Elotuzumab is an approved monoclonal antibody targeting SLAMF7 on plasma and NK cells that enhances the activity of lenalidomide, pomalidomide, and bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM). The OPTIMISMM study showed improved outcomes with the combination of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (PVd) in relapsed/refractory MM. We therefore studied adding elotuzumab to PVd (elo-PVd) in relapsed/refractory MM in a multicenter phase 2 trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLimited research has compared cognition of people with non-central nervous system metastatic cancer (NCM) metastatic brain cancer (BM). This prospective cross-sectional study was comprised 37 healthy controls (HC), 40 NCM, and 61 BM completing 10 neuropsychological tests. The NCM performed below HCs on processing speed and executive functioning tasks, while the BM group demonstrated lower performance across tests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSea turtles are vulnerable to climate change since their reproductive output is influenced by incubating temperatures, with warmer temperatures causing lower hatching success and increased feminization of embryos. Their ability to cope with projected increases in ambient temperatures will depend on their capacity to adapt to shifts in climatic regimes. Here, we assessed the extent to which phenological shifts could mitigate impacts from increases in ambient temperatures (from 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to screen for prostate cancer has been fraught with under- and overdiagnosis. Short, noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might detect more grade group ≥2 cancers with similar rates of biopsy.
Objective: To evaluate strategies that combined PSA and MRI to select men based in the community for a prostate biopsy.
Background: The IP1-PROSTAGRAM study showed that a short, non-contrast MRI detected more significant cancers with similar rates of biopsy compared to PSA. Herein, we compare the expected and perceived burden of PSA, MRI and ultrasound as screening tests.
Methods: IP1-PROSTAGRAM was a prospective, population-based, paired screening study of 408 men conducted at seven UK primary care practices and two imaging centres.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
September 2022
Background: Over 20 susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been identified for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor, Barrett esophagus (BE), explaining a small portion of heritability.
Methods: Using genetic data from 4,323 BE and 4,116 EAC patients aggregated by international consortia including the Barrett's and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON), we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) for BE/EAC, leveraging Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) gene-expression data from six tissue types of plausible relevance to EAC etiology: mucosa and muscularis from the esophagus, gastroesophageal (GE) junction, stomach, whole blood, and visceral adipose. Two analytical approaches were taken: standard TWAS using the predicted gene expression from local expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), and set-based SKAT association using selected eQTLs that predict the gene expression.
Background And Objectives: Prostate cancer screening studies has previously not been able to reflect a diverse group of participants. We evaluated a range of recruitment strategies and their ability to recruit from the Black population and areas of deprivation.
Methods: IP1-PROSTAGRAM was a prospective, population-based, paired screening study of 408 participants conducted at seven UK primary care practices and two imaging centres.
Objective: To evaluate the ability of persons with metastatic cancer to self-assess their medical decision-making capacity (MDC). To investigate this, we compared an objective measure of MDC with self-ratings and evaluated predictors of agreement.
Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study of metastatic cancer patients at a large academic medical center.
AbstractNest microclimates influence embryonic development and survival in many lineages, including reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination. These microclimates are dependent on physical drivers and biological processes, such as embryonic metabolism, that generate heat. The flatback turtle () has among the largest hatchlings of the seven extant sea turtle species, making it an excellent candidate for quantifying the contribution of embryonic metabolism to the nest microclimate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph
November 2021
We explore the design of Hand Proximate User Interfaces (HPUIs) for head-mounted displays (HMDs) to facilitate near-body interactions with the display directly projected on, or around the user's hand. We focus on single-handed input, while taking into consideration the hand anatomy which distorts naturally when the user interacts with the display. Through two user studies, we explore the potential for discrete as well as continuous input.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for motor disturbance in people with primary dystonia (PWD). Numerous factors are considered by an interdisciplinary consensus conference before deciding candidacy for DBS surgery (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe mitochondrial carrier family protein SLC25A3 transports both copper and phosphate in mammals, yet in the transport of these substrates is partitioned across two paralogs: PIC2 and MIR1. To understand the ancestral state of copper and phosphate transport in mitochondria, we explored the evolutionary relationships of PIC2 and MIR1 orthologs across the eukaryotic tree of life. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that PIC2-like and MIR1-like orthologs are present in all major eukaryotic supergroups, indicating an ancient gene duplication created these paralogs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Screening for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing can lead to problems of underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. Short, noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or transrectal ultrasonography might overcome these limitations.
Objective: To compare the performance of PSA testing, MRI, and ultrasonography as screening tests for prostate cancer.
Objective: Impairment in the ability to provide informed consent is common in persons with brain metastasis. However, little is known about what factors contribute to this impairment in the patient group. Our objective is to determine if the associations between demographic, cognitive, and clinical variables correlate with the ability to provide informed consent in persons with brain metastasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Tissue miRNA can discriminate between esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and normal epithelium. However, no studies have examined a comprehensive panel of circulating miRNAs in relation to EA diagnosis and survival.
Methods: We used all 62 EA cases from the US Multi-Center case-control study with available serum matched 1:1 to controls.
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor, Barrett's esophagus (BE), have uncovered significant genetic components of risk, but most heritability remains unexplained. Targeted assessment of genetic variation in biologically relevant pathways using novel analytical approaches may identify missed susceptibility signals. Central obesity, a key BE/EAC risk factor, is linked to systemic inflammation, altered hormonal signaling and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Telomeres are vital for genomic integrity and telomere length has been linked to many adverse health outcomes. Some hazardous air pollutants, or air toxics, increase oxidative stress and inflammation, two possible determinants of shortened telomere length. No studies have examined air toxic-telomere length associations in a non-occupational setting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and its premalignant lesion, Barrett's esophagus (BE), are characterized by a strong and yet unexplained male predominance (with a male-to-female ratio in EA incidence of up to 6:1). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 20 susceptibility loci for these conditions. However, potential sex differences in genetic associations with BE/EA remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To evaluate the ability of individuals with metastatic cancer to provide informed consent to research participation, we used a structured vignette-based interview to measure 4 consenting standards across 3 participant groups.
Methods: Participants included 61 individuals diagnosed with brain metastasis, 41 individuals diagnosed with non-CNS metastasis, and 17 cognitively intact healthy controls. All groups were evaluated using the Capacity to Consent to Research Instrument (CCRI), a performance-based measure of research consent capacity.
Previous studies have observed a reduced mortality risk associated with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use among breast cancer survivors. We sought to clarify whether such association could be explained by tumor heterogeneity, specific causes of death, confounding from comorbidities or health behaviors, and a comparison group of women without breast cancer. We interviewed 1508 women newly diagnosed with first primary breast cancer in 1996 to 1997 (~3 months after diagnosis), and 1556 age-matched women without breast cancer, about MHT use history.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To examine whether neighborhood deprivation modifies the association between early life air pollution exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we used resources from a multisite case-control study, the Study to Explore Early Development.
Methods: Cases were 674 children with confirmed ASD born in 2003-2006; controls were 855 randomly sampled children born during the same time period and residents of the same geographic areas as cases. Air pollution was assessed by roadway proximity and particulate matter <2.
Background: Estrogen metabolite concentrations of 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) and 16-hydroxyestrone (16-OHE) may be associated with breast carcinogenesis. However, no study has investigated their possible impact on mortality after breast cancer.
Methods: This population-based study was initiated in 1996-1997 with spot urine samples obtained shortly after diagnosis (mean = 96 days) from 683 women newly diagnosed with first primary breast cancer and 434 age-matched women without breast cancer.
Background: Much of the marked increase in incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) over the past few decades remains unexplained. Organochlorines, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), have been implicated as possible contributors to the increase, but the evidence is inconsistent.
Objectives: To investigate the relation between pre-diagnostic levels of OCPs and risk of NHL in a case-control study nested within the population-based Janus Serum Bank Cohort in Norway.
Objective: Neurocognitive functioning (NCF), mood disturbances, physical functioning, and social support all share a relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, investigations into these relationships have not been conducted in persons with brain metastases (BM).
Patients And Methods: Ninety-three newly diagnosed persons with BM were administered various cognitive batteries.