Rassa Pegahi, Florent Poyer, Elisabeth Legrand, Lionel Cazin, Jean-Pierre Vannier, Marek Lamacz

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 223-232, 2005

Abstract The present work focused on the study of the secretory activity of pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells harvested from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) in 16 children. The basal and cytokine (SDF-1, GM-CSF, bFGF, VEGF)-stimulated secretions of gelatinases 2 and 9 (MMPs-2 and -9) and expression of their genes were monitored by zymography and RT-PCR, respectively. A wide heterogeneity was found in the secretory capacities of these cells. The basal secretion of MMP-9 was more frequently observed than that of MMP-2 in both cell types. The cytokines VEGF and bFGF were found… More >

Nachum Vaisman¹, Yahalomit Zaruk¹, Idit Shirazi¹, Nechemia Kaysar², Vivian Barak³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 194-198, 2005

Abstract The ex vivo production of inflammatory cytokines during fish oil supplementation (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3 PUFA) is a matter of considerable controversy. Studies on human subjects have generally reported decreased lymphocyte proliferation and decreased production of IL-2, interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, but other studies showed no effect or even increased production. There are no published reports on ex vivo cytokine production in children on long-term, n-3 PUFA supplementation. The current double-blind study explored cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in children on 12 weeks’ supplementation with 300… More >

Florian Hoffmann^1,*, Michael H. Albert^1,*, Stephan Arenz³, Christoph Bidlingmaier¹, Nadine Berkowicz¹, Sabine Sedlaczek¹, Holger Till², Ingo Pawlita¹, Ellen D. Renner¹, Michael Weiss⁴, Bernd H. Belohradsky¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.4, pp. 283-288, 2005

Abstract Intracellular detection of cytokines via fluorescent antibody staining and flow cytometry has quickly become a standard method in experimental immunology. However, in pediatrics most studies have been hampered by the exclusion of healthy control individuals or have been skewed by neglecting to observe age-dependent differences in cytokine production. We therefore intended to establish normal values for different age groups and to describe the age-dependent development of cytokine profiles. Whole blood from 46 healthy children and 33 adults was analyzed by flow cytometry after stimulation with PMA, ionomycin and Mmonensin, and staining with anti-cytokine and surface… More >

A. K. Pelletier, P. A. M. Anderson, R. D. Schwarz

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 2774-2777, 2005

Abstract Introduction: Endoscopic techniques are becoming increasingly accepted for treatment of vesicoureteric reflux as alternatives to open surgical reimplantation. However, there is some debate about the ideal injectable material. Since we have accumulated experience with several substances, an opportunity existed to compare them.
Materials and methods: From 1991 to 2003, 101 children with vesicoureteric reflux were treated by endoscopic subureteric injection either once (74) or twice (27) by either of two pediatric urologists. There were a total of 165 ureteral injections, 83 with polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), 73 with polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique®), and 9 with collagen. Each child was evaluated pre-operatively… More >

Derek P. Ottem, Andrew E. MacNeily, Iain W. McAuley

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 2901-2903, 2005

Abstract Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare, chronic inflammatory lesion of the kidney associated with both chronic infection and obstruction. Most common in middle-aged females, it is important to recognize in children because it may be confused with childhood renal malignancies particularly Wilms’ tumor. We report a case of a 1-year old male with antenatally detected and postnatally confirmed hydronephrosis. Further investigation revealed a left incomplete duplex collecting system with obstructing lower pole stones, pelvicaliectasis and widespread foci of calcification. He underwent a left nephroureterectomy with the pathological report noting XGP. More >

Prem A. Ramakrishnan, Mohammed Medhat, Younis H. Al-Bulushi, K. P. Gopakumar, Venkat P. Sampige, Salim S. Al-Busaidy

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 2880-2886, 2005

Abstract Introduction: Management of vesical calculi in children poses an interesting challenge to the urologist. The treatment options currently available include open surgery, transurethral pneumatic cystolithotripsy, percutaneous suprapubic cystolithotomy and shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). Holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser cystolithotripsy represents a novel modality of treatment that is minimally invasive.
Materials and methods: From July 1999 to January 2003 we treated 23 children with vesical calculi using transurethral Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy. The indications for cystolithotripsy were stone size ≤4 cm (N=19), or multiple stones with combined stone burden ≤4 cm (N=4). The mean patient age was 7.8 (range 2-12) years and… More >

Michael Ramharter^1,2,3, Peter G. Kremsner^2,3, Martin Willheim⁴, Heidi Winkler^1,3, Wolfgang Graninger¹, Stefan Winkler^1,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 189-196, 2004

Abstract The frequency of P. falciparum-specific interleukin (IL)-2-, interferon (IFN)-γ-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and IL-10-expressing CD3⁺ cells was studied in healthy Gabonese children segregated according to their clinical presentation at admission to a longitudinal study of severe and mild malaria. The percentage of IL-2- and TNF-α- expressing P. falciparum-specific CD3⁺ cells was significantly higher in the children with prior mild malaria and less frequent reinfections compared to the children with prior severe malaria and more frequent reinfections. No differences were shown for P. falciparum-specific IFN-γ and IL-10 expression within CD3⁺ cells and parasite-non-specific expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, More >

Michael L. Pianezza¹, Steven Rubin², Juan Bass², Shirley Chou², John G. Pike¹, Michael P. Leonard¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2151-2156, 2004

Abstract Background: Wilms' Tumor is the most common malignant neoplasm of the urinary tract in children. Since 1969, the National Wilms' Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) has contributed to improving the clinical management and outcome of children affected by Wilms' Tumor. We have managed our patients according to NWTSG protocols and report our results herein.
Methods: Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients presenting at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) with a diagnosis of Wilms' Tumor between April 1990 and March 2001.
Results: Forty patients with Wilms' Tumor (18 M/22 F) were diagnosed at CHEO during this interval. Mean… More >

John K. A. Tetteh¹, Mark M. Addae¹, Naruhiko Ishiwada², Sena M. Yempewu¹, Shinya Yamaguchi¹, David Ofori-Adjei¹, Hitoshi Kamiya⁴, Yoshihiro Komada³, Bartholomew D. Akanmori^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 109-113, 2003

Abstract To understand the pathogenesis of vaccine-modified measles (VMM), we measured plasma levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 (Th1 cytokines), IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines), IL-12, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in children with uncomplicated measles, who had anti-measles IgG antibodies and with a history of immunization on admission (day 0), day 14 and day 60. We compared these to levels in healthy, age-matched, immunized children. Plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12 were significantly higher in VMM patients on day 0 compared to healthy controls (p = 0.023; p = 0.018; p = 0.001) respectively. In contrast, plasma… More >

Saadou Issifou¹, Elie Mavoungou^1,2, Steffen Borrmann^1,2, Marielle K. Bouyou-Akotet¹, Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Francine Ntoumi^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 238-241, 2003

Abstract To investigate if severe malarial anemia is associated with specific cytokine overproduction, we evaluated serum levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) from three groups of young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection (asymptomatic cases, uncomplicated malaria cases and severe malarial anemia cases), in a hyperendemic area of Gabon. In uncomplicated cases, only TNF levels were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in comparison to asymptomatic cases with P. falciparum infection. High levels of sFasL, TNF-α and IL-10 were associated with low hemoglobin concentrations, sFasL levels were significantly higher in children with severe More >