The current study demonstrates that CI provides substantial benefit among infant recipients. Furthermore, when performed by an experienced cochlear implant and pediatric anesthesia team, the surgical and anesthetic risks are similar to that expected with both older pediatric and adult patients.

Cigarette smoke is a common environmental insult associated with increased risk of developing airway diseases such as wheezing and asthma in neonates and children. In adults, asthma involves airway remodeling characterized by increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation and increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, as well as airway hyperreactivity. The effects of cigarette smoke on remodeling and contractility in the developing airway are not well-elucidated. In this study, we used canalicular-stage (18-20 wk gestational age) human fetal airway smooth muscle (fASM) cells as an in vitro model of the immature airway. fASM cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE; 0.5-1.5% for 24-72 h), and cell proliferation, ECM deposition, and intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) responses to agonist (histamine 10 μM) were used to evaluate effects on remodeling and hyperreactivity. CSE significantly increased cell proliferation and deposition of ECM molecules collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin. In contrast, [Ca(2+)]i responses were not significantly affected by CSE. Analysis of key signaling pathways demonstrated significant increase in extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and p38 activation with CSE. Inhibition of ERK or p38 signaling prevented CSE-mediated changes in proliferation, whereas only ERK inhibition attenuated the CSE-mediated increase in ECM deposition. Overall, these results demonstrate that cigarette smoke may enhance remodeling in developing human ASM through hyperplasia and ECM production, thus contributing to development of neonatal and pediatric airway disease.

Object The aim in this study was to describe the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and risk for neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) in pediatric patients presenting with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and internal auditory canal (IAC) tumors. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective study at a tertiary care academic referral center. All patients with an age ≤ 18 years who had presented with an extraaxial CPA or IAC tumor between 1987 and 2012 were included in the study cohort. Data regarding symptoms, diagnosis, tumor characteristics, and NF2 status were collected and analyzed. Results Sixty patients (55% female, 45% male) harboring 87 tumors were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.8 years (median 14.0 years, range 0.9–18.9 years). Schwannomas were the most commonly identified lesions (57 of 87 tumors, including 52 vestibular, 3 facial, and 2 trigeminal schwannomas), followed by meningiomas (5 of 87) and epidermoid cysts (4 of 87). Six malignant tumors were diagnosed, including small-cell sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant meningioma, atypical rhabdoid-teratoid tumor, endolymphatic sac tumor, and malignant ganglioglioma. Headache, followed by hearing loss and imbalance, was the most common presenting symptom, whereas dysphagia, otalgia, and facial pain were uncommon. Neurofibromatosis Type 2 was diagnosed in 20 (61%) of 33 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS), while the other 13 patients (39%) had sporadic tumors. Nineteen of the 20 patients with NF2 met the diagnostic criteria for that disorder on initial presentation, and 15 of them presented with bilateral VS. At the last follow-up, 19 of the 20 patients subsequently diagnosed with NF2 demonstrated bilateral VSs, whereas 1 patient with a unilateral VS and multiple other NF2-associated tumors has yet to demonstrate a contralateral VS to date. Only 1 patient presenting with an isolated unilateral VS and no family history of NF2 demonstrated a contralateral VS on subsequent radiological screening. Conclusions Cerebellopontine angle and IAC tumors in the pediatric population are rare. There are several noteworthy differences between the adult and pediatric populations harboring these lesions. While VS is the most common pathology in both age groups, the lesion was found in only 60% of the pediatric patients in the present study. Unlike in adults, VSs in the pediatric population were associated with NF2 in over one-half of all cases. The majority of pediatric patients with NF2 fulfilled the diagnostic criteria at initial presentation; however, approximately 7% of patients presenting with a seemingly sporadic (no family history of NF2) unilateral VS will meet the criteria for NF2 later in life. Finally, malignancies account for a significantly higher percentage (10%) of cases among pediatric patients. These findings underscore the importance of early screening and close radiological follow-up and may be helpful in patient counseling.

Opioids do not effectively manage pain in many patients with advanced cancer. Because anandamide (AEA) activation of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1R) on nociceptors reduces nociception, manipulation of AEA metabolism in the periphery may be an effective alternative or adjuvant therapy in the management of cancer pain. AEA is hydrolyzed by the intracellular enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and this enzyme activity contributes to uptake of AEA into neurons and to reduction of AEA available to activate CB1R. We used an in vitro preparation of adult murine dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons co-cultured with fibrosarcoma cells to investigate how tumors alter the uptake of AEA into neurons. Evidence that the uptake of [3H]AEA into dissociated DRG cells in the co-culture model mimicked the increase in uptake that occurred in DRG cells from tumor-bearing mice supported the utility of the in vitro model to study AEA uptake. Results with the fluorescent AEA analog CAY10455 confirmed that an increase in uptake in the co-culture model occurred in neurons. One factor that contributed to the increase in [3H]AEA uptake was an increase in total cellular cholesterol in the cancer condition. Treatment with the FAAH inhibitor URB597 reduced CAY10455 uptake in the co-culture model to the level observed in DRG neurons maintained in the control condition (i.e., in the absence of fibrosarcoma cells), and this effect was paralleled by OMDM-1, an inhibitor of AEA uptake, at a concentration that had no effect on FAAH activity. Maximally effective concentrations of the two drugs together produced a greater reduction than was observed with each drug alone. Treatment with BMS309403, which competes for AEA binding to fatty acid binding protein-5, mimicked the effect of OMDM-1 in vitro. Local injection of OMDM-1 reduced hyperalgesia in vivo in mice with unilateral tumors in and around the calcaneous bone. Intraplantar injection of OMDM-1 (5 µg) into the tumor-bearing paw reduced mechanical hyperalgesia through a CB1R-dependent mechanism and also reduced a spontaneous nocifensive behavior. The same dose reduced withdrawal responses evoked by suprathreshold mechanical stimuli in naive mice. These data support the conclusion that OMDM-1 inhibits AEA uptake by a mechanism that is independent of inhibition of FAAH and provide a rationale for the development of peripherally restricted drugs that decrease AEA uptake for the management of cancer pain.

Emotional intelligence (EI) has been associated with increased academic achievement, but its impact on medical education is relatively unexplored. This study sought to evaluate change in EI, performance outcomes, and team cohesion within a team-based medical school anatomy course. Forty-two medical students completed a pre-course and post-course Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). Individual EI scores were then compared with composite course performance grade and team cohesion survey results. Mean pre-course EI score was 140.3 out of a possible 160. During the course, mean individual EI scores did not change significantly (P = 0.17) and no correlation between EI scores and academic performance was noted (P = 0.31). In addition, EI did not correlate with team cohesion (P = 0.16). While business has found significant utility for EI in increasing performance and productivity, its role in medical education is still uncertain.