Ensemble Ground State of a Many-Electron System with Fractional Electron Number and Spin: Piecewise-Linearity and Flat-Plane Condition Generalized.

Description of many-electron systems with a fractional electron number () and fractional spin () is of great importance in physical chemistry, solid-state physics, and materials science. In this Letter, we provide an exact description of the zero-temperature ensemble ground state of a general, finite, many-electron system and characterize the dependence of the energy and the spin-densities on both and , when the total spin is at its equilibrium value. We generalize the piecewise-linearity principle and the flat-plane condition and determine which pure states contribute to the ground-state ensemble.

Ionization potentials and fundamental gaps in atomic systems from the Ensemble-DFT approach.

Calculations in Kohn-Sham density functional theory crucially rely on high-quality approximations for the exchange-correlation (xc) functional. Standard local and semi-local approximations fail to predict the ionization potential (IP) and the fundamental gap, departing from the Kohn-Sham orbital energies, due to the deviation of the total energy from piecewise-linearity and the absence of the derivative discontinuity. The ensemble generalization procedure introduced in Phys.

Dream Doctor Intervention Instead of Sedation: Performing Radionuclide Scanning Without Sedation in Young Children: A Study in 142 Patients.

Background: Dream Doctors (DDs; professional medical clowns) are expanding their activities in pediatric wards. DDs were introduced as an alternative to sedation among children undergoing kidney imaging after urinary infection. The imaging requires that the patient lie completely still under the camera during the scan; otherwise the image cannot be interpreted.

The correlation between dose of folinic acid and neurotoxicity in children and adolescents treated for osteosarcoma with high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX): a neuropsychological and psychosocial study.

Background: This study has been performed to examine the currently used doses of folinic acid (FA) and to determine the importance of the dose of FA in preventing subtle neurotoxicity. Thirty osteosarcoma patients were an appropriate population studied as they have no intrinsic neurological involvement. The neuropsychological and psychosocial status was tested in 2 groups of patients treated with similar protocols containing repeated doses of high-dose methotrexate, but different doses of FA.

Endocrine outcome in long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Aim: To evaluate the rates of endocrine abnormalities in survivors of childhood brain tumors and identify risk factors.

Methods: The medical charts of patients were reviewed for background, disease-related and treatment-related data. Endocrine dysfunction was determined by clinical and laboratory evaluation.

Excellent prognosis in a subset of patients with Ewing sarcoma identified at diagnosis by CD56 using flow cytometry.

Purpose: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is considered a systemic disease with the majority of patients harboring micrometastases at diagnosis. Multiparameter flow cytometry (MPFC) was used to detect ES cells in bone marrow (BM) of ES patients at diagnosis and to evaluate the prognostic significance of CD56 expression in BM samples.

Experimental Design: BM samples from 46 ES patients, 6 tumor aspirates, 2 ES cell lines, and 10 control BM samples were analyzed by MPFC.

2p24 Gain region harboring MYCN gene compared with MYCN amplified and nonamplified neuroblastoma: biological and clinical characteristics.

Although the role of MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma is well established, the biological and clinical characteristics of the 2p gain region harboring the MYCN gene remain unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the biological and clinical characteristics of these tumors with MYCN amplified and nonamplified neuroblastoma and to determine their impact on disease outcome. Samples from 177 patients were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, including MYCN, 1p, 17q, and 11q regions; 2p gain was identified in 25 patients, MYCN amplification in 31, and no amplification in 121 patients.

Different telomere maintenance mechanisms in alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.

The activation of a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) is crucial for the immortalization of tumor cells. Most human cancers apply telomerase-dependent TMM but some use a mechanism called alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The latter was suggested to be mainly characterizing sarcomas with nonspecific complex karyotypes, whereas telomerase activation is typical of sarcomas generated by specific translocations.

High incidence of meningioma in cranial irradiated survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Most survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and T-cell lymphoma (T-NHL) treated before 1990 received cranial radiation. This study assessed the occurrence of second tumors in irradiated and non-irradiated survivors.

Methods: Two hundred and ten survivors of ALL and T-NHL were treated between 1974 and 1997 by several protocols.

Telomere length is a prognostic factor in neuroblastoma.

Background: Maintenance of telomeres, in most instances by reactivation of telomerase, is obligatory for the indefinite proliferation of tumor cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate telomere length and telomerase activity (TA) as markers for progression and prognosis in neuroblastoma.

Methods: Primary tumor samples from 51 patients were analyzed for telomere length and TA and were correlated with known prognostic parameters and outcome.

Endocrine dysfunction and parameters of the metabolic syndrome after bone marrow transplantation during childhood and adolescence.

Endocrine dysfunction and parameters of metabolic syndrome were assessed in 91 patients aged 4.3-32.5 years who underwent allogeneic or autologous BMT in childhood.

Prenatal diagnosis in Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Purpose: The hallmark of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a familial cancer syndrome, is constitutional TP53 mutation. The authors addressed the complex question of predictive prenatal genetic testing for cancer risk associated with inheritance of TP53 mutation.

Methods: A classic LFS family including the proband (a 20-month-old boy with rhabdomyosarcoma), his 36-year-old father with osteosarcoma, and his 40-year-old paternal aunt with bilateral breast cancer were identified as carriers of a TP53 germline mutation, a novel 1 base pair deletion in exon 5.

Classical and molecular cytogenetic abnormalities and outcome of childhood acute myeloid leukaemia: report from a referral centre in Israel.

The incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities in childhood de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and its prognostic significance was assessed in an Israeli paediatric referral centre. Cytogenetic analysis was successful in 86 of 97 children (< 20 years of age) diagnosed between 1988 and 2002 with de novo AML. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis detected new information in 11 of them, leading to reassignment in cytogenetic group classification.

High frequency of genomic instability in Ewing family of tumors.

We tested Ewing sarcoma tumors for microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) to investigate the role of genomic instability (GI) in this sarcoma. We detected a high frequency of GI (57%), mostly on 1p and 11p, 35% and 30%, respectively. Patients with GI compared to those with stable genome had a median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 24 months and 70 months, compared with 39 and 84 months, respectively.

The predictive potential of molecular detection in the nonmetastatic Ewing family of tumors.

Background: Tumors in the Ewing family (EFTs) are the second most common bone tumors in children and adolescents. Despite aggressive chemotherapy, one-third of patients with localized tumor still may develop recurrences. This implies that not all tumor cells are eradicated and that the patients may have a level of residual disease.

Molecular variants of the ATM gene in Hodgkin's disease in children.

Ataxia telangiectasia is an autosomal recessive disease with a striking predisposition of lymphoid malignancies. ATM mutations have been reported in adult sporadic lymphoma and leukaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of the ATM gene in the carcinogenesis of Hodgkin disease in children.

Germ-line ATM gene alterations are associated with susceptibility to sporadic T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

A major feature of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an increased risk of cancer, particularly of lymphoid malignancies. We studied ATM gene involvement in leukemic cells derived from 39 pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs). Two types of sequence changes--truncating and missense--were identified in 8 T-cell ALL samples: 3 truncating changes, all previously identified in A-T (R35X, -30del215, 2284delCT), and 3 missense variants (V410A, F582L, F1463C) were found, none associated with loss of heterozygosity (LOH).

Association between telomerase activity and outcome in patients with nonmetastatic Ewing family of tumors.

Purpose: Telomerase is considered a molecular marker for malignancy. The aim of this study was to determine telomerase activity (TA) as a prognostic factor at diagnosis and as a marker for minimal residual disease during therapy and follow-up in nonmetastatic Ewing family of tumors (EFT).

Patients And Methods: Primary tumor specimens and 97 peripheral blood (PBL) samples from 31 EFT patients were analyzed for TA by the Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP assay).

Pregnancy outcome in women treated with doxorubicin for childhood cancer.

Objective: Pregnancy outcome and the effect of pregnancy on cardiac function were assessed in women cured of childhood cancer.

Study Design: Forty women who received doxorubicin as part of a chemotherapy protocol for a neoplastic disorder in childhood were followed up at the same center during pregnancy and after delivery.

Results: Thirty-seven women (72 pregnancies) completed follow-up.

PAX3/forkhead homolog in rhabdomyosarcoma oncoprotein activates glucose transporter 4 gene expression in vivo and in vitro.

Increased levels of glucose uptake and increased expression of the glucose transporter (GLUT) genes are characteristic features of tumors. In the muscle-derived tumor alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), a chromosomal translocation t(2:13) generates the PAX3/forkhead homolog in rhabdomyosarcoma (FKHR) oncoprotein. In muscle tissues, glucose transport is primarily mediated by GLUT4.

Distinct cytogenetic pathways of advanced-stage neuroblastoma tumors, detected by spectral karyotyping.

Molecular studies of advanced-stage neuroblastoma (NBL) have revealed a marked genetic heterogeneity. In addition to MYCN amplification and chromosome 1 short-arm deletions/translocations detected by conventional cytogenetics, application of fluorescence in situ hybridization has disclosed a high prevalence of 17q gain, whereas allelotyping and comparative genomic hybridization techniques also have revealed loss of 11q and of other chromosomal material. Using the recently developed technique of spectral karyotyping (SKY), we sought to refine the cytogenetic information, identify hidden recurrent structural chromosomal abnormalities, and compare them to the molecular findings.

Treatment of alpha-fetoprotein secreting hepatoblastoma by response of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels: a new concept.

Hepatoblastoma, the commonest primary malignant liver tumor in infants and children, is usually associated with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. The authors sought to determine if AFP levels can be used to modify treatment, thereby avoiding the wait for formal imaging studies and prolonged suboptimal treatment and limiting the use of effective but toxic chemotherapy. From April 1984 to December 1997, 8 children were diagnosed with AFP-secreting hepatoblastoma.

Significance of residual abdominal masses in children with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the natural history of children with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma who had complete clinical remission and residual abdominal mass after treatment.

Material And Methods: The charts and imaging findings of all children with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma treated and followed at our medical center between 1988 and 1999 were reviewed for the presence, management, clinical course, and prognosis of residual mass.

Results: Only children who achieved complete clinical remission were included.

Methotrexate treatment protocols and the central nervous system: significant cure with significant neurotoxicity.

Methotrexate can influence the central nervous system through several metabolic toxic pathways. These effects can be categorized as immediate, acute to subacute, or chronic neurologic syndromes. The acute to subacute syndrome occurs frequently in acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment protocols, generally manifesting with focal neurologic signs and changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed tomography.

Improved outcome in childhood B-cell lymphoma with the intensified French LMB protocol.

Background: During the last 20 years, 120 children with B cell lymphoma were treated at the National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Center of Israel. Until 1986, 63 patients received an institutional protocol (BMC), and thereafter 57 patients received a modified French LMB protocol. We report the results of a retrospective analysis comparing the results of these two protocols.