A phase 2 pharmacodynamic dose-finding, safety, and efficacy study of dalteparin for pediatric venous thromboembolism treatment in children with and without cancer.

Data from registrational trials of pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment are sparse, especially among cancer patients. We conducted a prospective, multicenter, open-label trial (NCT00952380) on dose-finding, safety, and efficacy (measured by 90-day risks of clinically relevant bleeding [CRB] and symptomatic recurrent VTE [srVTE]) of twice-daily subcutaneous dalteparin for acute VTE treatment in patients ≤18 years old. Among 38 patients (cancer, n = 26; noncancer, n = 12), median dalteparin dose requirements per kilogram varied with age but not cancer status.

Integration of a Personalized Molecular Targeted Therapy into the Multimodal Treatment of Refractory Childhood Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR).

Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) are rare pediatric brain tumors with increased malignant potential. Despite the advances in multimodal treatment schemes the overall 5-year event free survival rates for ETMR are not favorable. Further, therapeutic regimes are limited to a case by case basis due to the limited amount of literature and guidelines available for treating childhood ETMR.

Charge Transfer Models of Zinc and Magnesium in Water.

Quantum mechanical studies point to the importance of polarization and charge transfer (CT) in zinc binding. A new CT force field is used to study these effects in ion-water dimers and in aqueous solution. Quantum mechanics calculations are carried out to determine amounts of CT.

An educational module to improve healthcare staffs' attitudes toward sickle cell disease patients.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder primarily affecting individuals of African descent. Studies of healthcare providers suggest there is inadequate knowledge about the pathophysiology and clinical presentations of the disease, and misperceptions of patients' behaviors and communication during crisis that have led to inappropriate staff attitudes and thus become major barriers to the delivery of optimal care. In this article, the authors describe the effect of an educational module on improving healthcare staffs' attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease.

Pediatric phase II trials of poly-ICLC in the management of newly diagnosed and recurrent brain tumors.

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor diagnosed in childhood that account for significant morbidity and mortality. New therapies are urgently needed; hence, we conducted the first ever prospective open-label phase II trials of the biological response modifier, poly-ICLC, in children with brain tumors. Poly-ICLC is a synthetic double-stranded RNA that has direct antiviral, antineoplastic, and immune adjuvant effects.