Survival disadvantage of male children with retinoblastoma in the United States: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (2000-2017) Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma is a rare malignancy involving the retina, although, more common among children, with genetic inheritance explaining the incidence as well as acquired forms. The incidence varies among race and sex as well as mortality and survival. The current study aimed to assess retinoblastoma cumulative incidence (CMI), mortality, and survival by sex. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was used to assess the CMI, mortality, and survival in this pediatric malignancy based on the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data 2000-2017. The binomial regression model was used to examine sex differentials in mortality, as well as other study variables, while Cox proportional hazard model was used for the survival variability by sex. RESULTS: The CMI during this period was higher among males relative to females (males n = 249, 56.7%; females n = 190, 43.3%, χ2  = 2.90, df = 1, p = 0.089). There were sex differences in mortality, with excess mortality observed among males compared to females, risk ratio = 3.40, 95% CI [1.0-15.72]. The survival differences by sex indicated decreased survival among males relative to females, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.39, 95% CI [1.0-15.72]. After controlling for the potential confoundings, namely tumor grade, urbanity, and median income the survival disadvantage of males persisted. Compared to females', males were more than three times as likely to die, adjusted HR = 3.42, 99% CI [0.37-31.60]. CONCLUSION: In a representative sample of pediatric retinoblastoma, there was a sex differential in survival with excess risk of dying identified among males relative to females, which may be explained in part by male X-linkage.

Differentiation of Cells Isolated from Human Femoral Heads into Functional Osteoclasts.

Proper formation of the skeleton during development is crucial for the mobility of humans and the maintenance of essential organs. The production of bone is regulated by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. An imbalance of these cells can lead to a decrease in bone mineral density, which leads to fractures. While many studies are emerging to understand the role of osteoblasts, less studies are present about the role of osteoclasts. This present study utilized bone marrow cells isolated directly from the bone marrow of femoral heads obtained from osteoarthritic (OA) patients after undergoing hip replacement surgery. Here, we used tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, Cathepsin K, and nuclei to identity osteoclasts and their functionality after stimulation with macrophage-colony stimulation factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-ß ligand (RANKL). Our data demonstrated that isolated cells can be differentiated into functional osteoclasts, as indicated by the 92% and 83% of cells that stained positive for TRAP and Cathepsin K, respectively. Furthermore, isolated cells remain viable and terminally differentiate into osteoclasts when stimulated with RANKL. These data demonstrate that cells isolated from human femoral heads can be differentiated into osteoclasts to study bone disorders during development and adulthood.

Social gradient predicts survival disadvantage of African Americans/Black children with lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related mortality among children, 0-14 years, and lymphoma, a malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid cells, mostly lymphatic B and T cells is common among children. The current study aimed to assess the cumulative incidence (CmI), mortality, and survival in pediatric lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort was utilized to examine children, 0-19 years with lymphoma for CmI, mortality and survival from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. The variables assessed included social determinants of health, namely urbanity, median household income, and race. While chi square was used to characterize study variables by race, binomial regression was employed for mortality risk. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival modeling. RESULTS: The CmI was higher among white children (76.67%) relative to Black/African American (AA, 13.44%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN, 0.67%), as well as Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI, 7.53%). With respect to mortality, there was excess mortality among Black/AA children compared to white children, Risk Ratio (RR) = 1.54, 95% CI, 1.33-1.79. Relative to whites, Blacks were 52% more likely to die, Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.52, 95% CI, 1.30-1.78. Survival disadvantage persisted among Blacks/AA after controlling for the other confoundings, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.54, 99% CI, 1.24-1.91. CONCLUSION: In a large cohort of children with lymphoma, Black/AA children relative to whites presented with survival disadvantage, which was explained by urbanity and median household income, suggestive of transforming the physical and social environments in narrowing the racial differences in pediatric lymphoma survival in the US.