Molecular Biomarkers for Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a term used to describe a group of neurological disorders which appear during early childhood. CP is the most common motor disability affecting children worldwide. In addition, CP can cause a variety of symptoms including cognitive, visual and hearing complications. This disease is commonly diagnosed between ages 2-5, based on clinical observation and motor skill development analysis. Here, we used neonatal blood spots to investigate gene expression of two target genes – S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9) and ectonuclease triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (ENTPD1) – which we previously found to be differentially-expressed between CP children and those without CP. These genes could potentially serve as biomarkers to diagnose CP just after birth, allowing CP children to have early intervention and treatment to better their chances of overcoming development or learning disabilities

The European LeukemiaNet AML Working Party consensus statement on allogeneic HSCT for patients with AML in remission: an integrated-risk adapted approach

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is frequently applied as part of the treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in their first or subsequent remission. Allogeneic HSCT reduces relapse, but nonrelapse mortality and morbidity might counterbalance this beneficial effect. Here, we review recent studies reporting new disease-specific prognostic markers, in addition to allogeneic-HSCT-related risk factors, which can be assessed at specific time points during treatment. We propose risk assessment as a dynamic process during treatment, incorporating both disease-related and transplant-related factors for the decision to proceed either to allogeneic HSCT or to apply a nontransplant strategy. We suggest that allogeneic HSCT might be favoured if the projected disease-free survival is expected to improve by at least 10% based on an individual's risk assessment. The approach requires initial disease risk assessment, identifying a sibling or unrelated donor soon after diagnosis and the incorporation of time-dependent risk factors, all within the context of an integrated therapeutic management approach