Impact of cell plasticity on prostate tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic response.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process of lineage plasticity in which epithelial cancer cells acquire mesenchymal traits, enabling them to metastasize to distant organs. This review explores the current understanding of how lineage plasticity and phenotypic reprogramming drive prostate cancer progression to lethal stages, contribute to therapeutic resistance, and highlight strategies to overcome the EMT phenotype within the prostate tumor microenvironment (TME). Emerging evidence reveals that prostate tumor cells can undergo lineage switching, adopting alternative growth pathways in response to anti-androgen therapies and taxane-based chemotherapy.

An automated treatment planning portfolio for whole breast radiotherapy.

Background: Automation in radiotherapy presents a promising solution to the increasing cancer burden and workforce shortages. However, existing automated methods for breast radiotherapy lack a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that meets varying standards of care.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a complete portfolio of automated radiotherapy treatment planning for intact breasts, tailored to individual patient factors, clinical approaches, and available resources.

Predictors of Resolution and Recurrence of Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in People With HIV.

Objective: High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) with ablation of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) can prevent the development of anal cancer in people with HIV (PWH). The authors sought to characterize factors associated with successful HSIL resolution or local or metachronous recurrence.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study of 62 PWH who underwent HRAs from December 1, 2017, to July 1, 2022.

Interleukin-1 beta signals through the ERK signalling pathway to modulate human placental trophoblast migration and invasion in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Introduction: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) can promote cell migration, invasion and metastasis in various cancer cells. The mechanism of its role in human trophoblast has not been fully investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression level of IL-1β in first trimester decidua and placenta and its potential role in regulation of extravillous trophoblast cell (EVT) invasion and migration.

Drug-regulated CD33-targeted CAR T cells control AML using clinically optimized rapamycin dosing.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) designs that incorporate pharmacologic control are desirable; however, designs suitable for clinical translation are needed. We designed a fully human, rapamycin-regulated drug product for targeting CD33+ tumors called dimerizaing agent-regulated immunoreceptor complex (DARIC33). T cell products demonstrated target-specific and rapamycin-dependent cytokine release, transcriptional responses, cytotoxicity, and in vivo antileukemic activity in the presence of as little as 1 nM rapamycin.

Dispensaries and Medical Marijuana Certifications and Indications: Unveiling the Geographic Connections in Pennsylvania, USA.

Introduction: Pennsylvania opened its first medical marijuana (MMJ) dispensary in 2018. Qualifying conditions include six conditions determined to have no or insufficient evidence to support or refute MMJ effectiveness. We conducted a study to describe MMJ dispensary access in Pennsylvania and to determine whether dispensary proximity was associated with MMJ certifications and community demographics.

Geographical distance predicts psychiatric treatment retention for Hispanic women with comorbid major depression and breast cancer.

Purpose: Depression is among the most common comorbid psychiatric disorders of patients with breast cancer. Depression decreases patient quality of life and, if untreated, can adversely affect cancer treatment. We sought to identify treatment barriers for women with breast cancer receiving psychotherapy for depression.

Commoning genomic solidarity to improve global health equality.

This article underlines two key asynchronies between prevailing governing logic and expanding practices in somatic human genome editing that are hindering an effective and orderly translation of the new technology into public good. The first is a "genomic sovereignty" framing adopted by a number of non-Western countries that may exacerbate data biases in global research and that directs policy attention away from the necessary structural changes required to achieve non-discriminatory and equitable genomic healthcare. The other is a global deficiency in attending to "science at large": the challenge of regulating new assemblages of societal interests that advocate controversial or experimental research, often outside of conventional institutions and aided by "policy shopping.

Hepatotoxicity from high-dose methotrexate in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Background: High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is a mainstay of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) treatment. Transient hepatotoxicity from HDMTX has been characterized in pediatric patients but not in adults. We sought to characterize hepatotoxicity in adult PCNSL patients undergoing HDMTX treatment.

Statistical process control to monitor use of a web-based autoplanning tool.

Purpose: To investigate the use of statistical process control (SPC) for quality assurance of an integrated web-based autoplanning tool, Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA).

Methods: Automatically generated plans were downloaded and imported into two treatment planning systems (TPSs), RayStation and Eclipse, in which they were recalculated using fixed monitor units. The recalculated plans were then uploaded back to the RPA, and the mean dose differences for each contour between the original RPA and the TPSs plans were calculated.

Astrocytic junctional adhesion molecule-A regulates T-cell entry past the glia limitans to promote central nervous system autoimmune attack.

Contact-mediated interactions between the astrocytic endfeet and infiltrating immune cells within the perivascular space are underexplored, yet represent potential regulatory check-points against CNS autoimmune disease and disability. Reactive astrocytes upregulate junctional adhesion molecule-A, an immunoglobulin-like cell surface receptor that binds to T cells via its ligand, the integrin, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1. Here, we tested the role of astrocytic junctional adhesion molecule-A in regulating CNS autoinflammatory disease.

To Procrastinate or Not to Procrastinate: A Retrospective Study of the Optimal Timing of Containing the Global Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As global public health is under threat by the 2019-nCoV and a potential new wave of large-scale epidemic outbreak and spread is looming, an imminent question to ask is what the optimal strategy of epidemic prevention and control (P&C) measures would be, especially in terms of the timing of enforcing aggressive policy response so as to maximize health efficacy and to contain pandemic spread. Based on the current global pandemic statistic data, here we developed a logistic probability function configured SEIR model to analyse the COVID-19 outbreak and estimate its transmission pattern under different "anticipate- or delay-to-activate" policy response scenarios in containing the pandemic. We found that the potential positive effects of stringent pandemic P&C measures would be almost canceled out in case of significantly delayed action, whereas a partially procrastinatory wait-and-see control policy may still be able to contribute to containing the degree of epidemic spread although its effectiveness may be significantly compromised compared to a scenario of early intervention coupled with stringent P&C measures.

Angiopoietin 2 stimulates trophoblast invasion via a mechanism associated with JNK signaling.

Extravillous trophoblast cell (EVT) invasion is tightly controlled, and its dysregulation can lead to altered spiral artery remodeling and contribute to a number of different pregnancy complications. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is expressed by trophoblast cells and various cells in the decidua, and trophoblast cells express its receptor, Tie2. Ang-2 has been shown to play roles in tumor progression and metastasis but it is not known if it also regulates EVT invasion.

Vitamin D Promotes Trophoblast Cell Induced Separation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Vascular Remodeling Induction of G-CSF.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and miscarriage, all of which are also associated with incomplete spiral artery (SpA) remodeling. We have previously shown that both uterine natural killer (uNK) cells and extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) are required for successful SpA remodeling, but whether their activity in this process is modulated by vitamin D is not known. In the current study, we use a previously described chorionic plate artery (CPA) model of vascular remodeling to determine the effects of 1,25(OH)D treated uNK cell, placental explant (PEx), and uNK/PEx conditioned medium (CM) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) disorganization and phenotypic switching.

Iron stores at birth in a full-term normal birth weight birth cohort with a low level of inflammation.

Iron stores at birth are essential to meet iron needs during the first 4-6 months of life. The present study aimed to investigate iron stores in normal birth weight, healthy, term neonates. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from apparently normal singleton vaginal deliveries (n=854).

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D status in 6-month-old infants in Guangzhou, China: A paired longitudinal follow up study.

To assess the vitamin D status in healthy 6-month-old infants, as well as vitamin D supplementation and feeding patterns in Guangzhou, China, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations of 202 infants were measured at birth (cord blood) and at 6 months of age in Guangzhou, China. Questionnaires acquiring demographic characteristics, maternal and infantile vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and first 6 months after birth, and feeding patterns during the first 6 months were completed by participating mothers. Physical examinations and blood sampling were carried out among infants at 6 months of age.

Cord serum vitamin D in a South China birth cohort.

Background And Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with many adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels (<30 nmol/L) increases the risk of nutritional rickets. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of cord serum 25OHD in a birth cohort in Guangzhou, China and determine whether maternal lifestyle factors had any effect on these levels.

How to Be Modern? The Social Negotiation of 'Good Food' in Contemporary China.

Developing safe and sustainable food production for its population has been central to China's 'Modernisation Project'. Yet recent fieldwork in three Chinese cities suggests that there are two conflicting views on what a 'modern' agriculture should look like. For the government, modernisation implies a rational calculation of scale and a mirroring of global trends.

Lost in translation? Accountability and governance of clinical stem cell research in China.

Despite China's regulatory initiatives to promote its research accountability, it still needs to prove itself as a trusted player in life science research. In addition, in contrast to its huge investment, China is losing the race in delivering quality application of stem cells. The trial implementation of the 2015 ministerial regulations seemed to offer hope in ending this dual 'lost-in-translation'.

Baseline Assessment of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Assay Performance: A Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) Interlaboratory Comparison Study.

The Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) coordinated an interlaboratory study to assess the comparability of measurements of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in human serum, which is the primary marker of vitamin D status. A set of 50 individual donor samples were analyzed by 15 different laboratories representing national nutrition surveys, assay manufacturers, and clinical and/or research laboratories to provide results for total 25(OH)D using both immunoassays (IAs) and LC tandem MS (MS/MS). The results were evaluated relative to bias compared with the target values assigned based on a combination of measurements at Ghent University (Belgium) and the U.

Baseline Assessment of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Reference Material and Proficiency Testing/External Quality Assurance Material Commutability: A Vitamin D Standardization Program Study.

The Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) coordinated a study in 2012 to assess the commutability of reference materials and proficiency testing/external quality assurance materials for total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in human serum, the primary indicator of vitamin D status. A set of 50 single-donor serum samples as well as 17 reference and proficiency testing/external quality assessment materials were analyzed by participating laboratories that used either immunoassay or LC-MS methods for total 25(OH)D. The commutability test materials included National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material 972a Vitamin D Metabolites in Human Serum as well as materials from the College of American Pathologists and the Vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme.