The higher prevalence of overweight among rural children, despite modestly higher physical activity levels, calls for further research into effective intervention programs specifically tailored for rural children.

Findings suggest that future public health interventions that aim to increasing physical activity among Hispanic adolescents should be tailored based on generational status and English-language use.

Purpose: Patients with resected, local–regionally advanced, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a one-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of 65%–69% despite adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy. Neoadjuvant PD-1 immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) has demonstrated clinical activity, but biomarkers of response and effect on survival remain unclear. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, or oropharynx (p16-negative) and clinical stage T3-T4 and/or two or more nodal metastases or clinical extracapsular nodal extension (ENE). Patients received neoadjuvant pembrolizumab 200 mg 1–3 weeks prior to surgery, were stratified by absence (intermediate-risk) or presence (high-risk) of positive margins and/or ENE, and received adjuvant radiotherapy (60–66 Gy) and concurrent pembrolizumab (every 3 weeks × 6 doses). Patients with high-risk HNSCC also received weekly, concurrent cisplatin (40 mg/m2). Primary outcome was one-year DFS. Secondary endpoints were one-year overall survival (OS) and pathologic response (PR). Safety was evaluated with CTCAE v5.0. Results: From February 2016 to October 2020, 92 patients enrolled. The median age was 59 years (range, 27–80), 30% were female, 86% had stage T3–T4, and 69% had ≥N2. At a median follow-up of 28 months, one-year DFS was 97% (95% CI, 71%–90%) in the intermediate-risk group and 66% (95% CI, 55%–84%) in the high-risk group. Patients with a PR had significantly improved one-year DFS relative to patients without response (93% vs. 72%, hazard ratio 0.29; 95% CI, 11%–77%). No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab increased one-year DFS rate in intermediate-risk, but not high-risk, HNSCC relative to historical control. PR to neoadjuvant ICB is a promising surrogate for DFS.

Background and Purpose Perfusion computerized tomography (PCT) has been used to assess the extent of blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of (BBB) permeability (BBBP) measured using PCT for development of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMCA) requiring hemicraniectomy (HC). Methods We retrospectively identified patients from our stroke registry that had MCA infarction and were evaluated with admission PCT. BBBP and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps were generated and infarct volumes calculated. Clinical and radiographic characteristics were compared between those who underwent HC versus those who did not undergo hemicraniectomy (NHC). Results 122 patients (12 (HC), 110 (NHC)) were identified. 12 patients who underwent HC had developed edema, midline shift or infarct expansion. Infarct permeability area (IParea), infarct CBV area (ICBVarea), and infarct volumes were significantly different (p<0.018, p<0.0211, p<0.0001, p<0.0014) between HC and NHC groups. Age (p=0.03) and admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (p=0.0029) were found to be independent predictors for HC. Using logistic regression modeling, there was an association between increased IParea and HC. The odds ratio for HC based on a 5, 10, 15 or 20 cm2 increase in IParea were 1.179, 1.390, 1.638 or 1.932, respectively (95% CI 1.035-1.343, 1.071-1.804, 1.108-2.423, 1.146-3.255). Conclusion Increased IParea is associated with an increased likelihood for undergoing HC. Since early HC for MMCA has been associated with better outcomes, the IParea on admission PCT might be a useful tool to predict MMCA and need for HC.