Macrophage-Derived Factors with the Potential to Contribute to Pathogenicity of HIV-1 and HIV-2: Role of CCL-2/MCP-1.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is known to be less pathogenic than HIV-1. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the decreased HIV-2 pathogenicity is not fully understood. Herein, we report that β-chemokine CCL2 expression was increased in HIV-1-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) but decreased in HIV-2-infected MDM when compared to uninfected MDM.

Advancing Digital Health Innovation in Oncology: Priorities for High-Value Digital Transformation in Cancer Care.

Although health care delivery is becoming increasingly digitized, driven by the pursuit of improved access, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness, progress does not appear to be equally distributed across therapeutic areas. Oncology is renowned for leading innovation in research and in care; digital pathology, digital radiology, real-world data, next-generation sequencing, patient-reported outcomes, and precision approaches driven by complex data and biomarkers are hallmarks of the field. However, remote patient monitoring, decentralized approaches to care and research, "hospital at home," and machine learning techniques have yet to be broadly deployed to improve cancer care.

Oncology Medical Home: ASCO and COA Standards.

Purpose: To provide Standards on the basis of evidence and expert consensus for a pilot of the Oncology Medical Home (OMH) certification program. The OMH model is a system of care delivery that features coordinated, efficient, accessible, and evidence-based care and includes a process for measurement of outcomes to facilitate continuous quality improvement. The OMH pilot is intended to inform further refinement of Standards for OMH model implementation.

Integrating Somatic and Germline Next-Generation Sequencing Into Routine Clinical Oncology Practice.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is rapidly expanding into routine oncology practice. Genetic variations in both the cancer and inherited genomes are informative for hereditary cancer risk, prognosis, and treatment strategies. Herein, we focus on the clinical perspective of integrating NGS results into patient care to assist with therapeutic decision making.

Transitioning Clinical Practice Guidelines into the Electronic Health Record through Clinical Pathways.

Clinical practice guidelines in oncology provide an evidence-based roadmap for most cancer care delivery but often lack directions for specific patient factors and disease conditions. Clinical pathways serve as a real-time clinical decision support system to translate guidelines to clinical practice. Pathways allow for the creation of a standardized, multidimensional roadmap for the continuum of care that can support clinical decision-making, maintain optimal outcomes, and limit unnecessary variation in cancer care.

Time Since First Acting on Same-Sex Attraction and Recreational Drug Use among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM): Is There an Effect of "Gay Age"?

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have higher rates of substance use compared to men who have sex with women. Among MSM, drug use is linked to higher-risk sexual behavior and acquisition of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Objectives: We hypothesize that time since first acting on one's same sex attraction, or one's "gay age", could be predictive of drug using behavior.

Large Cluster of Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis in Columbus, Ohio, 2015.

Background: Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is a Gram-negative diplococcus that normally colonizes the nasopharynx and rarely infects the urogenital tract. On Gram stain of urethral exudates, Nm can be misidentified as the more common sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Methods: In response to a large increase in cases of Nm urethritis identified among men presenting for screening at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Columbus, Ohio, we investigated the epidemiologic characteristics of men with Nm urethritis and the molecular and phylogenetic characteristics of their Nm isolates.

Recent Biomarker-Confirmed Unprotected Vaginal Sex, But Not Self-reported Unprotected Sex, Is Associated With Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis.

Background: Self-reported unprotected vaginal sex seems to increase risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV). However, the validity of self-reports is questionable, given their inconsistency with more objective measures of recent semen exposure such as detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We examined whether recent unprotected sex, as measured both by PSA detection on vaginal swabs and by self-report, was associated with increased BV recurrence.

Group Sex and Prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

We evaluated the direct relation between group sex and prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STI) in a cross-sectional study of men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting at an urban STI clinic in the Midwestern US. Among 231 men who enrolled and reported that they have sex with men, we collected behavioral data using a combination of interviewer and self-administered surveys and extracted STI data from electronic health records. We used modified Poisson regression to examine the unadjusted and adjusted associations between group sex participation and prevalent STI.

Body image and sexually transmissible infection prevalence among men who have sex with men.

Compared with men who have sex with women, some evidence suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased prevalence of body image dissatisfaction. MSM also have a higher prevalence of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) than other population groups. As part of a cross-sectional study, body image among 104 MSM using the standardised, validated Male Body Attitudes Scale was assessed.

A blinded, randomized controlled trial of high-dose vitamin D supplementation to reduce recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: Low serum vitamin D levels have been associated with increased prevalence of the reproductive tract condition bacterial vaginosis (BV). The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on BV recurrence.

Study Design: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial enrolled 118 women with symptomatic BV from an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic (clinicaltrials.

Phase I Study of Topotecan, Ifosfamide, and Etoposide (TIME) with autologous stem cell transplant in refractory cancer: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic correlates.

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of topotecan in combination with ifosfamide, mesna, and etoposide (TIME), followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), in patients with chemotherapy-refractory malignancies.

Experimental Design: Patients were treated with (in mg/m(2)/d) ifosfamide 3,333, mesna 3,333, and topotecan 3.3 to 28.

Prevalence of gonococcal and chlamydial infection in 2009 in 2 populations in a midwestern city.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the 2009 prevalence of chlamydial and gonococcal infection in 2 populations in a midwestern city in the United States: patients at a public sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, and individuals seeking human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing services at an AIDS community organization. We characterized STD prevalence in a random sample of 592 STD clinic patients and a convenience sample of 471 individuals agreeing to STD testing through outreach efforts at the community organization. The STD clinic population was 59% male, 60% black, with 3.

Platelet factor 4 (CXCL4) facilitates human macrophage infection with HIV-1 and potentiates virus replication.

Platelet factor 4 (CXCL4), a member of the CXC chemokine subfamily released in high amounts by activated platelets, has been identified as a monocyte survival factor that induces monocyte differentiation into macrophages. Although CXCL4 has been shown to have biological effects unique to chemokines, nothing is known about the role of CXCL4-derived human macrophages or CXCL4 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. In this study, CXCL4-derived macrophages are compared with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-derived macrophages for their ability to support HIV-1 replication.

Changes in cognitive functioning in the year after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: The current study examined changes in multiple domains of cognitive functioning of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) candidates tested pretransplantation, 6 months posttransplantation, and 12 months posttransplantation.

Methods: Using a sequential longitudinal design, 476 patients were randomized to be tested at all 3 time points, at 6 and 12 months posttransplantation, or at only 12 months posttransplantation. Participants completed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychologic tests that indexed memory, psychomotor speed, attention, and executive functioning, and provided a total neuropsychologic performance score (TNP).

Clinical model: interferons activate human monocytes to an eradicative tumor cell level in vitro.

Eradicative levels of antitumor activity by cytokines and leukocytes have not yet been reached experimentally and are needed clinically. Only a limited number of human cancers respond to therapy with interferon (IFN), other cytokines, or mononuclear leukocytes despite significant antitumor activity in vitro. We studied the IFN and monocytic cell conditions that would lead to an eradicative effect using human cells in vitro.

Chinese herbal formula, Bing De Ling, enhances antitumor effects and ameliorates weight loss induced by 5-fluorouracil in the mouse CT26 tumor model.

The use of complementary and alternative medicines-including a variety of herbal therapies-by patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy has been well documented. Despite such widespread use, however, the benefits and potential mechanisms of such herbal medicines remain largely anecdotal. In this study we examined the effects of a Chinese herbal formula, Bing De Ling, when administered as an adjunct to chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the CT26 mouse colon cancer model.

Predictors of posttraumatic growth following bone marrow transplantation for cancer.

There is growing recognition that the experience of cancer can have a positive as well as a negative psychological impact. This longitudinal study sought to identify predictors of posttraumatic growth among cancer patients (N=72) undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Greater posttraumatic growth in the posttransplant period was related to younger age; less education; greater use of positive reinterpretation, problem solving, and seeking alternative rewards as coping strategies in the pretransplant period; more stressful appraisal of aspects of the transplant experience; and more negatively biased recall of pretransplant levels of psychological distress.

Thiol/disulfide exchange is a prerequisite for CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 envelope-mediated T-cell fusion during viral entry.

Attachment of gp120 to CD4 during HIV-1 entry triggers structural rearrangement in gp120 that enables binding to an appropriate coreceptor. Following coreceptor engagement, additional conformational changes occur in the envelope (Env), resulting in fusion of virion and cell membranes. Catalysts with redox-isomerase activity, such as protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), facilitate Env conversion from its inactive to its fusion-competent conformation.