ICAT: a novel algorithm to robustly identify cell states following perturbations in single-cell transcriptomes.

Motivation: The detection of distinct cellular identities is central to the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiments. However, in perturbation experiments, current methods typically fail to correctly match cell states between conditions or erroneously remove population substructure. Here, we present the novel, unsupervised algorithm Identify Cell states Across Treatments (ICAT) that employs self-supervised feature weighting and control-guided clustering to accurately resolve cell states across heterogeneous conditions.

Differences in Re-excision Rates for Breast-Conserving Surgery Using Intraoperative 2D Versus 3D Tomosynthesis Specimen Radiograph.

Background: Intraoperative specimen radiographs performed during breast conservation surgery for cancer reduces the need for re-excision for positive margins. We studied 2D versus 3D image-guided cavity margin excision and compared it to final pathology and need for additional surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 657 breast-conserving operations performed for cancer from 2013 to 2018.

Mammographic density changes in surgical weight loss-an indication for personalized screening.

Background: Obesity and high radiologic breast density independently increase breast cancer risk. We evaluated the effect of surgical weight loss on mammographic density (MD).

Methods: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery and screening mammography (MG) were identified, data regarding demographics, comorbidities, calculated and genetic breast cancer risk was collected.

Long-Term Survival after Complete Surgical Resection and Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Distant Melanoma Metastases.

Background: This phase III study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of an allogeneic whole-cell vaccine (Canvaxin™) plus bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after complete resection of stage IV melanoma.

Methods: After complete resection of ≤5 distant metastases, patients were randomly assigned to BCG+Canvaxin (BCG/Cv) or BCG+placebo (BCG/Pl). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), and immune response measured by skin test (ClinicalTrials.

Bracketed radioactive seed localization vs bracketed wire-localization in breast surgery.

Multiple localizers placed in a bracketed fashion facilitates excision of radiographically extensive breast lesions. In this study, bracketed radioactive seed localization (bRSL) was compared to bracketed wire localization (bWL). We hypothesized that bRSL would achieve adequate margins and decrease re-operation rates with similar or less specimen volumes (SV) than bWL.

Persistence of Trichomonas vaginalis serostatus in men over time.

Purpose: Previous epidemiologic studies have observed positive associations between Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) serostatus and both prostate cancer (PCa) risk and mortality. However, only a few small older studies have examined Tv antibody persistence over time, all of which were composed mainly of female patients. Therefore, we examined Tv antibody persistence over time, as well as intra-individual variability, among middle- to older-aged men in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS).

Impact of weight change during neoadjuvant chemotherapy on pathologic response in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an uncommon but aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and worse prognosis. Some studies suggest that obese patients are less likely to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and experience worse overall survival.

Astroglial FMRP-dependent translational down-regulation of mGluR5 underlies glutamate transporter GLT1 dysregulation in the fragile X mouse.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss-of-function of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). The loss of FMRP function in neurons abolishes its suppression on mGluR1/5-dependent dendritic protein translation, enhancing mGluR1/5-dependent synaptic plasticity and other disease phenotypes in FXS. In this study, we describe a new activation function of FMRP in regulating protein expression in astroglial cells.

Outcomes of delays in time to treatment in triple negative breast cancer.

Background: Compared with other breast cancer subtypes, triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are associated with higher recurrence rates and worse survival. Because of the aggressive nature of TNBC, outcomes may be more sensitive to delays in time to treatment. This study evaluates whether delays from diagnosis to initial treatment in TNBC impacts survival or locoregional recurrence (LRR).

Delays in time to treatment and survival impact in breast cancer.

Background: Time interval from diagnosis of breast cancer to treatment has been promulgated as one factor that can be used to evaluate cancer care quality. It remains controversial, however, whether a delay to treatment impacts survival. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether delays from diagnosis to initial treatment in breast cancer impacts survival.

Indications and recommended approach for surgical intervention of metastatic disease to the gallbladder.

Metastatic disease to the gallbladder is unusual. The most common malignancy metastatic to the gallbladder is melanoma, followed by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and breast cancer. Due to the unusual nature of the disease, there are no trials available for review.

Circulating tumor cells in patients with breast cancer dormancy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are present in patients many years after mastectomy without evidence of disease and that these CTCs are shed from persisting tumor in patients with breast cancer dormancy.

Experimental Design: We searched for CTCs in 36 dormancy candidate patients and 26 age-matched controls using stringent criteria for cytomorphology, immunophenotype, and aneusomy.

Results: Thirteen of 36 dormancy candidates, 7 to 22 years after mastectomy and without evidence of clinical disease, had CTCs, usually on more than one occasion.

Surgical complications exert a lasting effect on disease-specific health-related quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: For individual patients with colorectal cancer, health-related quality of life (HRQL) after treatment is a function of several factors that include preexisting medical conditions, the disease burden, and the treatment that is rendered. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that were associated with posttreatment HRQL.

Methods: At baseline and again at 12 months after diagnosis, patients completed the colorectal cancer-specific HRQL survey: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-C).

Validating the performance of the mammary sentinel lymph node team.

Background And Objectives: The mammary sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure has the potential to improve the accuracy and lower the morbidity of axillary staging in breast cancer patients, but results are closely linked to experience and can vary widely between institutions. Standardized performance measures need to be established in order to optimize the transition to SLN biopsy only.

Methods: Performance data were prospectively collected for the first 156 mammary SLN procedures performed by three surgeons in our institution.

Limitations of the Gail model in the specialized breast cancer risk assessment clinic.

The Gail model is a risk assessment tool that is accurate for general breast cancer risk screening. Because of the limited way that this model incorporates family history information, however, there are concerns that it may underestimate risk for many women attending specialized breast cancer risk assessment clinics. We collected comprehensive breast cancer risk factor information for 213 women attending a specialized breast cancer risk assessment clinic using a modified version of the CancerGene software.