Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours (ATRTs)-a 21-year institutional experience.

PURPOSE: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (ATRTs) are malignant embryonal tumours of childhood that affect the central nervous system (CNS). We aim to determine which factors, including patient age, extent of resection (EOR), presence of distal metastasis and use of adjuvant therapies, affect overall survival in children with atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (ATRTs) treated at this single centre. METHODS: Retrospective cohort review of patients with histological diagnosis of ATRT treated over 21 years (1999-2020) was conducted. Data on demographics, tumour location, presence of metastasis, use of adjuvant therapy, extent of resection (EOR), complications, neurological outcome post-surgery, and overall survival were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 45 children (mean age 2 years) underwent 64 operations. 25 patients were <1 year of age. Gross-total resection (GTR) pre-adjuvant therapy was achieved in 15, near-total resection (NTR) in 15, subtotal resection (STR) in 9, and biopsy in 6 children. Most children had good neurological outcomes post-operatively (28/45 with GOS 5). Fourteen patients survived longer than 4 years. Survival analysis showed a significant difference in median survival in favour of GTR and localised disease. There was no significant difference in median survival between patients <1 year vs >1 year of age (p=0.84). CONCLUSION: We find that presence of metastasis was an important factor in poor survival in patients with ATRT. GTR, where possible, may confer significant survival benefit in ATRT. Children aged <1 year appear to have performed as well as those >1 year and therefore should still be considered for radical surgery.

Effect of BCG vaccination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in children: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether BCG vaccination protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as assessed by interferon γ release assays (IGRA) in children. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Searches of electronic databases 1950 to November 2013, checking of reference lists, hand searching of journals, and contact with experts. SETTING: Community congregate settings and households. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Vaccinated and unvaccinated children aged under 16 with known recent exposure to patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Children were screened for infection with M tuberculosis with interferon γ release assays. DATA EXTRACTION: Study results relating to diagnostic accuracy were extracted and risk estimates were combined with random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: The primary analysis included 14 studies and 3855 participants. The estimated overall risk ratio was 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.71 to 0.92), indicating a protective efficacy of 19% against infection among vaccinated children after exposure compared with unvaccinated children. The observed protection was similar when estimated with the two types of interferon γ release assays (ELISpot or QuantiFERON). Restriction of the analysis to the six studies (n=1745) with information on progression to active tuberculosis at the time of screening showed protection against infection of 27% (risk ratio 0.73, 0.61 to 0.87) compared with 71% (0.29, 0.15 to 0.58) against active tuberculosis. Among those infected, protection against progression to disease was 58% (0.42, 0.23 to 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: BCG protects against M tuberculosis infection as well as progression from infection to disease.Trial registration PROSPERO registration No CRD42011001698 (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

[Prevention of transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection: standard precautions instead of isolation: a 6-year surveillance in a university hospital]. / Prävention von MRSA-Ubertragungen: Standardhygiene statt Isolierung : 6 Jahre Uberwachung in einem Universitätsklinikum.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to evaluate whether the risk of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increased compared to reference data when standard precautions are practiced instead of strict or contact isolation. METHODS: From 2000 through 2005, all patients with MRSA at a university hospital were prospectively surveyed. The isolates were investigated using molecular microbiology methods (PFGE, PCR) and compliance with hand hygiene was indirectly monitored using the consumption of disinfection solutions and glove use as surrogate markers. RESULTS: The MRSA rates of the 797 patients were lower than for the reference data (PEG, KISS), the incidence of MRSA infections was reduced continuously, MRSA transmissions to contact patients could be demonstrated in about 30%, and the consumption of hand disinfection solutions as well as gloves was significantly higher in 2005 compared to 2000. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from our results that practicing standard precautions would increase the risk for the acquisition of MRSA compared to strict or contact isolation.

1240nm high-power GaInNAs laser diodes.

We have fabricated 1240nm GaInNAs high-power semi-conductor laser diodes. In pulsed operation 1000 mum x 100 mum laser diodes show record low threshold current densities of 174 Acm(-2). Continuous wave output powers exceeding 4.6 Watts at room temperature and 6.2 Watts at a heatsink temperature of -5 degrees C are obtained from 1300 mum x 200 mum devices. The maximum wallplug efficiency of the device exceeds 40 % and the internal quantum efficiency reaches 0.89. Preliminary lifetime tests were performed for about 1000 h and show stable high-power operation.

Energetics of hydrogen bonding in proteins: a model compound study.

Differences in the energetics of amide-amide and amide-hydroxyl hydrogen bonds in proteins have been explored from the effect of hydroxyl groups on the structure and dissolution energetics of a series of crystalline cyclic dipeptides. The calorimetrically determined energetics are interpreted in light of the crystal structures of the studied compounds. Our results indicate that the amide-amide and amide-hydroxyl hydrogen bonds both provide considerable enthalpic stability, but that the amide-amide hydrogen bond is about twice that of the amide-hydroxyl. Additionally, the interaction of the hydroxyl group with water is seen most readily in its contributions to entropy and heat capacity changes. Surprisingly, the hydroxyl group shows weakly hydrophobic behavior in terms of these contributions. These results can be used to understand the effects of mutations on the stability of globular proteins.