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Objective:To explore the clinicopathological characteristics, treatments and outcomes of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder(PTLD)in pediatric liver transplant recipients.Methods:From October 2016 to October 2021, retrospective data analysis was performed for 11 pediatric liver transplant recipients with PTLD. There were 5 males and 6 females with a diagnostic age of 1-8 years. Living donor liver transplantation(LDLT, n=9)and deceased donor liver transplantation(DDLT, n=2)were performed. All recipients received tacrolimus plus methylprednisolone. The major clinical manifestations included lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, anemia, fever and digestive system symptoms(diarrhea, abdominal pain, ascites, hematochezia & intussusception, etc.). Laboratory tests hinted at hypoproteinemia, elevated transaminases and serum positivity of EBV-DNA. Positron emission tomography and computed tomography(PET-CT)revealed PTLD( n=9). Ten children were diagnosed by pathology, including lymphoid hyperplasia( n=3), plasmacytic hyperplasia PTLD( n=1), polymorphic PTLD( n=2), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma( n=2), infectious mononucleosis PTLD( n=1)and Burkitt lymphoma( n=1). Results:After a definite diagnosis of PTLD, tacrolimus was tapered or discontinued. And rituximab was prescribed. Two patients received chemotherapy(R-COP & R-CHOP)while 2 cases of local masses were operated. Up until February 2022, 10 cases survived and their conditions improved. One patient died of infection.Conclusions:PTLD is one of the most serious and fatal complications after liver transplantation in children. Clinical manifestations are diverse and an early diagnosis is difficult. The changes of EBV-DNA load should be closely monitored after liver transplantation. Imaging and pathological examinations may aid in an early diagnosis of PTLD. A treatment regimen based on immunosuppression reduction and rituximab improves the prognosis of PTLD in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
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Objective:To assess the transient elastography (TE) in assessing hepatic fibrosis in pediatric chronic liver disease.Methods:Children with chronic liver disease who were both examined with TE and percutaneous transhepatic puncture for grading Scheuer scores in the Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2017 to September 2017 were recruited.Ordinal Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the interfering factors for hepatic fibrosis.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to acquire the optimal cut-off value and to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). Results:Thirty-eight children were enrolled finally, including 28 boys and 10 girls with the mean age of 7.4 years old (1.1-16.0 years). The success rate of detecting hepatic fibrosis was 85%.Ordinal Logistic regression analysis discovered that only the value of liver stiffness measured by TE was correlated with the grade of hepatic fibrosis ( β=0.055, P<0.001). TE was effective to differentiate hepatic fibrosis[<S2 vs.≥S2 (6.6±4.0) kPa vs.(21.2±18.6) kPa, P=0.001], significant hepatic fibrosis[<S3 vs.≥S3 (7.4±4.0) kPa vs.(34.8±19.0) kPa, P=0.000 1, and cirrhosis[<S4 vs.S4 (10.6±12.3) kPa vs.(35.8±15.1) kPa, P=0.002]. At the cut-off values of liver stiffness measurement with 6.89 kPa and 14.39 kPa, AUC of it to predict the grade of hepatic fibrosis ≥S2 and ≥S3 were 0.81 ( P=0.001) and 0.94( P<0.001), respectively. Conclusions:TE is a useful and reliable noninvasive tool to assess hepatic fibrosis in pediatric chronic liver disease.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical and genetic features of patients with glycogen storage disease type Ⅸa (GSD Ⅸa), and to improve the clinical understanding of the disease. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 20 patients who were hospitalized and genetically diagnosed with GSD Ⅸa in Children’s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2015 to December 2018, and their clinical and genetic features were summarized. ResultsAll 20 patients with GSD Ⅸa were male, with a median age of 2.5 years at the time of confirmed diagnosis. All patients had hepatomegaly and elevated aminotransferases; of all patients, there were 5 patients (250%) with growth retardation, 19 (95.0%) with fasting hypoglycemia, 14 (70.0%) with hyperlactatemia, 9 (45.0%) with hypertriglyceridemia, and 5 (25.0%) with hypercholesterolemia. Fasting blood ketone was measured for 8 patients and all of these patients had an increase in blood ketone; all patients had normal uric acid, and 5 patients (25.0%) had positive urine ketone. Liver biopsy was performed for 18 patients, among whom 15 had mild to moderate liver fibrosis. A total of 16 mutations were detected in the PHKA2 gene, among which 5 were known pathogenic mutations and 11 were novel mutations, and most of the mutations were detected in the c.3614 locus. All patients were treated with uncooked cornstarch, and most patients achieved an improvement in clinical manifestations. ConclusionGSD Ⅸa is more common in male patients. This disease should be considered for patients with hepatomegaly, elevated aminotransferases, growth retardation, fasting hypoglycemia, elevated fasting blood ketone, and normal uric acid. Liver biopsy may help with the diagnosis of this disease, and clinical biochemical parameters and gene detection can be used to confirm diagnosis and classification. Most patients have mild clinical manifestations, while some patients may have liver fibrosis, and treatment with uncooked cornstarch can improve the condition of this disease.
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Objective@#To evaluate the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR, the key proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in pediatric Burkitt lymphoma (BL), and to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance.@*Methods@#Fifty-eight cases of pediatric BL and thirty cases of reactive hyperplastic lymphadenitis (RH) were collected at Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from September 2011 to July 2018. Paraffin sections of tissues were immune stained for p-AKT and p-mTOR, and the expression was assessed and correlated with the clinical features and prognosis.@*Results@#A total of 58 cases were diagnosed and 6 cases lost the follow-up. Of the remaining 52 BL patients including 43 males and 9 females, the median age was 5 years (range: 2 to 14 years). Regarding to the correlation between the two biomarkers, Spearman test showed that p-mTOR was positively associated with the expression of p-AKT (r=0.759, P<0.001). Of all BL patients, the positive rates of p-AKT and p-mTOR were 62.1% (36/58) and 60.3%(35/58) respectively, both significantly higher than control group (P=0.011, P=0.035 respectively). The presence of p-AKT was significantly associated with higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH≥573 IU/L) level in patients of the disease (P=0.006), while p-mTOR was increased both in the higher LDH and lower ratio of albumin to globulin (A/G) group (P=0.006, P=0.034 respectively). Expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR did not show any statistical correlation with sex, age, St.jude stage, tumor size, B-symptom present or not, number of extra-nodal sites or international prognostic index (IPI) (P>0.05). Fifty-two patients had a median follow-up of 40 months (range: 5-87 months). Univariate analysis showed that p-AKT expression was significant in predicting both inferior OS (5-year estimate, 72.7% vs. 94.7%, χ2=4.123, P=0.042) and PFS (5-year estimate, 66.7% vs. 94.7%, χ2=5.822, P=0.016). The 5-year OS rate was 71.0% (22/31) for the p-mTOR positive cohort of patients compared to 95.2% (17/21) for p-mTOR negative group (χ2=4.881, P=0.027); however, there was no statistical significance in 5-year PFS rate (P>0.05). Especially, the 5-year OS and PFS rate of p-AKT/p-mTOR double-positive group were significantly lower than negative control group (including absence of single p-AKT or p-mTOR expression, and absence of both) (OS: 69.0% vs. 95.7%, χ2=6.285, P=0.012; PFS: 65.5% vs. 91.3%, χ2=5.405, P=0.020). The results of multivariate COX proportional risk regression analysis indicated that p-AKT/p-mTOR double-positive, higher LDH and IPI score 3-5 were independent prognostic factors for both OS and PFS, and the bulky tumor (>10 cm) for PFS of pediatric BL.@*Conclusion@#The expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR may be a potential reference for diagnosis and the independent prognostic indicators of pediatric BL.
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Objective@#To evaluate the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR, the key proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in pediatric Burkitt lymphoma (BL), and to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance.@*Methods@#Fifty-eight cases of pediatric BL and thirty cases of reactive hyperplastic lymphadenitis (RH) were collected at Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from September 2011 to July 2018. Paraffin sections of tissues were immune stained for p-AKT and p-mTOR, and the expression was assessed and correlated with the clinical features and prognosis.@*Results@#A total of 58 cases were diagnosed and 6 cases lost the follow-up. Of the remaining 52 BL patients including 43 males and 9 females, the median age was 5 years (range: 2 to 14 years). Regarding to the correlation between the two biomarkers, Spearman test showed that p-mTOR was positively associated with the expression of p-AKT (r=0.759, P<0.001). Of all BL patients, the positive rates of p-AKT and p-mTOR were 62.1% (36/58) and 60.3%(35/58) respectively, both significantly higher than control group (P=0.011, P=0.035 respectively). The presence of p-AKT was significantly associated with higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH≥573 IU/L) level in patients of the disease (P=0.006), while p-mTOR was increased both in the higher LDH and lower ratio of albumin to globulin (A/G) group (P=0.006, P=0.034 respectively). Expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR did not show any statistical correlation with sex, age, St.jude stage, tumor size, B-symptom present or not, number of extra-nodal sites or international prognostic index (IPI) (P>0.05). Fifty-two patients had a median follow-up of 40 months (range: 5-87 months). Univariate analysis showed that p-AKT expression was significant in predicting both inferior OS (5-year estimate, 72.7% vs. 94.7%, χ2=4.123, P=0.042) and PFS (5-year estimate, 66.7% vs. 94.7%, χ2=5.822, P=0.016). The 5-year OS rate was 71.0% (22/31) for the p-mTOR positive cohort of patients compared to 95.2% (17/21) for p-mTOR negative group (χ2=4.881, P=0.027); however, there was no statistical significance in 5-year PFS rate (P>0.05). Especially, the 5-year OS and PFS rate of p-AKT/p-mTOR double-positive group were significantly lower than negative control group (including absence of single p-AKT or p-mTOR expression, and absence of both) (OS: 69.0% vs. 95.7%, χ2=6.285, P=0.012; PFS: 65.5% vs. 91.3%, χ2=5.405, P=0.020). The results of multivariate COX proportional risk regression analysis indicated that p-AKT/p-mTOR double-positive, higher LDH and IPI score 3-5 were independent prognostic factors for both OS and PFS, and the bulky tumor (>10 cm) for PFS of pediatric BL.@*Conclusion@#The expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR may be a potential reference for diagnosis and the independent prognostic indicators of pediatric BL.
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Objective@#To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of pediatric alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS).@*Methods@#The clinical and pathological data of 25 pediatric ARMS from 2008 to 2018 in Children′s Hospital of Fudan University were collected. This histomorphology was assessed, and FOXO1 gene rearrangement was detected with FISH. The treatment details and outcome were analyzed.@*Results@#There were 13 males and 12 females, with ages range from 19 days to 14 years (median 6 years, mean 6.2 years). The ARMS were located in the limbs (13 cases), head and neck (4 cases), trunk (3 cases), abdominal cavity (3 cases), scrotum (1 case) and perianal region (1 case). The ARMS were classified histologically as classic group (18 cases), solid group (5 cases) and embryonic-alveolar mixed group (2 cases). The typical pathological characteristics were small dark round cells arranged in solid, glandular and papillary patterns. The tumor cells expressed ALK (D5F3) (21/25, 84.0%), muscle origin DES (23/25, 92.0%), myogenin (22/25, 88.0%), MYOD1 (19/25, 76.0%), and in some cases they also expressed neurogenic marker Syn (6/25, 24.0%). FOXO1 gene rearrangement was detected by FISH in 24/25 cases (96.0%).@*Conclusion@#Pediatric ARMS is rare and has unique clinicopathological characteristics, and needs to be differentiated from other common small round cell malignancies in children. ALK, DES, myogenin, MYOD1 immunohistochemistry and FOXO1 gene rearrangement are valuable aid in the diagnosis of ARMS.
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Objective@#To evaluate the diagnostic value of a histologic scoring system in congenital biliary atresia and its prognostic relevance.@*Methods@#From January 2017 to June 2018 at Children′s Hospital of Fudan University, 172 wedge liver biopsy specimens were obtained from infants with neonatal cholestasis [119 patients with congenital biliary atresia (CBA) and 53 patients with non-obstructive cholestasis as control]. A pathologist, single-blinded to the final diagnosis, made the histological diagnosis individually based on an 8-feature (portal ductal proliferation, bile duct reaction, bile plugs in portal ductules, liver fibrosis, edema in portal region, cholestasis, inflammatory cells infiltration in portal region, and ductal plate malformation), 21-point scoring system.@*Results@#The main pathologic changes of biliary atresia were hepatocyte cholestasis, hyperplasia of bile ducts, fibrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal area. There were significant difference in the degree of portal edema, bile duct hyperplasia and fibrosis between two groups (P<0.01). In addition, there were characteristic bile duct thrombosis in 97.5%(116/119) of the cases and abnormal development of bile duct plate in 9.2%(11/119) of the cases. Compared with non-CBA infant cholestasis group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The scoring system has high sensitivity, specificity (both 94.1%) and accuracy (94.3%) in the diagnosis of CBA. A score equal to or more than 11 points supported a diagnosis of CBA; whereas a score less than 11 points might suggest cholestasis. The degree of hepatic fibrosis and ductal plate malformation were related to prognosis.@*Conclusions@#The liver pathology scoring system (8-feature, 21-point) is more accurate in diagnosing CBA than previous methods, which may guide the clinicopathological diagnosis. This histological scoring system also helps to assess the prognosis of CBA.
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Objective@#To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of poorly-differentiated chordoma with INI1 loss in children and to discuss the differential diagnosis.@*Methods@#The clinical, radiological, histopathological profiles and molecular pathologic characteristics of two pediatric poorly differentiated chordoma cases with INI1 loss were reviewed.@*Results@#The patients were a girl and a boy. Both lesions involved the slope. Both patients were presented with progressive muscle weakness or neck pain. Radiological examination showed clivus bone destruction and compression of the brain stem and cervical spinal cord. Histologically, the tumor cells lacked typical organization and were associated with inflammatory cells infiltration. On high power field, the tumor cells were ovoid or fusiform with prominent atypia, vacuolated nuclei and prominent nucleoli. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells expressed cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, brachyury and were negative for INI1. In both cases, INI1 gene deletion was detected by FISH.@*Conclusions@#Poorly-differentiated chordoma with INI1 loss mainly occurs in children. The morphology is different from classical chordoma.INI1 gene deletion is detectable by FISH. It can be distinguished from atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors and other neoplasms by the identification of nuclear brachyury expression. The loss of INI1 expression in poorly-differentiated chordoma might be associated with a poorly-differentiated morphology and an adverse prognosis.