We used a novel NF-08-TM transplant protocol based on intravenous busulfan, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and thiotepa in 82 consecutive patients with ␤-thalassemia major (TM), including 52 with allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from unrelated donors (UDs) with well-matched human leukocyte antigens and 30 with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from matched sibling donors (MSDs). The median age at transplantation was 6.0 years (range, 0.6-15.0 years), and the ratio of male-to-female patients was 56:26. The median follow-up time was 24 months (range, 12-39 months). The estimated 3-year overall survival and TMfree survival were 92.3% and 90.4% in the UD-PBSCT group and 90.0% and 83.3% in the MSD-HSCT group. The cumulative incidences of graft rejection and grades III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease were 1.9% and 9.6%, respectively, in the UD-PBSCT group and 6.9% and 3.6%, respectively, in the MSD-HSCT group. The cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality was 7.7% in the UD-PBSCT group and 10.0% in the MSD-HSCT group. In conclusion, UD-PBSCTs using the welltolerated NF-08-TM protocol show similar results to MSD-HSCTs and can be used to treat ␤-thalassemia patients in the absence of MSDs. (Blood. 2012;120(19): 3875-3881)

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Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is considered as a promising anticancer agent, it induced apoptosis in cancer cells selectively without damaging the normal tissue cells. However, the resistance of cancer cells to TRAIL limits its application. Since the cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to be responsible for the treatment failure in multiple cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the aim of this study was to investigate the strategies to increase the sensitivity of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) to TRAIL. In the present study, we observed significant upregulation of miR-25 in LCSCs compared with the non-CSCs. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of miR-25 by its antisense oligonucleotide (anti‑miR-25) significantly increased the sensitivity of LCSCs to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The gene of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), which is a natural inhibitor of PI3K, was found to be directly regulated by miR-25 in HepG2‑CSCs. We demonstrated that knockdown of miR-25 increased the expression of PTEN. Mechanistically, inhibition of Bad phosphorylation, which is regulated by the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway, is essential for the functional roles of anti-miR-25 in HepG2-CSCs. In conclusion, our findings indicate that overexpression of miR-25 is associated with the low-sensitivity to TRAIL in LCSCs. Knockdown of miR-25 may represent a potential strategy for increasing the efficacy of TRAIL by targeting the PTEN/PI3K/Akt/Bad signaling pathway.

Gefitinib is a first line anti-tumor drug used for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations. However, the drug resistance to gefitinib limits its clinical application. Here, we observed the CSCs of PC9 are obviously resistant to gefitinib compared with the non-CSCs. Furthermore, we found the gefitinib failed to suppress the PI3K/AKT pathway in the PC9-CSCs. Mechanically, we showed significant down-regulation of miR-128 in the PC9-CSCs compared with the non-CSCs. Overexpression of miR-128 significantly increased the sensitivity of PC9-CSCs to gefitinib-induced apoptosis. In addition, the gene of c-met was proved to be directly inhibited by miR-128. Enforced expression of c-met could “rescue” the miR-128 promoted apoptosis and cleavage of caspases in PC9-CSCs treated with gefitinib. Thus, these results indicate that the miR-128/c-met pathway enhances the gefitinib sensitivity of the lung cancer stem cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background & Aims Little is known about aetiology and morbidity and clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae. Methods An analysis between pyogenic liver abscess patients caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates and those caused by non‐extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae was performed. Results Among 817 pyogenic liver abscess patients, there were 176 patients (21.5%) with pyogenic liver abscess of biliary origin, and 67 pyogenic liver abscess patients (8.2%) caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates (mainly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Of 176 pyogenic liver abscess patients related to biliary disorders, there were 48 pyogenic liver abscess patients (27.3%) caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae. Within 67 pyogenic liver abscess patients caused by Enterobacteriaceae expressing extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases, the occurrences of 48 pyogenic liver abscess patients (71.6%) were associated with biliary disorders. When compared with pyogenic liver abscess patients caused by non‐extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae, there were significantly greater incidences of polymicrobial infections, bacteremia, pulmonary infection, recurrence and death in pyogenic liver abscess patients caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae. Carbapenems remain mainstay drugs against extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Independent risk factors for occurrence of pyogenic liver abscess caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae were biliary disorders including extra‐ and intrahepatic cholangiolithiasis and an abnormal bilioenteric communication between bile and gut, a treatment history of malignancy such as operation and chemotherapy, pulmonary infection, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions Pyogenic liver abscess caused by extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates mainly occurs in patients with biliary disorders or with a treatment history of malignancy. The mainstay of treatment remains carbapenems in combination with adequate aspiration or drainage.