Comprehensive Next Generation Sequencing Reveals that Purported Primary Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Parotid Gland are Genetically Heterogeneous.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignancies involving the parotid gland, but it has been recognized that the vast majority of parotid SCC represents metastases, especially from the ipsilateral facial skin. Bona fide primary SCC of the parotid is so rare that it is unclear whether it truly exists at all. We sought to molecularly characterize cases diagnosed as primary parotid gland SCC to see if they possess a unique genetic makeup.

CSF α-Synuclein Seed Amplification Assay in Patients With Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders.

Background And Objectives: There is no disease-modifying treatment of corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), 2 disorders characterized by their striking phenotypic, and, in CBS, pathologic heterogeneity. Seed amplification assays (SAAs) could enable the detection of neuropathologic processes, such as α-synuclein (αSyn) copathology, that affect the success of future disease-modifying treatment strategies. The primary objective was to assess possible αSyn copathology in CBS and PSP, as detected in CSF using an αSyn SAA (αSyn-SAA).

Severe Acute Motor Exacerbations (SAME) across Metabolic, Developmental and Genetic Disorders.

Acute presentation of severe motor disorders is a diagnostic and management challenge. We define severe acute motor exacerbations (SAME) as acute/subacute motor symptoms that persist for hours-to-days with a severity that compromise vital signs (temperature, breath, and heart rate) and bulbar function (swallowing/dysphagia). Phenomenology includes dystonia, choreoathetosis, combined movement disorders, weakness, and hemiplegic attacks.

The COMPASS complex maintains the metastatic capacity imparted by a subpopulation of cells in UPS.

Intratumoral heterogeneity is common in cancer, particularly in sarcomas like undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), where individual cells demonstrate a high degree of cytogenic diversity. Previous studies showed that a small subset of cells within UPS, known as the metastatic clone (MC), as responsible for metastasis. Using a CRISPR-based genomic screen , we identified the COMPASS complex member as a key regulator maintaining the metastatic phenotype of the MC in murine UPS.

Ethnic background and distribution of clinical phenotypes in patients with probable progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disease without a clear geographic prevalence. Cohorts studied in the UK and India showed no higher prevalence of atypical parkinsonism in South Asian patients. We describe the ethnic and racial background of PSP patients in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada.

Evaluating the Effect of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Biomarker Change in Corticobasal Syndrome and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Alzheimer's disease (AD) -related biomarker change on clinical features, brain atrophy and functional connectivity of patients with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Methods: Data from patients with a clinical diagnosis of CBS, PSP, and AD and healthy controls were obtained from the 4-R-Tauopathy Neuroimaging Initiative 1 and 2, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and a local cohort from the Toronto Western Hospital. Patients with CBS and PSP were divided into AD-positive (CBS/PSP-AD) and AD-negative (CBS/PSP-noAD) groups based on fluid biomarkers and amyloid PET scans.

Continuing Professional Development in Response to COVID-19: Knowledge Mobilization for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy via a Curated Web Site.

Purpose: Once the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, clinicians were redeployed to prepare for increased hospitalizations. This disruption necessitated rapid continuing professional development (CPD) resources for health care providers. This mixed-method study explored the experiences of occupational therapists and physiotherapists who accessed a CPD Web site that provided educational resources related to the pandemic to refresh their clinical knowledge and skills.

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Rounds-A New Paradigm in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background: The delivery of cardiothoracic health care is complex, and despite best efforts, adverse patient outcomes do occur. There is significant heterogeneity in morbidity and mortality rounds within and between institutions as well as undertones of a "blame and shame" culture prohibitive to meaningful quality assessment and improvement of patient care. The Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) program was designed to address these issues.

Keratocystoma: A Distinctive Salivary Gland Neoplasm Characterized by RUNX2 Rearrangements.

Keratocystoma is a rare salivary gland lesion that has been reported primarily in children and young adults. Because of a scarcity of reported cases, very little is known about it, including its molecular underpinnings, biological potential, and histologic spectrum. Purported to be a benign neoplasm, keratocystoma bears a striking histologic resemblance to benign lesions like metaplastic Warthin tumor on one end of the spectrum and squamous cell carcinoma on the other end.

Investigating differences in young- and late-onset progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: The impact of age of onset on the presentation of progressive supranuclear palsy phenotypes is not well studied. We hypothesized that there is difference in presentation and phenotype between young- and late-onset PSP.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare phenotypes and rate of change in disability between young-onset PSP (YOPSP) and late-onset PSP (LOPSP).

The Removal of Uremic Solutes by Peritoneal Dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is now commonly prescribed to achieve target clearances for urea or creatinine. The International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis has proposed however that such targets should no longer be imposed. The Society's new guidelines suggest rather that the PD prescription should be adjusted to achieve well-being in individual patients.

Reimplantation of the aortic valve in patients with tricuspid aortic valve: the Toronto General Hospital experience.

Background: Aortic valve sparing operations were introduced three decades ago but controversy remains regarding its appropriateness, reproducibility and durability. This article describes the long-term outcomes of patients who had reimplantation of the aortic valve.

Methods: All patients who had reimplantation of a tricuspid aortic valve at Toronto General Hospital from 1989 through 2019 were selected for this study.