Hypovitaminosis D Influences the Clinical Presentation of Immune Thrombocytopenia in Children with Newly Diagnosed Disease.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia defined as platelet count in peripheral blood <100 × 10/L. Hypovitaminosis D is very common in children with autoimmune diseases. To analyze whether hypovitaminosis D is associated with the clinical presentation of ITP in children, medical records of 45 pediatric patients with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia in the coastal region of Croatia were evaluated.

Serum vitamin D levels in children with newly diagnosed and chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

The primary objective of the study was to assess the vitamin D (VD) status of patients suffering from ITP. Children from the case cohort (total 21) were recruited from chronic ITP patients (followed as outpatients) and newly diagnosed ITP (prospective study) patients. VD deficiency (values <75 nmol/L) was detected in 11 patients with newly diagnosed ITP, and seven patients with chronic ITP.

Immune thrombocytopenia: serum cytokine levels in children and adults.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated platelet disorder in which autoantibody-coated platelets are removed from the blood by monocytic phagocytes and there is impaired platelet production. There is a delicate balance of specific cytokine levels, which has an important role in the immune system and is known to be deregulated in autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to investigate the differences in Th cytokine levels between children and adults with newly diagnosed ITP and to compare these profiles to those found in healthy, age-matched controls.

Relationship between previous maternal transfusions and haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn mediated by non-RhD antibodies.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between non-RhD immunisation and the consequent development of haemolytic disease of the newborn in pregnant women with a history of red blood cell transfusion compared to those without a history of transfusion.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all pregnancies with red blood cell antibodies that were tested between 1993 and 2010. Data were obtained from the forms for immunisation tracking at the Department of Transfusion Medicine.

Rare localization of extrarenal nephroblastoma in 1-month-old female infant.

Extrarenal occurrence of Wilms' tumor is exceptional and the diagnosis is almost always made after surgery. The exact mechanism whereby a Wilms' tumor occurs in extrarenal tissue is unknown. The tumor is most commonly located in the retroperitoneum or inguinal region.

Relationship between tumor vascularity and vascular endothelial growth factor as prognostic factors for patients with neuroblastoma.

Although the role of angiogenesis in tumor progression and response to treatment is generally well-characterized, for neuroblastomas clinical data regarding the contribution of angiogenesis and its predictive capacity remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether tumor vascularity in the combination with expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) represent prognostic factors for patients with neuroblastoma. Immunohistochemistry using anti-CD34 and anti-VEGF antibodies was used to analyze paraffin-embedded primary tumor tissues from 56 patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Parental type of personality, negative affectivity and family stressful events in children with cancer.

Objective: Psychological interactions between parents,children and social environment are very important for childhood health. The type of personality and stressful events are probably also cancer risk factors. We investigated personality types A/B and D (negative affectivity and social inhibition) in parents of children with cancer (PCC), as well as social environmental factors, and family / children's stressful events before the appearance of cancer.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a 6-week-old male infant.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FLH) is an autosomal recessively inherited multisystem disease. This defect in cellular cytotoxicity is a life threatening condition characterized by fever, rash, splenomegaly, cytopenias and neurologic manifestations. PRF1, UNC13D and STX11 gene defects underlie in about 40-50% of primary cases.

Expression and prognostic value of the Ki-67 in Wilms' tumor: experience with 48 cases.

Purpose: Ki-67, tumor proliferation marker, is an important prognostic factor in a variety of cancers. In the present study, we investigated the expression and the prognostic value of Ki-67 in nephroblastoma.

Methods: Ki-67 expressions were investigated by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded material in 48 children operated on because of nephroblastoma.

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) for therapy of CD20-positive nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in an 10-year-old girl.

Biologic treatments including antibody-based therapies are still in early-phase development in Hodgkin lymphoma. The authors present the case of a 10-year-old girl with massive, solid, unilateral cervical, nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine [ABVD]) and radiotherapy were given, according to the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) MH-96 study protocol, but the patient failed to enter complete remission.

Correlations among age, cytokines, lymphocyte subtypes, and platelet counts in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.

While autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura is mediated by autoantibodies, accumulating evidence suggests that T helper cells and the cytokines they produce also play a key role. We determined correlations among age, serum cytokine concentrations, circulating lymphocyte, and platelet counts in adult (n=19) and children (n=29) with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Correlations between age and cytokine levels were also assessed in healthy controls (n=50).

Successful management of bleeding with recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) in a patient with Burkitt lymphoma and thrombosis of the left femoral and left common iliac veins.

We present the case of an 18-year-old female with Burkitt lymphoma involving the intra-abdominal and inguinal lymph nodes. The tumor had invaded the left femoral and common iliac veins causing secondary thrombosis and vessel occlusion. Chemotherapy and anticoagulant treatment resulted in mild thrombocytopenia and a prolonged prothrombin time, respectively, which exacerbated postoperative bleeding following surgical removal of a deep inguinal necrosis.