Cancer cells can evade natural killer (NK) cell activity, thereby limiting anti-tumor immunity. To reveal genetic determinants of susceptibility to NK cell activity, we examined interacting NK cells and blood cancer cells using single-cell and genome-scale functional genomics screens. Interaction of NK and cancer cells induced distinct activation and type I interferon (IFN) states in both cell types depending on the cancer cell lineage and molecular phenotype, ranging from more sensitive myeloid to less sensitive B-lymphoid cancers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Holter monitoring, the precise detection of standard heartbeats and ventricular premature contractions (PVCs) is paramount for accurate cardiac rhythm assessment. This study introduces a novel application of the 1D U-Net neural network architecture with the aim of enhancing PVC detection in Holter recordings. Training data comprised the Icentia 11k and INCART DB datasets, as well as our custom dataset.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: To evaluate the associations between neurocognitive and psychiatric health outcomes with mefloquine or any antimalarial exposure.
Materials And Methods: Medical records were systematically reviewed to identify veterans that indicated antimalarial medication use. Linear regression was performed to examine associations between mefloquine/antimalarial exposure and health outcomes.
Aims: The Gulf War Illness programs (GWI) of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program collaborated with experts to develop Common Data Elements (CDEs) to standardize and systematically collect, analyze, and share data across the (GWI) research community.
Main Methods: A collective working group of GWI advocates, Veterans, clinicians, and researchers convened to provide consensus on instruments, case report forms, and guidelines for GWI research. A similar initiative, supported by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) was completed for a comparative illness, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and provided the foundation for this undertaking.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are available in various formats, detecting different viral target proteins and antibody subclasses. The specificity and sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are known to vary and very few studies have addressed the performance of these tests in COVID-19 patient groups at different time points. We here compared the sensitivity and specificity of seven commercial (SNIBE, Epitope, Euroimmun, Roche, Abbott, DiaSorin, Biosensor) and two in-house LIPS assays (LIPS N and LIPS S-RBD) IgG/total Ab tests in serum samples from 97 COVID-19 patients and 100 controls, and correlated the results with the patients' clinical data and the time-point the test was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War were exposed to a variety of toxic substances during their service that included several airborne hazards, but only a few small studies have assessed respiratory outcomes in Gulf War veterans. This paper presents population prevalence estimates and prevalence ratios of respiratory disease among Gulf War and Gulf War Era veterans who use VA healthcare.
Methods: A total of 360,909 Gulf War deployed veterans and 323,638 Gulf War Era non-deployed veterans were included in the analysis.
There are known and effective strategies to prevent arthritis, reduce symptoms, decrease disability, and improve quality of life. For example: Weight management and physical activity may lower risk. Early diagnosis and appropriate self-management may decrease pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe CHP is actively engaging citizens, health professionals, and organizations as partners to help change community and patient behaviors and risk factors that may lead to heart disease and stroke and to develop environmental strategies and cardiovascular policy initiatives. We welcome additional physician involvement throughout the state in this important initiative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study examined whether differences in heat alone, as opposed to public health interventions or other factors, accounted for the reduction in heat-related deaths and paramedic emergency medical service (EMS) runs between 1995 and 1999 during 2 heat waves occurring in Milwaukee, Wis.
Methods: Two previously described prediction models were adapted to compare expected and observed heat-related morbidity and mortality in 1999 based on the city's 1995 experience.
Results: Both models showed that heat-related deaths and EMS runs in 1999 were at least 49% lower than levels predicted by the 1995 relation between heat and heat-related deaths or EMS runs.
Over the past several decades, initiatives have been undertaken both on a national and state level to reduce cigarette smoking and its resultant health consequences. We compared trends in per capita cigarette sales in Wisconsin versus other states from 1985-1999. During this time period, per capita cigarette sales declined 21% in Wisconsin, versus 26% in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA disparate burden of cigarette use has been demonstrated among demographic subgroups both in the United States and Wisconsin. We examined patterns of adult current smoking prevalence in Wisconsin by race, Hispanic ethnicity, household income, and education to assess whether differences exist among these subgroups. This analysis revealed a strong graded relationship between household income, education, and smoking prevalence, consistent among non-Hispanic whites and blacks, though not Hispanics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study is to assess trends in self-reported cigarette smoking among adults in Wisconsin. Behavioral Risk Factor Survey data from 1984-1999 were analyzed to determine changes in smoking prevalence. Results of this analysis show almost no change in overall adult smoking prevalence over the past 15 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn anticipation of U.S. forces deploying to Bosnia-Herzegovina, plans were established to conduct medical surveillance of all military service members.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext: There are limited data on the extent to which spouse abuse in a family is a risk factor for child abuse.
Objective: To estimate the subsequent relative risk of child abuse in families with a report of spouse abuse compared with other families.
Design: Cohort study.
Objective: To assess the characteristics of heat-related deaths in Wisconsin during the summer of 1999.
Methods: Review of death certificates indicating heat as an underlying or contributing cause of death.
Results: Heat-related illness led to 21 deaths during the summer of 1999 in Wisconsin.
Objectives: Overweight is an important condition that increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. We examined trends in overweight prevalence among Wisconsin adults from 1989 to 1998 and assessed progress in reaching the overweight 2000 goal for Wisconsin.
Methods: We used data on the self-reported height, weight, and calculated body mass index from the Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey to examine overweight prevalence trends among Wisconsin adults.