A Review of Current and Future Antibody Drug Conjugates in Breast Cancer.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a novel class of anti-cancer agents that have changed the standard of care for patients with breast cancer. Their targeted approach delivers potent anti-cancer drugs to cancer cells bearing specific surface antigens, thereby maximizing anti-cancer effects and minimizing systemic toxicity. Currently, there are three ADCs available for use in breast cancer: trastuzumab emtansine for HER2 positive breast cancer (early stage and metastatic), trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2 positive and HER2 low breast cancer (metastatic) and sacituzumab govitecan for triple negative and hormone receptor positive (HR +), HER2 negative breast cancer(metastatic).

The impact of demographics and socioeconomic status on the receipt of immunotherapy for stage III melanoma.

Background: There is limited data examining potential disparities in the receipt of immunotherapy among patients with stage III melanoma.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort review using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) including adult patients with stage III melanoma between 2004 and 2017. We compared receipt of immunotherapy based on demographic and socioeconomic factors for patients diagnosed 2004-2014 and 2016-2017, before and after FDA approval of immune checkpoint blockade.

Novel Approach to Residents Training in Breast Surgery Using Human Donors.

Introduction: Given the high incidence rate of breast cancer and shortage of fellowship trained specialists, general surgeons are frequently responsible for these patients. Residents have less operative exposure to breast surgery due to duty hour restrictions and decreased resident autonomy. We created a curriculum using human donors designed to teach junior residents to perform breast lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsies.

A Nationwide Analysis of Head and Neck Fibromatoses.

Background: Head and neck fibromatoses (HNFs) are a rare, diverse group of soft tissue tumors characterized by an abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts. Available literature on these tumors is limited to case reports and small single-institutional studies.

Objective: We aim to provide demographic, socioeconomic, tumor-related, and treatment characteristics of HNFs.

Neutrophil-specific STAT4 deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic burden and improves plaque stability via reduction in neutrophil activation and recruitment into aortas of mice.

Background And Aims: Neutrophils drive atheroprogression and directly contribute to plaque instability. We recently identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a critical component for bacterial host defense in neutrophils. The STAT4-dependent functions of neutrophils in atherogenesis are unknown.

Neutrophil-specific STAT4 deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic burden and improves plaque stability via reduction in neutrophil activation and recruitment into aortas of mice.

Background And Aims: Neutrophils drive atheroprogression and directly contribute to plaque instability. We recently identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a critical component for bacterial host defense in neutrophils. The STAT4-dependent functions of neutrophils in atherogenesis are unknown.

Evidence-Based Assessment of Congenital Heart Disease Genes to Enable Returning Results in a Genomic Study.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common major congenital anomaly and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologic evidence supports a role of genetics in the development of CHD. Genetic diagnoses can inform prognosis and clinical management.

Evaluation of a Teleform-based data collection system: a multi-center obesity research case study.

Utilizing electronic data capture (EDC) systems in data collection and management allows automated validation programs to preemptively identify and correct data errors. For our multi-center, prospective study we chose to use TeleForm, a paper-based data capture software that uses recognition technology to create case report forms (CRFs) with similar functionality to EDC, including custom scripts to identify entry errors. We quantified the accuracy of the optimized system through a data audit of CRFs and the study database, examining selected critical variables for all subjects in the study, as well as an audit of all variables for 25 randomly selected subjects.

Validation of a weight history questionnaire to identify adolescent obesity.

Background: Past body weight may be a more informative factor than current weight for risk of chronic disease development. Often, investigators must rely on subject recall to gauge past body weights. The Cincinnati Weight History Questionnaire (CWHQ) was developed to aid in the retrospective identification of adults who were obese during adolescence.

Use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in a clinical setting.

The aim of this study was to examine the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) as it is commonly used in clinical practice. ADOS classifications were compared to final diagnoses given by a multidisciplinary team to 584 children referred for evaluation for possible autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. A total of 177 children were evaluated with a Module 1 (87 No Words), 198 with a Module 2 (90 < 5 years) and 209 with a Module 3.

Results of the Sensory Profile in children with suspected childhood apraxia of speech.

Speech-sound disorders are common in preschool-age children, and are characterized by difficulty in the planning and production of speech sounds and their combination into words and sentences. The objective of this study was to review and compare the results of the Sensory Profile (Dunn, 1999) in children with a specific type of speech-sound disorder, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), and to explore the relationship between sensory processing and sound-production deficits. Participants were identified prospectively through an interdisciplinary apraxia clinic at a tertiary care pediatric hospital, and results of the Sensory Profile were compiled and reviewed.

Clinical, pathologic, and molecular characterization of familial eosinophilic esophagitis compared with sporadic cases.

Background & Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) occurs in families.

Methods: Record review confirmed patient kinship and provided clinical information. Slide review confirmed the diagnosis (threshold peak number > or = 24 eosinophils/high-power field).

Interplay of adaptive th2 immunity with eotaxin-3/c-C chemokine receptor 3 in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background: Pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a recently described disorder associated with atopy. Although studies of esophageal tissue suggest that Th2 cytokines and eotaxin-3 may be crucial in disease pathogenesis, little is known about the systemic immunological phenotypes of children with EE.

Objectives: To define the phenotypes of peripheral blood eosinophils and lymphocytes in EE and to examine for correlations between these parameters and tissue eosinophil numbers and disease severity.

Fine motor function and oral-motor imitation skills in preschool-age children with speech-sound disorders.

Preschool-aged children with speech-sound disorders may be at risk for associated deficits in fine motor function. The objectives of this study were 2-fold: (1) to determine whether abnormalities in fine motor function could be detected in 2- to 5-year-old children with speech-sound disorders and (2) to determine whether there was a correlation between abnormal oral-motor imitation skills and abnormal fine motor function. Thirty-two children with speech-sound disorders (6 female, 26 male) were prospectively evaluated from July 2003 to July 2005, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales and the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children were administered.

Efficacy of the male latex condom and of the female polyurethane condom as barriers to semen during intercourse: a randomized clinical trial.

In this 2000-2001 study, the authors compared the effectiveness of the male latex condom and the female polyurethane condom by assessing frequency and types of mechanical failure and by evaluating semen exposure during use. Eligible women from Birmingham, Alabama, were randomly assigned to begin the study with 10 male condoms and then switch to 10 female condoms (n = 55), or vice versa (n = 53), and were trained to use both types. Data collection included questionnaires for each condom use and measurement of prostate-specific antigen in specimens of vaginal fluid taken before and after intercourse.

Pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis: an 8-year follow-up.

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a gastrointestinal disorder that is increasingly diagnosed in pediatric patients.

Objective: We aimed to define, in pediatric patients with EE, their demographic and atopic characteristics, the histopathology of all segments of the gastrointestinal tract, and the effect of therapeutic interventions on the natural history.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a database of pediatric patients with EE followed over a period of 8 years.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluticasone propionate for pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background & Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly recognized disorder with distinctive endoscopic, histologic, and allergic features. Although several therapies are advocated, no placebo-controlled trials have been conducted. We aimed to determine the efficacy of swallowed fluticasone propionate (FP) in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Obstructive sleep apnea: Should all children with Down syndrome be tested?

Objectives: To determine the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children aged 2 to 4 years with Down syndrome and to determine parents' ability to predict sleep abnormalities in this patient population.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary care pediatric referral center.

Eotaxin-3 and a uniquely conserved gene-expression profile in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an emerging disorder with a poorly understood pathogenesis. In order to define disease mechanisms, we took an empirical approach analyzing esophageal tissue by a genome-wide microarray expression analysis. EE patients had a striking transcript signature involving 1% of the human genome that was remarkably conserved across sex, age, and allergic status and was distinct from that associated with non-EE chronic esophagitis.

The development of a research human milk bank.

Although there are well-established clinical human milk banks in the United States, there are no milk banks specifically intended to foster research on human milk. The authors' goal was to establish a milk bank with a core data set to support exploratory and hypothesis-driven studies on human milk. Donations to the Cincinnati Children's Research Human Milk Bank are accepted within the context of ongoing, hypothesis-driven research or on an ad hoc basis.

A pilot study of the impact of surgical repair on disease-specific quality of life among patients with pectus excavatum.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the ability of 2 questionnaires (ie, child and parent versions) to measure physical and psychosocial quality-of-life changes after surgical repair of pectus excavatum.

Methods: The authors administered these questionnaires by telephone interviews with 22 parents and 19 children (ages 8 to 18) before surgery and 6 to 12 months after repair by the Nuss procedure.

Results: The instruments had high test-retest reliability (Rho > 0.

Parent and physician attitudes regarding electronic communication in pediatric practices.

Objective: To determine 1) the electronic mail (e-mail) capabilities of families, general pediatricians (GPs), and subspecialty pediatricians (SPs) from an integrated pediatric health care delivery system and 2) the knowledge base and attitudes of these groups regarding the potential issues involved in using e-mail for physician-patient communication.

Methods: Parents were interviewed in the offices of participating practices using a standardized survey tool. Pediatricians and staff were interviewed using a separate instrument.