The Impact of Infectious Disease Syndromes on Activities During Military Travel.

Background: We evaluated the impact of infectious disease (ID) syndromes on US active duty (AD) servicemembers returning from overseas deployment (DEP), military training exercises (EXR), or short-term military travel (eg, temporary assignment of duty [TDY]).

Methods: We conducted a survey-based assessment of US AD servicemembers returning from DEP, EXR, or TDY between 2015 and 2019. Subjects completed a post-travel survey capturing symptoms of travelers' diarrhea (TD), influenza-like illness (ILI), and febrile illness (FI).

The Burden of Arboviral Infections in the Military Health System 2012-2019.

Arboviral infections, including dengue (DNV), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV), impact both travelers and native populations of endemic regions. We sought to assess the disease burden of arboviral infections in the Military Health System, the validity of arboviral diagnostic codes, and the role of pretravel counseling on insect avoidance precautions. We searched for diagnostic codes consistent with arboviral infection and grouped them into DNV, CHIKV, ZIKV, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and Other.

in the US Military Health System.

Background: is an intestinal nematode most commonly found in subtropical and tropical locations. Military service members are believed to be at increased risk of exposure due to their unique occupational exposures in endemic regions.

Methods: Burden, clinical course, and risk factors associated with all infections within the US Military Health System from fiscal years 2012 to 2019 were assessed by manual chart review of records with / codes for s infection.

Race-specific prostate cancer outcomes in a cohort of military health care beneficiaries undergoing surgery: 1990-2017.

Background: There is substantial variability in prostate cancer (PCa) mortality rates across Caucasian American (CA), African American (AA), Asian, and Hispanic men; however, these estimates are unable to disentangle race or ethnicity from confounding factors. The current study explores survival differences in long-term PCa outcomes between self-reported AA and CA men, and examines clinicopathologic features across self-reported CA, AA, Asian, and Hispanic men.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multi-center National Database from 1990 to 2017.

Race-specific prostate cancer outcomes in a cohort of low and favorable-intermediate risk patients who underwent external beam radiation therapy from 1990 to 2017.

Background: Previous research exploring the role of race on prostate cancer (PCa) outcomes has demonstrated greater rates of disease progression and poorer overall survival for African American (AA) compared to Caucasian American (CA) men. The current study examines self-reported race as a predictor of long-term PCa outcomes in patients with low and favorable-intermediate risk disease treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined patients who were consented to enrollment in the Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database between January 01, 1990 and December 31, 2017.

Prospective quality of life in men choosing open vs. robotic radical prostatectomy: long-term results from a racially diverse multi-institutional database.

Purpose: To compare 5-year health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes between prostate cancer (CaP) patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) versus open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and assess for racial disparities between Caucasian American (CA) and African American (AA) men undergoing surgery.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of HRQoL data was conducted on patients diagnosed with CaP from 2007 to 2017 and enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multicenter National Database. Using the EPIC and SF-36 instruments, changes in urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormonal domains, as well as physical and mental component summary scores were compared across surgery type (RALP versus RRP) at pre-treatment ("baseline"), and annually for 5 years.

TaqMan Array Card testing of participant-collected stool smears to determine the pathogen-specific epidemiology of travellers' diarrhoea†.

Background: We assessed the compliance with self-collection of stool smears on Whatman® FTA® Elute Card (FTA Card) and detection of travellers' diarrhoea (TD)-associated pathogens by using a quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay [customized TaqMan® array card (TAC)] in a prospective, observational cohort of travellers.

Methods: Enrolled travellers documented symptoms on a travel diary and collected an FTA Card during a diarrhoeal episode, or at the end of travel if they remained asymptomatic. TAC testing was performed on FTA Cards from TD cases and 1:1 matched asymptomatic controls and 1:1 matched loose stool cases that did not meet TD criteria.

Impact of Age and Race on Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy for Localized Prostate Cancer.

Objectives: To investigate impact of age and race on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) using a prospectively maintained, racially diverse cohort.

Methods: The Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database was used to identify patients receiving RP from 2007-2017. The Expanded PCa Index Composite and 36 Item Short-Form Health Survey were completed at baseline and regular intervals.

Prognostic features of Annexin A2 expression in prostate cancer.

ANXA2 (Annexin A2 or Annexin II) is a calcium dependent phospholipid binding protein with diverse cellular functions. While ANXA2 is either absent or expressed focally in the prostate epithelium of well and moderately differentiated tumours, it is highly expressed in a subset of poorly differentiated tumours. Here we examined the association between ANXA2 expression and tumour progression, with consideration of ERG expression status and patient race (Caucasian American and African American).

A Urine Exosome Gene Expression Panel Distinguishes between Indolent and Aggressive Prostate Cancers at Biopsy.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is predominantly indolent at diagnosis with a small fraction (15% to 25%) representing aggressive subtype (Gleason score 7-10), which is prone to metastatic progression. It is critical to explore noninvasive assays for the early detection of this aggressive subtype, when it still can be treated effectively. Additionally, there is an emerging need to develop markers that perform equally well across races, as racial differences in the prevalence and mortality of prostate cancer has become evident.

The 17-Gene Genomic Prostate Score Test as a Predictor of Outcomes in Men with Unfavorable Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of the Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) assay result with biochemical recurrence (BCR), distant metastases (DM), and prostate-specific death (PCD) in unfavorable intermediate (UFI) risk prostate cancer patients. The GPS assay is used to help guide management decisions for newly diagnosed low and favorable intermediate (FI) risk disease.

Methods: GPS results from 2 studies (Center for Prostate Disease Research [CPDR]; Kaiser Permanente Northern California [KPNC]) in men treated with radical prostatectomy were analyzed to determine associations of the GPS result with BCR, DM, and PCD in UFI risk disease.

Race, tumor location, and disease progression among low-risk prostate cancer patients.

Background: The relationship between race, prostate tumor location, and BCR-free survival is inconclusive. This study examined the independent and joint roles of patient race and tumor location on biochemical recurrence-free (BCR) survival.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among men with newly diagnosed, biopsy-confirmed, NCCN-defined low risk CaP who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from 1996 to 2008.

Utilization and predictors of expectant management among elderly men with low-and intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer in U.S. urological practice.

Introduction: Expectant management (EM) reduces overtreatment in low-risk but not intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer (PCa). We assessed the use and predictors of EM to understand its uptake in U.S.

Predicting Prostate Cancer Progression as a Function of ETS-related Gene Status, Race, and Obesity in a Longitudinal Patient Cohort.

Background: ETS-related gene (ERG) oncogenic activation is the most common genomic alteration in prostate cancer (CaP) although it occurs less frequently in African American (AA) versus Caucasian (CA) patients, and the potential role of ERG as a prognostic marker has not been confirmed.

Objective: This study was conducted to confirm strong racial variation in the prevalence of ERG oncoprotein expression and to examine ERG oncoprotein expression, race, and body mass index as independent and joint predictors of CaP biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective cohort study of CA and AA CaP patients enrolled at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, who donated clinically annotated, whole-mounted, prostatectomy specimens between 1994 and 2014 following RP, was conducted.

Longitudinal regret after treatment for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer patients diagnosed with low- and intermediate-risk disease have several treatment options. Decisional regret after treatment is a concern, especially when poor oncologic outcomes or declines in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) occur. This study assessed determinants of longitudinal decisional regret in prostate cancer patients attending a multidisciplinary clinic and treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), brachytherapy (BT), or active surveillance (AS).

Alkaline phosphatase velocity predicts overall survival and bone metastasis in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Introduction And Objectives: Identifying patients with prostate cancer (CaP) who will ultimately develop bone metastasis (BM) or die of disease is essential. Alkaline phosphatase velocity (APV) has been shown to predict overall survival (OS) and bone metastasis-free survival (BMFS) in an earlier study of an equal access military patient cohort of patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To confirm these findings, we examined a cohort of patients from a high-volume cancer center to validate a previous observation that faster alkaline phosphatase (AP) kinetics are predictive of OS and BMFS in this second cohort of patients.

A prospective cohort study of treatment decision-making for prostate cancer following participation in a multidisciplinary clinic.

Background: Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) are presented with several treatment options of similar efficacy but varying side effects. Understanding how and why patients make their treatment decisions, as well as the effect of treatment choice on long-term outcomes, is critical to ensuring effective, patient-centered care. This study examined treatment decision-making in a racially diverse, equal-access, contemporary cohort of patients with PCa counseled on treatment options at a multidisciplinary clinic.

Quality of life and needs assessment on people living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi.

Purpose: Malawi is a sub-Saharan African nation with a severe HIV epidemic. The quality of life (QoL) has never been investigated among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Malawi. This study examines the QoL and associated factors including life needs among PLWHA at different stages of their illness in the northern region of Malawi.