Aurora kinase B is required for growth and expansion of medulloblastoma cells in the tissue context.

The impact of the tissue context on tumor growth and drug response in medulloblastoma (MB) is poorly understood. To gain insights into the growth and dissemination behavior of the MB tumor cells under treatment, we combined three-dimensional cell culture screening with ex vivo organotypic cerebellum slice co-culture (OCSC), which allowed the assessment of tumor cell behavior in the tissue context. To identify druggable kinase pathways involved in invasion, we screened a panel of 274 kinase inhibitors and identified aurora kinase B (AURKB) as a potential anti-invasion drug target in MB.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms in parents of children with newly diagnosed cancer: 1-year trajectories and relationship variables as predictors.

Objective: The way in which parental posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) unfold in the first year after a cancer diagnosis in their child is poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify parental PTSS trajectories and to examine couple-related predictors (dyadic coping and we-disease appraisals), sociodemographic predictors (education and sex), and medical predictors (child's physical impairment) of trajectory membership.

Method: A 1-year prospective study was conducted, and 157 parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer were assessed.

Assessing We-Disease Appraisals of Health Problems: Development and Validation of the We-Disease Questionnaire.

In couples dealing with health problems, we-disease appraisals can influence dyadic coping strategies to alleviate distress. This study describes the development and validation of a self-report scale to assess we-disease appraisals of health problems. The newly developed We-Disease Questionnaire (WDQ) was administered in three samples: parents of children with type 1 diabetes ( = 240) or cancer ( = 125) and individuals with visual impairment and their partners ( = 216).

Treatment of NF1-Associated Optic Pathway/Hypothalamic Gliomas in Patients With Diencephalic Syndrome.

Diencephalic syndrome is usually associated with tumors in the hypothalamic region, rarely occurring in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated gliomas. We describe the clinical presentation and response to treatment in 3 patients with NF1 presenting with diencephalic syndrome as first symptom of optic pathway/hypothalamic glioma (OPHG). Because of the rarity of this constellation, knowledge about the clinical course and best treatment options for patients with NF1-associated OPHG and diencephalic syndrome is still limited.

Impact of a clinical decision support system on paediatric drug dose prescribing: a randomised within-subject simulation trial.

Background: Drug dosing errors are among the most frequent causes of preventable harm in paediatrics. Due to the complexity of paediatric pharmacotherapy and the working conditions in healthcare, it is not surprising that human factor is a well-described source of error. Thus, a clinical decision support system (CDSS) that supports healthcare professionals (HCP) during the dose prescribing step provides a promising strategy for error prevention.