Search

Background: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibition has shown durable response and mild adverse events (AEs) in adult malignancies. However, data on the clinical activity of PD-1 inhibition in pediatric patients are lacking. We comprehensively assessed the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitor-based regimens for pediatric malignancies. Methods: We conducted a real-world, multi-institutional, retrospective analysis of pediatric malignancies treated with PD-1 inhibitor-based regimens. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints included disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), and AEs. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate PFS and DOR. The National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for AEs (version 5.0) were used to grade toxicity. Results: A total of 93 and 109 patients were evaluated for efficacy and safety, respectively. For all efficacy-evaluable patients, PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy, combined chemotherapy, combined histone deacetylase inhibitor, and combined vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor cohorts, the ORR and DCR were 53.76%/81.72%, 56.67%/83.33%, 54.00%/80.00%, 100.00%/100.00%, and 12.50%/75.00%, respectively; the median PFS and DOR were 17.6/31.2 months, not achieved/not achieved, 14.9/31.2 months, 17.6/14.9 months, and 3.7/1.8 months, respectively; the incidence rate of AEs were 83.49%, 55.26%, 100.00%, 80.00%, and 100.00%, respectively. One patient in the PD-1 inhibitor-combined chemotherapy cohort discontinued treatment due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Conclusions: This largest retrospective analysis demonstrate that PD-1 inhibitor-based regimens are potentially effective and tolerable in pediatric malignancies. Our findings provide references for future clinical trials and practice of PD-1 inhibitors in pediatric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of forest biomass in a river basin usually has obvious spatial heterogeneity in relation to the locations of the upper and lower reaches of the basin. In the subtropical region of China, a large amount of forest biomass, comprising diverse forest types, plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the regional carbon cycle. However, accurately estimating forest ecosystem aboveground biomass density (AGB) and mapping its spatial variability at a scale of river basin remains a great challenge. In this study, we attempted to map the current AGB in the Xiangjiang River Basin in central southern China. Three approaches, including a multivariate linear regression (MLR) model, a logistic regression (LR) model, and an improved k-nearest neighbors (kNN) algorithm, were compared to generate accurate estimates and their spatial distribution of forest ecosystem AGB in the basin. Forest inventory data from 782 field plots across the basin and remote sensing images from Landsat 5 in the same period were combined. A stepwise regression method was utilized to select significant spectral variables and a leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) technique was employed to compare their predictions and assess the methods. Results demonstrated the high spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of AGB across the basin. Moreover, the improved kNN algorithm with 10 nearest neighbors showed stronger ability of spatial interpolation than other two models, and provided greater potential of accurately generating population and spatially explicit predictions of forest ecosystem AGB in the complicated basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 60 years from the founding of New China, the form of China's socialism has achieved great changes and it realizes a historic leap from "revolution-oriented ideology" to "construction-oriented ideology", to which Mao Ze-dong, Deng Xiao-ping, Jiang Ze-min and Hu Jin-tao has made great contributions. The setting up, improvement and the development of theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fruit of the great leap, embodying new contents with Chinese elements and with the spirit of the times to scientific socialism of Marxism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with isolated 13q deletion (13q-), those carrying higher percentage of leukemic cells with 13q- had more aggressive diseases. However, the prognostic value of the percentage of leukemic cells with 13q- in Chinese CLL patients with isolated 13q- remained to be determined. Using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we identified 82 patients (25.4%) with isolated 13q deletion from a cohort of 323 untreated CLL patients. Among patients with isolated 13q deletion, cases of 13q- cells ≥ 80% (13q-H) had significantly shorter time to first treatment (TTT) than those of < 80% 13q- cells (13q-L) (median 11 vs. 92 months, p = 0.0016). A higher lymphocyte count (p = 0.0650) was associated with 13q-H, while other clinical, immunophenotypic, or molecular features did not differ between patients with 13q-H and 13q-L. Although 13q-H only showed marginal significance in multivariate analysis of TTT (hazards ratio 2.007; 95% confidence interval 0.975-4.129; p = 0.059), it helped refine the risk stratification based on Binet stage or immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene (IGHV) status. In cases in Binet A or B stage, patients with 13q-H had a significantly shorter TTT (median TTT 18 months vs. undefined, p = 0.0101). And in IGHV mutated patients, 13q-H was also associated with reduced TTT (median TTT 13q-H. 18 months vs. 13q-L undefined, p = 0.0163). In conclusion, the prognosis of CLL patients with isolated 13q deletion was heterogeneous with 13q-H identifying patients with worse outcome.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patients with DLBCL harboring MYC aberrations concurrent with BCL2 or/and BCL6 aberrations constitute a specific group with extremely poor outcome. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the incidence and prognosis of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 aberrations with DLBCL patients in Chinese population. We applied fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis in 246 DLBCL patients. The results showed that patients with MYC or BCL2 copy number aberration (CNA) had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than negative cases (P < 0.0001). Patients with both MYC and BCL2 CNA had similar outcomes to those with classic double hit lymphoma or protein double expression lymphoma (MYC and BCL2/BCL6 coexpression). By multivariate analysis, MYC CNA, BCL2 CNA and double CNA were the independent worse prognostic factors. In conclusions, patients with MYC or BCL2 CNA constituted a unique group with extremely poor outcome and may require more aggressive treatment regimens.

When we simulated backscattering coefficients (b(bp)) using quasi-analytical algorithm and optical closure theory, it was found that the position of reference wavelength (lambda(0)) had great impact on final results. In order to identify influence factors of the optimum lambda(0), datasets of Lake Taihu, Lake Chaohu and Lake Dianchi were used. After simulating of b(bp), the relationship between optimum lambda(0) and associated water quality parameters were analyzed. Meanwhile, power functions were utilized to model b(bp) spectra, and spectral slope parameters of Lake Taihu, Lake Chaohu and Lake Dianchi were 2.643 +/- 0.317, 2.719 +/- 0.242, 1.638 +/- 0.534, respectively. The results indicate that: (1) When the whole lakes are taken as objects of study, the lambda(0) should be changed to longer wavelength with the increasing of total suspended particle matter concentration (c(SPM)), suspended organic particle matter concentration (c(SPOM)) and chlorophyll a concentration (c(CHL)), the optimum location of lambda(0) of Lake Taihu is 695 nm, Lake Chaohu is 720 nm and Lake Dianchi is 730 nm; (2) When the samples in lakes are taken as objects of study, the influence factors are different due to the complexity of optical properties of inland waters. But it is to be noted that, c(SPM) is a key factor in common. Besides, the regularity mentioned above should be weakened with high c(CHL). (3) The relationship between b(bp) and c(SPM) is much stronger in the waters with suspended particles dominated by inorganic particles, in Lake Taihu, for example, relationship between these two variables is strong with R2 = 0.852.

A field investigation in Lake Dianchi was carried out in November, 2009, and a dataset including absorption coefficients and concentration of water components was collected. Absorption properties and its spatial distribution of Lake Dianchi have been systematically analyzed, the results show that: (1) Absorption spectral curve of total particles (a(p)) are similar with that of phytoplankton (a(ph)), which indicates that phytoplankton absorption dominates absorption of total suspended particles; (2) Significant relationships are found between a(ph) (440), a(ph) (624), a(ph) (675) and concentration of chla, and cyanophyta dominats the quantity of the algae in water columns; (3) There are more phytoplankton existed in northern lake than other areas because of higher level of eutrophication. Comparing with other water columns, discrepancies mainly appear as below: (1) The mean value of slope of absorption spectral curve of non-algal particles (S(d)) in Lake Dianchi is much bigger than that in other case-II waters; (2) The mean value of slope of absorption spectral curve of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) S(g) in Lake Dianchi is much smaller than that in other case-II waters; (3) Specific absorption of phytoplankton (a(ph)*) at 440 nm and 675 nm is at intermediate level, and a(ph)* value is susceptible to different regions, seasons, population structure of phytoplankton and so on.

Backscattering rate is the important factor of above water spectra. A bio-optical model simplified in near-infrared bands was constructed to estimate backscattering rate in Lake Chaohu by using the in-situ data measured in June 2009. The results show that the maximum value of backscattering rate in Lake Chaohu is 0.059, the minimum value is 0.001 4 and the mean value is 0.023 6. Backscattering rate and spatial differences in the west of Lake Chaohu are all greater than that in the east. In addition, particle refractive index of each sampling site was calculated by using backscattering rate. The dominant factors of in-water particles were determined according to the change scopes of refractive index. The results show that 74% of all sampling sites are dominated by inorganic particles, 18.5% of all sampling sites are dominated by both phytoplankton and inorganic particles, and the rest of sampling sites which accounts only for 7.4% of all sampling sites are dominated by phytoplankton. This indicates that backscattering character of Chaohu Lake is mainly affected by inorganic particles, while the effect of algae particle is relatively small.

Supported by geographic information system and geostatistics, the application of fuzzy mathematics and analytic hierarchy process for water eutrophication evaluation was discussed. Taking Taihu Lake as an example, the research selected total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll a, COD, BOD5, DO and transparence as evaluation index. After geostatistical analysis of the datum of monitoring site, the values of evaluation indices were estimated in the whole research area. Given that, the different dependence functions were developed for these indices and the function values were calculated. Furthermore, according to the principle of analytic hierarchy process, the weight of every index was calculated, then integrated evaluation value was obtained for the whole research area and the evaluation map for water eutrophication was drawn. The result shows that the level of nutrition is the highest in the north and north-west of lake, which is hypertrophic, that is meso-eutrophic in the middle and that is the lowest in the south-east of lake, which is mesotrophic.