Utilization of the Adolescent and Young Adult Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool in a Pediatric Hospital Adolescent/Young Adult Program.

The AYA Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool was developed to assess adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients' distress during cancer treatment. The on-treatment distress screening tool has been validated with AYAs and includes a 10-point distress thermometer (DT) and a 53-item problem checklist (PCL). However, previous studies have not solely examined AYA cancer distress within a children's hospital.

Utilization of Genomic Tumor Profiling in Pediatric Liquid Tumors: A Clinical Series.

Hematologic tumors are mostly treated with chemotherapies that have poor toxicity profiles. While molecular tumor profiling can expand therapeutic options, our understanding of potential targetable drivers comes from studies of adult liquid tumors, which does not necessarily translate to efficacious treatment in pediatric liquid tumors. There is also no consensus on when profiling should be performed and its use in guiding therapies.

Factors Affecting Presentation and Treatment of Pediatric/Adolescent Cancer Patients Diagnosed With SARS-CoV-2.

Background: It is thought that the clinical course of actively treated pediatric/adolescent cancer patients diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is more severe than experienced by the general pediatric population. We describe the clinical course, risk factors affecting presentation, and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection for these patients.

Methods: Patients at a single institution receiving cancer therapy while diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 between January 2020 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

Adolescent and Young Adult Communication Preferences.

The purpose of this study was to examine adolescents and young adults preferred methods of communication by health care professionals and to identify whether this aligns/differs from overall preferred methods of social media use. Sixty-seven participants completed an electronic survey about their communication preferences. Forty-eight participants were patients and 19 were parents.

Mutation of CEP72 Gene May Predispose Patients to Hepatotoxicity.

Drug toxicities during treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia play a pivotal role in influencing the outcome as certain toxicities may impair treatment compliance. Polymorphisms in CEP72 have been linked to increased incidence of vincristine-induced toxicities, namely peripheral neuropathy. We hypothesize that polymorphisms in the same gene may increase a patient's risk of developing hepatotoxicity when receiving potentially hepatotoxic agents during chemotherapy.

Influence of Palliative Care on Medical Treatment of Pediatric Patients with Complex Chronic Diseases at Cook Children's Medical Center.

Background: Literature in adult palliative care (PC) boasts fewer invasive procedures, shorter lengths of stay, and decreased cost of care. Benefits of pediatric PC are under-researched and are important to identify to optimize care.

Objective: Our aim was to estimate the influence and utilization of PC on pediatric patient care.

Testicular torsion: A retrospective investigation of predictors of surgical outcomes and of remaining controversies.

Introduction: Testicular torsion (TT), a common surgical emergency worldwide, is typically treated with orchiectomy or orchiopexy. It is widely accepted that the chance of salvaging the testicle declines with time and degree of torsion. The impact of ethnicity on outcome is less well understood, and the association between weather and onset of TT remains a controversy.