Cell-free Circulating Tumor DNA Variant Allele Frequency Associates with Survival in Metastatic Cancer.

Purpose: Physicians are expected to assess prognosis both for patient counseling and for determining suitability for clinical trials. Increasingly, cell-free circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA) sequencing is being performed for clinical decision making. We sought to determine whether variant allele frequency (VAF) in cfDNA is associated with prognosis.

Set1/COMPASS repels heterochromatin invasion at euchromatic sites by disrupting Suv39/Clr4 activity and nucleosome stability.

Protection of euchromatin from invasion by gene-repressive heterochromatin is critical for cellular health and viability. In addition to constitutive loci such as pericentromeres and subtelomeres, heterochromatin can be found interspersed in gene-rich euchromatin, where it regulates gene expression pertinent to cell fate. While heterochromatin and euchromatin are globally poised for mutual antagonism, the mechanisms underlying precise spatial encoding of heterochromatin containment within euchromatic sites remain opaque.

Post-mortem toxicology in the diagnosis of sudden death in young and middle-aged victims.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of the toxicological results found in cases of sudden death (SD) and to correlate the clinical, autopsy and genetic findings with the toxicology results.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive SD in people aged between 16 and 50 years with medico-legal autopsies and toxicology studies were included over a 3-year period. The comparison between the toxicological data and demographic characteristics, clinical circumstances, autopsy, and genetic results were taken into account.

The Skin Cancer Index: quality-of-life outcomes of treatments for nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancies in humans. When treating NMSC, quality-of-life (QOL) is an important consideration. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare QOL outcomes of two common therapies for NMSC: Mohs micrographic surgery and excision, using a disease-specific QOL instrument, the Skin Cancer Index (SCI).

Association Between the Respiratory Microbiome and Susceptibility to Influenza Virus Infection.

Background: Previous studies suggest that the nose/throat microbiome may play an important role in shaping host immunity and modifying the risk of respiratory infection. Our aim is to quantify the association between the nose/throat microbiome and susceptibility to influenza virus infection.

Methods: In this household transmission study, index cases with confirmed influenza virus infection and their household contacts were followed for 9-12 days to identify secondary influenza infections.

Correction: A feasibility study of returning clinically actionable somatic genomic alterations identified in a research laboratory.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16018.

Controlling sugarcane press-mud fermentation to increase bioethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production.

Hydrogen (H) production from sugarcane press-mud, a waste obtained from the non-centrifugal sugarcane agroindustry, was assessed by coupling hydrolysis, fermentation, purification, and ethanol steam reforming (ESR). Two culture media were employed on three different sugarcane press-mud samples to produce bioethanol by fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30 °C. One culture medium was supplemented with nutrients and the other without supplementation.

Pre-weaning plane of nutrition and Mannheimia haemolytica dose influence inflammatory responses to a bovine herpesvirus-1 and Mannheimia haemolytica challenge in post-weaning Holstein calves.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether plane of nutrition (PON) of milk replacer previously provided to calves, and dosage level of Mannheimia haemolytica (MH), influenced inflammatory responses to a combined viral-bacterial respiratory challenge. Holstein calves (1 d of age; n = 30) were assigned to treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial with pre-weaning PON and MH dose as main effects (n = 5 per treatment). Calves were fed either a low (LPN; n = 15) or a high PON (HPN; n = 15) from birth through weaning.

Translation, adaptation, and reliability of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation in the Spanish population.

Background: Psychosocial risk factors influence the course of transplantation. Psychosocial evaluation is an important part of pre-transplantation evaluation processes, yet there are no standardized instruments in Spanish.

Objective: To translate, adapt, and test the reliability of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT) in organ and cell transplantation patients in the Spanish context.

The link between colon cancer and congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE).

Purpose: Clarify the differences between Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)-associated Congenital Hypertrophy of the Retinal Epithelium (CHRPE) and benign variants with regards to lesion characteristics and associated risk.

Observations: An eighteen-year-old man with no past medical history was found to have multiple lesions in both eyes that were consistent with FAP-associated CHRPE. Although family history was negative for colon cancer, a colonoscopy was performed, and hundreds of polyps were found extending from the rectum to the distal colon with pathological findings of tubular adenoma.

Molecular Profiling of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Circulating Cell-Free DNA.

Purpose: Molecular profiling has been used to select patients for targeted therapy and determine prognosis. Noninvasive strategies are critical to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) given the challenge of obtaining liver tissue biopsies.

Experimental Design: We analyzed blood samples from 206 patients with HCC using comprehensive genomic testing (Guardant Health) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Pre-existing Antineuraminidase Antibodies Are Associated With Shortened Duration of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm Virus Shedding and Illness in Naturally Infected Adults.

Background: Influenza causes a substantial burden worldwide, and current seasonal influenza vaccine has suboptimal effectiveness. To develop better, more broadly protective vaccines, a more thorough understanding is needed of how antibodies that target the influenza virus surface antigens, hemagglutinin (HA) (including head and stalk regions) and neuraminidase (NA), impact influenza illness and virus transmission.

Methods: We used a case-ascertained, community-based study of household influenza virus transmission set in Managua, Nicaragua.

OCTANE: Oncology Clinical Trial Annotation Engine.

Purpose: Many targeted therapies are currently available only via clinical trials. Therefore, routine precision oncology using biomarker-based assignment to drug depends on matching patients to clinical trials. A comprehensive and up-to-date trial database is necessary for optimal patient-trial matching.

The Case of Ty Jackson: An Interactive Module on LGBT Health Employing Introspective Techniques and Video-Based Case Discussion.

Introduction: The Institute of Medicine's 2011 report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health and the legalization of same-sex marriage are just two of the numerous milestones that have hastened medical schools' efforts to prepare trainees to address the needs of LGBT community members. Early awareness of sexual diversity through self- and peer introspection and video-based education can help trainees build a foundation towards providing affirming care to LGBT patients.

Methods: The Kern model was used to develop, implement, and evaluate an interactive multimodal workshop to provide first-year medical students with a formative introduction to LGBT health.

Assessing the Incidence of Symptomatic Respiratory Syncytial Virus Illness Within a Prospective Birth Cohort in Managua, Nicaragua.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity and mortality among children worldwide, commonly through acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI). To assess the incidence rate of symptomatic RSV illness among young children, we conducted a prospective birth cohort study following children from 0-2 years of age in Managua, Nicaragua.

Methods: Children meeting the testing criteria (fever, history of fever, or severe respiratory symptoms [apnea, stridor, nasal flaring, wheezing, chest indrawing, and/or central cyanosis]) were tested for RSV infections using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Taking advantage of external mechanical work to reduce metabolic cost: the mechanics and energetics of split-belt treadmill walking.

Key Points: The neuromotor system generates flexible motor patterns that can adapt to changes in our bodies or environment and also take advantage of assistance provided by the environment. We ask how energy minimization influences adaptive learning during human locomotion to improve economy when walking on a split-belt treadmill. We use a model-based approach to predict how people should adjust their walking pattern to take advantage of the assistance provided by the treadmill, and we validate these predictions empirically.

Novel correlates of protection against pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection.

Influenza viruses remain a severe threat to human health, causing up to 650,000 deaths annually. Seasonal influenza virus vaccines can prevent infection, but are rendered ineffective by antigenic drift. To provide improved protection from infection, novel influenza virus vaccines that target the conserved epitopes of influenza viruses, specifically those in the hemagglutinin stalk and neuraminidase, are currently being developed.

Retraction Note to: Acridine yellow. A novel use to estimate and measure the plasma membrane potential in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The authors have retracted this article [1]. After publication the dye used in this study was analysed by NMR and mass spectroscopy and found not to be acridine yellow, but rather, was identified as thioflavin T.

Electromyography activation of shoulder and trunk muscles is greater during closed chain compared to open chain exercises.

Background: To compare the activation of shoulder and trunk muscles between six pairs of closed (CC) and open chain (OC) exercises for the upper extremity, matched for performance characteristics. The secondary aims were to compare shoulder and trunk muscle activation and shoulder activation ratios during each pair of CC and OC exercise.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy young adults were recruited.

Carbon composite membrane derived from MIL-125-NH MOF for the enhanced extraction of emerging pollutants.

Porous carbon derived from amine-functionalized MIL-125 metal-organic framework (C-MIL-125-NH) was prepared by carbonization at high temperature under inert atmosphere, and used for adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-tert-butylphenol (4-tBP). The obtained carbon showed bimodal porosity and fast extraction of both pollutants in batch conditions following a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption mechanism was studied by the measurement of zeta potential, and the results suggested that π-π stacking interactions between the carbon material and the phenol molecules probably are the main sorption mechanism.

Mindfulness-based group intervention in adolescents at-risk for excess weight gain: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Objectives: To assess feasibility/acceptability of a mindfulness-based approach to excess weight prevention in adolescents at-risk for excess weight gain. To pilot test efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention for improving food reward sensitivity, stress-eating, executive function (EF), and BMI/adiposity.

Methods: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 12-17y adolescents at-risk for excess weight gain based on above-average weight (body mass index [BMI]≥70%ile) or parental history of obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m).