Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: models, biology, and translation.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive, invasive cancer that comprise around 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas and develop in about 8-13% of patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. They are associated with poor prognosis and are the leading cause of mortality in NF1 patients. MPNSTs can also develop sporadically or following exposure to radiation.

Real-World Effectiveness of Sipuleucel-T on Overall Survival in Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen Receptor-Targeting Agents.

Introduction: The treatment landscape for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) continues to evolve. Sipuleucel-T was the first immunotherapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic mCRPC. The androgen receptor-targeting agents (ARTAs) abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide were initially approved to treat mCRPC.

COVID-19 Outcomes Among Patients With Cancer: Observations From the University of California Cancer Consortium COVID-19 Project Outcomes Registry.

Background: The risks associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated illness, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), among patients with a cancer diagnosis have not been fully characterized. This study leverages data from a multi-institutional cohort study, the University of California Cancer COVID Consortium, to evaluate outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with cancer.

Methods: Clinical data were collected from March to November 2020 and included patient demographics, cancer history and treatment, SARS-CoV-2 exposure and testing, and COVID-19 clinical management and outcomes.

A network approach to understanding social distancing behaviour during the first UK lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Given the highly infectious nature of COVID-19, social distancing practices are key in stemming the spread of the virus. We aimed to assess the complex interplay among psychological factors, socio-demographic characteristics and social distancing behaviours within the framework of the widely used Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model.

Design: The present research employed network psychometrics on data collected during the first UK lockdown in April 2020 as part of the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study.

Investigating the peer Mentor-Mentee relationship: characterizing peer mentorship conversations between people with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: This study aimed to: (1) develop a coding manual to characterize topics discussed and conversation techniques used during peer mentorship conversations between people with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) assess the reliability of the manual; and (3) apply the manual to characterize conversations.

Materials/methods: The study was conducted in partnership with three Canadian provincial SCI organizations. Twenty-five phone conversations between SCI peer mentors and mentees were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

The Genome of (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Adaptation for Success.

The lesser grain borer, (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), is a major global pest of cereal grains. Infestations are difficult to control as larvae feed inside grain kernels, and many populations are resistant to both contact insecticides and fumigants.

Testing both affordability-availability and psychological-coping mechanisms underlying changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two theoretical perspectives have been proffered to explain changes in alcohol use during the pandemic: the 'affordability-availability' mechanism (i.e., drinking decreases due to changes in physical availability and/or reduced disposable income) and the 'psychological-coping' mechanism (i.

Sharing data to better understand one of the world's most significant shared experiences: data resource profile of the longitudinal COVID-19 psychological research consortium (C19PRC) study.

This paper serves to alert IJPDS readers to the availability of a major new longitudinal survey data resource, , which is being released for secondary use via the Open Science Framework. The C19PRC Study is a rich and detailed dataset that provides a convenient and valuable foundation from which to study the social, political, and health status of European adults during an unprecedented time of change as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. Here, we provide an overview of the C19PRC Study design, with the purpose of stimulating interest about the study among social scientists and maximising use of this resource.

Measurement invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) across four European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) are self-report measures of major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. The primary aim of this study was to test for differential item functioning (DIF) on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 items based on age, sex (males and females), and country.

Method: Data from nationally representative surveys in UK, Ireland, Spain, and Italy (combined N = 6,054) were used to fit confirmatory factor analytic and multiple-indictor multiple-causes models.

Germline alterations among Hispanic men with prostate cancer.

Background: Little is known about the true rate of pathogenic (P)/likely pathogenic (LP) germline alterations in Hispanic men with prostate cancer as most studies analyzing the prevalence of P/LP germline alterations were performed in a largely non-Hispanic white population (NHW).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of two separate cohorts of men with prostate cancer: (1) a multicenter cohort of 17,256 men who underwent germline testing in a CLIA-certified laboratory and (2) a single-center cohort of all men eligible for germline testing between 2018 and 2020. The proportions of P/LP alterations and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were computed.

Outcomes by time to definitive chemoradiation treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about delaying treatment for localized cancer and its impact on long-term outcomes.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of time to chemoradiation (CRT) on recurrence and survival outcomes for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Methods: In the national Veterans Affairs' database, we identified patients with urothelial histology, MIBC (T2-4a/N0-3/M0) diagnosed between 2000 to 2018 and treated with definitive CRT.

Couples' experiences with sexuality after spinal cord injury.

Purpose: To explore sexuality after spinal cord injury (SCI) from the perspectives of individuals with SCI and their romantic partners.

Methods: A sample of 8 Canadian adults with SCI (6 men, 2 women) and their partners participated in this study ( = 16). Semi-structured dyadic and individual interviews were conducted, discussions surrounding sexuality and intimacy were extracted, and a qualitative description of the interview data was performed using thematic analysis.

Biomarker-Based Phase II Study of Sapanisertib (TAK-228): An mTORC1/2 Inhibitor in Patients With Refractory Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Sapanisertib is a kinase inhibitor that inhibits both mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. In this multicenter, single-arm phase II trial, we evaluated the efficacy of sapanisertib in patients with treatment-refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC; NCT03097328).

Methods: Patients with mRCC of any histology progressing through standard therapy (including prior mTOR inhibitors) had baseline biopsy and received sapanisertib 30 mg by mouth once weekly until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Resolving Anomalies in the Behaviour of a Modularity-Inducing Problem Domain with Distributional Fitness Evaluation.

Discrete gene regulatory networks (GRNs) play a vital role in the study of robustness and modularity. A common method of evaluating the robustness of GRNs is to measure their ability to regulate a set of perturbed gene activation patterns back to their unperturbed forms. Usually, perturbations are obtained by collecting random samples produced by a predefined distribution of gene activation patterns.

The Einstein effect provides global evidence for scientific source credibility effects and the influence of religiosity.

People tend to evaluate information from reliable sources more favourably, but it is unclear exactly how perceivers' worldviews interact with this source credibility effect. In a large and diverse cross-cultural sample (N = 10,195 from 24 countries), we presented participants with obscure, meaningless statements attributed to either a spiritual guru or a scientist. We found a robust global source credibility effect for scientific authorities, which we dub 'the Einstein effect': across all 24 countries and all levels of religiosity, scientists held greater authority than spiritual gurus.

Exploring social inequalities in healthcare trajectories following diagnosis of diabetes: a state sequence analysis of linked survey and administrative data.

Background: Social inequalities in complications associated with diabetes mellitus persist. As a primary care sensitive condition (PCSC), this association could be related to differential access to primary care. Our objectives are to establish a typology of care trajectories following a new diagnosis, and to explore social determinants of trajectories.

Response and Outcomes to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Urothelial Cancer Based on Prior Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) improve overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (aUC), but response rates can be modest. We compared outcomes between patients with and without prior intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), who received ICI for aUC, hypothesizing that prior intravesical BCG would be associated with worse outcomes.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study across 25 institutions in US and Europe.

Treatment Discontinuation in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Chemoradiation.

Purpose: Chemoradiation (CRT) is a definitive treatment option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Despite its effectiveness, CRT is underused, in part owing to concerns of tolerability and the need for integrated multidisciplinary care. We investigated factors associated with and the impact of treatment discontinuation in patients with MIBC treated with CRT.

Neurofibromin and suppression of tumorigenesis: beyond the GAP.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease and one of the most common inherited tumor predisposition syndromes, affecting 1 in 3000 individuals worldwide. The NF1 gene encodes neurofibromin, a large protein with RAS GTP-ase activating (RAS-GAP) activity, and loss of NF1 results in increased RAS signaling. Neurofibromin contains many other domains, and there is considerable evidence that these domains play a role in some manifestations of NF1.

Individuals with adverse childhood experiences explore less and underweight reward feedback.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are extreme stressors that lead to negative psychosocial outcomes in adulthood. Nonhuman animals explore less after exposure to early stress. Therefore, in this preregistered study, we hypothesized that reduced exploration following ACEs would also be evident in human adults.

Barriers and facilitators to changing bowel care practices after spinal cord injury: a Theoretical Domains Framework approach.

Background: Improvement to autonomic processes such as bladder, bowel and sexual function are prioritised by individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Bowel care is associated with high levels of dissatisfaction and decreased quality of life. Despite dissatisfaction, 71% of individuals have not changed their bowel care routine for at least 5 years, highlighting a disconnect between dissatisfaction with bowel care and changing routines to optimise bowel care.

The renal clear cell carcinoma immune landscape.

A comprehensive evaluation of the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) immune landscape was found using 584 RNA-sequencing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified 17 key dysregulated immune-associated genes in ccRCC based on association with clinical variables and important immune pathways. Of the numerous findings from our analyses, we found that several of the 17 key dysregulated genes are heavily involved in interleukin and NF-kB signaling and that somatic copy number alteration (SCNA) hotspots may be causally associated with gene dysregulation. More importantly, we also found that key immune-associated genes and pathways are strongly upregulated in ccRCC.