Comparison of 14 respiratory pathogens among hospitalized children during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Chaoshan area.

Background: Since January 2020, measures has been adopted in the Chaoshan area to limit the spread of COVID-19. Restrictions were removed after August 2020. At the same time, children returned to school.

Recent research on the association between signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) can be involved in the processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and hematopoiesis, and its dysregulation is closely associated with the development and progression of malignant tumors including leukemia and may affect the treatment outcome and prognosis of pediatric patients. Identification of STAT5 can facilitate targeted therapy to improve the response rate of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This article reviews the impact of STAT5 on the development/progression, targeted therapy strategies and the prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

[Changes of intestinal flora in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before and after chemotherapy].

Objectives: To examine the changes of intestinal flora in children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the influence of chemotherapy on intestinal flora.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 40 children newly diagnosed with ALL before chemotherapy and at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months after chemotherapy. Ten healthy children served as the control group.

Recent clinical research on the application of liquid biopsy in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and has the features of high recurrence rate and low survival rate, and therefore, early diagnosis, treatment response evaluation, and recurrence monitoring are of great significance for NB patients. Liquid biopsy refers to the detection of cells and nucleic acids in fluid specimens, mainly blood. It is noninvasive and can overcome tumor heterogeneity, thus making it possible to achieve the early diagnosis and dynamic detection of NB.

[Prognostic Factors Analysis of Children with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis].

Objective: To analyze the risk factors affecting prognosis of children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Methods: The clinical manifestations and laboratory data of 143 HLH children who met the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria in Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2009 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and the independent factors affecting prognosis were also analyzed.

Results: The median age of 143 HLH children was 1.

Machine learning to predict high-dose methotrexate-related neutropenia and fever in children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Methotrexate (MTX), an antimetabolite for the treatment of leukemia, could cause neutropenia and subsequently fever, which might lead to treatment delay and affect prognosis. Here, we aimed to predict neutropenia and fever related to high-dose MTX using artificial intelligence. This study included 139 pediatric patients newly diagnosed with standard- or intermediate risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Identification of a De Novoc.1000delA ANK1 mutation associated to hereditary spherocytosis in a neonate with Coombs-negative hemolytic jaundice-case reports and review of the literature.

Background: To strengthen the understanding of Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS) and determine the disease-causing mutation present with neonatal jaundice. HS is a hemolytic condition resulting from various erythrocyte membrane defects. Many different mutations result in HS, including mutations in ANK1.

[Clinical features of sleep-disordered breathing in children with neuromuscular disease].

Objective: To study the clinical features of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with neuromuscular disease (NMD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 18 children who were diagnosed with NMD and underwent polysomnography (PSG) (NMD group). Eleven children without NMD who had abnormal sleeping habit and normal sleep structure on PSG were enrolled as the control group.

Successful outcome of disseminated Candida tropicalis osteomyelitis on remission induction for childhood Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia-case report.

Background: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is one of the most challenging complications in children undergoing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treatment, but acute fungal osteomyelitis (OM) is rarely encountered.

Case Presentation: Here, we describe a case of Candida tropicalis osteomyelitis in a 10-year-old patient with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive ALL. He was on remission induction therapy at the time of neutropenia, and an abscess developed in his right arm.

[Clinical features of children with influenza and plastic bronchitis: an analysis of 63 cases].

Objective: To study the clinical features of children with influenza and plastic bronchitis (PB).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 63 children with influenza and PB, including clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, treatment, and outcome.

Results: Among the 63 children, there were 52 boys (83%) and 11 girls (17%), and 42 children had influenza A and 21 had influenza B.

[Latest advances in minimal residual disease evaluation in B-cell lymphoproliferative disease].

The clearance of cancer cells is closely associated with the prognosis of various hematologic malignancies. Clinical studies have shown that minimal residual disease (MRD) can directly reflect the clearance of cancer cells, but the tools for MRD detection need to be improved. This article reviews the latest advances in the MRD detection by digital polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing in B-cell lymphoproliferative disease.

Prevention program for the COVID-19 in a children's digestive endoscopy center.

The pneumonia caused by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. The gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain and the detection of COVID-19 nucleic acid from fecal specimens in a small number of patients suggest the possibility of transmission the gastrointestinal tract. People of all ages are vulnerable to this virus, including children.

Predictors of outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilatation in strictures after esophageal atresia repair: A retrospective study.

Background: Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) has become the first line of therapy for benign esophageal strictures (ESs); however, there are few publications about the predictive factors for the outcomes of this treatment.

Aim: To assess the predictive factors for the outcomes of EBD treatment for strictures after esophageal atresia (EA) repair.

Methods: Children with anastomotic ES after thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair treated by EBD from January 2012 to December 2016 were included.

Infant cholestasis patient with a novel missense mutation in the gene successfully treated by early adequate supplementation with chenodeoxycholic acid: A case report and review of the literature.

Steroid 5β-reductase [aldo-keto reductase family 1 member D1 ()] is essential for bile acid biosynthesis. Bile acid deficiency caused by genetic defects in leads to life-threatening neonatal hepatitis and cholestasis. There is still limited experience regarding the treatment of this disease.

Preliminary investigation on the abnormal mechanism of CD4FOXP3CD25 regulatory T cells in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The current study aimed to investigate the changes and regulatory mechanism of cluster of differentiation (CD)4CD25 forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in childhood B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL). A total of 18 children with B-ALL and 15 age-matched healthy children were included. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of Foxp3, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4), glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (R)β/γ, IL-6Rα/β, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)3/4 and runt-related transcription factor (RUNX)1/3 in CD4-positive cells.

[Research advances in the relationship between childhood malnutrition and gut microbiota].

Childhood malnutrition is an important disease threatening healthy growth of children worldwide. Gut microbiota has close links to food digestion, absorption and intestinal function. Current research considers that alterations in gut microbiota have been strongly implicated in childhood malnutrition.

[Detection of gene mutation in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency by RT-PCR sequencing].

Objective: Since glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common hereditary hemolytic erythrocyte enzyme deficiency, most cases have single nucleotide mutations in the coding region, and current test methods for gene mutation have some missed detections, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of RT-PCR sequencing in the detection of gene mutation in G6PD deficiency.

Methods: According to the G6PD/6GPD ratio, 195 children with anemia of unknown cause or who underwent physical examination between August 2013 and July 2014 were classified into G6PD-deficiency group with 130 children (G6PD/6GPD ratio <1.00) and control group with 65 children (G6PD/6GPD ratio≥1.

[Gene promoter methylation in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency].

Objective: To investigate the features of methylation in the promoter region of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene and the association between gene promoter methylation and G6PD deficiency.

Methods: Fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of G6PD in 130 children with G6PD deficiency. Sixty-five children without G6PD deficiency served as the control group.

[Brain injury after induction chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To investigate the changes in brain injury after the induction chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by cranial MRI.

Methods: The clinical data and cranial MRI results of 62 children with ALL who were hospitalized from March 2014 to June 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Before chemotherapy, MRI showed bone marrow infiltration of the skull in 33 patients (53%); the children with WBC<20×10(9)/Lhad a significantly lower incidence rate of bone marrow infiltration of the skull than those with WBC≥20×10(9)/L (16 patients/42% vs 17 patients/71%; P<0.

[One-step multiplex RT-PCR for identifying common fusion transcripts in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of one-step multiplex RT-PCR for identifying four common fusion transcripts (TEL/AML1, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF4 and BCR/ABL) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow samples of 76 children who were newly diagnosed with ALL between January 2003 and December 2010. These RNAs were analyzed for TEL/AML1, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF4 and BCR/ABL by one-step multiplex RT-PCR or common nested-multiplex PCR.

[Advances in pathogenesis and correlated clinical research of hypercoagulability in β thalassemia].

This article summarizes the pathogenesis of hypercoagulability in β thalassemia patients, including platelet activation, alteration of red blood cell membranes, abnormal expression of adhesion molecules on vascular endothelial cells and iron overload. Clinical evidence, clinical manifestations of hypercoagulable state and thrombosis in β thalassemia and the effect of splenectomy on hypercoagulable state were reviewed. Strategies to prevent and treat the thromboembolic events in β-thalassemia intermedia are also discussed, including transfusion therapy to raise hemoglobin levels, avoidance or delay of splenectomy and a number of treatments in the exploration.

[Relationship between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia].

Objective: To study the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and toxicities after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) infusion in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: MTHFR variants in 52 children with ALL were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing. Toxicities of children who received HD-MTX chemotherapy were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC).

Effect of tumor gangliosides on tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK in platelet adhesion to collagen.

The exact mechanisms as to how platelets influence blood-borne metastasis remain poorly understood. Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are associated with tumor progression and metastasis in humans. Gangliosides isolated from tumor cells promote collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation and ATP secretion and enhance platelet adhesion to immobilized collagen.

[ALK gene mutations in childhood neuroblastoma].

Objective: To investigate mutations of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in Chinese children with neuroblastoma (NB).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 22 cases of paraffin-embedding NB tumor tissues. Gene mutations in the exons 20-26 which were mutational hotspots of ALK were analyzed by PCR-DNA direct sequencing.