USP44 overexpression drives a MYC-like gene expression program in neuroblastoma through epigenetic reprogramming.

Neuroblastoma is an embryonic cancer that contributes disproportionately to death in young children. Sequencing data have uncovered few recurrently mutated genes in this cancer, although epigenetic pathways have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. We used an expression-based computational screen that examined the impact of deubiquitinating enzymes on patient survival to identify potential new targets. We identified the histone H2B deubiquitinating enzyme USP44 as the enzyme with the greatest impact on survival in patients with neuroblastoma. High levels of USP44 significantly correlate with metastatic disease, unfavorable histology, advanced patient age, and MYCN-amplification. The subset of patients with tumors expressing high levels of USP44 had a significantly worse survival, including those with tumors lacking MYCN amplification. We showed experimentally that USP44 regulates neuroblastoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and neuronal development. Depletion of the histone H2B ubiquitin ligase subunit RNF20 resulted in similar findings, strongly implicating this histone mark as the target of USP44 activity in this disease. Integration of transcriptome and epigenome in analyses demonstrates a distinct set of genes that is regulated by USP44, including those in Hallmark MYC target genes in both murine embryonic fibroblasts and the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. We conclude that USP44 is a novel epigenetic regulator that promotes aggressive features and may be a novel target in neuroblastoma. Implications: This study identifies a new genetic marker of aggressive neuroblastoma and identifies the mechanisms by which its overactivity contributes to pathophysiology in this disease.

"Those Who Need It the Most": Equity Framing in 2021 U.S. Print News About Food Assistance.

Objective: To understand how equity appeared in news about food assistance from 2021. Methods: We assessed a national sample of news articles (N=298) for equity arguments and language about racial and health equity. Results: Only 28% of coverage argued that food assistance programs promote equity. Just 6% mentioned people of color or named racial disparities in food access. Discussion: Narratives that explain how food assistance programs reduce inequities could deepen their policy appeal and broaden public perceptions around recipients. Health Equity Implications: There are opportunities for news coverage to expand the discussion of how food assistance programs improve racial and health equity outcomes.

Ficus Benjamin's leaf, a native sorbent for the exclusion of Methyl violet 10B from aquatic media.

Due to the use of non-recyclable materials and the high costs of the technologies, removal of dyes from wastewater is becoming more and more pricey. This paper presents the capacity of Ficus Benjamina (FB) leaf powder to eradicate methyl violet dye 10 B (MV) in an aqueous fluid. The surface characteristics and presence of various functional groups on the surface of sorbent were revealed by SEM and FTIR studies. Diverse constraints on the elimination of methyl violet 10 B in an aqueous environment were also studied, including starting dye concentration, temperature, and contact duration. The Elovich & liquid film diffusion models, along with Lagergren first-order, pseudo-second-order, Bangham, and modified Freundlich modeling operated to assess kinetics. Experiments confirmed the pseudo-second-order concept. To investigate tentative data, multiple linear Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, as well as two parameters nonlinear isotherm models were applied, with findings indicating that sorption data were like both linear and non-linear isotherms. Sorption data were found to be in excellent agreement with the Freundlich isotherm with R2 value (0.99). The sorption capacity of the sorbent was computed i.e. 312.2 mg/g. Thermodynamic characteristics were also computed. It was concluded that the sorption of methyl violet 10 B sorption on FB leaf powder is exothermic. Hence, it is a potentially cost-effective bio sorbent for exclusion of dye from wastewater.

"People Like Us": News Coverage of Food Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To understand how the public discourse around food assistance and social responsibility evolved during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing news coverage. Methods: We conducted an ethnographic content analysis of news articles and photographs about food insecurity or food assistance published by U.S. newspapers and wire services between December 1, 2019, and November 30, 2020. We analyzed a random sample of 241 articles and 223 photographs to assess how they depicted food assistance programs, the program participants, and whether they included cues for deservingness. Results: Before the pandemic, news about food assistance was dominated by stories about abuse and fraud. Once COVID-19 began, news coverage contained cues known to engender beliefs about the deservingness of people receiving assistance. During the pandemic, news also highlighted misconceptions about food assistance programs, called for policy changes to reduce logistical barriers, and described the plight of families and other "people like us" in need of food assistance. Discussion: News coverage during the pandemic cued audience empathy, highlighted the logistical strains faced by food assistance programs, and elevated values of government accountability. The narrative about society's obligation to care for communities in need can be transferred to other safety net programs that protect the public's health. Health Equity Implications: As the pandemic evolves, public health leaders can maintain the narrative about the importance of food assistance and expand the characteristics of this narrative to challenge well-entrenched, but false, narratives about those who need help.

Retailer perspectives on sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in the California Bay Area.

The sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) industry has claimed that food and beverage retailers are opposed to SSB taxes. In 2018 and 2019, we formally evaluated retailers' perceptions of SSB taxes using semi-structured interviews (including open- and closed-ended questions) with 103 randomly selected retailers (50 corner and liquor stores; 28 chain convenience, drug, and mass-merchandise stores; 18 chain supermarkets and discount supermarkets; and 7 independent supermarkets) across 3 cities with SSB taxes (Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco); interviews occurred in 2018 and 2019 (approximately 3 years, 1 year and 6 months post tax-implementation, respectively). A majority of both small and large retailers reported the tax had only a minimal effect on their business (70%). About half of retailers believed that other cities should adopt SSB taxes (53%), and were supportive of a statewide SSB tax (53%), noting it would level the playing field and better support health in their communities. Retailers' responses did not differ based on neighborhood income, and only 2 responses differed significantly between large and small retailers. Only 2 of 103 retailers reported raising the price of a non-beverage product in response to the tax, specifically raising the price of snack foods of low nutritional quality and alcoholic beverages. A majority of retailers in 3 California cities with SSB taxes have no concerns regarding the tax, endorse the health goals of SSB taxes and support statewide expansion of SSB tax policies.

Reliability and validity of maxillary and sphenoid Sinus morphological variations in the assessment of Skeletal maturity.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed at assessing the relationship between growth changes in maxillary (MS) and sphenoid sinus (SS) and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and to evaluate their reliability and validity in assessing the skeletal maturity of an individual. METHODS: A crosssectional study was conducted on the pretreatment lateral cephalograms of 224 patients (males=116, females=108) aged 8-17 years. MS and SS heights, widths and indices were evaluated. The subjects were classified according to six stages based on CVM using Baccetti's method. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare MS and SS measurements at different cervical stages for each gender. Kappa statistics, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to test the diagnostic accuracy of MS and SS indices. RESULTS: The MS and SS indices varied significantly (p<0.001) at different cervical stages for both gender. Kappa statistics showed significant agreement using MS (p<0.001) and SS indices (p<0.05). The diagnostic performance of MS index (Sensitivity ≥71%) was found to be better than SS index (Sensitivity ≥65%).. CONCLUSIONS: The MS height, width and index in genders and SS height, width and index in males and only SS width and index in females were significantly associated with the CVM stages. The validity of MS and SS indices were comparable for females; whereas, the MS index offers significant advantage over SS index for the assessment of growth status of males.

Polio Elimination In Pakistan: Still A Dream?

Pakistan has failed to achieve polio elimination till yet. Poliomyelitis is a crippling childhood disease, which causes paralysis for life. Aim of this study is to compare the frequency of polio cases in different provinces of Pakistan from 2010 till 2017. Results showed that total of 144 cases of polio were reported in 2010, a rise up to 198 was reported in 2011, a decline in cases was seen in 2012, i.e., 58, again cases rouse up to 93 cases, in 2013. In 2014, 306 cases were reported the rate declined considerably in 2015, i.e., 54 cases and in 2016 only 20 cases were seen. In 2017 only 8 cases were reported. So, it can be concluded that progressive improvement is seen in Pakistan regarding polio. Focused efforts should be continued till its complete elimination from the country as this will also give a positive message to the world about Pakistan being a responsible and peaceful nation.

Differences in outcomes between the JoyBar control and standard wheelchair joystick control on two maneuverability tasks: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To determine if older adult, novice wheelchair users who drive a power wheelchair with a JoyBar control complete maneuverability tasks in less time and with less error than those who drive a power wheelchair with a standard joystick control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A parallel randomized controlled trial design conducted at a medical rehabilitation and research centre with ambulatory older adults aged 60 and above (n = 27). The intervention was the JoyBar alternative wheelchair control. The primary outcome measure was total time to complete each of the two maneuverability tasks. The secondary outcome measure was total number of errors during each of the maneuverability tasks. RESULTS: An independent, two sampled t-test was conducted and revealed that the JoyBar group took a greater amount of time to complete both maneuverability tasks than the control group (p < .05). No significant differences (p < .05) were found in rates of error on either task between the JoyBar and joystick groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maneuverability of a powered wheelchair by novice wheelchair users was not improved through the use of the JoyBar when compared to a standard wheelchair joystick, as measured by rates of error and time to complete maneuverability tasks. Implications for rehabilitation Clients who are new to powered wheelchair use may perform maneuverability tasks faster, with equivalent accuracy, using a standard joystick versus the JoyBar. Clients who use a JoyBar may require adjustments to the programming of their wheelchair to ensure optimal performance. Additional training may be required to achieve proficiency in maneuverability tasks with a JoyBar versus a standard joystick.

Teeth under High Occlusal Force may Reflect Occlusal Trauma-associated Periodontal Conditions in Subjects with Untreated Chronic Periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of high occlusal force (HOF) with the signs of occlusal trauma and periodontal conditions in periodontitis patients, and elaborate the relevant clinical implications. METHODS: Periodontal parameters and signs of occlusal trauma were recorded for 807 teeth in 30 subjects with untreated chronic periodontitis. The T-scan II occlusal analysis system determined the HOF during maximum intercuspation, lateral excursion and protrusive excursion. The correlation of HOF with periodontal parameters and signs of occlusal trauma was analysed. RESULTS: Overall, the teeth with HOF existed mainly in molars and presented with deeper probing depth (PD) and higher frequency of bleeding on probing (BOP) than those without HOF. The fixed-effect analysis showed that HOF was positively correlated with PD and BOP (P < 0.05) in posterior teeth; widened periodontal ligament space on radiographs in upper (r = 0.179, P < 0.01) and lower posterior teeth (r = 0.205; P < 0.05); as well as functional mobility in upper posterior teeth (r = 0.168; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the posterior teeth with HOF in subjects with chronic periodontitis may reflect occlusal trauma-associated periodontal conditions that could probably increase the risk of further periodontal destruction. These findings may improve the clinical assessment of occlusal trauma and related periodontal conditions for better patient management and treatment outcomes.