Comparison of Mitoxantrone in Combination with Intermediate-dose Cytarabine versus High-dose Cytarabine as Consolidation Therapies for Young Non-APL Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients with Favorable and Intermediate Cytogenetics.

In this study, we compared the efficacy of mitoxantrone in combination with intermediate-dose cytarabine (HAM) with that of high-dose cytarabine alone (HiDAC) as consolidation regimens in non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) acute myeloid leukemia patients with favorable and intermediate cytogenetics. A total of 62 patients from Shenzhen People's Hospital were enrolled in this study. All patients enrolled received standard induction chemotherapy and achieved the first complete remission (CR1).

TP53 Mutation as Potential Negative Predictor for Response of Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma.

TP53 has been proved to be associated with cytotoxic T-cell induced apoptosis, however, the association between TP53 and the benefit of immunotherapy in melanoma has not been studied. In the present study, we examined the relationship between TP53 mutation and response to CTLA-4 blockade in metastatic melanoma by analyzing the data from one public cohort consisting of 110 patients with metastatic melanoma. The sequencing, mRNA and survival data of 368 patients with skin melanoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to explore the underlying mechanism.

The differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids of primary hepatic carcinoma following liver transplantation as new diagnostic biomarkers for primary hepatic carcinoma.

Recent studies have shown that circular ribonucleic acids have differential expression in some diseases. This study compared the expression levels of five circular ribonucleic acids between patients of primary hepatic carcinoma following liver transplantation and healthy individuals for searching a new diagnostic biomarker about primary hepatic carcinoma. We chose differentially expressed targeted circular ribonucleic acids according to fold change ≥2.

Association of PD-L1 and HIF-1α Coexpression with Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the expression of PD-L1 and HIF-1α in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and further analyze the association with clinical parameters and the prognostic value of coexpression in HCC patients.

Methods: We assessed the expression of PD-L1 and HIF-1α by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissue from 90 HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy. The results were validated in an independent cohort of additional 90 HCC patients.

A Panel of Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Using Urine Samples.

Background/aim: Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis using patient urine samples represents a non-invasive and more convenient method than the conventional biopsy and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This study intended to identify a biomarker panel to distinguish PCa from benign prostate using urine samples.

Materials And Methods: We identified six biomarkers with differential gene expression in 154 PCa and benign prostate specimens.

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL injury) by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. A literature search was carried out in the Cochrane Library, Embase, Pubmed databases and included studies prior to April 2017. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, studies evaluating ultrasound to diagnose ACL injury were selected.

Protective effects of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract on concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease of an unknown etiology, glucocorticoid therapy is currently recognized as an effective treatment for AIH, but conventional application and patient compliance are both hindered by its side effects. The exploration of the AIH pathogenesis and the searching for the new candidate drugs that exert potential activity and low toxicity are urgently needed. Pomegranate peel extract (PoPx) is a natural extract of Punica granatum and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.

Characterization of the T-cell receptor repertoire by deep T cell receptor sequencing in tissues from patients with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent urological cancer in men. T cells serve a central role in the cancer's immunological microenvironment. In the present study, we applied multiplex PCR and Illumina next-generation sequencing to study the clonal diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in cancer tissues and paracancer tissues from patients with PC.

New insights into sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: Responsible mechanisms and promising strategies.

It is disappointing that only a few patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) obtain a significant survival benefit from the sorafenib treatment, which is currently regarded as a first-line chemotherapeutic therapy in patients with advanced HCC. Most patients are highly refractory to this therapy. Therefore, it is necessary to identify resistant factors and explore potential protocols that can be used to overcome the resistance or substitute sorafenib once the resistance is formed.

Down-regulation of MBD4 contributes to hypomethylation and overexpression of CD70 in CD4 T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and overproduction of autoantibodies, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. However, the pathogenesis of this disorder has not yet been completely elucidated. It has been reported that CD70, a B cell costimulatory molecule encoded by the gene (tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 7), is overexpressed in CD4 T cells from patients with SLE due to the demethylation of its promoter.

Direct measurement of B-cell receptor repertoire's composition and variation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is known to be associated with polyclonal B-cell hyper-reactivity. B-cell receptor (BCR) has a central role in B-cell development, activation, survival and apoptosis, and thus is a critical component of the regulation of both protective and autoreactive B cells. In this study, we applied multiplex PCR and Illumina high-throughput sequencing to study the composition and variation of the BCRs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients and healthy donors (NC).

Integrated microRNA and protein expression analysis reveals novel microRNA regulation of targets in fetal down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy of human chromosome 21 and is associated with a number of deleterious phenotypes. To investigate the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the regulation of DS, high‑throughput Illumina sequencing technology and isobaric tagging for relative and absolute protein quantification analysis were utilized for simultaneous expression profiling of miRNA and protein in fetuses with DS and normal fetuses. A total of 344 miRNAs were associated with DS.

T cell repertoire following kidney transplantation revealed by high-throughput sequencing.

Delayed T cell recovery and restricted T cell receptor (TCR) diversity after kidney transplantation are associated with increased risks of infection and malignancy. Technical challenges limit the faithful measurement of TCR diversity after kidney transplantation. In this study, we used a combination of multiplex-PCR, Illumina sequencing and IMGT/HighV-QUEST to directly assess millions of TCRs per individual before and at two time points after kidney transplantation (1days and 7days after transplantation) in a cohort of 10 patients compared to a normal control (NC) group (n=10).

Integrated analysis of mRNA, microRNA and protein in systemic lupus erythematosus-specific induced pluripotent stem cells from urine.

Background: In clinical practice, it is difficult to monitor the repeating relapse in patients who have been suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The underlying etiology remains largely unknown.

Methods: Aiming to understand the pathogenesis of SLE, a detailed study was conducted.

High salt promotes autoimmunity by TET2-induced DNA demethylation and driving the differentiation of Tfh cells.

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) have been well documented to play a critical role in autoimmunity, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), by helping B cells. In this study, high salt (sodium chloride, NaCl), under physiological conditions, was demonstrated to increase the differentiation of Tfh. A high-salt diet markedly increased lupus features in MRL/lpr mice.

Single molecule targeted sequencing for cancer gene mutation detection.

With the rapid decline in cost of sequencing, it is now affordable to examine multiple genes in a single disease-targeted clinical test using next generation sequencing. Current targeted sequencing methods require a separate step of targeted capture enrichment during sample preparation before sequencing. Although there are fast sample preparation methods available in market, the library preparation process is still relatively complicated for physicians to use routinely.

Downregulation and pro-apoptotic effect of hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The role of HIF-2α in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression pattern and role of HIF-2α in HCC patients. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting analyses were applied to detect the protein level of HIF-2α in 206 paired HCC and peritumoral tissues.

Preoperative serum α-fetoprotein and prognosis after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: While the majority of studies report that a raised serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level before operation is associated with a high risk of recurrence and death in patients who undergo hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), results are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of AFP.

Methods: Serum AFP levels were measured in patients with hepatitis-associated HCC who underwent hepatectomy between 1995 and 2012.

High Throughput Sequencing of T Cell Antigen Receptors Reveals a Conserved TCR Repertoire.

The T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is a mirror of the human immune system that reflects processes caused by infections, cancer, autoimmunity, and aging. Next-generation sequencing has become a powerful tool for deep TCR profiling. Herein, we used this technology to study the repertoire features of TCR beta chain in the blood of healthy individuals.

Characters, functions and clinical perspectives of long non-coding RNAs.

It is well established that most of the human genome and those of other mammals and plants are transcribed into RNA without protein-coding capacity, which we define as non-coding RNA. From siRNA to microRNA, whose functions and features have been well characterized, non-coding RNAs have been a popular topic in life science research over the last decade. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), however, as a novel class of transcripts, are distinguished from these other small RNAs.

Integrated analyses of a major histocompatibility complex, methylation and transcribed ultra-conserved regions in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease which affects different organs and systems that, has a complex genetic inheritance, and is affected by both epigenetic and environmental risk factors. Previous studies on SLE have lacked the statistical power and genetic resolution to fully determine the influence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on SLE. In this study, in order to determine this influence, a total of 15 patients with SLE and 15 healthy controls were enrolled.

Hepatitis B virus induces hypoxia-inducible factor-2α expression through hepatitis B virus X protein.

A growing number of studies suggest that the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) enhances the protein stability of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). However, the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBx and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) has not yet been fully elucidated. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect the expression of HIF-2α in normal liver, HBV-related chronic hepatitis, and HBV-related and non-HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.

The role of icaritin in regulating Foxp3/IL17a balance in systemic lupus erythematosus and its effects on the treatment of MRL/lpr mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a female predominant autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ dysfunctions. However, current available therapies control the disease at the cost of many potential adverse effects. The development of safer and more effective therapies for SLE is a critical unmet need.

Genome-wide analysis of 5-hmC in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients using an hMeDIP-chip.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, potentially fatal systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies against a wide range of self-antigens. To investigate the role of the 5-hmC DNA modification with regard to the onset of SLE, we compared the levels 5-hmC between SLE patients and normal controls. Whole blood was obtained from patients, and genomic DNA was extracted.