Iranian Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Volume:13 Issue: 3, Summer 2023

Gastrointestinal carcinoma comprises 5% of all pediatric cancer in children. Given that the possible and beneficial effect of the Jaft extract in the treatment of gastric cancer is not known and there is no comprehensive study in this regard, this study aimed to assess the effect of Jaft extract on gastric cancer cell lines.

In this case-control study, oak fruit was collected from the mountains of Lorestan province. A gastric cancer (AGS) cell line was obtained from the Institute Pasteur cell bank and was cultured. After the preparation of the ethanolic extract of Jaft, the cell viability of the gastric cancer cells treated with Jaft extract was investigated by MTT assay. Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR was used for assessing the expression of BAX, and BCL2 genes.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of Jaft extract was 162 µg/ml. The BAX gene expression was different between the case and control groups. In this regard, the expression of the BAX gene was increased in the concentration of 162 (P<0.01) and 250 µg/ml (P<0.001) of Jaft extract compared to the control group. The BCL2 expression was different between the two groups (P<0.05). In this regard, the expression of the BCL2 gene was decreased in the concentration of 162 and 250 µg/ml of Jaft extract compared to the control group.

It was found that Jaft extract increased the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells; therefore, it seems that the hydroalchoholic extract of Jaft is an appropriate anticancer medication.

Infections cause significant complications and, in severe cases, death in patients with childhood Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in initiating innate immune responses. Previous studies indicate the role of TLR4 gene polymorphisms in the increased risk of infection in adults and children. This study investigated the potential association between Asp299Gly (rs4986790) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791) polymorphisms in the TLR4 gene with febrile neutropenia, as a hallmark of infection, in children with ALL.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 51 ALL child patients, with age (mean±s.d.) 5.2 ± 3.4 years.  Genotype analysis of rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms in the TLR4 gene was evaluated by ARMS- PCR and PCR-RFLP, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.

The rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms were detected in 5.8% and 7.8% of ALL patients, respectively. The mean of recurrence of febrile neutropenia in patients without TLR4 rs4986790 and TLR4 rs4986791 polymorphisms was 3.1 ±2 and 3 ±1.9, respectively, while in patients with TLR4 rs4986790 and TLR4 rs4986791 polymorphisms, they were 4.6 ± 3 and 5.2 ±2.8, respectively (P = 0.09). No association was found between TLR4 rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms and the number of febrile neutropenia recurrences (P = 0.4).

Although rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms were detected in ALL patients, these polymorphisms were not associated with febrile neutropenia. It is suggested to investigate other polymorphisms in immune system-related genes and their role in febrile neutropenia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disease that afflicts both children and adults. It starts from the bone marrow (soft and spongy tissue inside the bone) where immature white blood cells or lymphocytes are formed. This study aims to compare chemotherapy drugs, methotrexate (MTX), cyclophosphamide, cytarabine (Ara-C) and mercaptopurine (6mp) with nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) complexes of thiosemicarbazone (TSCZ) in terms of their effects on the changes of Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 16(SNHG16) long non coding RNA (lncRNA) expression in the ALL cell line.

this experimental study was conducted on various concentrations of chemotherapy drugs including MTX, CP, Ara-C, 6mp and Ni and Cu complexes of TSCZ. The Jurkat E6.1 cell lines were subjected to passage in different groups and times (24, 48, and 72h) and then treated with the chemotherapy drugs. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the SNHG16 gene expression was evaluated by Real-Time PCR, and the results were analyzed by the Rest software.

As the results indicated, within 24h, MTX (0.77, 0.72), CP (0.61, 0.7), ara-C (0.78, 0.87), Cu (0.91, 0.95) and Ni (0.94, 0.79) complexes as well as complex 1(0.73) and 2 (0.94) decreased the expression of SNHG16 gene significantly (P<0.001). Furthermore within 48h, under the influence of CP (0.86, 0.89) and   Ara-C (0.94, 0.97) as well as Cu (0.96) and Ni (0.98) complexes, the gene expression continued to decline(P<0.001).The greatest effect of chemotherapy drugs belonged to the combination of 1μM of ara-C and 5μM of 6mp.(P<0.001).      

It was found that gene expression analysis is a feasible method to identify the pathways affected by the standard induction chemotherapy in ALL patients. This finding promotes the development of novel targeted drugs and biomarkers to categorize disease aggressiveness and evaluate treatment responses.

To date, platelet (PLT) transfusion is the main medical option for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. Nowadays, allogenic PLTs are commonly used for blood donation. Due to the limitations in the preparation and storage of PLTs, researchers try to develop alternative modalities such as bioreactors for the in-vitro expansion and production of PLTs for therapeutic purposes by promoting the differentiation of different types of stem cells into megakaryocytes (MK) and PLTs.

In this experimental study, umbilical cord blood stem cells (UCB-SC) were differentiated into MK. To this end, a new bioreactor system consisting of six compartments and a two-layer scaffold made of collagen and natural tragacanth gum was developed to mimic a bone marrow-like structure. After MKs were loaded to the top layer of the scaffold, the production rate of PLTs was analyzed under shear stress.

Based on the estimation, each MK produced about 17.42 PLTs loaded into the scaffold collagen. This value emerged to be 23.46 and 9.44 PLTs in the collagen-tragacanth and the pure tragacanth scaffold groups, respectively, the increase of PLTs in the collagen-tragacanth scaffold was statistically significant (p < 0.001).The generated PLTs had a positive response in aggregometry as well as interaction with normal PLTs.

Taken together, the designed bioreactor with a collagen-tragacanth substrate can be used for the production of a sufficient number of PLTs for clinical purposes.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the major health issues in the world, especially in developing countries. During adolescence, iron deficiency can be caused by a growth spurt, inadequate nutritional intake, parasite infection, and heavy blood loss during menstruation. Regarding the importance of this issue, we aimed to assess the iron profile in adolescent scavengers living in slum areas.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in October 2016 at an alternative school for adolescents working as scavengers in Bekasi, Indonesia. Data on menstrual status, weight and height measurements, and blood samples were collected to define iron status (iron depletion, iron deficiency, and IDA).

In this study, 96 adolescents aged 10–18 years were recruited. The prevalence of anemia was 13.6%, and half was caused by iron deficiency. The iron profiles of subjects were iron depletion (2.1%), iron deficiency (18.8%), and IDA (7.3%). Hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation were significantly lower in females (P<0.01, P=0.01, P<0.01 respectively).

Anemia, iron depletion, iron deficiency, and IDA are more prevalent among adolescent girls. Special attention is needed to improve the iron status of girls, especially by giving iron supplementation for IDA prevention. Moreover, achieving the optimal iron reserve is imperative to enter a safe and healthy pregnancy by reducing delivery complications due to inadequate iron storage of both mother and fetus.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor. The onset of OS is associated with local pain and swelling as well as joint dysfunction, occasionally. The most common location for OS is around the knee joint.  These patients often tend to receive medical attention following physical exercise and trauma. The affected population is mainly teenagers, children, and young adults with age range of 10-30 years. OS can be diagnosed via different approaches. The main serum markers for pediatric OS are insulin‑like growth factor (IGF‑1 and IGFBP‑3), anti‑ki57 antibody, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑β and sTNF‑R, T3, CD44, vascular endothelial growth factor, serum amyloid A, CXC chemokines, bone alkalin phosphatase, Interleukin (IL‑2, IL‑4, IL‑8), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), TNF‑α, and free polyamines. Given that there is no comprehensive review literature regarding OS management in our country, this study aimed to assess a survey on the management and approach of OS in children. In this regard, we have discussed the epidemiology, etiology, type, clinical feature, diagnosis, and OS therapy.

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder, which is almost always characterized by impairment of the function of leukocytes and generally presents with recurrent chronic relapsing bacterial or fungal infection. This study reported a three-year-old boy who was referred to the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center of Shohada Khalij-e-Fars general hospital, Bushehr with recurrent lymphadenitis, and orchitis, who suffered from this disease. Since confirmation of diagnosis, he is receiving Co-trimoxazole three times per week as prophylaxis, and the plan for him is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).