study of chemokine receptor "CCXCR4" expression as an indicator for significant extramedullary organ infiltration in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

CXCR4 is a G-protein linked seven transmembrane spanning chemokine receptor that binds stromal cell-derived factor-1 [SDF-1]. CXCR4 plays a crucial role in the survival and trafficking of leukemia cells. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] is a malignancy with the potential to infiltrate the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and brain. Such extramedullary presentation is important for understanding the biology of childhood ALL and also for developing new prognostic parameters. A potent mechanism in the trafficking of leukemia cells is in the interaction of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, which is expressed on ALL cells and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1 [SDF-1], produced by stromal cells in bone marrow and extramedullary organs. To evaluate the predictive value of high expression of CXCR4 receptor for extramedullary organ infiltration in childhood ALL. The study was conducted on 32 patients with newly diagnosed ALL and 15 healthy children as a control. The 32 studied patients were 18 males [56.3%] and 14 females [43.8%], age ranged from 1.7 years to 17 years, with a mean value of 6.18 +/- 4.38 years. Significant extramedullary organ infiltration was found in 8 patients [25%]. Flowcytometric analysis was used to measure CXCR4 expression on bone marrow lymphoblasts in ALL patients, and on normal peripheral blood lymphocytes in control subjects. CXCR4 expression was statistically significantly higher [p<0.001] in patients compared with control group CXCR4 expression with extramedullary organ infiltration [mean: 56.47 +/- 20.54], when compared with patients without significant extramedullary organ infiltration [mean: 20.58 +/- 7.42]. High expression of CXCR4 receptor has a predictive value for extramedullary organ infiltration in childhood ALL. Pharmacological agents affecting CXCR4 may have a potential therapeutic effect in the management and outcome of the disease

Health profile of Egyptian school adolescents in Cairo and Giza governorates

The objectives of this study were to describe the physical, physiological, and psychosocial characteristics of male and female Egyptian adolescents; to describe a set of patterns that characterize Egyptian adolescents' health habits; to identify their health concerns and to identify the reproductive health needs of female adolescents; and to detect any health-related problems among Egyptian adolescent. A sample of 1000 male and female adolescents [11 - 18 years of age] was randomly selected from preparatory and secondary schools in Cairo and Giza governorates. Several tools were developed and utilized to fulfill the study objectives: a questionnaire sheet that contains social, health habits and health problems data; growth and development assessment sheet that covers data related to physical, physiological and psychosocial development and an adolescent health concern questionnaire. The main findings indicated that the majority of the subjects were from governmental schools in Cairo and Giza governorates [80. 0% and 83.8% respectively]. Preparatory schools represented 38.0% and 44.0%, while secondary school represented 61.0% and 56% in Cairo and Giza respectively. Male adolescent accounted for 39.2% and 50.6%. While female adolescents accounted for 60.8.% and 49.4% respectively. More than half of the adolescents, had school-related problems and mare than 40% of them had previous injuries, their main health concerns were centered on their general appearance followed 'by their feeling of identity, and self-control. Most of the adolescents' physical and psychological characteristics were within normal ranges except that female adolescents suffered fmm anemia and showed reproductive health-related concerns. The majority of male and female adolescents indicated their need for more health information. The study concluded that Egyptian adolescents are in need for more health attention of concerned personnel