Non-leukemic myeloid sarcoma involving the vulva, vagina, and cervix: a case report and literature review.

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is defined as a tumor mass consisting of myeloid blast with or without maturation occurring at an anatomical site other than bone marrow with normal architectural effacement. It can also precede the onset of leukemia which is called non-leukemic MS. Non-leukemic MS is a kind of rare disease and easy to be misdiagnosed as other common malignancies due to the rarity and nonspecific manifestation.

Efficacy of glycyrrhizin combined with cyclosporine in the treatment of non-severe aplastic anemia.

Background: Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been widely used in the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA), but the application of CsA was limited in patients who had liver diseases or abnormal liver function due to its liver toxicity. Glycyrrhizin has long been used in China in the treatment of various liver diseases to lower transaminases. In this study, we observed the efficacy and safety of glycyrrhizic acid combined with CsA in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with non-severe AA (NSAA).

[Ultrastructural changes of hepatocyte fibrogenesis in cholelithiasis].

Objective: To explore the ultrastructural changes of hepatocyte fibrogenesis in cholelithiasis in biliary tract.

Methods: l0 liver biopsies were taken from the patients suffered from gallstone and choledocholithiasis during surgical treatment and the ultrastructural changes were observed under electromicroscope.

Results: There were plentiful collagenous microfibrils (CMFs) grown within some hepatocytes.

[A randomized phase II trial of docetaxel and doxorubicin in treatment for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who have failed previous platinum-based chemotherapy].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity and safety of doxorubicin combined with domestically produced docetaxel versus with taxotere, and to investigate whether these two regimens result in similar outcomes in the treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who failed previous platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods: Eighty-eight NSCLC patients were enrolled into this clinical phase II trial. The patients randomly received either domestic docetaxel (study arm) or taxotere (control arm) at a dose of 70 mg/m2 on D2, while doxorubicin at a dose of 40 mg/m2 on D1 was administered in both groups.

[Influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma on erythropoietin production and erythropoiesis in cancer patients with anemia].

Objective: To explore impaired erythropoiesis and relative inadequacy of erythropoietin production in the anemic cancer patients and the correlation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) with inadequate erythropoietin (EPO) response and impaired erythropoiesis in cancer patients with anemia.

Methods: Fifty adult anemic and 15 non-anemic tumor patients were studied. Serum EPO levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR).

A case of Philadelphia-chromosome positive chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Philadelphia-chromosome positive thrombocythemia without features of chronic myeloid leukemia in peripheral blood has been described before. However, there are few reports on Philadelphia-chromosome positive chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. We present a case of Philadelphia positive chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis that had no obvious response to imatinib.

[Tropisetron hydrochloride in preventing and treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a phase II, randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, comparative clinical trial].

Background & Objective: Tropisetron hydrochloride (Navoban), as a highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, has been widely used in preventing and treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting for many years. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of homemade tropisetron hydrochloride in preventing and treating cisplatin-based chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, comparative trial was conducted in cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

[Docetaxel in the treatment of advanced breast cancer ].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, toxicity and safety of an new domestic docetaxel in the treatment of pretreated advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Fourty-four breast cancer patients who had failed in first-line chemotherapy were included in this trial. They received docetaxel as the second-line chemotherapy.

[Phase II multicenter clinical trial of nedaplatin in the treatment of malignant tumors].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of Nedaplatin (NDP)-based regimen and cisplatin (DDP)-based regimen for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), esophageal cancer and ovary epithelial cell carcinoma.

Methods: Single agent group: NDP was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) on D1, every 3 weeks for at least 2 cycles. Combination chemotherapy group: combined with 5-Fu, NVB, VDS + 5-Fu, PTX or CTX respectively, NDP 80 mg/m(2) on D1 or DDP 30 mg/m(2) on D1-3, every 3 weeks for at least 2 cycles was given.

Ponicidin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid derived from a constituent of the herbal supplement PC-SPES, Rabdosia rubescens, induces apoptosis by activation of caspase-3 and mitochondrial events in lung cancer cells in vitro.

Ponicidin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid derived from a constituent of the herbal supplement PC-SPES, Rabdosia rubescens, is recently reported to have anti-tumor effects on a large variety of cancers. In this study, we demonstrate that ponicidin exhibits cytotoxicity, induces apoptosis, disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential, and triggers the activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in lung cancer A549 and GLC-82 cells. Ponicidin treatment of lung cancer cells caused downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and survivin as well as upregulaton of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in a time dependent manner when apoptosis ocurred.

Antiproliferation effects of oridonin on HPB-ALL cells and its mechanisms of action.

Oridonin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid derived from the herbal Rabdosia rubescens, has been recently reported to have antitumor effects on a large variety of cancer cells. The present study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro antiproliferation and apoptosis inducing effects of oridonin on HPB-ALL cell lines and its mechanisms of action. HPB-ALL cells in culture medium in vitro were treated with different concentrations of oridonin (16-56 micromol/L).

[A randomized controlled and multicenter clinical study of ferrous L-threonate in treatment of iron deficiency anemia].

Objective: To study the clinical efficacy and side effects of ferrous L-threonate for treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

Methods: It is a multicentral, randomized, double blind, double placebo and paralled comparative study with positive control. One hundred and forty IDA patients diagnosed according to the standard criteria in three hospitals were randomly divided into a test group (ferrous L-threonate plus placebo ferrous succinate) and a positive control group (ferrous succinate plus placebo ferrous L-threonate).

[Phase II clinical trial on China manufactured recombinant human interleukin-11 derivative in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia].

Objective: This phase II clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) derivative manufactured in China in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 100 cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (< or = 75 x 10(9)/L) were studied by self-cross control. Ninty-one of them received 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

Apoptotic effect of oridonin on NB4 cells and its mechanism.

The anti-proliferation effects of oridonin on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells and its mechanisms were studied in vitro. NB4 cells as well as fresh leukemia cells obtained from APL patients in culture medium were treated with different concentrations of oridonin. Cell growth inhibition, apoptosis and related pathways were assessed by MTT assay as well as flow cytometry (FCM) and western blot analysis.

[Study on the direct MAIPA technique in the differential diagnosis of immune and non-immune thrombocytopenia].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of direct monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigen (MAIPA) technique in the differential diagnosis of immune and non-immune thrombocytopenia.

Methods: Platelet-bound autoantibodies in thrombocytopenic patients (immune and non-immune) were measured by direct MAIPA. Monoclonal antibodies against GP II b/III a, GPIb and GP I a/II a were used.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma ligands induced cell growth inhibition and its influence on matrix metalloproteinase activity in human myeloid leukemia cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is one of the best characterized nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) in the superfamily of ligand-activated transcriptional factors. PPAR-gamma ligands have recently been demonstrated to affect proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of different cell types. The present study was undertaken to investigate PPAR-gamma ligands induced cell growth inhibition and its influence on matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 and MMP-2 activities on leukemia K562 and HL-60 cells in vitro.

Antiproliferation effects of ponicidin on human myeloid leukemia cells in vitro.

Ponicidin, an extract from the Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens, is currently one of the most important traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Ponicidin has been reported to have anti-tumor effects on a large variety of malignant diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferation effects of ponicidin on human myeloid K562 and HL-60 cells.

Function of Delta4 gene and its effects on 32D cell differentiation.

Background: Notch activation leads to transcriptional suppression of lineage-specific genes, inhibiting differentiation in response to inductive signals. The Notch signal system contains three parts: Notch molecules, Notch ligands and effectors. Delta4 is a newly-discovered Notch ligand which has received the attention of few detailed studies.

[Study of the clonal characteristics of autoantibodies in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

Objective: To define the clonality characteristics of autoantibodies in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Methods: The heavy-chain and light-chain phenotype composition of the glycoprotein (GP)-specific IgG antibodies were analysed with a modified monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of platelet antigens (MAIPA) technique. The immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangement was analysed by PCR amplification.

[Synergistic effect of Apo2L and chemotherapeutic agents on leukemia cells].

Objective: To explore if the antileukemic drugs Vp16 or Ara-C are able to upregulate DR5 gene expression and enhance Apo2L-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

Methods: Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry after annexin V/PI staining, the effect of Apo2L on fresh leukemia cells by MTT reduction assay, the expression of DR5 gene in HL-60 cells by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Results: 1.

[Phase II clinical trial on gemcitabine in the treatment of stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic Gemcitabine in the treatment of patients with stage IIIB approximately IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: 124 NSCLC patients were randomized into three groups: Group A: single drug group, 40 cases, gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m(2) + NS 100 ml or 200 ml was infused within 30 approximately 60 minutes on D1, 8 and 15, with 28 days taken as one cycle. Group B: combined treatment group, 36 cases, in addition to the above protocol, cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) was infused within 60 approximately 120 min, on D1, 2 and 3.

[Study on autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura related antibody].

Objective: To investigate a specific and sensitive assay for the diagnosis of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP).

Methods: Glycoprotein specific autoantibodies in platelet eluate and plasma were detected by a modified monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens assay (MAIPA).

Results: The overall positive rate of specific autoantibodies against platelet GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb/IX in plasma was 38.

The TNF2 allele is a risk factor to severe aplastic anemia independent of HLA-DR.

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a disease with an autoimmune component. The susceptibility to the development of SAA is strongly associated with genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The gene for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is encoded in the MHC locus and TNF-alpha is involved in the pathogenesis of SAA.