Community pharmacy-based buprenorphine programs and pharmacists' roles, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to providing buprenorphine-related services: A systematic review.

Background: Buprenorphine is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and reducing opioid-related overdose deaths. Community pharmacies are key access points for buprenorphine, with pharmacists well-positioned to dispense and counsel patients on appropriate use. Recent evidence has identified pharmacists' growing engagement in buprenorphine services; yet, access to buprenorphine and related services in community pharmacies remains limited.

A TBX2-driven signaling switch from androgen receptor to glucocorticoid receptor confers therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer.

Recent studies suggest that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation can cause enzalutamide resistance in advanced prostate cancer (PCa) via functional bypass of androgen receptor (AR) signaling. However, the specific molecular mechanism(s) driving this process remain unknown. We have previously reported that the transcription factor TBX2 is over-expressed in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Pushing the boundaries of radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: highlights from the 7 immunorad conference.

Over the last decade, the annual Immunorad Conference, held under the joint auspicies of Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) and the Weill Cornell Medical College (New-York, USA) has aimed at exploring the latest advancements in the fields of tumor immunology and radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations for the treatment of cancer. Gathering medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physicians and researchers with esteemed expertise in these fields, the Immunorad Conference bridges the gap between preclinical outcomes and clinical opportunities. Thus, it paves a promising way toward optimizing radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations and, from a broader perspective, improving therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer.

Diagnosing Adolescent Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders Using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Quick Version-4.

Objective: Early identification of substance use during adolescence is imperative to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Quick Version 4 (GAIN-Q4) at diagnosing substance use disorders (SUDs) in adolescents.

Methods: The GAIN-Q4 was developed from the GAIN-Quick Version 3 by adding items from the original measure (GAIN-I) to diagnose SUDs and provide level of care recommendations.

Definitive Radiotherapy for Oligometastatic and Oligoprogressive Thyroid Cancer: A Potential Strategy for Systemic Therapy Deferral.

Background: Definitive radiotherapy (dRT) has been shown to be an effective option for patients with oligometastatic and oligoprogressive cancers; however, this approach has not been well-studied in metastatic thyroid cancer.

Methods: This retrospective cohort included 119 patients with oligometastatic (34%) and oligoprogressive (66%) metastatic thyroid cancer treated from 2005 to 2024 with 207 dRT courses for 344 sites (50% thoracic, 37% bone, 7.5% brain, 4% abdominopelvic, and 1.

Parent Outreach Efforts Extend the Sustained Benefits of a Preschool Classroom Intervention: Adolescent Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

The Research-based Developmentally Informed (REDI) program enriched Head Start classrooms with teacher-delivered curriculum components designed to enhance child social-emotional learning and language-literacy skills. Parents received information about the program via backpack express, including weekly handouts about program topics and three DVDs illustrating REDI interactive strategies and suggesting home learning activities. In addition to effects on child skill acquisition and school performance (reported previously), positive effects emerged on a family-based outcome: parents of children in REDI-enriched classrooms reported higher quality preschool parent-child conversations than parents in the randomized control group (usual practice) classrooms.

Development and Evaluation of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Quick Version 4 (GAIN-Q4) for ASAM Dimension Ratings and Placement Recommendations for Adolescents and Adults.

Objectives: This article describes the development and evaluation of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Quick Version 4 (GAIN-Q4) for the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 4th edition patient placement dimension ratings and level of care placement recommendations. The research questions are as follows: (1) Can the GAIN-Q4 replicate recommendations from the prior longer instrument within adolescents and adults? (2) What are the substantive differences in the results by age?

Methods: The 35- to 45-minute GAIN-Q4 was developed through modification of the GAIN-Q3 and evaluated in terms of its ability to predict ASAM dimensional ratings and level of care placement recommendations from the 60- to 120-minute GAIN-I instrument. Data were obtained from participants who are adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (n = 101,897) and adults 18 years and older (n = 204,711) interviewed between 2002 and 2018 across 530 US sites.

Midwife-Led Mobile Antenatal Clinic: An Innovative Approach to Improve Utilization of Services in Pwani, Tanzania.

Participating in antenatal clinics is a major determinant in reducing poor maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the utilization of antenatal clinic (ANC) services provided by a mobile clinic led by skilled midwives and determine the acceptability in the Pwani region, Tanzania. For a year, the mobile clinic, nicknamed "Mkunga Kitaani" and equipped with necessary tools and staff, served seven villages in the Kisarawe district that lacked health facilities.

Characteristics and career effect on PA graduates of a doctor of medical science program.

Objective: This study examined the characteristics and effect of a doctoral degree on career metrics of physician associate/assistant (PA) graduates.

Methods: This was a comparative analysis study of doctor of medical science (DMSc) program graduates. Characteristics from this survey were compared with program data and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs for 2022.

Integrated Prevention Infrastructure: A Framework for Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Substance Use Policy Making.

Substance use and misuse remain formidable public health challenges and are intricately linked to social determinants of health (SDOH). Addressing SDOH requires structural interventions along with clinical support to change relevant policies. In this article, the authors review structural interventions known as prevention infrastructures and provide a framework for considering how different models of prevention infrastructures can be used to address SDOH that contribute to substance use.

Salvage Reirradiation with Proton Beam Therapy for Locoregionally Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/objectives: This retrospective study evaluates outcomes of 66 patients who underwent reirradiation (re-RT) with proton beam therapy (PBT) for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Toxicity was scored via the CTCAE v5.0, and outcomes estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with associations evaluated via Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression analyses.

Enhanced tumor control and survival in preclinical models with adoptive cell therapy preceded by low-dose radiotherapy.

Introduction: Effective infiltration of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells into solid tumors is critical for achieving a robust antitumor response and improving therapeutic outcomes. While CAR-T cell therapies have succeeded in hematologic malignancies, their efficacy in solid tumors remains limited due to poor tumor penetration and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) administered before T-cell therapy to enhance the antitumor effect by promoting CAR-T cell infiltration.

Superior antitumor immune response achieved with proton over photon immunoradiotherapy is amplified by the nanoradioenhancer NBTXR3.

Recent findings suggest that immunoradiotherapy (IRT), combining photon radiotherapy (XRT) or proton radiotherapy (PRT) with immune checkpoint blockade, can enhance systemic tumor control. However, the comparative efficacy of XRT and PRT in IRT remains understudied. To address this, we compared outcomes between XRT + αPD1 and PRT + αPD1 in murine αPD1-resistant lung cancer (344SQR).

Consumption of Low-Calorie Sweeteners among Children Aged 6 Months to 5 Years in the United States, NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: Although the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) consumption by children <5 y due to potential health and development concerns, the extent of this consumption among these children is unknown.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the intake, sources, and dietary patterns associated with LCS consumption among United States infants and preschoolers.

Methods: We used cross-sectional 24-h dietary recall data (day 1) among 1497 children aged 6 mo to 5 y from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020 prepandemic.

Novel engineered IL-2 Nemvaleukin alfa combined with PD1 checkpoint blockade enhances the systemic anti-tumor responses of radiation therapy.

Background: Combining interleukin-2 (IL-2) with radiotherapy (RT) and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has emerged as a promising approach to address ICB resistance. However, conventional IL-2 cytokine therapy faces constraints owing to its brief half-life and adverse effects. RDB 1462, the mouse ortholog of Nemvaleukin alfa, is an engineered IL-2 with an intermediate affinity that selectively stimulates antitumor CD8 T and NK cells while limiting regulatory T cell expansion.

Challenges and Opportunities in Developing an Oncology Clinical Trial Network in the United States Veterans Affairs Health Care System: The VA STARPORT Experience.

The United States Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System has a strong history of conducting impactful oncology randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We developed a phase II/III RCT to test the use of metastasis-directed therapy in Veterans with oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC)-the first VA RCT in OMPC that leverages novel imaging and advanced radiotherapy techniques. To accomplish this, we developed a clinical trial network to conduct the study.

Concurrent tDCS-fMRI after stroke reveals link between attention network organization and motor improvement.

Restoring motor function after stroke necessitates involvement of numerous cognitive systems. However, the impact of damage to motor and cognitive network organization on recovery is not well understood. To discover correlates of successful recovery, we explored imaging characteristics in chronic stroke subjects by combining noninvasive brain stimulation and fMRI.

Qualitative Assessment of Barriers to Buprenorphine Access: The Role of Pharmacies.

Background: Patients continue to face challenges accessing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) despite attempts to loosen prescribing restrictions and streamline service provision. Past research has mainly focused on potential barriers surrounding prescribing practices for buprenorphine, but has had limited investigation into the role of pharmacies.

Objective: This study investigates the role of both pharmacists and pharmacies in creating or circumventing barriers to accessing buprenorphine for individuals in Georgia seeking medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Hybridizing mechanistic modeling and deep learning for personalized survival prediction after immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.

We present a study where predictive mechanistic modeling is combined with deep learning methods to predict individual patient survival probabilities under immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. This hybrid approach enables prediction based on both measures that are calculable from mechanistic models of key mechanisms underlying ICI therapy that may not be directly measurable in the clinic and easily measurable quantities or patient characteristics that are not always readily incorporated into predictive mechanistic models. A deep learning time-to-event predictive model trained on a hybrid mechanistic + clinical data set from 93 patients achieved higher per-patient predictive accuracy based on event-time concordance, Brier score, and negative binomial log-likelihood-based criteria than when trained on only mechanistic model-derived values or only clinical data.

Comparison of EV characterization by commercial high-sensitivity flow cytometers and a custom single-molecule flow cytometer.

High-sensitivity flow cytometers have been developed for multi-parameter characterization of single extracellular vesicles (EVs), but performance varies among instruments and calibration methods. Here we compare the characterization of identical (split) EV samples derived from human colorectal cancer (DiFi) cells by three high-sensitivity flow cytometers, two commercial instruments, CytoFLEX/CellStream, and a custom single-molecule flow cytometer (SMFC). DiFi EVs were stained with the membrane dye di-8-ANEPPS and with PE-conjugated anti-EGFR or anti-tetraspanin (CD9/CD63/CD81) antibodies for estimation of EV size and surface protein copy numbers.