FDG PET/CT in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene in 60%-85% of systemic cases. We report an 11-year-old boy with ALCL in whom serial FDG PET/CT revealed partial response and complete metabolic response at interim and end of treatment, respectively. However, the patient relapsed within 2 weeks, confirmed by cytology.

Association of Bolster Duration With Uptake Rates of Fibula Donor Site Skin Grafts.

Importance: The fibula free flap donor site is associated with both short-term and long-term morbidity. Split-thickness skin graft (STSG) loss can lead to long delays in donor site healing and is associated with significant adverse sequelae. Patients may experience initial good STSG uptake after bolster removal but may have subsequent partial or total loss related to contact pressure or shearing.

Study of Cytogenetic Alterations and Association With Prognostic Factors in Indian Children With B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disorder with coexistence of multiple clones. The mortality rate in children with ALL has reduced to 15% to 20% in developed countries. However, it continues to be high in India (25%-35%), which may be attributed to ethnic variation and differences in disease biology.

Long-Term Stability of Vascularized Adipofascial Flaps in Facial Reconstruction.

To determine the quantitative volume change over time of vascularized adipofascial anterolateral thigh (AFALT) free flaps in facial reconstruction, and to evaluate patient factors that are associated with changes in volume. A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent AFALT reconstruction for large volume parotid and midface defects after head and neck cancer surgery at a single tertiary care hospital from 2011 to 2018. Flap volume was measured at different time points using 3D Slicer, a free open source software for medical image computing.

Neutrophil Extracellular Trap-Associated CEACAM1 as a Putative Therapeutic Target to Prevent Metastatic Progression of Colon Carcinoma.

Neutrophils promote tumor growth and metastasis at multiple stages of cancer progression. One mechanism through which this occurs is via release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We have previously shown that NETs trap tumor cells in both the liver and the lung, increasing their adhesion and metastasis following postoperative complications.

Trainee Exposure and Education for Minimally Invasive Gender-Affirming Procedures.

Minimally invasive gender-affirming procedures (MIGAPs), which aim to align gender identity and expression for transgender and gender-nonbinary patients in a way that is safe, effective, and semipermanent or reversible, are gaining in popularity. This article assesses the current amount of trainee exposure in clinic and didactic sessions in core procedural specialties nationwide via survey study of program directors. Low exposure of residents and fellows to MIGAPs was observed overall and a lack of procedure-specific education.

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale.

Assessing Free Flap Reconstruction Accuracy of the Midface and Orbit Using Computer-Aided Modeling Software.

Aesthetically pleasing and functionally stable total maxillectomy reconstruction is among the greatest of challenges within head and neck surgery. Maintaining presurgical midface projection, contour, and cheek volume requires high-fidelity restorative control incorporating the provision of stable osseous support to prevent the relatively commonplace complications of lower lid and globe malposition. To determine the difference in position of the reconstructed infraorbital rim compared with the contralateral normal side, and its effect on globe position, lower eyelid position, orbital volume, and soft tissue contour.

Elucidating sulfate radical-mediated disinfection profiles and mechanisms of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis in municipal wastewater.

Practical applications of disinfection technologies for engineered waters require an in‒depth understanding of disinfection profiles and mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in a complex matrix. This study investigated the inactivation of E. coli and E.

Machine Learning for Predicting Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Machine learning (ML) is a type of artificial intelligence wherein a computer learns patterns and associations between variables to correctly predict outcomes. The objectives of this study were to 1) use a ML platform to identify factors important in predicting surgical complications in patients undergoing head and neck free tissue transfer, and 2) compare ML outputs to traditionally employed logistic regression models.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed gamma-irradiation mediated disruption of floral integrator gene(s) leading to prolonged vegetative phase in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. is getting global attention because of its ability to synthesize commercially important low/no calorie natural sweeteners (LNCSs) steviol glycosides (SGs). Considering, higher accumulation of SGs in vegetative phase followed by decrement during reproductive phase necessitate the understanding of different molecular components of floral transition to develop superior varieties/cultivars with prolonged vegetative phase in Stevia.

Radiation biology of a serious tropical pigeon pea pest, (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and potential of radiation mediated 'inherited (F) sterility technique' for the pest suppression.

The impact of gamma radiation on the reproductive biology of the spotted pod borer, (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was ascertained to explore the potential of the radio-genetic 'Inherited (F) Sterility' technique (modified Sterile Insect technique) to control this serious pigeonpea pest in India. Radio-biological investigations involved dose-response studies, at a range of 100-250 Gy, with respect to radiation induced adverse effects on reproductive behavior in substerilized parent (P) moths, inheritance of sterility and associated metamorphic disruption in F progeny.

Topologically Associated Domains Delineate Susceptibility to Somatic Hypermutation.

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) introduces point mutations into immunoglobulin (Ig) genes but also causes mutations in other parts of the genome. We have used lentiviral SHM reporter vectors to identify regions of the genome that are susceptible ("hot") and resistant ("cold") to SHM, revealing that SHM susceptibility and resistance are often properties of entire topologically associated domains (TADs). Comparison of hot and cold TADs reveals that while levels of transcription are equivalent, hot TADs are enriched for the cohesin loader NIPBL, super-enhancers, markers of paused/stalled RNA polymerase 2, and multiple important B cell transcription factors.

The End Rheumatic Heart Disease in Australia Study of Epidemiology (ERASE) Project: data sources, case ascertainment and cohort profile.

Purpose: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) persist as public health issues in developing countries and among disadvantaged communities in high-income countries, with rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia among the highest recorded globally. A robust evidence base is critical to support policy recommendations for eliminating RHD, but available data are fragmented and incomplete. The End RHD in Australia: Study of Epidemiology (ERASE) Project aims to provide a comprehensive database of ARF and RHD cases in Australia as a basis for improved monitoring and to assess prevention and treatment strategies.

A health care labyrinth: perspectives of caregivers on the journey to accessing timely cancer diagnosis and treatment for children in India.

Background: Cure rates for children with cancer in India lag behind that of high-income countries. Various disease, treatment and socio-economic related factors contribute to this gap including barriers in timely access of diagnostic and therapeutic care. This study investigated barriers to accessing care from symptom onset to beginning of treatment, from perspectives of caregivers of children with cancer in India.

Microcystin exposure worsens nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated ectopic glomerular toxicity via NOX-2-MIR21 axis.

NAFLD often results in cardiovascular, intestinal and renal complications. Previous reports from our laboratory highlighted NAFLD induced ectopic inflammatory manifestations in the kidney that gave rise to glomerular inflammation. Extending our studies, we hypothesized that existing inflammatory conditions in NAFLD could make the kidneys more susceptible to environmental toxicity.

Dysbiosis-Associated Enteric Glial Cell Immune-Activation and Redox Imbalance Modulate Tight Junction Protein Expression in Gulf War Illness Pathology.

About 14% of veterans who suffer from Gulf war illness (GWI) complain of some form of gastrointestinal disorder but with no significant markers of clinical pathology. Our previous studies have shown that exposure to GW chemicals resulted in altered microbiome which was associated with damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP) release followed by neuro and gastrointestinal inflammation with loss of gut barrier integrity. Enteric glial cells (EGC) are emerging as important regulators of the gastrointestinal tract and have been observed to change to a reactive phenotype in several functional gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS and IBD.

The Gut-Microbiome in Gulf War Veterans: A Preliminary Report.

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune and gastrointestinal (GI) systems of Gulf War veterans (GWV). We assessed the relationships between GWI, GI symptoms, gut microbiome and inflammatory markers in GWV from the Boston Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC). Three groups of GWIC veterans were recruited in this pilot study; GWV without GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (controls), GWV with GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (GWI-GI), GWV with GWI who reported gastrointestinal symptoms (GW+GI).

B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia presenting with isolated soft tissue tumours: the non-myeloid sarcoma.

Soft tissue leukaemic masses are a well-described clinical feature of myeloid haematological neoplasms. In paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), such soft tissue leukaemic sarcomas have not been reported as a presenting feature. Here we report a 3-year-old boy with ALL who presented to us with isolated soft tissue swellings for a duration of 9 months.