Oncologic Outcomes for Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ With a Clinically Resolved Biopsy Site Managed by Watchful Waiting.

BACKGROUND: Treatment option decisions for low-risk squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) are hampered by a paucity of management-type-specific outcomes data. OBJECTIVE: Describe SCCIS tumor outcomes managed by watchful waiting and risk factors associated with poor cancer outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Single academic hospital in a rural setting. Patients: Adults with SCCIS diagnosed between January 01, 2014, and December 31, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hazard ratios (HRs) for local recurrence (LR), nodal metastases (NM), distant metastases (DM), and disease-specific death (DSD). RESULTS: A total of 411 consecutive SCCIS tumors that were considered clinically resolved at follow-up and managed with watchful waiting were included. Seventeen tumors recurred locally. No instances of NM, DM, or DSD were identified. Multivariate analysis found that solid-organ transplant recipient status conferred the highest risk of local recurrence [HR, 9.979 (95% CI, 2.249-39.69)]. Additional risk factors predicting LR include anatomic location on the vermilion lip or ear [HR, 9.744 (95% CI, 1.420-69.28)], anatomic location on the head and neck [HR, 6.687 (95% CI, 1.583-36.15)], and a biopsy with tumor extending to the deep edge [HR, 6.562 (95% CI, 1.367-39.04)]. CONCLUSION: Watchful waiting for SCCIS with a clinically resolved biopsy site has a local recurrence rate of 4%.

Parents' perceptions of school recess policies and practices.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that school recess can provide children with physical, social and cognitive benefits; yet, recess opportunities and experiences may be different for different groups of children, specifically for children living in lower income environments, children of different racial groups other than white, and for children with disabilities. Parent perceptions of recess are important to consider as they serve as advocates for their children's access and opportunities at school as well as an additional informant for children's experiences at recess that may be useful for policymakers and school boards to consider. OBJECTIVE: To examine parent perceptions of recess by children's disability status, children's race and ethnicity, and family household income. METHOD: Participants included 473 parents from the U.S.A. stratified across six household income levels. Data were collected through an online survey using Prolific in May of 2020]. Confirmatory factor analyses were run for measures assessing parents' perception of belonging and victimization at recess, recess policies, and recess procedures. Regression analyses were run to examine if parents' perception of recess were predicted by race, income, or child disability status. RESULTS: Results revealed that parents' perceptions of recess were predicted by child disability status but not race or income. Specifically, parents' perceptions were significantly predicted by child disability status regarding victimization (b = .13, SE = .06, p = .05), recess policies about withholding recess (b = .171, SE = .07, p = .01), and finally, student engagement at recess (b = .165, SE = .07, p = .02). CONCLUSION: Results show that parents of children with a disability perceive a different recess experience for their child that involves more instances of victimization compared to parents of typically developing children. Based on these findings, school, district, and state policy makers could consider ensuring that recess includes multiple activities, is supervised by adults, and is a space where conflict resolution occurs, for creating a more inclusive environment for children with disabilities.

Comparative Transcriptomics of Non-Embryogenic and Embryogenic Callus in Semi-Recalcitrant and Non-Recalcitrant Upland Cotton Lines.

Somatic embryogenesis-mediated plant regeneration is essential for the genetic manipulation of agronomically important traits in upland cotton. Genotype specific recalcitrance to regeneration is a primary challenge in deploying genome editing and incorporating useful transgenes into elite cotton germplasm. In this study, transcriptomes of a semi-recalcitrant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotype 'Coker312' were analyzed at two critical stages of somatic embryogenesis that include non-embryogenic callus (NEC) and embryogenic callus (EC) cells, and the results were compared to a non-recalcitrant genotype 'Jin668'. We discovered 305 differentially expressed genes in Coker312, whereas, in Jin668, about 6-fold more genes (2155) were differentially expressed. A total of 154 differentially expressed genes were common between the two genotypes. Gene enrichment analysis of the upregulated genes identified functional categories, such as lipid transport, embryo development, regulation of transcription, sugar transport, and vitamin biosynthesis, among others. In Coker312 EC cells, five major transcription factors were highly upregulated: LEAFY COTYLEDON 1 (LEC1), WUS-related homeobox 5 (WOX5), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and WRKY2. In Jin668, LEC1, BABY BOOM (BBM), FUS3, and AGAMOUS-LIKE15 (AGL15) were highly expressed in EC cells. We also found that gene expression of these embryogenesis genes was typically higher in Jin668 when compared to Coker312. We conclude that significant differences in the expression of the above genes between Coker312 and Jin668 may be a critical factor affecting the regenerative ability of these genotypes.

Cortical thinning and caudate abnormalities in first episode psychosis and their association with clinical outcome.

First episode psychosis (FEP) has been associated with structural brain changes, largely identified by volumetric analyses. Advances in neuroimaging processing have made it possible to measure geometric properties that may identify subtle structural changes not appreciated by a measure of volume alone. In this study we adopt complementary methods of assessing the structural integrity of grey matter in FEP patients and assess whether these relate to patient clinical and functional outcome at 3 year follow-up. 1.5 Tesla T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance (MR) images were acquired for 46 patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis and 46 healthy controls. Cerebral cortical thickness and local gyrification index (LGI) were investigated using FreeSurfer software. Volume and shape of the hippocampus, caudate and lateral ventricles were assessed using manual tracing and spherical harmonics applied for shape description. A cluster of cortical thinning was identified in FEP compared to controls; this was located in the right superior temporal gyrus, sulcus, extended into the middle temporal gyrus (lateral temporal cortex - LTC). Bilateral caudate volumes were significantly lower in FEP relative to controls and the right caudate also displayed regions of shape deflation in the FEP group. No significant structural abnormalities were identified in cortical LGI or hippocampal or lateral ventricle volume/shape. Neither LTC nor caudate abnormalities were related to change in symptom severity or global functioning 3 years later. LTC and caudate abnormalities are present at the first episode of psychosis but do not appear to directly affect clinical or functional outcome.