Fertility preservation in Malaysian pediatric cohort: a survey of healthcare providers' knowledge, practice, attitude, perceptions and barriers.

Introduction: Impaired future fertility potential secondary to gonadotoxic therapies for childhood cancer is a shattering aftermath faced by childhood cancer survivors. Fertility preservation (FP) has emerged as a key to mitigate this unwelcomed sequelae. FP services catering to the needs of children and adolescents (C&A) population in developing countries are limited.

Advances in next-generation sequencing for relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current insights and future directions.

Leukemia is one of the most common cancers in children; and its genetic diversity in the landscape of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is important for diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic approaches. Relapsed ALL remains the leading cause of cancer deaths among children. Almost 20% of children who are treated for ALL and achieve complete remission experience disease recurrence.

An intervention module for caregivers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Introduction: Childhood cancer caregivers report psychological distress and unmet psychosocial needs, affecting outcomes for their children. An experimental study was carried out to measure the effectiveness of an intervention in addressing traumatic stress, depression and anxiety.

Methods: Caregivers ( = 59) of children with ALL were allocated to both groups (intervention,  = 29; TAU control,  = 30) via the SNOSE method.

Caring for a child with cancer during COVID-19 pandemic: an assessment of the parents' perception and stress level.

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has led to heightened fear and uncertainty among parents of children with cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the parental perceptions toward effects of COVID-19 infection to children with cancer, determine their stress level and factors contributing to high stress level during the pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three paediatric oncology centres in Malaysia from September 2020 until December 2022.

Neuropsychological task outcomes among survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Malaysia.

This study intended to explore the neuropsychological ramifications in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors in Malaysia and to examine treatment-related sequelae. A case-control study was conducted over a 2-year period. Seventy-one survivors of childhood ALL who had completed treatment for a minimum of 1 year and were in remission, and 71 healthy volunteers were enlisted.

Spiritual Coping Among Families of Children With Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

The impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis precipitates caregiver's engagement in spiritual coping. This study aimed to explore spirituality among Malaysian Muslim caregivers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A total of 13 eligible caregivers participated in this qualitative semi-structured interview via purposive sampling.

Predictors of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS), Depression, and Anxiety among Caregivers of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

Objective: The caregivers of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are believed to experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and anxiety. This present study endeavoured to explore the prevalence and predictors of PTSS, depression, and anxiety among the caregivers of children with ALL.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select the 73 caregivers of children with ALL who participated in this cross-sectional study.

Case report: Kaposi hemangioendothelioma of the right upper limb with the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon: A potentially lethal diagnostic challenge.

Kaposi hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular neoplasm that presents usually within the first year of life. Because of its rarity and complexity, there is often a delay in diagnosis. KHE could be associated with a life-threatening consumptive coagulopathy named the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP).

Isolated Infiltrative Optic Neuropathy in an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse.

Optic nerve infiltration as the first sign of isolated central nervous system relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare. A seven-year-old girl with standard-risk B-cell ALL who was in remission presented with sudden onset of left eye pain and loss of vision. Examination revealed no perception to light in the left eye with positive relative afferent pupillary defect.

Exploring the beliefs of caregivers about the caregiving experiences of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Malaysia.

Background: Cancer is one of the major leading causes of childhood death, and the most common type is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The survival rate has increased in recent years; however, the long patient trajectory may trigger psychological distress among caregivers as they play an active role in ensuring that the child's basic needs are met. Being in a patient-focused system, the needs of caregivers may be neglected.

Prescribing Practices of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Malaysia: A Need for a National Guideline for Immunoglobulin Use.

Rational use of drug involves the use of medicine as per clinical guidelines. Given the steady increase in the clinical utility of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) either as licensed or off-label use, concerns are being raised about the possibility of supply shortages that could significantly impact patient care. Therefore, there is a need to regulate and to promote the rational use of this valuable medication.

Case Report: The Use of Intravenous SMOFlipid Infusion to Treat Severe Asparaginase-Induced Hypertriglyceridemia in Two Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients.

Asparaginase-induced hypertriglyceridemia can have a spectrum of clinical presentations, from being asymptomatic to having life-threatening thrombosis or hyperviscosity syndrome. At present, there is no recommendation on routine lipid monitoring during asparaginase-containing treatment phase, nor a standardized guideline on its management. Two cases are presented here to illustrate the effects of concurrent infection on asparaginase-induced hypertriglyceridemia in patients with high-risk ALL and the use of SMOFlipid infusion as a treatment option in an acute situation.

A systematic review of population pharmacokinetic analyses of polyclonal immunoglobulin G therapy.

Background: Population pharmacokinetics (popPK) using the nonlinear mixed-effect (NLME) modeling approach is an essential tool for guiding dose individualization. Several popPK analyses using the NLME have been conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics of immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Objective: To summarize the current information on popPK of polyclonal IgG therapy.

Population pharmacokinetic modelling of intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with predominantly antibody deficiencies.

Aims: There is considerable interpatient variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG), causing difficulty in optimizing individual dosage regimen. This study aims to estimate the population PK parameters of IVIG and to investigate the impact of genetic polymorphism of the FcRn gene and clinical variability on the PK of IVIG in patients with predominantly antibody deficiencies.

Methods: Patients were recruited from four hospitals.

Observational study on the current status of thalassaemia in Malaysia: a report from the Malaysian Thalassaemia Registry.

Objective: Thalassaemia is the most common inherited blood disorder in Malaysia. This study aims to report the current status of thalassaemia in Malaysia and provide a comprehensive understanding of the disease through data obtained from the Malaysian Thalassaemia Registry.

Design: Data were extracted from the Malaysian Thalassaemia Registry, a web-based system accessible to enrolled users through www.

Correlation between MRI characteristics of medulloblastoma with histopathological subtypes and 2-year survival.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the imaging features of medulloblastoma (MB) and correlate the MR characteristics with the different histological subtype of MB with 2-year survival.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. A total of 29 patients diagnosed with MB from January 2005 to December 2015 were included in this study.

A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis on the Impact of Increasing IgG Trough Level on Infection Rates in Primary Immunodeficiency Patients on Intravenous IgG Therapy.

Purpose: We conducted a systematic review and meta-regression analysis to evaluate the impact of increasing immunoglobulin G (IgG) trough levels on the clinical outcomes in patients with PID receiving intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) treatment.

Methods: Systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane. Other relevant articles were searched by reviewing the references of the reviewed article.

Health-related quality of life among children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

Background: The treatment of children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) in Malaysia has progressed since 2005. This study provides an updated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment for children with the disorder and the factors affecting the HRQoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional HRQoL survey of Malaysian children with TDT was conducted using the PedsQL™ 4.

Behavioral outcome among survivors of childhood brain tumor: a case control study.

Background: Advances in the treatment of childhood brain tumors have significantly improved survival rates. With improved survival rates, long-term treatment-related toxicities have become important, and the resulting complications can affect patients' emotion and behavior. This study aimed to 1) evaluate behavioral outcomes among survivors of childhood brain tumors, 2) compare behavioral outcomes among survivors of childhood brain tumors with survivors of childhood leukemia and healthy children, and 3) determine any demographic, disease, and/or treatment-related factors that could affect the behavioral outcomes of survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Early Surgery Is Feasible for a Very Large Congenital Infantile Fibrosarcoma Associated With Life Threatening Coagulopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma (CIF) is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor that predominantly occurs in children under 1 year of age. CIF is frequently misdiagnosed with other conditions like hemangioma of infancy, infantile fibromatosis, or kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIVC) is rarely reported to be associated with CIF.

Participation in Physical Activity and Physical Education in School Among Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Intensive Chemotherapy.

Low physical activity (PA) level has been reported among survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The present study was performed to determine the level of participation in general PA and physical education in school (PES) among children with ALL who completed intensive chemotherapy and identify possible barriers that influence adherence to PA and PES. A cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted over 1 year in a tertiary pediatric hematology and oncology referral center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A Unique Interaction of IVS-I-1 (G>A) (HBA2: c.95+1G>A) with Hb Adana (HBA2: c.179G>A) Presenting as Transfusion-Dependent α-Thalassemia.

Nondeletional α-globin mutations are known to cause more serious clinical effects than deletional ones. A rare IVS-I-1 (G>A) (HBA2: c.95+1G>A) donor splice site mutation interferes with normal splicing of pre mRNA and results in activation of a cryptic splice site as well as a frameshift mutation.

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura associated with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency in a 3-year-old boy: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura is very rarely encountered in children. It is often misdiagnosed initially when the condition is not inherited.

Case Presentation: We describe a 3-year-old Malay boy who presented with simple febrile seizure and had no neurological deficit, however, he was found to have microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase.