The Christie score for post-treatment response assessment PET/CT in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a safe and simple scoring system.

Background: Radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy is a standard of care treatment for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Upon completion, patients are referred for a post-treatment F-FDG PET/CT (Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography) scan to help guide ongoing management by assessing for the presence or absence of residual or recurrent disease and differentiating this from post-treatment inflammation. To improve objective reporting of response, we developed the Christie score.

Deployment of a Machine Learning Algorithm in a Real-World Cohort for Quality Control Monitoring of Human Epidermal Growth Factor-2-Stained Clinical Specimens in Breast Cancer.

Context.—: Precise determination of biomarker status is necessary for clinical trial enrollment and endpoint analyses, as well as for optimal treatment determination in real-world practice. However, variabilities may be introduced into this process due to the processing of clinical specimens by different laboratories and assessment by distinct pathologists.

Clinical and Epidemiological Information Required for Lyme Disease Surveillance in a Low-Incidence State, California 2011-2017.

Between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017, over 12,000 case reports of Lyme disease (LD) were submitted to the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange for further investigation. The number of case reports has tripled compared to previous years, emphasizing the need for efficient estimation and classification methods. We evaluated whether estimation procedures can be implemented in a low-incidence state such as California to correctly classify a case of LD, similar to those procedures used in high-incidence states.

Cell-type specific, inducible and acute degradation of targeted protein in mice by two degron systems.

Despite its broad application in in vitro studies, the application of targeted protein degradation (TPD) to animal models faces considerable challenges. Here, we develop inducible and cell-type specific TPD systems in mice using two degron systems: Oryza sativa TIR1 (OsTIR1)-auxin-inducible degron 2 (AID2) and human cereblon (hCRBN)-SALL4 degron (S4D). Efficient degradation of Satb1 protein by these systems recapitulates phenotypes observed in the Satb1-deficient mice.

The 2009 FDA PRO guidance, Potential Type I error, Descriptive Statistics and Pragmatic estimation of the number of interviews for item elicitation.

A statistical methodology named "capture recapture", a Kaplan-Meier Summary Statistic, and an urn model framework are presented to describe the elicitation, then estimate both the number of interviews and the total number of items ("codes") that will be elicited during patient interviews, and present a summary graphical statistic that "saturation" has occurred. This methodology is developed to address a gap in the FDA 2009 PRO and 2012 PFDD guidance for determining the number of interviews (sample size). This estimate of the number of interviews (sample size) uses a two-step procedure.

A Comparative Study of Direct Immunofluorescence Patterns in Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Versus Dermatitis Herpetiformis.

Background: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is typically characterized by granular IgA deposition in the papillary dermis on direct immunofluorescence (DIF), and linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is characterized by linear deposition of IgA along the basement membrane. Other DIF findings in both conditions may include IgG, IgM, and C3 deposition in various patterns. In cases where immunofluorescence findings are unclear, such as continuous but somewhat granular IgA deposition along the dermal-epidermal junction, additional DIF patterns may be helpful in the diagnostic process.

Front-Line Insights Into the Social Determinants of Health in Housing Instability: A Multi-Province Study.

Introduction: Individuals experiencing housing instability face significant health inequities. Addressing housing instability requires an understanding of the factors that contribute to these inequities-a responsibility that has been assumed by community-based organizations. Interviewing individuals from 3 Canadian provinces, the present study aimed to examine the perspectives of individuals from front-line services of the social determinants of health (SDoH) needs of individuals experiencing housing instability.

Global 3D rocket launch and re-entry air pollutant and CO emissions at the onset of the megaconstellation era.

Satellite megaconstellation (SMC) missions are spurring rapid growth in rocket launches and anthropogenic re-entries. These events inject pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO) in all atmospheric layers, affecting climate and stratospheric ozone. Quantification of these and other environmental impacts requires reliable inventories of emissions.

What Does 'Preconception Health' Mean to People? A Public Consultation on Awareness and Use of Language.

Introduction: There is growing scientific and policy recognition that optimising health before a potential pregnancy (preconception health) improves reproductive outcomes and the lifelong health of future children. However, public awareness on this topic is low. We conducted a public consultation to develop language recommendations and identify and prioritise approaches to inform research and improve public awareness of preconception health.

A phase II randomized trial of talimogene laherparepvec oncolytic immunotherapy with or without radiotherapy for patients with cutaneous metastases from solid tumors.

Background: Cutaneous metastases (CMs) are a manifestation of advanced cancer and can be treated with oncolytic immunotherapy. Laboratory studies suggest radiotherapy (RT) may facilitate response to immunotherapy. We hypothesized that oncolytic immunotherapy with talimogene lapherparepvec (T-VEC, an oncolytic immunotherapy that expresses granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) and RT would produce response in non-targeted metastases.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Melanoma: Cutaneous, Version 2.2024.

The NCCN Guidelines for Cutaneous Melanoma (termed Melanoma: Cutaneous) provide multidisciplinary recommendations for diagnostic workup, staging, and treatment of patients. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the update to neoadjuvant systemic therapy options and summarize the new clinical data evaluated by the NCCN panel for the recommended therapies in Version 2.2024 of the NCCN Guidelines for Cutaneous Melanoma.

Extended Follow-Up Outcomes from Pooled Prospective Studies Evaluating Efficacy of Interstitial Alpha Radionuclide Treatment for Skin and Head and Neck Cancers.

The initial favorable efficacy and safety profile for Alpha DaRT have been demonstrated (NCT04377360); however, the longer-term safety and durability of the treatment are unknown. This pooled analysis of four prospective trials evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of Alpha DaRT for the treatment of head and neck or skin tumors. A total of 81 lesions in 71 patients were treated across six international institutions, with a median follow-up of 14.

Electrical Synapses Mediate Embryonic Hyperactivity in a Zebrafish Model of Fragile X Syndrome.

Although hyperactivity is associated with a wide variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, the early embryonic origins of locomotion have hindered investigation of pathogenesis of these debilitating behaviors. The earliest motor output in vertebrate animals is generated by clusters of early-born motor neurons (MNs) that occupy distinct regions of the spinal cord, innervating stereotyped muscle groups. Gap junction electrical synapses drive early spontaneous behavior in zebrafish, prior to the emergence of chemical neurotransmitter networks.

Decreased postpartum exercise capacity after a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia: Implications for CVD risk prediction.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with increased long-term risk for cardiometabolic risk factors (chronic hypertension [HTN], obesity, diabetes) and heart failure. Exercise capacity is a known predictor of heart failure in patients with normal resting cardiac filling pressures. In this prospective observational cohort study, we sought to identify predictors of reduced postpartum exercise capacity in participants with normotensive vs preeclamptic pregnancies.

Invasive Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease in Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential.

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) occurs due to acquired mutations in bone marrow progenitor cells. CHIP confers a 2-fold risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited data regarding specific cardiovascular phenotypes.