Serum 5-S-cysteinyldopa as a predictive biomarker for stem cell transplantation-related complications in children and young adults.

Diffuse hyperpigmentation is common in patients who undergo chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, only a few studies have reported the relation between skin reactions and SCT-related complications. Serum 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5SCD), a pheomelanin precursor, is elevated in individuals with hyperpigmentation.

Comparison of busulfan pharmacokinetics between four-times-daily and once-daily administration in pediatric patients: a preliminary prospective observational trial.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of busulfan (BU) is useful for achieving the target area under the curve (AUC) because its effective plasma-concentration range is narrow. This preliminary observational study evaluated the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of BU administered four times daily or once daily to pediatric patients. The plasma concentrations were measured at both the test dose and first dose, and the doses on day 1 and days 2-4 were determined based on each TDM.

Survey of Transitional Care Between Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology in Japan.

This study's aim was to determine the actual status of transitional care for patients with pediatric cancer (PPCs) in Japan by surveying obstetricians/gynecologists. A questionnaire survey on transitional medicine was conducted in the form of an online questionnaire at 579 major training facilities nationwide, which were registered with the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While 40% of the facilities had received referrals for PPCs, only 13% provided transitional care specifically for PPCs.

Septic Arthritis Caused by Mycobacterium Kansasii in a Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient.

We report an 18-year-old female individual with septic arthritis due to Mycobacterium kansasii. Three years and 6 months before arthritis, the patient underwent bone marrow transplantation and developed severe chronic graft-versus-host disease. The arthritis was refractory to medication, and she underwent joint lavage of the right foot, hip joint, and elbow joint.

Corticosteroid-induced glaucoma in pediatric patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Corticosteroids, especially dexamethasone, play a critical role in chemotherapy for pediatric hematological malignancies. We previously observed that patients with complaints of headache or photophobia during corticosteroid administration had high intraocular pressure (IOP).

Procedure: We measured IOP during corticosteroid administration in 15 patients with acute leukemia or lymphoma undergoing treatment at our institution from January 2016 to December 2018.

Outbreak of aseptic meningitis caused by echovirus 30 in Kushiro, Japan in 2017.

Background: Echovirus 30 (E30) is one of the most common causative agents for aseptic meningitis.

Objectives: In the autumn of 2017, there was an outbreak caused by E30 in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. The aim of this study was to characterize this outbreak.

Povidone-iodine lowers the incidence of catheter-associated bloodstream infection.

Background: Central venous (CV) catheters are required for chemotherapy but they may become a source of life-threatening infections of the bloodstream. The most effective way to disinfect the port of a CV catheter has not been established.

Methods: We report the data obtained between April 2008 and March 2010 using 83% ethanol (period I) and between April 2010 and March 2014 using 10% povidone-iodine (period II) to sterilize the access port.

Bortezomib combined with standard induction chemotherapy in Japanese children with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Bortezomib has been shown to be effective and well-tolerated in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia trial. However, the safety and efficacy of bortezomib have not been evaluated in Japanese pediatric patients. Here, we report the results of a clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety of bortezomib combined with induction chemotherapy in Japanese children with refractory ALL.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis by using methotrexate decreases pre-engraftment syndrome and severe acute GVHD, and accelerates engraftment after cord blood transplantation.

GVHD and graft failure are serious problems in CBT. PES after CBT also occurs frequently and is associated with transplantation-related complications such as acute GVHD. We reviewed medical records for 70 consecutive child CBT recipients between December 1997 and April 2015.