Spiral scanning improves subject fixation in widefield retinal imaging.

Point scanning retinal imaging modalities, including confocal scanning light ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) and optical coherence tomography, suffer from fixational motion artifacts. Fixation targets, though effective at reducing eye motion, are infeasible in some applications (e.g.

Topical captopril: a promising treatment for secondary lymphedema.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-mediated tissue fibrosis is an important regulator of lymphatic dysfunction in secondary lymphedema. However, TGF-β1 targeting can cause toxicity and autoimmune complications, limiting clinical utility. Angiotensin II (Ang II) modulates intracellular TGF-β1 signaling, and inhibition of Ang II production using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as captopril, has antifibrotic efficacy in some pathological settings.

Tumor-Associated Lymphatics Upregulate MHC-II to Suppress Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

Steady-state lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) can induce peripheral tolerance by presenting endogenous antigens on MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules. Recent evidence suggests that lymph node LECs can cross-present tumor antigens on MHC-I to suppress tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. Whether LECs can act as immunosuppressive cells in an MHC-II dependent manner in the local tumor microenvironment (TME) is not well characterized.

Population-based cellular kinetic characterization of ciltacabtagene autoleucel in subjects with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The aims of this work were to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transgene after single intravenous infusion administration of ciltacabtagene autoleucel in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. CAR transgene level in blood were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from 97 subjects in a phase Ib/II CARTITUDE-1 study (NCT03548207), with a targeted cilta-cel dose of 0.75 × 10 (range 0.

Treatment of Patients with Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare malignancy arising from the serosa of the peritoneal cavity. It is diagnosed based on suspicious findings on cross sectional imaging and a tissue biopsy showing confirmatory histologic and immunohistochemical features. The disease is hallmarked by its propensity to progress mainly in the peritoneal cavity.

Lymphatics in Tumor Progression and Immunomodulation.

The lymphatic system consists of a unidirectional hierarchy of vessels responsible for fluid homeostasis, lipid absorption, and the transport of immune cells and antigens to secondary lymphoid organs. In cancer, lymphatics play complex and heterogenous roles that can promote or inhibit tumor growth. While lymphatic proliferation and remodeling promote tumor dissemination, functional lymphatics are necessary for generating an effective immune response.

Incidence and management of CAR-T neurotoxicity in patients with multiple myeloma treated with ciltacabtagene autoleucel in CARTITUDE studies.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies are highly effective for multiple myeloma (MM) but their impressive efficacy is associated with treatment-related neurotoxicities in some patients. In CARTITUDE-1, 5% of patients with MM reported movement and neurocognitive treatment-emergent adverse events (MNTs) with ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen-targeted CAR T-cell therapy. We assessed the associated factors for MNTs in CARTITUDE-1.

Pilot Study of Anti-Th2 Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer-Related Upper Extremity Lymphedema.

Recent studies suggest that Th2 cells play a key role in the pathology of secondary lymphedema by elaborating cytokines such as IL4 and IL13. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of QBX258, a monoclonal IL4/IL13 neutralizing antibody, in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). We enrolled nine women with unilateral stage I/II BCRL and treated them once monthly with intravenous infusions of QBX258 for 4 months.

Strong, Hydrostable, and Degradable Straws Based on Cellulose-Lignin Reinforced Composites.

The huge consumption of single-use plastic straws has brought a long-lasting environmental problem. Paper straws, the current replacement for plastic straws, suffer from drawbacks, such as a high cost of the water-proof wax layer and poor water stability due to the easy delamination of the wax layer. It is therefore crucial to find a high-performing alternative to mitigate the environmental problems brought by plastic straws.

Hybrid modes in a single thermally excited asymmetric dimer antenna.

The study of hybrid modes in a single dimer of neighboring antennas is an essential step to optimize the far-field electromagnetic (EM) response of large-scale metasurfaces or any complex antenna structure made up of subwavelength building blocks. Here we present far-field infrared spatial modulation spectroscopy (IR-SMS) measurements of a single thermally excited asymmetric dimer of square metal-insulator-metal (MIM) antennas separated by a nanometric gap. Through thermal fluctuations, all the EM modes of the antennas are excited, and hybrid bonding and anti-bonding modes can be observed simultaneously.

YY1 directly interacts with myocardin to repress the triad myocardin/SRF/CArG box-mediated smooth muscle gene transcription during smooth muscle phenotypic modulation.

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) regulates gene transcription in a variety of biological processes. In this study, we aim to determine the role of YY1 in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation both in vivo and in vitro. Here we show that vascular injury in rodent carotid arteries induces YY1 expression along with reduced expression of smooth muscle differentiation markers in the carotids.

Experimental Medicine Study to Measure Immune Checkpoint Receptors PD-1 and GITR Turnover Rates In Vivo in Humans.

Development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting immune-checkpoint receptors (IMRs) for the treatment of cancer is one of the most active areas of investment in the biopharmaceutical industry. A key decision in the clinical development of anti-IMR mAbs is dose selection. Dose selection can be challenging because the traditional oncology paradigm of administering the maximum tolerated dose is not applicable to anti-IMR mAbs.

Population-scale Longitudinal Mapping of COVID-19 Symptoms, Behavior, and Testing Identifies Contributors to Continued Disease Spread in the United States.

Despite social distancing and shelter-in-place policies, COVID-19 continues to spread in the United States. A lack of timely information about factors influencing COVID-19 spread and testing has hampered agile responses to the pandemic. We developed How We Feel, an extensible web and mobile application that aggregates self-reported survey responses, to fill gaps in the collection of COVID-19-related data.

Regulation of Lymphatic Function in Obesity.

The lymphatic system has many functions, including macromolecules transport, fat absorption, regulation and modulation of adaptive immune responses, clearance of inflammatory cytokines, and cholesterol metabolism. Thus, it is evident that lymphatic function can play a key role in the regulation of a wide array of biologic phenomenon, and that physiologic changes that alter lymphatic function may have profound pathologic effects. Recent studies have shown that obesity can markedly impair lymphatic function.

Histopathologic Features of Lymphedema: A Molecular Review.

An estimated 5 million people in the United States are affected by secondary lymphedema, with most cases attributed to malignancies or malignancy-related treatments. The pathogenesis of secondary lymphedema has historically been attributed to lymphatic injury or dysfunction; however, recent studies illustrate the complexity of lymphedema as a disease process in which many of its clinical features such as inflammation, fibrosis, adipogenesis, and recurrent infections contribute to on-going lymphatic dysfunction in a vicious cycle. Investigations into the molecular underpinning of these features further our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease and suggests new therapeutics.

Current treatment landscape for patients with locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic literature review.

Background: Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), an aggressive histological subtype, has poor prognosis. Chemotherapy remains standard of care for mTNBC, although no agent has been specifically approved for this breast cancer subtype. Instead, chemotherapies approved for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are used for mTNBC (National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines [NCCN] v1.

Decoupling Ionic and Electronic Pathways in Low-Dimensional Hybrid Conductors.

The construction of two-dimensional (2D) layered compounds for nanofluidic ion transport has recently attracted increasing interest due to the facile fabrication, tunable channel size, and high flux of these materials. Here we design a nacre-mimetic graphite-based nanofluidic structure in which the nanometer-thick graphite flakes are wrapped by negatively charged nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) fibers to form multiple 2D confined spacings as nanochannels for rapid cation transport. At the same time, the graphite-NFC structure exhibits an ultralow electrical conductivity (σ ≤ 10 S/cm), even when the graphite concentration is up to 50 wt %, well above the percolation threshold (∼1 wt %).

Alterations in ALK/ROS1/NTRK/MET drive a group of infantile hemispheric gliomas.

Infant gliomas have paradoxical clinical behavior compared to those in children and adults: low-grade tumors have a higher mortality rate, while high-grade tumors have a better outcome. However, we have little understanding of their biology and therefore cannot explain this behavior nor what constitutes optimal clinical management. Here we report a comprehensive genetic analysis of an international cohort of clinically annotated infant gliomas, revealing 3 clinical subgroups.

Near-Field and Far-Field Thermal Emission of an Individual Patch Nanoantenna.

The far-field spectral and near-field spatial responses of an individual metal-insulator-metal nanoantenna are reported, using thermal fluctuations as an internal source of the electromagnetic field. The far-field spectra, obtained by combining Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with spatial modulation based on a light falloff effect in a confocal geometry, have revealed two distinct emission peaks attributed to the excitation of the fundamental mode of the nanoantenna at two distinct wavelengths. Superresolved near-field images of the thermally excited mode have been obtained by thermal radiation scanning tunneling microscopy.

Genetic Variants Associated With Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Two Populations of Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Vincristine is one of the core chemotherapy agents used in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, one of the major toxicities resulting from vincristine exposure is vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). When VIPN results in significant morbidity, the vincristine dose may need to be reduced, thus potentially decreasing the effectiveness of treatment.

Peritoneal Metastases from Malignant Mesothelioma.

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer that is ultimately fatal in almost all afflicted individuals. Morbidity and mortality from MPM is due to its propensity to progress locoregionally within the abdominal cavity. Patients with MPM most commonly present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms that usually lead to diagnosis when the condition is relatively advanced.

How experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks influence motivation.

Temporal landmarks, or moments that stand out in time, structure people's perceptions and use of time. We highlight recent research examining how both experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks impact motivation and goal pursuit. Experiencing a temporal landmark may produce a 'fresh start effect', making people feel more motivated to pursue their goals right after the landmark.

Current Management and Future Opportunities for Peritoneal Metastases: Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Purpose: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and ultimately fatal cancer that was first described just over a century ago. It is a diffuse malignancy arising from the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum; morbidity and mortality from MPM is due to its propensity to progress locoregionally within the abdominal cavity.

Methods: The purpose of this article is to review the current state-of-the-science related to the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of MPM.

CYP3A5 genotype and its impact on vincristine pharmacokinetics and development of neuropathy in Kenyan children with cancer.

Background: Vincristine (VCR) is a critical part of treatment in pediatric malignancies and is associated with dose-dependent peripheral neuropathy (vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy [VIPN]). Our previous findings show VCR metabolism is regulated by the CYP3A5 gene. Individuals who are low CYP3A5 expressers metabolize VCR slower and experience more severe VIPN as compared to high expressers.

Time dependent pharmacokinetics of pembrolizumab in patients with solid tumor and its correlation with best overall response.

Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed death-1 receptor to induce immune-mediated clearance (CL) of tumor cells. Originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for treating patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, pembrolizumab is now also used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck cancer, and urothelial cancer. This paper describes the recently identified feature of pembrolizumab pharmacokinetics, the time-dependent or time-varying CL.