Serum adiponectin and resistin levels in de novo and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia children patients

Adipose tissue secretes a large number of adipocytokines such as leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. Many of these hormones and cytokines are altered in obese individuals and may lead to disruption of the normal balance between cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The aim of our work was to investigate the disturbance of secretion of adiponectin and resistin in de novo and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] in Egyptian children and determine whether adiponectin and resistin are implicated in increased risk relapse compared to healthy individuals. Measurements of adiponectin and resistin were performed at diagnosis, in 32 patients with de novo ALL aged 3 to 18 years [mean 9.8 y] and 19 children with relapsed ALL aged 5 to 17 [mean 9.9 yr]. 10 apparently healthy children with matched age and sex were used as controls. Mean adiponectin levels were low [P < 0.05], whereas mean resistin levels were high [P<0.05] at diagnosis and relapsed ALL [compared to healthy controls]. A significant decrease of adiponectin levels was observed in relapsed ALL compared to de novo ALL. In contrast resistin was significantly increased in relapsed ALL compared to de novo patients. Adiponectin in ALL subjects inversely correlated with resistin level [r = -0.51, P < 0.001]. Low adiponectin and high resistin level at diagnosis suggest their implication in ALL pathogenesis and may serve as potential clinically significant diagnostic markers to detect leukemic relapse

Serum survivin and tp53 gene expression in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The aim of this study was to detect the prognostic significance of survivin level and the expression of total p53 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] and its correlation to patients' outcome. Sixty two children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with chemotherapy and followed up for 2 years or until death. Twenty apparently healthy volunteers with matched age and sex were taken as control. Survivin protein was measured by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay and total human p53 was measured by Flow cytometry in peripheral blood at diagnosis and at complete remission. A highly significant elevation [P<0.0001] was found in survivin protein and total p53 levels in acute lymphoblastic leukemia children patients at diagnosis compared to controls. At complete remission a significant decrease of the two indices were found in ALL patients compared to those at diagnosis [P<0.000l]. Survivin protein and total p53 was significantly higher in non-survived compared to survived group [P<0.0001 and /M].016, respectively]. A positive correlation was found between survivin level and total human p53 level in children with ALL 0-0.501 and P<0.0001]. survivin protein is related to anti-apoptotic proteins and its high expression lead to unsuccessful treatment of ALL. Survivin and TP53 are new prognostic tools in ALL, independent of age and sex

Extracellular accumulation of bioactive substances; interleukin -1beta [IL-1beta] and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1] in stored blood units, relation to bacterial contamination

Bacterial contamination of blood and its cellular components remains an unresolved problem in transfusion medicine. Its relation to release of some bioactive substance from cellular blood components is not determined. The present work was designed to explore the levels of two bioactive compounds Interleukin-1 beta and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in stored blood and their relation to bacterial contamination of these units. This study was conducted on 112 blood units obtained from blood bank of Mansoura University Children Hospital. Sequential blood samples were obtained both immediately after donation and 10 days after for measurement of interleukin-1 beta and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and for bacterial culture by BACTEC 9050 system. There was statistically significant increase in both IL-1 beta and PAI-1 [p= 0.0001] after 10 days of blood units storage. Bacteriological culture revealed no growth in 68% and positive growth in 32% of blood units. The commonest isolated organism was Staph. aureus [15%] followed by Staph. epidermedis [13%] then Yersinia sp. and Enterobacter sp. [2%] for each.From the present study we could conclude that; stored blood units contain platelets and WBCs derived bio-active substances PAI-1 and IL-beta which increase with the duration of blood storage. Furthermore, the extended duration of storage carries the danger of blood contamination by bacteria. Automated blood culture system seems to be helpful in identification of bacterial contamination of blood units. We recommend fresh blood transfusion as early as possible and the practice of Leucofilteration to avoid blood transfusion complications