Enhanced generalization of auditory conditioned fear in juvenile mice.

Increased emotionality is a characteristic of human adolescence, but its animal models are limited. Here we report that generalization of auditory conditioned fear between a conditional stimulus (CS+) and a novel auditory stimulus is stronger in 4-5-wk-old mice (juveniles) than in their 9-10-wk-old counterparts (adults), whereas nonassociative sensitization induced by foot shock (US) and the ability to discriminate CS+ from an explicitly unpaired stimulus (CS-) are not dependent on age. These results suggest that aversive associations are less precise in juvenile mice and can more easily produce conditional responses to stimuli different from CS+. Yet, through the explicit unpairing of CS- from US during training, juveniles are able to overcome this greater fear generalization and learn that CS- is not associated with foot shock.

Sacroiliac joint pain following iliac-bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: a cohort study.

Background: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common source of lower back pain; the factors associated have not been studied in cancer patients. Observing patients with bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB) who subsequently developed SIJ-pain led to this investigation. Aim: To investigate this possible relationship. Methods: A cohort study of cancer patients diagnosed with SIJ pain. The association of BMAB with SIJ pain was evaluated, as were variables that differed between the groups. Results: The prevalence of SIJ pain was 4.95% (231/4669). Among 231 patients with SIJ pain, 34% (78/231) did not have prior history of lower back pain and had undergone BMAB prior to their diagnosis of SIJ pain. A statistically significant association between BMAB-SIJ-pain was found (p < 0.01). Conclusion: We found linear correlation between BMAB and subsequent SIJ pain.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC): a review and case series.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature and report our experience with the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs). METHODS: A retrospective review of 18 patients with 36 separate MPLC lesions (6 synchronous pairs and 12 metachronous pairs) was performed. Of these 18 patients, 16 were not surgical candidates and 2 declined to have surgery. Of the 36 lesions treated, 27 received SBRT, 6 had received prior fractionated RT, and 3 had prior surgical resection. Radiotherapy doses for SBRT ranged from 48 to 56 Gy (Median = 50 Gy) in 4 to 13 fractions (Median = 5 fractions) and treatment plans used 4D-CT simulation scans in all patients. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 20 months after initial SBRT. We observed local control in 22 of 27 (81.5%) of the lesions treated with SBRT. The actuarial overall survival at 2 years from completion of initial SBRT course was 62%. Metastatic disease occurred in 3 of the 6 deceased patients. Clinically evident pneumonitis was observed in 3 of the 18 pts (17%), which resolved completely with steroid therapy. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT appears to be a safe and effective treatment for MPLC both solely or after prior fractionated RT or surgical resection. SBRT for MPLC is a reasonable treatment option for patients who are not optimal candidates for surgery or who decline surgery.