Sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive factors associated with weight gain in Chinese women

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether certain sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive factors are associated with an increased weight gain in Chinese women.

DESIGN

Baseline survey data, including recalled past weight and measured current weight, from an ongoing prospective cohort study conducted in Shanghai, China.

SUBJECTS

The analytical sample included 75 039 nonpregnant women aged 40-70 y.

MEASUREMENTS

Statistical associations between certain sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive factors and weight gain were evaluated using multiple linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Weight gain and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) increased with age among pre- and postmenopausal women before age 55 y. Weight gain declined but WHR continued rising as aging among postmenopausal women over age 55 y. Lower education levels, more parity and earlier age at the first birth, and earlier menarcheal age were associated with a higher long-term weight gain and current body weight.

CONCLUSION

Age, education levels, parity, age at the first live birth, and menarcheal age were associated with long-term weight gain in Chinese women. However, these results concerning weight gain are based on recalled past weight and should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are needed to clarify the association of weight gain with lifestyle factors suggested by this study.

Gene therapy for prostate cancer: toxicological profile of four HSV-tk transducing adenoviral vectors regulated by different promoters

Adenoviral vector delivery of the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in combination with the prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) has been tested in phase I clinical trials for prostate cancer and found to exhibit a satisfactory toxicity profile. We have developed additional adenoviral vectors with differing promoters to optimize the expression profile and in the present study evaluate the potential systemic toxicity of these vectors. Four recombinant adenoviral vectors that express the HSV-tk gene were generated using three different promoters: CMV (leftward orientation); RSV (both rightward and leftward orientation); and the mouse caveolin-1 (cav-1) promoter (leftward orientation). Efficacy was determined in vitro by cytotoxicity assays in a mouse prostate cancer cell line, RM-9, and in vivo by treating orthotopic tumors. Potential toxicity was evaluated from liver histology and apoptotic cell counts and enzyme levels in the serum following intravenous adenoviral vector injection. Although there were differences in HSV-tk expression at the protein level among the four vectors there were no significant differences in in-vitro cytotoxicity studies with GCV or in vivo in tumor growth suppression of an orthotopic mouse prostate cancer model in GCV treated mice. Intravenous delivery of high doses of all adenoviral vectors lead to abnormalities in liver function as measured by specific serum markers and histological evaluation of liver tissue and increased levels of apoptosis in the liver. These abnormalities were most prevalent with the vector containing the CMV promoter and the rightward oriented RSV promoter. They were least prevalent in the vector regulated by the cav-1 promoter. Upregulation of specific chemokines, MIP-2 and MIP-1beta was correlated with apoptotic counts. Our results demonstrate that comprehensive toxicological analysis of adenoviral vectors provides internally consistent information that can differentiate vectors with comparable efficacy based on toxicity. In these studies vectors with the cav-1 promoter-driven and leftward RSV-driven HSV-tk gene demonstrated minimal toxicities with cytotoxic effectiveness comparable to more toxic vectors. Our studies further suggest that promoter selection can influence the toxic effects of an adenoviral gene therapy vector.

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials and upper limb motor function in hemiparesis

The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) parameters and clinical measures of motor impairment and physical disability in the affected upper limb of patients with hemiparesis. SEP assessments were carried out in 28 long-term survivors of stroke. Stroke survivors with preserved SEPs over the affected hemisphere exhibited significantly lower motor impairment and physical disability than those with absent waveforms. Among those with preserved waveforms, SEP amplitude exhibited a weak correlation with degree of upper limb motor impairment. The correlation between SEP amplitude and physical disability was not statistically significant. Contrary to prior reports, median nerve SEP appears to have a weak correlational relationship with clinical measures of upper limb function in hemiparesis.

Combination gene therapy with adenoviral vector-mediated HSV-tk+GCV and IL-12 in an orthotopic mouse model for prostate cancer

We previously demonstrated significant therapeutic activities associated with adenoviral vector-mediated Herpes Simplex Virus/thymidine kinase (AdHSV-tk) with ganciclovir (GCV) in situ gene therapy in the RM-1 orthotopic mouse prostate cancer model and interleukin-12 (AdmIL-12) in situ gene therapy in the RM-9 orthotopic mouse prostate model for prostate cancer. In both protocols, local cytotoxicity and activities against pre-established lung metastases were demonstrated. To test whether combined AdHSV-tk+GCV+IL-12 gene therapy would lead to enhanced therapeutic effects when compared to either treatment alone, we used RM-9 mouse prostate cancer cells in both orthotopic and pre-established lung metastases models of prostate cancer. Combined treatment with a single injection of optimal doses of AdHSV-tk+GCV or AdmIL-12 led to significantly increased suppression of orthotopic tumor growth. IL-12 gene therapy alone was more effective than AdHSV-tk+GCV in suppressing spontaneous lymph node metastases and pre-established lung metastases but combination gene therapy did not result in additional anti-metastatic activities. Combination gene therapy also did not achieve significantly better animal survival compared to AdHSV-tk+GCV or AdmIL-12 alone. Analysis of localized antitumor activities demonstrated that AdHSV-tk+GCV therapy induced higher levels of necrosis compared to AdmIL-12 or combination therapy. However, both treatments alone and combination therapy produced similar increases in apoptotic index. To address the possible mechanisms of locally co-operative cytotoxic activities, we analyzed the systemic natural killer (NK) response and the numbers of tumor-infiltrating immune cells using quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. AdHSV-tk+GCV therapy alone led to detectable increases in iNOS-positive cells, CD4+and CD8+T-cells and moderately increased numbers of F4/80 (macrophage selective)-positive cells within treated tumors. In contrast, AdmIL-12 elicited a highly robust pattern of tumor infiltration for all four of these immune cells that was in general mimicked by combination therapy. Further analysis of the accumulation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that AdHSV-tk+GCV treatment, but not AdmIL-12 treatment, produced cancer cell-associated increases in this cytokine relative to control Ad-beta-gal injections. Interestingly, local injection with AdHSV-tk+GCV induced significant splenocyte-derived NK cell cytolytic activities with maximal response 7 days following treatment, whereas AdmIL-12 injection produced significantly higher NK activity with maximal response 2 days following injection. The combined treatment produced a higher systemic NK response over the 14-day treatment period. Depletion of NK cells in vivo demonstrated that this immunocyte subpopulation was responsible for early locally cytotoxic activities induced by AdHSV-tk+GCV but not AdmIL-12 and that NK activities were largely responsible for activities against pre-established metastases generated by both gene therapy protocols. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2001) 4, 44-55

[Field trials on the efficacy of albendazole composite against intestinal nematodiasis]

AIM

To study the anthelmintic effect of albendazole composite (containing 67 mg of albendazole and 83.3 mg base of pyrantel pamoate per tablet).

METHODS

A randomized controlled study was carried out to compare the efficacy of a single dose of 3 or 2 tablets of albendazole composite versus a single dose of 400 mg of albendazole or 10 mg base/kg of pyrantel pamoate for treatment of intestinal nematodiasis including 1,864 cases infected with hookworm, 1,568 cases infected with Ascaris, 1,785 cases infected with Tricuris trichiura and 373 children infected with Enterobius vermicularis.

RESULTS

In adults, the egg negative conversion rate of a single dose of 3 or 2 tablets of albendazole composite reached 65.0% and 52.7% for hookworm infection (P < 0.01), 100% and 100% for Ascaris infection, and 26.5% and 19.2% for Trichuris infection (P < 0.01), respectively. There were significantly better effect against hookworm with 3 tablets of albendazole composite than that with single albendazole or pyrantel pamoate (65.0% vs. 47.6% and 38.5%, P < 0.01). The effect of 2 tablets of albendazole composite against hookworm was also higher than that of single pyrantel pamoate (P < 0.01) and equal to single albendazole but the anthelmintic effect against Trichuris infection was lower than that of single albendazole (19.2% vs. 26.5%). In 2-6-year-old children, the effect of 1.5 tablets of albendazole composite against Enterobius vermicularis infection showed an egg negative conversion rate of 100% which was higher than that of single pyrantel pamoate (100% vs. 83.0%, P < 0.01). The worm collection data showed that the worm-expelling action of albendazole composite was much more rapid than that of albendazole. There were no adverse effects of albendazole composite on blood picture, liver or renal function and ECG. The side effect of both 3 and 2 tablets of albendazole composite was mild and transcient.

CONCLUSION

Albendazole composite exhibits a synergistic effect of both albendazole and pyrantel pamoate.

Effects of prostaglandins and leukotrienes on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in rats

To investigate the effects of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), in vivo rats experiment and in vitro perfused lung experiment were conducted. The effect of hypoxia on hemodynamics, concentrations of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in serum and lung tissue during hypoxia and effects of PGs and LTs on HPV were observed. The results showed that pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and pulmonary vascular resistance were increased during hypoxia, but cardiac output and systemic arterial pressure were decreased. There were increases of the concentrations of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and their ratio in serum and lung tissue during hypoxia. After use of cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) in vivo and in vitro, HPV was augmented respectively, but after use of lipoxygenase inhibitor (diethylcorbamazine) or leukotriene receptor blocker (LY-171883), HPV was attenuated. It was suggested that LTs mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction, PGs inhibited pulmonary vasoconstriction and they played a modulating role during hypoxia.

The ukb1 gene encodes a putative protein kinase required for bud site selection and pathogenicity in Ustilago maydis

Morphogenesis and pathogenesis are closely associated aspects of the life cycle of the fungal pathogen Ustilago maydis. In this fungus, the dimorphic switch from budding to filamentous growth coincides with the transition from non-pathogenic to pathogenic growth on maize. We have cloned and characterized the ukb1 gene that encodes a putative serine/threonine protein kinase with a role in budding and filamentous growth. Mutants defective in ukb1 were altered in bud site selection and produced lateral buds at a greater frequency than wild-type cells. Dikaryotic cells defective in ukb1 were capable of colonizing host tissue and growing with a filamentous morphology in planta. However, the mutants were incapable of inducing tumor formation and they failed to complete sexual development. In addition, the ukb1 gene influenced the ability of colonies to form aerial mycelia in response to environmental stimuli. Overall, the discovery of ukb1 reinforces the connection between morphogenesis and pathogenesis in U. maydis.

Genetic diversity of Chinese native chicken breeds based on protein polymorphism, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, and microsatellite polymorphism

Genetic diversity of Chinese native chicken breeds was investigated using protein polymorphism, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and microsatellite polymorphism. Imported broiler and layer breeds were also included in the analysis. The results from protein polymorphism did not show distinct differences between Chinese native chicken and imported broilers; however, there were small significant differences between these two types of chickens. The results from RAPD indicated that gene diversity within a population was large in Chinese native chickens, intermediate in broilers, and low in layers and that there were small differences between Chinese native chickens and both broilers and layers. A great difference between broilers and layers was observed. Microsatellite polymorphism data showed that genetic diversity was high in the Chinese native chickens and low in layers and that there was a close relationship between Chinese native chickens and broiler but a remote relationship between Chinese native chickens and layers. The wide genetic diversity of Chinese native breeds can meet different requirements of breeding for chicken quality in China.

Resuspension of DNA sequencing reaction products in agarose increases sequence quality on an automated sequencer

We are investigating approaches to increase DNA sequencing quality. Since a majorfactor in sequence generation is the cost of reagents and sample preparations, we have developed and optimized methods to sequence directly plasmid DNA isolated from alkaline lysis preparations. These methods remove the costly PCR and post-sequencing purification steps but can result in low sequence quality when using standard resuspension protocols on some sequencing platforms. This work outlines a simple, robust, and inexpensive resuspension protocol for DNA sequencing to correct this shortcoming. Resuspending the sequenced products in agarose before electrophoresis results in a substantial and reproducible increase in sequence quality and read length over resuspension in deionized water and has allowed us to use the aforementioned sample preparation methods to cut considerably the overall sequencing costs without sacrificing sequence quality. We demonstrate that resuspension of unpurified sequence products generated from template DNA isolated by a modified alkaline lysis technique in low concentrations of agarose yields a 384% improvement in sequence quality compared to resuspension in deionized water. Utilizing this protocol, we have produced more than 74,000 high-quality, long-read-length sequences from plasmid DNA template on the MegaBACET 1000 platform.

New variations in intron 4 of growth hormone gene in Chinese native chickens

Polymorphism in intron 4 of chicken growth hormone (cGH) gene was studied in 20 Chinese native chicken populations and broiler or layer populations. A total of eight restriction digestion profiles were identified in intron 4 and confirmed by sequencing. Among 20 populations, there were distinctively different allele numbers and frequencies of intron 4 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) between Chinese native chickens and broilers or layers. Two new alleles, allele D and allele E, were identified in Taihe Silkies. Allele D was also identified in other Chinese native breeds and a 50 bp fragment deletion was identified in allele E.

Estimation of the effective transversely isotropic elastic constants of a material from known values of the material's orthotropic elastic constants

A method is illustrated for determining the effective transversely isotropic (or isotropic) elastic constants from measured orthotropic elastic constants. This method consists of constructing upper and lower bounds on the effective transversely isotropic (or isotropic) elastic constants using the known orthotropic values. This method is illustrated using three sets of elastic constants for bone. Fortunately, the upper and lower bounds are very close. Thus very good approximations for the effective transversely isotropic (or isotropic) elastic constants for cortical and cancellous bone are obtained from previously published data on the orthotropic elastic constants for those tissue types. This work is undertaken to build a greater database for the transversely isotropic elastic constants of bone with the intention of employing them in a transversely isotropic model of bone poroelasticity. An interesting aspect of the present result is that the Voigt and Reuss bounds are very tight for these anisotropic materials. This is not always the case for these bounds.

Di- and triterpenoids from Tripterygium wilfordii

The ethanol extract of the dried root bark of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. afforded one new triterpene: 24, 29-dinor-D:A-friedoolean-4-en-2 beta, 6 alpha, 22 beta-trihydroxy-3, 21-dione, 6 alpha-hydroxy triptocalline 1; one new diterpenoid: 11, 16-dihydroxy-14-methoxy-18 (4-->3) abeo-abieta-3, 8, 11, 13-tetraene-18-oic acid, 16-hydroxy triptobenzene H 2; and one new diterpenoid alkaloid, triptotin J 3. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies.

The Effect of Solvent on Isomer Formation. Synthesis and Crystal Structures of CdII Complexes with 3-Nitrobenzoate and Thiourea

Two crystal forms of bis(3-nitrobenzoato)bis(thiourea)cadmium(II) were obtained by the reaction of Cd(NO3)2�4H2O, 3-nitrobenzoate (mNA) and thiourea (TU) from ethanol and water solutions, respectively. One is cube-shaped and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca and consists of discrete mononuclear molecules of bis(3-nitrobenzoato-O,O�)bis(thiourea)cadmium(II) (1). The other form is needle shaped and crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1–.It is comprised of discrete molecules of bis(3-nitrobenzoato-O,O�)bis(thiourea)cadmium(II) (2) and (3-nitrobenzoato-O,O�)(3-nitrobenzoato-O)bis(thiourea)cadmium(II) (3). (1), (2) and (3) are isomers, in which (1) may be regarded as a structural intermediate between (2) and (3) in the 'carboxylate shift' process. The formation of these isomers may be influenced by the solvent effect.

The murine cysteinyl leukotriene 2 (CysLT2) receptor. cDNA and genomic cloning, alternative splicing, and in vitro characterization

Two classes of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor, CysLT(1) and CysLT(2), have been identified and pharmacologically characterized in human tissues. Although the CysLT(1) receptor mediates the proinflammatory effects of leukotrienes in human asthma, the physiological roles of CysLT(2) receptor are not defined, and a suitable mouse model would be useful in delineating function. We report here the molecular cloning and characterization of the mouse CysLT(2) receptor (mCysLT(2)R) from heart tissue. mCysLT(2)R cDNA encodes a protein of 309 amino acids, truncated at both ends compared with the human ortholog (hCysLT(2)R). The gene resides on the central region of mouse chromosome 14 and is composed of 6 exons with the entire coding region located in the last exon. Two 5'-untranslated region splice variants were identified with the short form lacking exon 3 as the predominant transcript. Although the overall expression of mCysLT(2)R is very low, the highest expression was detected in spleen, thymus, and adrenal gland by ribonuclease protection assay, and discrete sites of expression in heart were observed by in situ hybridization. Intracellular calcium mobilization in response to cysteinyl leukotriene administration was detected in human embryonic kidney 293T cells transfected with recombinant mCysLT(2)R with a rank order of potency leukotriene C(4)(LTC(4) ) = LTD(4)>>LTE(4). [(3)H]LTD(4) binding to membranes expressing mCysLT(2)R could be effectively competed by LTC(4) and LTD(4) and only partially inhibited by LTE(4) and BAYu9773. The identification of mCysLT(2)R will be useful for establishing CysLT(2)R-deficient mice and determining novel leukotriene functions.

[Studies of intercellular communication in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines of different metastatic potential]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between intercellular communication and three human rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines of different metastatic potential.

METHODS

Indirect immunofluorescent staining and laser scanning confocal microscope (ISCM) were used to detect connexin 43 (CX43), a molecule related with gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to detect function of GJIC.

RESULTS

A high level of CX43 protein expression was revealed in normal human myoblasts. CX43 protein was mainly localized on the surface of cells and sometimes in cytoplasm. CX43 expression was decreased in RMS cells. Both the detection rates and fluorescent intensity of CX43 decreased when the metastatic potential of RMS increased (P < 0.05). In contrast to normal, the fluorescence recovery rates of the RMS cells decreased and there was a negative correlation between the function of GJIC and malignancy of RMS cell lines (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Varying degrees of GJIC inhibition may correlate with different metastatic potential of RMS. This may help to determine the malignant behavior of RMS and be used as a prognostic index of RMS.

The biology of bilirubin production

Heme oxygenase (HO), the rate-limiting enzyme in bilirubin production, has been identified from the late 1960s. This enzyme has been shown to have many other roles in recent years. The inducible form is regulated by oxidative stress, inflammation, and heavy metals, among others, and is cytoprotective in many instance. Nonetheless, there are instances when HO-1 can be deleterious due to the release of iron from the reaction. Another important by-product, carbon monoxide, is a vasodilator and a neurotransmitter and has been implicated in signal transduction pathways. More recently, nonenzymatic, signaling roles of HO have been suggested. This may serve to regulate the endogenous activity of this enzyme when cellular heme levels are low.

Relationship of large multifunctional proteasome 7 gene polymorphism with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus and DR3 gene

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship of the large multifunctional proteasome 7 (LMP7) gene polymorphism with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) and the DR3 gene in south Chinese Han population.

METHODS

LMP7 genotypes and the DR3 gene were identified in 71 DM-1 patients and 86 healthy persons (as controls) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. DM-1 patients and controls were divided into DR3-positive and DR3-negative subjects. The frequencies of LMP7 genotypes and alleles were compared between DM-1 patients and controls respectively in the random subjects and in the DR3-matched subjects. Furthermore, DM-1 patients were divided into 3 groups according to the age of diabetic onset: group A < or = 14 years, group B 15-30 years, group C > or = 31 years.

RESULTS

In the random subjects, the frequency of LMP7-B/B was lower (39% vs 58%, P < 0.05) and that of LMP7-B/A was higher (54% vs 31%, P < 0.01) in DM-1 patients than that in controls. In DR3-positive subjects, the frequencies of LMP7 genotypes and alleles showed no differences between DM-1 patients and controls. In DR3-negative subjects, the frequency of LMP7-B/B was decreased (40% vs 61%) and that of LMP7-B/A was increased (55% vs 28%, P < 0.01) in DM-1 patients. The frequencies of LMP7 genotypes and alleles showed no significant differences among different ages of diabetic onset.

CONCLUSIONS

LMP7-B/B may be the protective genotype, and LMP7-B/A may be the susceptible genotype of DM-1, and this may not be affected by the DR3 gene. Persons with LMP7-B/B may have a decreased risk, and those with LMP7-B/A have an increased risk suffering from DM-1. The LMP7 gene may not be associated with the age of diabetic onset.

Protection against tetanus by needle-free inoculation of adenovirus-vectored nasal and epicutaneous vaccines

The effectiveness of vaccination programs would be enhanced greatly through the availability of vaccines that can be administered simply and, preferably, painlessly without the need for timed booster injections. Tetanus is a prime example of a disease that is readily preventable by vaccination but remains a major threat to public health due to the problems associated with administration of the present vaccine. Here we show that a protective immune response against live Clostridium tetani infection in mice can be elicited by an adenovirus vector encoding the tetanus toxin C fragment when administered as a nasal or epicutaneous vaccine. The results suggest that these vaccination modalities would be effective needle-free alternatives. This is the first demonstration that absorption of a small number of vectored vaccines into the skin following topical application of a patch can provide protection against live bacteria in a disease setting.

[Differential expression of cyclins D1, E and A in human breast diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To understand with greater clearness the effect of overexpression of cyclins gene and the potential implications of it for tumorgenesis in breast.

METHODS

We assayed the expression of cyclins D1, E and A in different types of human breast diseases by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

Significant difference was seen among the malignant tumor, benign tumor and dysplasis(P < 0.001). The expressive intensity of above three kind of cyclins in malignant tumor was the highest, that in benign tumor was higher, and that in dysplasis was low.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the expressive intensity of cyclins gene may serve as an indicator for malignant intensity of tumors. The expressive ratio difference of cyclins E and A between infiltrating ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma may imply that there are different mechanisms involving the occurrence of different histological types of breast tumor.

In situ prostate cancer gene therapy using a novel adenoviral vector regulated by the caveolin-1 promoter

Caveolin-1, a structural component of caveolae, is overexpressed in metastatic and androgen-resistant prostate cancer and highly expressed in tumor-associated endothelial cells. The mouse cav-1 promoter was cloned and placed upstream of the HSV-tk gene in an adenoviral vector (Adcav-1tk) and compared with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter-driven HSV-tk, AdCMVtk and AdRSVtk vectors, respectively. Mouse and human prostate cancer cells and mouse endothelial cells were infected with Adcav-1tk, AdCMVtk or control vectors without the HSV-tk gene (Adcav-1 and AdCMV) and subsequently treated with ganciclovir (GCV). GCV-mediated in vitro cytotoxicity induced by the Adcav-1tk vector was comparable to that for AdCMVtk in multiple mouse and human prostate cancer cell lines. To evaluate the activity of Adcav-1tk in vivo, orthotopic mouse prostate cancer tumors were generated with RM-9 cells and injected in situ with Adcav-1tk, AdCMVtk, AdRSVtk, or AdCMVbetagal (control) and treated with GCV. All three HSV-tk transducing vectors produced statistically significant reductions in wet weight and increased apoptotic indices compared with the control vector. However, only Adcav-1tk produced significant necrosis, and only Adcav-1tk and AdRSVtk caused significant decreases in microvessel density. In conclusion, Adcav-1tk demonstrated efficacy in vitro and in vivo in preclinical models of prostate cancer. Our results suggest that the cav-1 promoter may have unique benefits in targeting gene therapy to prostate cancer and its associated vasculature.

[An experimental study on bone marrow purging in vitro for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of IL-2, IFN and bcr-abl AS-ODN on bone marrow purging in vitro for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

METHODS

By amplifying in vitro clone forming culture, and purging the bone marrow of 5 CML patients through different combined use of IL-2, IFN and bcr-abl AS-ODN, we compared the effects of 4 combined regimens.

RESULTS

It was found that the suppressive effects of the 4th regimen combining IL-2 (800 U/ml), IFN (800 u/ml) and bcr-abl AS-ODN (30 micrograms/ml) on leukemia cell clone forming unit (CFU) were significantly different from the suppressive effects of the other 3 regimens (P < 0.01). With the use of the 4th regimen, the GM-CFU and L-CFU survival rates were 26.91% and 3.49% respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The combined regimen of IL-2 (800 U/ml), IFN (800 u/ml) and bcr-abl AS-ODN (30 micrograms/ml) has good effect on selective CML bone marrow purging in vitro and can be used in clinical purging of CML bone marrow.