Speaker Competence Affects Prefrontal Theta and Occipital Alpha Power during Selective Word Learning in Preschoolers.

In the present study, we investigated the cognitive processes underlying selective word learning in preschoolers. We measured rhythmic neural activity in the theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha frequency range (7-12 Hz) in 67 four-year-olds. EEG was recorded during anticipation and encoding of novel labeling events performed by a speaker who had previously shown either competence (correct) or incompetence (incorrect) in labeling familiar objects. In both groups, children selected the target object equally often upon recall. However, children observing the incompetent speaker revealed weaker representations of novel words indicated by an increased likelihood for selecting familiar but incorrect items upon recall. Modulations in theta and alpha power suggest differential processing of novel label-object pairs depending on the speakers' competence. In the incompetent, but not the competent, speaker condition, increases in prefrontal theta power during anticipation and encoding were related to increased recall success. Findings suggest that theta power in the present study reflects cognitive control. In both conditions, occipital alpha power-indicating attentional processes-reflected familiarity with novel items, but in opposite directions. In familiar item trials, alpha power was increased observing the incompetent and decreased observing the competent speaker. Thus, both cognitive control and attention processes during word learning are differentially affected by speaker characteristics.

A Case of Cutaneous Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Treated With a Bcl-2 Inhibitor.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive primary cutaneous lymphoma characterized by transformed plasmacytoid dendritic cells that overexpress interleukin-3 receptor subunit alpha (IL3RA) also known as CD123. In addition to several therapies currently undergoing clinical trials, Tagraxofusp-erzs (Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., NY) is a single FDA-approved option available for treatment of adults and children over 2 years of age suffering from BPDCN. It was designed to target CD123 overexpression in BPDCN as a CD123-directed cytotoxin consisting of a recombinant human interleukin-3 fused to a truncated diphtheria toxin. We discuss a case of a male patient in his late 70s’ who presented with an asymptomatic rash involving the back and the right knee that initially developed as pink patches, progressed into plaques, and subsequently rapidly evolved into a tumor involving the right knee that was confirmed as BPDCN on skin biopsy and was accompanied by bone marrow involvement. Upon initiation of first line tagraxofusp-erzs therapy, the patient did not achieve improvement. However, off-label use of venetoclax (AbbVie Inc, IL and Genentech-USA, CA), a Bcl2 inhibitor currently in a Phase I clinical trial, resulted in a satisfactory clinical outcome, nearly complete resolution of a right knee tumor lesion, and deferment of bone marrow transplant. We believe that our case exemplifies the complexity of BPDCN, briefly reviews current treatment and management options that are only in their infancy and raises awareness towards success with alternative off-label therapies such as venetoclax when treating BPDCN. J Drugs Dermatol. 20(5):550-551. doi:10.36849/JDD.5373.

Acute urticaria preceding other COVID-19-associated manifestations-A case report.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with a variety of dermatologic manifestations, often the predominant finding in otherwise asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients. Urticarial eruption is one example, but few cases have been reported among pediatric patients. We present a case of acute urticaria in a 6-month-old boy preceding other COVID-19 symptoms. The suspicion of a possible COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestation prompted timely testing and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Blockade of CCR5 in melanoma: An alternative immune checkpoint modulator.

Melanoma is a deadly tumor, which in recent years has been successfully treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors and targeted therapy as BRAF and MEK inhibitors. However, immunotherapy poses deleterious side effects and pursuit of new therapeutic targets is warranted. As knowledge of tumor immunology advances, such targets are being recognized. C-motif chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5) is a receptor found on immune cells whose effects impact the immune response both to induce inflammation and to activate suppressor cells causing an anti-inflammatory effect. CCR5 is well known as a target for HIV therapy where its blockade is efficient and safe, it is also known that its mutation CCR5delta32 is for the most part non-pathological to its carriers. In oncology, activation of the CCR5 receptor has been observed in high-stage disease and CCR5 blockade has been associated with an increased immune response. In this letter, we build up the rationale to utilize CCR5 as a therapeutic target for metastatic melanoma.

Saccadic reaction times in infants and adults: Spatiotemporal factors, gender, and interlaboratory variation.

Saccade latency is widely used across infant psychology to investigate infants' understanding of events. Interpreting particular latency values requires knowledge of standard saccadic RTs, but there is no consensus as to typical values. This study provides standard estimates of infants' (n = 194, ages 9 to 15 months) saccadic RTs under a range of different spatiotemporal conditions. To investigate the reliability of such standard estimates, data is collected at 4 laboratories in 3 countries. Results indicate that reactions to the appearance of a new object are much faster than reactions to the deflection of a currently fixated moving object; upward saccades are slower than downward or horizontal saccades; reactions to more peripheral stimuli are much slower; and this slowdown is greater for boys than girls. There was little decrease in saccadic RTs between 9 and 15 months, indicating that the period of slow development which is protracted into adolescence begins in late infancy. Except for appearance and deflection differences, infant effects were weak or absent in adults (n = 40). Latency estimates and spatiotemporal effects on latency were generally consistent across laboratories, but a number of lab differences in factors such as individual variation were found. Some but not all differences were attributed to minor procedural differences, highlighting the importance of replication. Confidence intervals (95%) for infants' median reaction latencies for appearance stimuli were 242 to 250 ms and for deflection stimuli 350 to 367 ms. (PsycINFO Database Record