemical, and electronic properties of materials.

[Clinical features and early treatment effects in intermediate risk and poor risk acute myeloid leukemia with EVI1 positive]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical biological characteristics of EVI1 positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its effect on early chemotherapy.

METHODS

The clinical and biological cha-racteristics of 33 AML patients with EVI1 positive were retrospectively analyzed in 361 AML patients who were diagnosed and treated in our institute from March 2015 to July 2016, and the clinical and biological features, and rates of the induced remission were compared between the intermediate risk and poor risk with EVI1 positive AML, moreover, the influential factors on complete remission (CR) were analyzed. The expression of EVI1/ABL was tested in 32 healthy donors to confirm the abnormal threshold of EVI1 expression.

RESULTS

The definition of EVI1 positive was that the quantitative expression of EVI1/ABL was more than 8.0%. The 33 AML patients with EVI1 positive were found in 361 newly diagnosed AML patients, in which the female and male patients were 17 and 16 respectively, the median age was 45 (18-67) years, with a median follow-up of 6.6 (0.7-13.2) months. Intermediate karyotype was found in 17 patients(including 9 patients with normal karyotypes,1 patient with +8);unfavorable karyotype was found in 14 patients [including 7 patients with -7/7q^-,4 patients with t (v;11q23),3 patients with inv(3)/t(3;3), and 2 patients without mitotic figures]. The rate of CR in the first induction chemotherapy was 42.4%, and the rate of total CR was 60.6%. According to the NCCN, 16 intermediate risk patients and poor risk patients were divided, without favorable risk patients. The rate of CR in the first induction chemotherapy were 68.8% and 17.6% (P=0.005) in the intermediate risk and poor risk respectively, that of total CR were 81.3% and 41.2%(P=0.032), and the rates of relapse were 7.7% and 14.3%.Univariable analysis revealed that unfavorable karyotype could affect the rate of CR in the first reduction chemotherapy and that of total CR (P=0.004, 0.029). The poor risk patients had higher mortality (41.2% vs. 6.3%, P=0.039) and lower overall survival (OS)(P=0.012).

CONCLUSION

EVI1 may be not an independent prognostic factor for the AML patients considering the appea-rance in the intermediate and poor risk patients. It predicts poor outcome in the EVI1 positive AML patients who have unfavorable karyocytes, such as -7/7q^-, t(v;11q23), and inv(3)/t(3;3), and also a low rate of both CR in the first induction chemotherapy and total CR. It also has a low rate of long-term survival and high mortality in the AML patients with EVI1 positive, who may benefit from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as soon as possible.

[Comparative study of cytogenetic response evaluated by conventional banding analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization in chronic myeloid leukemia patients during tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment]

Objective: To compare the cytogenetic response detected by conventional banding analysis (CBA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and to explore the correlation between the cytogenetic and molecular response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients during tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Methods: CBA, FISH and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) methods were performed to detect the cytogenetic and molecular response simultaneously in 504 bone marrow samples from 367 CML patients who received TKI treatment. Results: Among 504 samples, 344 were detected to reach complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) by CBA, while 297 samples reached CCyR by FISH which were considered to carry BCR-ABL positive cells<1%. When the results of CBA, FISH and RQ-PCR were compared in 493 samples at the same time, it showed that in 337 samples with CBA-CCyR, 273 (81.0%) reached FISH-CCyR and 289 (85.8%) were BCR-ABL(IS) (International Scale, IS) ≤1% by RQ-PCR, compared to 9.0 (261/290) were BCR-ABL(IS) ≤1% among 290 samples with FISH-CCyR. There was no significant difference in the median value of BCR-ABL(IS) between samples in CBA-CCyR and FISH-CCyR (0.21% vs 0.13%, z=-1.875, P=0.061) . Furthermore, when the samples were divided into three groups according to BCR-ABL positive cells (0,>0~<1%, 1%~5%) by FISH, the statistical difference was observed, the proportion of samples with BCR-ABL(IS) ≤1% in the three groups were 94.1%, 57.6% and 27.7% respectively (χ(2)=43.499, P<0.001; χ(2)=9.734, P=0.003) , while the median value of BCR-ABL(IS) were 0.10%, 0.64% and 1.80% respectively (z=-5.864, P<0.001; z=-4.787, P<0.001) . Conclusion: FISH results were in good concordance with CBA in identify samples in CCyR, FISH was more sensitive and had better correlation with RQ-PCR results than CBA, but how to define FISH-CCyR need further study.

Density functional theory study of oxygen reduction reaction on Pt/Pd3Al(111) alloy electrocatalyst

Developing efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to reduce cathode Pt loading without sacrificing the performance has been under intensive research. Herein, by using density functional theory calculations, the activity and stability of a Pt monolayer supported on Pd3Al(111) as the ORR catalyst have been systematically studied. The simulations demonstrate that due to alloying, the ORR intermediates bind weakly on Pt/Pd3Al(111) with optimal adsorption energy of O and OH. By considering the elemental ORR steps, the ORR mechanism is predicted to be an OOH dissociation mechanism. The rate determining step is OOH dissociation with a reaction barrier of 0.37 eV, lower than the corresponding value on Pt/Pt3Al(111) and Pt(111), indicating the superior activity of Pt/Pd3Al(111). Even considering the unfeasible H adsorption under high potential, the ORR mechanism on Pt/Pd3Al(111) would proceed via O2 hydration, OOH hydration, H2O formation, and H2O desorption, indicating a good ORR electrocatalyst. Furthermore, stability was evaluated by calculating the alloy formation energy and the electrochemical potential shift of surface Pt dissolution. The exceptionally negative alloy formation energy of Pd3Al and the positive dissolution potential shift of the surface Pt atoms show the enhanced durability of Pt/Pd3Al(111). The improved activity, in combination with its enhanced stability, makes the novel ternary alloy electrocatalyst very promising for development of new cathode catalysts for fuel cells.

Effects of monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 on clinical cardiovascular events : A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The present meta-analysis was designed to improve statistical power and review the effects of monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 on clinical cardiovascular events.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to May 2017. Studies considered to be eligible were randomized controlled trials about the effects of monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 on clinical cardiovascular events. The primary endpoint was positively adjudicated cardiovascular events; the secondary endpoint comprised cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, stroke, and hospitalization for unstable angina.

RESULTS

We included 20 randomized controlled trials involving 67,934 patients. Monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 were associated with a significant reduction in positively adjudicated cardiovascular events (relative risk [RR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.81-0.93; z = 4.03; p = 0.000), MI (RR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.71-0.86; z = 4.96; p = 0.000), coronary revascularization (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.75-0.88; z = 4.93; p = 0.000), and stroke (RR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.65-0.89; z = 3.47; p = 0.001). Monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 did not reduce hospitalization rates due to unstable angina. The results of subgroup analysis showed that evolocumab was associated with a lower risk of positively adjudicated cardiovascular events, MI, coronary revascularization, and stroke without reducing cardiac mortality. Alirocumab reduced the incidence of cardiac mortality but not of other cardiovascular events, while bococizumab was associated with a reduced risk of stroke.

CONCLUSION

Monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9 were associated with a lower risk of positively adjudicated cardiovascular events, MI, coronary revascularization, and stroke.

[Clinical manifestation and gene analyses of 15 patients with intellectual disability or developmental delay complicated with congenital nystagmus]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and genetic features of 15 cases with intellectual disability or developmental delay (ID/DD) complicated with congenital nystagmus. Method: The clinical characteristics and the results of laboratory tests, images and genetics of 15 patients with ID/DD complicated with congenital nystagmus, confirmed by gene diagnosis in the Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from March 2015 to October 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. The physiological function of 13 disease genes and the molecular signaling pathways were also comparatively studied. Result: The patients included 11 males and four females, with an age of 2 months-15 years (median age 27 months). The result of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was positive in two patients only with hypomyelination on head MRI. Positive results were found in 13 patients with or without abnormal head MRI or other deformities using targeted capture technology and next generation sequencing. Two patients were diagnosed with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, two had hypomyelination with an atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum and two had oculocutaneous albinism. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease was found in one case, cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome in one case, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome in one case, mental retardation type 5 in one case, methylmalonic aciduria combined with hyperhomocysteinemia in 1 case, ataxia telangiectasia in one case, hypomyelinating leukodystrophy type 8 in one case, Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome in one case and CHARGE syndrome in one case. A total of 12 novo mutations were reported in this study. Conclusion: The causes of children with ID/DD complicated with congenital nystagmusis are complex. Comprehensive clinical and auxiliary examinations should be performed to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Reasonable application of different genetic testing methods can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of molecular genetic etiology in children with ID/DD.

[Prevalence and trend of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Guangdong province, 2002-2012]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and trend of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years between 2002 and 2012 in Guangdong province. Methods: A total of 7 075 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years were selected in Guangdong for nutritional survey in 2002 and a total of 2 319 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years were selected in nine counties/districts of Guangdong for nutritional survey during 2009-2012 through multi-stage random cluster sampling. The body height and weight of all the children and adolescents were measured. Results: The result of 2009-2012 survey indicated the average prevalence of overweight and obesity in the children and adolescents surveyed were 7.3% and 4.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher in boys (8.9% and 6.5%) than in girls (5.3% and 2.2%), in rural area (9.3% and 5.6%) than in urban area (4.7% and 3.2%). Children and adolescents aged 9-11 years had a higher overweight and obesity rates compared with other age groups. Compared with 2002, except for obesity rate in urban girls, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents obviously increased. The increase rate was higher in rural area than urban area and in boys than in girls. Conclusions: Compared with 2002, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Guangdong obviously increased. The prevalence was much higher in boys, those living in rural area and those aged 9-11 years, thus more attention should be paid to them.

[Factors associated with early treatment response in adults with acute myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To explore the factors influencing early treatment responses in adult with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: Data of consecutive newly-diagnosed AML (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) adults were analyzed retrospectively. To assess the impact of clinical characteristics at diagnosis and induction regimen on achieving morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) , blood counts and minimal residual leukemia (MRD, positive MRD defined as RQ-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥0.6% and/or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) at the time of achieving MLFS. Results: 739 patients were included in this study. 406 (54.9%) patients were male, with a median age of 42 years (range, 18-65 years) . In the 721 evaluable patients, MLFS was achieved in 477 (66.2%) patients after the first induction regimen and 592 (82.1%) within two cycles. A total of 634 patients (87.9%) achieved MLFS, including 534 (84.2%) achieving a complete remission (CR, defined as MLFS with ANC ≥ 1×10(9)/L and PLT ≥ 100×10(9)/L) , 100 (15.8%) achieving a CRi (defined as MLFS with incomplete ANC or PLT recovery) , respectively. 260 (45.9%) patients of 566 (89.3%) who detected MRD at the time of achieving MLFS had positive MRD. Multivariate analyses showed that female gender, favorable-risk of SWOG criteria, IA10 and HAA/HAD as induction regimen were factors associated with achieving early MLFS. In addition, low bone marrow blasts, HGB ≥ 80 g/L, PLT counts<30×10(9)/L and mutated NPM1 without FLT3-ITD were factors associated with achieving MLFS after the first induction regimen; Negative FLT3-ITD mutation was factor associated with achieving MLFS within two cycles. PLT counts ≥30×10(9)/L and IA10, IA8 or HAA/HAD as induction chemotherapy were factors associated with achieving CR. Female gender, favorable-risk of SWOG criteria, FLT3-ITD mutation negative, mutated NPM1 without FLT3-ITD were factors associated with negative MRD. Conclusions: Female gender, favorable molecular markers or cytogenetics, and standard-dose induction regimen were key factors associated with higher probability of early and deep responses in adults with AML.

Risk score model of type 2 diabetes prediction for rural Chinese adults: the Rural Deqing Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Risk score (RS) model is a cost-effective tool to identify adults who are at high risk for diabetes. This study was to develop an RS model of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) prediction specifically for rural Chinese adults.

METHODS

A prospective whole cohort study (n = 28,251) and a sub-cohort study (n = 3043) were conducted from 2006-2014 and 2006-2008 to 2015 in rural Deqing, China. All participants were free of T2DM at baseline. Incident T2DM cases were identified through electronic health records, self-reported and fasting plasma glucose testing for the sub-cohort, respectively. RS models were constructed with coefficients (β) of Cox regression. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) reflected the discriminating accuracy of an RS model.

RESULTS

By 2015, the incidence of T2DM was 3.3 and 7.7 per 1000 person-years in the whole cohort and the sub-cohort, respectively. Based on data from the whole cohort, the non-invasive RS model included age (4 points), overweight (2 points), obesity (4 points), family history of T2DM (3 points), meat diet (3 points), and hypertension (2 points). The plus-fasting plasma glucose (FPG) model added impaired fasting glucose (4 points). The AUC was 0.705 with a positive predictive value of 2.5% for the non-invasive model, and for the plus-FPG model the AUC was 0.754 with a positive predictive value of 2.5%. These models performed better as compared with 12 existing RS models for the study population.

CONCLUSIONS

Our non-invasive RS model can be used to identify individuals who are at high risk of T2DM as a simple, fast, and cost-effective tool for rural Chinese adults.

[Analysis on tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the real world: experience from single center]

Objective: To explore status of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase (CP) in the real world, to analyze causes, factors and outcomes associated with TKI discontinuation and the possibility of pursuit treatment-free remission (TFR) in China. Methods: From January 2013 to August 2016, data of CML-CP patients in Peking University People's Hospital which were not enrolled in clinical trials were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: Data of 662 CML-CP patients were collected. With a median follow-up after TKI-therapy of 26 months (range, 3-187 months) , 187 patients (28.2%) experienced TKI cessation of at least 2 weeks. Causes of TKI discontinuation included hematologic adverse events 57.8% (n=108) , non-hematologic adverse events 30.4% (n=57) , financial burden 25.1% (n=47) , and others 7.0% (n= 13) . Multivariate analyses showed female, ≥40 years, no co-morbidity, and interval from diagnosis to TKI initiation ≥6 months, TKI switch and patients from other hospitals were factors associated with TKI discontinuation because of hematologic adverse effects. Female and patients from other hospitals were factors associated with TKI discontinuation because of non-hematologic adverse effect. TKI switch, generic TKI used and patients from other hospitals were factors associated with TKI discontinuation because of financial toxicity. Patients TKI discontinuation because of hematologic, non-hematologic or financial toxicity achieved a lower complete cytogenetic response or complete molecular response (CMR) than those with uninterrupted TKI-therapy. Patients with TKI discontinuation because of hematologic or financial toxicity had a shorter progression-free survival than those with uninterrupted TKI-therapy. 5 of 7 patients who obtained sustained CMR and discontinued TKI-therapy experienced disease recurrence with a median duration of 3 months (range, 2-32 months) . In 39 patients from other hospitals who aimed to confirm their optimal response of sustained CMR in Peking University People's Hospital, 21 (53.8%) were BCR-ABL positive. Conclusion: In the real world in China, half of CML-CP patients who discontinued TKI-therapy were incurred to TKI-related hematologic adverse effect, and both a quarter of them, TKI-related non-hematologic toxicities and financial toxicity, respectively. Discontinued TKI-therapy due to hematologic adverse events or financial toxicity was associated with lower TKI-therapy response rates. Nowadays, based on the Chinese situation, it is too early to talk about TFR.

[Research of prevalence of schistosomiasis in Hunan province, 1984-2015]

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Hunan province, and provide scientific evidence for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Methods: The changes of infection rates of Schistosoma (S.) japonicum among residents and cattle in Hunan from 1984 to 2015 were analyzed by using dynamic trend diagram; and the time regression model was used to fit the infection rates of S. japonicum, and predict the recent infection rate. Results: The overall infection rates of S. japonicum in Hunan from 1984 to 2015 showed downward trend (95.29% in residents and 95.16% in cattle). By using the linear regression model, the actual values of infection rates in residents and cattle were all in the 95% confidence intervals of the value predicted; and the prediction showed that the infection rates in the residents and cattle would continue to decrease from 2016 to 2020. Conclusion: The prevalence of schistosomiasis was in decline in Hunan. The regression model has a good effect in the short-term prediction of schistosomiasis prevalence.

[Minimal residual disease level predicts outcomes in the non-favorable risk patients with acute myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To explore impact of minimal residual leukemia (MRD) on outcomes in the non-favorable risk adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: From January 2008 to February 2016, data of consecutive newly-diagnosed non-favorable risk adults with AML (non-APL) according to SWOG criteria who achieved morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) and received continuous chemotherapy were assessed retrospectively. Results: 292 AML patients were enrolled, 150 (51.4%) were male. Median age was 46 years (range, 18-65 years) . Using the SWOG cytogenetic classification, 186 (63.7%) , 49 (16.8%) and 57 (19.5%) patients belonged to intermediate, unfavorable and unknown categories, respectively. With a median follow-up period of 15 months (range, 1 to 94 months) in survivors, the probabilities of cumulative rates of relapse (CIR) , disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 2-years were 51.6%, 42.6% and 60.0%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that MRD positive (defined as Q-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥0.6% or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) after achieving MLFS and PLT<100×10(9)/L were common adverse factors affecting CIR and DFS. In addition, positive FLT3-ITD mutation and CRp/CRi had negatively impact on CIR, DFS and OS. Monosomal karyotype was adverse factors affecting CIR and OS. Age ≥44 years and unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria were associated with shorter DFS. Conclusions: MRD level after achieving MLFS had prognostic significance on outcomes in non-favorable adults with AML who received continuous chemotherapy after achieving MLFS.

[A comparison of efficacy and safety between Chinese generic imatinib versus branded imatinib in patients with newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase: a single-center prospective cohort study]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety between Chinese generic imatinib (Xinwei^®, Jiansu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.) versus branded imatinib (Glivec^®, Novartis) in patients with newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP were enrolled and assigned to receive either Xinwei or Glivec at an initial dose of 400 mg/d according to patients' financial capability. The efficacy and adverse effects were evaluated. Results: From January 2014 to September 2015, 145 eligible patients were assigned to Xinwei (n=89) or Glivec (n=56) group. All patients were treated and followed up at least 3 months. At 3 months, the complete response rates were 95.5%(85/89) and 100%(56/56), major cytogenetic response rates were 74.2%(66/89) and 80.4%(45/56), and the proportions of achieving BCR-ALB^IS≤10% were 76.1%(67/88) and 82.1%(46/56) in Xinwei and Glivec groups respectively (all P>0.05). With a median follow-up of 12 months, 2 patients in each group progressed to accelerate or blast phase. Hematologic and non-hematologic side effects were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Early hematological, cytogenetic and molecular responses between Xinwei and Glivec are comparable in newly-diagnosed CML-CP patients. The progression rate and side effects are also similar between the 2 groups.

Metformin improves the glucose and lipid metabolism via influencing the level of serum total bile acids in rats with streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of metformin on streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: standard diet (SD, n = 20) group and high-fat diet (HFD, n = 80) group. Twenty rats in HFD group were randomly treated with metformin (EI group). After 6 weeks, among rats in HFD group, 20 rats were intraperitoneally injected with citrate buffered saline (IR group), 20 rats treated with metformin per day for 4 weeks (LI group), and 20 rats were given nothing (DM group). Rats in SD group were injected with citrate buffered saline as normal control (NC) group. Moreover, streptozotocin (STZ) was used for inducing diabetes. The metabolic parameters, such as body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin concentration (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and total bile acid (TBA) were measured.

RESULTS

Compared with SD group, the levels of body weight, FBG, TC, LDLC, TBA and FINS and AUC (glucose) were significantly higher in HFD group. After administration of metformin, the levels of FBG, TG, TC, LDLC and TBA in DM and LI group were higher than NC group. Besides, the FBG, TG, TC, TBA and LDLC levels in EI group were higher than DM group.

CONCLUSIONS

Metformin may help to improve the glucose and lipid metabolism by influencing the level of serum total bile acids. A combination of HFD and metformin could be effective in the treatment of rats with T2DM.