The grading of astrocytoma has traditionally relied on histological assessment, but there are some differences in their parameters, application, and reproducibility. Recently, numerous studies have attempted to correlate biological aggresiveness with tumor proliferation index using new immunohistochemical methods. The purpose of this study is to correlate the histopathological grades of astrocytoma with the expression of Ki-67, PCNA, p53 protein and AgNORs. The paraffin sections of 41 consecutive cases of astrocytomas were examined. Histologically the tumors were graded as three groups under the St. Anne-Mayo system and showed 14 cases in grade II, 15 cases in grade III and 12 cases in grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme). As a result, the Ki-67 labelling index and p53 protein expression tended to increase with increasing grade of malignancy. But the univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the tumor grades (p>0.05). The PCNA labelling index and number of AgNORs revealed striking differences between the grade II and grade III astrocytomas (p<0.05). We concluded that the PCNA labelling index and AgNORs counting are useful markers for differentiation between grade II and III astrocytomas.
Astrocytoma* ; Paraffin ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Strikes, Employee

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Hypertension*

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects children, and can result in coronary artery lesions (CAL). A patient with KD who is resistant to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has a higher risk of developing CAL. Incomplete KD has increased in prevalence in recent years, and is another risk factor for the development of CAL. Although the pathogenesis of KD remains unclear, there has been increasing evidence for the role of genetic susceptibility to the disease since it was discovered in 1967. We retrospectively reviewed previous genetic research for known susceptibility genes in the pathogenesis of KD, IVIG resistance, and the development of CAL. This review revealed numerous potential susceptibility genes including genetic polymorphisms of ITPKC, CASP3, the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway, B lymphoid tyrosine kinase, FCGR2A, KCNN2, and other genes, an imbalance of Th17/Treg, and a range of suggested future treatment options. The results of genetic research may improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of KD, and aid in the discovery of new treatment modalities for high-risk patients with KD.
Caspase 3 ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease* ; Genetic Research ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prevalence ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Systemic Vasculitis

Chest pain is a very common symptom in children and adolescents. Musculoskeletal pain is the most common cause of their chest pain and the cardiac cause is very rare in children and adolescents. However, evaluation is required for every patient with chest pain, especially for those with the history and physical examination of importance. For common chest pains, reassurance and education of the patient and the parents about their benign nature is sufficient. On the other hand, chest pain on exertion, symptoms of myocardial ischemia, or abnormal cardiac examinations are more likely to be of cardiac origin, and prompt referral to a pediatric cardiologist is recommended.
Adolescent ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Hand ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Referral and Consultation ; Thorax

We report 2 cases of pediatric DNTs which presented with intractable seizures and no other associated neurologic abnormalities. They showed typical appearance of DNTs on neuroimaging and histopathology. Most patients with DNT can be cured by surgical treatment with exellent outcome and do not need ratio- or chemotheraphy. This study indicates that it is quite important to consider DNTs as one of differential diagnoses in patients with intractable seizures especially when they present only with seizures without other neurologic symptoms.
Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Seizures*

No abstract available.
Hypertension

Chest pain is a very common symptom in pediatric patients. Although children with chest pain are relatively unlikely to be suffering from significant cardiac diseases, it is important not to overlook life-threatening diseases. Complete history taking and physical examination––which involves identifying the duration of pain, onset, character, associated symptoms, and aggravating factors––are extremely important. The most common causes of pediatric chest pain are idiopathic and musculoskeletal, while less than 3% of cases are of cardiac origin. Recent studies indicate that chest pain resulted from psychosomatic disorders increases in non-cardiac chest pain in children and adolescents. The reassurance of the benign nature of chest pain is enough in most cases of non-cardiac chest pain in children and adolescents. When echocardiography is performed on patients with exertional chest pain, it is important to confirm the origin of coronary artery to exclude any coronary anomaly. Exertional chest pain, combined syncope, and symptoms of myocardial ischemia should raise the suspicion of significant cardiac diseases. When the chest pain is accompanied by red flag signs, physicians must refer the patients to a pediatric cardiologist.

No abstract available.
Iron ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; RNA