Search

Chemical and topological parameters have been widely used for predicting the phase selection in high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Nevertheless, previous studies could be faulted due to the small number of available data points, the negligence of kinetic effects, and the insensitivity to small compositional changes. Here in this work, 92 TiZrHfM, TiZrHfMM, TiZrHfMMM (M = Fe, Cr, V, Nb, Al, Ag, Cu, Ni) HEAs were prepared by melt spinning, to build a reliable and sufficiently large material database to inspect the robustness of previously established parameters. Modification of atomic radii by considering the change of local electronic environment in alloys, was critically found out to be superior in distinguishing the formation of amorphous and crystalline alloys, when compared to using atomic radii of pure elements in topological parameters. Moreover, crystal structures of alloying element were found to play an important role in the amorphous phase formation, which was then attributed to how alloying hexagonal-close-packed elements and face-centered-cubic or body-centered-cubic elements can affect the mixing enthalpy. Findings from this work not only provide parametric studies for HEAs with new and important perspectives, but also reveal possibly a hidden connection among some important concepts in various fields.

The hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) activity in nine Asian countries/regions was surveyed to overview the current situation. Data of 58 113 HSCTs (allogeneic: 63% vs autologous: 37%) performed between 1986 and 2006 by 432 transplant teams were collected. The number of HSCTs has been increasing in the past two decades in most countries/regions. The increase in allogeneic HSCTs is greater than in autologous HSCTs. The proportion of unrelated donors among allogeneic HSCTs in 2006 varied widely from <1% (Iran and Vietnam) to 62% (Japan). The use of each stem cell source, that is, BM, PBSC, cord blood and others (including co-infusion of BM and PBSC), also varied widely (36, 58, 0.1 and 6% in HSCT from related donors, respectively, and 53, 11, 35 and 1% in HSCT from unrelated donors, respectively). HSCTs have been continuously increasing for all indications except for chronic myelogenous leukemia and solid tumors. Hemoglobinopathy is a common indication among non-malignant diseases in many Asian countries/regions except for China, Japan and Korea. This survey clearly shows the recent progress of HSCTs in Asia and also some differences in donor and stem cell selection and disease application among countries/regions.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and CMV reactivation were monitored in a cohort of 72 consecutive haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients using RQ-PCR and antigenaemia assay, respectively. The association between acute GVHD (aGVHD) and HHV-6B/CMV was evaluated. We found that on day 100 the cumulative incidence of grades I-IV aGVHD, grades II-IV aGVHD and grades III-IV aGVHD was 55.6, 27.8 and 13.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that HHV-6B reactivation was closely correlated with a higher probability of grade II-IV aGVHD by day 30 (Hazard ratio (HR), 8.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6-31.0; P=0.0006), by day 50 (HR, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.1-17.8; P=0.0010) and by day 100 (HR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7-13.6; P=0.0028). However, CMV reactivation did not significantly affect the development of aGVHD by day 50 (HR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.1-6.7; P=0.8236) and by day 100 (HR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.1-4.4; P=0.5330) after HSCT. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that active HHV-6B infection, but not CMV, is significantly associated with an increased risk of aGVHD development after HSCT.

Syngeneic BMT was first performed successfully in China in 1964. In 1981, allogeneic BMT was applied in an acute leukemia patient with success. Since then, the number of BMTs has been increasing gradually, especially since the 1990s. More than 2000 stem cell transplants per year have been performed in recent years in more than 50 BMT units in mainland China. A survey of 16 BMT units from 1986 to 2005 indicates that the predominant types of transplantation performed are identical sibling (36%), related mismatched/haploidentical (11.2%), unrelated (7.5%) and autologous (44.5%) and that the distribution of disease entities and prevalent diseases being transplanted are AML (31%), ALL (16.1%), CML (19.1%) and lymphoid malignancy (22.2%). The number of transplants from unrelated donor or related mismatched/haploidentical donor has increased significantly in the past 5 years. BM and G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood are used about equally often as a source of hematopoietic stem cells, or they are used in combination. Umbilical cord blood is used least often. Leukemias for allogeneic and lymphoid malignancies for autologous BMT continue to increase, but the increase in BMT for CML has been slow since 2004. By the end of 2007, HLA data were available on more than 700,000 individuals in the Chinese Marrow Donor Program, and 800 stem cell donations have been carried out from these. Related HLA-mismatched/haploidentical BMT has achieved comparable outcomes in terms of severe acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, relapse, treatment-related mortality, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with HLA-identical sibling transplantation in the author's two BMT units. Cord blood co-infusion as the third-party cells could significantly reduce the incidence and severity of acute GVHD, steroid-refractory acute GVHD and extensive chronic GVHD without an increase in leukemia relapse and could improve DFS and OS.

Many patients who require allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) lack a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor. Here, we report a protocol for haploidentical allo-HSCT that combines granulocyte-colony stimulating factor primed bone marrow (G-BM) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) without in vitro T-cell depletion (TCD). In this study, 171 patients, including 86 in high-risk group, underwent transplantation from haploidentical family donors. All patients achieved sustained, full donor chimerism. One hundred and eleven patients were alive in remission at a median of 682 (253-1502) days. The cumulative incidence of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 23% and that of extensive chronic GVHD, 47%; these were not influenced by HLA disparity. Patients younger than 15 years had less grade III-IV acute GVHD than older patients (P=0.044). The 2-year probability of relapse was 12% for standard-risk disease and 39% for high-risk disease. The 2-year probability of leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 68% for standard-risk patients and 42% for high-risk patients (P=0.0009). Grade III-IV acute GVHD was associated with better LFS (P=0.0017). The results require confirmation and show that G-BM combined with PBSC from haploidentical family donors, without in vitro TCD, may be used as a good source of stem cells for allo-HSCT.

Expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, CD44, CD49d (VLA-4, alpha chain), and CD11a (LFA-1, alpha chain) on mouse oocytes, and pre- and peri-implantation stage embryos was examined by quantitative indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. ICAM-1 was most strongly expressed at the oocyte stage, gradually declining almost to undetectable levels by the expanded blastocyst stage. NCAM, also expressed maximally on the oocyte, declined to undetectable levels beyond the morula stage. On the other hand, CD44 declined from highest expression at the oocyte stage to show a second maximum at the compacted 8-cell/morula. This molecule exhibited high expression around contact areas between trophectoderm and zona pellucida during blastocyst hatching. CD49d was highly expressed in the oocyte, remained significantly expressed throughout and after blastocyst hatching was expressed on the polar trophectoderm. Like CD44, CD49d declined to undetectable levels at the blastocyst outgrowth stage. Expression of both VCAM-1 and CD11a was undetectable throughout. The diametrical temporal expression pattern of ICAM-1 and NCAM compared to CD44 and CD49d suggest that dynamic changes in expression of adhesion molecules may be important for interaction of the embryo with the maternal cellular environment as well as for continuing development and survival of the early embryo.

Bone marrow transplantation, both allogeneic and autologous, has been undertaken in People's Republic of China (PRC) since the beginning of 1980s at a steadily increasing rate. Eight BMT units can be regarded as active. Altogether 230 cases of allogeneic- and syngeneic-BMT have been reported to the Chinese BMT Registry (CBMTR) by the end of October 1993. More than 85% of the cases were acute or chronic leukemia. The incidence of acute grade II-IV GVHD was 29.5% in matched sibling BMT. The special problems of BMT in China include decreasing family size, financial difficulties and relatively high incidence of various viral infections. A number of unique approaches to treatment have been tested with benefit including mixed infusion of fetal cells for prophylaxis of acute GVHD and intravenous placental globulin for the treatment of chronic GVHD. Garlic ingredient has been shown to be effective against CMV and has been used in the clinic with encouraging results. The overall outcome of allogeneic and autologous BMT are comparable to those in the other major BMT centers in the world.