Pediatric blood & cancer
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Jul 2015
ReviewCD19: A multifunctional immunological target molecule and its implications for Blineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Over the last 20-30 years CD19 has gained attention as a potential target in the therapy of B-cell malignancies. In particular, targeting CD19 with the bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody Blinatumomab and T-cells modified by chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has shown promising efficacy in early phase clinical trials for adults and children with precursor B-cell ALL (BCP-ALL). This review will discuss the rationale behind targeting CD19 in BCP-ALL and its potential importance in BCP-ALL signaling pathways.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Jul 2015
Comparative StudyHealth related quality of life and perception of stigmatisation in adolescents living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria: A cross sectional study.
Sickle cell disease impacts the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of life of the affected persons, often times exposing them to disease associated stigma from the society and alters the health related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared the HRQoL of adolescents with sickle cell disease with their healthy peers, identified socio-demographic and clinical factors impacting HRQoL, and determined the extent and effects of SCD related stigma on quality of life. ⋯ Adolescents living with SCD in Nigeria have lower health related quality of life compared to their healthy peers. They also experience stigma that impacts their HRQoL. Complications of SCD and hospital admissions contribute significantly to this impairment.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Jul 2015
Patient-controlled analgesia at the end of life at a pediatric oncology institution.
Patient controlled anesthesia (PCA) is increasingly used to manage pain in pediatric cancer patients and is important in the treatment of escalating pain at the end of life. The description of the use of opioid PCA in this population has been limited. ⋯ Children and young adults with cancer experience high opioid requirements and significant dose increases during the last 2 weeks of life. Additionally, PS increase toward the end of life. Opioid rotation and addition of adjuvant medications merit consideration in the context of escalating opioid requirements.