Intrinsic p53 activation restricts gammaherpesvirus driven germinal center B cell expansion during latency establishment.

Gammaherpesviruses are DNA tumor viruses that establish lifelong latent infections in lymphocytes. For viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and murine gammaherpesvirus 68, this is accomplished through a viral gene-expression program that promotes cellular proliferation and differentiation, especially of germinal center B cells. Intrinsic host mechanisms that control virus-driven cellular expansion are incompletely defined.

Unlocking novel T cell-based immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma through neoantigen-driven T cell receptor isolation.

Background: Tumour-infiltrating T cells can mediate both antitumour immunity and promote tumour progression by creating an immunosuppressive environment. This dual role is especially relevant in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterised by a unique microenvironment and limited success with current immunotherapy.

Objective: We evaluated T cell responses in patients with advanced HCC by analysing tumours, liver flushes and liver-draining lymph nodes, to understand whether reactive T cell populations could be identified despite the immunosuppressive environment.

Bias in Prediction Models to Identify Patients With Colorectal Cancer at High Risk for Readmission After Resection.

Purpose: Machine learning algorithms are used for predictive modeling in medicine, but studies often do not evaluate or report on the potential biases of the models. Our purpose was to develop clinical prediction models for readmission after surgery in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to examine their potential for racial bias.

Methods: We used the 2012-2020 American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Participant Use File and Targeted Colectomy File.

Carcinogenic air pollutants and breast cancer risk in the Arkansas rural community health study: A nested case-control study.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies on the associations between hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and breast cancer (BC) have largely neglected rural, medically underserved areas in the United States, which differ in exposures and disparities compared to urban areas.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the associations between carcinogenic HAPs and BC risk in a rural population.

Methods: Using a nested case-control design, 574 cases and 2295 incidence density-sampled controls matched 1:4 on index age and race were included from the Arkansas Rural Community Health study.

Self-affirmation intervention for patients newly diagnosed with advanced cancer: a preliminary efficacy trial.

Objective: Cancer diagnosis represents a life crisis. It remains unclear whether/what psychosocial intervention may enhance cancer patients' quality of life (QoL) during existential plight. This study aimed to examine preliminary efficacy of a brief writing intervention for patients newly diagnosed with advanced cancer with a focus on affirming personally important values and beliefs.

Changes in Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Cancer survivors face an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, with physical inactivity after cancer treatment potentially worsening this risk.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity before and after a cancer diagnosis and the risk for heart disease.

Methods: A nationwide cohort of 269,943 cancer survivors (mean age 56.

Investigating the origins of the mutational signatures in cancer.

Most of the risk factors associated with chronic and complex diseases, such as cancer, stem from exogenous and endogenous exposures experienced throughout an individual's life, collectively known as the exposome. These exposures can modify DNA, which can subsequently lead to the somatic mutations found in all normal and tumor tissues. Understanding the precise origins of specific somatic mutations has been challenging due to multitude of DNA adducts (i.

Weight change and cardiovascular disease incidence in breast cancer survivors: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to treatment-related cardiotoxicity and pre-existing conditions. We investigated how post-diagnosis weight changes and obesity impact CVD risk in this population.

Method: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2010-2019), BCS without previous history of CVD were enrolled.

Enhancing immune response and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma with novel oncolytic Jurona virus and immune checkpoint blockade.

Members of the genus including Jurona virus (JURV) have emerged as promising immunotherapeutic agents, characterized by their tumor selectivity, fast kinetics, low seroprevalence, and minimal toxicity in humans. Here, we demonstrate that the administration of JURV leads to tumor regression in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft and syngeneic models. Furthermore, our findings indicate that combining JURV and anti-PD-1 therapy reduced tumor burden and improved survival rates over JURV or anti-PD-1 alone in an orthotopic HCC model.

Alterations in Cellular Gene Expression Due to Co-Infection With Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and SARS-CoV-2: Implications for Disease Severity.

An outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in over 7 million confirmed deaths. In addition to severe respiratory and systematic symptoms, several comorbidities increase the risk of fatal outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing conditions in patients, such as cancer and other infectious diseases.

Neighborhood Factors Related to Cancer Screening in Texas: A Spatioecological Study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine the associations of neighborhood socioeconomic status, ethnic enclaves, and residential Black segregation with screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers across the state of Texas.

Methods: Using an ecologic study design, spatial clustering of low breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening rates were identified across Texas census tracts using local Moran's I statistics. Binomial spatial probit regression was used to estimate the associations between nSES, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American ethnic enclave neighborhoods and residential Black segregation with geospatial clusters of low screening, adjusting for behavioral characteristics.

Infection Rates in Open Hand Fractures: Can Surgical Treatment Be Delayed?

The authors hypothesized that the infection rates of open hand fractures treated in a delayed manner would not be higher than those treated immediately. The authors performed a retrospective chart review of patients treated between January 2008 and July 2014 at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Delayed (> 24 hours) versus early (< 24 hours) surgical treatment groups were identified for comparison to determined infection rates.

IONIC NANOMEDICINE STRATEGY TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE CHEMO-PTT COMBINATION CANCER THERAPEUTICS.

Herein, a detailed investigation of nanodrugs derived by combining a chemotherapy (chemo) and photothermal therapy (PTT) approaches to enhance chemo drug efficacy is presented. Tamoxifen and its metabolite; N-desmethyltamoxifen are the selected chemo drugs that were electrostatically attached with a PTT agent, NaIR820, via a metathesis approach to develop two different ionic material (IM)-based chemo-PTT drugs. Ionic nanomaterials (INMs) were synthesized using reprecipitation method, and these carrier- free nanoparticles were characterized in detail.

Immune digital twins for complex human pathologies: applications, limitations, and challenges.

Digital twins represent a key technology for precision health. Medical digital twins consist of computational models that represent the health state of individual patients over time, enabling optimal therapeutics and forecasting patient prognosis. Many health conditions involve the immune system, so it is crucial to include its key features when designing medical digital twins.

Novel CCL3-HMGB1 signaling axis regulating osteocyte RANKL expression in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell proliferative malignancy characterized by a debilitating bone disease. Osteolytic destruction, a hallmark of MM, is driven by increased osteoclast number and exacerbated bone resorption, primarily fueled by the excessive production of RANKL, the master regulator of osteoclast formation, within the tumor niche. We previously reported that osteocytes, the most abundant cells in the bone niche, promote tumor progression and support MM bone disease by overproducing RANKL.

Generation of BT-Amide, a Bone-Targeted Pyk2 Inhibitor, Effective Oral Administration, for the Prevention of Glucocorticoid-Induced Bone Loss.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the leading cause of iatrogenic osteoporosis due to the widespread clinical use of glucocorticoids (GC) as immunosuppressants. Previous research identified the proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2, Pyk2, as a critical mediator of GC-induced bone loss, and that blocking Pyk2 could protect the skeleton from adverse GC actions. However, systemic administration of current Pyk2 inhibitors causes harmful side effects, such as skin lesions.

Association between two common SNPs, rs6564851 and rs6420424, and lutein and zeaxanthin levels in a cohort of US postmenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer.

A better understanding of the factors contributing to systemic concentrations of carotenoids is necessary given the weak correlations between circulating levels and dietary intake of carotenoids. Although genetic variation may play a key role in the interindividual variability in carotenoid concentrations, few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have focused on carotenoids. We used a random sample ( = 519) of postmenopausal participants in the Sister Study with data on genotypes and plasma carotenoid levels to conduct GWAS for each of five carotenoids (mcg/mL): alpha-carotene, beta- carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin.

Doxorubicin, Paclitaxel, and Cisplatin (ATP) for Relapsed/Refractory Germ Cell Tumors.

Patients with relapsed/refractory germ cell tumors (GCT) have limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. We describe our institutional experience with doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin (ATP) as an outpatient regimen for 35 patients with relapsed/refractory GCT between 2017 and 2022. Twenty-four patients received nonpalliative intent ATP, with a median of 2 lines of prior therapy, 23 (96%) having received at least 1 cisplatin-based regimen and 1 (4%) with a prior stem cell transplant.

Safety and tolerability of mirvetuximab soravtansine monotherapy for folate receptor alpha-expressing recurrent ovarian cancer: An integrated safety summary.

Objective: Mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (MIRV) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting folate receptor alpha (FRα), which is overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), with limited expression on normal tissues. This integrated safety summary sought to characterize the safety profile of MIRV monotherapy in participants with FRα-expressing recurrent EOC.

Methods: Safety data were retrospectively analyzed from 4 clinical studies (phase 1 trial [NCT01609556], phase 3 FORWARD I [NCT02631876], phase 2 SORAYA [NCT04296890], phase 3 MIRASOL [NCT04209855]) that evaluated participants with FRα-expressing recurrent EOC who received ≥1 dose of MIRV 6 mg/kg adjusted ideal body weight every 3 weeks.