Cognitive Sparing in Proton versus Photon Radiotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumor Is Associated with White Matter Integrity: An Exploratory Study.

Radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumors is associated with reduced white matter structural integrity and neurocognitive decline. Superior cognitive outcomes have been reported following proton radiotherapy (PRT) compared to photon radiotherapy (XRT), presumably due to improved sparing of normal brain tissue. This exploratory study examined the relationship between white matter change and late cognitive effects in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with XRT versus PRT. Pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with XRT (n = 10) or PRT (n = 12) underwent neuropsychological testing and diffusion weighted imaging >7 years post-radiotherapy. A healthy comparison group (n = 23) was also recruited. Participants completed age-appropriate measures of intellectual functioning, visual-motor integration, and motor coordination. Tractography was conducted using automated fiber quantification (AFQ). Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were extracted from 12 tracts of interest. Overall, both white matter integrity (FA) and neuropsychological performance were lower in XRT patients while PRT patients were similar to healthy control participants with respect to both FA and cognitive functioning. These findings support improved long-term outcomes in PRT versus XRT. This exploratory study is the first to directly support for white matter integrity as a mechanism of cognitive sparing in PRT.

Superior verbal learning and memory in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with proton versus photon radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumor has been associated with late cognitive effects. Compared to conventional photon radiotherapy (XRT), proton radiotherapy (PRT) delivers lower doses of radiation to healthy brain tissue. PRT has been associated with improved long-term cognitive outcomes compared to XRT. However, there is limited research comparing the effects of XRT and PRT on verbal memory. METHOD: Survivors of pediatric brain tumor treated with either XRT (n = 29) or PRT (n = 51) completed neuropsychological testing > 1 year following radiotherapy. Performance on neuropsychological measures was compared between treatment groups using analysis of covariance. Chi-squared tests of independence were used to compare the frequency of encoding, retrieval, and intact memory profiles between treatment groups. Associations between memory performance and other neurobehavioral measures were examined using Pearson correlation. RESULTS: Overall, patients receiving PRT demonstrated superior verbal learning and recall compared to those treated with XRT. Encoding and retrieval deficits were more common in the XRT group than the PRT group, with encoding problems being most prevalent. The PRT group was more likely to engage in semantic clustering strategies, which predicted better encoding and retrieval. Encoding ability was associated with higher intellectual and adaptive functioning, and fewer parent-reported concerns about day-to-day attention and cognitive regulation. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that PRT is associated with verbal memory sparing, driven by effective encoding and use of learning strategies. Future work may help to clarify underlying neural mechanisms associated with verbal memory decline, which will better inform treatment approaches. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

ZFTA-RELA Dictates Oncogenic Transcriptional Programs to Drive Aggressive Supratentorial Ependymoma.

More than 60% of supratentorial ependymomas harbor a ZFTA-RELA (ZRfus) gene fusion (formerly C11orf95-RELA). To study the biology of ZRfus, we developed an autochthonous mouse tumor model using in utero electroporation (IUE) of the embryonic mouse brain. Integrative epigenomic and transcriptomic mapping was performed on IUE-driven ZRfus tumors by CUT&RUN, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing, and RNA sequencing and compared with human ZRfus-driven ependymoma. In addition to direct canonical NFκB pathway activation, ZRfus dictates a neoplastic transcriptional program and binds to thousands of unique sites across the genome that are enriched with PLAGL family transcription factor (TF) motifs. ZRfus activates gene expression programs through recruitment of transcriptional coactivators (Brd4, Ep300, Cbp, Pol2) that are amenable to pharmacologic inhibition. Downstream ZRfus target genes converge on developmental programs marked by PLAGL TF proteins, and activate neoplastic programs enriched in Mapk, focal adhesion, and gene imprinting networks. SIGNIFICANCE: Ependymomas are aggressive brain tumors. Although drivers of supratentorial ependymoma (ZFTA- and YAP1-associated gene fusions) have been discovered, their functions remain unclear. Our study investigates the biology of ZFTA-RELA-driven ependymoma, specifically mechanisms of transcriptional deregulation and direct downstream gene networks that may be leveraged for potential therapeutic testing.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2113.

Evaluación de la satisfacción laboral en docentes de nivel básico / Evaluation of work satisfaction in primary school teachers

RESUMEN El objetivo fue evaluar la satisfacción laboral en docentes de nivel básico utilizando la Escala General de Satisfacción Laboral de Warr, Cook y Wall de 1979. Esta evaluación además dio luz acerca de la escala misma: su confiabilidad y su correlación interna. Se seleccionaron al azar 27 docentes y se les aplicó el instrumento consistente en 15 ítems con respuesta en escala tipo Likert. Entre los resultados más notables destacó el moderado nivel de satisfacción laboral que mostraron. Se identificaron tres ítems más elevados, dos de ellos estimadores de la satisfacción extrínseca. La medición de la confiabilidad fue buena para el instrumento en su totalidad con una alfa de Cronbach de 0,879. La correlación interna entre subescalas fue muy buena, del 96%. Se concluye que, aunque la población estudiada no mostró alta satisfacción por el trabajo, la escala es adecuada para su uso en profesores en nuestro contexto.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate job satisfaction in teachers at the entry level using the General Work Satisfaction Scale of Warr, Cook and Wall of 1979. This evaluation also gave the scale itself: its reliability and its internal correlation. Twenty-seven teachers were randomly selected and the instrument consisted of 15 items with a Likert-type response. Among the most notable results was the moderate level of job satisfaction they showed. Three higher items were identified, two of them estimators of extrinsic satisfaction. The reliability measurement was good for the instrument as a whole with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.879. The internal correlation between subscales was very good, 96%. It is concluded that, although the studied population did not show high satisfaction for work, the scale is suitable for use in teachers in our context.

[Breast feeding and systemic blood pressure in infants]. / La alimentación al seno materno y la presión arterial sistémica en el lactante.

INTRODUCTION: Blood pressure levels in childhood influence these levels in adulthood, and breastfeeding has been considered such as a cardioprotective. We evaluated the association between blood pressure levels and feeding type in a group of infants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study in term infants with appropriate weight at birth, to compare blood pressure levels in those children with exclusively breastfeeding, mixed-feeding and formula feeding. The comparison of groups was performed using ANOVA and multiple regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with mean arterial blood pressure levels. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: We included 20 men and 24 women per group. Infant Formula Feeding had higher current weight and weight gain compared with the other two groups (p < 0.05). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure levels, as well as respiratory and heart rate were higher in the groups of exclusively formula feeding and mixed-feeding than in those with exclusively breastfeeding (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis identified that variables associated with mean blood pressure levels were current body mass index, weight gain and formula feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Infants in breastfeeding show lower blood pressure, BMI and weight gain.

Vías metabólicas en el músculo cardíaco de ratas sometidas a estress hipobárico / Metabolic pathway in the myocardial tissue of rats under hypobaric stress

En el presente trabajo se han estudiado tres vías de producción de energía en el músculo cardíaco de ratas con hipoxia hipobárica: La glicólisis anaeróbica, representada por el ácido láctico, la fosforilación oxidativa a través de la actividad de la ICD y la utilización de los cuerpos cetónicos a través de la 3-HBD. Simultáneamente se estudió el papel de la CK citoplasmática y mitocondrial como sistemas de conexión y trasnporte de energía entre las fuentes de producción y su utilización por las ATPasa Mg++ y Na+K+ dependientes. Los hallazgos obtenidos permiten concluir que existe una activación de la glicólisis y una mayor utilización de los cuerpos cetónicos, en los animales hipóxicos tal como se deduce del aumento del ácido láctico y de la actividad de la 3-HBD. Esto se correlaciona con el aumento de la CK de origen citoplasmático, lo cual se asocia con la glicólisis y una disminución de la CK de origen mitocondrial. En cuanto a la utilización de la energía, ésta probablemente se encuentra derivada en mayor porcentaje hacia el control del flujo iónico, tal como se deduce del aumento de la actividad de la ATPasa Na+K+ dependiente en mayor proporción que la Mg++ dependiente.