Cancer-specific alterations in nuclear matrix proteins determined by multi-omics analyses of ductal carcinoma .

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States. Ductal carcinoma (DCIS) is the earliest identifiable pre-invasive BC lesion. Estimates show that 14 to 50% of DCIS cases progress to invasive BC.

Cancer-Specific Alterations in Nuclear Matrix Proteins Determined by Multi-omics Analyses of Ductal Carcinoma .

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States. Ductal carcinoma (DCIS) is the earliest identifiable pre-invasive BC lesion. Estimates show that 14 to 50% of DCIS cases progress to invasive BC.

Spectral and RGB analysis of the light climate and its ecological impacts using an all-sky camera system in the Arctic.

The ArcLight observatory provides an hourly continuous time series of all-sky images providing light climate data (intensity, spectral composition, and photoperiod) from the Arctic (Svalbard at 79°N). Until recently, no complete annual time series of light climate relevant for biological processes has been provided from the high Arctic because of insufficient sensitivity of commercial light sensors during the Polar Night. The ArcLight set up is unique, as it provides both all-sky images and the corresponding integrated spectral irradiance in the visible part of the solar electromagnetic spectrum ( ).

Oxford hip and knee scores deteriorate in patients awaiting lower limb arthroplasty during the COVID-19 pandemic and predict a health state 'worse than death'.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to elective orthopaedic services. The primary objective of this study was to examine changes in functional scores in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Secondary objectives were to investigate differences between these groups and identify those in a health state 'worse than death' (WTD).

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors within Cells: Temporal Resolution in Cytoplasm, Endoplasmic Reticulum, and Membrane.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most prescribed treatment for individuals experiencing major depressive disorder. The therapeutic mechanisms that take place before, during, or after SSRIs bind the serotonin transporter (SERT) are poorly understood, partially because no studies exist on the cellular and subcellular pharmacokinetic properties of SSRIs in living cells. We studied escitalopram and fluoxetine using new intensity-based, drug-sensing fluorescent reporters targeted to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cultured neurons and mammalian cell lines.

All-sky camera system providing high temporal resolution annual time series of irradiance in the Arctic.

The ArcLight observatory provides hourly continuous time series of light regime data (intensity, spectral composition, and photoperiod) from the Arctic, Svalbard at 79° N. Until now, no complete annual time series of biologically relevant light has been provided from the high Arctic due to insufficient sensitivity of commercial light sensors during the Polar Night. We describe a camera system providing all-sky images and the corresponding integrated spectral irradiance () in energy or quanta units, throughout a complete annual cycle.

Regulation of epithelial sodium channel activity by SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019, encodes several proteins whose roles are poorly understood. We tested their ability either to directly form plasma membrane ion channels or to change functions of two mammalian plasma membrane ion channels, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In mRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes, none of nine SARS-CoV-2 proteins or two SARS-CoV-1 proteins produced conductances, nor did co-injection of several combinations.

Elevated somatic mutation and evidence of genomic instability in veterans with Gulf War illness.

Aims: Gulf War illness (GWI) is thought to be associated with exposures experienced by soldiers deployed in the 1991 Gulf War. A major question is how these exposures continue to influence the health of these individuals three decades later. One potentially permanent effect of such exposures is the induction of genetic mutations.

National Quality Measure Compliance for Palliative Bone Radiation Among Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: There exists wide practice variability in palliative treatment schedules for bone metastases. In an effort to reduce variation and promote high-quality, cost-conscious care, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed measure 1822 in 2012. This measure recommends the use of 30 Gy in 10 fractions, 24 Gy in 6 fractions, 20 Gy in 5 fractions, or 8 Gy in a single fraction for palliative radiation for bone metastases.

Lower Levels of Trust in the Medical Profession Among White, Younger, and More-educated Individuals With Cancer.

Introduction: Levels of medical mistrust have historically been higher among racial/ethnic minority patients compared with whites, largely owing to societal and health system inequities and history of discrimination or experimentation. However, recently trust in physicians has declined in the United States in general. We investigated trust in physicians among a large cohort of cancer patients residing in Texas.

Historical and contemporary views on cholera transmission: are we repeating past discussions? Can lessons learned from cholera be applied to COVID-19?

Cholera, a devastating diarrheal disease that caused several global pandemics in the last centuries, may share some similarities with the new COVID-19. Cholera has affected many populations in history and still remains a significant burden in developing countries. The main transmission route was thought to be predominantly through contaminated drinking water.

Does a Custom Electronic Health Record Alert System Improve Physician Compliance With National Quality Measures for Palliative Bone Metastasis Radiotherapy?

Purpose: In an effort to promote cost-conscious, high-quality, and patient-centered care in the palliative radiation of painful bone metastases, the National Quality Forum (NQF) formed measure 1822 in 2012, which recommends the use of one of the four dose-fractionation schemes (30 Gy in 10 fractions, 24 Gy in 6 fractions, 20 Gy in 5 fractions, or 8 Gy in a single fraction). We investigated whether a custom electronic health record (EHR) alert system improved quality measure compliance among 88 physicians at a large academic center and institutional network.

Methods: In March 2018, a multiphase alert system was embedded in a custom web-based EHR.

A Dosimetric Comparison of Oral Cavity Sparing in the Unilateral Treatment of Early Stage Tonsil Cancer: IMRT, IMPT, and Tongue-Deviating Oral Stents.

Introduction: Tongue-deviating oral stents (TDOS) are commonly used during unilateral neck radiation therapy to reduce unnecessary dose to nontarget oral structures. Their benefit in the setting of highly conformal treatment techniques, however, is not defined. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential benefit of TDOS use on dosimetric parameters in unilateral intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Participants in US-Based Phase 3 Randomized Cancer Clinical Trials.

Although improving representation of racial and ethnic groups in United States clinical trials has been a focus of federal initiatives for nearly 3 decades, the status of racial and ethnic minority enrollment on cancer trials is largely unknown. We used a broad collection of phase 3 cancer trials derived from ClinicalTrials.gov to evaluate racial and ethnic enrollment among US cancer trials.

Development and validation of a contouring guideline for the taste bud bearing tongue mucosa.

Purpose: To introduce a contouring guideline for the taste bud bearing tongue mucosa for head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: CT simulation images of oropharyngeal cancer patients were used to delineate both the whole tongue (extrinsic/intrinsic tongue muscles, floor of mouth) and the taste bud bearing tongue mucosa (method A: adaptation of the whole tongue structure; method B: axial adaptation of a mid-sagittal contour). Volumetric and dosimetric parameters of the whole tongue and the two methods of mucosal delineation, spatial overlap between methods A and B, and inter-observer variability for method B were calculated.

Proteins for increased surface expression of the α6β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: nothing but good news?

Useful animal models of disease in neuroscience can make accurate predictions about a therapeutic outcome, a feature known as predictive validity. In this issue of the JCI, Knowland et al. provide an improved model to assess nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands for treating chronic pain.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the Definitive Treatment of Early Stage Kidney Cancer: A Survival Comparison With Surgery, Tumor Ablation, and Observation.

Purpose: Partial nephrectomy is the preferred definitive treatment for early stage kidney cancer, with tumor ablative techniques or active surveillance reserved for patients not undergoing surgery. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a potential noninvasive alternative for patients with early stage kidney cancer not amenable to surgery, with early reports suggesting excellent rates of local control and limited toxicity.

Methods And Materials: The national cancer database from 2004 to 2014 was queried for patients who received a diagnosis of T1N0M0 kidney cancer.

Adapting the 3D-printed Openflexure microscope enables computational super-resolution imaging.

We report on a 3D printed microscope, based on a design by the Openflexure project, that uses low cost components to perform fluorescence imaging. The system is sufficiently sensitive and mechanically stable to allow the use of the Super Resolution Radial Fluctuations algorithm to obtain images with resolution better than the diffraction limit. Due to the low-cost components, the entire system can be built for approximately $1200.

Prospective longitudinal patient-reported outcomes of swallowing following intensity modulated proton therapy for oropharyngeal cancer.

Background And Purpose: With an enlarging population of long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivors, dysphagia is an increasingly important toxicity following oropharynx cancer treatment. While lower doses to normal surrounding structures may be achieved with intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) compared to photon-based radiation, the clinical benefit is uncertain.

Methods And Materials: Seventy-one patients with stage III/IV oropharyngeal cancer (AJCC 7th edition) undergoing definitive IMPT on a longitudinal prospective cohort study who had completed the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) at pre-specified time points were included.

Low-cost, open-access quantitative phase imaging of algal cells using the transport of intensity equation.

Phase microscopy allows stain-free imaging of transparent biological samples. One technique, using the transport of intensity equation (TIE), can be performed without dedicated hardware by simply processing pairs of images taken at known spacings within the sample. The resulting TIE images are quantitative phase maps of unstained biological samples.

Non-English language validation of patient-reported outcome measures in cancer clinical trials.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly incorporated as endpoints in oncology clinical trials but are often only validated in English. ClinicalTrials.gov was queried for cancer-specific randomized control trials (RCTs) addressing a therapeutic intervention and enrolling primarily in the USA.

Seed, soil, and spine stereotactic radiosurgery: A unique case of metastatic dissemination.

A 52 year-old gentleman with metastatic pheochromocytoma received single fraction spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) to an isolated L3 metastasis. Two years later, he developed widespread osseous metastatic disease involving nearly every vertebral body level with the striking exception of the treated L3 vertebrae. The "seed and soil" hypothesis of metastatic dissemination was developed over a century ago and states that tumors cells (the "seed") preferentially grow in select host tissue microenvironments (the "soil").