A POETIC Phase II study of continuous oral everolimus in recurrent, radiographically progressive pediatric low-grade glioma.

Background: To evaluate efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics of single-agent everolimus in pediatric patients with radiographically progressive low-grade glioma (LGG).

Methods: Everolimus was administered at 5 mg/m once daily as a tablet or liquid for a planned 48-week duration or until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 were excluded.

Assessment Tools for Peripheral Neuropathy in Pediatric Oncology: A Systematic Review From the Children's Oncology Group.

Peripheral neuropathy is a known side effect of several chemotherapy agents, including vinca alkaloids and platinum-based chemotherapy. Early recognition and monitoring of this side effect is an important role of the pediatric oncology nurse. There are a variety of peripheral neuropathy assessment tools currently in use, but the usefulness of these tools in identifying and grading neuropathy in children varies, and there is currently no standardized tool in place to evaluate peripheral neuropathy in pediatric oncology.

Dermestid Dermatitis in a 2-Year-Old Girl: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Dermatitis from contact with carpet, larder, and hide beetles (family Dermestidae) is a seemingly uncommon or underrecognized hypersensitivity reaction to the specialized hairs on the larvae of certain dermestid beetles. The erythematous papulovesicular dermatitis that may result from such contact can be mistakenly construed as evidence of bites of bedbugs or other arthropods or infestation with scabies mites or can be the basis for a diagnosis of delusory parasitosis. We present a case of dermestid dermatitis in a 2-year-old girl and provide a review of the current literature.

Operation Request Gatekeeper: a software system for remote access control of diagnostic instruments in fusion experiments.

Tokamak diagnostic settings are repeatedly modified to meet the changing needs of each experiment. Enabling the remote diagnostic control has significant challenges due to security and efficiency requirements. The Operation Request Gatekeeper (ORG) is a software system that addresses the challenges of remotely but securely submitting modification requests.

Aprepitant in adolescent patients for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efficacy and tolerability.

Background: The neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist aprepitant, plus a 5HT3 antagonist and corticosteroid is well-tolerated and effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults but has not been formally assessed in adolescents.

Procedure: Patients age 11-19 years old receiving emetogenic chemotherapy were randomized 2:1 to aprepitant triple therapy (aprepitant [A] 125 mg p.o.

A study of sequential high dose cyclophosphamide and high dose carboplatin with peripheral stem-cell rescue in resistant or recurrent pediatric brain tumors.

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of carboplatin with autologous hematopoietic stem-cell rescue, in children with poor-prognosis brain tumors.

Patients And Methods: A previously determined dose of cyclophosphamide with stem-cell rescue was used as a first course. In a second course, carboplatin was given for 3 days with stem-cell rescue to 20 children.

Monosomy 7 associated with pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): successful management by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with monosomy 7 is associated with poor disease-free survival when treated by conventional chemotherapy, immunosuppression or supportive measures. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) may improve outcomes; however, data to support this are limited. To better understand the curative potential of HSCT in these patients, all cases of AML and MDS with monosomy 7 treated by two transplant programs (1992 to present) were reviewed.

Operational dermatology.

Military dermatology encompasses all cutaneous manifestations that present to medical officers in a deployed situation, either in peacetime or in war. Medical officers in a field environment cannot avoid facing cutaneous quandaries. This article briefly highlights the omnipresent threat of cutaneous disease.

Recurrent, localized urticaria and erythema multiforme: a review and management of cutaneous anthrax vaccine-related events.

The October 2001 domestic anthrax attacks affected 22 people, resulting in 5 fatalities. The added global terrorist threats have created an increasing need for homeland protection, as well as protection of our widely deployed forces battling terrorism. It is now relevant for physicians to be familiar with both clinical anthrax and adverse vaccine-related events associated with the resumption of the anthrax vaccine program.

An unusual Ala12Thr polymorphism in the 1A alpha-helical segment of the companion layer-specific keratin K6hf: evidence for a risk factor in the etiology of the common hair disorder pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a common hair disorder characterized by a pustular foreign body inflammatory reaction that is induced by ingrown hairs of the facial and submental (barbea) regions after regular shaving. It occurs predominantly in black males, while it is rather rare and usually far less severe in Caucasian males. Black individuals have a higher propensity of developing PFB due to their genetic predisposition for curly hair which inherently possesses a much higher risk of growing back into the skin than straight or wavy hair.

Molecular methods for cytomegalovirus surveillance in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Two different methods for detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV), PCR and hybrid capture (HC), were compared by using plasma, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), and whole blood (WB) from allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients. One hundred specimens were obtained from nine children over an 18-month surveillance period. PCR of plasma for CMV was used for clinical management.

Transplantation of ex vivo expanded cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood (CB) from unrelated donors is increasingly used to restore hematopoiesis after myeloablative therapy. CB transplants are associated with higher rates of delayed and failed engraftment than are bone marrow transplants, particularly for adult patients. We studied the ex vivo expansion of CB in an attempt to improve time to engraftment and reduce the graft failure rate in the recipients.

Operation shadow warrior: a quantitative analysis of the ultraviolet radiation protection demonstrated by various headgear.

In the last 10 years, the scientific community and the media have highlighted the depletion of atmospheric ozone and the subsequent increase in ultraviolet radiation (UVR) that penetrates to the earth's surface. This UVR is associated with problems such as sunburn, photoaging, cataracts, and skin cancer. In the United States, skin cancer is among the top three reported cancers, and its incidence is increasing rapidly.

Azithromycin eruption in infectious mononucleosis: a proposed mechanism of interaction.

The penicillin family of antibiotics may induce drug eruptions when prescribed to patients with infectious mononucleosis. Very similar phenomena have also been cited with other antibiotic families. We report the first case of a cutaneous reaction in a patient with infectious mononucleosis treated with azithromycin.

Effort-related chronic compartment syndrome of the lower extremity.

Effort-related chronic compartment syndrome (ERCCS) of the lower extremity is often misdiagnosed, requiring repeated visits to the physician and subsequent delay in definitive treatment. The most significant causes of chronic leg pain in physically active individuals are stress fractures, shin splints, and "exercise-induced" or effort-related chronic compartment syndrome. In patients susceptible to ERCCS, the fascial compartments are too small to accommodate the associated 20% increase in muscle mass that typically occurs with heavy exercise.

Pityriasis amiantacea.

Pityriasis amiantacea is an easily recognizable cutaneous disease that is characterized by scaling of the scalp and temporary alopecia. The scaling, described as thick and asbestos-like, binds down tufts of hair. The alopecia may be temporary or scarring.

Esophagitis dissecans superficialis associated with pemphigus vulgaris.

The extension of bullous lesions in pemphigus to the esophagus is relatively uncommon, especially in patients who appear to be in clinical remission. Very rarely, pemphigus vulgaris may affect the entire esophagus, resulting in complete sloughing of the mucous membrane. A 20-year-old man with pemphigus vulgaris presented to the emergency room with acute onset of dysphagia, odynophagia, and hemoptysis.

Road rash with a rotten odor.

As military physicians, our mission is to support the fighting force and keep our soldiers mission capable. One group of disorders that can quickly cripple a fighting force is disorders of the foot. A complete survey of dematologic conditions of the foot is quite extensive, but only one comes with its own distinctive odor.

Cold weather injuries in an arctic environment.

The cases of eight Special Forces soldiers who sustained cold weather-related injuries while conducting winter training as part of Operation Arctic Saber in the Northwest Territories and Arctic Circle are reported. Environmentally related injuries can represent difficult diagnostic and treatment challenges in the field. Moreover, they may compromise the overall mission if they are not identified and treated early.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa is a rare, chronic, deforming disorder characterized by hyperkeratosis and papillomatosis of the epidermis with underlying woody fibrosis of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Chronic lymphedema, either congenital or secondary to infection, surgery, radiation, neoplastic obstruction, obesity, portal hypertension, or chronic congestive heart failure, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis. Without appropriate intervention, the slowly progressive cutaneous changes will culminate in massive and grotesque enlargement of the affected body region.

Topical 5-fluorouracil treatment for psoriatic trachyonychia.

Psoriatic nail involvement is common and usually accompanies other associated cutaneous or systemic lesions. The occurrence of psoriatic nail involvement has been noted in up to 50 percent of patients. There is no consistently effective therapy for psoriatic nail involvement.

Achilles tendon nodule: inflammation, rupture, or tumor?

When an active patient has a mass on the Achilles tendon, fibroma of the tendon sheath should be in the differential diagnosis along with other tumors and benign conditions like inflammation or rupture. A case report demonstrates how the clinical characteristics of fibromas resemble other common tendon tumors, such as giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath. A histologic exam is needed to distinguish a fibroma of the tendon sheath from other tumors.