Does the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Specific Comorbidity Index Predict Transplant Outcomes? A Validation Study in a Large Cohort of Umbilical Cord Blood and Matched Related Donor Transplants

AbstractThe hematopoietic cell transplantation specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) has been recently proposed to predict the probability of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS) in allogeneic HCT recipients while taking into account any pretransplant comorbidity. We tested the validity of the HCT-CI in a cohort of 373 adult HCT recipients (184 matched-related donor and 189 unrelated umbilical cord blood) who received a myeloablative (N = 150) or nonmyeloablative (N = 223) conditioning regimen. HCT-CI scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 were present in 58 (16%), 56 (15%), 64 (17%), and 195 (52%) patients, respectively. Pulmonary conditions were the most common comorbidity. Cumulative incidence of NRM at 2 years was 10%, 20%, 24%, and 28% for HCT-CI scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3, respectively (P = .01). The corresponding probability of OS at 2 years was 72%, 67%, 51%, and 48%, respectively (P < .01). On multivariate analyses adjusted for recipient age, disease risk, donor source, and conditioning regimen intensity, the relative risks for NRM for HCT-CI scores of 1, 2, and ≥3 (compared to a score of 0) were 2.0 (95% confidence intervals, 0.8–5.3), 2.6 (1.0–6.7), and 3.2 (1.4-7.4), respectively. The risks for overall mortality were 1.2 (0.6-2.1), 2.0 (1.1-3.4), and 2.1 (1.3-3.3), respectively. In subgroup analyses, the HCT-CI score did not consistently predict NRM and OS among different donor sources and conditioning regimens. The HCT-CI, although a useful tool for capturing pretransplant comorbidity and risk-assessment, needs to be further validated prior to adopting it for routine clinical use

HOXA1 is overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinomas and its expression is correlated with poor prognosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HOX genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation during embryogenesis. However, members of this family demonstrated oncogenic properties in some malignancies. The present study investigated whether genes of the HOXA cluster play a role in oral cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to identify differentially expressed HOXA genes, duplex RT-PCR in oral samples from healthy mucosa and squamous cell carcinoma was used. The effects of HOXA1 on proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and anchorage-independent growth were assessed in cells with up- and down-regulation of HOXA1. Immunohistochemical analysis using a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 127 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) was performed to determine the prognostic role of HOXA1 expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We showed that transcripts of HOXA genes are more abundant in OSCC than in healthy oral mucosa. In particular, HOXA1, which has been described as one of the HOX members that plays an important role in tumorigenesis, was significantly more expressed in OSCCs compared to healthy oral mucosas. Further analysis demonstrated that overexpression of HOXA1 in HaCAT human epithelial cells promotes proliferation, whereas downregulation of HOXA1 in human OSCC cells (SCC9 cells) decreases it. Enforced HOXA1 expression in HaCAT cells was not capable of modulating other events related to tumorigenesis, including apoptosis, adhesion, invasion, EMT and anchorage-independent growth. A high number of HOXA1-positive cells was significantly associated with T stage, N stage, tumor differentiation and proliferative potential of the tumors, and was predictive of poor survival. In multivariate analysis, HOXA1 was an independent prognostic factor for OSCC patients (HR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.59-2.97; p = 0.026).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate that HOXA1 may contribute to oral carcinogenesis by increasing tumor cell proliferation, and suggest that HOXA1 expression might be helpful as a prognostic marker for patients with OSCC.</p

Flora das cangas da Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil: Loganiaceae

Resumo Este estudo compreende as espécies de Loganiaceae ocorrendo sobre canga na Serra dos Carajás, estado do Pará, Brasil, incluindo descrições detalhadas, ilustrações e comentários morfológicos das espécies. Ao total, foram registradas quatro espécies, duas de Spigelia e duas de Strychnos: Spigelia anthelmia, de distribuição neotropical; Spigelia flemmingiana, que ocorre desde a região Sudeste do Brasil até as Guianas; Strychnos cogens com ocorrência na Amazônia brasileira, Venezuela e Guianas; e Strychnos mitscherlichii var. mitscherlichii, distribuída na Amazônia brasileira, Guianas, Venezuela, Colômbia, Equador, Peru e Bolívia

O tratamento da Leucemia Mielóide Crônica com mesilato de imatinibe Therapy of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia with imatinib mesylate

O mesilato de imatinibe é atualmente o tratamento de escolha para pacientes com Leucemia mielóide Crônica (LMC) recém-diagnosticados. Desde os primeiros estudos clínicos em 1998 até o estudo IRIS, que comparou o uso em primeira linha de imatinibe com interferon + ara-C, esta droga vem se consolidando em segurança e eficácia. Ainda há, entretanto questionamentos sobre a melhor dose inicial, a identificação dos pacientes que mais se beneficiariam e a melhor abordagem frente a respostas sub-ótimas e resistência. Os principais estudos clínicos publicados com mesilato de imatinibe são revisados no presente artigo, e discutidos sob a perspectiva da realidade brasileira.<br>Imatinib mesylate is currently the gold-standard therapy for patients with newly diagnosed Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. From the clinical trials in 1998 to the IRIS study, which compared first line imatinib treatment with interferon and low dose ara-C, this drug has been consolidated in regards to its safety and efficacy. There are still some questions to answer. Which would be the best initial dose? Are there any patients who benefit more than others? What is the best approach to suboptimal response and resistance? The most important published clinical studies are reviewed in the current article and discussed from a Brazilian perspective

GERMINAÇÃO E EMERGÊNCIA DE MARACUJAZEIRO AMARELO (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a influência de diferentes proporções de substratos na germinação de sementes de dois genótipos de maracujazeiro amarelo. O experimento foi desenvolvido na área experimental do Departamento de Fitotecnia do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2 x 3, representando variedades de maracujá e proporções de substratos respectivamente, com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a velocidade de germinação (VG), índice de velocidade de emergência (IVG) e porcentagem de germinação total (GT). A germinação das sementes teve inicio oito dias após a semeadura, sendo observado, nas três proporções de substratos, 92,5% de germinação aos 24 dias. Concluiu-se que as proporções de substratos utilizados proporcionaram condições adequadas à germinação e ao desenvolvimento inicial das plantas de maracujazeiro dos genótipos. Não houve influência na germinação dos genótipos de maracujazeiro sob diferentes proporções de substratos

Germinação e emergência de maracujazeiro amarelo, Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg

The present work had the objective to verify the influence of different proportion of substrates on the seed germination of two genotypes of yellow passion fruit. The work was carried out at the experimental area of Department of Plant Science of the center of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Piauí. The experimental design was a completely randomized block in a factorial 2x3 (varieties of maracujá x proportion of substrates) with four replications. It was Evaluated the emergency speed, speed of emergence index and the total germination percentage. The seed germination it had beginning After 48 days of sowing, being observed in the three proportion of substrates, 92,5% of germination to the 24 days. The proportions of substrates used provided appropriate conditions for germination and the initial development of yellow.passion fruit seedlings. It did not have influence in germination of genotypes of maracujá under different proportion of substrates.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a influência de diferentes proporções de substratos na germinação de sementes de dois genótipos de maracujazeiro amarelo. O experimento foi desenvolvido na área experimental do Departamento de Fitotecnia do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2 x 3, representando variedades de maracujá e proporções de substratos respectivamente, com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a velocidade de germinação (VG), índice de velocidade de emergência (IVG) e porcentagem de germinação total (GT). A germinação das sementes teve inicio oito dias após a semeadura, sendo observado, nas três proporções de substratos, 92,5% de germinação aos 24 dias. Concluiu-se que as proporções de substratos utilizados proporcionaram condições adequadas à germinação e ao desenvolvimento inicial das plantas de maracujazeiro dos genótipos. Não houve influência na germinação dos genótipos de maracujazeiro sob diferentes proporções de substratos.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la influencia de diferentes proporciones de sustratos en la germinación de semillas de dos genotipos de maracuyá amarillo. El experimento se realizó en una experimentación del Departamento de Ciencia de Plantas Centro de Ciencias Agrarias de la Universidad Federal de Piauí (UFPI). El diseño experimental fue de bloques al azar en un factorial 2 x 3, en representación de las variedades de fruta de la pasión y tamaños de sustratos, respectivamente, con cuatro repeticiones. Se evaluó la tasa de germinación (VG), el índice de tasa de emergencia (GSI) y el porcentaje de germinación total (GT). La germinación se inició ocho días después de la siembra, se observó en las tres proporciones de sustratos, la germinación de 92,5% a los 24 días. Se concluyó que las proporciones de sustratos proporcionan las condiciones apropiadas para la germinación y desarrollo inicial de los genotipos de fruta de la pasión. No hubo influencia sobre la germinación de fruta de la pasión amarilla genotipos en diferentes proporciones de sustratos