Saliva and Plasma Monohydroxycarbamazepine Concentrations in Pediatric Patients With Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Monohydroxycarbamazepine (MHD, 10-hydroxy-carbamazepine) is the main active metabolite of oxcarbazepine (OXC). The present study aims to investigate the relationship between plasma and saliva concentrations of MHD in Chinese children with epilepsy. METHODS: Plasma and saliva samples were collected and MHD levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography system. Linear regression analysis was conducted between the dose of OXC and saliva concentrations, between the dose of OXC and plasma concentrations, and between the saliva concentrations and plasma concentrations. Student's t-test was used for unpaired data. A one-way analysis of variance was used for analyzing co-medication in subgroups of patients. RESULTS: A total of 58 blood samples and 58 saliva samples were obtained from 52 pediatric epileptic patients, with a median age of 5.67 years (0.58-15 years, 23 males and 29 females). There was an apparent positive correlation between the plasma and saliva MHD concentrations [Y = 0.77x - 0.85 (n = 58), R = 0.908, P < 0.01]. MHD plasma and saliva concentrations were positively correlated to daily drug dose (r = 0.461 and 0.417; P < 0.01 respectively). The saliva/plasma MHD ratio was around 0.71 and had no significant difference with age, gender, and combined medications. When data were analyzed for subgroups (one group taking OXC as monotherapy, the second group taking OXC in add-on with non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, and the third group taking OXC in add-on with hepatic-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs or moderate inducers), no significant difference was found between plasma and saliva MHD concentrations in all the above 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: High correlation between plasma and saliva MHD levels supported the use of saliva as an alternative to plasma for OXC monitoring in children with epilepsy.

[Peri-operation treatment for patients with hemophilia A in children with intracranial malignant tumor: a report of 2 cases].

Hemophilia A is aninherited bleeding disorder, lack of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), and if combined with intracranial malignant tumor, the operation risk is very high. Department of Pediatric Surgery in Peking University First Hospital used coagulation factor replacement therapy, succeeded in the operation of 2 cases of intracranial malignant tumor with hemophilia A in children, with no abnormal bleeding events. The establishment of the multi subject cooperation group before operation, good preoperative preparation, enough alternative factors, and close postoperative monitoring, are the key to the successful treatment.

[Children primary intestinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: a case report].

Children intestinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is rare, and its clinical differential is very difficult to the malignant tumor. Its diagnosis depends on pathology, and operation is the most effective therapy method. We preset here a case of a 5-year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital for intestinal obstruction. A malignant tumor in the intestinal wall showed on the enhanced CT. Exploratory laparotory found the tumor and then it was resected. Postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry proved that it was an intestinal IMT. Three months' follow-up found no tumor recurrence and metastasis.

[Cause and treatment of intracranial hypertension after sylvian cystoperitoneal shunting].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cause and treatment of intracranial hypertension after sylvian cystoperitoneal shunting. METHODS: Sixteen cases were retrospectively reviewed. There were 10 males and 6 females. The age range was 2-19 years old (mean: 9.94). All patients had a sylvian cystoperitoneal shunt via a common low-pressure tube. RESULTS: The onset time of intracranial hypertension after cystoperitoneal shunting was 3 months to 7 years (mean: 3.20 yr). Three cases underwent the operation of adjusting intracranial location of shunt tube. The original tube was removed in 12 cases. Among them, 10 cases were operated by lateral ventricle-peritoneal shunt. The other two and two cases with a remaining tube were treated successfully with dehydration drugs. CONCLUSION: The cause of intracranial hypertension is probably due to tube blockage or less draining after the shrinking or disappearance of arachnoid cyst. Adjusting the location of intracranial tube or performing a lateral ventricle-peritoneal shunt has an excellent efficacy if a dehydration therapy is unresponsive or auto-compensation fails.

[Complications after transcallosal transseptal interforniceal resection of hypothalamic hamartoma: analysis of 37 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the post-operative complications of resection of hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) through transcallosal transseptal interforniceal approach. METHODS: Thirty-seven HH patients, 26 males and 11 females, aged 8.7 underwent resection of the tumor via the transcallosal transseptal interforniceal approach. The symptoms and blood electrolytes were observed. RESULTS: After operation blood electrolyte test showed that 8 cases were normal, 19 cases showed hyponatremia as prime abnormality, and 10 cases had hypernatremia primarily. Among the 19 cases with hyponatremia transient apathy occurred in 2 cases, general epilepsy occurred in one patient, continuous minor epilepsy occurred in another one, 4 patients suffered minor epilepsy, 25 had fever the temperature of 3 of which were beyond 40 degrees C, and 2 had transient diabetes insipidus and 1 had diabetes. CONCLUSION: Resection of HH through the transcallosal transseptal interforniceal approach achieves significant improvement of gelastic seizures with fewer complications. The most common complication is disturbance of serum natrium, which, however, is mild and well managed.

Aberrant methylation of the SPARC gene promoter and its clinical implication in gastric cancer.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene has been shown to be epigenetically silenced in several cancers. We investigated the loss of expression and promoter methylation of this tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancers and correlated the data with clinicopathological features. We observed the loss of SPARC mRNA and SPARC protein expression in 7 of 10 (70%) gastric cancer cell lines. Upon treatment of expression-negative cell lines with a demethylating agent, expression of mRNA and protein was restored in all cells. Methylation rate of SPARC gene was 80% in ten gastric cancer cell lines and 74% (163 of 220) in primary tumors, while it was 5% in normal gastric mucosa (n = 40). In intestinal gastric cancer, SPARC methylation correlated with a negative prognosis (P < 0.001; relative risk 2.754, 95% confidence interval 1.780-4.261). Immunostaining revealed that SPARC protein was overexpressed in stromal fibroblasts adjacent to neoplastic epithelium but rarely expressed in the primary gastric cancer cells. These results implicate SPARC promoter methylation as an important factor in the tumorigenesis of gastric carcinomas and provide new insights into the potential use of SPARC as a novel biomarker and the potential clinical importance in human gastric cancers.