Pediatric Care Volunteerism: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This article explores the deep impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric care volunteerism and specifically highlights the innovative responses and adaptations made by Project Sunshine, an international nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, NY. Prior to the pandemic, Project Sunshine's in-person volunteers played a critical role in providing comfort and support to hospitalized children and their families, bridging the gap between clinical treatment and patient satisfaction. However, COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges to hospitals around the world, including widespread interruption of volunteer activities due to safety concerns and visitation restrictions.

Arsenic exposure impairs intestinal stromal cells.

Arsenic is a toxicant commonly found in drinking water. Even though its main route of exposure is oral, little is known of the impact of in vivo arsenic exposure on small intestine. In vitro studies have shown that arsenic decreases differentiation of stem and progenitor cells in several different tissues.

Prevalence and natural history of schwannomas in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2): the influence of pathogenic variants.

This study explores the natural history of vestibular, trigeminal and lower cranial nerve schwannomas (VS, TS, LCNS) in patients with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), to understand how pathogenic variants (PVs) of the NF2 gene affect tumour burden and growth rate, via a retrospective analysis of a UK NF2 centre database and imaging. VS, TS and LCNS location and size were measured in accordance with a standardised protocol. PVs were categorised in accordance with the UK NF2 Genetic Severity Score (GSS).

Arsenic exposure in drinking water reduces Lgr5 and secretory cell marker gene expression in mouse intestines.

Arsenic is a global health concern that causes toxicity through ingestion of contaminated water and food. In vitro studies suggest that arsenic reduces stem and progenitor cell differentiation. Thus, this study determined if arsenic disrupted intestinal stem cell (ISC) differentiation, thereby altering the number, location, and/or function of intestinal epithelial cells.

Loss of DLX3 tumor suppressive function promotes progression of SCC through EGFR-ERBB2 pathway.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) ranks second in the frequency of all skin cancers. The balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation is disrupted in the pathological development of cSCC. DLX3 is a homeobox transcription factor which plays pivotal roles in embryonic development and epidermal homeostasis.

Measurement of the absolute gamma-ray emission intensities from the decay of 103Pd.

Palladium-103 decays through electron capture to excited levels of Rh, and especially to the 39.748-keV metastable state. A high activity palladium chloride solution was standardized by liquid scintillation, using the Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio method.

Measurement of the absolute gamma-ray emission intensities from the decay of Nd.

The 2011 Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP) evaluation for Nd includes recommended absolute emission intensities for the two main gamma-rays at 91.105 (2) keV and 531.016 (22) keV of 0.

Nuclide++: A C++ module to include DDEP recommended radioactive decay Data in Geant4.

This article describes the Nuclide++ module developed at LNE-LNHB to simulate the decay schemes related to single or multiple radionuclides, by randomly selecting decay pathways. Written in C++, with respect of the Geant4 coding style, this module can be used transparently in Geant4-based simulation applications as an alternative to the existing Radioactive Decay Module (RDM). Nuclide++ takes advantage of the DDEP recommended data, accurate β-emitting spectra calculation and detailed description of the atomic rearrangement.

Cellular evaluation of the antioxidant activity of U.S. Pecans [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch].

Clinical trials show an inverse relationship between the consumption of antioxidant-rich tree nuts and the development of chronic diseases. This study examined antioxidant efficacy of U.S.

Resistance to Src inhibition alters the BRAF-mutant tumor secretome to promote an invasive phenotype and therapeutic escape through a FAK>p130Cas>c-Jun signaling axis.

Few therapy options exist for patients with advanced papillary and anaplastic thyroid cancer. We and others have previously identified c-Src as a key mediator of thyroid cancer pro-tumorigenic processes and a promising therapeutic target for thyroid cancer. To increase the efficacy of targeting Src in the clinic, we sought to define mechanisms of resistance to the Src inhibitor, dasatinib, to identify key pathways to target in combination.

Familial unilateral vestibular schwannoma is rarely caused by inherited variants in the NF2 gene.

Objectives/hypothesis: Unilateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) occurs with a lifetime risk of around 1 in 1,000 and is due to inactivation of the NF2 gene, either somatically or from a constitutional mutation. It has been postulated that familial occurrence of unilateral VS occurs more frequently than by chance, but no causal mechanism has been confirmed.

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Schwannomatosis: a genetic and epidemiological study.

Objectives: Schwannomatosis is a dominantly inherited condition predisposing to schwannomas of mainly spinal and peripheral nerves with some diagnostic overlap with neurofibromatosis-2 (NF2), but the underlying epidemiology is poorly understood. We present the birth incidence and prevalence allowing for overlap with NF2.

Methods: Schwannomatosis and NF2 cases were ascertained from the Manchester region of England (population=4.

Spinal ependymomas in NF2: a surgical disease?

The management of spinal cord ependymomas in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) has traditionally been conservative, in contrast to the management of sporadic cases; the assumption being that, in the context of NF2, they did not cause morbidity. With modern management and improved outcome of other NF2 tumours, this assumption, and therefore the lack of role for surgery, has been questioned. To compare the outcome of conservative treatment of spinal ependymomas in NF2 with surgical intervention in selected patients.

Modification of the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay to study phenolic antioxidants in a Caco-2 cell line.

In vitro assays are widely used to analyze the antioxidant potential of compounds, but they cannot accurately predict antioxidant behavior in living systems. Cell-based assays, like the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay, are gaining importance as they provide a biological perspective. When the CAA assay was employed to study phenolic antioxidants using hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells, quercetin showed antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells; 25 and 250μM quercetin reduced fluorescence by 17.

Measurement of absolute K X-ray emission intensities in the decay of Rh.

A new experiment was designed to measure the photon emission intensities in the decay of Rh. The rhodium samples were activated in the ISIS experimental nuclear reactor at CEA Saclay. The procedure includes an absolute activity measurement by liquid scintillation counting using the Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio method, followed by X-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium detector to determine the photon emission intensities.

High-Grade Glioma is not a Feature of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 in the Unirradiated Patient.

Background: The Manchester criteria for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) include a range of tumors, and gliomas were incorporated in the original description. The gliomas are now widely accepted to be predominantly spinal cord ependymomas.

Objective: To determine whether these gliomas include any cases of malignant glioma (WHO grade III and IV) through a database review.

A novel DLX3-PKC integrated signaling network drives keratinocyte differentiation.

Epidermal homeostasis relies on a well-defined transcriptional control of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, which is critical to prevent skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or cancer. We have recently shown that the homeobox transcription factor DLX3 and the tumor suppressor p53 co-regulate cell cycle-related signaling and that this mechanism is functionally involved in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma development. Here we show that DLX3 expression and its downstream signaling depend on protein kinase C α (PKCα) activity in skin.

Gingival overgrowth: Part 2: management strategies.

The effective and predictable management of gingival overgrowth requires correct diagnosis and consideration of aetiological factors, as discussed in Part 1 (BDJ 2017; 222: 85-91). Initial management should involve cause-related therapy, which may resolve or reduce the lesion. If functional, aesthetic and maintenance complications persist following this phase; further treatment may be required in the form of surgery.

Gingival overgrowth: Part 1: aetiology and clinical diagnosis.

Most commonly, gingival overgrowth is a plaque-induced inflammatory process, which can be modified by systemic disease or medications. However, rare genetic conditions can result in gingival overgrowth with non-plaque-induced aetiology. It is also important to appreciate the potential differential diagnoses of other presentations of enlarged gingival tissues; some may be secondary to localised trauma or non-plaque-induced inflammation and, albeit rarely, others may be manifestations of more sinister diseases or lesions.