Long-term survivors of glioblastoma: Tumor molecular, clinical, and imaging findings.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain malignancy with <45% living a year beyond diagnosis. Previously published investigations of long-term survivors (LTS) provided clinical data but rarely incorporated a comprehensive clinical and molecular analysis. Herein, we identify clinical, imaging, molecular, and outcome features for 23 GBM-LTS patients and compare them with a matched cohort of short-term survivors (STS).

Tackling Histoplasmosis Infection in People Living with HIV from Latin America: From Diagnostic Strategy to Public Health Solutions.

Histoplasmosis, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus spp., is a disease with a broad clinical spectrum, presenting from asymptomatic/flu-like symptoms to progressive disseminated disease in people with immunosuppression. In recent years, the concept of histoplasmosis as a disease restricted to the American continent has changed, as now histoplasmosis is reported in many regions around the world.

Fungal Pathogens as Causes of Acute Respiratory Illness in Hospitalized Veterans: Frequency of Fungal Positive Test Results Using Rapid Immunodiagnostic Assays.

Fungal respiratory illnesses caused by endemic mycoses can be nonspecific and are often mistaken for viral or bacterial infections. We performed fungal testing on serum specimens from patients hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) to assess the possible role of endemic fungi as etiologic agents. Patients hospitalized with ARI at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Houston, Texas, during November 2016-August 2017 were enrolled.

Evaluation of the key geriatric assessment constructs in primary brain tumor population - a descriptive study.

Introduction: Despite an increasing aging population, older adults (≥ 65 years) with primary brain tumors (PBTs) are not routinely assessed for geriatric vulnerabilities. Recent reports of geriatric assessment (GA) in patients with glioblastomas demonstrated that GA may serve as a sensitive prognosticator of overall survival. Yet, current practice does not include routine evaluation of geriatric vulnerabilities and the relevance of GA has not been previously evaluated in broader cohorts of PBT patients.

Comparison of Immunodiagnostic Assays for the Rapid Diagnosis of Coccidioidomycosis in Dogs.

Coccidioidomycosis is a disease caused by the dimorphic fungi spp., which affects humans and a variety of animal species, including domestic dogs. In dogs, accurate diagnosis could provide a substantial improvement on the quality of canine life, as well as an advancement in the mapping of regions endemic for coccidioidomycosis.

Exploring COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Amongst Black Americans: Contributing Factors and Motivators.

Purpose: To determine reasons for hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination and motivators to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Black Americans.

Design: Mixed-methods.

Setting: Individual interviews in March-April 2021.

Evaluation of OIDx Histoplasma Urinary Antigen EIA.

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of Histoplasma antigens (Ag) in urine, developed by Optimum Imaging Diagnostics (OIDx) was evaluated. A verification using a standardized reference panel of urine samples found sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 32% and accuracy of 51%. In this study, the OIDx Histoplasma urinary Ag EIA displayed high sensitivity, however, in non-histoplasmosis cases this EIA displayed false-positive results in 68% of specimens tested.

Validation and Concordance Analysis of a New Lateral Flow Assay for Detection of Antigen in Urine.

Histoplasmosis is a major cause of mortality in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Rapid methods to diagnose disease could dramatically decrease the time to initiate treatment, resulting in reduced mortality. The aim of this study was to validate a MiraVista Diagnostics (MVD) urine antigen lateral flow assay (MVD LFA) for the detection of antigen (Ag) in urine and compare this LFA against the MVista  Ag quantitative enzyme immunoassays (MVD EIA).

Donor-derived Cryptococcus gattii sensu stricto infection in two kidney transplant recipients, southeastern United States.

Cryptococcus gattii infection is a rare cause of severe pulmonary disease and meningoencephalitis that has only recently been detected in the southeastern United States. We describe an organ transplant-associated outbreak of C. gattii infection involving an HIV-negative immunosuppressed donor in this region who died following new-onset headache and seizure of unknown cause.

Phase I Study of Zotiraciclib in Combination with Temozolomide for Patients with Recurrent High-grade Astrocytomas.

Purpose: To investigate the toxicity profile and establish an optimal dosing schedule of zotiraciclib with temozolomide in patients with recurrent high-grade astrocytoma.

Patients And Methods: This two-stage phase I trial determined the MTD of zotiraciclib combined with either dose-dense (Arm1) or metronomic (Arm2) temozolomide using a Bayesian Optimal Interval design; then a randomized cohort expansion compared the progression-free survival rate at 4 months (PFS4) of the two arms for an efficient determination of a temozolomide schedule to combine with zotiraciclib at MTD. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic profiling were included.

Elevated IL-13 in effusions of patients with HIV and primary effusion lymphoma as compared with other Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated disorders.

Objective: To assess the cytokine and viral profiles of effusions and peripheral blood among patients diagnosed with HIV and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus [KSHV, also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)]-associated conditions.

Design: Retrospective comparative study evaluating clinicopathologic findings in patients with HIV and KSHV-associated conditions presenting with an effusion between 2010 and 2018.

Methods: Paired peripheral blood and effusion samples collected at the time of pathological diagnosis of KSHV-associated conditions [Kaposi sarcoma, KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), or KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS)] were evaluated for disease-specific and compartment-specific (effusion vs.

Immunodiagnostic Assays for the Investigation of Fungal Outbreaks.

Fungal pathogens can affect humans, animals, and plants, and they can be found in the environment or as part of the host microbiome. Fungal diseases present a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from superficial to invasive infections, and can cause outbreaks. During an outbreak investigation, the laboratory plays an essential role in verifying the diagnosis and helping to confirm the source of the outbreak.

Understanding pretreatment loss to follow-up of tuberculosis patients: an explanatory qualitative study in Chennai, India.

Introduction: Pretreatment loss to follow-up (PTLFU)-dropout of patients after diagnosis but before treatment registration-is a major gap in tuberculosis (TB) care in India and globally. Patient and healthcare worker (HCW) perspectives are critical for developing interventions to reduce PTLFU.

Methods: We tracked smear-positive TB patients diagnosed via sputum microscopy from 22 diagnostic centres in Chennai, one of India's largest cities.

Evaluation of a Histoplasma antigen lateral flow assay for the rapid diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in Colombian patients with AIDS.

Background: Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) is an important cause of mortality in persons living with HIV (PLHIV), especially in countries where patients have limited access to antiretroviral therapies and diagnostic testing.

Objective: A lateral flow assay (LFA) to detect Histoplasma capsulatum antigen in serum developed by MiraVista was evaluated.

Methods: We tested 75 serum samples: 24 from PLHIV and culture-proven PDH and 51 from PLHIV with other fungal and bacterial infections as well as people without HIV.

Diagnosis of Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis in Advanced HIV: A Meta-Analysis of Assay Analytical Performance.

Histoplasmosis is an important cause of mortality in people with advanced HIV, especially in countries with limited access to diagnostic assays. Histoplasmosis can be diagnosed using culture, histopathology, and antibody, antigen, and molecular assays. Several factors may affect the analytical performance of these laboratory assays, including sample type, clinical stage of the disease, and previous use of antifungal treatment, among others.

Outbreak of Severe Histoplasmosis Among Tunnel Workers-Dominican Republic, 2015.

Background: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection associated with exposure to bat guano. An outbreak of an unknown severe febrile illness occurred among tunnel workers in the Dominican Republic, and resulted in several deaths. We conducted an investigation to confirm etiology and recommend control measures.

Development of an enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibodies against Coccidioides in dogs and other mammalian species.

Coccidioides is a soil-dwelling fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis, a disease also known as Valley fever, which affects humans and a variety of animal species. Recent findings of Coccidioides in new, unexpected areas of the United States have demonstrated the need for a better understanding of its geographic distribution. Large serological studies on animals could provide important information on the geographic distribution of this pathogen.

A Critical Review of OSHA Heat Enforcement Cases: Lessons Learned.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 2012 to 2013 heat enforcement cases, using identified essential elements of heat illness prevention to evaluate employers' programs and make recommendations to better protect workers from heat illness.

Methods: (1) Identify essential elements of heat illness prevention; (2) develop data collection tool; and (3) analyze OSHA 2012 to 2013 heat enforcement cases.

Results: OSHA's database contains 84 heat enforcement cases in 2012 to 2013.

Evaluation of the Specificity of Two Enzyme Immunoassays for Coccidioidomycosis by Using Sera from a Region of Endemicity and a Region of Nonendemicity.

Coccidioidomycosis (CM), a serious life-threatening fungal infection endemic to arid regions of the western United States and Mexico, can be challenging to diagnose in a timely manner. Commercially developed enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) (from Meridian Biosciences and Immuno-Mycologics [IMMY]) have provided faster, simpler means for serodiagnosis; however, independent evaluations have questioned EIA specificity, particularly IgM-positive/IgG-negative results. This study was conducted to evaluate EIA specificity among persons residing in Puerto Rico (n = 534), where CM is not endemic (who were not likely to have been exposed to Coccidioides spp.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness in the Workplace.

Heat-related illness and death in the workplace can be prevented by health and safety professionals including occupational health nurses, who can facilitate program planning, measure objectives, and achieve goals for the well-being of all staff.