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Biomedical subjects

S Kansoy

Publications and source records attributed to S Kansoy.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

High-dose acyclovir and pre-emptive ganciclovir in prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in pediatric patients following peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated high-dose acyclovir (HDACV) and pre-emptive ganciclovir to prevent CMV disease in 76 children who underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and were at risk for CMV reactivation and disease (both recipient and donor seropositive) from May 1998 to April 2003. All received HDACV from day -9 to 6 months post transplant in conjunction with weekly CMV pp65 antigenemia monitoring. The incidence of antigenemia in this cohort was 19.7%, at a median of 22 days post-PBSCT. The frequencies were 26.4 and 4.4% in allogeneic and autologous groups, respectively (P=0.03). Patients with nonmalignant disease had higher CMV antigenemia than those with malignant disease (30.8 vs 8.1%, P=0.02). Age at PBSCT, sex, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen and presence of acute GVHD did not affect the risk of CMV antigenemia. None of the patients who had positive pp65 antigenemia developed CMV disease during the study period. We conclude that pp65 antigenemia-guided HDACV and pre-emptive ganciclovir may prevent CMV disease in children undergoing PBSCT.

Acyclovir↗

Comparison of tropisetron and granisetron in the control of nausea and vomiting in children receiving combined cancer chemotherapy.

Tropisetron and granisetron are selective serotonin (5-HT3) antagonists that have been proven effective in the prevention of nausea and vomiting in adults and children receiving cancer chemotherapy. This prospective, randomised study was designed to compare the efficacy of the two agents in the prevention of vomiting and nausea in children receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy for various malignancies. A total of 51 children (mean age: 7.7 +/- 4.8 year) were studied in 133 chemotherapy cycles. In 66 chemotherapy cycles, the children received tropisetron as an antiemetic agent in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg/24 h intravenously and, in 67 cycles, they received granisetron 40 micrograms/kg/24 h intravenously before cytotoxic drug administration during the days they received chemotherapy. The response per 24 h of chemotherapy was defined as complete (no nausea and vomiting), partial (1-4 events of vomiting and/or nausea), and failure (more than 4 events of vomiting and/or nausea). Efficacy of antiemetic therapy was evaluated as acute (Day 1) and overall was based on the worst day during the chemotherapy. Complete control of acute vomiting was achieved in 74% of tropisetron and 88% of granisetron patients (P = 0.04), and complete control of acute nausea in 56% and 82% respectively (p = 0.002). Overall response by means of complete control of both vomiting and nausea during the whole therapy period was 29% of tropisetron group and 55% of granisetron group (p = 0.007). The statistical analysis (depending on the emetogenicity of the chemotherapy cycles) showed increased efficacy of granisetron in highly (grade 3) emetogenic chemotherapy cycles (p = 0.002), whereas there was no difference in the very highly emetogenic cycles (p = 0.7). Also, granisetron was found to be more effective than tropisetron, especially in patients heavier than 25 kg (p = 0.02). The adverse reactions were few and mild. There were no differences in the tolerability of the two antiemetic therapy modalities. In conclusion, granisetron was found to be more effective than tropisetron in controlling nausea and vomiting in children receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. This increased antiemetic efficacy of ganisetron might have been related to maximal dose differences according to body weight.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of interferon-alpha2b treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B who have previously undergone therapy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with recombinant interferon (IFN)-alpha2b in 12 children with chronic hepatitis B who had previously undergone therapy for cancer. METHODS: Nine children had acute leukemias and the other three children had solid tumors. The mean (+/-SD) age of the children was 8.4+/-3.8 years (range 4-16 years). All cases were hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA positive and 11 were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive. One was anti-HBe positive (mutant strain). Four cases were anti-delta IgG positive. Liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis B in 11 patients and cirrhosis in one patient. Interferon-alpha2b was given at a dose of 5 MU/m2 three times a week, subcutaneously, for 12 months. RESULTS: Elimination of serum HBV-DNA was obtained in three cases, but a further three patients demonstrated a marked decrease in HBV-DNA levels after therapy. Three of 11 patients seroconverted from HBeAg to anti-HBe. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels returned to normal in three of nine cases in whom the ALT levels were high before treatment. At the end of therapy, the mean histologic activity index score was significantly diminished (P = 0.0039). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a 12 month course of IFN-alpha2b induces some beneficial effects on virologic, biochemical and histologic indices in children with chronic hepatitis B who have previously undergone therapy for cancer.

Adolescent↗

False-negative scintigraphy with Tc-99m sestamibi in stage IV neuroblastoma.

Tc-99m sestamibi, originally developed for myocardial studies, has been used as a tumor-seeking agent. Recently, the agent also was reported to be a functional tracer to predict multidrug resistance-related p-glycoprotein expression in tumor tissue. The current report presents the authors' experience with sestamibi tumor scintigraphy in a neuroblastoma. Although I-131 MIBG tumor imaging and Tc-99m MDP bone scanning accurately demonstrated the extent of the disease, Tc-99m sestamibi showed no accumulation in primary and metastatic foci. Lack of sestamibi uptake was initially thought to be suggestive of failure to respond to chemotherapy because of p-glycoprotein expression. However, the patient responded well to chemotherapy and complete remission was achieved. The failure of Tc-99m sestamibi to detect a neuroblastoma and the lack of sestamibi accumulation in the tumor may not always be related to chemotherapy resistance.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Does immunologic status predict peritonitis in children treated with CAPD?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether immunologic status could predict the development of peritonitis in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Twenty-one patients (12 boys, 9 girls) aged 10.1 +/- 4.32 years (range: 23 months to 14 years) were studied. The mean duration of CAPD treatment was 12.88 +/- 6.69 months (range: 2-22 months). Twelve healthy children (mean age 11.5 years) were selected as a control group. Lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, NK, and IL-2R) were determined by double-color flow cytometry (Becton-Dickinson). Statistical evaluation was made by Student's t-test. CD4 (38.4 +/- 7.1% vs. 28.0 +/- 5.4%), CD4/CD8 ratio (1.30 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.96 +/- 0.3), and B lymphocyte (19.9 +/- 8.9% vs. 12.0 +/- 3.2%) levels were significantly higher in CAPD patients compared with controls. CAPD patients showed significantly lower natural killer (NK) cell values than controls (12.7 +/- 7.0% vs. 27.3 +/- 8.3%). Apart from CD19 values (21.9 +/- 10.4% vs. 12.0 +/- 3.2%) there were no significant differences between CAPD patients without infection and the control group in the laboratory parameters studied. On the other hand, CD3 (66.3 +/- 7.9% vs. 55.9 +/- 9.7%), CD4 (38.4 +/- 7.1% vs. 28.0 +/- 5.4%), and CD19 (6.3 +/- 3.3% vs. 12.0 +/- 3.2%) levels were significantly higher in CAPD patients with infection compared with the controls. CAPD patients with infection showed significantly lower NK activity (12.7 +/- 7.1% vs. 27.3 +/- 8.3%) than those in the control group. In conclusion, these results can explain the increased vulnerability to peritonitis in CAPD patients compared with healthy subjects. Additionally, immunologic status can predict the development of peritonitis in children treated with CAPD.

Adolescent↗

Echocardiographic evaluation in children treated with CAPD.

The aim of this study was to evaluate systolic and diastolic cardiac functions in children treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This study included a total of 21 patients (12 boys, 9 girls), aged 23 months to 14 years (average age: 10.1 +/- 4.32 years). The mean duration on CAPD was 12.88 +/- 6.69 months (range: 2-22 months). Twenty age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Evaluation was made at the beginning of CAPD treatment in these 21 patients. Tests were repeated in 9 of 21 patients who had completed a 1-year follow-up period. We measured systolic functions [ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS)], and diastolic functions [early (E) and late (A) diastolic peak inflow velocities, and E/A ratio, as well as early diastolic flow deceleration velocity (EF slope) and time (dt) functions] using two-dimensional, M-mode, color Doppler echocardiography. Interventricular septum thickness was also recorded. Blood pressure (BP) levels were monitored serially in all patients. Statistical evaluation was made using Student's t-test. Compared with control subjects, systolic and diastolic parameters were significantly inversely affected in patients on CAPD (P < 0.05). The mean BP levels did not differ significantly between CAPD patients and controls. In 9 patients with a second measurement on CAPD, systolic and diastolic cardiac functions tended to have deteriorated. However, these changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, CAPD is the preferable option in children with end-stage renal disease to maintain stable cardiac functions. However, systolic and diastolic dysfunctions tend to progress in children on CAPD.

Adolescent↗

Aflatoxin: is it a neglected threat for formula-fed infants?

In the present study, the risk of exposure to aflatoxin in infants fed breast milk and formula was investigated. For this purpose, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was determined in the serum of both breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Serum AFB1 positivity was significantly higher in the formula-feeding (F) group than the breast-feeding (B) group (42.8 vs 8.5%, P < 0.01). The AFB1 concentration in different commercial formulas was also determined. Aflatoxin B1 was found in seven of the eight newly opened packages of different brands of formula. The concentrations showed a statistically significant increase at the 30th day after opening the packages (P < 0.01). Although AFB1 concentrations in the formulas were found to be within acceptable limits for most countries, still, its existence must be carefully evaluated because future influences of very small amounts of aflatoxin on the growing organism have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, it was again concluded that for infants, human milk is safer than commercial formulas because of the lower contamination risk of aflatoxin. Also, commercial formulas must be regularly examined by authorities for the possible risk of aflatoxin contamination.

Aflatoxin B1↗

The decline of BCG immunity after neonatal vaccination: what about revaccination at one year?

Two hundred and nineteen healthy newborns were vaccinated with the BCG vaccine, and their immunity was checked thereafter at 3, 6 and 12 months of age. We determined that 87% of tuberculin reactivity at 3 months declined to 61% at 12 months. Revaccination of nonreactive infants provided a 100% rate of reactivity. In the light of this information we propose a revision in the BCG vaccination programme in developing countries. We also found a close relationship between the tuberculin reactivity and scar formation after BCG vaccination, suggesting that a simple check of the left deltoid region for a BCG scar may give enough information about the child's immunity to tuberculosis.

BCG Vaccine↗

Superiority of oral agar and phototherapy combination in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of oral agar in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and to compare it with two other treatment modalities: phototherapy alone and phototherapy plus oral agar. METHODS: Two hundred eight jaundiced full-term newborns were divided into four groups. They were given either phototherapy alone, phototherapy plus oral agar, oral agar alone, or no treatment (control group). The changes in the serum bilirubin values were determined and the results were compared statistically, mainly using analysis of variance. RESULTS: In all three therapy groups, the time required to reduce the bilirubin level to either 15 mg/dL or to 10 mg/dL was significantly shorter than that required by the control group. Although oral agar was found to be as effective as phototherapy, the most significant decrease in bilirubin level was in the combination group. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of phototherapy in decreasing the serum bilirubin level in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can be augmented with the use of oral agar. Oral agar can also be used as a single agent for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, since it is as effective as phototherapy.

Administration, Oral↗

Management of suppuration in regional lymph nodes secondary to BCG vaccination.

We describe 50 patients with suppurative regional lymphadenitis following intradermal BCG vaccination. For non-drained suppurations we performed needle aspiration in twenty-three patients (aspiration group). Of the remaining 27 patients (drainage group) 16 had spontaneous drainage and 11 incisional drainage. In the drainage group, 17 patients were followed up conservatively. Ten patients from the drainage group and 3 patients from the aspiration group (drained after needle aspiration) accepted total surgical excision to terminate the drainage. Twenty of twenty-three patients in the aspiration group recovered after needle aspiration. Average period of cessation of drainage and healing of wound was 7.5 weeks in patients with drainage (spontaneous and incisional). Healing was complete after total surgical excision of draining suppurations in all of 11 patients. We concluded that simple needle aspiration was sufficient for the treatment of suppurating but non-drained BCG lymphadenitis. For suppurating lymph nodes that were surgically (not recommended) or spontaneously drained, a more invasive procedure, total surgical excision, was proposed to terminate the long and disturbing drainage period.

BCG Vaccine↗

Cyclosporin A plus prednisone treatment of steroid-sensitive frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome in children.

Recently, there have been numerous reports on the use of cyclosporin A (CyA) in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). In this prospective study, we wanted to evaluate the efficacy of CyA together with prednisone therapy in children with steroid-sensitive frequently relapsing NS. A total of 11 children (7 boys, 4 girls) with steroid-sensitive NS were included in this study. The patients ranged in age from 3.5 to 15 years (average 8.45 +/- 4.26 years). Renal biopsy showed minimal change disease in five, mesangial proliferation in four, focal glomerulosclerosis in one and membranous glomerulonephritis in one. The NS had lasted from 13 to 113 months (average 50.27 +/- 38.60 months). The number of relapses varied from three to 10 episodes with an average of 5.9 +/- 3.3 episodes. Patients received 5 mg/kg CyA daily in two divided doses for five months and prednisone for a total of eight weeks (30 mg/m2 daily for 4 weeks followed by 30 mg/m2 on alternate days for 4 weeks). After the completion of the treatment protocol, no therapy was given unless a relapse was observed. Mean follow-up period was 14.9 +/- 5.99 months with a range from six to 26 months. Before this combined treatment, there was a mean relapse rate of 0.144 +/- 0.05 relapses month with a range from 0.088 to 0.238. After discontinuation of therapy, the relapse rate dropped to a mean of 0.0179 +/- 0.031 with a range of 0 to 0.083. In conclusion, it would appear that a combination of CyA and prednisone is effective, sustaining the remission in steroid-sensitive NS. Corticosteroids in combination with CyA may be a better approach than conventional steroid treatment in such patients.

Adolescent↗

A single institutional experience: is epoetin alpha effective in anemic children with cancer?

The authors aimed to investigate the efficacy of epoetin-alpha on hemoglobin levels and red cell transfusion requirement in children with both hematologic malignancy (HM, n = 27) and solid tumors (ST, n = 14). Epoetin-alpha was given (150 U/kg or 250 U/kg, thrice weekly) for 12 weeks. Epoetin alpha significantly increased the hemoglobin levels at the 2nd and 3rd months of therapy (p <.05). At the 3rd month, the patients required less red cell transfusion. At the dose of 150 U/kg, only three patients with HM, but none of the ST patients, required red cell. However, none required red cell transfusion after 2nd month on epoetin alpha 250 U/kg. Epoetin-alpha administration increases hemoglobin levels and decreases red cell transfusion requirement in children with malignancy.

Adolescent↗

A different approach to sleep problems of infancy: swaddling above the waist.

Daytime sleep and wake periods of ten swaddled infants were periodically recorded by their mothers. The babies were swaddled above the waist for the first four days of the second, third and fourth months of life. During the next four days of the same months, the same infants were monitored with no swaddling. Comparison of the two sleep situations (swaddled and unswaddled) demonstrated that the increase in the total daytime sleep was statistically significant when the baby was loosely swaddled above the waist.

Circadian Rhythm↗

Long-term use of anti-D in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disease characterized by antibody-mediated destruction of platelets. To maintain the platelets above the symptomatic level, we administered anti-D (100 micrograms for 5 consecutive days) in 19 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Four patients did not respond to treatment. Fifteen responded with an increase in the average platelet number to 76,000/microL on the 7th postinjection day. Within 45 days, however, platelets dropped to 27,000/microL. Three months after this study, two patients from the study group were re-administered anti-D in daily injections for 5 consecutive days, as was done previously. Monthly administration of anti-D in two patients maintained platelets above 30,000/microL for periods of five and six months. We concluded that monthly administration of anti-D after five consecutive daily injections can maintain platelet levels above the symptomatic level and may provide a corticosteroid-free safe interval of nearly five months.

Adolescent↗