Long-term outcome of children with acute promyelocytic leukemia: a randomized study of oral versus intravenous arsenic by SCCLG-APL group

Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), an oral traditional Chinese medicine mainly containing Realgar (As4S4), is highly effective in treating adult acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the treatment efficacy and safety of RIF have not been verified in pediatric patients. SCCLG-APL group conducted a multicenter randomized non-inferiority trial to determine whether intravenous arsenic trioxide (ATO) can be substituted by oral RIF in treating pediatric APL. Of 176 eligible patients enrolled, 91 and 85 were randomized to ATO and RIF groups, respectively. Patients were treated with the risk-adapted protocol. Induction, consolidation, and 96-week maintenance treatment contained all-trans-retinoic acid and low-intensity chemotherapy, and either ATO or RIF. The primary endpoint was 5-year event-free survival (EFS). The secondary endpoints were adverse events and hospital days. After a median 6-year follow-up, the 5-year EFS was 97.6% in both groups. However, the RIF group had significantly shorter hospital stays and lower incidence of infection and tended to have less cardiac toxicity. All 4 relapses occurred within 1.5 years after completion of maintenance therapy. No long-term arsenic retentions were observed in either group. Substituting oral RIF for ATO maintains treatment efficacy while reducing hospitalization and adverse events in treating pediatric APL patients, which may be a future treatment strategy for APL.

[Clinical features and prognosis of core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia children in South China: a multicenter study]

Objective: To analyze the clinical features, efficacy and prognosis factors of core binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) children in South China. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 584 AML patients from 9 hospitals between January 2015 to December 2020 was collected. According to fusion gene results, all patients were divided into two groups: CBF-AML group (189 cases) and non-CBF-AML group (395 cases). CBF-AML group were divided into AML1-ETO subgroup (154 cases) and CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup (35 cases). Patients in CBF-AML group chosen different induction scheme were divided into group A (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony stimulating factor and idarubicin (FLAG-IDA) scheme, 134 cases) and group B (daunorubicin, cytarabine and etoposide (DAE) scheme, 55 cases). Age, gender, response rate, recurrence rate, mortality, molecular genetic characteristics and other clinical data were compared between groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and survival curve was drawn. Cox regression model was used to analyze prognostic factors. Results: A total of 584 AML children were diagnosed, including 346 males and 238 females. And a total of 189 children with CBF-AML were included, including 117 males and 72 females. The age of diagnosis was 7.3 (4.5,10.0)years, and the white blood cell count at initial diagnosis was 21.4 (9.7, 47.7)×109/L.The complete remission rate of the first course (CR1) of induction therapy, relapse rate, and mortality of children with CBF-AML were significantly different from those in the non-CBF-AML group (91.0% (172/189) vs. 78.0% (308/395); 10.1% (19/189) vs. 18.7% (74/395); 13.2% (25/189) vs. 25.6% (101/395), all P<0.05). In children with CBF-AML, the CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup had higher initial white blood cells and lower proportion of extramedullary invasion than the AML1-ETO subgroup, with statistical significance (65.7% (23/35) vs. 14.9% (23/154), 2.9% (1/35) vs. 16.9% (26/154), both P<0.05). AML1-ETO subgroup had more additional chromosome abnormalities (75/154), especially sex chromosome loss (53/154). Compared with group B, group A had more additional chromosome abnormalities and a higher proportion of tumor reduction regimen, with statistical significance (50.0% (67/134) vs. 29.1% (16/55), 34.3% (46/134) vs. 18.2% (10/55), both P<0.05). Significant differences were found in 5-years event free survival (EFS) rate and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate between CBF-AML group and non-CBF-AML group ((77.0±6.4)%vs. (61.9±6.7)%,(83.7±9.0)%vs. (67.3±7.2)%, both P<0.05).EFS and OS rates of AML1-ETO subgroup and CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup in children with CBF-AML were not significantly different (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed in the AML1-ETO subgroup, CR1 rate and high white blood cell count (≥50×109/L) were independent risk factors for EFS (HR=0.24, 95%CI 0.07-0.85,HR=1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02, both P<0.05) and OS (HR=0.24, 95%CI 0.06-0.87; HR=1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02; both P<0.05). Conclusions: In CBF-AML, AML1-ETO is more common which has a higher extramedullary involvement and additional chromosome abnormalities, especially sex chromosome loss. The prognosis of AML1-ETO was similar to that of CBFβ-MYH11. The selection of induction regimen group FLAG-IDA for high white blood cell count and additional chromosome abnormality can improve the prognosis.

[Analysis of clinical phenotype and genotype of Chinese children with disorders of sex development]

Objective: To explore the heterogeneity and correlation of clinical phenotypes and genotypes in children with disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: A retrospective study of 1 235 patients with clinically proposed DSD in 36 pediatric medical institutions across the country from January 2017 to May 2021. After capturing 277 DSD-related candidate genes, second-generation sequencing was performed to analyzed the heterogeneity and correlation combined with clinical phenotypes. Results: Among 1 235 children with clinically proposed DSD, 980 were males and 255 were females of social gender at the time of initial diagnosis with the age ranged from 1 day of age to 17.92 years. A total of 443 children with pathogenic variants were detected through molecular genetic studies, with a positive detection rate of 35.9%. The most common clinical phenotypes were micropenis (455 cases), hypospadias (321 cases), and cryptorchidism (172 cases) and common mutations detected were in SRD5A2 gene (80 cases), AR gene (53 cases) and CYP21A2 gene (44 cases). Among them, the SRD5A2 mutation is the most common in children with simple micropenis and simple hypospadias, while the AMH mutation is the most common in children with simple cryptorchidism. Conclusions: The SRD5A2 mutation is the most common genetic variant in Chinese children with DSD, and micropenis, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias are the most common clinical phenotypes. Molecular diagnosis can provide clues about the biological basis of DSD, and can also guide clinicians to perform specific clinical examinations. Target sequence capture probes and next-generation sequencing technology can provide effective and economical genetic diagnosis for children with DSD.

[Application effects of feedforward control theory in the rollover bed treatment of mass patients with burn-explosion combined injury]

Objective: To explore the application effects of feedforward control theory in the rollover bed treatment of mass patients with burn-explosion combined injury. Methods: A retrospective observational research was conducted. From June 13 to 14, 2020, 15 patients with severe burn-explosion combined injury caused by liquefied natural gas tank car explosion and conforming to the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. There were 13 males and 2 females, aged 33-92 (66±17) years. All the patients were treated with rollover bed from 48 h post admission, and the feedforward control theory was introduced, including establishing a special feedforward control management team for rollover bed, clarifying the duties of the medical staff in the rollover bed treatment of patients, implementing the cooperation strategy of multidisciplinary physician, training and examining for 80 nurses in the temporarily organized nurse team in the form of "rollover bed workshop", and formulating the checklist and valuation list of rollover bed treatment for continuous quality control. The frequency and the total number of turning over, and successful rate of one-time posture change with the rollover bed of patients within 30 days of admission were recorded, the occurrences of adverse events caused by improper operation for the rollover bed during the treatment were observed, including respiratory and cardiac arrests, treatment interruption, unplanned extubation, bed falling, and skin graft displacement. The lowest levels of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), the number of patients with oxygenation index>300 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of patients within 2 days of admission and on the 30th day of admission were recorded. Results: Within 30 days of admission, the patients were turned over with the rollover bed for 2 to 6 times each day, with a total of 1 320 turning over operations, the successful rate of one-time posture change reached 99.9% (1 319/1 320), and no adverse event occurred. Within 2 days of admission, the lowest levels of PaO2 and PaCO2 of the patients were (100±19) and (42±4) mmHg, respectively, and the number of patients with mild, moderate, and severe ARDS were 10, 2, and 3, respectively, and none of the patients had oxygenation index>300 mmHg. On the 30th day of admission, the lowest levels of PaO2 and PaCO2 of the patients were (135±28) and (37±8) mmHg, respectively, 3 patients developed moderate ARDS, 1 patient developed severe ARDS, and 11 patients had oxygenation index>300 mmHg. Conclusions: The introduction of feedforward control theory in the treatment of rollover bed of mass patients with burn-explosion combined injury can ensure safe and successful completion of turning over with the rollover bed, promote the repair of burn wound, and improve respiratory function, and therefore improve the treatment quality of patients.

[Clinical features of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated by pulmonary infection after chemotherapy]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the clinical features of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) complicated by pulmonary infection after chemotherapy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 108 ALL children (115 case-times) with post-chemotherapy pulmonary infection were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors for pulmonary infection and the relationship between pathogens and chest CT findings were evaluated.

RESULTS

The highest incidence (77.4% ) of pulmonary infection occurred during remission induction, peaking at 31-60 days after chemotherapy. Patients with neutropenia had the highest incidence rate of pulmonary infection (67.0%). Bacteria (36%) and fungi (41%) were the two most common pathogens in the 41 patients who were etiologically suspected of or diagnosed with pulmonary infection. There was no significant difference in chest CT findings between patients with bacterial and fungal infections.

CONCLUSIONS

The children with ALL are most susceptible to pulmonary infection during remission induction, especially when they are neutropenic. Bacteria and fungi are the main pathogens of pulmonary infections in these patients. However, the changes in chest CT images are poor indicators of the nature of pulmonary infection.

Describing the quality of life of boys with haemophilia in China: Results of a multicentre study using the CHO-KLAT

INTRODUCTION

The treatment of haemophilia varies across countries and across regions within some countries. Similar variation has been observed in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Relatively little is known about the HR-QoL of boys with haemophilia in China.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the HR-QoL of boys with haemophilia in China using the Canadian Haemophilia Outcomes-Kids Life Assessment Tool (CHO-KLAT).

METHODS

Boys (4-18 years of age) with haemophilia and their parents were enroled in a cross-sectional study. All parents/guardians of study subjects were requested to complete a CHO-KLAT questionnaire during a clinic visit, and report on several other clinical and socioeconomic factors in the past year. Boys who were > 7 years also completed the CHO-KLAT.

RESULTS

A total of 269 parents of boys with haemophilia, from 13 hospitals in 12 provinces, were enroled during 2014. The boys ranged from 4.0 to 17.9 years of age; 91% had haemophilia A, most had moderate (52%) or severe (36%) disease, and most were receiving sub-optimal on-demand therapy or low-dose prophylactic therapy. Child self-report CHO-KLAT scores were available for 171 boys ≥7 years of age and ranged from 24.2 to 85.3 with a mean of 57.6 (n = 171). Parent proxy-reported CHO-KLAT scores ranged from 25.0 to 88.7 with a mean of 55.1 (n = 269).

CONCLUSION

HR-QoL scores in boys with haemophilia in China were substantially lower than reported from Canadian and European boys with haemophilia. Longer term prospective studies are required to examine the factors impacting the HR-QoL for boys with haemophilia in China.

[Nosocomial septicemia in the early stage after stem cell transplantation in children with major β-thalassemia]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics of nosocomial septicemia in the early stage after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with major β-thalassemia.

METHODS

The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of 55 consecutive children with major β-thalassemia who developed septicemia early after HSCT between January, 2011 and June, 2016.

RESULTS

Among the total of 416 consecutive children with major β-thalassemia undergoing allogeneic HSCT, the incidence of nosocomial infection early after transplantation was 77.16% (321/416), and 55 (17.13%) children showed positive findings in blood culture test. The infections occurred most commonly in the oral cavity (65.5%), followed by the respiratory tract, intestinal tract and skin. Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (27.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.1%), were the most common causes of infections. Fungal (Candida tropicalis) infection caused septicemia in 1 case. Of all the pathogens, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria were found in 6 cases, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 2 cases, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

Gram-negative bacteria are the major pathogens causing septicemia in children early after HSCT for major β-thalassemia, and the bacteria show a high level of drug resistance. Adequate preventive use of antibiotics and care of the oral cavity, the respiratory tract, and the perianal region following the transplantation are important measures to control nosoconial infection in these children.

[Efficacy and safety of a novel ultrafiltration device for treating patients with refractory heart failure]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new ultrafiltration device for treating refractory heart failure patients.

METHODS

A total of 52 patients (37 male, age 29-85(33±44)years) with refractory heart failure were treated using a new ultrafiltration device (FQ-16). Body weight, dyspnea score, oxygen saturation (SatO2), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), BUN, creatinine, electrolytes and blood gas analysis were assessed before and after the treatment. Hypotension event and other main adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS

Ultrafiltration duration ranged between 8-22 hours. Total ultrafiltration volume was (4 489±1 548) ml. Compared with baseline, patients' body weight decreased from (75.3±8.74) kg to (69.8±8.39) kg (P<0.01), dyspnea score improved from 2.47±1.55 to 12.87±3.61 (P<0.01) and SatO2 increased from 91.0±6.01 to 96.4±2.52 (P<0.01) and LVEF increased from (30.0±4.1)% to (36.0±4.3)% (P<0.01) after ultrafiltration. Blood creatinine, BUN, electrolytes and blood gas analysis values were similar at baseline and post ultrafiltration. No hypotension event and other main adverse events occurred during the ultrafiltration treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel ultrafiltration device adequately relieved hypervolemia and dyspnea in patients with refractory heart failure and the treatment process is safe in this patient cohort.

[Analysis on the nuclear division index of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the 281 general population of Anhui, China]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the reference range and influeing factors of the nuclear division index (NDI) of peripheral blood lymphocyte in Chinese general population in Anhui province.

METHODS

We selected 281 subjects from the general poulation in Anhui province, without occupational exposure to genetic toxicants and no chronic disease history. We used questionnaires to collect occupational history, age, gender, region, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol drinking status etc. NDI was measured by cytokinesis block micronucleus assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the related factors were also analyzed. And NDI was used as the dependent variable, age, gender and other factors as independent variables to conduct stepwise multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

We found the data of NDI according with normal distribution, and the nuclear division index was 1.71±0.22, the minimum value was 1.10 while the maximum was 2.36. The results showed that NDI value of the males (1.67±0.20) were lower than that of the females (1.76±0.24), the difference was statistically significant (t=-3.65, P<0.001); current smokers NDI (1.66±0.18) lower than non-smokers (1.73±0.24) differences were statistically significant (t=3.06, P=0.002); the NDI of drinking groups (1.66±0.20) was lower than that of non-drinking population (1.74±0.23), the differences was statistically significant (t=3.15, P=0.002); Using multiple stepwise linear regression calibration factors and found that gender was an independent factor of NDI (β=0.098, Sx=0.027, t=3.66, P< 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We set the reference value on the nuclear division index among general population of survey areas in this study, it could provide a reference for similar studies and will provide reference for better evaluation of the effects of hazards on the body.

[Outcome of childhood high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the ALL-BFM 95 protocol]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and the practicability of the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 95 (ALL-BFM 95) protocol in treating childhood high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR-ALL).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 47 children with newly diagnosed HR-ALL between July 2003 and August 2013 was performed. These children were treated by the ALL-BFM 95 protocol. Survival was evaluated by Kaplan Meier analysis and Log-Rank test.

RESULTS

Relapse-related death occurred in 12 of 47 patients (26%), and 5 of 47 patients (11%) were treatment-related mortality. Five-year probability of event-free-survival (pEFS) was 62%. Children with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after chemotherapy achieved significantly better pEFS than those with chemotherapy alone (77% vs 52%; P=0.035). The patients who were only poor responders to prednisone had a better outcome (5-year pEFS 80%) than the Days 15 and 33 bone marrow M3 subgroups (5-year pEFS 60% and 0 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ALL-BFM 95 protocol can improve the outcome of children with high-risk ALL. The major cause of death is attributed to relapse. Chemotherapy plus HSCT can produce a better outcome than chemotherapy alone. The Days 15 and 33 bone marrow M3 subgroups have a poor prognosis.

Establishing a conceptual model for photochemical ozone pollution in subtropical Hong Kong

Photochemical ozone (O₃) formation is related to its precursors and meteorological conditions. A conceptual model of O₃ air pollution is developed based on the analysis of data obtained at Tung Chung (TC) in Hong Kong. By comparing meteorological parameters between O₃ and non-O₃ episode days, it was found that high temperatures, strong solar radiation, low wind speeds and relative humidity, northeasterly and/or northwesterly prevailing winds were favorable for the O₃ formation, while tropical cyclones were most conducive to the occurrence of O₃ episodes. Backward trajectories simulation and graphical illustration of O₃ pollution suggested that super-regional (i.e. central and eastern China) and regional (i.e. Pearl River Delta, southern China) transport was another factor that contributed to high O₃ levels in Hong Kong. The photochemical O₃ formation, generally VOC-limited in Hong Kong, was controlled by a small number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furthermore, the positive matrix factorization (PMF) simulation suggested that solvent usage and vehicular emissions are the major contributors to ambient VOCs in Hong Kong. Finally, this paper presents recommendations for further O₃ research and implementation of O₃ control strategies.

[Effects of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the expression of chemokine receptors of spleenocytes after phytohemagglutinin stimulation]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the expression of chemokine receptors in T lymphocytes in vitro.

METHODS

Mouse bone marrow MSCs were separated with Percoll, cultured and expanded in low glucose DMEM. C57BL/6 mouse spleenocytes were cultured in the 24-hole flasks by the density of 1 x10(6)/hole. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was then added to the holes and cultured for 72 hrs. This study consisted of three groups. Groups A and B were co-cultured by adding MSCs as the ratio of 0.1 and 0.01 to spleenocytes respectively. The control group was cultured without MSCs. Three days later the suspended spleenocytes were harvested for detecting the expression of three chemokine receptors CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR7 in T lymphocytes by the flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The expression of CD3(+)CCR5(+) and CD3(+)CCR7(+) were statistically different among the three groups. Group A had the strongest expression, followed by group B and the control group. The expression of CD3(+)CXCR3(+) in group A was statistically higher than that in group B and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

MSCs could up-regulate the expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR7 in T lymphocytes stimulated by PHA.

Effect of interfacial slippage in peel test: theoretical model

Peel test is an efficient method to assess the performance and characteristics of materials such as adhesives and adhesive tapes. Recent experiments evidenced that the measured adhesive strength is closely related to the shear-induced interfacial slippage near the delamination front due to the concomitant Poisson contraction effect of the adhesive. Based on the experimental observations, a theoretical model is presented in this paper to examine the effect of the shear-induced interfacial slippage in the peel test. The influence of the interfacial slippage, represented by the shear displacement in the cohesive zone, on the fracture energy of decohesive zone is analyzed. An implicit expansion method with a Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature scheme is used to derive the solution. It is found that the length of the slippage zone and the receding contact angle of adhesives are the two most significant contributors to the total fracture energy of the decohesive zone. These results demonstrate that the mechanism of interfacial slippage plays a significant role in the adhesion and peeling behaviors of adhesives.

[Animal model of rat-to-mouse xenogeneic bone marrow transplantation with graft-versus-host disease]

To observe the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in rat-to-mouse model of bone marrow transplantation to build a GVHD model, BALB/c mice were conditioned with 8.5 Gy lethal total body irradiation and divided into two groups. One group of mice was infused with 4 x 10(7) bone marrow cells (BMC) from SD rats. The other group of mice was infused with 4 x 10(7) bone marrow cell and 2 x 10(7) spleen cells from SD rats. GVHD in mice of two groups were observed for 60 days. The results showed that mice in the group infused with only BMC mostly (80%) survived more than 60 days, but in the other group infused with mixed BMC and spleen cells, all mice died within 14 days and showed GVHD with pathologic evidence. In conclusion, to induce GVHD in rat-to-mouse bone marrow transplantation needs additional rat spleen cells.

Activation of presynaptic D1 dopamine receptors by dopamine increases the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents through protein kinase A and protein kinase C in pyramidal cells of rat prelimbic cortex

To determine the effect of dopamine on the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in pyramidal cells of layers V-VI of the prelimbic cortex, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from 92 pyramidal cells of layers V-VI of the rat prelimbic cortex. In normal buffer, dopamine 100 microM apparently increased the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs. Decreasing the concentration of dopamine from 100 to 50 microM was accompanied by a decreased effect of dopamine. Further decreasing the dopamine concentration to 10 and 1 microM had no effects on the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs. In the presence of tetrodotoxin or cadmium, the increasing effect of dopamine was eliminated. The increasing effect of dopamine was blocked by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390, but not by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride. The D1 receptor agonist SKF38393 partially mimicked the increasing effect, but the D2 receptor agonist quinpirole did not. The alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin could not block the increasing effect of dopamine on the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs in most cells tested. The protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 and the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine could antagonize the effect of dopamine. The protein kinase A activator forskolin and the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate could mimic the effect of dopamine. These results indicate that dopamine, presynaptically acting on dopamine D1 receptors, increases the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs via intracellular protein kinase A and protein kinase C signaling pathways in pyramidal cells of layers V-VI of the prelimbic cortex.

[Construction of the recombinant plasmid FasAD-pTYB2 capable of Fas activation domain fusion expression]

OBJECTIVE

To construct the recombinant plasmid FasAD-pTYB2 for the fusion expression of Fas activation domain (FasAD).

METHODS

FasAD cDNA was cloned by semi-nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then inserted into the universal vector of pGEM-T for the identification of its DNA sequence. The target DNA fragment was inserted into the prokaryote vector pTYB2 that expressed intein to construct the plasmid recombinant FasAD-pTYB2 which was induced by isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside for the expression of the fusion protein.

RESULTS

DNA sequence analysis confirmed sequence of FasAD cDNA previously cloned, and expression of the fusion protein by the recombinant plasmid was achieved, the product recognizable by rabbit anti-human Fas polyclonal antibody as demonstrated by Western blotting analysis.

CONCLUSION

The recombinant plasmid FasAD-pTYB2 constructed in this study is capable of expressing the fusion protein of FasAD and intein, which may be significant for further study of the epitope and function of Fas antigen.

Antihyperlipidemic capsules in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and its clinical effect on hemorheology and aggregation of thrombocytes

The authors treated 54 cases of hyperlipidemia with the antihyperlipidemic capsules and the total short-term effective rate was 77.8%. The capsules also showed obvious effects in improving hemorheology, reducing aggregation of thrombocytes, and lowering the blood pressure. The authors believe they would be useful in the prevention and treatment of ischemic apoplexy and coronary disease.

[Clinical application of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibodies (McAbs)]

CEA McAbs, recognizing three different epitopes on CEA molecules, were used to measure serum CEA level in cancer patients by enzyme-immunoassay (EIA). The results, as compared with those using polyclonal antibodies, indicated that the positive rate was higher while the false positivity was lower. Immunohistochemistry of tumour sections showed that the CEA McAbs are bonded to 80-90% of gastrointestinal cancers. Although the normal colon epithelium occasionally reacted with CEA McAbs, other normal tissues did not. After in vivo administration of radio-labeled CEA McAbs to nude mice xenograft with human colon cancer, the radio-isotope was found to be concentrated preferentially in the tumour. The ratio of tumour and normal tissue was 3.6-11.8 after 48 hours following administration. Thus, the CEA McAbs can be used clinically not only for serum CEA determination but also for diagnostic imaging.