ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recently, inorganic arsenic trioxide (As2O3) was reported to induce complete remission in a high proportion of patients with refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To illustrate cellular and molecular mechanisms of As2O3 in the treatment of APL, many experimental studies were performed on APL-derived cell lines in vitro. Previous studies showed that As2O3 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in the APL-derived cell lines. This study was done to clarify the in vitro mechanisms of As2O3-induced apoptosis in APL-derived NB4 cell lines. METHODS: To determine the effects of As2O3 in the various concentrations, NB4 cells were cultured with 0.1 to 2micro M/L of As2O3. To assay the apoptosis in NB4 cell lines, DNA fragmentation assay and TUNEL were performed. To find out the molecular change of As2O3- induced apoptotic NB4 cell lines, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis for PML-RARalpha chimeric protein expression and flow cytometry for bcl- 2/bax expression were performed. To clarify the caspase activation pathway, Western blot analysis and flow cytometry for procaspase expression were performed. RESULTS: As2O3 induces apoptosis on NB4 cells in relatively high concentration (0.5 to 2 micro M/L) for 2 days. After 2 days of culture the PML-RARalpha chimeric protein expression decreased rapidly by Western blot and RT-PCR analysis and bcl-2 expression also decreased by flow cytometry. The expression of bax by flow cytometry showed a marked increase in high concentration (2micro M/L) but there was no change in low concentration (0.5micro M/L). In the Western blot analysis, the amount of pro`enzyme of caspase-3 was significantly decreased in the cells with high concentration (2micro M/L) compared with that in the cells with low concentration (0.5micro M/L). As2O3 induces proteolytic processing of pro-caspase 7 but not pro-caspase 9 and 8. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of APL-derived NB4 cell lines was induced by As2O3 and progressed rapidly in higher concentrations. During apoptosis, activation of caspase-7 pathway and degradation of PML-RARalpha chimeric protein, decrease in bcl-2 and increase in bax were shown.
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Arsenic , Blotting, Western , Caspase 3 , Caspase 7 , Cell Line , DNA Fragmentation , Flow Cytometry , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Leukemia, Promyelocytic, AcuteABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 75% of all cases of childhood leukemia. We investigated epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features and treatment outcome of the children with ALL in Korea during recent 5 years. METHODS: One thousand forty nine patients were enrolled between January 1994 and December 1998 from 37 major hospitals in Korea. The data regarding the clinical and laboratory features including age, WBC counts at diagnosis, immunophenotype, morphology, cytogenetics and treatment outcome of patients were analyzed retrospectively by review of patient's medical records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. The differences between groups analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 597 males and 452 females. The distribution between the age 2 and 5 years is most common in 46.1%. The annual incidence rate per 100,000 population varied from 1.6 to 2.2. The 5 year event free survival (EFS) rates according to good prognostic factors were as follows: 67% bet ween 1-9 year of age at diagnosis, 69% in under 10,000/mm3of initial WBC count, 74% in early pre-B cell CALLA ( ) immunophenotype, 65% in L3 morphology, 68% in no CNS invasion. Most of patients were treated by CCG treatment protocol. The 5 year EFS was 63%. Main complications were sepsis (21.8%) and hemorrhage (12.5%). The relapse rate was 15.6%. The common causes of death were sepsis, DIC, pneumonia, relapse. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide the most recent and important information about acute lymphoblastic leukemia of children in Korea.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Cause of Death , Clinical Protocols , Cytogenetics , Dacarbazine , Diagnosis , Disease-Free Survival , Epidemiology , Hemorrhage , Incidence , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Korea , Leukemia , Medical Records , Pneumonia , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Sepsis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Castleman's disease(CD) is rare in childhood. It is defined as a localized nodal hyperplasia in mediastinum or cervical area. It is also called angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, lymph nodal hamartoma, giant lymph node hyperplasia. It was first described in 1956 by Castleman et al. as a lesion of mediastinal mass. The etiology of CD is not clear. The histologic classification of CD is hyaline vascular and plasma cell type. The hyaline-vascular type is more frequent, and characterized by small hyaline-folliclees and interfollicular capillary proliferation. The plasme cell type is characterized by the large follicles with intervening sheets of plasma cells. The clinical classification of CD is solitary and multicentric type. The solitary type is usually asymptomatic but, the multicentric type is usually combined systemic manifestations, such as fever, anemia, hyperglobulinemia. Complete surgical resection of involved lymph nodes is both diagnostic and therapeutic. The prognosis of solitary type is good, in a general way. We experienced CD cases in five-year-old girl, who had a 4x3 cm solid mass in postrior triangle of neck, right. The mass was removed completely and confirmed Castleman's disease microscopically. The histopathologic finding was a proliferation of germinal centers with hyaline thickening of the wall and the interfollicular stroma showed hyperplastic vessels admixed with lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. She discharged after six days of operation and her prognosis was good.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Anemia , Capillaries , Classification , Eosinophils , Fever , Germinal Center , Castleman Disease , Hamartoma , Hyalin , Hyperplasia , Lymph Nodes , Lymphocytes , Mediastinum , Neck , Plasma Cells , PrognosisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recent years have witness a dramatic increase in public awareness of the health risks associated with lead exposure-particularly concerning young children. The lead poisoning in children was considered a rarity, usually resulting from unique circumstances such as in appropriate use of lead-based body cosmetics or direct administration of lead-containing folk medicine or contaminated atmosphere. The increasing concern about children with lower levels of lead exposure has developed, but there are no data regarding the mean blood lead levels and the incidence of lead poisoning in Korean children. So, this study was conducted to measure the blood lead and ZPP(zinc protoporphyrin) levels of 125 children around Cheonan city. METHODS: 125 children around Cheonan city (from 1 month to 15 year-old, 68 males and 57 females) were studied. We analyzed the mean blood Zinc Protoporphyrin(ZPP) and lead values and excluded children with hematologic disorders in this study. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead level was 4.15 microgram/dl (95% CI: 3.82-4.488) and the mean ZPP level was 53.48 microgram/dl (95% CI: 48.44-58.52). Both were within normal range. 2) The mean blood lead level of 68 males was 4.23 microgram/dl and 4.06 microgram/dl in 57 females. The mean blood ZPP level was 49.88 microgram/dl in males and 57.77 microgram/dl in females. There was no significant difference in males and females. 3) There was no siginificant correlation between blood lead and ZPP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the mean blood lead level of 125 children around Cheonan city was 4.15 microgram/dl. That was within normal range and the same values with United States. It is important that there must be a national counter plan and that pediatricians continue to pay attention to lead poisoning in children.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Atmosphere , Incidence , Lead Poisoning , Medicine, Traditional , Reference Values , United States , ZincABSTRACT
Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome is a rare disorder chracterized by congenital icthyosis, spastic diplegia or tetraplegia and mental retardation. The inheritance is autosomal recessive, due to deficiency of alcohol dehydrogenase activity of fatty acid matabolism. We have experienced a case of Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome in a 16 month-old male children who have dried thick skin, developmental delay, and spastic diplegia. He also has glistening spot on macula area with irregular high voltage slow wave (2-3Hz) on electroencephalography. From Biopsy finding, Lamella ictyosis with acanthosis and hyperkeratosis in epithelium is shown. He was much improved clinically for skin lesion and developmental status with etretinate supplement. We report the case with brief review of related literatures.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Infant , Male , Acitretin , Alcohol Dehydrogenase , Biopsy , Cerebral Palsy , Electroencephalography , Epithelium , Etretinate , Intellectual Disability , Quadriplegia , Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome , Skin , WillsABSTRACT
Iron deficiency remains the most common cause of anemia in infants and chidren despite increasing availability of iron-fortified foods. We screened out anemia in 9-month old infants in well baby clinic to know the prevalence of anemia and the weaning status. The results were as follows: 1) Among 345 infants screened, 24 infants (7%) were found to have anemia. 2) The kind of anemia was microcytosis and 7 infants (2.2%) revealed hypochromia. 3) Among the remaining 311 non-anemic infants, 6 infants (1.9%) revealed microcytosis and 7 infants (2.2%) revealed hypochromia. 4) In anemic group the mean hemoglobin concentration was 8.75+/-1.03gm/dl, hematocrit was 27. 73+/-3.11%, MCV was 65.84+/-8.21 fL, MCHwas 20.95+/-2.93 pg and MCHC was 31.34+/-1.89 gm/dl. 5) In 9 anemic infants, weaning was delayed until 9 months of age.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Anemia , Hematocrit , Iron , Mass Screening , Prevalence , WeaningABSTRACT
TO determine the normal neonatal adrenal gland size, ultrasonographic examinations were performed in 145 newborn infants. They were divided into 3 groups according to the days of age. The group I is 1~3 days, group II is 6~9 days and group III is 21~50 days of age. 1) The adrenal gland size was as follows. In group I, the length was 29.05mm and the width was 4.02mm. In group II, the length was 24.04mm and the width was 2.79mm. In group III, the length was 19.54mm and the width was 2.21mm. 2) With increasing age, the size of adrenal gland became smaller. 3) The size of adrenal gland correlated well with the birth weight and height. We conclude that the ultrasonographic examination is useful in infant adrenal gland disease.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Adrenal Gland Diseases , Adrenal Glands , Birth WeightABSTRACT
Haemophilus influenzae type b(Hib) is one of the most common cause of invasive bacterial disease in children. In Korea, However, the proportion occupied by Hib as a cause of pediatric pathogen is less compared to those of western countries. Natural immunity to Haemophilus influenzae type b was determined on 308 Korean children. The titration of antibody to capsular polysaccharide (PRP) was performed by the radioantigen binding assay. Forty percent of the total subjects and 31% of children under 5 years had an antibody level considered to be protective( 0.15 g/ml).Seropositivity was 13.6% in 12~17 month age group, and increased progressively to 19% in 5~10 year age group. In the age groups under 36 months of age, the geometric mean titers of anti-PRP antibody were below the protective level. These data indicate that a lot of Korean children under 5 years of age do not have antibody levels considered to be protective against H. influenzae type b, and do not explain the apparent low risk of Korean children to Hib Further studies including comparative antibody response to polysa-charide and protein antigens with other racial groups are needed.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Antibody Formation , Haemophilus influenzae type b , Haemophilus influenzae , Haemophilus , Immunity, Innate , Influenza, Human , KoreaABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute , Sarcoma, MyeloidABSTRACT
No abstract available.
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No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Infant Formula , Infant, Low Birth WeightABSTRACT
No abstract available.
ABSTRACT
A hemorrhagic disease due to acquired prothrombin complex deficiency is presented in five infants from 3 weeks to 2 months of age. There are 2 cases of intracranial hemorrhage, 1 case of hemothorax, 2 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding, 1 case of epistaxis and 3 cases of petechia, purpura or bleeding from injection site. After the administration of vitamin K, bleeding ceased and prolonged prothrombin time was corrected promptly. Vitamin K dependent coagulation factor deficiency due to vitamin K deficiency is accounted for the pathogenesis of bleeding. Diarrhea, treatment with antimicrobial agents and a diet low in vitamin K are suggested as etiologic factors acting together.