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The treatment regimens for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) dramatically changed over time. However, its survival trend, based on a large sample size has not been reported. Patients diagnosed with APL were accessed from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Their incidence and survival trend were evaluated in overall and subgroup levels. The overall incidence of APL increased with an annual percentage change of 5.5% from 1992 to 2006 and remained stable thereafter. In addition, the 5-year relative survival rates of APL improved significantly, from 12.3 to 32.2% to 59.5 to 72.1% over past four decades (p <.0001), sharing similar trend with different subgroups. Importantly, survival disparities exist among races and different socioeconomic status groups, with superior survival in whites and patients in low-poverty regions. Increasing incidence urges for increased awareness of clinicians over diagnosis of APL. In addition, a wider insurance coverage may help balance survival gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background aims. We investigated bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) transplantation combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) treatment in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Methods. AMI models were established in Sprague-Dawley rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and grouped into blank control (BC), ACEI treatment (ACEI), BMSC transplantation (BMSC) and BMSC transplantation plus ACEI (combined). Perindopril (2.5 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to ACEI and combined groups from the day after AMI. BMSC (2 × 108) were injected into the border of the MI area a week later in the BMSC and combined groups. Results. After 4 weeks, hemodynamics in the BMSC and combined groups were significantly improved ( P < 0.05 versus BC), with the greatest improvement in the combined group ( P < 0.05). In addition, an increased number of BMSC survived in the combined group ( P < 0.05 versus BMSC). A proportion of BMSC was positive for troponin T, as detected by immunofluorescence. The number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes was decreased in the BMSC and ACEI groups, and even further in the combined group ( P < 0.05). IGF-1 expression was up-regulated in the BMSC and combined groups ( P < 0.05 versus BC), but not in the ACEI group. B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression was up-regulated in the ACEI, BMSC and combined groups, with the highest expression in the combined group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions. Our results show that BMSC engrafted in AMI can survive well and secrete IGF-1 and preserve cardiac function significantly. These data suggest that BMSC transplantation inhibits apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression in the myocardium, and this effect might be sensitized by ACEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of Pneumocysis pneumonia (PCP) after renal transplantation has a great impact on early diagnosis and therapy, which could decrease its mortality. Due to a lack of characteristic clinical symptoms, imaging modalities became very important in the diagnosing PCP. Thirteen PCP patients after renal transplantation were reviewed. They underwent a series of chest radiographs and chest high-resolution CT scans. The common radiological presentations were bilateral diffuse symmetrical ground-glass and consolidation opacities, followed by pneumoceles or air-filled cysts or linear or reticular shadows. Ground-glass attenuations were showed clearly on HRCT in 13 patients, while only 6 on CXR. Pneumoceles or cysts (n = 8) were seen only on HRCT. Air-filled cysts or pneumoceles within bilateral diffuse symmetrical ground-glass and consolidation opacities may be the characteristic of this disease. If combined with clinical data, the diagnosis of PCP could be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a new form of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), optimizes the concept of computer-controlled radiation deposition in tumor (target) while sparing adjacent normal structures. A retrospective review was done on the initial 185 patients with tumors in different sites including prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, pediatric tumors, adult brain tumors, and previously irradiated recurrent tumors treated with IMRT. Preliminary findings indicate that IMRT is a new clinically feasible tool in radiation oncology. Treatment-related morbidity profile was favorable. Tumor response, local control, and the ability to palliate previously irradiated patients are encouraging. Intensity modulated radiation therapy will allow dose escalation, leading to better tumor control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]