Predictive modeling of indoor dust lead concentrations: Sources, risks, and benefits of intervention.

Lead (Pb) contamination continues to contribute to world-wide morbidity in all countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries. Despite its continued widespread adverse effects on global populations, particularly children, accurate prediction of elevated household dust Pb and the potential implications of simple, low-cost household interventions at national and global scales have been lacking. A global dataset (∼40 countries, n = 1951) of community sourced household dust samples were used to predict whether indoor dust was elevated in Pb, expanding on recent work in the United States (U.

Evaluation of Trends in Treatment of Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mHSPC) Across Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), treatment intensification with either docetaxel or an androgen-receptor-axis targeted therapy (ARAT), added to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the new standard of care. To better understand patterns of treatment intensification in Canada and specifically how it has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a national survey of genitourinary medical oncologists from across Canada.

Methods: Using SurveyMonkey, we conducted an online survey of 119 medical oncologists in Canada from January 15 to January 27, 2021.

Forgotten and found: A case of childhood rickets in the 19th-century settler village of Heuvelton, New York.

Objective: To evaluate pathological lesions suggesting the presence of rickets and to place the diagnosis into bioarchaeological and historical context.

Materials: The remains of a 3-year ± 12-month-old child discovered during a rescue excavation in Heuvelton, New York.

Methods: We examined the individual macroscopically and conducted a differential diagnosis following established protocols in the palaeopathological literature.

Tumoral CD105 promotes immunosuppression, metastasis, and angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma.

CD105 (endoglin) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a TGF-beta coreceptor and is highly expressed on endothelial cells. Unsurprisingly, preclinical and clinical evidence strongly suggests that CD105 is an important contributor to tumor angiogenesis and tumor progression. Emerging evidence suggests that CD105 is also expressed by tumor cells themselves in certain cancers such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

A Listeria-based vaccine targeting ISG15 exerts anti-tumor efficacy in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the deadliest form of urological cancer and is projected to be the fourth most common neoplasm in the USA in males by 2040. In addition to the current poor prognosis with 5-year survival rates hardly reaching 15%, the prevalence of resistance to currently available systemic therapies has also established an urgent need to develop new treatment regimen(s) for advanced RCC. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is the first identified ubiquitin-like modifier and has been intensively studied for its central role in innate immunity against intracellular pathogens.

"When people see me, they know me; they trust what I say": characterizing the role of trusted sources for smoke risk communication in the Okanogan River Airshed Emphasis Area.

Introduction: As wildfire smoke events increase in intensity and frequency in the Pacific Northwest, there is a growing need for effective communication on the health risks of smoke exposure. Delivery through a trusted source or intermediary has been shown to improve reception of risk communication messages. This is especially salient in rural and tribal communities who may be hesitant to trust information from state and federal agency sources.

Uncommon case of metastatic prostate cancer developing cutaneous metastasis.

We report a case of a man in his early 70s with a known history of prostate adenocarcinoma who presented with an undiagnosed skin lesion on his right lower lateral neck 6 years after his metastatic cancer diagnosis. The painless lesion was pink, lobulated and soft. The differential diagnosis included both primary and metastatic tumours.

Dyslipidemia Is Associated With Worse Asthma Clinical Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Dyslipidemia has been widely documented to be associated with cardiovascular disease, and recent studies have found an association with asthma prevalence. However, longitudinal studies investigating the relationships between dyslipidemia, asthma phenotypes, and future asthma exacerbations (AEs) are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between dyslipidemia, asthma phenotypes, and AEs.

Synergistic potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors and therapeutic cancer vaccines.

Cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) function at different stages of the cancer immune cycle due to their distinct mechanisms of action. Therapeutic cancer vaccines enhance the activation and infiltration of cytotoxic immune cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME), while ICIs, prevent and/or reverse the dysfunction of these immune cells. The efficacy of both classes of immunotherapy has been evaluated in monotherapy, but they have been met with several challenges.

Evaluating the impact of early identification of asymptomatic brain metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have been reported to be present in up to 25% of patients diagnosed with mRCC. There is limited published literature evaluating the role of routine intra-cranial imaging for the screening of asymptomatic BM in mRCC.

Aims: To evaluate the potential utility of routine intra-cranial imaging, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to characterize the outcomes of mRCC patients who presented with asymptomatic BM, as compared to symptomatic BM.

Reduced Skeletal Muscle Mass Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Asthma Control and Exacerbation.

Background: Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) has been suggested to be associated with multiple health-related outcomes. However, the potential influence of SMM on asthma has not been largely explored.

Objective: To study the association between SMM and clinical features of asthma, including asthma control and exacerbation, and to construct a model based on SMM to predict the risk of asthma exacerbation (AEx).

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Services for Black and Hispanic or Latino Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in THRIVE, 2015-2020.

Background And Setting: From 2015 to 2020, the THRIVE project supported 7 US health departments to improve HIV prevention services for Black or African American (Black) and Hispanic or Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) and transgender women (TGW).

Methods: We described services provided in the THRIVE PrEP continuum. Using Poisson regression models, we estimated associations between race or ethnicity and age and PrEP screening, linkage, and prescription.

Modelling of marine debris pathways into UK waters: Example of non-native crustaceans transported across the Atlantic Ocean on floating marine debris.

The long-distance transfer of non-native, potentially invasive species via floating marine debris is an increasing threat to biodiversity and conservation efforts. To address the lack of understanding around mechanisms and pathways of species transfer via marine debris, a novel modelling approach was applied to recreate the likely trajectory and source of a large piece of debris fouled by non-native species collected from UK marine waters. This approach applied the Oil Spill Contingency and Response (OSCAR) simulation tool, an adapted oil spill modelling programme, which was informed by a combination of biological trait information for the foulant species, marine debris characteristics and hydrodynamic data.

The effect of spring diameter on porcine ileal distraction enterogenesis.

Purpose: Spring-mediated distraction enterogenesis has proven to be successful for intestinal lengthening. We aimed to evaluate the effect of spring diameter mismatch on intestinal adaptation.

Methods: Juvenile mini-Yucatan pigs underwent placement of compressed nitinol springs with diameter of 10, 11, or 12 mm into the ileal lumen.

Listeria-based immunotherapy directed against CD105 exerts anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor efficacy in renal cell carcinoma.

Targeting tumor-associated angiogenesis is currently at the forefront of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) therapy, with sunitinib and bevacizumab leading to increased survival in patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC). However, resistance often occurs shortly after initiation of therapy, suggesting that targeting the tumor-associated vascular endothelium may not be sufficient to eradicate RCC. This study reports the therapeutic efficacy of a Listeria (Lm)-based vaccine encoding an antigenic fragment of CD105 (Lm-LLO-CD105A) that targets both RCC tumor cells and the tumor-associated vasculature.

'Getting our voices heard in research: a review of peer researcher's roles and experiences on a qualitative study of adult safeguarding policy.

Background: Historically, disabled people have been marginalised in research that traditionally adopted a medical model perspective. Since the 1970's, there has been a shift from research on disabled people to research with disabled people with a strong emphasis on co-produced participatory research. Co-production involves disabled people working with academics to produce research and outcomes which are informed by the end user.

Does using 3D printed models for pre-operative planning improve surgical outcomes of foot and ankle fracture fixation? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The systematic review aims to establish the value of using 3D printing-assisted pre-operative planning, compared to conventional planning, for the operative management of foot and ankle fractures.

Methods: The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Two authors performed searches on three electronic databases.

Dynamic tumor microenvironment, molecular heterogeneity, and distinct immunologic portrait of triple-negative breast cancer: an impact on classification and treatment approaches.

Heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the lack of a definite targetable receptor in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has carved a niche for this cancer as a particularly therapeutically challenging form of breast cancer. However, recent advances in high-throughput genomic analysis have provided new insights into the unique microenvironment and defining characteristics of various subsets of TNBC. This improved understanding has contributed to the development of novel therapeutic strategies including targeted therapies such as PARP inhibitors and CDK inhibitors.

Intraparenchymal metastases as a cause for local recurrence of pancreatic cancer.

Using CODA, a technique for three-dimensional reconstruction of large tissues, Kiemen et al. report observation of a microscopic focus of pancreatic cancer found in the vasculature of grossly normal human pancreas tissue resected adjacent to a large tumour. They use TP53 and SMAD4 staining to relate the small focus to the primary tumour.

Lentiviral overexpression of VEGFC in transplanted MSCs leads to resolution of swelling in a mouse tail lymphedema model.

Background: Dysfunction of the lymphatic system following injury, disease, or cancer treatment can lead to lymphedema, a debilitating condition with no cure. Despite the various physical therapy and surgical options available, most treatments are palliative and fail to address the underlying lymphatic vascular insufficiency driving lymphedema progression. Stem cell therapy provides a promising alternative in the treatment of various chronic diseases with a wide range of therapeutic effects that reduce inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress, while promoting lymphatic vessel (LV) regeneration.

Multiplex array analysis of serum cytokines offers minimal predictive value for cognitive function in the subacute phase after stroke.

Objective: The effects of inflammation on post-stroke cognitive function are still unclear. This study investigated the correlation between the Th17-related cytokines in peripheral blood and post-stroke cognitive function after ischemic stroke in the subacute phase.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

The Impact of Meal Dietary Inflammatory Index on Exercise-Induced Changes in Airway Inflammation in Adults with Asthma.

Research suggests exercise may reduce eosinophilic airway inflammation in adults with asthma. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) quantifies the inflammatory potential of the diet and has been associated with asthma outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether the DII of a meal consumed either before or after exercise influences exercise-induced changes in airway inflammation.