Differences in Childhood Growth Parameters Between Patients With Somatic and Heritable Retinoblastoma.

Purpose: Little is known regarding differences in childhood growth between somatic and heritable retinoblastoma (Rb) populations. We aimed to compare childhood growth parameters between somatic and heritable Rb cohorts at birth and at time of diagnosis with Rb.

Methods: A multinational, longitudinal cohort study was conducted with patients from 11 centers in 10 countries who presented with treatment naïve Rb from January to December 2019.

Retrospective analysis of outcomes for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in South American centers.

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy. While the survival rate for childhood ALL exceeds 90% in high-income countries, the estimated survival in low-and middle-income countries ranges from 22-79%, depending on the region and local resources.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed demographic, biological, and clinical parameters of children under 18 years of age with newly diagnosed ALL presenting between 2013-2017 across five pediatric centers in 4 countries in South America.

High radon levels and adverse environmental conditions in using RAD7.

Good response was observed in simultaneously using six RAD7 detectors at high radon concentrations, temperatures and relative humidity conditions. RAD7 detectors were tested in laboratory using radon chambers from 13 up to 59.8 kBq m-3, statistical analysis allows to distinct between counting errors and radon variation.

Volumetric additive manufacturing of pristine silk-based (bio)inks.

Volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) enables fast photopolymerization of three-dimensional constructs by illuminating dynamically evolving light patterns in the entire build volume. However, the lack of bioinks suitable for VAM is a critical limitation. This study reports rapid volumetric (bio)printing of pristine, unmodified silk-based (silk sericin (SS) and silk fibroin (SF)) (bio)inks to form sophisticated shapes and architectures.

The role of maternal age & birth order on the development of unilateral and bilateral retinoblastoma: a multicentre study.

Background/objectives: Retinoblastoma is a common childhood intraocular malignancy, the bilateral form of which most commonly results from a de novo germline pathogenic variant in the RB1 gene. Both advanced maternal age and decreasing birth order are known to increase the risk of de novo germline pathogenic variants, while the influence of national wealth is understudied. This cohort study aimed to retrospectively observe whether these factors influence the ratio of bilateral retinoblastoma cases compared to unilateral retinoblastoma, thereby inferring an influence on the development of de novo germline pathogenic variants in RB1.

Large-Scale and Wide-Gamut Coloration at the Diffraction Limit in Flexible, Self-Assembled Hierarchical Nanomaterials.

Unveiling physical phenomena that generate controllable structural coloration is at the center of significant research efforts due to the platform potential for the next generation of printing, sensing, displays, wearable optoelectronics components, and smart fabrics. Colors based on e-beam facilities possess high resolutions above 100k dots per inch (DPI), but limit manufacturing scales up to 4.37 cm , while requiring rigid substrates that are not flexible.

The Effects of Breastfeeding on Retinoblastoma Development: Results from an International Multicenter Retinoblastoma Survey.

The protective effects of breastfeeding on various childhood malignancies have been established but an association has not yet been determined for retinoblastoma (RB). We aimed to further investigate the role of breastfeeding in the severity of nonhereditary RB development, assessing relationship to (1) age at diagnosis, (2) ocular prognosis, measured by International Intraocular RB Classification (IIRC) or Intraocular Classification of RB (ICRB) group and success of eye salvage, and (3) extraocular involvement. Analyses were performed on a global dataset subgroup of 344 RB patients whose legal guardian(s) consented to answer a neonatal questionnaire.

Lag Time between Onset of First Symptom and Treatment of Retinoblastoma: An International Collaborative Study of 692 Patients from 10 Countries.

Background: The relationship between lag time and outcomes in retinoblastoma (RB) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to study the effect of lag time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of retinoblastoma (RB) in countries based on their national-income and analyse its effect on the outcomes.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of 692 patients from 11 RB centres in 10 countries from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.

Complexation-induced resolution enhancement of 3D-printed hydrogel constructs.

Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel printing enables production of volumetric architectures containing desired structures using programmed automation processes. Our study reports a unique method of resolution enhancement purely relying on post-printing treatment of hydrogel constructs. By immersing a 3D-printed patterned hydrogel consisting of a hydrophilic polyionic polymer network in a solution of polyions of the opposite net charge, shrinking can rapidly occur resulting in various degrees of reduced dimensions comparing to the original pattern.

Improved waiting-list outcomes in Argentina after the adoption of a model for end-stage liver disease-based liver allocation policy.

In July 2005, Argentina became the first country after the United States to introduce the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) for organ allocation. In this study, we investigated waiting-list (WL) outcomes (n = 3272) and post-liver transplantation (LT) survival in 2 consecutive periods of 5 years before and after the implementation of a MELD-based allocation policy. Data were obtained from the database of the national institute for organ allocation in Argentina.

Pyo-mediastinitis: A complication of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

A rare fatal case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis complicated by mediastinal and visceral abscesses treated with antifungal medications is described. The case report discusses the potential need for early surgical intervention to drain mediastinal and visceral abscesses as a primary mode of therapy in disseminated coccidioidomycosis for a successful control of infection and clinical outcome.

Combination of radon and stable isotope analysis as a tool for decision support concerning the remediation of NAPL-contaminated sites.

The non-aqueous phase-liquid (NAPL)-contaminated aquifer at a major refinery site in Mexico was investigated. Owing to the depth of the contaminated aquifer section (NAPL source zone) of over 100 m below the surface, the actual aquifer material was not accessible for sampling. Information on the residual NAPL contamination of the aquifer could only be obtained indirectly by analysing groundwater samples from a few wells available at the site.

Effects on productivity and quality of life of rizatriptan for acute migraine: a workplace study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of treatment with rizatriptan 10 mg on jobs and quality of life of patients with migraine.

Methods: Prospective, open-label study at 27 work sites of 20 companies representing diverse labor sectors in Spain. Eligible patients according International Headache Society (IHS) criteria were recruited for the study by on-site physicians and instructed to treat moderate or severe migraine attacks with one tablet of rizatriptan 10 mg.

Germline genomic instability in PCNA mutants of Drosophila: DNA fingerprinting and microsatellite analysis.

PCNA participates in multiple processes of DNA metabolism with an essential role in DNA replication and intervening in DNA repair. Temperature-sensitive PCNA mutants of Drosophila (mus209) are sensitive to mutagens, impair developmental processes and suppress positional-effect variegation. To investigate the role of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in germline genomic stability, independent mus209-defective and mus209-normal lines were established and maintained over six generations.