Genomic tumor evolution dictates human medulloblastoma progression.

Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common high-grade pediatric brain tumor, comprised of 4 main molecular subgroups-sonic-hedgehog (SHH), Wnt, Group 3, and Group 4. Group 3 and Group 4 tumors are the least characterized MB subgroups, despite Group 3 having the worst prognosis (~50% survival rate), and Group 4 being the most prevalent. Such poor characterization can be attributed to high levels of inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity, making it difficult to identify common therapeutic targets.

Long-Lasting Response to Lorlatinib in Patients with ALK-Driven Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma Monitored with Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis.

Unlabelled: Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-driven neuroblastoma may respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but resistance to treatment occurs and methods currently used for detection of residual disease have limited sensitivity. Here, we present a national unselected cohort of five patients with relapsed or refractory ALK-driven neuroblastoma treated with lorlatinib as monotherapy and test the potential of targeted circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis as a guide for treatment decisions in these patients. We developed a sequencing panel for ultrasensitive detection of ALK mutations associated with neuroblastoma or resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and used it for ctDNA analysis in 83 plasma samples collected longitudinally from the four patients who harbored somatic ALK mutations.

Concurrent validity of objective assessment by finger tracking for open surgical suturing training.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the parameters 'time' and 'distance', measured by SurgTrac, correlate with the assessment of the same skills by blinded experts.

Methods: Basic open suturing tasks were executed by medical students. SurgTrac software measured objective parameters by tracking fingers.

Congenital Vascular Malformations in Children: From Historical Perspective to a Multidisciplinary Approach in the Modern Era-A Comprehensive Review.

Congenital vascular malformations (CVMs) are the result of an aberrant development during embryogenesis. Although these lesions are present at birth, they are not always visible yet. Once symptomatic, patients suffer from pain, bleeding, ulcers, infections or lymphatic leakage, depending on the subtype of vessels involved.