Response to induction chemotherapy modifies the effect of conventional prognostic factors in high-risk neuroblastoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

Background: Response to induction chemotherapy has been shown to predict outcome in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB), with those achieving a complete response (CR) having superior outcomes.

Methods: We evaluated whether conventional prognostic factors remain prognostic in subsets of patients defined by response to induction. 1244 Patients from four COG high-risk trials were included.

A Triple Threat: A Case Report Detailing Surgical Management for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Flail Mitral Valve and Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

Unlabelled: The combination of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with outflow tract obstruction, severe pre-capillary and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension, and severe primary mitral regurgitation is rare and presents distinct management challenges.

Background And Clinical Significance: Pulmonary hypertension is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy managed medically and often precludes patients from undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass due to increased surgical morbidity and mortality. In studies specifically evaluating surgical myectomy, however, survival is favorable in patients with moderate-to-severe pulmonary hypertension.

Predictors of anterior chamber angle status at the time of neovascular glaucoma diagnosis.

Purpose: To identify clinical features which may predict the angle status of a large cohort of NVG eyes at the time of diagnosis.

Observations: Chart review was performed for all NVG eyes from 2010 to 2022. Complete angle closure was defined as having >75 % PAS, partial angle closure as having 1-75 % PAS, and open angles as having 0 % PAS.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension presenting as bilateral palpebral venous engorgement.

Purpose: To report the case of a woman in her fifties whose presenting symptom of idiopathic intracranial hypertension was engorgement of the eyelid veins.

Observations: Bilateral engorged palpebral veins were visible through the skin. Dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral optic disc edema.

Progressive anterior segment involvement of an infant with corneoscleral juvenile xanthogranuloma refractory to topical steroids.

Purpose: To report a case of corneoscleral juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) with progressive anterior segment involvement refractory to topical steroids.

Observations: A 4-month-old male was referred for a new-onset subconjunctival lesion in the right eye. He was found to have a thickened, yellow corneoscleral lesion and hyphema, presumed to be ocular JXG.

Advances in moyamoya disease: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a type of cerebrovascular disease characterized by occlusion of the distal end of the internal carotid artery and the formation of collateral blood vessels. Over the past 20 years, the landscape of research on MMD has significantly transformed. In this review, we provide insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions in MMD.

Targeting CD45 by gene-edited CAR T cells for leukemia eradication and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation preconditioning.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is widely used to treat patients with life-threatening hematologic and immune system disorders. Current nontargeted chemo-/radiotherapy conditioning regimens cause tissue injury and induce an array of immediate and delayed adverse effects, limiting the application of this life-saving treatment. The growing demand to replace canonical conditioning regimens has led to the development of alternative approaches, such as antibody-drug conjugates, naked antibodies, and CAR T cells.

Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in an Urban Multiethnic Indigenous Community from Amazonas.

Introduction: Studies about dementia in Indigenous communities are still scarce worldwide, especially in low-middle-income countries, limiting timely intervention in minority groups. Our research aimed to bridge this gap by determining the prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), and the associated factors, in a multiethnic Indigenous community in Manaus, Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study evaluated the cognitive and functional performances of 141 Indigenous individuals (aged 50 and above).

Predicting Body Fat Percentage from Anthropometric Measurements in Asian Athletes.

Purpose: Researchers have predicted body fat percentage (BF%), as indicated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), from skinfold thicknesses in North American and European athletes, but not athletes from other regions. We sought to estimate an equation to predict BF% in elite Asian athletes from their skinfold thickness and girth measurements, with DXA as a reference method.

Methods: We collected data from two samples of athletes on Singaporean national teams.

Association of Antihypertensive and Statin Medication Usage With Postoperative Stiffness After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and statins may be able to modulate postoperative stiffness, a major cause of morbidity after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR).

Purpose: To determine whether there is an association between ACEi, ARB, or statin usage and stiffness after aRCR.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes After Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Through a Medial Arthrotomy: A Minimum 4-Year Follow-up.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) through medial arthrotomy showed less extrusion than that of the lateral arthrotomy. However, there is a paucity of literature reporting clinical and radiological outcomes after lateral MAT through the medial arthrotomy.

Hypothesis: Lateral MAT through a medial arthrotomy would show significantly improved clinical scores and minimal joint space narrowing compared with preoperative status.

A proteomic atlas of glypican-3 interacting partners: Identification of alpha-fetoprotein and other extracellular proteins as potential immunotherapy targets in liver cancer.

Antibody and cell-based therapeutics targeting cell surface receptors have emerged as a major class of immune therapeutics for treating cancer. However, the number of cell surface targets for cancer immunotherapy remains limited. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell surface proteoglycan and an oncofetal antigen.

Integrated Business and Engineering Educational Experience for Medical Students in the Development of Pediatric Medical Devices.

Background: There are few opportunities in undergraduate medical education that provide formal training in engineering and scientific innovation. Institutions have sought to address student-specific career goals through combined degree programs such as the Medical Scientist Training Program and MD/MBA. However, only a small percentage of medical students pursue these additional degrees.

Clinical Confidence, Certification, and Connectedness: Impact of a Journal Club for Inpatient Psychiatry Faculty.

Introduction: Inpatient psychiatry faculty manage complex clinical, administrative, and legal issues amid increasing mental health service utilization rates, limiting time for (1) focusing on lifelong learning and (2) connecting. We examined the impact of a monthly journal club on inpatient psychiatry faculty's (1) confidence that their practice is evidence informed, (2) stress related to board recertification, and (3) sense of connectedness with peers.

Methods: We employed a primarily qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews and brief survey questions to elicit input from inpatient psychiatry faculty at an academic medical center on their experience participating in a monthly journal club, including perceived changes in one's practice of evidence-based medicine, recertification stress, and connectedness with peers.

Implementing a Responsible Conduct of Research Curriculum for an Undergraduate Summer Clinical Research Program in Quantitative Sciences.

Objectives: Instilling the principles of ethical and responsible medical research is critical for educating the next generation of clinical researchers. We developed a responsible conduct of research (RCR) workshop and associated curriculum for undergraduate trainees in a quantitative clinical research program.

Methods: Topics in this 7-module RCR workshop are relevant to undergraduate trainees in quantitative fields, many of whom are learning about these concepts for the first time.

Effect of integrating postpartum family planning into the health extension program in Ethiopia on postpartum adoption of modern contraception.

Background: Ethiopia has large unmet need for contraception among postpartum women. Community-level services may improve postpartum contraceptive use in Ethiopia and other contexts where home childbirth is common. This study estimated the additional effect of systematically integrating messages on postpartum family planning (PPFP) into community contacts with pregnant and postpartum women, on top of integrated facility contacts.

Serological comparison of weak D versus weakly reacting D by four different methods.

Introduction: Weak D red cells were defined as having a reduced amount of D antigen (formerly called "Du") that required an indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) for detection. Weakly reacting D is those which give <2+ reactions on routine methods. The present study is sharing our experience on weak D and weakly positive anti-D in various methods.

A clinical audit on the utilization of group O-negative red cells and the lesson learnt.

Background: Ideal blood inventory management involves guaranteeing maximal availability of blood while minimizing wastage. Benchmark for the guidance of O (Rh) D-negative red blood cells (ONEG RBCs) is not widely available. In this study, we aimed to identify the areas of improvement in blood center inventory of ONEG RBCs through a clinical audit.

Diagnosing Hypoparathyroidism, Sensorineural Deafness, and Renal Dysplasia Syndrome and a Novel Variant.

Hypoparathyroidism (hypoPTH), sensorineural deafness, and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition with approximately 200 cases published. HDR syndrome is caused by variants of GATA binding protein 3 gene (), which encodes a transcription factor, with multiple types of variants reported. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who was diagnosed with hypoPTH when she was aged 40 years and transferred care to our institution.

Attribute-Based Access Control for NoSQL Databases.

NoSQL databases are gaining popularity in recent times for their ability to manage high volumes of unstructured data efficiently. This necessitates such databases to have strict data security mechanisms. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) has been widely appreciated for its high flexibility and dynamic nature.

is overexpressed in keloid keratinocytes and its inhibition alters profibrotic gene expression.

Background: Keloids are disfiguring, fibrotic scar-like lesions that are challenging to treat and commonly recur after therapy. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving keloid formation is necessary for the development of more effective therapies. Reduced vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression has been observed in keloids, implicating vitamin D signaling in keloid pathology.

Atypical Location of Papillary Fibroelastoma in a Patient With Significant Oncologic History.

This report discusses the case of a 57-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer and gastric cancer, germline CDH1 gene mutation, who presented to the hospital with syncope. Diagnostic workup revealed a mass in the right ventricular outflow tract. Transcatheter biopsy suggested papillary fibroelastoma, which was confirmed with surgical pathology.

Percutaneous Removal of Cardiac Papillary Fibroelastomas.

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are primary cardiac tumors associated with significant embolic risk. Surgical excision or medical therapy with antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants have been the treatment options for symptomatic patients. This paper reports our early experiences of percutaneous removal of PFE using mechanical aspiration techniques.

Large Free-Floating Left Atrial Ball Thrombus With Intermittent Mitral Valve Occlusion.

An 83-year-old man with known history of atrial fibrillation presented for preoperative evaluation for elective left nephrectomy for cancer. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a large, free-floating, left atrial mass. Further profiling with transesophageal echocardiogram showed a free-floating mass intermittently obstructing the mitral valve.

Percutaneous Transcatheter Aspiration of a Large Left Atrial Mass.

An 85-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation was found to have a large 4.5- × 3.5-cm left atrial mass.