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Biomedical subjects

F Duru

Publications and source records attributed to F Duru.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Soluble L-selectin increases in the cerebrospinal fluid prior to meningeal involvement in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Soluble L-selectin was determined in the CSF samples of 20 children with CNS leukemia at the time they had blasts in CSF and/or clinical findings of CNS involvement; 17 CSF fluid samples were obtained from 17 of these 20 children, 29-91 days before the appearance of CSF cytological and/or clinical findings of CNS involvement; while 15 CSF samples were withdrawn from among the same group of children, after treatment of meningeal leukemia. In addition, CSF sL-selectin was also assayed in 17 children with ALL, who remained in complete remission at least for a year and, as controls, in 12 children without malignant or meningeal disorders. There was no significant difference in CSF sL-selectin levels between the children with ALL without evidence of meningeal involvement and the controls (1.34 +/- 0.21 ng/ml, 1.46 +/- 0.18 ng/ml respectively, p > 0.05). However, in children with CNS leukemia, not only at the time CNS involvement was diagnosed, but also 29-91 days before the diagnosis of CNS leukemia, the concentrations of the CSF sL-selectin (12.41 +/- 2.14 ng/ml, 7.70 +/- 1.60 ng/ml respectively) were significantly higher than those in controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 respectively). After treatment and disappearance of the blasts in CSF, sL-selectin was found to be decreased and even normalized in the majority of children who had meningeal involvement (2.87 +/- 2.14 ng/ml). In 5 children, the CSF sL-selectin remained high, after the blasts in CSF had disappeared and CNS leukemia recurred within 3 months in 4 of these 5 children. In conclusion, assay of sL-selectin in CSF seems to be a good diagnostic tool in the detection of CNS involvement in children with ALL. This method may also be used as an indicator, in prediction of the CNS leukemia, which is going to develop.

Adolescent↗

Coexistence of life threatening chemotherapy related leukoencephalopathy, saggital sinus thrombosis and multiple organ failure in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an unusual case with clinical recovery.

A nine-year old girl with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had acute severe neurologic complications at the end of the remission-induction chemotherapy course. Thirty-six hours following triple intrathecal (IT) therapy and intravenous (IV) administration of L-asparaginase (L-asp), tetraplegia developed and she became unconscious. She had bouts of hypertension and persistent tachycardia unresponsive to digitalis therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple brain white matter hyperintensities and filling defects in the saggital sinus, suggesting thrombosis. Over the 40 days, in addition to her neurologic compromise she also had transient diabetes mellitus, severe hyperlipidemia, hypoproteinemia and edema, liver and heart failure and staphylococcus aureus sepsis with prolonged bone marrow depression. Despite, coexistence of all these chemotherapy related complications, her neurologic functions and multiple organ failure improved gradually. After a 70 days' period of interruption, chemotherapy was resumed and continued without any further complications. Although, the etiology of her extensive sensitivity to some drugs remains unclear, we believe that it is important to document these unusual events in this child.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Cardiac arrhythmias--ECG and electrophysiologic assessment].

The 12-lead resting surface ECG plays a major role in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. As a screening method, it provides important information about the cardiac rhythm and possible underlying heart diseases. It enables interpretation of possible arrhythmia mechanisms, especially if the recording is obtained at the time of the rhythm disorder. Since rhythm disorders exhibit spontaneous variability, event recorders and Holter monitoring are very helpful complementary noninvasive tools in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, Holter ECG can be used in monitoring the response to antiarrhythmic agents and in risk stratification of arrhythmias in certain cardiac disease states. Physical exercise, by inducing physiological and pathophysiological changes, may provoke arrhythmias, which forms the basis of exercise-stress testing. Stress testing may also be indicated when antiarrhythmic agents are initiated or therapy altered. Electrophysiological Study (EPS) is a time-consuming and costly investigation, which in general is reserved for further evaluation of tachyarrhythmias, conduction disturbances and syncope of unknown origin and routinely performed prior to radiofrequency ablation. EPS should only be performed in tertiary-care centers by well-trained and experienced cardiac electrophysiologists.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Production of granulocyte colony stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor alpha during remission and infections in patients with acute leukemia.

We measured circulating serum levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating comparable to the levels of these factors in 12 children with acute febrile infections without malignancy or hematological disorders and 15 age matched healthy controls. There were significantly elevated levels of G-CSF, GM-CSF and TNF alpha, in 12 children with infections without leukemia, as compared with controls. Also in 18 leukemic children with infections serum G-CSF and TNF alpha levels were significantly higher than those in the leukemic children without infection and healthy controls, whereas no significant difference was noted in the GM-CSF levels in these groups. Although elevation in TNF alpha levels in response to infections were similar in the children with and without leukemia, in the G-CSF levels lower elevation was noted in the leukemic children with infections as compared to the children with infections without leukemia. Despite leukopenia enhanced the production of G-CSF, even in leukopenic children with leukemia and infections, serum G-CSF levels were still lower than those for the children with infections without leukemia. We concluded that, the production of G-CSF and GM-CSF as a response to infection was deficient in the patients with acute leukemia in remission, probably due to the maintenance and reinforcement chemotherapy. Therefore, the use of recombinant G-CSF may be recommended in the infections of these patients.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of corticosteroids in hereditary spherocytosis.

Prednisolone was administered to three children with hereditary spherocytosis. At the time corticosteroid therapy was started, two of the patients were suffering from severe hemolytic anemia and the 3rd patient had partially recovered from hemolytic anemia after splenectomy. All of the patients prednisolone produced a remarkable increase in the hemoglobin levels with a concomitant increase in reticulocyte counts. We conclude that corticosteroids might stimulate erythropoiesis and may be an alternative therapy to red cell transfusion in pre-operative states for patients with hereditary spherocytosis.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

The effect of high-dose methylprednisolone combined chemotherapy on CD34-positive cells in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The expression of CD34 antigen on the surface of bone marrow cells during remission induction was studied in 27 selected acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who were CD34 negative at presentation and were stratified to receive high-dose methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg/day po) or conventional-dose prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day po). Patients received either induction with L-Asparaginase, vincristine (VCR), and high-dose methylprednisolone [HDMP, 30 mg/kg/day po for 1 week, 20 mg/kg/day po for 1 week, and 20 mg/kg/day po every other day for 2 more weeks (20 patients)], or identical induction in which HDMP was replaced by prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day by mouth for 4 weeks (8 patients). Bone marrow cells from all patients were studied 1,2, and 4 weeks after initiation of treatment for expression of the CD34 antigen using a three-step indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique. In the 20 patients with ALL who received HDMP the percentage of normal bone marrow cells expressing CD34 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the 8 patients who did not receive HDMP. The mean percentage of CD34-positive bone marrow cells during the fourth week was 17.2% in patients with ALL who received HDMP, whereas patients who received 2 mg/kg prednisolone per day had only 6.1% CD34 cells in the marrow. Absolute polymorphonuclear leukocyte (pmnl) count was also significantly higher in the patients who received HDMP in the second and third week of therapy [(absolute pmnl count was 2197.7/mm3 in the second week and 4091.8/mm3 in the fourth week in the patients who received HDMP compared to 974.4/mm3 and 1556.5/mm3 in the patients who did not receive HDMP) (p < 0.05)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Chronic autoimmune hemolytic anemia in children: a report of four patients.

Four children, ages seven to ten years, with direct antiglobulin test (DAT)-positive chronic hemolytic anemia are presented. The patients were followed for 3 to 10 years. Autoantibody against red cell antigens was nonspecific IgG type in all of the patients. In one of the four patients, anemia was associated with splenomegaly and jaundice. In this patient, the third component of the complement was also detected on the red cell surface. In one patient, serum IgA deficiency and frequent pulmonary infections were associated with the disease. This patient developed rheumatoid arthritis five years after diagnosis of hemolytic anemia. The third patient initially had thrombocytopenia subsequently developed DAT-positive hemolytic anemia, vitiligo and alopecia without any evidence of serologic changes suggestive of collagen vascular disorders. In these three patients, partial response was obtained with steroid therapy. The fourth patient developed DAT-positive hemolytic anemia twice during the five year follow-up period. Anemia resolved completely with steroid therapy in two months during the first episode, and in five months in the second. Generalized and peripheral lymphadenopathies which developed at the time of the second hemolytic anemia episode have persisted for the last three years. Administration of cyclosporine in two of the four patients did not result in any amelioration of the symptoms.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Homozygosity for dominant form of hereditary spherocytosis.

A 6-month-old male infant with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) who was the first child of a cousin marriage is presented. The patient had splenomegaly and severe anaemia. Examination of the peripheral blood smear revealed spherocytes and the osmotic fragility of red blood cells was greatly increased. Physical examination of the parents revealed that both parents had mild anaemia, jaundice and splenomegaly. Their peripheral blood smears showed spherocytes and a few acanthocytes. Osmotic fragility of red blood cells of both parents were increased. Red cell membrane electrophoresis indicated a deficiency of ankyrin in the propositus; mild deficiency was also detected in both parents. Electrophoretic patterns of red cell membrane proteins suggested that the child was homozygous for the dominant form of HS associated with ankyrin deficiency, while both parents had the simple dominant form of the disease. Red blood cell transfusions were given to the patient starting at the age of 1 month until splenectomy was performed at the age of 1 year that resulted in complete haematological response. This observation indicates that homozygosity for dominant type of HS associated with ankyrin deficiency is life compatible and splenectomy may cure the anaemia.

Ankyrins↗

Serum levels and differential expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in childhood leukemia and malignant lymphoma: prognostic importance and relationship with survival.

Serum levels and leukemic cell-tumor tissue expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1/CD 54) were detected in 54 children with acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma. Serum samples were obtained from all patients before treatment and after cessation of the therapy from malignant lymphoma cases and during remission from leukemic patients. Twelve age-matched healthy children were included as a control group. The serum ICAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Hodgkin's disease (HD) than those in the control group (median values: 350.9, 286.4, and 138.4 ng/mL, respectively; P < .01 in each comparison). However, there were no significant differences concerning serum ICAM-1 levels between the control group and each of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) case groups (median values: 235.7, 222.7, 195.9, and 138.4 ng/mL, respectively; P > .05 in each comparison). Moreover, serum soluble ICAM-1 levels significantly declined in ALL or HD patients who were in complete remission (median values: 185.0 and 145.4 ng/mL, respectively; P < .05 in each comparison). In HD patients high levels of serum ICAM-1 could be correlated with high ESR (P < .01), whereas no statistically significant difference could be found when serum ICAM-1 titers were compared with stages, B symptoms, and histological subgroups, probably because of the inadequate number of patients in each group. Expression of ICAM-1 was mainly attributed to lymphocytes, vessels, and weakly to Hodgkin's cells, and this was significantly high in patients who were in advanced stages of disease. High serum sICAM-1 level was also associated with poor outcome and survival. Determination of serum level and/or tumor tissue expression of ICAM-1 in HD and ALL might represent an additional, but probably not independent, disease-associated marker to be used in the evaluation and/or monitoring of treatment response in patients with HD and ALL.

Acute Disease↗

Reevaluation of iron absorption and serum ferritin in beta-thalassemia intermedia.

In order to reassess the need for iron chelation therapy in nontransfused patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia, serum ferritin level and ferrous iron absorption from the gastrointestinal system were measured in 43 (23 male and 20 female) patients (mean age 13.4 +/- 7.5). The mean hemoglobin value was 8.6 +/- 1.3 g/dL and serum ferritin 303 +/- 207 ng/mL. Absorption of ferrous iron salt was determined in 21 patients by measuring serum iron before and 3 hours after giving ferrous salt orally at 1 mg/kg. The means of the increase in serum iron values were 39 +/- 45, 105 +/- 46, and 224 +/- 112 micrograms/dL in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia, normal subjects, and patients with iron deficiency anemia respectively. Differences in the means in three groups were significant (p < 0.001). This study shows that iron absorption from the gastrointestinal system as ferrous salt is not accelerated in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia. The serum ferritin level in these patients is not high enough to necessitate iron chelation therapy.

Adolescent↗

Burkitt's lymphoma in 63 Turkish children diagnosed over a 10 year period.

Sixty-three Turkish children with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) diagnosed over a 10-year period in a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Burkitt's lymphoma included 41.7% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 17.2% of all childhood malignant solid tumors diagnosed in our department in this duration. The patients studied with BL were aged between 3 and 14 years (mean 5.9 years), with a male of female ratio of 2:1. While the age distribution in our patients was similar to that in African BL (endemic), the predominance of abdominal involvement and the frequency of bone marrow infiltration and pleural effusion were reminiscent of American BL (sporadic). The incidence of jaw involvement (15.9%) in our group was higher than in American BL, however, and was not a high as in African BL. Most of the patients were of a lower socioeconomic status. Significant growth retardation was found in the children with BL compared with 40 age-matched children without malignancy, nor chronic or endocrinologic disorders, who were of a similar socioeconomic status. A serological study for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was performed in 18 children, and the IgG-type antibody to the viral capsid antigen of EBV was found to be positive in all of them. As a result, BL seems to include a considerable proportion of all childhood malignant solid tumors in Turkey. The epidemiological and clinical presentation and course indicate that BL appears in Turkish children in a form that is between the African and American types of the disease. Further molecular and chromosomal studies in Turkish children with BL are needed.

Adolescent↗

Hodgkin's disease in 82 Turkish children diagnosed over a 10-year period: epidemiological, clinical, and histopathologic features and prognosis with prolonged chemotherapy.

In this study, 82 Turkish children with Hodgkin's disease (HD) between 1 and 14 years of age and diagnosed over a 10-year period were evaluated retrospectively. More than half of the patients (54%) presented with advanced stages of HD. Mixed cellularity (MC) was the most frequent (56.1%) histopathologic type, which was followed by nodular sclerosing (NS, 18.3%) in frequency. None of the patients received radiotherapy as initial treatment. In 67 children the COPP regimen alone and in 15 the ABVD regimen alternating with COPP were started, to be given as a total of 12 courses. In the patients who presented with stage I-II HD the overall survival (OAS) rate and 5-year event free survival (EFS) rate were 92.3% and 77.8%, respectively. In the patients with advanced disease (stage III-IV) OAS and 5-year EFS were estimated to be 89.5% and 67.4%, respectively. No serious toxicity of chemotherapy was detected during the follow-up. In this group, clinical, epidemiological and histopathologic features of the disease showed a special pattern close to the type I pattern of HD. Regarding the survival rules and occurrence of low toxicity in our patients, results of prolonged chemotherapy alone seem to be encouraging in most of the children with HD. However, the follow-up duration is not yet sufficient to declare a clear conclusion related to the late complications.

Adolescent↗

Vacuolated white blood cells in thalassemia major.

We report a case of thalassemia major in which severe cytoplasmic vacuolization was seen in white blood cells as well as in their precursors. Cytochemical examination of the vacuoles revealed Sudan Black staining. Consequently, we believe that our patient had Jordans' anomaly coexisting with thalassemia major.

Child↗

The effect of high-dose methylprednisolone on CD34-positive bone marrow cells in the children with acute myeloblastic leukemia.

The expression of CD34 antigen on the surface of bone marrow (BM) cells during remission induction was studied in 20 patients with CD34-negative acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The patients were given high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) alone for one week, after which time mitoxantrone and low-dose Ara-C were added. BM cells from all patients were studied one, two and four weeks after initiation of treatment to evaluate CD34 antigen expression using a three-step peroxidase antiperoxidase staining technique. The mean percentage of CD34-positive BM cells was 5.3% at presentation, increasing to 15.6% in the first week, 12.9% in the second week and 21.7% in the fourth week of therapy. During the same period the mean percentages of the initial BM blasts decreased from 64% to 22%, 7% and 2% in the first, second and fourth weeks of therapy, respectively. The increase in the CD34-positive BM cells one week after HDMP treatment alone suggests that HDMP directly or indirectly stimulates CD34-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells while decreasing BM blasts in patients with AML.

Adolescent↗