Mother and child characteristics at birth and early age leukemia: a case-cohort population-based study / Características mãe-filho ao nascer e leucemias na primeira infância: um estudo de caso-coorte de base populacional no Brasil

Abstract Objective: The population-based cancer registries (PBCR) and the Information System on Live Births in Brazil (Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos [SINASC]) have information that enables the test for risk factors associated with leukemia at an early age. The aim of this study was to identify maternal and birth characteristics associated with early-age acute leukemia (EAL) in Brazil. Methods: A case-cohort study was performed using secondary dataset information of PBCR and SINASC. The risk association variables were grouped into (i) characteristics of the child at birth and (ii) characteristics of maternal exposure during pregnancy. The case-control ratio was 1:4. Linkage was performed using R software; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by logistic regression models. Results: EAL was associated with maternal occupational exposure to chemicals (agricultural, chemical, and petrochemical industry; adjOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.16-4.10) and with birth defects (adjOR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.19-11.00). Conclusions: The results of this study, with the identification of EAL risk factors in population-based case-cohort study, strengthen the knowledge and improve databases, contributing to investigations on risk factors associated with childhood leukemia worldwide.

Resumo Objetivos: Os registros de câncer de base populacional (RCBP) e o Sistema Nacional de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC) possuem informações que possibilitam testar hipóteses sobre fatores de riscos associados às leucemias. O objetivo principal deste projeto é identificar quais as características ao nascimento das crianças que estariam associadas ao risco de desenvolver Leucemia Aguda (LA) na primeira infância. Métodos: Foram utilizadas informações de 12 RCBP e do Sistema de Informação de Nascidos Vivos das mesmas localidades. Foram elegíveis 272 casos e 1.088 controles no período de 1996 a 2010. As associações de riscos de LA foram agrupadas em, (i) características da criança ao nascer, e (ii) características de exposição materna durante a gestação da criança. A relação de casos e controles foi de 1:4. As análises para padronização, estruturação do banco de dados e análises estatísticas foram realizadas através dos aplicativos Excel, R-Studio e SPSS 21. Resultados: Houve associação entre anomalias congênitas (RC 3,62, IC95% 1,19-11,00) e exposição ocupacional materna a produtos químicos (OR 2,18, p 0,002) com o risco do desenvolvimento de LA. Conclusão: A utilização de banco de dados secundários populacionais para a identificação de fatores de risco para LA fortaleceu o intercâmbio de conhecimentos e melhoria das bases de dados, e contribuiu para investigações sobre as associações de riscos nas leucemias agudas em contexto mundial.

Exploración espaciotemporal del riesgo de enfermar de leucemia aguda en niños / Space-time scan of the risk of acute leukemia in children

Objetivo: Establecer la distribución del riesgo de enfermar de leucemia aguda en niños, en el tiempo, el espacio y el espacio/tiempo. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo realizado en la provincia de Villa Clara desde el 2000 hasta el 2012, de los casos nuevos de leucemia aguda en niños entre 0 y 18 años de edad; se tomaron datos emitidos por la Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas e Información y del Registro Nacional de Cáncer. Se aplicó la técnica de Kulldorff a través del programa SaTScan. Las opciones de análisis fueron los conglomerados retrospectivos puramente temporales, puramente espaciales y espacio temporales; se fijó un nivel de significación de 0,10. Resultados: Se identificaron dos conglomerados espaciales en zonas costera, en el noreste y noroeste de la provincia, este último con una significación asociada de 0,090; se detectó un conglomerado temporal en el 2011; los conglomerados espacio temporales se presentaron, indistintamente, entre el 2000 y el 2005, en áreas geográficas circunscritas a la franja costera de la provincia. Conclusiones: Se constató un incremento del riesgo de enfermar de leucemia aguda en niños, entre el 2000 y el 2012, enla franja costera de Villa Clara, con un conglomerado verdadero en su extremo noroeste. Se precisa mantener la vigilancia epidemiológica. Estudios sucesivos pudieran revelar procesos subyacentes en el patrón de distribución de la incidencia de la enfermedad en la provincia; asimismo, la consistencia de los resultados obtenidos, debe ponerse a prueba en otras regiones de Cuba(AU)

Objective: To determine the distribution of the risk of acute leukemia in children in time, space and space-time. Methods: Descriptive study of new cases of acute leukemia in children aged 0-8 years and carried out in Villa Clara province. Data from the National Statistical and Information Office and from the National Register of Cancer were used. Kulldorff's technique through the SaTScan software was applied. The analysis options were purely temporal, purely spatial and space-time retrospective clusters in addition to the level of significance being set at 0.10. Results: Two spatial clusters were identified in coastal areas located in the northeast and northwest of the province; the latter had an associated significance of 0.090; a temporal cluster was detected in 2011 whereas the space-time clusters appear from 2000 to 2005 in geographic areas around the provincial coastline.Conclusions: An increase of the risk of acute leukemia in Children was observed from 2000 to 2012 in the coastal areas of Villa Clara, with a true cluster on the northwest. It is necessary to keep epidemiological surveillance. Further studies might identify underlying processes in the distribution pattern of the disease incidence in the province; additionally, the consistency of the achieved results should be tested in other regions of Cuba(AU)

Developmental changes in hematopoietic stem cell properties

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) comprise a rare population of cells that can regenerate and maintain lifelong blood cell production. This functionality is achieved through their ability to undergo many divisions without activating a poised, but latent, capacity for differentiation into multiple blood cell types. Throughout life, HSCs undergo sequential changes in several key properties. These affect mechanisms that regulate the self-renewal, turnover and differentiation of HSCs as well as the properties of the committed progenitors and terminally differentiated cells derived from them. Recent findings point to the Lin28b-let-7 pathway as a master regulator of many of these changes with important implications for the clinical use of HSCs for marrow rescue and gene therapy, as well as furthering our understanding of the different pathogenesis of childhood and adult-onset leukemia.

Exposições ambientais e leucemias na infância no Brasil: uma análise exploratória de sua associação / Exposiciones ambientales y leucemias en la infancia en Brasil: un análisis exploratorio de su asociación / /Environmental exposure and childhood leukemia in Brazil: an exploratory analysis of their association

O presente estudo objetiva explorar as relações inaparentes que diversos fatores relativos às exposições ambientais e características individuais existentes em nosso meio possam ter no processo de desenvolvimento da leucemia na infância. A partir de um banco de dados clínicos e epidemiológicos obtido com estudo caso-controle de base hospitalar sobre fatores de risco para leucemias na infância, foi realizada análise multivariada exploratória por meio do emprego de análise de componentes principais e análise fatorial. Os resultados encontrados são sugestivos quanto à contribuição conjunta das exposições ambientais, e não apenas individualizadas, no desenvolvimento das leucemias na infância, sendo apoiados pelas evidências na literatura de que o processo de carcinogênese, em geral, e o da leucemogênese, em particular, resultem de efeitos de múltiplas mutações relacionadas a exposições ambientais conjuntas.

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo explorar las relaciones no aparentes que diversos factores relacionados con exposiciones ambientales, y características individuales existentes en nuestro medio, pueden llegar a tener en el proceso de desarrollo de la leucemia en la infancia. A partir de un banco de datos clínicos y epidemiológicos, obtenido con un estudio de control de casos de base hospitalaria sobre factores de riesgo para leucemias en la infancia, se realizó un análisis multivariado exploratorio, mediante el empleo de un análisis de componentes principales y análisis factorial. Los resultados encontrados son sugestivos en lo que se refiere a la contribución conjunta de las exposiciones ambientales, y no sólo individualizadas, en el desarrollo de las leucemias en la infancia. Siendo apoyados por evidencias en la literatura especializada de que el proceso de carcinogénesis, en general, y/o de la leucemogénesis en particular, resultan de efectos de múltiples mutaciones relacionadas a exposiciones ambientales conjuntas.

This study aims to explore the unapparent relations that several factors related to environmental exposure and individual characteristics existing in our environment may have with the process of developing childhood leukemia. From a database obtained from a clinical and epidemiological hospital-based, case-control study on risk factors for childhood leukemia, an exploratory multivariate analysis was performed using principal component analysis and factor analysis. The results indicate the joint contribution of not just individual but environmental exposure in the development of leukemia in childhood, and are supported by evidence in the literature that the process of carcinogenesis in general and of leukemogenesis in particular, result from effects of multiple mutations related to joint environmental exposure.

História familiar de câncer, exposição materna a medicamentos e o desenvolvimento de leucemia em menores de 2 anos / Family history of cancer, maternal exposure to drugs and the development of leukemia in children under 2 years

O objetivo foi avaliar a contribuição do histórico familiar de câncer e do uso de medicamentos materno no desenvolvimento de leucemia aguda em crianças menores de dois anos deidade. Determinar a magnitude de associação entre os antecedentes de história familiar de câncer de acordo com o grau de parentesco (primeiro ou segundo grau) e o desenvolvimento de leucemias em menores de dois anos de idade. Determinar a magnitude de associação entre consumo materno de analgésicos (dipirona, paracetamol e aspirina) no período pré-gestacional, gestacional (primeiro, segundo e terceiro trimestre) e no período de lactação e o desenvolvimento de leucemias agudas em menores de dois anos de idade. Determinar a magnitude de associação entre a exposição materna a vitaminas e suplementos minerais no período pré-gestacional, gestacional (primeiro, segundo e terceiro trimestre) e no período de lactação e o desenvolvimento de leucemias agudas em menores de dois anos de idade.

Adult mortality from leukemia, brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and magnetic fields from power lines: a case-control study in Brazil / Mortalidade por leucemia, câncer de cérebro e esclerose lateral amiotrófica em relação a campos magnéticos: estudo do tipo caso-controle no Brasil

Recent publications renewed interest in assessing potential health risks for subjects living close to transmission lines. This study aimed at evaluating the association of both distance of home address to the nearest overhead transmission line and of the calculated magnetic fields from the power lines and mortality from leukemia, brain cancer, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We carried out a death certificate based case-control study accessing adult mortality in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, in Brazil. Analysis included 1,857 cases of leukemia, 2,357 of brain cancer, 367 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and 4,706 as controls. An increased risk for mortality from leukemia among adults living at closer distances to transmission lines compared to those living further then 400 m was found. Risk was higher for subjects that lived within 50 m from power lines (OR=1.47; 95 percent CI=0.99-2.18). Similarly, a small increase in leukemia mortality was observed among adults living in houses with higher calculated magnetic fields (OR=1.61; 95 percent CI=0.91-2.86 for those exposed to magnetic fields >0.3 µT). No increase was seen for brain tumours or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Our findings are suggestive of a higher risk for leukemia among subjects living closer to transmission lines, and for those living at homes with higher calculated magnetic fields, although the risk was limited to lower voltage lines.

Os estudos avaliando riscos à saúde da exposição a campos magnéticos têm apresentado resultados controversos. Duas revisões recentes apontam a necessidade de mais investigações sobre o tema. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o risco de mortalidade por leucemia, câncer de cérebro e esclerose lateral amiotrófica em adultos em relação à exposição residencial a campos magnéticos gerados por linhas de transmissão. Foi realizado um estudo do tipo caso-controle de base populacional utilizando dados do sistema de informação de mortalidade na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, entre 2001 e 2005. O risco foi avaliado em relação à distância das residências para as linhas de transmissão e para o campo magnético calculado em cada residência. Foram incluídos no estudo 1.857 casos de leucemia, 2.357 de câncer de cérebro e 367 de esclerose lateral amiotrófica, além de 4.706 controles. Encontrou-se um risco aumentado para leucemia em adultos morando mais perto das linhas de transmissão em comparação àqueles morando a mais do que 400 m. O maior risco foi entre os que moravam a até 50 m da linha (OR=1,47; IC95 por cento=0,99-2,18). Também foi encontrado risco para pessoas morando em casas expostas ao maior campo magnético (OR=1,61; IC95 por cento=0,91-2,86, para campos magnéticos >0,3 µT). Não foi encontrado aumento para tumores cerebrais ou esclerose lateral amiotrófica. Nenhum dos resultados foi estatisticamente significante. Os resultados sugerem aumento no risco de mortalidade por leucemia entre adultos expostos a campos magnéticos, mas os resultados devem ser interpretados com cautela, uma vez que todos os intervalos de 95 por cento confiança englobavam o risco nulo.

Efectos de la radiación electromagnética no ionizante sobre lasalud y el caso específico de los efectos en la salud humana de la telefonía celular / Health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, and the specific case of the effects of mobile telephony

Los efectos en salud de la radiación electromagnética ionizante son bien conocidos; sin embargo hay menos reconocimiento de los efectos en salud causados por exposición a radiación electromagnética no ionizante. La primera parte del presente trabajo se refiere a los efectos en salud de las radiaciones electromagnéticas no ionizantes, independiente de su origen, puesto que no hay diferencias apreciables entre los efectos producidos por los diversos tipos de radiación electromagnética no ionizante y por lo tanto, son también válidas para aquellas emitidas por la telefonía celular. Se describe una asociación estadísticamente significativa de varias enfermedades a radiación electromagnética de frecuencia baja (ELF) proveniente de tendidos o transformadores de alta tensión, radiación electromagnética ELF del tendido eléctrico domiciliario y de artefactos electrodomésticos, exposición ocupacional a radiación electromagnética principalmente ELF, y radiación electromagnética de radiofrecuencia (RF) proveniente de antenas de transmisión de televisión. A continuación se analizan los efectos ya demostrados de la telefonía celular (los teléfonos y sus antenas repetidoras). Luego se analizan los grados de certeza de un estudio del Estado de California (USA) para relacionar las diversas enfermedades causadas por radiación electromagnética no ionizante. Este estudio confirmó la alta o mediana probabilidad de una relación causa-efecto de la radiación electromagnética con las siguientes enfermedades: leucemia en adultos y niños, cáncer cerebral en adultos y niños, cáncer de mama femenino y masculino, abortos espontáneos, suicidio, enfermedad de Alzheimer, esclerosis lateral amiotrófica y enfermedades cardiovasculares incluyendo infarto del miocardio. Se describen cuales son estas enfermedades de acuerdo al origen de estas radiaciones y se analizan cuales pueden ser los mecanismos biológicos que determinan la génesis de éstas...

The health effects of ionizing electromagnetic radiation are well known; neverthless there exist less recognition on the health effects of exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. The first part of the present report refers to health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, independently of its origin, since there are not important differences among effects caused by the different kind of non-ionizing radiations, therefore, they are valid for those emmited by the mobile telephony. A statistically significant association is described among various diseases and extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF) from high tension electric conductors or transformers, intradomiciliary electric lines or electrodomestic appliances, occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields, mainly ELF, and radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation from television transmission. Already demonstrated effects of mobile telephony (cellular telephones and their antenas). The degrees of certainty from a study of the State of California (USA) is analyzed to relate various diseases caused by non-ionizing radiation. This study confirmed high or moderate probability of a cause-effect relationship for adult and child leukemia, brain cancer in adults and children, female and male breast cancer, spontaneous abortions, suicide, Alzheimer disease, amiotrophic lateral sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction. Various diseases are related to the different origin of the radiation, and the biological mechanisms involved in disease generation are analyzed. Research performed in the USSR and afterwards in Russia on health effects of mobile telephony are summarized, these investigations originated the regulation in this country and afterwards in West Europe, and influenced the decisions of WHO on its carcinogenicity...

[Comparative study of some breast cancer risk factors in patients with breast cancer and leukemia in Ahvaz Shafa hospital]

Breast cancer includes 32% of women's cancer is the most common malignancies in women and is the reason for 19% of cancer-dependent mortality. The aim of this study was comparison between some breast cancer risk factors in patients with breast cancer and leukemia in Ahvaz Shafa Hospital. In this retrospective and analytic study,167 patients with breast cancer were compared with 317 patients with leukemia in a two- year period. The risk factors included age, OCP usage, smoking, positive familial history of breast cancer and positive history of benign breast disease. Odds ratio index was used for statistical data analysis. Breast cancer was seen more in 41 to 50 years old women. Familial history of breast cancer and history of benign breast disease were effective risk factors and smoking and, OCP usage increased the risk of developing breast cancer in our study. The results showed that some of the breast cancer risk factors are preventable, such as changes in lifestyle, regular examinations, especially about persons with a familial history of breast cancer or benign breast diseases which in turn can influence early diagnosis. Screening tests such as mammography are also useful in early diagnosis and improved prognosis of breast cancer

Diagnosis and treatment of polycythemia vera: Brazilian experience from a single institution

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by predominant proliferation of erythroid precursors. Few data are available concerning Brazilian patients with this condition. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and demographic characteristics of PV patients at diagnosis and analyze their long-term outcomes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study at the Division of Hematology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo. METHODS: All consecutive patients with PV diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria were eligible for this study. Clinical and demographic characteristics, thrombotic events, transformation to acute leukemia, myelofibrosis and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were evaluated. Thirty-six (54.5 percent) were females, with a median age at diagnosis of 61 years. At diagnosis, the median hemoglobin concentration was 18.8 mg/dl and the median platelet count was 593,000/mm³. Fifty-eight patients (88.0 percent) were treated with hydroxyurea with or without phlebotomy. During a median follow-up of 77 months, 22 patients (33.3 percent) had new thrombotic events, mainly of arterial type. The overall incidence of leukemia and myelofibrosis was 0.42 percent per patient-year and 1.06 percent per patient-year, respectively. Median overall survival was not reached and the seven-year survival rate was 77.8 percent. CONCLUSION: The PV patients described here had long survival and arterial thrombotic events were the most important and common complication among this population.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A policitemia vera (PV) é uma doença mieloproliferativa crônica, caracterizada pela proliferação de precursores hematopoéticos, principalmente da série eritróide. Poucos dados são disponíveis sobre pacientes brasileiros portadores desta doença. O objetivo do presente estudo é analisar as características de pacientes portadores de PV ao diagnóstico e a sua evolução clínica a longo prazo. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo retrospectivo unicêntrico, realizado no Serviço de Hematologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Foram elegíveis para este estudo os pacientes com PV diagnosticados de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. Foram avaliadas as características demográficas e clínicas ao diagnóstico, as complicações trombóticas, a transformação para leucemia aguda e mielofibrose e a sobrevida. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 66 pacientes; 36 (54,5 por cento) eram do sexo feminino, com uma mediana de idade ao diagnóstico de 61 anos. As medianas da concentração de hemoglobina e da plaquetometria ao diagnóstico foram de 18,8 mg/dl e 593.000/mm³, respectivamente. 58 (88,0 por cento) foram tratados com hidroxiuréia associada ou não à flebotomia. Em uma mediana de acompanhamento de 77 meses, 22 (33,3 por cento) pacientes apresentaram eventos trombóticos, predominantemente arteriais. A incidência de leucemia e mielofibrose foi de 0,42/100 pacientes-ano e 1,06/100 pacientes-ano, respectivamente. A mediana de sobrevida global não foi atingida, a taxa de sobrevida em sete anos foi de 77,8 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: Os portadores de PV em nosso serviço apresentaram longa sobrevida. Os eventos trombóticos arteriais foram a principal complicação da população estudada.

Combating oncogene activation associated with retrovirus-mediated gene therapy of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

A successful gene therapy clinical trial that also encountered serious adverse effects has sparked extensive study and debate about the future directions for retrovirus-mediated interventions. Treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency with an oncoretrovirus harboring a normal copy of the gc gene was applied in two clinical trials, essentially curing 13 of 16 infants, restoring a normal immune system without the need for additional immune-related therapies. Approximately 3 years after their gene therapy, tragically, 3 of these children, all from the same trial, developed leukemia as a result of this experimental treatment. The current understanding of the mechanism behind this leukemogenesis involves three critical and cooperating factors, i.e., viral integration, oncogene activation, and the function of the therapeutic gene. In this review, we will explore the causes of this unwanted event and some of the possibilities for reducing the risk of its reoccurrence.

Risk factors and primary prevention of acute leukemia.

Although risk factors for leukemia have been invastigated in numerous studies, only a few of them explain the disease etiology. Established and suspected risk factors for leukemia can be classified as familial, genetic , environmental (benzene, high dose ionizing radiation, chemotherapeutics, electromagnetic fields) and lifestyle (smoking, obesity, dietary intake). Prevention of leukemia may be possible by avoiding exposure to risk factors associated with leukemia such as smoking, benzene exposure and high dose ionizing radiation. To explain the etiology of all leukemias and develop preventive methods for the disease, future studies are needed.

Leucemias agudas / Acute leukemias

las leucemias agudas son un conjunto heterogéneo de neoplasia hematológica de origen multifactorial, causada por proliferaciones descontroladas de la célula hematopoyéticas inmaduras que lleva a una deficiente producción de células sanguíneas normales, con el progresivo deterioro del estado general de los pacientes, que si no son tratados a tiempo fallecen en pocas semanas o meses. El mecanismo molecular y genético que desencadena la transformación neoplásica de las células hematopoyéticas, se conoce en profundidad y han sido descritas diferentes variedades en base al origen celular de los blastos. Así mismo existen nuevas y mejores herramientas de diagnóstico, que permiten establecer con precisión el subtipo de leucemia aguda en cada caso, así como el pronóstico de la enfermedad. Estos avances han aumentado considerablemente la tasa de curaciones, especialmente en los niños. No obstante, aun queda mucho por hacer en el campo de la terapéutica. Las drogas actualmente disponibles para la quimioterapia, no consiguen erradicar completamente el clon leucémico y poseen muchísimos efectos colaterales. Hoy día, la leucemia aguda, continua siendo una enfermedad temible y potencialmente mortal. Un análisis profundo de las situaciones de los pacientes leucémicos en nuestro país, y los factores que impiden diagnosticar y tratar adecuadamente a estos pacientes, debería llevarnos a idear nuevas estrategias que nos permitan ofrecer a estos pacientes todas las alternativas diagnósticas y terapéuticas actualmente disponibles.

Seroepidemiological investigation of HTLV I,II infection among Busherian multi- transfused patients in 2003

HTLV is a member of Retroviridae family whose infection can lead to leukemia. Since in most regions of Iran [like Bushehr] donated blood units are not tested for HTLV infection, multiple transfusion patients are at high risk. In this study, we evaluated serological prevalence of the infection among Busherian patients. This was a descriptive study in which samples of all Busherian multi-transfused patients were taken based on dispersion of thalassemic and hemodialysis hospital wards. Blood samples for detection of HTLV I/II infection markers were tested by ELISA method and for confirmation of positive ELISA results western blot technique was used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software and Chi-square. Out of 642 Busherian multi-transfused patients including 455 [70.78%] thalassemic, 86 [13.3%] hemophilic and 101 [15.7%] hemodialysis patients, 41 of all thalassemic were ELISA positive out of whom 22[53.7%] were male and 19[46.3%] female. Infection in 14 cases was confirmed by western blot technique [p=0.77]. Statistical analysis did not show any significant correlation between western blot results and gender [p=0.56]. Neither was there any significant difference between western blot test results across different age ranges [p=0.67]. The significant point in this research was the detection of a thalassemic patient with dual infection of HTLV type I and II. Detection of HTLV infection among multi-transfused population indicated that such an infection may exist among blood donors of Bushehr

Comprometimento pulmonar nas leucemias: avaliação por tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução / Pulmonary leukemic involvement: high-resolution computed tomography evaluation

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o papel da tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR) no estudo de pacientes com leucemia e sintomas pulmonares, analisar os principais padrões encontrados e definir sua etiologia. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi feito estudo retrospectivo das TCAR de 15 pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de leucemia, em vigência de sintomas respiratórios. Os exames foram feitos com protocolo de alta resolução espacial, sendo avaliados por dois radiologistas, de forma independente. RESULTADOS: Os principais padrões observados foram: atenuação em vidro fosco (n = 11), consolidação (n = 9), nódulos do espaço aéreo (n = 3), espessamento de septos interlobulares (n = 3), padrão de árvore em brotamento (n = 3) e derrame pleural (n = 3). A infecção pulmonar foi o achado mais comum, observado em 12 pacientes, com a seguinte freqüência: pneumonia bacteriana (n = 6), infecção fúngica (n = 4), tuberculose pulmonar (n = 1) e infecção viral (n = 1). Os outros três pacientes mostraram infiltração leucêmica pleural (n = 1), linfoma (n = 1) e hemorragia pulmonar (n = 1). CONCLUSÃO: Concluiu-se que a TCAR é de grande importância na avaliação de pacientes com leucemia e neutropenia, com o objetivo de sugerir a causa do quadro pulmonar, avaliar a sua extensão e, em alguns casos, orientar procedimentos invasivos.

Historia e investigación de la leucemia en Costa Rica: [revisión] / History of leukemia research in Costa Rica: [review]

A review of leukemia worldwide is discussed, focusing on etiology, diagnosis and treatment. The history of research of this type of cancer in Costa Rica is presented through the first hospital diagnosis, the arrival of clinical and laboratory hematologists, the establishment of specialized laboratories, the local hematology teaching programs and the voluntary associations that help patients with leukemia. A brief review of Costa Rican publications in this area and the future of this problem in our country is also shown.

A study of the haematologic spectrum of myelodysplastic syndrome.

In 31 patients of myelodysplastic syndrome, RAEB-t was the commonest subtype (29%), and RARS, the lease common (6.4%); 19.4% were characterised as the unclassifiable (UC) group. Pallor was the dominant sign (90.3%). Low haemoglobin in RA & RARS (p<0.05), thrombocytopenia in RAEB-t (p<0.01) and high leuco/monocyte counts in CMML (p<0.001) were observed. Neutropenia occurred most frequently in RAEB & RAEB-t and circulating blasts in all cases of RAEB-t and CMML. Bicytopenia was the commonest finding (58.1%) and pancytopenia the least (16.1%). 84% of marrows were hypercellular and trilineage dysplasia was seen in 68% of patients. Megaloblastoid dyserythropoiesis was the predominant feature in all cases, dysgranulopoiesis in all cases of RAEB, RAEB-t and CMML, and micromegokaryocytes in all cases of RARS, RAEB & CMML were seen. RAEB-t and RAEB (33.3% each) were the predominant groups which progressed to leukemia, FAB AML-M2, being the commonest type (60%).

Aspects epidemiologiques des leucemies aigues en Cote d'Ivoire

Les auteurs rapportent un etude epidemiologique des leucemies aigues allant d'octobre 1991 a fevrier 1999. La prevalence hospitaliere est de 23;86pour 1000 malades hospitalises. Il y avait 59;09de leucemies aigues lymphoblastique (LAL) et 40;91de leucemies aigues myeloide (LAM). L'age global etait de 29;13 ans et 60;60des patients etaient ages de 2 a 30 ans. Il a ete note une legere predominance masculine. Les hydrocarbures aromatiques (benzene et ses derives) sont fortement incrimines

Manejo clínico de niños con síndrome de Down / Clinic management of children with Downïs syndrome

En el manejo clínico de los niños Down, el médico pediatra cumple un rol muy importante junto con otros profesionales del área de salud y educación mejorando significativamente la calidad de vida de estas personas