Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterised by the translocation of regions of the BCR and ABL genes, leading to the fusion gene BCR-ABL forming the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. Vinblastine (Vinb) and Vincristine (Vinc) are Vinca alkaloids and frequently used in combination chemotherapy in leukemias and lymphomas. Deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) genes such as A20, Otubain 1 and CYLD are known as inhibitors of functional activation of immune cells mediated through the NF-κB/STAT pathway. Little is known about the regulatory role of Vinb/Vinc on the function of CML cells and the contribution of the DUBs to those effects. In the end, the gene expression profile was determined by quantitative RT-PCR, physiological properties of CML cells by flow cytometry and cytokine production by ELISA. As a result, inactivated expression of the DUBs A20, CYLD, Otubain 1 and Cezanne and enhanced activation of CD11b+ and CD4T cells were observed in CML patients. Importantly, Vinc enhanced the expression of A20 and CYLD and inhibited the proliferation and survival of CML (K562) cells. The effects were abolished in the presence of A20 siRNA, while cell proliferation only depended on the presence of CYLD. In conclusion, the up-regulation of A20 by Vinc could involve inhibitory effects on the proliferation and survival of K562 cells. The events might contribute to the anticancer effect of Vinc on A20-sensitive CML cells.

We investigated changes in some laboratory indices and the liver histology of chronic hepatitis patients who were exposed to dioxin. In 2014, we collected liver biopsy samples for histopathological examination from 33 chronic hepatitis patients living around the Da Nang Airbase, which is a dioxin-contaminated area due to the herbicide spraying in Vietnam. Dioxin exposure was measured by its levels in the blood. METAVIR classification was used to clarify the liver fibrosis stage. Laboratory tests included ten biochemical and six hematological indices that were measured in the blood. A regression linear model and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. The observed alterations in the liver at the histological level mainly comprised hydropic degenerative hepatocytes, lymphocytes and polynuclear leukocytes surrounding the liver cells and granular and lipoic degeneration. In addition, increased TCDD levels were associated with increasing aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, protein and total bilirubin levels and liver fibrosis stage. Similarly, increased TEQ-PCDD/Fs levels were associated with higher levels of AST and protein and liver fibrosis stage. In conclusion, dioxin exposure altered the liver histology and increased some biochemical marker indices and the liver fibrosis stage of chronic hepatitis patients living in dioxin-contaminated areas in Da Nang, Vietnam.

(1) Background: In Vietnam, H. pylori bacteria has a resistance rate of 63% to the antibiotic clarithromycin. The initial therapy of H. pylori eradication with a standard three-drug regimen has low efficacy. Objective: Assess the efficacy of H. pylori eradication therapy which uses a four-drug regimen of rabeprazole–bismuth–tetracycline–tinidazole in patients with duodenal ulcers. (2) Methods: We performed gastrointestinal endoscopy on patients with a diagnosis of duodenal ulcers, gastric mucosa biopsy for a rapid urease test, and histopathology to diagnose H. pylori bacteria before and after treatment. Treatment for eradication of H. pylori bacteria using a rabeprazole–bismuth–tetracycline–tinidazole regimen was prescribed for 14 days. (3) Results: The rate of successful H. pylori eradication treatment according to per protocol (PP) and intention to treat (ITT) was 91.3% (95%CI: 84.8–96.7) and 82.4% (95%CI: 74.5–89.2) respectively. The success rate of H. pylori eradication therapy in males was 96.0% (95%CI: 92–100), higher than in females, which was 70.6% (95%CI: 47.1–88.2), p < 0.01. (4) Conclusions: Treatment of H. pylori with rabeprazole–bismuth–tetracycline–tinidazole regimen is highly effective. Men had higher H. pylori eradication results than women.

Background: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a rare B-cell malignant neoplasm, characterized by the presence of rare mononucleated Hodgkin and multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (HRS). CD34+ cells are highly expressed on lymphoma stem cells in bone marrow (BM). Little is known about gene mutations in BM CD34+ cells of cHL. In this study, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed and high-frequency mutation genes were examined through their expression levels. Materials and Methods: The influence of the variants on protein function was predicted with in silico tools or public databases. Gene expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: WES assay from BM CD34+ cells in thirty cHL patients revealed that three variants were detected in known cHL-associated genes, including NCF1 (13.33%), MMP9 (3.33%), and VDR (3.33%). We also observed other candidate genes including CNN2 rs77830704 (76.67%), CNN2 rs78386506 (63.33%), MUC4 p.Y3278_Q3209Del (66.67%), MUC4 p.P1076_P1124Del (33.33%), MUC4 rs748236754 (26.67%), MUC4 p.P1609Ins (23.33%), MUC4 rs748705487 (20%), MUC4 p.P4121_P4137Del (16.67%), MTSS2 rs531163149 (13.33%), KMT2C rs201834857 (20%), HAVCR2 rs184868814 (16.67%), and TCF19 rs541001159 (13.33%). Moreover, the low levels of MUC4 were associated with an increase in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the low CNN2 expression group had higher levels of LDH, suggesting that the low expressions of CNN2 and MUC4 might be important risk factors for poor prognosis in cHL. Conclusions: WES revealed significantly mutated genes, most of which were associated with the physiological activation of lymphoma cells. This finding contributed to the identification of novel gene variants that might impact on the function of BM CD34+ cells in cHL patients.