tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 combination prevention requires attention to structural drivers
Authors: Kent Buse, Alessandra Nilo, Jules Kim, Mark Heywood, Jeff Acaba
Journal: The Lancet (2020)

Richard Horton draws parallels between the colliding pandemics of COVID-19 and HIV, observing that both "exploit and accentuate inequalities".1Horton R Offline: The second wave.Lancet. 2020; 3951960Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar He and others2Cohen MS Corey L Combination prevention for COVID-19.Science. 2020; 368: 551Crossref PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar advocate that responses to COVID-19 learn from HIV combination prevention approaches. However, it is key that in doing so, prevention measures go beyond the behavioural interventions they call for, to include interventions that are structural and systemic in nature. The HIV movement demanded action on social, economic, political, and legal factors that undermine people adopting effective prevention measures. The aim was to create enabling environments that liberate people, particularly vulnerable groups, to exercise agency to practise healthy behaviours. These efforts ranged from targeting international patent laws and monopolies that put the price of treatment out of reach of people living with HIV; taking steps to decriminalise sex work, drug use, and LGBTI people; ending violence against women, girls, and key populations; and challenging stigma and discrimination, which remains one of the most substantial barriers to an effective HIV response. We advocated for cash transfer programmes to lessen vulnerability to HIV risk and demanded innovative financing to increase AIDS budgets. A rights-based combination prevention approach that addresses the structural drivers of inequality of risk and inequity of responses is as crucial to COVID-19 as it remains for HIV. We call for measures that include: a people's vaccine;3UNAIDSUniting behind a people's vaccine against COVID-19.https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2020/may/20200514_covid19-vaccine-open-letterDate: 2020Date accessed: July 1, 2020Google Scholar a moratorium on debt repayments and progressive taxation to enable a mass roll-out of social protection, food, and income support programmes; removal of punitive laws that block access to health and social services; and civil society expertise and meaningful representation in COVID-19 governance and accountability structures4Rajan D Koch K Rohrer K et al.Governance of the Covid-19 response: a call for more inclusive and transparent decision-making.BMJ Glob Health. 2020; 5e002655Crossref PubMed Scopus (124) Google Scholar as key components of COVID-19 combination prevention. We declare no competing interests.
How will we find the elephant in the room?
Authors: Wybo Houkes, Krist Vaesen
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2020)

We argue that Osirak's and Reynaud's technological-reasoning hypothesis raises conceptual and methodological challenges. Interrelations between technical potential and expertise leave it unclear exactly what the technical-reasoning hypothesis encompasses. We submit that it is compatible with a range of hypotheses that are difficult to differentiate empirically.
SAT0537 THE REMS TECHNIQUE IS NOT AFFECTED BY ARTHROSIS ARTIFACT, WHICH CAN HINDER THE DENSITOMETRIC RECOGNITION OF OSTEOPOROSIS
Authors: Loredana Cavalli, Fiorella Anna Lombardi, Daniele Perrone, Maria Luisa Brandi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> The measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the current "gold standard" for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis, any errors in demographic information, improper patient positioning, incorrect scan analysis or interpretation can lead to erroneous results and decisions [1]. Moreover, a common condition represented by osteoarthritis, by modifying the joint soft tissues composition, can alter the values of BMD [2]. In patients affected by discarthrosis, in fact, osteoporotic T-score values at femoral neck (FN) can be associated with normal or osteopenic T-score values of the lumbar spine (LS), the latter influenced by the presence of osteophytes and/or subchondral bone sclerosis. <h3>Objectives:</h3> To evaluate the predictive value of an innoative densitometric technique, the Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS) [3], in detecting bone fragility in patients affected by osteoarthitis. <h3>Methods:</h3> The T-score values of 35 postmenopausal women with clinical and/or radiological signs of osteoarthritis (mean age 71 years, average BMI 24,2) obtained by DXA at lumbar spine and femoral neck were compared with those obtained by REMS technique performed in the same anatomical sites. <h3>Results:</h3> In all the subjects, LS T-score resulted significantly higher than the FN one according to DXA measurement. However, REMS outcomes in both the sites were significantly lower than the corresponding DXA measurement (significant difference between DXA and REMS T-score for both LS (p = 0.006) and FN (p = 0.010), and spinal REMS T-scores resulted more similar to femural REMS (average REMS T-score LS: -2.6 ± 1,6 vs T-score FN: -2.4 ± 0, 6) and to femural DXA values. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> These preliminary data suggest that REMS technique, which has been shown to have high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy when compared with DXA in diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis [3], is not affected by the presence of alterated soft tissues composition. it would therefore be particularly useful for the evaluation of bone fragility in subjects at risk of osteoarthritis. <h3>References</h3> [1] Watts NB. Ost Intern2004;15(11):847–854; [2] Blake GM, Fogelman I. J Bone Min Res 2008; doi: 10.1359/JBMR.0711; [3] Di Paola M, et al. Ost Int2018; doi:10.1007/s00198-018-4686-3. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> None declared
Optimizing Bifurcated Channels within an Anisotropic Scaffold for Engineering Vascularized Oriented Tissues
Authors: Yongcong Fang, Liliang Ouyang, Ting Zhang, Chengjin Wang, Bingchuan Lu, Wei Sun
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2020)

Abstract Despite progress in engineering both vascularized tissues and oriented tissues, the fabrication of 3D vascularized oriented tissues remains a challenge due to an inability to successfully integrate vascular and anisotropic structures that can support mass transfer and guide cell alignment, respectively. More importantly, there is a lack of an effective approach to guiding the scaffold design bearing both structural features. Here, an approach is presented to optimize the bifurcated channels within an anisotropic scaffold based on oxygen transport simulation and biological experiments. The oxygen transport simulation is performed using the experimentally measured effective oxygen diffusion coefficient and hydraulic permeability of the anisotropic scaffolds, which are also seeded with muscle precursor cells and cultured in a custom‐made perfusion bioreactor. Symmetric bifurcation model is used as fractal unit to design the channel network based on biomimetic principles. The bifurcation level of channel network is further optimized based on the oxygen transport simulation, which is then validated by DNA quantification assay and pimonidazole immunostaining. This study provides a practical guide to optimizing bifurcated channels in anisotropic scaffolds for oriented tissue engineering.
AB0119 SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-22 ARE HIGH IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS, PARTICULARLY IN SMOKERS, BUT DO NOT CORRELATE WITH RADIOGRAPHIC BONE FORMATION NOR WITH DISEASE ACTIVITY
Authors: M. Sagiv, G. Slobodin, T. Khatib, I. Rosner, M. Rozenbaum, R. Peri, F. Sabbah, M. Adawi, A. Kessel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Elevated serum levels of interleukin (IL)-22 were reported in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). [1 ] IL-22 was also reported to drive the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. [2] Objectives: To confirm the fact that serum levels of IL-22 are elevated in AS patients and to examine the relationship between concentrations of IL-22 and degree of radiographic progression in AS patients. Methods: Seventeen male patients with established AS of more than 4 years duration signed the informed consent and donated 10 ml of peripheral blood. Demographic data was collected from patient’s charts. Disease activity indices were calculated for all patients and radiographic disease progression was calculated as mSASS. A control group included 6 healthy persons and 4 patients with advanced diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Serum levels of IL-22 were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intergroup differences were examined using the Mann-Whitney test, while correlations were calculated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Serum IL-22 levels were remarkably elevated in patients with AS, comparing to healthy individuals and patients with DISH (p=0.005). However, increased concentrations of IL-22 did not correlate with the degree of radiographic progression or AS disease activity indices, nor with disease duration or patient’s age. Presence of diarrhea, psoriasis, uveitis, or elevated levels of C-reactive protein did not influence the levels of IL-22 as well. More AS patients with elevated serum IL-22 were smokers (p=0.05). Fig. 1. Serum levels of interleukin 22 (pg/ml) Conclusion: The serum levels of IL-22 are elevated in patients with AS. It seems that smoking can be related to the elevated levels of serum IL-22 in AS. The significance of this data is unclear and further research is needed. References: [1]Zhang L, Li Y gang, Li Y hua, Qi L, Liu X guang, Yuan C zhong, et al. Increased frequencies of th22 cells as well as th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One. 2012;7(4). [2]El-Zayadi AA, Jones E, Churchman S, Baboolal T, Cuthbert R, El-Jawhari J, et al. Interleukin-22 drives the proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells: a novel cytokine that could contribute to new bone formation in spondyloarthropathies. Rheumatology. 2016 Dec 10;56. Disclosure of Interests: None declared
Selectively enhancing radiosensitivity of cancer cells via in situ enzyme-instructed peptide self-assembly
Authors: Yang Gao, Jie Gao, Ganen Mu, Yumin Zhang, Fan Huang, Wenxue Zhang, Chunhua Ren, Cuihong Yang, Jianfeng Liu
Journal: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (2020)

The radiotherapy modulators used in clinic have disadvantages of high toxicity and low selectivity. For the first time, we used the in situ enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) of a peptide derivative (Nap-GDFDFpYSV) to selectively enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells with high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression to ionizing radiation (IR). Compared with the in vitro pre-assembled control formed by the same molecule, assemblies formed by in situ EISA in cells greatly sensitized the ALP-high-expressing cancer cells to γ-rays, with a remarkable sensitizer enhancement ratio. Our results indicated that the enhancement was a result of fixing DNA damage, arresting cell cycles and inducing cell apoptosis. Interestingly, in vitro pre-formed assemblies mainly localized in the lysosomes after incubating with cells, while the assemblies formed via in situ EISA scattered in the cell cytosol. The accumulation of these molecules in cells could not be inhibited by endocytosis inhibitors. We believed that this molecule entered cancer cells by diffusion and then in situ self-assembled to form nanofibers under the catalysis of endogenous ALP. This study provides a successful example to utilize intracellular in situ EISA of small molecules to develop selective tumor radiosensitizers.
Abstract A16: Characterization of ErbB family expression in intratibial bladder cancer xenografts: Considerations for preclinical modeling
Authors: Luke J. Broses, Kathleen C. Day, Aaron M. Udager, Mark L. Day
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2020)

Abstract Background: Approximately 40% of patients with distant metastatic bladder cancer are diagnosed with bone metastases and a dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. The bone has long been thought to act as “soil” for metastatic cells to “seed,” likely due to the favorable, albeit complex microenvironment that comprises various cell types and growth factors. A study by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) profiling 405 muscle-invasive bladder cancers reported alterations of the receptor tyrosine kinase pathway in 20% of these patients. This included amplification of EGFR in 9% of cases, mutation or amplification of ERBB2 in 9% of cases, and mutation of ERBB3 in 6% of cases. The purpose of this study was to correlate the expression of ErbB family members in human bladder cancer cell lines with their ability to grow as intratibial xenografts in immune-compromised mice. Methods: We performed intratibial injections with six established human bladder cancer cell lines in 22 NSG mice and we allowed these xenografts to grow for five weeks. Four cell lines expressed luciferase and were measured for bioluminescent signals at multiple time points. The resulting formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tibiae were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC) which utilized human specific antibodies to CK8, EGFR, HER2, Ki-67, and uroplakin. Results: The four luciferase-expressing cell lines exhibited increasing bioluminescent signal over the duration of the study (n=14). Five cell lines had positive human anti-Ki-67 staining in the tibia, confirming their growth in the bone after the intratibial injection. All five cell lines maintained expression, and in certain cases overexpression, of EGFR and HER2 in the intratibial xenografts. We observed an 87.5% take rate (n=16) in a subset of bladder cell lines (5 out of 6) and only the UM-UC-12 cell line exhibiting a 0% take rate (n=6). Conclusion: The high take rate of these five cell lines in the tibia exceeded that of previous studies (25-50%), indicating that the take rate is cell line dependent. Characterizing the ErbB expression profile of individual cell lines in the tibia xenograft model is an important consideration before using these xenografts as a preclinical model. Furthermore, ubiquitous expression of ErbB receptors in tibiae xenografts highlights the importance of growth factor signaling in metastatic bladder cancer and the potential for ErbB targeted therapy. Citation Format: Luke J. Broses, Kathleen C. Day, Aaron M. Udager, Mark L. Day. Characterization of ErbB family expression in intratibial bladder cancer xenografts: Considerations for preclinical modeling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Bladder Cancer: Transforming the Field; 2019 May 18-21; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(15_Suppl):Abstract nr A16.
FOXP1 Expression Is a Prognostic Biomarker in Follicular Lymphoma Treated with Immunochemotherapy and Is Associated with Distinct Molecular Features
Authors: Robert Kridel, Vindi Jurinovic, Pedro Farinha, Andreas Rosenwald, Ellen Leich, German Ott, Heike Horn, Wolfram Klapper, Michael Boesl, Wolfgang Hiddemann, Christian Steidl, Joseph M Connors, Laurie H. Sehn, Randy D. Gascoyne, Eva Hoster, Oliver Weigert, Anja Mottok
Journal: Blood (2017)
Impact of Routine Infant BCG Vaccination on COVID-19
Authors: Masako Kinoshita, Masami Tanaka
Journal: Journal of Infection (2020)

ObjectivesIn Japan, the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed on January 15, 2020 and subsequent infections rapidly increased. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination program is the principal element of tuberculosis control in Japan. We investigated the impact of routine infant BCG vaccination on prevention of local COVID-19 spread.MethodsData on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, annual routine infant BCG vaccine coverage (represented by the number of BCG vaccinations per live births), and other candidate factors in each prefecture were obtained from the official notifications database in Japan. We analysed the association of vaccine coverage with the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsThe BCG vaccine coverage in 1999–2002, 2004, and 2012 in five prefectures with no COVID-19 infections was significantly higher than that in five prefectures with a high prevalence of infections (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly negatively correlated with BCG vaccine coverage in 2004 and was significantly positively correlated with age groups 20–34 and 40–54 years (Spearman's rank correlation, p<0.01).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that routine infant BCG vaccination coverage in young generation had a significant impact on prevention of local COVID-19 spread in Japan.
Distribution of Haemaphysalis longicornis and associated pathogens: analysis of pooled data from a China field survey and global published data
Authors: Lin Zhao, Jie Li, Xiaoming Cui, Na Jia, Jiate Wei, Luoyuan Xia, Haitao Wang, Yuhao Zhou, Qian Wang, Xueyuan Liu, Chaonan Yin, Yusheng Pan, Hongling Wen, Qing Wang, Fuzhong Xue, Yi Sun, Jiafu Jiang, Shixue Li, Wuchun Cao
Journal: The Lancet Planetary Health (2020)

BackgroundHaemaphysalis longicornis, a vector of various pathogens with medical and veterinary importance, is native to eastern Asia, and recently reached the USA as an emerging disease threat. In this study, we aimed to identify the geographical distribution, hosts, and associated pathogens of H longicornis.MethodsData were collected from multiple sources, including a field survey, reference book, literature review, and related websites. The thematic maps showing geographical distribution of H longicornis and associated pathogens were produced by ArcGIS. Hosts of H longicornis and positive rates for H longicornis-associated pathogens were estimated by meta-analysis. Ecological niche modelling was used to predict potential global distribution of H longicornis.FindingsH longicornis was found to be present in ten countries, predominantly in eastern Asia, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. The tick was known to feed on a variety of domestic and wild animals, and humans. At least 30 human pathogens were associated with H longicornis, including seven species of spotted fever group rickettsiae, seven species in the family of Anaplasmataceae, four genospecies in the complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, two Babesia species, six species of virus, and Francisella, Bartonella, Coxiella, and Toxoplasma, which were mainly reported in eastern Asia. The predictive modelling revealed that H longicornis might affect more extensive regions, including Europe, South America, and Africa, where the tick has never been recorded before.InterpretationH longicornis is relatively common in the world, and is associated with various human and animal pathogens. Authorities and health-care workers should be aware of the threat of the tick species to public health and veterinary medicine. Surveillance and further investigations should be enhanced globally.FundingNational Natural Science Foundation of China and National Key Research and Development Program of China.
Maintaining Patient Safety and Data Integrity of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Trials During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome–Coronavirus 2 Pandemic
Authors: Naim Alkhouri, Anita Kohli, Rohit Loomba, Stephen A. Harrison
Journal: Hepatology (2020)

Alkhouri, Naim M.D.; Kohli, Anita M.D., M.S.; Loomba, Rohit M.D., M.H.Sc.; Harrison, Stephen A. M.D. Author Information
Hepatitis C Treatment in Prisons — Incarcerated People’s Uncertain Right to Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Alexandra M. Daniels, David M. Studdert
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2020)

Access to highly effective direct-acting antiviral drugs has largely remained elusive for incarcerated people, who are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C. But the constitutional case for wider access to such drugs in prisons is compelling.
The complex karyotype and chronic lymphocytic leukemia: prognostic value and diagnostic recommendations
Authors: Ludovic Jondreville, Daphné Krzisch, Elise Chapiro, Florence Nguyen‐Khac
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2020)

Chromosomal abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and have prognostic value. Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 17 (and/or mutations TP53) predict resistance to chemoimmunotherapy and shorter progression-free survival after targeted therapies. Although the complex karyotype (CK) is strongly predictive of a poor prognosis in hematologic malignancies such acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, its value in CLL is subject to debate. Here, we review the literature on the CK in CLL and examine its prognostic value with different treatments. We also propose a standardized method for defining a CK in all types of hematopoietic neoplasm.
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020
Authors: Mark É. Czeisler, Rashon I. Lane, Emiko Petrosky, Joshua F. Wiley, Aleta Christensen, Rashid Njai, Matthew D. Weaver, Rebecca Robbins, Elise R. Facer-Childs, Laura K. Barger, Charles A. Czeisler, Mark E. Howard, Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2020)

† Disorders classified as TSRDs in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder (ASD), and adjustment disorders (ADs), among others.§ Unpaid adult caregiver status was self-reported.The definition of an unpaid caregiver for adults was a person who had provided unpaid care to a relative or friend aged ≥18 years to help them take care of themselves at any time in the last 3 months.Examples provided included helping with personal needs, household chores, health care tasks, managing a person's finances, taking them to a doctor's appointment, arranging for outside services, and visiting regularly to see how they are doing.¶ Essential worker status was self-reported.The comparison was between employed respondents (n = 3,431) who identified as essential versus nonessential.For this analysis, students who were not separately employed as essential workers were considered nonessential workers.
DNA repair gene promoter methylation patterns adapt and influence PARP inhibitor response.
Authors: Kasenija Nesic, Rachel M Hurley, Cordelia McGehee, Olga Kondrashova, Maria I Harrell, Giada V Zapparoli, Ashan Musafer, Ming E Wong, John Weroha, Xiaonan Hou, Hu Li, Vivian Negron, Kevin Peterson, Paula Schneider, Elizabeth M Swisher, Melissa Southey, Alexander Dobrovic, Matthew Wakefield, Scott H Kaufmann, Clare L Scott
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2020)
Causal Genetic Variants in Stillbirth
Authors: Kate E. Stanley, Jessica Giordano, Vanessa Thorsten, Christie Buchovecky, Amanda Thomas, Mythily Ganapathi, Jun Liao, Avinash V. Dharmadhikari, Anya Revah-Politi, Michelle Ernst, Natalie Lippa, Halie Holmes, Gundula Povysil, Joseph Hostyk, Corette B. Parker, Robert Goldenberg, George R. Saade, Donald J. Dudley, Halit Pinar, Carol Hogue, Uma M. Reddy, Robert M. Silver, Vimla Aggarwal, Andrew S. Allen, Ronald J. Wapner, David B. Goldstein
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2020)

In the majority of cases, the cause of stillbirth remains unknown despite detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation. Approximately 10 to 20% of stillbirths are attributed to chromosomal abnormalities. However, the causal nature of single-nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions in exomes has been understudied.