Rhabdomyosarcoma and rhabdomyoma associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome: Local treatment strategy

This article presents the case of a child presenting with a rhabdomyosarcoma associated with a fetal rhabdomyoma in the setting of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. Oncologic strategy is discussed.     

Mice deficient in PKC theta demonstrate impaired in vivo T cell activation and protection from T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases

In the present study we have characterized T cell-driven immune function in mice that are genetically deficient in PKC theta. In response to simple immunologic stimulation invoked by in vivo T cell receptor (TCR) cross-linking, these mice showed significantly depressed plasma cytokine levels for IL-2, IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα compared to wild-type (WT) mice. In parallel, spleen mRNA levels for these cytokines were reduced, and NF-κB activation was also reduced in PKC theta knockouts (KO). Injection of allogeneic cells into the footpad of PKC theta deficient mice provoked a significantly diminished local T cell response compared to WT mice similarly challenged. Unlike comparable cells from wild type mice, CD45RBhi T cells harvested from PKC theta deficient mice failed to induce colitis in the SCID-CD45RB cell transfer model of IBD. In another T cell-dependent model of inflammatory disease, PKC theta deficient animals developed far less severe neurologic signs and reduced spinal cord inflammatory cell infiltrate compared to WT controls in the MOG-induced EAE model. A fundamental role for PKC theta in T cell activation and in the development of T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases is indicated by these results.     

Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Narcotics: An Exploratory Study of Patient,Family and Nursing Concerns

This is a briefly annotated bibliography of useful materials for the education of health professionals, principally physicians. It encompasses teaching goals, methods, and settings, as well as model courses, course evaluation, communication skills, general resources on death education, and miscellaneous background pieces.     

Implementation of a Practice Development Model to Reduce the Wait for Autism Spectrum Diagnosis in Adults

This study examined waiting times for diagnostic assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in 11 adult services, prior to and following the implementation of a 12 month change program. Methods to support change are reported and a multi-level modelling approach determined the effect of the change program on overall wait times. Results were statistically significant (b?=???0.25, t(136)?=???2.88, p?=?0.005). The average time individuals waited for diagnosis across all services reduced from 149.4 days prior to the change program and 119.5 days after it, with an average reduction of 29.9 days overall. This innovative intervention provides a promising framework for service improvement to reduce the wait for diagnostic assessment of ASD in adults across the range of spectrum presentations.     

Genomic Analysis Reveals Distinct Subtypes in Two Rare Cases of Primary Ovarian Lymphoma

Primary (localized) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the ovary is extremely rare; only a few cases have been reported in the literature. We report two cases of primary ovarian lymphoma (POL), one involving bilateral ovaries in a 15-year-old girl and other involving one ovary in a 5-year-old girl. This report describes detailed clinical, histopathological, and imaging findings, along with the review of literature of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arising from an ovary. In addition, we describe findings of targeted capture panel sequencing on both tumors and identify the major genetic mutations that are recurrently mutated in pan-cancers. Compared to the genomic mutation features of major subtypes of DLBCL, we distinguish that each POL belongs to distinctive subtypes, GCB (germinal center B-cell subtype) DLBCL and ABC (activated B-cell subtype) DLBCL, respectively. The findings from the genomic analysis may help to understand the pathogenesis of POL and to guide potential targeted therapy in the future.     

Student and Faculty Member Perspectives on Lecture Capture in Pharmacy Education

Objectives. To examine faculty members’ and students’ use and perceptions of lecture recordings in a previously implemented lecture-capture initiative.Methods. Patterns of using lecture recordings were determined from software analytics, and surveys were conducted to determine awareness and usage, effect on attendance and other behaviors, and learning impact.Results. Most students and faculty members were aware of and appreciated the recordings. Students’ patterns of use changed as the novelty wore off. Students felt that the recordings enhanced their learning, improved their in-class engagement, and had little effect on their attendance. Faculty members saw little difference in students’ grades or in-class engagement but noted increased absenteeism.Conclusion. Students made appropriate use of recordings to support their learning, but faculty members generally did not make active educational use of the recordings. Further investigation is needed to understand the effects of lecture recordings on attendance. Professional development activities for both students and faculty members would help maximize the learning benefits of the recordings.     

Societal Effects Are a Major Factor for the Uptake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Digital Contact Tracing App in The Netherlands

ObjectivesOur study investigates the extent to which uptake of a COVID-19 digital contact-tracing (DCT) app among the Dutch population is affected by its configurations, its societal effects, and government policies toward such an app.MethodsWe performed a discrete choice experiment among Dutch adults including 7 attributes, that is, who gets a notification, waiting time for testing, possibility for shops to refuse customers who have not installed the app, stopping condition for contact tracing, number of people unjustifiably quarantined, number of deaths prevented, and number of households with financial problems prevented. The data were analyzed by means of panel mixed logit models.ResultsThe prevention of deaths and financial problems of households had a very strong influence on the uptake of the app. Predicted app uptake rates ranged from 24% to 78% for the worst and best possible app for these societal effects. We found a strong positive relationship between people’s trust in government and people’s propensity to install the DCT app.ConclusionsThe uptake levels we find are much more volatile than the uptake levels predicted in comparable studies that did not include societal effects in their discrete choice experiments. Our finding that the societal effects are a major factor in the uptake of the DCT app results in a chicken-or-the-egg causality dilemma. That is, the societal effects of the app are severely influenced by the uptake of the app, but the uptake of the app is severely influenced by its societal effects.