Publications by authors named "R N Levy"

Introduction: Many interventional strategies are commonly used to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP), though few are specifically intended to target the distinct underlying pathomechanisms causing low back pain. Restorative neurostimulation has been suggested as a specific treatment for mechanical CLBP resulting from multifidus dysfunction. In this randomized controlled trial, we report outcomes from a cohort of patients with CLBP associated with multifidus dysfunction treated with restorative neurostimulation compared to those randomized to a control group receiving optimal medical management (OMM) over 1 year.

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Purpose: Activating T cell costimulatory receptors is a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. In preclinical work, adding an OX40 agonist to in situ vaccination (ISV) with SD101, a TLR9 agonist, was curative in a mouse model of lymphoma. We sought to test this combination in a Phase I clinical trial for patients with low-grade B cell lymphoma.

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  • The TAOK proteins are important kinases involved in various cellular functions and are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like those caused by TAOK1 and TAOK2 variants.
  • A study analyzed clinical and genetic data from individuals with these variants, revealing that TAOK1 variants lead to significant neurodevelopmental issues and some novel characteristics, while TAOK2 variants are tied to neurodevelopmental abnormalities, autism, and obesity.
  • This research expands the understanding of these disorders by presenting the largest cohort of individuals with TAOK1-NDD and identifying new variants and phenotypes associated with both TAOK1 and TAOK2.
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  • Low intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) is linked to better patient survival and response to immunotherapy, but the role of immune factors in tumor aggressiveness remains unclear.
  • Researchers studied immune escape mechanisms in mouse tumors with low ITH, finding non-rejected clones had more tumor-associated macrophages and T-cell exhaustion compared to rejected ones.
  • They identified Mif as a key factor in immune rejection; knocking it out led to smaller tumors and lower macrophage infiltration, a finding that was supported by data from melanoma patients.
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Background: Transgender men face reproductive challenges due to the potential impact on fertility of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and surgical interventions. Testosterone therapy during "female to male" transition leads to anovulation and amenorrhea. Although these effects are typically reversible upon stopping treatment, the long-term effects of androgens on future fertility and health of potential children remain poorly known.

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