Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Veterans With Gulf War Illness Evaluated at VA's War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center.

Introduction: Excess rates of Gulf War illness (GWI) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two chronic multisymptom illnesses, have long been documented among nearly 700,000 veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. We sought to report the prevalence, characteristics, and association of GWI and IBS decades after the war in a clinical cohort of deployed Gulf War veterans (GWVs) who were evaluated at the Department of Veterans Affairs' War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) for unexplained chronic symptoms.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data gathered from clinical intake questionnaires of deployed GWVs who were evaluated at WRIISC clinics between 2008 and 2020.

Genome-wide association study identifies high-impact susceptibility loci for HCC in North America.

Background And Aims: Despite the substantial impact of environmental factors, individuals with a family history of liver cancer have an increased risk for HCC. However, genetic factors have not been studied systematically by genome-wide approaches in large numbers of individuals from European descent populations (EDP).

Approach And Results: We conducted a 2-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) on HCC not affected by HBV infections.

Association of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Hyperlipidemia With Gulf War Illness Among Gulf War Veterans.

Background: Approximately 30% of the 700 000 Gulf War veterans report a chronic symptom-based illness of varying severity referred to as Gulf War illness (GWI). Toxic deployment-related exposures have been implicated in the cause of GWI, some of which contribute to metabolic dysregulation and lipid abnormalities. As this cohort ages, the relationship between GWI and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a growing concern.

The Association between Caffeine Intake and the Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota in Humans-A Preliminary Investigation.

We examined the association between caffeine and coffee intake and the community composition and structure of colonic microbiota. A total of 34 polyp-free adults donated 97 colonic biopsies. Microbial DNA was sequenced for the 16S rRNA gene V4 region.

Area deprivation index and segregation on the risk of HIV: a U.S. Veteran case-control study.

Background: Preventing HIV infection remains a critically important tool in the continuing fight against HIV/AIDS. The primary aim is to evaluate the effect and interactions between a composite area-level social determinants of health measure and an area-level measure of residential segregation on the risk of HIV/AIDS in U.S.

Immunogenetic Determinants of Susceptibility to Head and Neck Cancer in the Million Veteran Program Cohort.

Unlabelled: Increasing rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) have largely offset declines in tobacco-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) at non-OPC sites. Host immunity is an important modulator of HPV infection, persistence, and clearance, and also of immune evasion in both virally- and nonvirally-driven cancers. However, the association between collective known cancer-related immune gene variants and HNSCC susceptibility has not been fully characterized.

Incidence Trends of Kaposi Sarcoma Among Young Non-Hispanic Black Men by US Regions, 2001-2018.

Despite the overall national decline in Kaposi sarcoma (KS) incidence in the United States among persons living with HIV, previous studies suggest there might be specific subgroups of the US population that are associated with higher KS incidence rates than others. Using the 2001-2018 National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database, we assessed KS incidence trends among young men aged 20-34 years by race and ethnicity and geographic region. Statistical significance is 2-sided.

Can statins lessen the burden of virus mediated cancers?

Background: Oncogenic viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), and Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes virus (KSHV) contribute to a significant proportion of the world's cancers. Given the sizeable burden of virus mediated cancers, development of strategies to prevent and/or treat these cancers is critical. While large population studies suggest that treatment with hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins, may reduce the risk of many cancer types including HBV/HCV related hepatocellular carcinoma, few studies have specifically evaluated the impact of statin use in populations at risk for other types of virus mediated cancers.

Effect of HIV and antiretroviral therapy use on body weight changes in a cohort of U.S. veterans living with and without HIV.

Objective: People living with HIV have high rates of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. Our study sought to evaluate weight trajectory in a retrospective cohort of people living with HIV and matched HIV-negative veterans (controls) and to evaluate risk factors for weight gain.

Methods: This was a retrospective database analysis of data extracted from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse that included people living with HIV (n = 22 421) and age-matched HIV-negative controls (n = 63 072).

Risk and incidence of head and neck cancers in veterans living with HIV and matched HIV-negative veterans.

Background: Persons living with HIV/AIDS have a higher incidence of virus-related and tobacco/alcohol-related cancers. This study is the first to estimate the effect of HIV versus HIV-negative veterans on the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma incidence in a large retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The authors constructed a retrospective cohort study using patient data from 1999 to 2016 from the National Veterans Administration Corporate Data Warehouse and the VA Central Cancer Registry.

Dietary Fatty Acid Intake and the Colonic Gut Microbiota in Humans.

A high-fat diet has been associated with systemic diseases in humans and alterations in gut microbiota in animal studies. However, the influence of dietary fatty acid intake on gut microbiota in humans has not been well studied. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the association between intake of total fatty acids (TFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs), trans fatty acids (TrFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n3-FAs, and n6-FAs, and the community composition and structure of the adherent colonic gut microbiota.

A novel approach to studying early knee osteoarthritis illustrates that bilateral medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis is a heritable phenotype: an offspring study.

To assess the potential of studying offspring of people with and without knee osteoarthritis to understand the risk factors and heritability for knee osteoarthritis. We selected two groups of Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants from one clinical site: (1) participants with bilateral radiographic medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis and (2) those without tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. We then invited biological offspring ≥ 18 years old to complete an online survey that inquired about osteoarthritis risk factors and symptoms.

Association of Gulf War Illness-Related Symptoms with Military Exposures among 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans Evaluated at the War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC).

Veterans with difficult-to-diagnose conditions who receive care in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system can be referred for evaluation at one of three specialty VA War-Related Illness and Injury Study Centers (WRIISC). Veterans of the 1990−1991 Gulf War have long experienced excess rates of chronic symptoms associated with the condition known as Gulf War Illness (GWI), with hundreds evaluated at the WRIISC. Here we provide the first report from a cohort of 608 Gulf War Veterans seen at the WRIISC who completed questionnaires on chronic symptoms (>6 months) consistent with GWI as well as prominent exposures during Gulf War deployment.

Mental and Physical Health Correlates of Tobacco Use Among Transgender Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts.

The aim of the study was to identify prevalence of tobacco use and associated correlates in a cohort of 332 transgender veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We identified tobacco use, nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), and clinical comorbidities from veteran medical record databases. We compared differences in use and clinical comorbidities, using nonparametric bivariate analyses.

Habitual Sleep Duration and the Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota in Humans-A Pilot Study.

We examined the association between the colonic adherent microbiota and nocturnal sleep duration in humans. In a cross-sectional study, 63 polyp-free adults underwent a colonoscopy and donated 206 mucosal biopsies. The gut microbiota was profiled using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V4 region.

Gout and open-angle glaucoma risk in a veteran population.

Purpose: A history of gout, arthritis due to hyperuricemia, has been associated with decreased risk for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. We performed a population-based case-control study in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers nationwide to assess if gout or hyperuricemia is similarly associated with the ocular neurodegenerative condition glaucoma.

Methods: We used ICD-9 codes to identify a nationwide cohort of patients examined at VA healthcare eye clinics between 2000 and 2015 with a diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or of glaucoma suspect.

The association between protease inhibitors and anal cancer outcomes in veterans living with HIV treated with definitive chemoradiation: a retrospective study.

Background: The incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma has been increasing, particularly in people living with HIV (PLWH). There is concern that radiosensitizing drugs, such as protease inhibitors, commonly used in the management of HIV, may increase toxicities in patients undergoing chemoradiation. This study examines treatment outcomes and toxicities in PLWH managed with and without protease inhibitors who are receiving chemoradiation for anal cancer.

Spatial Characteristics of Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota in Humans.

Limited data exist on the spatial distribution of the colonic bacteria in humans. We collected the colonic biopsies from five segments of 27 polyp-free adults and collected feces from 13 of them. We sequenced the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene using the MiSeq platform.

Effect of Body Weight and Other Metabolic Factors on Risk of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer among Veterans with HIV and a History of Smoking.

Among people living with HIV (PWH), there has been an increasing incidence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia, which can modulate NSCLC risk. In this article, we evaluate which metabolic risk factors are associated with incident risk among PWH who smoke. This is done through a retrospective cohort study, using data of HIV+ veterans who smoke from the nationwide Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.

Alcohol use alters the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiota in humans.

Alcohol misuse is a risk factor for many adverse health outcomes. Alcohol misuse has been associated with an imbalance of gut microbiota in preclinical models and alcoholic diseases. We hypothesized that daily alcohol use would change the community composition and structure of the human colonic gut microbiota.

Incidence and survival for oropharynx and non-oropharynx head and neck cancers among veterans living with HIV.

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) have an excess risk for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) compared to the general U.S. population, but little is known about HIV-specific risk factors associated with the incidence and outcomes HNSCC.

Oral Health and the Altered Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota.

Background: Systemic diseases have been associated with oral health and gut microbiota. We examined the association between oral health and the community composition and structure of the adherent colonic gut microbiota.

Methods: We obtained 197 snap-frozen colonic biopsies from 62 colonoscopy-confirmed polyp-free individuals.

Validation of the Updated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Screening Algorithm in a Community-Based Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis of Multiple Etiologies.

Background & Aims: The Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Early detection Screening (HES) algorithm has been proposed to improve the performance of the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test in surveillance for HCC. The HES algorithm incorporates data on age, level of alanine aminotransferase, platelet count, and rate of AFP change to increase likelihood of earlier detection and thereby reduce HCC-related mortality. We updated the HES algorithm to include etiology of cirrhosis and validated it in a community-based cohort.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: prevalence of prior and concurrent Barrett's oesophagus in oesophageal adenocarcinoma patients.

Background: The proportions of patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) diagnosed by Barrett's oesophagus surveillance or with pre-existing Barrett's oesophagus are unclear.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of prior and concurrent Barrett's oesophagus diagnosis among patients with OAC or oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas (OGJAC).

Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase to identify studies published 1966-1/8/2020 that examined the prevalence of prior (≥6 months) or concurrent Barrett's diagnosis (at cancer diagnosis) among OAC and OGJAC patients.