Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There are few data on the treatment of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis, especially with more recently available drugs and regimens. We aimed to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics and their associations with treatment outcomes in this susceptible population.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Microfluidic vessel-on-chip platform for investigation of cellular defects in venous malformations and responses to various shear stress and flow conditions.

A novel microfluidic platform was designed to study the cellular architecture of endothelial cells (ECs) in an environment replicating the 3D organization and flow of blood vessels. In particular, the platform was constructed to investigate EC defects in slow-flow venous malformations (VMs) under varying shear stress and flow conditions. The platform featured a standard microtiter plate footprint containing 32 microfluidic units capable of replicating wall shear stress (WSS) in normal veins and enabling precise control of shear stress and flow directionality without the need for complex pumping systems.

Peer review comments: Friend or foe?

Peer review is a time-honored cornerstone of publishing. Peer reviewers, often blinded to the author, provide feedback to clarify the manuscript and validate the key messages and sciences. Authors may openly accept the feedback outright and make revisions.

High Detection Rates for Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen-avid Prostate Cancer Recurrence at Low Prostate-specific Antigen levels on Extended Axial Field-of-view Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

Background And Objective: Although prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has impacted the investigation and management of biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer, negative scans are common at low rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PET/CT devices with an extended axial field-of-view, such as the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra (Quadra) scanner, have substantially higher sensitivity than conventional field-of-view scanners. Our aim was to assess whether the enhanced signal-to-noise ratios achieved on the Quadra scanner improve detection of low-volume disease and thereby increase detection of PC at low PSA levels.

Challenges in developing response evaluation criteria for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: A consensus report from the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Advisory Board Meeting 2022 and the ENETS Theranostics Task Force.

Assessing the response to systemic therapy in neuroendocrine tumors (NET) is challenging since morphological imaging response is often delayed and not necessarily reflective of clinical benefit. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has a complex mechanism of action, further complicating response assessment. In response to these challenges, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) Theranostics Task Force conducted a statement-based survey among experts to identify the current landscape and unmet needs in PRRT response assessment.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for ectopic Cushing's syndrome caused by metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Background: Metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEPNEN) can cause ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS). ECS is highly morbid and medical therapy is complex and can be ineffective. Patients unsuitable for bilateral adrenalectomy (BA) have dismal outcomes.

Understanding document statistics: An approach to enhance the author's work.

The document statistics tool, which authors use to review their work before submission, is explained. The tool yields readability statistics, which assess the document's ease of reading. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of its features, which are described in full.

Preclinical evaluation and automated synthesis of [Zr]ZrDFOSquaramide-girentuximab for diagnostic imaging of carbonic anhydrase IX positive tumours.

Background: Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a zinc metalloenzyme that is over-expressed in many cancers making it a valid target for targeted diagnostic imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The monoclonal antibody girentuximab binds to CAIX and when radiolabelled with positron-emitting zirconium-89 can be used for diagnostic PET imaging of CAIX positive tumours.

Results: Reaction of desferrioxamine squaramide ethyl ester with girentuximab allowed isolation of a conjugate with desferrioxamine squaramide (DFOSq) covalently attached to girentuximab through stable vinylogous amide linkages to give DFOSq-girentuximab.

A systematic literature review on how consumer and community involvement have shaped and influenced pre-pregnancy care interventions for women with diabetes.

Background: Diabetes and pregnancy studies have found better outcomes when interventions were developed with consumer (individuals with lived experience of diabetes) and community involvement. When consumers are central to development and delivery of interventions, study participants have better engagement and outcomes, particularly for individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and/or lower socio-economic backgrounds. Our study aims to examine the scope of consumer and community involvement (CCI) in the construction and implementation of pre-pregnancy care (PPC) interventions and discuss a framework for consumer-lead intervention development.

Epigenetic regulation by polycomb repressive complex 1 promotes cerebral cavernous malformations.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are anomalies of the cerebral vasculature. Loss of the CCM proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2, or CCM3/PDCD10 trigger a MAPK-Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) signaling cascade, which induces a pathophysiological pattern of gene expression. The downstream target genes that are activated by KLF2 are mostly unknown.

Impact of Telemedicine Versus In-Person Pediatric Outpatient Type 1 Diabetes Visits on Immediate Glycemic Control: Retrospective Chart Review.

Background: Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes require frequent outpatient evaluation to assess glucose trends, modify insulin doses, and screen for comorbidities. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides a detailed glycemic control assessment. Telemedicine has been increasingly used since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total-Body PET/CT: Pros and Cons.

PET/CT devices with an axial field-of-view (FOV) of 1 m allow simultaneous imaging from the head to the upper thighs, the typical axial extent of many "whole-body" oncological studies acquired by moving a patient sequentially through a conventional FOV device, or rapid total-body imaging using the same approach. Increasing the FOV to around 2 m provides true simultaneous total-body imaging. Either approach dramatically increases the sensitivity for detection of annihilation events arising within the body.

Cryoablation Without Excision for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: ICE3 Trial 5-Year Follow-Up on Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence.

Background: The ICE3 trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in women aged ≥60 years with low-risk, early-stage breast cancers, aiming to provide a non-operative treatment option and avoid potential surgical risks. This study presents 5-year follow-up trial results.

Methods: The ICE3 trial is an Institutional Review Board-approved, prospective, multicentered, non-randomized trial including women ≥ 60 years of age with unifocal, ultrasound visible, invasive ductal carcinoma ≤ 1.

Evaluating the Utility of F-FDG PET/CT in Cancer of Unknown Primary.

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) represents a heterogeneous group of metastatic tumors for which standardized diagnostic work-up fails to identify the primary site. We aimed to describe the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre experience with F-FDG PET/CT in extracervical CUP with respect to detection of a primary site and its impact on management. A secondary aim was to compare overall survival (OS) in patients with and without a detected primary site.

Dose-Response Relationships Between Radiation Exposure, Bone Marrow Function as Measured by F-Fluorothymidine Positron Emission Tomography, and Lymphocyte Counts During Chemoradiation for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: F-fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) enables sensitive imaging of bone marrow (BM) proliferation. Sequential FLT-PET/computed tomography scans before and during chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for non-small cell lung cancer were repurposed to investigate the dose-response effects of radiation on BM proliferation.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-six non-small cell lung cancer patients underwent platinum-based CRT to 60 Gy in 30 fractions with FLT-PET/computed tomography scans at baseline, week 2 (20 Gy), and week 4 (40 Gy).

Doctor of Nursing Practice-prepared academics: Promotion and tenure-eligible?

Since the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) was implemented, there has been ongoing discussion about whether or not DNP-prepared faculty are eligible for promotion and tenure. This column updates that discussion through input from two DNP-prepared faculty key informants.

Risk Factors Associated With Acute Kidney Injury in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Treated With Hypertonic Saline: A Retrospective Study.

Hypertonic saline (HTS) is essential pharmacologic treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies associate HTS with acute kidney injury (AKI), however evidence in TBIs is limited. This study examines factors associated with AKI in patients requiring HTS for TBI.

Cryopreserved apoptotic mesenchymal stromal cells retain functional efficacy in suppressing an allergic inflammation in a murine model.

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) apoptosis is required for in vivo immunosuppression. However, the induction of apoptosis is heavily dependent on the recipient's immune system. In graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), patients who fail to respond to MSCs are in fact those whose immune cells are unable to induce MSC apoptosis ex vivo.

F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT Tracheobronchial Uptake in Patients with Prostate Cancer: Incidence and Etiology.

We evaluated the incidence and potential etiology of tracheobronchial uptake in patients being evaluated by F-DCFPyL PET/CT for prostate cancer (PCa). The study included a consecutive 100 PCa patients referred for F-DCFPyL PET/CT. The PET/CT scans were retrospectively reviewed.

International Benchmark for Total Metabolic Tumor Volume Measurement in Baseline F-FDG PET/CT of Lymphoma Patients: A Milestone Toward Clinical Implementation.

Total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) is prognostic in lymphoma. However, cutoff values for risk stratification vary markedly, according to the tumor delineation method used. We aimed to create a standardized TMTV benchmark dataset allowing TMTV to be tested and applied as a reproducible biomarker.

Physical Chemistry Lab for Data Analysis of COVID-19 Spreading Kinetics in Different Countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has passed. It gives us a real-world example of kinetic data analysis practice for our undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory class. It is a great example to connect this seemingly very different problem to the kinetic theories for chemical reactions that the students have learned in the lecture class.