Rituximab in combination with CHOP chemotherapy for the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma in Chinese patients.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study comprised a retrospective analysis of patients treated at a single center. Patients received four to six infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m(2) per dose) on day 1 of each cycle of CHOP chemotherapy.

Anti-P-selectin lectin-EGF domain monoclonal antibody inhibits the maturation of human immature dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells with the ability to initiate primary T cell responses. While it is well known that inflammatory stimuli induce the functional maturation of immature DCs, whether adhesion molecule selectins regulate DC maturation is poorly understood. Using anti-P-selectin lectin-EGF domain monoclonal antibody (PsL-EGFmAb) that blocks the adhesion of P-, E-, and L-selectin, we demonstrate herein that selectins play important role in stimulating functional maturation of immature DCs.

As2O3 enhances the anion transport activity of band 3 and the action is related with the C-terminal 16 residues of the protein.

Successful application of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been attracting worldwide interest, but the exact mechanism for the action of As2O3 remains somewhat obscure. In the present work, we show for the first time that As2O3 facilitates the DIDS-sensitive anion transport activity of band 3 protein in red blood cells (RBCs) isolated from normal adults and APL patients. To elucidate the effect of As2O3 on band 3 protein, constructs encoding the full length of the band 3 transmembrane domain (mdb3) and its C-terminal deletion forms were transfected into yeast cells by a yeast display system.

Metavanadate suppresses desferrioxamine-induced leukemic cell differentiation with reduced hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha protein.

We recently showed that moderate hypoxia and hypoxia-mimetic agents CoCl(2) and desferrioxamine (DFO) induce differentiation of acute myeloid leukemic cells via hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) that interacts with and increases the transcriptional activity of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha), a critical factor for granulocytic differentiation. Here, we show that metavanadate antagonizes DFO-induced growth arrest and differentiation with the inhibition of HIF-1alpha protein accumulation in leukemic cells. Furthermore, DFO also increased C/EBPalpha expression rapidly but transiently, which was inhibited by metavanadate.

Desferrioxamine induces leukemic cell differentiation potentially by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha that augments transcriptional activity of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha.

We reported recently that cobalt chloride-simulated hypoxia and mild hypoxia modified the differentiation of human acute myeloid leukemic (AML) cells, probably acting via a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha)-dependent mechanism. In this study, we investigated the effect of desferrioxamine (DFO), an iron chelator with 'hypoxia-mimetic' activity, on the differentiation of AML cells. The results showed that DFO at nontoxic concentrations induced the differentiation of AML cell lines NB4 and U937, as assessed by morphological criteria and differentiation-associated antigens.

Direct interaction and cooperative role of tumor suppressor p16 with band 3 (AE1).

By using the C-terminal 112-residue of band 3 to screen the K562 cDNA library, we find that the p16 interacts with band 3, which was confirmed both in yeast and in mammalian cells. Functional experiments show that p16 facilitates the movement of band 3 to plasma membrane with increased anion transport activity in 293t cells. Moreover, expression of endogenous p16 in 293t cells was increased at 24 and 36 h after transfection with band 3.

Rapid induction of cAMP/PKA pathway during retinoic acid-induced acute promyelocytic leukemia cell differentiation.

The second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In the present work, we evaluated the cAMP signaling in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells in the context of differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). There was a marked increase in the intracellular cAMP level within a few minutes after treatment with ATRA in APL cell line NB4 and fresh APL cells, whereas no such phenomenon was observed in NB4-R1 cells that are resistant to ATRA-induced maturation.

Leukoplakia and angiopoiesis resistance of Herba Erigerontis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Herba Erigerontis on angiopoiesis and carcinogenesis; to seek an effective drug for prevention of leukoplakia progression to carcinoma and to stop the mechanism of angiopoiesis.

Methods: Carcinomatous conversions of golden hamster cheek pouches induced by Salley way and inhibited by Herba Erigerontis. Ink perfusion, analysis of images, resin cast form of micro-vessel, a-SMA detection and histopathological examination were applied to observe their changing patterns.

Human papillomavirus infection and p53 alteration in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine human papillomavirus 16/18 infection incidence and p53 alteration in oral squamous cell carcinoma and to determine whether a correlation existed between HPV infection incidence and p53 alteration in this disease.

Methods: A series of 60 oral tissues (40 oral squamous cell carcinomas, 20 normal oral mucosas) was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HPV 16 and 18 infection, and was studied by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect p53 mutation and accumulation, respectively.

Results: HPV sequences were detected in 29 of 40 (72.

The expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the E-cadherin-catenin (E-cad-cat) complex in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and determine the effects of E-cad-cat expression on tumor differentiation, metastasis, and invasion, as well as its clinical significance.

Methods: The expression of adhesion molecules, which included E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin, on 10 cases of normal salivary glands, and 50 cases of human salivary ACC were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Strong and stable expression of E-cad-cat complex showed in normal salivary glands tissues.

Influence of amalgam on the growth of mutans streptococcus: an in vivo study.

Objective: To study the antibacterial activity of dental amalgam against mutans streptococcus.

Methods: Study volunteers included 14 patients, 21 to 35 years old, with aged amalgam fillings, with no antibiotic use during the previous 3 months, and 16 patients, 22 to 24 years of age, without aged amalgams, but with unfilled caries. Plaque samples were collected once from the subjects with aged amalgams.

Evaluation of the treatment for micromandibular deformity by distraction osteogenesis with submerged intraoral device.

Objective: To evaluate the results of distraction osteogenesis for correcting the micromandible with an intraoral device.

Materials And Methods: Eight cases of micromandible resulting from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis and first and second branchial arch syndrome received treatment by distraction osteogenesis. Subjects included 5 females and 3 males, ranging in age from 10 to 43 years (avg 20.

Enhanced efficacy of the combination of all-trans-retinoic acid and gamma-interferon in inhibiting proliferation of Tca8113 cells.

Objective: To develop a more effective induced-differentiation or -apoptosis therapy for treating oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Methods: The combination of all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was tested for its antiproliferative activity against human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (Tca8113 cells) in vitro. Clonogenic assay, MTT assay, and microscopic cell analysis were performed in this experiment.

A comparison of the preventive effects of lanthanides and fluoride on human experimental root surface carious-like lesions.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of lanthanides prevention of human root surface carious-like lesions and to compare the effectiveness of lanthanum (La) with that of cerium (Ce) and fluoride (F). Various treatment procedures were also compared.

Materials And Methods: Acetic buffers containing lanthanum, cerium, and fluoride (500 ppm) were used individually or in combination to treat 48 cementum-dentin samples.

Neutron activation analysis of fluoride release after treatment with a fluoride varnish in vitro.

Objective: To use neutron activation analysis to study a new type of cariostatic material, fluoride varnish, in terms of its anti-caries mechanism and its release in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Twenty enamel specimens were measured for baseline fluoride content using neutron activation analysis. The enamel specimens were then fluoridated with 1.

Selection of quantitative criteria for evaluating metastases of a highly metastatic salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line to the lungs of nude mice.

Objective: To select reliable quantitative criteria for evaluating metastases of a highly metastatic salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line (ACC-M) cell to the lungs of nude mice.

Materials And Methods: The within-group coefficients of correlation of 5 parameters were measured from lung slides using a video image digital analysis system (VIDAS), and the intergroup coefficients of correlation of 6 sets of parameters from all the lungs, which were taken from ACC-M lung metastases models, were calculated and statistically analyzed.

Results: The within-group coefficients of correlation of 5 parameters are as follows: ratio of area of metastases, t = 0.

Computer-assisted design and manufacture of posterior full crowns.

Objective: To build an experimental system for the computer-assisted design (CAD) of full crowns and to obtain data for computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM) of full crowns.

Materials And Methods: Three steps are involved in building the system: measuring the prepared tooth, the adjacent mesial and distal teeth, and the opposing teeth by means of digital speckle correlation; reconstructing the shape of the measured teeth; and developing CAD for full crowns. The standard shape of the corresponding tooth was modified to fit the defective tooth on the basis of buccolingual and occlusal-gingival distance as well as the occlusal relationship of the defective tooth.

Long-term follow-up of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients by polymerase chain reaction analysis of multiple clone-specific or malignancy-specific gene markers.

Two types of markers, namely the clone-specific markers including T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma, TCR delta, and Ig heavy-chain (IgH) gene rearrangements, and malignancy-specific fusion gene mRNA such as SIL-TAL-1, BCR-ABL, and HRX-partner genes, were investigated by molecular biology techniques in 65 Chinese patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In combination, these markers were informative among 96% of patients. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was followed up in 23 of these patients with available materials over a period varying from 8 to 54 months with at least one leukemia-specific probe.

Amino-terminal protein-protein interaction motif (POZ-domain) is responsible for activities of the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger-retinoic acid receptor-alpha fusion protein.

Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger-retinoic acid receptor a (PLZF-RARalpha), a fusion receptor generated as a result of a variant t(11;17) chromosomal translocation that occurs in a small subset of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients, has been shown to display a dominant-negative effect against the wild-type RARalpha/retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha). We now show that its N-terminal region (called the POZ-domain), which mediates protein-protein interaction as well as specific nuclear localization of the wild-type PLZF and chimeric PLZF-RARalpha proteins, is primarily responsible for this activity. To further investigate the mechanisms of PLZF-RARalpha action, we have also studied its ligand-receptor, protein-protein, and protein-DNA interaction properties and compared them with those of the promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML)-RARalpha, which is expressed in the majority of APLs as a result of t(15;17) translocation.