Outcome of medulloblastoma in children treated with reduced-dose radiation therapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Post-surgical craniospinal irradiation (CSI; 30-36 Gy) plus local boost radiation therapy (RT; 54-56 Gy) is a standard treatment for children with medulloblastoma who are over 3 years old, resulting in a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of 46% to 65% in average-risk patients and 50% in high-risk patients. The addition of chemotherapy has the benefit of reducing complications from radiation and improving the OS rate.

Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy associated with congenital neuroblastoma: a case report.

The authors report a rare case of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) with congenital neuroblastoma without feature(s) of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. A term newborn with a birth weight of 3,900 g developed hypoglycemia one hour after birth and required up to 20 mg/kg/min of intravenous glucose infusion to maintain euglycemia. Investigations during the critical period revealed an inappropriately high insulin level.

Late effects in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study from Thai Pediatric Oncology Group.

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk of long-term late effects. Therefore, systematic screenings of the late complications are essential. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of late effects of Thai children and adolescents after completion of ALL therapy.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on MDR1 gene expression in patient leukemic cells.

When patients with cancers are treated with chemotherapeutic agents a long time, some of the cancer cells develop the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. MDR cancer cells are characterized by the overexpression of multidrug resistance1(MDR1) gene which encodes P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a surface protein of tumor cells that functions to produce an excessive efflux and thereby an insufficient intracellular concentration of chemotherapeutic agents. A variety of studies have sought potent MDR modulators to decrease MDR1 gene expression in cancer cells.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on WT1 gene expression in patient leukemic cells.

Leukemias are common worldwide. Wilms' tumor1 (WT1) protein is highly expressed in leukemic blast cells of myeloid and lymphoid origin. Thus, WT1 mRNA serves as a tumor marker for leukemias detection and monitoring disease progression.

Curcumin inhibits WT1 gene expression in human leukemic K562 cells.

Aim: Wilms' tumor1 (WT1) gene is highly expressed in leukemic blast cells of myeloid and lymphoid origin. Thus, WT1 mRNA and protein serve as promising tumor markers for the detection of leukemia and monitoring of disease progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the modulating effects of curcumin on WT1 gene expression in the human leukemic cell line K562.

Hospital-based epidemiologic survey of malignancies in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Thailand.

To determine the incidence and spectrum of malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children, we surveyed 48 hospitals in Thailand between 1996 and 2000. There were 23 children (14 boys and 9 girls; average age at diagnosis of malignancy, 4.2 years), and the incidence rate was 0.

Molecular and clinical features of Hb H disease in northern Thailand.

Clinical assessment, hematological studies and molecular analyses were performed in 102 pediatric patients with Hb H disease in northern Thailand. A total of six mutations of the alpha-globin gene, which produced five genotypes, were detected. All patients had an alpha(0)-thalassemia (thal) deletion on one chromosome 16.

Hemoglobin E levels in double heterozygotes of hemoglobin E and SEA-type alpha-thalassemia.

Coinheritance of alpha-thalassemia and hemoglobin E (Hb E) is prevalent in Thailand, where the gene frequencies of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies are high. Hb E carriers with, concomitant inheritance of alpha-thalassemia 1 are known to have a lower level of Hb E. In this study, we reviewed the Hb E levels in Hb E carriers, who either had or did not have Southeast Asian (SEA)-type alpha-thalassemia, in order to seek a Hb E level that may be used as a predictor for concomitant alpha-thalassemia carrier status.

The use of recombinant activated factor VII for controlling life-threatening bleeding in Dengue Shock Syndrome.

To report the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in controlling life-threatening bleeding episodes in patients with grades III and IV Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), also known as Dengue Shock Syndrome. Fifteen patients (seven boys, eight girls), whose median age was 8 years, were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups.

Hematological and molecular characterization of beta-thalassemia/Hb Tak compound heterozygote.

We report a case of beta-thalassemia/Hb Tak compound heterozygote. The 7 year-old Thai boy presented with plethora since birth. Hemoglobin electrophoresis showed a major band between Hb A2 and Hb F and absent Hb A.

Psychosocial problems in children with thalassemia and their siblings.

Beta-thalassemia is a chronic illness causing serious symptoms to children and a burden to families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychosocial problems in children with thalassemia and their siblings by using a semi-structured interview and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC). The study sample included 82 children with thalassemia, 20 siblings, and 50 control children without a chronic illness.