Expression of neutrophil surface markers in icteric neonates before and after phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Jaundice due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia affects more than 60% of neonates and phototherapy is the treatment for severe types. There are no previous studies evaluating the effect of phototherapy on the function of neonates neutrophils. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the function of neutrophils by measuring the expression of neutrophils main surface markers in icteric neonates before and after phototherapy. METHODS: Neonates at a gestational age ≥35 weeks and birth weight ≥2,000 g who met the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for phototherapy were included. Flow cytometry evaluation of the mean fluorescence intensities of CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64, and CD66acde was performed before and 24 h after the initiation of phototherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-five neonates at a mean age of 53 h of life were included in the study with a mean bilirubin level of 13.60 ± 2.85 mg/dL. There was no statistical difference in the expression of CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, and CD64 or in the percentage of neutrophils before and after 24 h of phototherapy. There was an increase in the expression of CD10 and CD16 and a decrease in the expression of CD11c and CD66acde after 24 h of phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Newborns submitted to phototherapy had an increase in the expression of CD10 and CD16 and a decreased in the expression of CD11c and CD66acde after 24 h of treatment, which may be related to an anti-inflammatory effect of phototherapy. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

Aumento renal bilateral como manifestação de leucemia linfocítica aguda / Bilateral renal increase as a manifestation of acute lymphocytic leukemia

As leucemias são o tipo mais frequente de câncer em crianças e adolescentes. A leucemia linfocítica aguda é a forma mais comum de leucemia na infância. A doença surge normalmente entre dois e quatro anos de idade, sendo incomum antes de um ano de vida. As manifestações mais comuns incluem febre, fadiga, letargia, dor óssea e articular. Em 50% dos casos, há hepato e/ou esplenomegalia e linfonodomegalias. Este relato de caso fala sobre uma menina de nove meses que foi levada à emergência do hospital por distensão abdominal, fraqueza em membros inferiores e constipação duas semanas antes. Apresentava massas abdominais endurecidas em flancos, abaulamento em região fronto-temporal direita e linfonodomegalias cervicais. A primeira impressão foi de nefroblastoma bilateral (Tumor de Wilms). A ecografia abdominal e a tTC de abdome mostraram aumento de volume renal bilateral e descartaram nefroblastoma. Em setor de oncologia pediátrica, foi realizada imunofenotipagem compatível com leucemia/linfoma linfoblástico B. No líquor havia 400 células p/uL com 81% de blastos. A avaliação neurológica e a RNM de crânio e neuro-eixo descartaram alteração que justificasse a paresia de membros inferiores. No décimo dia de tratamento, os rins já haviam reduzido até o limite superior da normalidade. O abaulamento da face já havia desaparecido. A paciente apresentou anemia, neutropenia, plaquetopenia e hipoalbuminemia severas. Ao final da indução, apresentou sepse fúngica e bacteriana evoluindo para choque séptico e parada cardiorrespiratória não responsiva às manobras de reanimação. Não foi realizado medulograma no final da indução por piora do quadro clínico e posterior óbito (AU)

Leukemias are the most frequent type of cancer in children and adolescents. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of childhood leukemia. The disease usually arises between two and four years of age, being uncommon before one year of life. The most common manifestations include fever, fatigue, lethargy, bone and joint pain. In 50% of cases, there is hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly and lymph node enlargement. This case report tells of a nine-month old girl who was taken to the hospital emergency room due to abdominal distension, weakness in the lower limbs, and constipation for two weeks. She had abdominal masses that were hardened on the flanks, bulging in the right fronto-temporal region and cervical lymph node enlargements. The first impression was bilateral nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor). Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT showed bilateral renal volume increase and ruled out nephroblastoma. In the pediatric oncology sector, immunophenotyping compatible with lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma was performed. In the CSF there were 400 cells/L with 81% blasts. Neurological evaluation and MRI of the skull and neuro-axis ruled out alterations justifying lower limb paresis. By the tenth day of treatment, the kidneys had already reduced to the upper limit of normal. The bulging of the face was gone. The patient presented severe anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. At the end of the induction, she presented fungal and bacterial sepsis evolving to septic shock and cardiorespiratory arrest unresponsive to resuscitation maneuvers. No myelogram was performed at the end of the induction due to worsening of the clinical picture and subsequent death (AU)

Tumor size and prognosis in patients with Wilms tumor / Tamanho tumoral e prognóstico em pacientes portadores de tumor de Wilms

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the relationship of the tumor volume after preoperative chemotherapy (TVAPQ) and before preoperative chemotherapy (TVBPQ) with overall survival at two and at five years, and lifetime. METHODS: Our sample consisted of consecutive patients evaluated in the period from 1989 to 2009 in an Onco-Hematology Service. Clinical, histological and volumetric data were collected from the medical records. For analysis, chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank and Cox regression tests were used. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 32 patients, 53.1% were male with a median age at diagnosis of 43 months. There was a significant association between TVAPQ>500mL and the difference between the TVBPQ and TVAPQ (p=0.015) and histologic types of risk (p=0.008). It was also verified an association between the difference between the TVBPQ and TVAPQ and the predominant stromal tumor (p=0.037). When assessing the TVAPQ of all patients, without a cutoff, there was an association of the variable with lifetime (p=0.013), i.e., for each increase of 10mL in TVAPQ there was an average increase of 2% in the risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results indicate that the TVAPQ could be considered alone as a predictor of poor prognosis regardless of the cutoff suggested in the literature, more studies are needed to replace the histology and staging by tumor size as best prognostic variable. .

OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre o volume do tumor após a quimioterapia pré-operatória (VTPOS) e antes da quimioterapia pré-operatória (VTPRE) com sobrevida geral aos dois e cinco anos e tempo de vida. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por pacientes consecutivos avaliados de 1989 a 2009, em um serviço de onco-hematologia. Os dados clínicos, histológicos e volumétricos foram coletados a partir dos registros médicos. Para análise, usaram-se os testes qui-quadrado, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank e regressão de Cox. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta de 32 pacientes, 53,1% do sexo masculino, com mediana de idade ao diagnóstico de 43 meses. Houve associação significativa entre VTPOS >500 mL e a diferença entre o VTPRE e VTPOS (p=0,015) e os tipos histológicos de risco (p=0,008). Verificou-se também uma associação entre a diferença entre o VTPRE e VTPOS e o tumor de predomínio estromal (p=0,037). Quando se avaliou o VTPOS de todos os pacientes, sem um ponto de corte definido, observou-se associação dessa variável com o tempo de vida (p=0,013), isto é, para cada aumento de 10 mL no VTPOS houve um aumento médio de 2% no risco de morte. CONCLUSÕES: Embora os resultados indiquem que o VTPOS poderia ser considerado um preditor isolado de mau prognóstico, independentemente do ponto de corte sugerido na literatura, mais estudos são necessários para substituir a histologia e estadiamento pelo tamanho do tumor como melhor variável prognóstica. .

[Tumor size and prognosis in patients with Wilms tumor]. / Tamanho tumoral e prognóstico em pacientes portadores de tumor de Wilms.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the relationship of the tumor volume after preoperative chemotherapy (TVAPQ) and before preoperative chemotherapy (TVBPQ) with overall survival at two and at five years, and lifetime. METHODS: Our sample consisted of consecutive patients evaluated in the period from 1989 to 2009 in an Onco-Hematology Service. Clinical, histological and volumetric data were collected from the medical records. For analysis, chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank and Cox regression tests were used. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 32 patients, 53.1% were male with a median age at diagnosis of 43 months. There was a significant association between TVAPQ >500 mL and the difference between the TVBPQ and TVAPQ (p=0.015) and histologic types of risk (p=0.008). It was also verified an association between the difference between the TVBPQ and TVAPQ and the predominant stromal tumor (p=0.037). When assessing the TVAPQ of all patients, without a cutoff, there was an association of the variable with lifetime (p=0.013), i.e., for each increase of 10 mL in TVAPQ there was an average increase of 2% in the risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results indicate that the TVAPQ could be considered alone as a predictor of poor prognosis regardless of the cutoff suggested in the literature, more studies are needed to replace the histology and staging by tumor size as best prognostic variable.

Wilms tumor: experience of a hospital in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common renal malignancy of childhood. The aim of this study was to verify the epidemiological profile and prognosis of a sample of patients from Brazil and compare them to similar data from other Latin American studies. METHOD: The sample consisted of consecutive patients diagnosed with WT in an oncohematology service of a referral hospital in Southern Brazil, between 1989 and 2009. Clinical, radiological, pathological and survival data were collected from the medical records. Analysis was done using Excel and SPSS version 18.0. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 45 patients. The male/female ratio was 1.25:1. Mean age at diagnosis was 43.9 months and all patients were of European descent. Thirty-three patients (73.3%) had both signs/symptoms of abdominal mass and hypertension. Malformation was observed in nine patients (20%) and there was one case of Fanconi's anemia (2.2%). Three patients had bilateral disease (6.7%). The majority of patients had stage III and IV (62.2%). Patients with malformation had an earlier age at diagnosis (P = 0.018) and a higher prevalence of bilateral disease (P = 0.044). Overall survival was 75%. Age at diagnosis was the only significant independent predictor associated with death. CONCLUSION: Death is closely related to late diagnosis in WT. Oncologic services should also be concerned about morbidity caused by therapeutic options in cases of late diagnosis, and the consequences for quality of life.