Real-World Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in the United States.

Purpose: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO + IPI) is a first-in-class combination immunotherapy for the treatment of intermediate- or poor (I/P)-risk advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Currently, there are limited real-world data regarding clinical effectiveness beyond 12-24 months from treatment initiation. In this real-world study, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes were evaluated for NIVO + IPI in a community oncology setting.

Radical Prostatectomy Survivorship: What Are We Really Asking?

Introduction Urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and bowel dysfunction are well-recognized cancer survivorship outcomes affected by radical prostatectomy (RP) in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa).The aim of this study was to audit the thoroughness of outpatient discussions and documentation of survivorship outcomes for patients who have undergone RP. Methods This was a retrospective audit of all 253 radical prostatectomies conducted at two tertiary-level Australian institutions (Monash Medical Centre and Alfred Hospital), over a five-year period between 2014 and 2018.

Enhancing Clinical Utility: Utilization of International Standards and Guidelines for Metagenomic Sequencing in Infectious Disease Diagnosis.

Metagenomic sequencing has emerged as a transformative tool in infectious disease diagnosis, offering a comprehensive and unbiased approach to pathogen detection. Leveraging international standards and guidelines is essential for ensuring the quality and reliability of metagenomic sequencing in clinical practice. This review explores the implications of international standards and guidelines for the application of metagenomic sequencing in infectious disease diagnosis.

Considerations for age estimation accuracy: Method-derived outcomes and practitioner interpretations.

Recent research observed 92% accuracy for age-at-death estimations by U.S. forensic anthropologists.

Prevalence of Renal Neoplasia in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited condition; however, its relationship with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. This paper aims to establish the prevalence of RCC and its subtypes amongst ADPKD patients.

Methods: A database search was conducted to retrieve studies reporting RCC occurrence within ADPKD patients until July 2023.

Near-infrared spectroscopy as a novel method of ex vivo bladder cancer tissue characterisation.

Objective: To evaluate near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in differentiating between benign and malignant bladder pathologies ex vivo immediately after resection, including the grade and stage of malignancy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 355 spectra were measured on 71 bladder specimens from patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) between April and August 2022. Scan time was 5 s, undertaken using a portable NIR spectrometer within 10 min from excision.

Investigating identification disparities in forensic anthropology casework.

Forensic anthropology is shifting to reflect on the impact of its practices within the criminal justice context in important ways. Here, we contribute to this essential work by examining how decedent demographics as well as estimations of biological profile components are related to identification trends in forensic anthropology cases. The study uses data from more than 1,200 identified and unidentified forensic anthropology cases from three agencies (together representing a nation-wide sample).

Framework for virtual education of COVID-19 vaccines for Mandarin-speaking learners: an educational intervention module.

Background: In the United States, patients with limited English proficiency face significant barriers to comprehending and acting upon health-related information, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of health professionals to communicate COVID-19-related information to Mandarin-speaking patients has proved critical in discussions about vaccine efficacy, side effects, and post-vaccine protection.

Methods: The authors created a one-hour educational module to help Mandarin-speaking medical students better convey COVID-19 vaccine information to Mandarin-only speakers.

Variation in ontogenetic trajectories of limb dimensions in humans is attributable to both climatic effects and neutral evolution.

Previous studies showed that there is variation in ontogenetic trajectories of human limb dimensions and proportions. However, little is known about the evolutionary significance of this variation. This study used a global sample of modern human immature long bone measurements and a multivariate linear mixed-effects model to study 1) whether the variation in ontogenetic trajectories of limb dimensions is consistent with ecogeographic predictions and 2) the effects of different evolutionary forces on the variation in ontogenetic trajectories.

Cell-free circulating tumor RNAs in plasma as the potential prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

Background: Cell free RNA (cfRNA) contains transcript fragments from multiple cell types, making it useful for cancer detection in clinical settings. However, the pathophysiological origins of cfRNAs in plasma from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remain unclear.

Methods: To identify the tissue-specific contributions of cfRNAs transcriptomic profile, we used a published single-cell transcriptomics profile to deconvolute cell type abundance among paired plasma samples from CRC patients who underwent tumor-ablative surgery.

Expression Quantitative Trait Methylation Analysis Identifies Whole Blood Molecular Footprint in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) encompasses neurodevelopmental disabilities and physical birth defects associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Previously, we attempted to identify epigenetic biomarkers for FASD by investigating the genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles of individuals with FASD compared to healthy controls. In this study, we generated additional gene expression profiles in a subset of our previous FASD cohort, encompassing the most severely affected individuals, to examine the functional integrative effects of altered DNAm status on gene expression.

The clinical characteristics of pediatric patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and whole viral genome sequencing analysis.

Pediatric population was generally less affected clinically by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Few pediatric cases of COVID-19 have been reported compared to those reported in infected adults. However, a rapid increase in the hospitalization rate of SARS-CoV-2 infected pediatric patients was observed during Omicron variant dominated COVID-19 outbreak.

Targeted Sequencing Approach and Its Clinical Applications for the Molecular Diagnosis of Human Diseases.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has positively impacted the NGS market recently. Targeted sequencing (TS) has become an important routine technique in both clinical and research settings, with advantages including high confidence and accuracy, a reasonable turnaround time, relatively low cost, and fewer data burdens with the level of bioinformatics or computational demand. Since there are no clear consensus guidelines on the wide range of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms and techniques, there is a vital need for researchers and clinicians to develop efficient approaches, especially for the molecular diagnosis of diseases in the emergency of the disease and the global pandemic outbreak of COVID-19.

The diagnostic significance of CDH17-positive circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. We tested the hypothesis that circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis by ARB101 antibody could be used as a tool for CRC detection, progression, and therapy response.

Research Methods: ARB101 antibody was used for investigation of CDH17 expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of CRC patients.

Dysfunctional Lipid Metabolism-The Basis for How Genetic Abnormalities Express the Phenotype of Aggressive Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer in men, with increasing prevalence due to an ageing population. Advanced prostate cancer is diagnosed in up to 20% of patients, and, therefore, it is important to understand evolving mechanisms of progression. Significant morbidity and mortality can occur in advanced prostate cancer where treatment options are intrinsically related to lipid metabolism.

The non-invasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer via a SOX9-based gene panel.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) threatens human health seriously. Early diagnosis of CRC is critical to improving patient survival. Meanwhile, non-invasive detection through tumor-circulating markers can be an important auxiliary diagnosis.

Diversity in forensic sciences: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) representation in different medicolegal fields in the United States.

The benefits of a diverse and inclusive working environment are well documented. This study examined forensic science literature, demographic data reported from professional organizations, and demographic surveys to compile information regarding racial and ethnic diversity within different subdisciplines of forensic science. Results showed that practitioners self-identified as Black or Hispanic were underrepresented in scientific fields closely related to forensic science.

Caregiver perceptions and experiences of paediatric emergency department attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study.

Background: During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised about reduced attendance at hospitals, particularly in paediatric emergency departments, which could result in preventable poorer outcomes and late presentations among children requiring emergency care. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviour and decision-making processes of caregivers presenting to paediatric emergency services at a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in London.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study (survey and semi-structured interviews) across two hospital sites between November-December 2020.

Macrophage depletion blocks congenital SARM1-dependent neuropathy.

Axon loss contributes to many common neurodegenerative disorders. In healthy axons, the axon survival factor NMNAT2 inhibits SARM1, the central executioner of programmed axon degeneration. We identified 2 rare NMNAT2 missense variants in 2 brothers afflicted with a progressive neuropathy syndrome.

Role of PSMA PET-guided metastases-directed therapy in oligometastatic recurrent prostate cancer.

Oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC) has been proposed as an intermediary state between localised disease and widespread metastases, with varying definitions including 1, 3, or ≤5 visceral or bone metastasis. Traditional definitions of OMPC are based on staging with conventional imaging, such as computerised tomography (CT) and whole-body bone scan (WBBS). Novel imaging modalities such as prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) have improved diagnostic utility in detecting early metastatic prostate cancer (PC) metastases compared with conventional imaging.

Intra- and post-operative risk of retinal breaks during vitrectomy for macular hole and vitreomacular traction.

Background/objective: To evaluate the development of intra- and post-operative retinal breaks after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for macular hole (MH) and/or vitreomacular traction (VMT).

Subjects/methods: Medical records of patients who underwent PPV at Kellogg Eye Center between 1/1/2005-6/30/2018, were evaluated in three groups: group 1, MH/VMT (n = 136); group 2, epiretinal membrane (ERM) without VMT (n = 270); and group 3, diagnostic vitrectomy (DV) or vitreous opacities (n = 35). Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS.

The clinical application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for detecting pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: case reports and literature review.

Introduction: Clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) allows a comprehensive genetic analysis of microbial materials. Different from other traditional target-driven molecular diagnostic tests, such as PCR, mNGS is a hypothesis-free diagnostic approach that allows a comprehensive genetic analysis of the clinical specimens that cover nearly any common, rare, and new pathogens ranging broadly from viruses, bacteria, fungi to parasites.

Areas Covered: In this article, we discussed the clinical application of the mNGS using two clinical cases as examples and described the use of mNGS to assist the diagnosis of parasitic pulmonary infection.