Peripheral blood stem cell harvesting in young children weighing less than 15 kg.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation is crucial in pediatric cancer treatment, and tandem transplantation is beneficial in certain malignancies. Collecting PBSCs in small children with low body weight is challenging. We retrospectively analyzed data of pediatric cancer patients weighing <15 kg who underwent autologous PBSC harvesting in our hospital.

Refining risk stratification in paediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: Combining IKZF1 and Day 15 MRD positivity.

This study investigates the potential utility of IKZF1 deletion as an additional high-risk marker for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The prognostic impact of IKZF1 status, in conjunction with minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD), was evaluated within the MRD-guided TPOG-ALL-2013 protocol using 412 newly diagnosed B-ALL patients aged 1-18. IKZF1 status was determined using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.

Donor lymphocyte infusion for prophylaxis and treatment of relapse in pediatric hematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Background: Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is effective for managing patients with hematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). However, few studies have explored its optimal use in pediatric populations. Herein, we report our single-center experiences of DLI and factors for predicting its outcomes.

A case series and literature review on 98 pediatric patients of germ cell tumor developing growing teratoma syndrome.

Introduction: Malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs) can develop either extracranially or intracranially. Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) may develop in these patients following chemotherapy. Reports on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of GTS in children with MGCTs are limited.

Surgical treatment confers prognostic significance in pediatric malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors.

Background: Primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare pediatric tumors that have a poorer prognosis compared to GCTs occurring elsewhere in the body. The current study aimed to assess the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of children with primary malignant mediastinal GCT in Taiwan.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed children 0-18 years old who were newly diagnosed with primary malignant mediastinal GCT between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2019 and were registered in the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group patient registry.

Sequential Approach to Improve the Molecular Classification of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Identification of specific leukemia subtypes is a key to successful risk-directed therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is the best approach to identify virtually all specific leukemia subtypes, the routine use of this method is too costly for patients in resource-limited countries. This study enrolled 295 patients with pediatric ALL from 2010 to 2020.

Recurrent microangiopathic hemolysis after recovery from complement-mediated hemolytic uremia syndrome during chemotherapy for a CFH-mutated patient with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Complement-mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome (CM-HUS) following chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoid neoplasms has rarely been reported. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) who developed CM-HUS with complement factor H (CFH) mutations (S1191L, V1197A) during induction therapy. Safe administration of chemotherapy after CM-HUS recovery was challenging.

Characteristics and outcomes of second cancers in patients with childhood cancer: A report from the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group.

Background: Patients with childhood cancer are at increased risk for the development of second cancers.

Methods: A national multicenter survey of second cancers conducted by the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group retrieved retrospective data from the database at the Children Cancer Foundation in Taiwan beginning in 1995. The characteristics of second cancers and associations of patient demographic and clinical characteristics with time to death due to a second cancer were analyzed.

Estimation of the Effect of Accelerating New Bone Formation of High and Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Hybrid: An Animal Study.

Osteoconduction is an important consideration for fabricating bio-active materials for bone regeneration. For years, hydroxyapatite and β-calcium triphosphate (β-TCP) have been used to develop bone grafts for treating bone defects. However, this material can be difficult to handle due to filling material sagging.

Treatment outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a retrospective analysis from 1996 to 2019 in Taiwan.

Improvement in outcomes of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is attributed to several refinements in clinical management. We evaluated treatment outcomes of Taiwanese pediatric AML patients in the past 20 years. Overall, 860 de novo AML patients aged 0-18 years and registered in the Childhood Cancer Foundation of R.

Complete and durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitor in a patient with refractory and metastatic hepatoblastoma.

We herein report the case of a girl with PRETEXT III hepatoblastoma (HB) developing recurrent lung metastases despite multiple chemotherapy regimens, aggressive tumor excision, multiple lung metastasectomies, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. High tumor mutation burden (TMB) was identified through targeted next-generation sequencing, and pembrolizumab was administered post-operatively as a last resort. A complete and sustained response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor was achieved for 22 months.

RAS pathway mutation is an added-value biomarker in pediatric Philadelphia-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with IKZF1 deletions.

Background: IKZF1deletion is an unfavorable factor in Philadelphia negative (Ph -) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the effects of IKZF1 deletions co-existing genetic alterations in Ph (-) ALL have not been extensively studied.

Methods: Bone marrow samples from 368 children with Ph (-) ALL were analyzed by using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification kit for detection of gene deletions and Sanger sequencing for mutational analysis of RAS pathway genes.

Exposure to colistin impairs skin keratinocytes and lateral-line hair cells in zebrafish embryos.

Environmental contamination by antibiotics has become a global issue. Colistin, a cationic antimicrobial polypeptide, has been widely used in human/veterinary medicine, and growth promotion in aquaculture. However, no study has been conducted to test the toxic effects of colistin on aquatic animals.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treating severe lung involvement in Gaucher disease.

Objective: To provide strategies for monitoring and treating severe lung involvement in Gaucher disease.

Study Design: We reviewed the chart of a 5-year-old boy who developed rapidly progressive, severe infiltrative lung involvement of Gaucher disease (GD) and improved after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), along with other case studies reported before December 2019. He was diagnosed with GD (homozygous mutation at c.

Patient-reported outcomes in survivors of childhood hematologic malignancies with hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Patient-reported outcomes among survivors of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are understudied. We compared symptom prevalence, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and risk factors in adult survivors of childhood hematologic malignancies treated with HSCT to those treated with conventional therapy and noncancer controls. Survivors of childhood hematologic malignancies (HSCT N = 112 [70% allogeneic, 30% autologous]; conventionally treated N = 1106) and noncancer controls (N = 242) from the St.

Effect of early radiotherapy initiation and high-dose chemotherapy on the prognosis of pediatric atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors in different age groups.

Purpose: The optimal treatment strategy for pediatric atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is inconclusive. This study evaluated the prognostic value of early radiotherapy (RT) and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue (HDC/ASCR) in pediatric ATRT.

Methods: This pooled analysis included ATRT patients treated at our institution and from other studies who were identified by a search of the PubMed electronic database.

Toxic effects of silver and copper nanoparticles on lateral-line hair cells of zebrafish embryos.

The potential toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) to the early stages of fish is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of silver (AgNPs) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) on lateral-line hair cells of zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish embryos were incubated in different concentrations of AgNPs and CuNPs at 0˜96 h post-fertilization (hpf).

Role of early and aggressive post-operative radiation therapy in improving outcome for pediatric central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate possible prognostic factors and optimal management for pediatric atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS).

Methods: Twenty-eight pediatric patients with CNS AT/RT who were treated with radiation therapy (RT) as part of multimodality treatment regimens at a single institution (1996-2015) were reviewed. Survival outcomes were analyzed in relation to possible prognostic factors.

Systemic Epstein-Barr Virus-positive T-Cell Lymphoma of Childhood Presentation With Hemophagocytosis.

A 2-year-old Asian girl presented to our facility for the evaluation of thrombocytopenia. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin under the impression of immune thrombocytopenia. However, her body temperature spiked and progressive pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, abnormal liver function, coagulopathy, and pulmonary infiltration developed.

The impact on outcomes by using thiotepa in tandem transplant for pediatric high-risk embryonal brain tumors.

Background: Despite aggressive treatment including surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy, the outcome of pediatric high-risk embryonal brain tumors remains poor; especially in young children, in whom early radiotherapy inevitably brings significant long-term morbidities. Single or tandem autologous stem cell transplant has been reported to improve outcomes; but optimal use is not well defined.

Methods: Pediatric patients with high-risk embryonal brain tumors who underwent tandem transplant as consolidation from August 2011 to December 2017 were included.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: single center experience in an Asian population.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTL) is a rare form of cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. It is believed that SPTL in patients without hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) follows an indolent course; in contrast, SPTL in patients with HPS has been associated with unfavorable survival. To provide more clinical data on SPTL in Asian populations and to identify optimal therapeutic strategies for SPTL, we assessed the clinicopathological features and long-term follow-up data of 10 Taiwanese SPTL patients diagnosed at a single center.

Incidence of immune thrombocytopenia in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: The incidence of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is not well known in Asians. The aims of this study were to survey incidences and clinical features of ITP in Taiwan.

Study Design And Methods: This study identified 4855 incident ITP cases from the population-based National Health Insurance Research Database from mid-2006 to mid-2013, and compared incidences, patient characteristics, and clinical manifestations of ITP by age.