The implications of removing race from interpretation of pulmonary function among persons with or without HIV.

Background: Studies suggest that the use of race-specific pulmonary function reference equations may obscure racial inequities in respiratory health. Whether removing race from the interpretation of pulmonary function would influence analyses of HIV and pulmonary function is unknown.

Setting: Pulmonary function measurements from 1,067 men (591 with HIV) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and 1,661 women (1,175 with HIV) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) were analyzed.

Mechanistic Rationale for Ketene Formation during Dabbing and Vaping.

Ketene is one of the most toxic vaping emissions identified to date. However, its high reactivity renders it relatively challenging to identify. In addition, certain theoretical studies have shown that realistic vaping temperature settings may betoo low to produce ketene.

An Incidental Finding of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis: A Case Report.

In this case report, we discuss and explore the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, as well as the treatment options and follow-up measures, in an 83-year-old patient with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP), a rare disorder characterized by fibrosing, hypertrophic inflammation that thickens the dura mater. An 83-year-old female with a medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with speech arrest and was taken to the emergency department, where she received a stroke code, a CT scan, and an MRI. The MRI results showed a temporal lobe meningioma and a pan-cranial pachymeningitis encasing the entire brain and cerebellum and extending into the upper cervical spine.

Peptide G-Protein-Coupled Receptors and ErbB Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Cancer.

The ErbB RTKs (EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4) have been well-studied in cancer. EGFR, HER2, and HER3 stimulate cancer proliferation, principally by activating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, resulting in increased cancer cell survival and proliferation. Cancer cells have high densities of the EGFR, HER2, and HER3 causing phosphorylation of tyrosine amino acids on protein substrates and tyrosine amino acids near the C-terminal of the RTKs.

Cofilin activation in pancreatic acinar cells plays a pivotal convergent role for mediating CCK-stimulated enzyme secretion and growth.

The actin regulatory protein, cofilin plays a key signaling role in many cells for numerous cellular responses including in proliferation, development, motility, migration, secretion and growth. In the pancreas it is important in islet insulin secretion, growth of pancreatic cancer cells and in pancreatitis. However, there are no studies on its role or activation in pancreatic acinar cells.

Successful Lifetime/Long-Term Medical Treatment of Acid Hypersecretion in Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES): Myth or Fact? Insights from an Analysis of Results of NIH Long-Term Prospective Studies of ZES.

Analysis of the efficacy/pharmacology of long-term/lifetime medical treatment of acid hypersecretion in a large cohort of ZES patients in a prospective study. This study includes the results from all 303 patients with established ZES who were prospectively followed and received acid antisecretory treatment with either HRs or PPIs, with antisecretory doses individually titrated by the results of regular gastric acid testing. The study includes patients treated for short-term periods (<5 yrs), patients treated long-term (>5 yrs), and patients with lifetime treatment (30%) followed for up to 48 years (mean 14 yrs).

Principal component analysis of flow-volume curves in COPDGene to link spirometry with phenotypes of COPD.

Background: Parameters from maximal expiratory flow-volume curves (MEFVC) have been linked to CT-based parameters of COPD. However, the association between MEFVC shape and phenotypes like emphysema, small airways disease (SAD) and bronchial wall thickening (BWT) has not been investigated.

Research Question: We analyzed if the shape of MEFVC can be linked to CT-determined emphysema, SAD and BWT in a large cohort of COPDGene participants.

Effect of barometric pressure on single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity.

Background: Single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (D) quantifies gas transfer in the lungs. D measurement is affected by barometric pressure (Pb) and alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (PAO). The current equations for adjusting D for Pb and PAO may not be accurate given advances in test performance and technology.

Diffusing Capacity and Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality risk is often estimated using the BODE (body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity) index, including body mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, dyspnea score, and 6-minute walk distance. Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dl) is a potential predictor of mortality that reflects physiology distinct from that in the BODE index. This study evaluated Dl as a predictor of mortality using participants from the COPDGene study.

Adding of neurotensin to non-small cell lung cancer cells increases tyrosine phosphorylation of HER3.

Neurotensin (NTS) receptor 1 regulates the growth non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. NTS binds with high affinity to NTSR1, leading to increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR and HER2. Using Calu3, NCI-H358, or NCI-H441 cells, the effects of NTS on HER3 transactivation were investigated.

Vaping Cannabinoid Acetates Leads to Ketene Formation.

Δ-THC acetate is a relatively new psychoactive cannabis product that is available online and in vape shops across the United States since it is currently largely unregulated. Because it contains a similar substructure to vitamin E acetate, which has been shown to form the poison gas ketene during vaping, we investigated potential ketene formation from Δ-THC acetate, as well as two other cannabinoids acetates, CBN acetate and CBD acetate, under vaping conditions. Ketene was consistently observed in vaped condensates from all three cannabinoid acetates as well as from a commercial Δ-THC acetate product purchased online.

The Nonpeptide Agonist MK-5046 Functions As an Allosteric Agonist for the Bombesin Receptor Subtype-3.

Allosteric ligands of various G-protein-coupled receptors are being increasingly described and are providing important advances in the development of ligands with novel selectivity and efficacy. These unusual properties allow expanded opportunities for pharmacologic studies and treatment. Unfortunately, no allosteric ligands are yet described for the bombesin receptor family (BnRs), which are proposed to be involved in numerous physiologic/pathophysiological processes in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues.

USACE Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory Quality Controlled, Consistent Measurement Archive.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) utilizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy measurements for validation of their wave models and within coastal applications. However, NDBC data are accessible via multiple archives; each with their own source-specific storage, metadata, and quality control protocols, which result in inconsistencies in the accessible data. Therefore, USACE has developed an independent, quality controlled, consistent (QCC) Measurement Archive that captures the best available NDBC observations with verified metadata.

The influence of terpenes on the release of volatile organic compounds and active ingredients to cannabis vaping aerosols.

Dabbing and vaping cannabis extracts have gained large popularity in the United States as alternatives to cannabis smoking, but diversity in both available products and consumption habits make it difficult to assess consumer exposure to psychoactive ingredients and potentially harmful components. This work studies the how relative ratios of the two primary components of cannabis extracts, Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and terpenes, affect dosage of these and exposure to harmful or potentially harmful components (HPHCs). THC contains a monoterpene moiety and has been previously shown to emit similar volatile degradation products to terpenes when vaporized.

Predictive Factors for Resistant Disease with Medical/Radiologic/Liver-Directed Anti-Tumor Treatments in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Recent Advances and Controversies.

: Recent advances in the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNENs) have led to an emerging need for sensitive and useful prognostic factors for predicting responses/survival. : The predictive value of a number of reported prognostic factors including clinically-related factors (clinical/laboratory/imaging/treatment-related factors), pathological factors (histological/classification/grading), and molecular factors, on therapeutic outcomes of anti-tumor medical therapies with molecular targeting agents (everolimus/sunitinib/somatostatin analogues), chemotherapy, radiological therapy with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, or liver-directed therapies (embolization/chemoembolization/radio-embolization (SIRTs)) are reviewed. Recent findings in each of these areas, as well as remaining controversies and uncertainties, are discussed in detail, particularly from the viewpoint of treatment sequencing.

ENETS standardized (synoptic) reporting for endoscopy in neuroendocrine tumors.

Despite efforts from various endoscopy societies, reporting in the field of endoscopy remains extremely heterogeneous. Harmonisation of clinical practice in endoscopy has been highlighted by application of many clinical practice guidelines and standards pertaining to the endoscopic procedures and reporting are underlined. The aim of the proposed "standardised reporting" is to (1) facilitate recognition of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) on initial endoscopy, (2) to enable interdisciplinary decision making for treatment by a multidisciplinary team, (3) to provide a basis for a standardised endoscopic follow-up which allows detection of recurrence or progression reliably, (4) to make endoscopic reports on NEN comparable between different units, and (5) to allow research collaboration between NEN centres in terms of consistency of their endoscopic data.

Dyspnea and Pulmonary Function Among Participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study Using Protease Inhibitors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

People living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than people without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Antiretroviral therapy has been associated with worsened airflow limitation. This cross-sectional study assessed respiratory health impairment among PLWH and its association with protease inhibitor use using data from Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study visits between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Bombesin Receptor Family Activation and CNS/Neural Tumors: Review of Evidence Supporting Possible Role for Novel Targeted Therapy.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are increasingly being considered as possible therapeutic targets in cancers. Activation of GPCR on tumors can have prominent growth effects, and GPCRs are frequently over-/ectopically expressed on tumors and thus can be used for targeted therapy. CNS/neural tumors are receiving increasing attention using this approach.

Validity of Secretin Stimulation Testing on Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy for Diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

Introduction: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is characterized by gastrinoma-induced hypergastrinemia causing excessive gastric acid secretion. Secretin stimulation tests (SSTs) are required for diagnosis in the majority of patients. Two case reports suggest that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) cause false SST results.