Pseudoexfoliation and Cataract Syndrome Associated with Genetic and Epidemiological Factors in a Mayan Cohort of Guatemala.

The Mayan population of Guatemala is understudied within eye and vision research. Studying an observational homogenous, geographically isolated population of individuals seeking eye care may identify unique clinical, demographic, environmental and genetic risk factors for blinding eye disease that can inform targeted and effective screening strategies to achieve better and improved health care distribution. This study served to: (a) identify the ocular health needs within this population; and (b) identify any possible modifiable risk factors contributing to disease pathophysiology within this population.

Systemic Disease and Ocular Comorbidity Analysis of Geographically Isolated Federally Recognized American Indian Tribes of the Intermountain West.

Background: The American Indian Navajo and Goshute peoples are underserved patient populations residing in the Four Corners area of the United States and Ibupah, Utah, respectively.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of epidemiological factors and lipid biomarkers that may be associated with type II diabetes, hypertension and retinal manifestations in tribal and non-tribal members in the study areas (n = 146 participants). We performed multivariate analyses to determine which, if any, risk factors were unique at the tribal level.

Sniffing out significant "Pee values": genome wide association study of asparagus anosmia.

Objective:  To determine the inherited factors associated with the ability to smell asparagus metabolites in urine.

Design:  Genome wide association study.

Setting:  Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohorts.

Calcium-Sensing Receptor Tumor Expression and Lethal Prostate Cancer Progression.

Context: Prostate cancer metastases preferentially target bone, and the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) may play a role in promoting this metastatic progression.

Objective: We evaluated the association of prostate tumor CaSR expression with lethal prostate cancer.

Design: A validated CaSR immunohistochemistry assay was performed on tumor tissue microarrays.

Familial Risk and Heritability of Cancer Among Twins in Nordic Countries.

Importance: Estimates of familial cancer risk from population-based studies are essential components of cancer risk prediction.

Objective: To estimate familial risk and heritability of cancer types in a large twin cohort.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Prospective study of 80,309 monozygotic and 123,382 same-sex dizygotic twin individuals (N = 203,691) within the population-based registers of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Evaluating a 4-marker signature of aggressive prostate cancer using time-dependent AUC.

Background: We previously identified a protein tumor signature of PTEN, SMAD4, SPP1, and CCND1 that, together with clinical features, was associated with lethal outcomes among prostate cancer patients. In the current study, we sought to validate the molecular model using time-dependent measures of AUC and predictive values for discriminating lethal from non-lethal prostate cancer.

Methods: Using data from the initial study, we fit survival models for men with prostate cancer who were participants in the Physicians' Health Study (PHS; n = 276).

Androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphism and risk of TMPRSS2:ERG-positive prostate cancer.

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is an essential gene in prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression. Genetic variation in AR exists, including a polymorphic CAG repeat sequence that is inversely associated with transcriptional activity. Experimental data suggest that heightened AR activity facilitates formation of TMPRSS2:ERG, a gene fusion present in approximately 50% of tumors of patients with prostate cancer.

The heritability of prostate cancer in the Nordic Twin Study of Cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer is thought to be the most heritable cancer, although little is known about how this genetic contribution varies across age.

Methods: To address this question, we undertook the world's largest prospective study in the Nordic Twin Study of Cancer cohort, including 18,680 monozygotic (MZ) and 30,054 dizygotic (DZ) same-sex male twin pairs. We incorporated time-to-event analyses to estimate the risk concordance and heritability while accounting for censoring and competing risks of death, essential sources of biases that have not been accounted for in previous twin studies modeling cancer risk and liability.

The impact of polio eradication on routine immunization and primary health care: a mixed-methods study.

Background: After 2 decades of focused efforts to eradicate polio, the impact of eradication activities on health systems continues to be controversial. This study evaluated the impact of polio eradication activities on routine immunization (RI) and primary healthcare (PHC).

Methods: Quantitative analysis assessed the effects of polio eradication campaigns on RI and maternal healthcare coverage.

SPINK1 protein expression and prostate cancer progression.

Purpose: SPINK1 overexpression has been described in prostate cancer and is linked with poor prognosis in many cancers. The objective of this study was to characterize the association between SPINK1 overexpression and prostate cancer-specific survival.

Experimental Design: The study included 879 participants in the U.

Modification of the association between obesity and lethal prostate cancer by TMPRSS2:ERG.

Background: TMPRSS2:ERG is a hormonally regulated gene fusion present in about half of prostate tumors. We investigated whether obesity, which deregulates several hormonal pathways, interacts with TMPRSS2:ERG to impact prostate cancer outcomes.

Methods: The study included 1243 participants in the prospective Physicians' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1982 and 2005.