Clinical symptoms and chemotherapy completion in elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia: a retrospective comparison study with a younger cohort

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer affects older adults disproportionately. The disease is often difficult to diagnose and treat due to co-morbidities and performance status, and patients tend to discontinue chemotherapy prematurely. There are no systemic studies of the reasons and factors that create a higher withdrawal rate in older acute leukemia patients. This study tried to understand the initial characteristics, blood counts and bone marrow measurements in older acute leukemia patients by comparing them with a younger group to provide information and assistance in early clinical diagnosis, treatment and reasons for treatment withdrawal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using retrospective medical record reviews, we examined clinical characteristics and chemotherapy completion status in the patients of two groups (age ≥ 60, n = 183 and age <60, n = 183) who were diagnosed with acute leukemia for the first time and were hospitalized in Union Hospital Affiliated with Fujian Medical University from 2004 to 2008.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no statistical differences in initial presenting symptoms of fatigue (67.2% vs. 57.9%, <it>P</it>>0.05) and pallor (53% vs. 59.6%, <it>P</it>>0.05) between the two groups, but older patients demonstrated more underlying diseases including lung infections (25.7%, <it>P </it>= <0.001), cardiovascular disease (4.4%, <it>P </it>= 0.007), and hypertension (20.8%, <it>P </it>=< 0.001). The complete remission rate after chemotherapy (1 to 2 courses) was 49.5% in the older group and 66.7% in the younger group (χ²= 6.202, <it>P </it>= 0.013). The percentage of patients age 60 and older who prematurely discontinued chemotherapy (50.3%), mainly due to the influences of traditional Chinese concept of critical illness, financial difficulties, and intolerance to adverse reactions to chemotherapy, was significantly higher than that of younger patients (37.7%) (χ²= 5.866, <it>P </it>= 0.015).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treatment selection, and toxicity management, and implementing strategies to enhance treatment compliance may improve outcomes in older adults with acute leukemia.</p

Rapid and sensitive determination of ascorbic acid based on label-free silver triangular nanoplates

In this study, a new method for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA) was proposed. It was based on the protective effect of AA on silver triangular nanoplates (Ag TNPs) against Cl− induced etching reactions. Cl− can attack the corners of Ag TNPs and etch them, causing a morphological shift from triangular nanoplates to nanodiscs. As a result, the solution changes color from blue to yellow. However, in the presence of AA, the corners of Ag TNPs can be protected from Cl− etching, and the blue color of the solution remains unchanged. Using this effect, a selective sensor was designed to detect AA in the range of 0–40.00 μM with a detection limit of 2.17 μM. As the concentration of AA varies in this range, color changes from yellow to blue can be easily observed, so the designed sensor can be used for colorimetric detection. This method can be used to analyze fruit juice samples

Synthesis of Pyrimidopyrrolopyridazines via a Tandem Reaction of Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals with 1,2-Diaza-1,3-dienes

A tandem reaction of heterocyclic ketene aminals and 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes was developed for the expedient synthesis of pyrimidopyrrolopyridazine derivatives. This process involved an intramolecular conjugate addition followed by CuCl₂-catalyzed hydrazone formation

CX Chemokine Receptor 7 Contributes to Survival of KRAS-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer upon Loss of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

KRAS-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have no effective targeted treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a therapeutic approach in KRAS-driven lung cancer cells. We show that ablation of EGFR significantly suppressed tumor growth in KRAS-dependent cells and induced significantly higher expression of CX chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) and activation of MAPK (ERK1/2). Conversely, rescue of EGFR led to CXCR7 downregulation in EGFR-/- cells. Dual EGFR and CXCR7 inhibition led to substantial reduction of MAPK (pERK) and synergistic inhibition of cell growth. Analysis of two additional EGFR knockout NSCLC cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 revealed genotype dependency of CXCR7 expression. In addition, treatment of different cells with gefitinib increased CXCR7 expression in EGFRwt but decreased it in EGFRmut cells. CXCR7 protein expression was detected in all NSCLC patient samples, with higher levels in adenocarcinoma as compared to squamous cell lung carcinoma and healthy control cases. In conclusion, EGFR and CXCR7 have a crucial interaction in NSCLC, and dual inhibition may be a potential therapeutic option for NSCLC patients

Expression levels of <i>β-catenin1</i> mRNA in <i>C</i>. <i>semilaevis</i> evaluated with qRT-PCR.

<p>(A) Expression of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> in various tissues. H: heart, L: liver, K: kidney, I: intestine, SP: spleen, S: skin, M: muscle, B: blood, Br: brain, Gi: gill, P: pituitary, O: ovary, T: testis. (B) Expression of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> in different genotypes. O: ovary, T: testis of males, NT: testis of neomales. (C) Expression of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> in gonads at different developmental stages. <i>β-actin</i> was used as an internal control to normalize the expression. Three samples were performed. Data are shown as means ± SEM. The variance of this expression was represented as a ratio (the amount of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i>mRNA normalized to the corresponding reference genes values). Values with superscripts indicate statistical significance (P<0.05)</p

Cyto-locations of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> mRNA in gonads of <i>C</i>. <i>semilaevis</i>.

<p>(A). Low magnification showing the adult ovaries. (B). High magnification of the framed area in (A). (C). Control of <i>β-catenin1</i> localization in female ovaries. (D). Low magnification showing the male adult testis of males. (E). High magnification of the framed area in (D). (F). Control of <i>β-catenin1</i> localization in male testis. (G). Low magnification showing the adult testis of a neomale. (H). High magnification of the framed area in (G). (I). Control of <i>β-catenin1</i> localization in neomale testis. Three samples were handled. Oocytes at different developmental stages are marked by I, II, III and IV. PSC: primary spermatocytes; SSC: secondary spermatocytes; LE: Leydig cells; SP: spermatid; SE: Sertoli cells. Scale bars: 100 μm.</p

Relative mRNA expression levels of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> and other sex-related genes after treatment with quercetin.

<p>(A) Expression of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i> 24 and 48 h after injection with quercetin. (B) Expression of <i>CS-β-catenin1</i>, <i>CS-Figla</i>, <i>CS-Foxl2</i>, <i>CS-Wnt4a</i> and <i>CS-dmrt1</i> 48 h after injection with quercetin. The expression of the <i>β-actin</i> gene was used as an internal control. Three samples were handled. Values with asterisks indicate a significant difference (<i>P</i><0.05).</p