PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Nysom

Publications and source records attributed to K Nysom.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in first remission for children with very high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective case-control study in the Nordic countries. Nordic Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO).

Among children with high-risk (HR) ALL there are subgroups with very-high-risk (VHR) features and poor prognosis despite developments in conventional chemotherapy for childhood ALL. We evaluated the outcome of VHR-ALL in children receiving allogeneic BMT (allo-BMT) in first remission (1CR) in a retrospective case-control study. In the population-based ALL material of the five Nordic countries, 22 children with VHR-ALL have undergone allo-BMT in 1CR between 1981-1991. We compared the outcome in these 22 children with 44 closely matched control patients who received conventional chemotherapy on HR-ALL protocols, as well as with a group of 405 children representing the remaining HR-ALL patients in the Nordic ALL database. The disease-free survival at 10 years was 73% in children receiving allo-BMT in 1CR, 50% in the matched controls (P = 0.02), and 59% in the remaining HR-ALL patients. The good prognosis of the allo-BMT group was due to a low relapse rate of 9%, as opposed to 41% in the group of matched controls. The superiority of allo-BMT as therapy in 1CR was mainly apparent in those with a very high WBC of > or = 100 x 10(9)/I at diagnosis; in the allo-BMT group 9/10 survived, as opposed to 8/20 of the matched controls (P = 0.03). We conclude that allo-BMT in 1CR should be seriously considered for children with a matched sibling donor and a VHR-ALL with WBC of > or = 100 and other established VHR criteria.

Adolescent↗

Growth, growth hormone and final height after BMT. Possible recovery of irradiation-induced growth hormone insufficiency.

The aim of the present study was to assess growth, final height, growth hormone (GH) secretion and growth factors after BMT including TBI in childhood. The median age of the 25 participants was 11.3 years at BMT, and a median of 7.5 years had elapsed since BMT. The median height standard deviation score (SDS) declined significantly from diagnosis until 4 years after BMT (n = 25, P = 0.015), and decreased 1.08 SDS from diagnosis until final height (n = 14, P = 0.030). Sitting height to standing height ratio was impaired, -0.64 SDS, P < 0.05. GH insufficiency was found in 32% at follow-up. Repeated assessments of GH production over the years indicated improvement in GH secretion in nine individuals. Evaluation of spontaneous 24-h GH secretion indicated a secretory pattern similar to controls, although the total amount of GH secreted was lower. Neither insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) nor IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) alone could be used as a marker of GH insufficiency. IGF-1 was low: -1.18 SDS; (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our study demonstrated the impact on growth, final height, body proportions, GH secretion and growth factors after BMT including TBI. We hypothesize that children who receive BMT at a younger age are more at risk of loss of final height and abnormal body proportions. Our data indicate that some improvement in GH production may occur over the years.

Adolescent↗

Normal final height after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia without irradiation.

In order to evaluate the influence of chemotherapy on linear growth, 28 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia without irradiation were evaluated before, during and after the end of therapy. Median age at diagnosis was 4.4 years (range 2.2-12.7 years) and treatment was discontinued after a median period of 3.1 years (3.0-5.2 years). We observed a significant decrease in height SDS (p = 0.006) from diagnosis to the end of chemotherapy, followed by catch-up in height SDS from the end of chemotherapy to final observation. Catch-up growth took place mainly within the first 2 years after cessation of therapy. In 22 patients final height was reached. Final height was normal (median height SDS -0.035) and even significantly higher than mid-parental height SDS (p = 0.012). In those patients who attained adult stature, the sitting height to standing height ratio was also normal. In conclusion, in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chemotherapy exerted a negative influence on growth, but catch-up occurred within 2 years after cessation of therapy, resulting in normal final height and body proportions.

Adolescent↗

Spermaturia in two normal boys without other signs of puberty.

We report spermaturia in two normal boys with testicular volumes of 3 ml and no other signs of puberty. This supports the hypothesis that spermatogenesis can begin before any other signs of puberty and indicates that the definition of start of puberty as testicular volumes of 4 ml or more may be too rigorous.

Child↗

Spermaturia and puberty.

The pattern of spermaturia in boys at different stages of puberty was investigated. Fractionated 24 hour urine was collected for nine consecutive days from eight boys aged 13-14 years and 10 boys aged 15-17 years. Spermatozoa were detected by microscopic examination of the sediment. Sex characteristics were recorded. Fifty five per cent of all urine samples were positive for sperm and all boys showed spermaturia. A large variation in spermaturia was found between and within boys at the same stage of puberty. Spermaturia was a more common and regular event during early and mid-puberty than in more mature subjects. This indicates that the mechanism of spermaturia in early and late puberty could be different. It is suggested that spermaturia in non-virilised boys could be a result of a spontaneous, continuous flow of spermatozoa to the urethra in contrast with the peristaltic flow during ejaculation occurring at a later stage of puberty.

Adolescent↗