SJPedPanel: A Pan-Cancer Gene Panel for Childhood Malignancies to Enhance Cancer Monitoring and Early Detection.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to design a pan-cancer gene panel for childhood malignancies and validate it using clinically characterized patient samples.

Experimental Design: In addition to 5,275 coding exons, SJPedPanel also covers 297 introns for fusions/structural variations and 7,590 polymorphic sites for copy-number alterations. Capture uniformity and limit of detection are determined by targeted sequencing of cell lines using dilution experiment.

SJPedPanel: A pan-cancer gene panel for childhood malignancies.

Background: Large scale genomics projects have identified driver alterations for most childhood cancers that provide reliable biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and disease monitoring using targeted sequencing. However, there is lack of a comprehensive panel that matches the list of known driver genes. Here we fill this gap by developing SJPedPanel for childhood cancers.

PD-1 blockade in combination with dasatinib potentiates induction of anti-acute lymphocytic leukemia immunity.

Immunotherapy, in the form of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), has been part of the standard of care in the treatment of acute leukemia for over 40 years. Trials evaluating novel immunotherapeutic approaches, such as targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway, have unfortunately not yielded comparable results to those seen in solid tumors. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins are cell surface proteins essential for the adaptive immune system to recognize self versus non-self.

Evolutionary Action Score of Analysis in Pathologically High-Risk Human Papillomavirus-Negative Head and Neck Cancer From a Phase 2 Clinical Trial: NRG Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0234.

Purpose: An evolutionary action scoring algorithm (EAp53) based on phylogenetic sequence variations stratifies patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) bearing missense mutations as high-risk, associated with poor outcomes, or low-risk, with similar outcomes as wild-type, and has been validated as a reliable prognostic marker. We performed this study to further validate prior findings demonstrating that EAp53 is a prognostic marker for patients with locally advanced HNSCC and explored its predictive value for treatment outcomes to adjuvant bio-chemoradiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Eighty-one resection samples from patients treated surgically for stage III or IV human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC with high-risk pathologic features, who received either radiation therapy + cetuximab + cisplatin (cisplatin) or radiation therapy + cetuximab + docetaxel (docetaxel) as adjuvant treatment in a phase 2 study were subjected to targeted sequencing and EAp53 scoring to correlate with clinical outcomes.

Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma-a case series.

Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare and interesting pulmonary tumour that presents a diagnostic challenge to the surgeon due to its bland symptomatology, indolent course, non-specific radiological features and ambiguous histopathological findings, which could lead to errors in management and prognostication. Herein, we present a series of 4 patients with PSP who were managed in our institution over a period of 8 years and briefly discuss relevant literature.

Metals in Cannabis Vaporizer Aerosols: Sources, Possible Mechanisms, and Exposure Profiles.

In recent years, cannabis vaporizer cartridges have increased in popularity and availability, and there are concerns regarding exposure to heavy-metal compounds from their use. The physical components of the cartridge devices themselves have been implicated as a potential source of metal exposure, but it is not known if these metals migrate into the inhalable vapor. This study analyzes the components of vaporizer cartridges for 10 different metals and also collects aerosol mixtures from 13 randomly purchased commercially available cannabis cartridges from Washington State to compare their elemental profiles.

Strategies for Nonpolar Aerosol Collection and Heavy Metals Analysis of Inhaled Cannabis Products.

The rapid growth of inhalable cannabis concentrates raises questions about the safety of acute and chronic exposure to these aerosol mixtures. Due to the nonpolar nature of the aerosol mixture created from cannabis vapor cartridges, traditional aqueous-based capture methods used in e-cigarette or tobacco cigarette studies for analysis of metals are insufficient. Moreover, hydrophobic cannabis concentrates are not miscible with dilute aqueous acids and therefore not ideal for metal spiking unlike electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Incidental identification of inv(16)(p13.1q22)/- variant transcript in a patient with therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia by routine leukemia translocation panel screen: implications for diagnosis and therapy.

A 52-yr-old woman presented with therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia. A bone marrow biopsy showed 21% blasts with a myeloid phenotype and no other notable features such as abnormal eosinophils. Routine nanofluidics-based reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) leukemia translocation panel designed to screen for recurrent genetic abnormalities in acute leukemia detected an inversion 16 transcript variant E.

costochondritis following coronary artery bypass grafting: a case report and a brief review of literature.

Bacterial sternal wound infections following cardiac surgery are not uncommon. However, sternal wound infection by a fungus is a rarity, and it warrants a correct diagnosis followed by specific treatment. We report a case of sternal wound infection with costochondritis following cardiac surgery, and briefly review the relevant literature.

Mediastinal teratoma presenting as a cervical tumor: images.

Benign extra-gonadal germ cell tumors, known as teratoma or dermoid cysts, are commonly found in the anterior mediastinum in association with the thymic gland. This association is due to their common site of embryological origins, from the third and the fourth pharyngeal pouches. Since it is not unusual to find normal thymic tissue in the neck, germ cell tumors arising from here will present as a cervical tumor.

Inhibition of Oxidative Phosphorylation Reverses Bone Marrow Hypoxia Visualized in Imageable Syngeneic B-ALL Mouse Model.

Abnormally low level of interstitial oxygen, or hypoxia, is a hallmark of tumor microenvironment and a known promoter of cancer chemoresistance. Inside a solid tumor mass, the hypoxia stems largely from inadequate supply of oxygenated blood through sparse or misshapen tumor vasculature whilst oxygen utilization rates are low in typical tumor's glycolytic metabolism. In acute leukemias, however, markers of intracellular hypoxia such as increased pimonidazole adduct staining and HIF-1α stabilization are observed in advanced leukemic bone marrows (BM) despite an increase in BM vasculogenesis.

Development and Application of Duplex Sequencing Strategy for Cell-Free DNA-Based Longitudinal Monitoring of Stage IV Colorectal Cancer.

Potential applications of cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based molecular profiling have used in patients with diverse malignant tumors. However, capturing all cfDNA that originates from tumor cells and identifying true variants present in this minute fraction remain challenges to the widespread application of cfDNA-based liquid biopsies in the clinical setting. In this study, we evaluate a systematic approach and identify key components of wet bench and bioinformatics strategies to address these challenges.

Rational "Error Elimination" Approach to Evaluating Molecular Barcoded Next-Generation Sequencing Data Identifies Low-Frequency Mutations in Hematologic Malignancies.

The emergence of highly sensitive molecular diagnostic approaches, such as droplet digital PCR, has allowed the accurate identification of low-frequency variant alleles in clinical specimens; however, the multiplex capabilities of droplet digital PCR for variant detection are inadequate. The incorporation of molecular barcodes or unique IDs into next-generation sequencing libraries through PCR has enabled the detection of low-frequency variant alleles across multiple genomic regions. However, rational library preparation and sequencing data analytic strategies that integrate molecular barcodes have rarely been applied to clinical settings.

Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with FGFR1 rearrangement.

Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with FGFR1 rearrangement are a rare entity. We present a multicenter experience of 17 patients with FISH-confirmed FGFR1 rearrangement. The clinical presentation at diagnosis included myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) in 4 (24%) patients, acute leukemia (AL) in 7 (41%), and concomitant MPN with AL in 6 (35%).

Survival changes in Patients with Synovial Sarcoma, 1983-2012.

Synovial sarcoma (SyS) is a rare malignancy that typically invades the extremities and occurs predominantly in adolescents. Studies on incidence and survival in SyS that were based on a large population had not been reported yet. To evaluate changes in incidence and survival in SyS over three decades, we accessed data on SyS cases in each decade between 1983 and 2012 (1983-1992, 1993-2002, and 2003-2012) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Enhanced removal of ethanolamine from secondary system of nuclear power plant wastewater by novel hybrid nano zero-valent iron and pressurized ozone initiated oxidation process.

Monoethanolamine (shortly ethanolamine (ETA)), usually used as a corrosion inhibitor, is a contaminant of wastewater from the secondary cooling system of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and is not readily biodegradable. We conducted various experiments, including treatments with nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), nano-iron/calcium, and calcium oxide (nFe/Ca/CaO) with ozone (O) or hydrogen peroxide (HO) to reduce the concentration of ETA and to decrease the chemical demand of oxygen (COD) of these wastewaters. During this study, wastewater with ETA concentration of 7465 mg L and COD of 6920 mg L was used.

Survival improvement in patients with non-small cell lung cancer between 1983 and 2012: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common malignancy in males; it constitutes the majority of lung cancer cases and requires massive medical resources. Despite improvements in managing non-small cell lung cancer, long-term survival remains very low. This study evaluated survival improvement in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in each decade between 1983 and 2012 to determine the impact of race, sex, age, and socioeconomic status on the survival rates in these patients.

Selective sequential separation of ABS/HIPS and PVC from automobile and electronic waste shredder residue by hybrid nano-Fe/Ca/CaO assisted ozonisation process.

The separation of plastics containing brominated flame retardants (BFR) like (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) from automobile and electronic waste shredder residue (ASR/ESR) are a major concern for thermal recycling. In laboratory scale tests using a hybrid nano-Fe/Ca/CaO assisted ozonation treatment has been found to selectively hydrophilize the surface of ABS/HIPS and PVC plastics, enhancing ABS wettability and thereby promoting its separation from ASR/ESR by means of froth flotation. The water contact angles, of ABS/HIPS and PVC decreased, about 18.

Heterogeneous nano-Fe/Ca/CaO catalytic ozonation for selective surface hydrophilization of plastics containing brominated and chlorinated flame retardants (B/CFRs): separation from automobile shredder residue by froth flotation.

One method of weakening the inherently hydrophobic surface of plastics relevant to flotation separation is heterogeneous nano-Fe/Ca/CaO catalytic ozonation. Nano-Fe/Ca/CaO-catalyzed ozonation for 15 min efficiently decreases the surface hydrophobicity of brominated and chlorinated flame retardant (B/CFR)-containing plastics (such as acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) in automobile shredder residue (ASR) to such an extent that their flotation ability is entirely depressed. Such a hydrophilization treatment also stimulates the ABS, HIPS, and PVC surface roughness, wetting of the surface, and the thermodynamic equilibrium conditions at the surface and ultimately changes surface polarity.

Chemotherapy plus dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer cells versus chemotherapy alone to treat advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combination treatment of dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer cells and chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Literatures were searched from the Cochrane Library Central, PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE. The primary endpoint of interest was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) and progression free survival (PFS).

Hybrid zero valent iron (ZVI)/HO oxidation process for landfill leachate treatment with novel nanosize metallic calcium/iron composite.

Unlabelled: A novel nanosize metallic calcium/iron dispersed reagent was synthesized and tested as coagulant/catalyst in a hybrid zero valent iron (ZVI)/HO oxidation process to treat leachate. Two different types of leachates, one from municipal solid waste (MSW) tipping hall (MSWIL) and second from an MSW landfill site (MSWLL), were collected and characterized. The morphology, elemental composition, and mineral phases of the nano-Ca/CaO and nano-Fe/Ca/CaO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis.

Development of hydrophobicity and selective separation of hazardous chlorinated plastics by mild heat treatment after PAC coating and froth flotation.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing chlorine can release highly toxic materials and persistent organic pollutants if improperly disposed of. The combined technique of powder activated carbon (PAC) coating and mild heat treatment has been found to selectively change the surface hydrophobicity of PVC, enhancing its wettability and thereby promoting its separation from heavy plastic mixtures included polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) by means of froth flotation. The combined treatments helped to rearrange the surface components and make PVC more hydrophobic, while the remaining plastics became more hydrophilic.

Dual mechanochemical immobilization of heavy metals and decomposition of halogenated compounds in automobile shredder residue using a nano-sized metallic calcium reagent.

Simultaneous immobilization of heavy metals and decomposition of halogenated organic compounds in different fractions of automobile shredder residue (ASR) were achieved with a nano-sized metallic calcium through a 60-min ball milling treatment. Heavy metal (HM) immobilization and chlorinated/brominated compound (CBC) decomposition efficiencies both reached 90-100 %, after ball milling with nanometallic calcium/calcium oxide (Ca/CaO) dispersion, regardless of ASR particle size (1.0, 0.

Improved survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and disparities by age, race, and socioeconomic status by decade, 1983-2012.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for the majority of liver cancer, is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and therefore adds up the financial burden. Incidence data of HCC in three decades during 1983-2012 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with incidence rates of 1.9, 3.