[Objective]To investigate and explore the characteristics and influencing factors of glucose metabolism in children with β-thalassemia major(β-TM)after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).[Methods]The follow-up data of 41 patients with β-TM who underwent HSCT at Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Department of Children's Medical Center of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively analyzed.Their glucose metabolism characteristics were evaluated through laboratory tests and the related influencing factors were analyzed.[Results]In the study,41.46％(17/41)of patients developed abnormal glucose homeostasis after HSCT.Among them,82.35％(14/17)characterized by insulin resistance,but no cases of diabetes mellitus were found.The results of insulin releasing test and oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)showed that 45.00％(9/20)of patients had abnormal insulin releasing curve and 40.0％(8/20)had delayed serum glucose peak.The average age of HSCT in abnormal glucose homeostasis group was significantly older than that in the normal glucose homeostasis group[(8.8±3.9)years old vs(6.0±3.1)years old,P=0.015].[Conclusions]Patients with β-TM after HSCT may develop abnormal glucose homeostasis,consists largely of insulin resistance.The elder age of HSCT(≥7 years old)is a risk factor for abnormal glucose homeostasis in β-TM patients after HSCT.It is recommended to regularly monitor glucose metabolism indicators in β-TM children after HSCT,especially in elderly transplant recipients.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with stage 4/M neuroblastoma (NB).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial conducted by Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. From March, 2019 to August, 2023, 25 children with confirmed with stage 4/M NB and received allo-HSCT were enrolled. The patients received either unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Conditioning regimens for UCBT was fludarabine+busulfan+cyclophosphamide+topotecan, and for PBSCT was fludarabine+busulfan+melphalan+thiotepa+antithymocyte globulin, respectively. Until the last follow-up date of September, 2023, the overall survival (OS) rate and event free survival (EFS) rate were analyzed to evaluate efficacy. The engraftment rate and transplant-related complications were statistically assessed to evaluate safety. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:Of the 25 patients, there were 15 males and 10 females. The age at transplantation was 5.7 (3.8, 7.3) years. The engraft rate was 100%, with recovery time of neutrophil as 15.7 (12.5, 17.0) d, and the recovery time of platelets as 33.5 (18.0, 48.0) d. Seventeen of the 25 children (68%) developed acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), occurred at 18.0 (13.0, 22.5) d after transplantation, including 13 of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ cases. The main sites of aGVHD were skin and intestinal tract. After treatment, 13 cases improved, 4 patients developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). After allo-HSCT, 14 children received maintenance therapy. Twenty of the 25 patients survived, the 2-year cumulative OS rate was (80±9)%, and 2-year EFS rate was (56±11)%. Nine cases (36%) relapsed, the time from allo-HSCT to disease relapse was 10.9 (5.5, 16.0) months. Five cases (20%) died. The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation associated mortality rate was 4% (1/25).The 2-year OS rate of patients who had partial remission prior to allo-HSCT was significant lower than those who had complete remission prior to allo-HSCT ((33±25)% vs. 100%, P=0.037). Conclusion:allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with stage 4/M NB.

Objective To investigate the effects of crocin on regulating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway in lipopolysac-charide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSCs).Methods The hDPSCs were divided into blank group,crocin-alone treatment group,LPS group,low-concentration crocin group,high-concentration crocin group,and high-con-centration crocin+ERK/MAPK inhibitor group,and were treated with corresponding methods respec-tively.Cell proliferation was detected using the CCK-8 assay.Alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity was measured using an ALP activity detection kit.Mineralized nodule formation was detected by aliza-rin red S staining.The expression of inflammatory cytokines[interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor nec-rosis factor-α(TNF-α)]was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The ex-pression of osteogenic differentiation-related factors Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),os-teocalcin(OCN),osteopontin(OPN),and ERK/MAPK pathway proteins was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the LPS group,the proliferation ability,ALP activity,and mineralized nodule formation ability of hDPSCs in the low-and high-concentration crocin groups were enhanced.The expression levels of IL-1 β,IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased,while the protein expressions of RUNX2,OCN and OPN were increased.The ERK/MAPK signaling pathway was activated,and the changes in the high-concentration crocin group were more significant than those in the low-concentration cro-cin group(P＜0.05).Compared with the high-concentration crocin group,the high-concentration crocin+ERK/MAPK inhibitor group could reverse the effects of high-concentration crocin on hDPSC proliferation,inflammatory injury,and osteogenic differentiation(P＜0.05).Conclusion Crocin may promote the proliferation of LPS-induced hDPSCs,alleviate inflammatory injury,and promote osteogenic differentiation by activating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with stage 4/M neuroblastoma (NB).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial conducted by Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. From March, 2019 to August, 2023, 25 children with confirmed with stage 4/M NB and received allo-HSCT were enrolled. The patients received either unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Conditioning regimens for UCBT was fludarabine+busulfan+cyclophosphamide+topotecan, and for PBSCT was fludarabine+busulfan+melphalan+thiotepa+antithymocyte globulin, respectively. Until the last follow-up date of September, 2023, the overall survival (OS) rate and event free survival (EFS) rate were analyzed to evaluate efficacy. The engraftment rate and transplant-related complications were statistically assessed to evaluate safety. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:Of the 25 patients, there were 15 males and 10 females. The age at transplantation was 5.7 (3.8, 7.3) years. The engraft rate was 100%, with recovery time of neutrophil as 15.7 (12.5, 17.0) d, and the recovery time of platelets as 33.5 (18.0, 48.0) d. Seventeen of the 25 children (68%) developed acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), occurred at 18.0 (13.0, 22.5) d after transplantation, including 13 of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ cases. The main sites of aGVHD were skin and intestinal tract. After treatment, 13 cases improved, 4 patients developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). After allo-HSCT, 14 children received maintenance therapy. Twenty of the 25 patients survived, the 2-year cumulative OS rate was (80±9)%, and 2-year EFS rate was (56±11)%. Nine cases (36%) relapsed, the time from allo-HSCT to disease relapse was 10.9 (5.5, 16.0) months. Five cases (20%) died. The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation associated mortality rate was 4% (1/25).The 2-year OS rate of patients who had partial remission prior to allo-HSCT was significant lower than those who had complete remission prior to allo-HSCT ((33±25)% vs. 100%, P=0.037). Conclusion:allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with stage 4/M NB.

Objective:To evaluate the role of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring during early induction therapy for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Methods:This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 1 164 ALL patients first diagnosed between October 2016 and June 2019 was collected from 16 hospitals in South China Children′s Leukemia Group. According to MRD assay on day 15 of early induction therapy, they were divided into MRD<0.10% group, MRD 0.10%-<10.00% group and MRD≥10.00% group. According to MRD assay on day 33, they were divided into MRD<0.01% group, MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group and MRD≥1.00% group. Age, onset white blood cell count, central nervous system leukemia (CNSL), molecular genetic characteristics and other data were compared between groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox regression model was used to analyze prognostic factors.Results:Of the 1 164 enrolled patients, there were 692 males and 472 females. The age of diagnosis was 4.7 (0.5, 17.4) years. The white blood cell count at initial diagnosis was 10.7 (0.4, 1 409.0) ×10 9/L. Among all patients, 53 cases (4.6%) had CNSL. The follow-up time was 47.6 (0.5, 68.8) months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were (93.1±0.8) % and (90.3±1.1) %. On day 15 of early induction therapy, there were 466 cases in the MRD<0.10% group, 523 cases in the MRD 0.10%-<10.00% group and 175 cases in the MRD≥10.00% group. The 5-year OS rates of the MRD<0.10% group, MRD 0.10%-<10.00% group and MRD≥10.00% group were (95.4±1.0) %, (93.3±1.1) %, (85.4±2.9) %, respectively, while the RFS rates were (93.2±1.6) %, (90.8±1.4) %, (78.9±4.3) %, respectively ( χ2=16.47, 21.06, both P<0.05). On day 33 of early induction therapy, there were 925 cases in the MRD <0.01% group, 164 cases in the MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group and 59 cases in the MRD≥1.00% group. The 5-year RFS rates in the MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group was lowest among three groups ((91.4±1.2) % vs. (84.5±3.2) % vs. (87.9±5.1) %). The difference between three groups is statistically significant ( χ2=9.11, P=0.010). Among ALL patients with MRD≥10.00% on day 15 of induction therapy, there were 80 cases in the MRD <0.01% group on day 33, 45 cases in the MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group on day 33 and 45 cases in the MRD≥1.00% group on day 33. The 5-year RFS rates of three groups were (83.9±6.0)%, (67.1±8.2)%, (83.3±6.9)% respectively ( χ2=6.90, P=0.032). Univariate analysis was performed in the MRD≥10.00% group on day 15 and the MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group on day 33.The 5-year RFS rate of children with CNSL was significantly lower than that without CNSL in the MRD≥10.00% group on day 15 ((50.0±20.4)% vs. (80.3±4.4)%, χ2=4.13, P=0.042). Patients with CNSL or MLL gene rearrangement in the MRD 0.01%-<1.00% group on day 33 had significant lower 5-year RFS rate compared to those without CNSL or MLL gene rearrangement ((50.0±25.0)% vs. (85.5±3.1)%, χ2=4.06, P=0.044;(58.3±18.6)% vs. (85.7±3.2)%, χ2=9.44, P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that age ( OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.97) and white blood cell count at first diagnosis ( OR=0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.70) were independent risk factors for OS. The MRD level on day 15 ( OR=0.55,95% CI 0.31-0.97), ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene ( OR=0.13,95% CI 0.03-0.54), MLL gene rearrangement ( OR=2.55,95% CI 1.18-5.53) and white blood cell count at initial diagnosis ( OR=0.52,95% CI 0.33-0.81) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Conclusions:The higher the level of MRD in early induction therapy, the worse the OS. The MRD levels on day 15 is an independent prognostic factor for RFS.The MRD in early induction therapy guided accurate risk stratification and individualized treatment can improve the survival rate of pediatric ALL.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag for children with thrombocytopenia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Methods:Clinical data of 24 patients with thrombocytopenia after HSCT,who were treated with eltrombopag in the Department of Pediatrics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from August 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The response rate and adverse reactions of eltrombopag were evaluated. Patients were divided into groups by source of hematopoietic stem cells (umbilical cord blood group and peripheral stem cell group) and type of disease (malignant and non-malignant disease group) and the clinical outcomes between groups were compared. Rank Sum test was used for comparisons between groups.Results:Among 24 cases, 15 were males and 9 females, the age of starting eltrombopag was 7.7 (2.6-13.7) years, the time of eltrombopag treatment after HSCT was 27.5 (8.0-125.0) days, the time from treatment to complete response (CR) was 23.5 (6.0-83.0) days, with the treatment course 36.5 (8.0-90.0) days. The total dose of eltrombopag was 1 400(200-5 900) mg. Complete response rate was 92% (22/24),without eltrombopag related adverse reactions. Comparing with peripheral stem cell group ( n=8), the course and total dose of eltrombopag in umbilical cord blood group ( n=16) were significantly reduced(24.5 (8.0-81.0) vs. 65.5 (35.0-90.0) d, Z=-3.004, P=0.002; 900.0 (200.0-3 850.0) vs. 2 862.5 (1 175.0-5 900.0) mg, Z=-2.604, P=0.007), but no significant differences were found in the time from treatment to complete response, platelet count after 2 weeks of eltrombopag withdrawal or platelet count at the end point of follow-up (all P>0.05). Comparing malignant patients ( n=12) and non-malignant patients ( n=12), no significant differences were found in the time from treatment to complete response, course, total dose, platelet count after 2 weeks of eltrombopag withdrawal, and platelet count at the end point of follow-up in non-malignant patients (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Eltrombopag is safe and maybe effective for thrombocytopenia after HSCT, especially for umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Background and objectives:Hepatic steatosis and inflammation are key characteristics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,whether and how hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation are differentially regulated remains to be elucidated.Considering that disruption of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3(Pfkfb3/iPfk2)dissociates fat deposition and inflammation,the present study examined a role for Pfkfb3/iPfk2 in hematopoietic cells in regulating hepatic steatosis and inflammation in mice. Methods:Pfkfb3-disrupted(Pfkfb3+-)mice and wild-type(WT)littermates were fed a high-fat diet(HFD)and examined for NAFLD phenotype.Also,bone marrow cells isolated from Pfkfb3+/-mice and WT mice were differentiated into macrophages for analysis of macrophage activation status and for bone marrow transplantation(BMT)to generate chimeric(WT/BMT-Pfkfb3+/-)mice in which Pfkfb3 was disrupted only in hematopoietic cells and control chimeric(WT/BMT-WT)mice.The latter were also fed an HFD and examined for NAFLD phenotype.In vitro,hepatocytes were co-cultured with bone marrow-derived macrophages and examined for hepatocyte fat deposition and proinflammatory responses.Results:After the feeding period,HFD-fed Pfkfb3+/-mice displayed increased severity of liver inflam-mation in the absence of hepatic steatosis compared with HFD-fed WT mice.When inflammatory activation was analyzed,Pfkfb3+/-macrophages revealed increased proinflammatory activation and decreased anti-proinflammatory activation.When NAFLD phenotype was analyzed in the chimeric mice,WT/BMT-Pfkfb3+/-mice displayed increases in the severity of HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation compared with WT/BMT-WT mice.At the cellular level,hepatocytes co-cultured with Pfkfb3+/-macrophages revealed increased fat deposition and proinflammatory responses compared with hepatocytes co-cultured with WT macrophages. Conclusions:Pfkfb3 disruption only in hematopoietic cells exacerbates HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation whereas the Pfkfb3/iPfk2 in nonhematopoietic cells appeared to be needed for HFD feeding to induce hepatic steatosis.As such,the Pfkfb3/iPfk2 plays a unique role in regulating NAFLD pathophysiology.

Objective: To study the diagnostic strategy of β-thalassemia through retrospective analysis of 3 cases of β-thalassemia. Methods: Three patients were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2014 to June 2015. The clinical manifestations, hemoglobin electrophoresis and gene detection of these patients and their parents were analyzed, diagnostic ideas and key points were discussed when beta thalassemia gene detection did not explain clinical manifestations or hemoglobin electrophoresis. Results: Case 1, boy, 5 years old, was diagnosed as compound heterozygotes of β41-42 and IVS-Ⅱ-654 with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin(HPFH) according to the clinical manifestations of mild anemia, normal size of liver and spleen, 92.8% fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and gene analysis. Case 2, girl, 3 years old, was confirmed the diagnosis of thalassemia intermedia with β41-42 heterozygote compound and ααα^anti3.7 heterozygote in accordance with the manifestations of severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, 8.6% HbF, 4.1% hemoglobin A₂(HbA₂) and gene analysis. Case 3, girl, 3 years old, with severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, 51.2% HbF and 3.7% HbA₂, was diagnosed as thalassemia major with compound heterozygotes of PolyA (T→C) and β17 by DNA sequencing. Conclusion The diagnosis of β-thalassemia should be confirmed by clinical manifestations of hemolytic anemia, hemoglobin electrophoresis, gene diagnosis and family survey.

Objective To investigate the BRAF-V600E mutation in pediatric patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis and its clinical features. Methods A retrospective study was conducted among 27 children who were diagnosed in our hospital between August 2009 and June 2015 ,including 17 males and 10 females. BRAF-V600E was amplified from tissue samples of the 27 children with LCH by PCR and the relationship was analysed between the mutation and clinical features ,outcome. Results BRAF-V600E mutation was found in 9 cases within all 27 tested cases(33.3%). Significant difference was not found in age ,gender ,system involvement ,6-week reaction ,3-year overall survival and event-free survival between BRAF-V600E positive and negative groups. Conclusions BRAF-V600E mutation was found in Chinese pediatric LCH patients with positive rate of 33.3%, that indicates LCH might be a neoplastic disease. However ,its definite role on disease onset ,system involvement and disease progression remains unknown.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of TCM external treatment combined with Dasangju Mixture in treating mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children. Methods One hundred patients with MPP were randomly divided into control group and treatment group by parallel design, with 50 patients in each group. Patients in control group orally took azithromycin combined with other symptomatic treatment when necessary, 7 d for a course and continuously for 3 courses. Based on the treatment for control group, patients in treatment group were added with TCM external treatment (BL13 and RN17) combined with Dasangju Mixture, while azithromycin was sequentially used just for 2 courses. Other types of treatment lasted for 3 courses. The improvement time of symptoms and signs of the patients were recorded and the therapeutic effects of the two groups were evaluated. Moreover, the serum concentrations of mycoplasma pneumoniae-immune gloulin M (MP-IgM) were determined before and after treatment on the 1st and 21st days. Results The improvent time of fever, and cough and lung sign of the treatment group were more obviously shortened than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.0% (48/50) in observation group and 74.0% (37/50) in control group, with statistical significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the negative rate of the serum concentration of MP-IgM in the treatment group was 82%, and that of the control group was 58%, with statistical significance between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion TCM external treatment combined with Dasangju Mixture can not only significantly improve the clinical symptoms and signs of MPP children patients, but also shorten the disease course, and the efficacy was significant. Meanwhile it can reduce the course and side effects of azithromycin, which provides reference to the administration of antibiotics in children.