Empirical sample-specific approaches to define HPV16 and HPV18 seropositivity in unvaccinated, young, sexually active women.

Given low seroconversion rates following human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, fixed external cutoffs may lead to errors in estimating HPV seroprevalence. We evaluated finite mixture modeling (FMM) and group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) among unvaccinated, sexually active, HPV-exposed women to determine study-specific HPV16 and HPV18 seropositivity thresholds. We included 399 women (aged 18-24 years) enrolled in the HPV Infection and Transmission Among Couples Through Heterosexual Activity (HITCH) cohort study between 2005 and 2011 in Montreal, Canada.

Long term evaluation of optimized Gleason grading in a large cohort of men with prostate cancer in Canada.

Objectives: To evaluate the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) 5-tier grade grouping (GG) system of prostate cancers as well as previously proposed optimizations.

Patients And Methods: The PROCURE biobank is a prospective cohort study of patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy in Quebec province between 2005 and 2013. Surgical specimens were graded by experienced genitourinary pathologists using 2019 ISUP criteria.

Challenges and Opportunities for Professional Medical Publications Writers to Contribute to Plain Language Summaries (PLS) in an AI/ML Environment - A Consumer Health Informatics Systematic Review.

Professional medical publications writers (PMWs) cover a wide range of biomedical writing activities that recently includes translation of biomedical publications to plain language summaries (PLS). The consumer health informatics literature (CHI) consistently describes the importance of incorporating health literacy principles in any natural language processing (NLP) app designed to communicate medical information to lay audiences, particularly patients. In this stepwise systematic review, we searched PubMed indexed literature for CHI NLP-based apps that have the potential to assist PMWs in developing text based PLS.

Serologic response to human papillomavirus genotypes following vaccination: findings from the HITCH cohort study.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection contributes to approximately 5% of the worldwide cancer burden. The three-dose HPV vaccine has demonstrated immunogenicity and efficacy. Humoral responses may be critical for preventing, controlling, and/or eliminating HPV infection.

Chronic prednisone, metformin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and clinical outcome in a cohort of bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy in Québec, Canada.

Background: Studies have suggested a positive association between bladder cancer (BC) outcome and comedication use, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), metformin, and prednisone use. To validate these associations, we evaluated whether these medications were associated with clinical outcome in a Canadian cohort of BC patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on BC patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) in Québec province in 2000-2015, as registered in the provincial health administration databases.

Safety and Efficacy of 2D Brachytherapy vs. 3D Image-Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer-A Single Institution Retrospective Study.

Background: The treatment paradigm for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) has shifted from two-dimensional-brachytherapy (2D-BT) to three-dimensional-image-guided adaptive BT (3D-IGABT). In this retrospective study, we report our experience with the change from 2D-BT to 3D-IGABT.

Methods: We reviewed 146 LACC patients (98 3D-IGABT and 48 2D-BT) who received chemoradiation between 2004 and 2019.

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies persist up to 12 months after natural infection in healthy employees working in non-medical contact-intensive professions.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate dynamics of antibody levels after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 for 12 months in Dutch non-vaccinated hairdressers and hospitality staff.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, blood samples were collected every 3 months for 1 year and analyzed using a qualitative total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a quantitative immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody ELISA. Participants completed questionnaires, providing information on demographics, health, and work.

Serologic Response to Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Among Unvaccinated Women: Findings From the HITCH Cohort Study.

Background: Humoral immune responses may be critical for preventing, controlling, and/or eliminating human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. We analyzed humoral response to natural HPV infection considering phylogenetic relatedness among unvaccinated women.

Methods: We included 399 young women attending university/college in Montreal, Canada who were participants of the HITCH cohort.

Liquid biopsy-based targeted gene screening highlights tumor cell subtypes in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) clinical heterogeneity underscores tumor heterogeneity, which may be best defined by cell subtypes. To test if cell subtypes contributing to progression can be assessed noninvasively, we investigated whether 14 genes representing luminal, neuroendocrine, and stem cells are detectable in whole blood RNA of patients with advanced PCa. For each gene, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were first validated using RNA from PCa cell lines, and their traceability in blood was assessed in cell spiking experiments.

Male Circumcision and Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Males and Their Female Sexual Partners: Findings From the HPV Infection and Transmission Among Couples Through Heterosexual Activity (HITCH) Cohort Study.

Background: Previous studies examining the association between male circumcision (MC) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have reported inconsistent results. We used data from the HPV Infection and Transmission Among Couples Through Heterosexual Activity (HITCH) cohort study to examine the association between MC and HPV infections in males and their female sexual partners.

Methods: We enrolled monogamous couples in a longitudinal study between 2005 and 2011 in Montreal, Canada.

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in employees working in non-medical contact-intensive professions in the Netherlands: Baseline data from the prospective COco-study.

COVID-19 has made a global impact since early 2020, requiring characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including transmission risk. The COco-study aims to evaluate the risk for COVID-19 infections in two non-medical contact-intensive professions. COco is a prospective cohort study evaluating SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in hairdressers and hospitality personnel in the province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands, using a total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Development and evaluation of a new non-competitive Luminex immunoassay detecting antibodies against human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

Serum antibody levels can be used to measure the humoral immune response against human papillomaviruses (HPV). We developed and validated a rapid, technically simple and relatively inexpensive multiplex non-competitive Luminex-based immunoassay (ncLIA) to measure total IgG antibody levels against four HPV types. For the assay's solid phase, virus-like particles (VLPs) of HPV6, 11, 16 and 18 were bound to heparin-coated beads.

The Use of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors and Alpha-1 Blockers Does Not Improve Clinical Outcome in Male Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer in Quebec, Canada.

Background: Existing literature suggests that bladder cancer (BC) outcome may be improved when patients use 5α-reductase inhibitors and/or α-blockers, but such a conclusion may be subject to publication bias. We evaluated whether preoperative use of 5α-reductase inhibitors or α-blockers was associated with improved clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with BC undergoing radical cystectomy (RC).

Patients And Methods: Using provincial health administrative databases, we retrospectively identified male BC patients undergoing RC in Quebec province between 2000 and 2015, and we collected data from 2 years before RC until December 2016 or death.

Multiple lines of chemotherapy for patients with high-grade ovarian cancer: Predictors for response and effect on survival.

Guidelines for the treatment of tubo-ovarian cancer patients beyond third line are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the effect of response in each line on patient's outcome as well as identify variables that predict response for additional line of chemotherapy. A cohort study was performed including all patients with advanced high-grade ovarian cancer.

The added value of sentinel node mapping in endometrial cancer.

Objective: To evaluate long-term oncological outcomes and the added value of sentinel lymph node sampling (SLN) compared to pelvic lymph node dissection (LND) in patients with endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods: During the evaluation phase of SLN for EC, we performed LND and SLN and retrospectively compared the oncologic outcome with the immediate non-overlapping historical era during which patients underwent LND.

Results: From 2007 to 2010, 193 patients underwent LND and from December 2010 to 2014, 250 patients had SLN mapping with completion LND.

The impact of wait times on oncological outcome in high-risk patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of surgical wait times on outcome of patients with grade 3 endometrial cancer.

Methods: All consecutive patients surgically treated for grade 3 endometrial cancer between 2007 and 2015 were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the time interval between endometrial biopsy and surgery: wait time from biopsy to surgery ≤12 weeks (84 days) vs more than 12 weeks.

CA-125 reduction during neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with success of cytoreductive surgery and outcome of patients with advanced high-grade ovarian cancer.

Introduction: The objective was to assess whether an early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with advanced ovarian cancer may predict short- and long-term clinical outcome.

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective study of all women with stage III-IV tubo-ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at a single center in Montreal between 2003 and 2014. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and debulking success.

The use of perioperative chemotherapy in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in Quebec, Canada, 2000-2016.

Introduction: Despite its proven benefit, studies have reported poor use of perioperative chemotherapy (POC) in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). We evaluated POC use in Quebec between January 2000 and September 2016.

Methods: Using provincial health administrative databases, data were retrospectively collected from patients from two years before RC until December 2016 or death.

Survival Outcomes From a Cumulative Analysis of Worldwide Observational Studies on Sequential Use of New Agents in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: The sequential use of a number of new agents (NAs) have improved the overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose disease progresses after docetaxel (DOC) treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the cumulative survival outcomes of different sequencing strategies by evaluating the individual data from published studies of patients treated with a post-DOC treatment sequence of 2 NAs.

Patients And Methods: The patients' individual data were analyzed to investigate whether different sequencing strategies lead to differences in OS.

Vaccination of Young Women Decreases Human Papillomavirus Transmission in Heterosexual Couples: Findings from the HITCH Cohort Study.

Background: Vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) prevents HPV infections and, consequently, cervical lesions. However, the effect of vaccination on HPV transmission within couples is unknown.

Methods: We used data from HITCH, a prospective cohort study of heterosexual couples (women ages 18-24 years) in Montreal, 2005 to 2013.

Risk factors for lymph nodes involvement in obese women with endometrial carcinomas.

Objective: To assess risk factors for lymph node involvement in patients with endometrial cancer and a body-mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of obese patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma between 2007 and 2015, treated in a single center in Montreal. Preoperative variables evaluated were age, BMI, parity, and preoperative ASA score, grade, CA-125 and histology.

Human Papillomavirus Viral Load and Transmission in Young, Recently Formed Heterosexual Couples.

Background: We studied the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load (VL) and HPV concordance.

Methods: The HITCH cohort study included young, heterosexual, recently formed, sexually active couples. Questionnaires and genital samples were collected at 0 and 4 months.

Short- and long-term survival has improved after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in Québec during the years 2000-2015.

Background And Objectives: We evaluated the short- and long-term outcome in bladder cancer (BC) patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) in Québec (Canada).

Methods: Data were collected from provincial registries on all BC patients who underwent RC in Québec province in 2000-2015. Outcomes were hospitalization rates and survival.

Improving the reporting of cancer-specific mortality and survival in research using cancer registry data.

Population-based registries are increasingly used in cancer research. In such studies, cancer-specific mortality or survival is frequently used as the primary outcome. To determine whether a putative cancer was part of the causal chain of events leading to death, cancer registries primarily rely on death certificates.