The Clinical Utility of a 7-Gene Biosignature on Radiation Therapy Decision Making in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Following Breast-Conserving Surgery: An Updated Analysis of the DCISionRT® PREDICT Study.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is a standard treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). A low-risk patient subset that does not benefit from RT has not yet been clearly identified. The DCISionRT test provides a clinically validated decision score (DS), which is prognostic of 10-year in-breast recurrence rates (invasive and non-invasive) and is also predictive of RT benefit. This analysis presents final outcomes from the PREDICT prospective registry trial aiming to determine how often the DCISionRT test changes radiation treatment recommendations. METHODS: Overall, 2496 patients were enrolled from February 2018 to January 2022 at 63 academic and community practice sites and received DCISionRT as part of their care plan. Treating physicians reported their treatment recommendations pre- and post-test as well as the patient's preference. The primary endpoint was to identify the percentage of patients where testing led to a change in RT recommendation. The impact of the test on RT treatment recommendation was physician specialty, treatment settings, individual clinical/pathological features and RTOG 9804 like criteria. Multivariate logisitc regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (ORs) for factors associated with the post-test RT recommendations. RESULTS: RT recommendation changed 38% of women, resulting in a 20% decrease in the overall recommendation of RT (p < 0.001). Of those women initially recommended no RT (n = 583), 31% were recommended RT post-test. The recommendation for RT post-test increased with increasing DS, from 29% to 66% to 91% for DS <2, DS 2-4, and DS >4, respectively. On multivariable analysis, DS had the strongest influence on final RT recommendation (odds ratio 22.2, 95% confidence interval 16.3-30.7), which was eightfold greater than clinicopathologic features. Furthermore, there was an overall change in the recommendation to receive RT in 42% of those patients meeting RTOG 9804-like low-risk criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The test results provided information that changes treatment recommendations both for and against RT use in large population of women with DCIS treated in a variety of clinical settings. Overall, clinicians changed their recommendations to include or omit RT for 38% of women based on the test results. Based on published clinical validations and the results from current study, DCISionRT may aid in preventing the over- and undertreatment of clinicopathological 'low-risk' and 'high-risk' DCIS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03448926 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03448926 ).

Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).

BACKGROUND: Neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery have increased risk of impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes secondary to brain injury. This study aims to characterize pre- and post-operative continuous EEG (cEEG) patterns to detect abnormal cerebral activity in infants with CHD and investigate whether an association exists between the degree of encephalopathy in pre- and post-operative cEEG. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study conducted between 2010 and 2018 at a tertiary hospital in Cleveland, OH included infants with CHD with cEEG monitoring, who underwent CPB surgery within first 6 months of life. RESULTS: Study included 77 patients, of which 61% were males who were operated at median age 6 days. Pre-operatively, 69% and 87% had normal cEEG and sleep-wake cycles, respectively. Post-operatively, 80% had abnormal cEEG. Longer circulatory arrest time and CPB were associated with lack of continuity (p 0.011), excessive discontinuity (p 0.007) and prolonged inter-burst interval (IBI) duration (p value < 0.001). A significant association existed between severity of encephalopathy in immediate and 24-h post-operative period (p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: More than 80% of neonates with CHD have abnormal post-operative EEG. Longer circulatory arrest time and CPB were associated with lack of continuity, excessive discontinuity, and prolonged IBI duration on post-operative EEG. IMPACT: This study shows that majority of neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) have normal pre-operative EEG with a continuous background and normal sleep-wake cycles. Also, 80% of neonates had abnormal post-operative EEG. Longer duration of arrest time and bypass time was associated with lack of continuity, excessive discontinuity, and prolonged IBI duration during post-operative EEG monitoring. These findings will help clinicians when counseling parents in the intensive care unit, risk stratification, and long-term neurodevelopmental monitoring in these high-risk patients.

Prenatal diagnosis of Poland-Möbius syndrome by multimodality fetal imaging.

We describe prenatal diagnosis of Poland-Möbius syndrome using a combination of ultrasound and MRI. Poland syndrome was diagnosed based on absence of the pectoralis muscles associated with dextroposition of the fetal heart and elevation of the left diaphragm. Associated brain anomalies that led to the diagnosis of Poland-Möbius syndrome, included ventriculomegaly, hypoplastic cerebellum, tectal beaking, and a peculiar flattening of the posterior aspect of the pons and medulla oblongata, which has been reported by postnatal diffusion tensor imaging studies as a reliable neuroimaging marker for Möbius syndrome. Since abnormalities of cranial nerves VI and VII may be difficult to detect prenatally, careful attention to the appearance of the brain stem as illustrated in the current report may aid in the prenatal diagnosis of Möbius syndrome.

Association of Insulin Resistance and Higher Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score.

BACKGROUND: Black women with breast cancer have a worse overall survival compared with White women; however, no difference in Oncotype DX™ (ODX) recurrence scores has been observed to explain this health disparity. Black women are also disproportionately affected by insulin resistance. We evaluated whether insulin resistance is associated with a higher ODX recurrence score and whether there is a difference between White and Black women to explain disparate clinical outcomes. METHODS: A subgroup analysis of patients in a multi-institutional cross-sectional study evaluating differences in insulin resistance between White and Black women was performed. Women diagnosed with a new hormone receptor-positive, HER2/neu-negative breast cancer with an ODX recurrence score were identified. Fasting blood glucose and insulin measurements were used to calculate the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, a method for assessing insulin resistance, and compared against ODX scores. RESULTS: Overall, 412 women (358 White women, 54 Black women) were identified. Compared with White women, Black women had a higher body mass index (30 vs. 26 kg/m2, p < 0.0001), higher HOMA-IR score (2.4 vs. 1.4, p = 0.004), and more high-grade tumors (30% vs. 16%, p = 0.01). There was a direct positive association with an increasing ODX score and HOMA-IR (p = 0.014). On subset analysis, this relationship was seen in White women (p = 0.005), but not in Black women (p = 0.55). CONCLUSION: In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, increasing insulin resistance is associated with a higher recurrence score; however, this association was not present in Black women. This lack of association may be due to the small number of Black women in the cohort, or possibly a reflection of a different biological disease process of the patient's tumor.

Insulin resistance contributes to racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis in US women.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in breast cancer survival between Black and White women persist across all stages of breast cancer. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) of insulin resistance disproportionately affects more Black than White women. It has not been discerned if insulin resistance mediates the link between race and poor prognosis in breast cancer. We aimed to determine whether insulin resistance mediates in part the association between race and breast cancer prognosis, and if insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) expression differs between tumors from Black and White women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-center study across ten hospitals. Self-identified Black women and White women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer were recruited. The primary outcome was to determine if insulin resistance, which was calculated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), mediated the effect of race on prognosis using the multivariate linear mediation model. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood were collected. Poor prognosis was defined as a Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) > 4.4. Breast cancer pathology specimens were evaluated for IR and IGF-1R expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Five hundred fifteen women were recruited (83% White, 17% Black). The MetS was more prevalent in Black women than in White women (40% vs 20%, p < 0.0001). HOMA-IR was higher in Black women than in White women (1.9 ± 1.2 vs 1.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.0005). Poor breast cancer prognosis was more prevalent in Black women than in White women (28% vs 15%. p = 0.004). HOMA-IR was positively associated with NPI score (r = 0.1, p = 0.02). The mediation model, adjusted for age, revealed that HOMA-IR significantly mediated the association between Black race and poor prognosis (ß = 0.04, 95% CI 0.005-0.009, p = 0.002). IR expression was higher in tumors from Black women than in those from White women (79% vs 52%, p = 0.004), and greater IR/IGF-1R ratio was also associated with higher NPI score (IR/IGF-1R >  1: 4.2 ± 0.8 vs IR/IGF-1R = 1: 3.9 ± 0.8 vs IR/IGF-1R < 1: 3.5 ± 1.0, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-center, cross-sectional study of US women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer, insulin resistance is one factor mediating part of the association between race and poor prognosis in breast cancer.

Spectrum of KV 2.1 Dysfunction in KCNB1-Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Pathogenic variants in KCNB1, encoding the voltage-gated potassium channel KV 2.1, are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Previous functional studies on a limited number of KCNB1 variants indicated a range of molecular mechanisms by which variants affect channel function, including loss of voltage sensitivity, loss of ion selectivity, and reduced cell-surface expression. METHODS: We evaluated a series of 17 KCNB1 variants associated with DEE or other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) to rapidly ascertain channel dysfunction using high-throughput functional assays. Specifically, we investigated the biophysical properties and cell-surface expression of variant KV 2.1 channels expressed in heterologous cells using high-throughput automated electrophysiology and immunocytochemistry-flow cytometry. RESULTS: Pathogenic variants exhibited diverse functional defects, including altered current density and shifts in the voltage dependence of activation and/or inactivation, as homotetramers or when coexpressed with wild-type KV 2.1. Quantification of protein expression also identified variants with reduced total KV 2.1 expression or deficient cell-surface expression. INTERPRETATION: Our study establishes a platform for rapid screening of KV 2.1 functional defects caused by KCNB1 variants associated with DEE and other NDDs. This will aid in establishing KCNB1 variant pathogenicity and the mechanism of dysfunction, which will enable targeted strategies for therapeutic intervention based on molecular phenotype. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:899-912.

[NEOADJUVANT TREATMENT OF LOCALLY ADVANCED ESTROGEN/PROGESTERONE POSITIVE, HER2NEU NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER].

INTRODUCTION: Women who present with locally advanced breast cancer that would require a mastectomy are often recommended to undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery in hopes of down-staging the tumor and allowing for breast-conserving surgery. This approach is very effective in women with triple negative and Her2neu positive locally advanced breast cancer, yet the results in ER/PR positive (luminal) breast cancers have been less effective. In post-menopausal women, neoadjuvant hormonal treatment in such cases can cause tumor regression and allow for breast-conserving therapy, in some patients. In premenopausal women with locally advanced luminal type breast cancer, neoadjuvant hormonal therapy can also be effective and is a valid option according to the NCCN guidelines. Yet, there remains a sense that perhaps treatment of this group of patients with chemotherapy results in better outcomes. For the past fifteen years various molecular profiles of luminal breast cancers have been studied and have been used to help guide decisions as to the benefit of adjuvant treatment - whether chemotherapy is necessary or hormonal therapy alone would be adequate. In the neo-adjuvant setting, these profiles can also help predict which tumors are likely to respond to chemotherapy and which are less likely to respond. The only hormonal drugs available until very recently for use in the neoadjuvant setting were either Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. In the past few years a new class of drugs, CDK4/6 inhibitors have been developed and approved and have significantly improved response rates and time to progression in patients with metastatic hormone responsive breast cancer, and they have also been studied in small trials in the neoadjuvant setting. In this article we will review the data that is available to help guide the optimal choice of treatment in women who present with locally advanced luminal breast cancers including the use of molecular profiles and the potential role of anti-CDK 4/6 drugs.

Focal Cerebral Arteriopathy of Childhood: Novel Severity Score and Natural History.

Background and Purpose- Focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA)-a common cause of arterial ischemic stroke in previously healthy children-often progresses over days to weeks, increasing the risk of recurrent stroke. We developed a novel severity scoring system designed to quantify FCA progression and correlate with clinical outcomes. Methods- The VIPS study (Vascular Effects of Infection in Pediatric Stroke) prospectively enrolled 355 children with arterial ischemic stroke (2010-2014), including 41 with centrally confirmed FCA. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed FCA cerebrovascular imaging, assigning a graded severity score of zero (no involvement) to 4 (occlusion) to individual arterial segments. The FCA severity score (FCASS) was the unweighted sum. In an iterative process, we modeled scores derived from different combinations of arterial segments to identify the model that optimized correlation with clinical outcome, simplicity, and reliability. Results- The optimal FCASS summed scores from 5 arterial segments: supraclinoid internal carotid artery, A1, A2, M1, and M2. The median (interquartile range) baseline FCASS was 4 (2-6). Of 33 children with follow-up imaging, the maximum FCASS (at any time point) was 7 (5-9). Twenty-four (73%) had FCA progression on follow-up with their maximum FCASS at a median of 8 (5-35.5) days poststroke; their median FCASS increase was 4 (2.5-6). FCASS did not correlate with recurrent arterial ischemic stroke. Maximum (but not baseline) FCASS correlated with 1-year pediatric stroke outcome measures ( P=0.037). Conclusions- Our novel scoring system for FCA severity correlates with neurological outcomes in the VIPS cohort and provides a tool for FCA treatment trials under development.

Neo-adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer among BRCA1 mutation carriers and non-carriers.

The purpose of this study was to assess pathological complete response and whether it serves a surrogate for survival among patients receiving neo-adjuvant doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel for triple-negative breast cancer with respect to BRCA1 mutation status. From a neo-adjuvant systemic therapy database of 588 breast cancer cases, 80 triple-negative cases who had undergone BRCA genotyping were identified. Logistic regression model was fitted to examine the association between BRCA1 status and pathological complete response. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method, differences between study groups calculated by log-rank test. Thirty-four BRCA1 carriers and 43 non-carriers were identified. The BRCA1 carriers had pathological complete response rate of 68 % compared with 37 % among non-carriers, p = 0.01. Yet this did not translate into superior survival for BRCA1 carriers compared with non-carriers. No difference in relapse-free survival were noted among those with or without pathological complete response in BRCA1 carriers regardless of pathological complete response status (Log-rank p = 0.25), whereas in the non-carrier cohort, relapse-free survival was superior for those achieving pathological complete response (Log-rank p < 0.0001). Response to neo-adjuvant systemic therapy differed in BRCA1-associated triple-negative breast cancer compared with triple-negative non-carriers, with a higher rate of pathological complete response. However, compared with non-carrier triple-negative breast cancer, pathological complete response was not a surrogate for superior relapse-free survival in BRCA1 patients. Future studies using specific chemotherapy regimens may provide further improvements in outcomes.

TARGIT-R (Retrospective): North American Experience with Intraoperative Radiation Using Low-Kilovoltage X-Rays for Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is an emerging treatment for women with early stage breast cancer. The objective of this study was to define the frequency of IORT use, patient selection, and outcomes of patients treated in North America. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective registry was created, and 19 institutions using low-kilovoltage IORT for the treatment of breast cancer entered data on patients treated at their institution before July 31, 2013. Patient selection, IORT treatment details, complications, and recurrences were analyzed. RESULTS: From 2007 to July 31, 2013, a total of 935 women were identified and treated with lumpectomy and IORT. A total of 822 patients had at least 6 months' follow-up documented and were included in the analysis. The number of IORT cases performed increased significantly over time (p < 0.001). The median patient age was 66.8 years. Most patients had disease that was <2 cm in size (90 %) and was estrogen positive (91 %); most patients had invasive ductal cancer (68 %). Of those who had a sentinel lymph node procedure performed, 89 % had negative sentinel lymph nodes. The types of IORT performed were primary IORT in 79 %, secondary IORT in 7 %, or planned boost in 14 %. Complications were low. At a median follow-up of 23.3 months, crude in-breast recurrence was 2.3 % for all patients treated. CONCLUSIONS: IORT use for the treatment of breast cancer is significantly increasing in North America, and physicians are selecting low-risk patients for this treatment option. Low complication and local recurrence rates support IORT as a treatment option for selected women with early stage breast cancer.

Phenotypic heterogeneity of genomic disorders and rare copy-number variants.

BACKGROUND: Some copy-number variants are associated with genomic disorders with extreme phenotypic heterogeneity. The cause of this variation is unknown, which presents challenges in genetic diagnosis, counseling, and management. METHODS: We analyzed the genomes of 2312 children known to carry a copy-number variant associated with intellectual disability and congenital abnormalities, using array comparative genomic hybridization. RESULTS: Among the affected children, 10.1% carried a second large copy-number variant in addition to the primary genetic lesion. We identified seven genomic disorders, each defined by a specific copy-number variant, in which the affected children were more likely to carry multiple copy-number variants than were controls. We found that syndromic disorders could be distinguished from those with extreme phenotypic heterogeneity on the basis of the total number of copy-number variants and whether the variants are inherited or de novo. Children who carried two large copy-number variants of unknown clinical significance were eight times as likely to have developmental delay as were controls (odds ratio, 8.16; 95% confidence interval, 5.33 to 13.07; P=2.11×10(-38)). Among affected children, inherited copy-number variants tended to co-occur with a second-site large copy-number variant (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.66; P<0.001). Boys were more likely than girls to have disorders of phenotypic heterogeneity (P<0.001), and mothers were more likely than fathers to transmit second-site copy-number variants to their offspring (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple, large copy-number variants, including those of unknown pathogenic significance, compound to result in a severe clinical presentation, and secondary copy-number variants are preferentially transmitted from maternal carriers. (Funded by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative and the National Institutes of Health.).

Arteriopathy diagnosis in childhood arterial ischemic stroke: results of the vascular effects of infection in pediatric stroke study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although arteriopathies are the most common cause of childhood arterial ischemic stroke, and the strongest predictor of recurrent stroke, they are difficult to diagnose. We studied the role of clinical data and follow-up imaging in diagnosing cerebral and cervical arteriopathy in children with arterial ischemic stroke. METHODS: Vascular effects of infection in pediatric stroke, an international prospective study, enrolled 355 cases of arterial ischemic stroke (age, 29 days to 18 years) at 39 centers. A neuroradiologist and stroke neurologist independently reviewed vascular imaging of the brain (mandatory for inclusion) and neck to establish a diagnosis of arteriopathy (definite, possible, or absent) in 3 steps: (1) baseline imaging alone; (2) plus clinical data; (3) plus follow-up imaging. A 4-person committee, including a second neuroradiologist and stroke neurologist, adjudicated disagreements. Using the final diagnosis as the gold standard, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of each step. RESULTS: Cases were aged median 7.6 years (interquartile range, 2.8-14 years); 56% boys. The majority (52%) was previously healthy; 41% had follow-up vascular imaging. Only 56 (16%) required adjudication. The gold standard diagnosis was definite arteriopathy in 127 (36%), possible in 34 (9.6%), and absent in 194 (55%). Sensitivity was 79% at step 1, 90% at step 2, and 94% at step 3; specificity was high throughout (99%, 100%, and 100%), as was agreement between reviewers (κ=0.77, 0.81, and 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical data and follow-up imaging help, yet uncertainty in the diagnosis of childhood arteriopathy remains. This presents a challenge to better understanding the mechanisms underlying these arteriopathies and designing strategies for prevention of childhood arterial ischemic stroke.

Emergence of the primary pediatric stroke center: impact of the thrombolysis in pediatric stroke trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In adult stroke, the advent of thrombolytic therapy led to the development of primary stroke centers capable to diagnose and treat patients with acute stroke rapidly. We describe the development of primary pediatric stroke centers through preparation of participating centers in the Thrombolysis in Pediatric Stroke (TIPS) trial. METHODS: We collected data from the 17 enrolling TIPS centers regarding the process of becoming an acute pediatric stroke center with capability to diagnose, evaluate, and treat pediatric stroke rapidly, including use of thrombolytic therapy. RESULTS: Before 2004, <25% of TIPS sites had continuous 24-hour availability of acute stroke teams, MRI capability, or stroke order sets, despite significant pediatric stroke expertise. After TIPS preparation, >80% of sites now have these systems in place, and all sites reported increased readiness to treat a child with acute stroke. Use of a 1- to 10-Likert scale on which 10 represented complete readiness, median center readiness increased from 6.2 before site preparation to 8.7 at the time of site activation (P≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Before preparing for TIPS, centers interested in pediatric stroke had not developed systematic strategies to diagnose and treat acute pediatric stroke. TIPS trial preparation has resulted in establishment of pediatric acute stroke centers with clinical and system preparedness for evaluation and care of children with acute stroke, including use of a standardized protocol for evaluation and treatment of acute arterial stroke in children that includes use of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01591096.

A randomized prospective study of lumpectomy margin assessment with use of MarginProbe in patients with nonpalpable breast malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The presence of tumor cells at the margins of breast lumpectomy specimens is associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral tumor recurrence. Twenty to 30 % of patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery require second procedures to achieve negative margins. This study evaluated the adjunctive use of the MarginProbe device (Dune Medical Devices Ltd, Caesarea, Israel) in providing real-time intraoperative assessment of lumpectomy margins. METHODS: This multicenter randomized trial enrolled patients with nonpalpable breast malignancies. The study evaluated MarginProbe use in addition to standard intraoperative methods for margin assessment. After specimen removal and inspection, patients were randomized to device or control arms. In the device arm, MarginProbe was used to examine the main lumpectomy specimens and direct additional excision of positive margins. Intraoperative imaging was used in both arms; no intraoperative pathology assessment was permitted. RESULTS: In total, 596 patients were enrolled. False-negative rates were 24.8 and 66.1 % and false-positive rates were 53.6 and 16.6 % in the device and control arms, respectively. All positive margins on positive main specimens were resected in 62 % (101 of 163) of cases in the device arm, versus 22 % (33 of 147) in the control arm (p < 0.001). A total of 19.8 % (59 of 298) of patients in the device arm underwent a reexcision procedure compared with 25.8 % (77 of 298) in the control arm (6 % absolute, 23 % relative reduction). The difference in tissue volume removed was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive use of the MarginProbe device during breast-conserving surgery improved surgeons' ability to identify and resect positive lumpectomy margins in the absence of intraoperative pathology assessment, reducing the number of patients requiring reexcision. MarginProbe may aid performance of breast-conserving surgery by reducing the burden of reexcision procedures for patients and the health care system.

A devastating case of a Balamuthia mandrillaris pediatric brain infection.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is an amoeba that causes an uncommon but deadly encephalitis, referred to as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). The highest incidence reported worldwide has occurred in America, and within the United States, it has been highest in the Southwest affecting predominantly children and young men of Hispanic ethnicity. Clinical presentation of GAE includes fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, stiff neck, hallucinations, photophobia, and seizures. Our patient was a Hispanic male child living in Arizona. The patient presented at 3 years of age for severe encephalitis. Symptoms included difficulty with balance, gait, and sitting up and seizure-like activity. Initial CT showed an area of decreased density consistent with edema in the right frontal and left frontoparietal lobes. Rapid progression was seen on further imaging over the length of the patient's hospital stay revealing diffusion restriction, necrosis/blood products, edema, and hemorrhage. The patient expired three weeks after onset of symptoms and one week after admission to our institution. While there are multiple biochemical techniques that can test for B. mandrillaris, they are rarely employed for multiple reasons stemming from the rare occurrence of this infection. Because of the fatal nature of this infection, we propose (1) testing should be considered if a patient presents with progressing encephalitis on imaging and other pathogenic etiologies are ruled out and (2) the threshold to treat empirically should be low due to the fatal nature of the infection.

Continuous Electroencephalogram (cEEG) Findings and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) at 12-24 Months of Age.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the role of continuous EEG (cEEG) background patterns and duration of cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac surgery and its correlation with abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12-24 months on Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included infants with CHD and cEEG monitoring, who underwent surgery by 44 weeks gestational age. RESULTS: 34 patients were included, who were operated at median age - 7 days. Longer duration of cross- camp time was associated with poor language composite scores (LCS) (p value = 0.036). A significant association existed between severity of encephalopathy in 24-hour post-operative period and poor LCS (p value = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Majority of neonates with CHD have below average cognitive, language and motor composite scores on BSID-III. Longer duration of cross-clamp time and severity of encephalopathy during 24-hour post-operative EEG monitoring are associated with poor LCS.

Evidence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in children with arterial ischemic stroke: Results of the VIPS II Study.

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been associated with focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA) and arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in childhood. The Vascular effects of Infection in Pediatric Stroke (VIPS) II study aimed to examine this relationship in the modern era when most children in North America and Australia receive VZV vaccination with live, attenuated virus. Methods: This 22-center prospective cohort study enrolled 205 children (28 days-18 years) with AIS (2017-2022), collected baseline [hyperacute (≤72 hours; n=194) and acute (4-6 days; n=181)] and convalescent (1-6 weeks; n=74) serum samples. Sites enrolled 95 stroke-free controls with single serum samples. A virology research laboratory measured VZV IgM and IgG titers by an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Baseline IgG seropositivity indicated prior exposure (vaccination/infection) and elevated IgM titers indicated recent reactivation. Results: Median (IQR) age was 11.6 (5.5-15.6) years for cases and 11.8 (6.8-15.3) years for controls. Baseline serologies indicated prior VZV exposure in 198 cases (97%) and all controls. Parents of cases reported VZV vaccination in 160 (78%) and remote chicken pox in three (1.4%). Twenty cases (9.8%) and three controls (3.1%) had serologic evidence of recent VZV reactivation (p=0.06); all had remote VZV exposure (vaccination in 19 cases and all controls) and all were asymptomatic. Recent VZV reactivation was seen in similar proportions in arteriopathic, cardioembolic, and idiopathic stroke. Of 32 cases of FCA, 4 (12.5%) had recent VZV reactivation, versus no cases of arterial dissection (n=10) or moyamoya (n=16). Conclusions: Serologic evidence of recent VZV reactivation (≈1-6 weeks prior to stroke) was present in one in 10 cases of childhood AIS, including those without arteriopathy. Clinically silent VZV reactivation may be a childhood stroke trigger despite widespread vaccination. These cases could represent waning immunity with reactivation of either vaccine virus or wild-type virus after an unrecognized secondary VZV infection.

Exploring the neurological features of individuals with germline PTEN variants: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: PTEN, a known tumor suppressor gene, is a mediator of neurodevelopment. Individuals with germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene, molecularly defined as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), experience a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric challenges during childhood, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the frequency and nature of seizures and the utilization of allied health services have not been described. METHODS: Young patients with PHTS and sibling controls were recruited across five centers in the United States and followed every 6-12 months for a mean of 2.1 years. In addition to the history obtained from caregivers, neurodevelopmental evaluations and structured dysmorphology examinations were conducted, and brain MRI findings, received therapies, and epilepsy characteristics were reported. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients with PHTS (median age 8.7 years; range 3-21 years) and 38 controls were enrolled. ASD and epilepsy were frequent among patients with PHTS (51% and 15%, respectively), with generalized epilepsy strongly associated with ASD. Patients with epilepsy often required two antiseizure medications. Neuroimaging revealed prominent perivascular spaces and decreased peritrigonal myelination in individuals with PHTS-ASD. Allied therapy use was frequent and involved physical, occupational, speech, and social skills therapies, with 89% of all patients with PHTS, regardless of ASD diagnosis, utilizing at least one service. INTERPRETATION: This prospective, longitudinal study highlights the wide neurological spectrum seen in young individuals with PHTS. ASD is common in PHTS, comorbid with epilepsy, and allied health services are used universally. Our findings inform care discussions with families about neurological outcomes in PHTS.

Concurrent validity and reliability of retrospective scoring of the Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (PedNIHSS), an adaptation of the adult National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, is a quantitative measure of stroke severity shown to be reliable when scored prospectively. The ability to calculate the PedNIHSS score retrospectively would be invaluable in the conduct of observational pediatric stroke studies. The study objective was to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of estimating the PedNIHSS score retrospectively from medical records. METHODS: Neurological examinations from medical records of 75 children enrolled in a prospective PedNIHSS validation study were photocopied. Four neurologists of varying training levels blinded to the prospective PedNIHSS scores reviewed the records and retrospectively assigned PedNIHSS scores. Retrospective scores were compared among raters and to the prospective scores. RESULTS: Total retrospective PedNIHSS scores correlated highly with total prospective scores (R(2)=0.76). Interrater reliability for the total scores was "excellent" (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.94-0.97). Interrater reliability for individual test items was "substantial" or "excellent" for 14 of 15 items. CONCLUSIONS: The PedNIHSS score can be scored retrospectively from medical records with a high degree of concurrent validity and reliability. This tool can be used to improve the quality of retrospective pediatric stroke studies.