tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Examining the voice of Israeli transgender women: Acoustic measures, voice femininity and voice-related quality-of-life
Authors: Noa Diamant, Ofer Amir
Journal: International Journal of Transgender Health (2020)

Transgender women may experience gender-dysphoria associated with their voice and the way it is perceived. Previous studies have shown that specific acoustic measures are associated with the perception of voice-femininity and with voice-related quality-of-life, yet results are inconsistent.This study aimed to examine the associations between specific voice measures of transgender women, voice-related quality-of-life, and the perception of voice-femininity by listeners and by the speakers themselves.Thirty Hebrew speaking transgender women were recorded. They had also rated their voice-femininity and completed the Hebrew version of the TVQMtF questionnaire. Recordings were analyzed to extract mean fundamental frequency (F0), formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3), and vocal-range (calculated in Hz. and in semitones). Recordings were also rated on a voice-gender 7-point scale, by 20 naïve cisgender listeners.Significant correlations were found between both F0 and F1 and listeners' as well as speakers' evaluation of voice-femininity. TVQMtF scores were significantly correlated with F0 and with the lower and upper boundaries of the vocal-range. Voice-femininity ratings were strongly correlated with vocal-range, when calculated in Hz, but not when defined in semitones. Listeners' evaluation and speakers' self-evaluation of voice-femininity were significantly correlated. However, TVQMtF scores were significantly correlated only with the speakers' voice-femininity ratings, but not with those of the listeners.Higher F0 and F1, which are perceived as more feminine, jointly improved speakers' satisfaction with their voice. Speakers' self-evaluation of voice-femininity does not mirror listeners' judgment, as it is affected by additional factors, related to self-satisfaction and personal experience. Combining listeners' and speakers' voice evaluation with acoustic analysis is valuable by providing a more holistic view on how transgender women feel about their voice and how it is perceived by listeners.
The COVID-19 Pandemic: Identifying Adaptive Solutions for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Underserved Communities
Authors: Jesse N Nodora, Samir Gupta, Nicole Howard, Kelly Motadel, Tobe Propst, Javier Rodriguez, James Schultz, Sharon Velasquez, Sheila F Castañeda, Borsika Rabin, María Elena Martínez
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2020)

Abstract The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically impacted numerous health and economic fronts. Because of the stay-at-home mandate and practice of physical distancing, nearly all preventive care measures have been halted, including colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The health consequences of this temporary suspension are of great concern, particularly for underserved populations, who experience substantial CRC-related disparities. In this commentary, we describe challenges and opportunities to deliver COVID-19–adapted CRC screening to medically underserved populations receiving care in community health centers (CHC). This perspective is based on key informant interviews with CHC medical directors, teleconference discussions, and strategic planning assessments. To address the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we identify 2 broad calls to action: invest in CHCs now and support equitable and adaptable telehealth solutions now and in the future. We also recommend 4 CRC-specific calls to action: establish COVID-19–adapted best practices to implement mailed fecal immunochemical test programs, implement grassroots advocacy to identify community gastroenterologists who commit to performing colonoscopies for CHC patients, assess cancer prevention priorities among individuals in underserved communities, and assess regional CRC screening and follow-up barriers and solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic may further exacerbate existing CRC screening disparities in underserved individuals. This will likely lead to delayed diagnosis, a shift to later-stage disease, and increased CRC deaths. To prevent this from happening, we call for timely action and a commitment to address the current extraordinary CRC screening challenges for vulnerable populations.
Comparing the Cost-Effectiveness of Innovative Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests
Authors: Elisabeth F P Peterse, Reinier G S Meester, Lucie de Jonge, Amir-Houshang Omidvari, Fernando Alarid-Escudero, Amy B Knudsen, Ann G Zauber, Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2020)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with colonoscopy and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is underused. Innovative tests could increase screening acceptance. This study determined which of the available alternatives is most promising from a cost-effectiveness perspective.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Health Care Personnel in the New York City Area
Authors: Joseph Moscola, Grace Sembajwe, Mark Jarrett, Bruce Farber, Tylis Chang, Thomas McGinn, Karina W. Davidson
Journal: JAMA (2020)

This seroprevalence survey study describes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity among health care workers at a New York City–based health system by age, sex, race, county of residence, and prior PCR-confirmed viral exposure.
A Comparison of Biannual Two-Phase Low-Dose Liver CT and US for HCC Surveillance in a Group at High Risk of HCC Development
Authors: Jeong Hee Yoon, Jeong Min Lee, Dong Ho Lee, Ijin Joo, Ju Hyun Jeon, Su Joa Ahn, Seung-taek Kim, Eun Ju Cho, Jeong-Hoon Lee, Su Jong Yu, Yoon Jun Kim, Jung-Hwan Yoon
Journal: Liver Cancer (2020)

Biannual ultrasonography (US) is a current recommendation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in a high-risk group. The sensitivity of US, however, has been low in patients with a high risk of developing HCC. We aimed to compare sensitivity for HCC of biannual US and two-phase low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in patients with a high risk of HCC.In this prospective single-arm study, participants with an annual risk of HCC greater than 5% (based on a risk index of ≥2.33) and who did not have a history of HCC were enrolled from November 2014 to July 2016. Participants underwent paired biannual US and two-phase LDCT 1-3 times. Two-phase LDCT included arterial and 3-min delayed phases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of HCC detection using US and two-phase LDCT were compared using a composite algorithm as a standard of reference.Of the 139 enrolled participants, 137 underwent both the biannual US and two-phase LDCT at least once and had follow-up images. Among them, 27 cases of HCC (mean size: 14 ± 4 mm) developed in 24 participants over 1.5 years. Two-phase LDCT showed a significantly higher sensitivity (83.3% [20/24] vs. 29.2% [7/24], p < 0.001) and specificity (95.6% [108/113] vs. 87.7% [99/113], p =0.03) than US. A false-positive result was reported in 14 participants at US and 5 participants at two-phase LDCT, resulting in a significantly higher positive predictive value of two-phase LDCT (33.3% [7/21] vs. 80% [20/25], p < 0.001).Patients with a risk index ≥2.33 showed a high annual incidence of HCC development in our study, and two-phase LDCT showed significantly higher sensitivity and specificity for HCC detection than US.
Mohammad Azam Khan
Authors: Sayed Subhan Bukhari, Nadeem Akbar Khan, Maaz Azam Khan
Journal: BMJ (2020)

Mohammad Azam Khan was born into a farming family in a remote village of Umarzai in the north west region of Pakistan on 1 October 1935. His early years were a time of great turmoil as the movement for the creation of Pakistan and independence of India from British rule was gaining significant momentum and the second world war was looming on the horizon.

Azam pursued his primary education in a school located at a distance of about 10 miles from his home, necessitating a daily bike ride and having to wade through a river without a bridge holding his bike above the water. He won a scholarship and passed middle school. He came first in his school in his Matric (O level) examination. He then won another scholarship, and passed his FSc (A level) examination with merit. As a teenager, he was a keen sportsman, excelling in football, cricket, and wrestling, also with a broad spectrum of …
Abstract B69: Epigenomics and single-cell sequencing define a developmental hierarchy in Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Florian Halbritter, Matthias Farlik, Raphaela Schwentner, Gunhild Jug, Nikolaus Fortelny, Ingrid Simonitsch-Klupp, Wolfgang Bauer, Christoph Bock, Caroline Hutter
Journal: Cancer Research (2020)

Abstract Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplasm predominantly affecting children. It occupies a characteristic hybrid position between cancer and inflammatory disease, which makes it an attractive model for studying cancer development. Constitutive activation of the ERK signaling pathway is a common feature of LCH, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of LCH and the mechanisms that might cause the characteristic clinical heterogeneity of this disease, we investigated cellular heterogeneity in primary LCH lesions. We used a multilayered approach employing immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, single-cell RNA-sequencing, and ATAC-sequencing of biopsies obtained from different patients with LCH. Based on the single-cell RNA expression data, we identified different LCH cell populations within LCH lesions that display distinct pathway signatures, including a stem cell-like, proliferative state and different subsets with a more differentiated phenotype, including subsets similar to maturing antigen-presenting cells and a subset that could contribute to tissue destruction in LCH. Computational analysis discovered a hierarchy between these cells that suggests a directed developmental program in each tumor. We confirmed the presence of these distinct subsets using immunohistochemical analysis of different biopsies. Furthermore, using chromatin accessibility profiling in prospectively purified LCH cell subsets in combination with single-cell RNA-seq data and integrative bioinformatic analysis, we analyzed the transcription factors and gene regulatory networks that may underlie the observed developmental hierarchy in LCH lesions. This analysis reveals an intricate interplay of immune-regulatory (including JAK-STAT, AP-1, and NF-κB signaling) and developmental regulators (including epigenetic modifiers such as EP300 or KDMs) that may shape LCH cell development. Together, this study sketches a molecular portrait of LCH lesions and enables new, unprecedented insight into this disease. Moreover, it demonstrates the power of combining single-cell RNA-sequencing and epigenome profiling for dissecting complex developmental hierarchies and their regulatory underpinnings, and thus can serve as a template for the analysis of tumorigenesis beyond LCH. Citation Format: Florian Halbritter, Matthias Farlik, Raphaela Schwentner, Gunhild Jug, Nikolaus Fortelny, Ingrid Simonitsch-Klupp, Wolfgang Bauer, Christoph Bock, Caroline Hutter. Epigenomics and single-cell sequencing define a developmental hierarchy in Langerhans cell histiocytosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr B69.
Covid-19: Was the decision to delay the UK’s lockdown over fears of “behavioural fatigue” based on evidence?
Authors: Elisabeth Mahase
Journal: BMJ (2020)

FACT CHECKCovid-19: Was the decision to delay the UK's lockdown over fears of "behavioural fatigue" based on evidence? Elisabeth Mahase"We have to take the right steps at the right time."That's the message the UK government has repeated when asked why stricter measures to control the spread of covid-19 weren't implemented in early March.This was often followed by what became the catchphrase of the pandemic response: "We're following the science."As Italy announced a countrywide lockdown on 9 March, people wondered why the UK wasn't following suit.At that time Italy had over 9000 cases of covid-19 and nearly 500 deaths, up from 153 cases and three deaths two weeks earlier.Many people were calling for prompt action in the UK, which had had four deaths up to 9 March.But the UK's lockdown didn't come until 23 March, a delay that many people claim has cost lives.
Abstract A51: Advances in the etiology and therapeutics of a lethal childhood cancer, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Gadi Lalazar, Melissa Jarmel, Ruisi Wang, Michael Tomasini, David Requena, Denise Ng, Sanford M. Simon
Journal: Cancer Research (2020)

Abstract Introduction: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a liver cancer affecting adolescents and young adults without underlying liver disease. Patients with FLC are often diagnosed with advanced-stage disease and have a poor 5-year survival. Recently we have made advances in both understanding the etiology of FLC as well as developing therapeutics. We have found that the bulk of the genome lacks recurrent single-nucleotide or structural variants (inversions, amplifications) with the exception of a deletion in one copy of chromosome 19. This results in a fusion of the first exon of the heat shock protein, DNAJB1, with the 2nd through 10th exons of PRKACA, the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A. Expression of this fusion in the livers of mice, either by CRISPR or transposon, is sufficient to phenocopy the disease. The kinase activity of the fusion protein is essential for transformation, but equivalent expression of the native kinase is not sufficient. Results: Etiology: We have tested the ability of the native kinase and fusion oncokinase to phosphorylate potential substrates in human liver. We have found a discrete set of substrates that are phosphorylated in human liver for which we are now testing, which are critical for the pathogenesis of this cancer. Therapeutics: We have purified the fusion oncokinase without a tag and used a high-throughput screen to find inhibitors. We have found inhibitors in the nanomolar range for which we are using structural analysis to inform our medicinal chemistry. Additionally, we have developed several “never-in-plastic” patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that retain expression of the driver, histology, transcriptome, and proteome of the original human tumor. We have also screened for compounds that induce tumor cell death and tumor regression in FLC PDXs. Conclusion: Subtle changes in the kinase substrate profile of the fusion kinase provide new leads for therapeutics for FLC. The ability to find inhibitors of the kinase in the nanomolar range, as well as the ability to screen for inhibitors of the PDX, offers the first hope for treatment against this lethal tumor. Citation Format: Gadi Lalazar, Melissa Jarmel, Ruisi Wang, Michael Tomasini, David Requena, Denise Ng, Sanford M. Simon. Advances in the etiology and therapeutics of a lethal childhood cancer, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr A51.
A Measured Approach to Inpatient Ophthalmologic Screening in the COVID-19 Era: A Multicenter Perspective
Authors: Tavish Nanda, John B. Bond, Royce W.S. Chen, Srilaxmi Bearelly, H. Russell Day, George A. Cioffi, James T. Handa, J. Fernando Arevalo, Sean P. Donahue, Mark P. Breazzano
Journal: Ophthalmology (2020)
In Memoriam: Dr. Ding‐Shinn Chen, 1943‐2020
Authors: Pei‐Jer Chen, Jia‐Horng Kao, Chun‐Jen Liu, Hung‐Chih Yang
Journal: Hepatology (2020)

Chen, Pei‐Jer M.D., Ph.D.; Kao, Jia‐Horng M.D., Ph.D.; Liu, Chun‐Jen M.D., Ph.D.; Yang, Hung‐Chih Ph.D. Author Information
Complement and tissue factor–enriched neutrophil extracellular traps are key drivers in COVID-19 immunothrombosis
Authors: Panagiotis Skendros, Alexandros Mitsios, Akrivi Chrysanthopoulou, Dimitrios C. Mastellos, Simeon Metallidis, Petros Rafailidis, Maria Ntinopoulou, Eleni Sertaridou, Victoria Tsironidou, Christina Tsigalou, Maria Tektonidou, Theocharis Konstantinidis, Charalampos Papagoras, Ioannis Mitroulis, Georgios Germanidis, John D. Lambris, Konstantinos Ritis
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2020)

Emerging data indicate that complement and neutrophils contribute to the maladaptive immune response that fuels hyperinflammation and thrombotic microangiopathy, thereby increasing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) mortality. Here, we investigated how complement interacts with the platelet/neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)/thrombin axis, using COVID-19 specimens, cell-based inhibition studies, and NET/human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) cocultures. Increased plasma levels of NETs, tissue factor (TF) activity, and sC5b-9 were detected in patients. Neutrophils of patients yielded high TF expression and released NETs carrying active TF. Treatment of control neutrophils with COVID-19 platelet-rich plasma generated TF-bearing NETs that induced thrombotic activity of HAECs. Thrombin or NETosis inhibition or C5aR1 blockade attenuated platelet-mediated NET-driven thrombogenicity. COVID-19 serum induced complement activation in vitro, consistent with high complement activity in clinical samples. Complement C3 inhibition with compstatin Cp40 disrupted TF expression in neutrophils. In conclusion, we provide a mechanistic basis for a pivotal role of complement and NETs in COVID-19 immunothrombosis. This study supports strategies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that exploit complement or NETosis inhibition.
Abstract 15236: Mode of Initiation and Timing of Spontaneous Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Simon A Castro, Pasquale Santangeli, Daniele Muser, Silvia Magnani, Rajeev Pathak, Jackson Liang, Fermin C Garcia, Benoit Desjardins, Mathew D Hutchinson, Gregory Supple, David S Frankel, David Lin, Robert Schaller, Sanjay Dixit, David J Callans, Erica Zado, Michael P Riley, Francis Marchlinski
Journal: Circulation (2016)

Introduction: We evaluated the mode of initiation and circadian patterns of spontaneous malignant ventricular arrhythmias VAs in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy ARVC a...
Correction to: Invasion-related circular RNA circFNDC3B inhibits bladder cancer progression through the miR-1178-3p/G3BP2/SRC/FAK axis
Authors: Hongwei Liu, Junming Bi, Wei Dong, Meihua Yang, Juanyi Shi, Ning Jiang, Tianxin Lin, Jian Huang
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2020)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Regulatory, safety, and privacy concerns of home monitoring technologies during COVID-19
Authors: Sara Gerke, Carmel Shachar, Peter R. Chai, I. Glenn Cohen
Journal: Nature Medicine (2020)

There has been increasing interest in the use of home monitoring technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic to decrease interpersonal contacts and the resultant risks of exposure for people to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. This Perspective explores how the accelerated development of these technologies also raises major concerns pertaining to safety and privacy. We make recommendations for needed interventions to ensure safety and review best practices and US regulatory requirements for privacy and security. We discuss, among other topics, Emergency Use Authorizations for medical devices and privacy laws of the USA and Europe. Home monitoring technologies are being rushed to market during the COVID-19 pandemic; here, safety and privacy considerations are discussed.
Geographic and Racial/Ethnic Variation in Glycemic Control and Treatment in a National Sample of Veterans With Diabetes
Authors: Kelly J. Hunt, Melanie Davis, John Pearce, John Bian, Mark F. Guagliardo, Ernest Moy, R. Neal Axon, Brian Neelon
Journal: Diabetes Care (2020)

Geographic and racial/ethnic disparities related to diabetes control and treatment have not previously been examined at the national level.
Outcome of Children Relapsing after First Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Retrospective I-BFM Analysis of 336 Children between 2005 and 2016
Authors: Theodor Uden, Alice Bertaina, Jonas Abrahamsson, Marc Ansari, Adriana Balduzzi, Jean-Pierre Bourquin, Corinne Gerhardt, Mark Bierings, Henrik Hasle, Arjan Lankester, Kirsten Mischke, Andrew Moore, Ian Nivison-Smith, Anna Pieczonka, Christina Peters, Petr Sedlacek, Dirk Reinhardt, Jerry Stein, Brigitta Versluys, Jacek Wachowiak, Leen Wiilems, Martin Zimmermann, Franco Locatelli, Martin G. Sauer
Journal: Blood (2017)
Point Prevalence Testing of Residents for SARS-CoV-2 in a Subset of Connecticut Nursing Homes
Authors: Sunil Parikh, Kevin O’Laughlin, Hanna Y. Ehrlich, Lauren Campbell, Adora Harizaj, Amanda Durante, Vivian Leung
Journal: JAMA (2020)

This study describes the point prevalence of polymerase chain reaction tests positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among residents of a sample of Connecticut nursing homes in the first half of May 2020.
Thank You for Your Flexibility During These Unprecedented Times
Authors: Amy Ou, Christian L. Torres, Milna Rufin
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2020)

As chief residents of one of the largest internal medicine programs in the country, we entered the year expecting to send and receive a lot of emails, many ending with words of thanks or encouragement.However, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) invaded New York City and every aspect of our lives this spring, there were few words that could yield comfort amid so much uncertainty."I have a cough.Can I come to work?" "What is going on with my schedule?""Do we have enough PPE [personal protective equipment]?"Our residents had a constant stream of questions, to which we could often only provide unsatisfying answers.However, as we navigated the complexities of the pandemic, we eventually found ourselves relying on one phrase: Thank you for your flexibility during these unprecedented times.
Abstract #3990: The pan-Bcl-2 family inhibitor ABT-737 synergizes with DNA damaging agents by enhancing apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells
Authors: Sookhee Bang, Yun Hee Kang, Charles Reynolds, Min Kang
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Background: DNA damaging agents are the most common chemotherapy for human cancers, and combining them with agents that modulate resistance mechanisms can enhance activity. Etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubcin are DNA-damaging agents that are employed against a variety of cancers including recurrent pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We determined if the BH-3 mimetic pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 could enhance the cytotoxicity of DNA damaging agents in ALL cell lines. Methods: Cytotoxicity was determined using a fluorescence-based digital imaging assay (DIMSCAN). Changes in various proteins were detected by immunoblotting. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry using Annexin-V and propidium iodide. Mutational status of TP53 was evaluated by sequencing PCR amplified DNA. Results: Combining ABT-737 with etoposide, cyclophosphamide (as 4-HC), or doxorubicin caused synergistic cytotoxicity (combination index values:   Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 3990.
Pulmonary artery catheter might reduce risk of death in patients with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery
Authors: Julián Álvarez Escudero, Salomé Selas Cobos, María Victoria Rial Munín, Jorge Fernández Rodríguez, Gloria María Prada Hervella, Gumersindo Mariño Valiño, María Domíngez Varela
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2013)