Statins as Secondary Preventive Agent to Limit Breast Cancer Metastatic Outgrowth.

Metastasis is a leading cause of mortality in breast cancer, as metastatic disease is often aggressive and resistant to conventional treatments. Cancer cells that spread to distant organs can enter a dormant phase for extended periods, sometimes years or decades. During this dormant phase, cancer cells avoid immune and pharmacological response.

Molecular HIV Surveillance: Beyond Cluster Detection and Response.

There has been significant controversy surrounding the use of HIV sequence data to identify outbreaks of HIV transmission since the initiation of molecular HIV surveillance (MHS) in the US. The current approach to MHS is comprehensive cluster detection and response (CDR), in which clusters of related infections are identified and used as the basis for cluster-based or population-based interventions. With CDR, there are ethical and stigma concerns around the impingement of individual privacy, as well as legal concerns around the inference of transmission in regions where HIV criminalization laws and statutes exist.

Factors Associated With PrEP Utilization and Access in the United States.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a cornerstone of the Ending the HIV Epidemic plan. We evaluated sociodemographic factors associated with PrEP use in jurisdictions with high HIV diagnosis rates between the initial years of PrEP rollout in the U.S.

Phylodynamics for HIV Prevention: A Miami-Dade Case Study.

Background: To date, HIV molecular epidemiology (HIV ME) has been primarily used to identify clusters of related infections (cluster detection and response [CDR]) and then address interventions to these clusters. Community groups have raised concern regarding CDR regarding privacy and ethical concerns. Here we demonstrate how an alternative approach to HIV ME can provide public health benefit.

Hope for Others: Research Results from the University of Pittsburgh Rapid Autopsy Program for Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer affects 1/8 of women throughout their lifetimes, with 90% of cancer deaths being caused by metastasis. However, metastasis poses unique challenges to research, as complex changes in the microenvironment in different metastatic sites and difficulty obtaining tissue for study hinder the ability to examine in depth the changes that occur during metastasis. Rapid autopsy programs thus fill a unique need in advancing metastasis research.

Impact of variable titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma and recipient SARS-CoV2-specific humoral immunity on survival in hospitalized patients.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) was one of the first therapies to receive emergency use authorization for management of COVID-19. We assessed the effectiveness of CCP in a propensity-matched analysis, and whether the presence of antibodies in the recipient at the time of treatment or the titer of antibodies in the administered CCP influenced clinical effectiveness. In an inpatient population within a single large health system, a total of 290 CCP patients were matched to 290 controls.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Exosomes and Soluble Signals Regulate Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy: Current Progress and Future Outlook.

Breast cancer is most common in women, and in most cases there is no evidence of spread and the primary tumor is removed, resulting in a 'cure'. However, in 10% to 30% of these women, distant metastases recur after years to decades. This is due to breast cancer cells disseminating to distant organs and lying quiescent.

Millifluidic Nanogenerator Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Blood Electrical Conductivity Monitoring at Low Frequency.

The electrical conductivity of blood is a crucial physiological parameter with diverse applications in medical diagnostics. Here, a novel approach utilizing a portable millifluidic nanogenerator lab-on-a-chip device for measuring blood conductivity at low frequencies, is introduced. The proposed device employs blood as a conductive substance within its built-in triboelectric nanogenerator system.

A CXCR3-Activating Peptide Increases Tear Break Up Time and Corrects Corneal haze in a Rabbit Model of Environmental Dry Eye.

Purpose: Environmentally-triggered dry eye disease (DED) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), which constitutes the majority of DED cases, currently is palliatively treated with aqueous replacement solutions that do not target the dysfunction of the mucin and lipid components of tears. We tested whether a peptide that increased goblet cell numbers in a model of scleral chemical injury would also improve tear quality in environmental DED.

Methods: Environmental DED was established by exposing New Zealand white rabbits (8 per group, female) to 20% humidity with rapid air replacement and b.

Inshore and offshore marine migration pathways of Atlantic salmon post-smolts from multiple rivers in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.

The migratory behavior of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts in coastal waters is poorly understood. In this collaborative study, 1914 smolts, from 25 rivers, in four countries were tagged with acoustic transmitters during a single seasonal migration. In total, 1105 post-smolts entered the marine study areas and 438 (39.

Impact of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines on HIV persistence and immune dynamics during suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: We sought to determine if standard influenza and pneumococcal vaccines can be used to stimulate HIV reservoirs during antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of two clinically recommended vaccines (influenza and pneumococcal).

Methods: Persons with HIV on ART ( N  = 54) were enrolled in the clinical trial.

Prospective Assessment of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to a Third COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Dose Among Immunocompromised Individuals.

Background: Improved coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention is needed for immunocompromised individuals.

Methods: A prospective study was performed of health care workers (HCW) and immunocompromised participants with baseline serology following 2 mRNA vaccine doses and who were retested after dose 3 (D3); multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of serological responses. IFN-γ/TNF-α T-cell responses were assessed in a subset.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B is a regulator of alpha-actinin4 in the glomerular podocyte.

Glomerular podocytes are instrumental for the barrier function of the kidney, and podocyte injury contributes to proteinuria and the deterioration of renal function. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an established metabolic regulator, and the inactivation of this phosphatase mitigates podocyte injury. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the substrates that mediate PTP1B actions in podocytes.

Deciphering the molecular mechanism of enhanced tumor activity of the EGFR variant T790M/L858R using melanoma cell lines.

Introduction: The abnormal expression and mutagenesis of EGFR drives both the development and progression of a multitude of human cancers. Further mutations within the tyrosine kinase region of the EGFR subsequently contribute to resistance to targeted drugs. What is not known is how these mutations affect progression-related behaviors of cancer cells.

Axl contributes to efficient migration and invasion of melanoma cells.

Axl, a member of the TAM receptor family has been broadly suggested to play a key role in tumor metastasis. However, the function of Axl in the invasion and metastasis of melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer, remains largely unknown. In the present study, we found that melanoma cell lines present variable protein levels of Axl and Tyro3; interestingly, MerTK is not noted at detectable levels in any of tested MGP (metastatic growth phase) cell lines.

Evidence of potential establishment of pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in Scotland.

In spring 2022, pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha smolts were recorded in the UK. Fish were caught in the Rivers Thurso and Oykel in Scotland between 13 and 17 March. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first observation of O.

SARS-CoV-2 control on a large urban college campus without mass testing.

Objective: A small percentage of universities and colleges conducted mass SARS-CoV-2 testing. However, universal testing is resource-intensive, strains national testing capacity, and false negative tests can encourage unsafe behaviors.

Participants: A large urban university campus.

Matricellular protein Tenascin-C enhances mesenchymal stem cell angiogenic and wound healing efficacy under ischemic conditions.

Human mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) hold great promise in aiding wound healing through their ability to modulate all phases of repair and regeneration, most notably their secretion of pro-regenerative paracrine factors. However, MSC clinical utility is hindered by poor survival rates post-transplantation due to the harsh microenvironment in injured tissue. Previous work has shown that the matricellular protein Tenascin-C (TNC) provides survival signaling to MSCs via the epidermal growth factor receptor by restricting its activation at the plasma membrane, resulting in enhanced prosurvival signals.

Role of CXCR3 in fibrotic tissue responses.

Development of fibrosis leads to end stage diseases that defy treatments across all organs. This ensues as chronic inflammation is not dampened by physiologic processes that issue in the resolution phase of wound healing. Thus, these conditions can be considered diseases of "failure to heal".

Metabolomic and exposomic biomarkers of risk of future neurodevelopmental delay in human milk.

Background: The chemical composition of human milk has long-lasting effects on brain development. We examined the prognostic value of the human milk metabolome and exposome in children with the risk of neurodevelopmental delay (NDD).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 82 mother-infant pairs (40 male and 42 female infants).

Genomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 from vaccine breakthrough cases in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

We performed whole genome sequencing on SARS-CoV-2 from 59 vaccinated individuals from southwest Pennsylvania who tested positive between February and September, 2021. A comparison of mutations among vaccine breakthrough cases to a time-matched control group identified potential adaptive responses of SARS-CoV-2 to vaccination.