tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Sinus Rhythm Restoration Within the Blanking Period as a Predictor of Late Recurrence After Catheter Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Antoine Da Costa
Journal: Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions (2025)

Aim - Various ablation strategies have been developed for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), but there is no standardized management for early and late post-procedural management periods. The clinical benefits of spontaneous restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) during the blanking period, without electrical cardioversion at the end of the procedure, remain unknown. Objectives - The primary goal of our prospective observational cohort study was to determine the proportion of patients who achieve SR spontaneous restoration during the 3-month blanking period. The secondary goal was to assess predictors of long-term AF-free survival following ablation for persistent AF, with a particular focus on the role of spontaneous SR restoration during the procedure and after the 3-month blanking period. Materials and Methods – This was an observational, prospective, monocentric, cohort trial designed to assess arrhythmia-free survival during a median 17.8-month follow-up after catheter ablation (CA) for persistent AF without electrical cardioversion at the end of the procedure. The study recorded spontaneous SR restoration at the end of the 3-month blanking period and reported supraventricular arrhythmia recurrence and/or continuation during the follow-up. Results. Out of 213 patients included in the prospective cohort, 60 patients (28.2%) achieved SR restoration during the CA procedure. Among patients with arrhythmia continuation at the end of the procedure, spontaneous SR restoration was observed in 68 patients (44.4%) at the end of the 3-month blanking period. Lack of spontaneous SR restoration during the blanking period (OR=2.25, 95%CI:1.12-3.84) and ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (OR=2.25, 95%CI:1.09-4.65) were found to be independent predictors of arrhythmia recurrence or continuation during the median 17.8-month follow-up. SR restoration during the CA procedure was not associated with arrhythmia-free survival during the long-term follow-up. Conclusions. This study evaluated a novel approach of tolerating arrhythmia continuation after CA for persistent AF and avoiding electrical cardioversion. Spontaneous SR restoration at the end of the 3-month blanking period is frequent and an independent predictor of arrhythmia-free survival during the long-term follow-up. Conclusion This study evaluated a novel approach of tolerating arrhythmia continuation after CA for persistent AF and avoiding initial electrical cardioversion. Spontaneous SR restoration at the end of the 3-month blanking period is frequent and an independent predictor of arrhythmia-free survival during the long-term follow-up.
Increased interaction between B cells and CD3+ T cells in non-progressors with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Kathleen R. Bartemes, Raymond M. Moore, Brenna C. Novotny, Kevin D. Pavelko, Will A. Sherman, Michael Rivera, Joaquin J. Garcia, Linda X. Yin, Daniel J. Ma, Eric J. Moore, Kathryn M. Van Abel, David M. Routman
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with decreased risk of recurrence in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+)OPSCC). The composition and spatial distribution of TILs and tumor-infiltrating immune cells is not well characterized. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary and lymph node (LN) tumor tissues from ten progressors (cases) and ten matched non-progressors (controls) were interrogated by imaging mass cytometry. Immune, stromal, and tumor cells were quantified from selected regions of interest (ROIs) using machine learning. Nearest neighbors, cell-cell interactions, and niche analyses were performed. Results: In primary ROIs, immune cell, lymphocyte, T cell, CD8+ T cell, and innate cell prevalence was significantly greater in controls. High prevalence of immune cells, lymphocytes, innate cells, and CD4+ T cells in primary tissues was significantly associated with increased time to event (TTE). Although primary and LN prevalence of T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and tumor cells were significantly correlated, differences in LNs were neither significant nor associated with TTE. Average distances between T cells and nearest B cells, and between lymphocytes and nearest tumor cells were decreased in control primary tissues. Interactions between B cells and T cells were less organized in primary tissues from cases. A niche predominantly comprising lymphocytes was associated with longer TTE. Conclusion: In HPV(+)OPSCC, immune cell subset prevalence in primary tumors differs with outcome and is associated with TTE. Interactions between B cells and both T cell subsets are associated with longer TTE, underscoring the importance of active intratumoral immune responses in outcomes.
A Spanish-Language Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Trust in Pregnancy Care Clinician
Authors: Rose L. Molina, Maria Bazan, Michele R. Hacker, Anjali J. Kaimal, Margarita Alegría, Leonor Fernández, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Maria O. Edelen
Journal: JAMA Network Open (2025)

Importance Despite the importance of patient trust in health care, there are no patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for trust in their clinician that have been developed empirically in Spanish, which is the second most common language in the US. Objective To develop and validate a Spanish-language PROM for trust in pregnancy care clinician. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used a national online panel of patients who reported a Spanish language preference and had limited English proficiency and were currently pregnant or had given birth within the 12 months before the survey. Participants resided in the United States, and data were collected from January to May 2024. Exposures Participants had clinical interactions during pregnancy and/or postpartum care. Data collected included demographics, Confianza (Trust) Scale candidate items, and 4 measures for concurrent validity evidence: the Trust in Physician Scale (TPS), the Mothers on Respect Index, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global 10. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcomes were psychometric properties of the Confianza scale and its association with validated scales (validity coefficients). Item response theory (IRT) analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the candidate items, select the best item subset for the Confianza scale, examine its correlation with other measures, and compare scores according to demographic characteristics. Results Of the included 204 participants (mean [SD] age, 26 [7] years; 62 participants from South America [30%]; 32 participants from Mexico [16%]), 117 participants were pregnant (57%), and 87 were within 1-year post partum (43%) at the time of survey completion. Four items were removed based on exploratory factor analysis. Using results from IRT analysis on the remaining 12 items, 5 items were selected to represent communication, caring, competency, accompaniment, and overall trust for the final measure. The 5-item Confianza scale had high measurement precision, with reliability above 0.90 across a wide range of the trust continuum. The Confianza scale (mean [SD] score, 21.5 [4.6] out of 25) was positively correlated with the TPS ( r = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.57; P &amp;amp;lt; .001) and negatively correlated with the EPDS ( r = −0.41; 95% CI, −0.52 to −0.29; P &amp;amp;lt;.001). Higher trust scores were obtained when there was language concordance with clinicians (mean [SD], 23.6 [2.3] vs 20.0 [5.3]; P &amp;amp;lt; .001) and care continuity (mean [SD], 22.3 [3.8] vs 20.9 [5.3]; P = .001). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of pregnant and postpartum Spanish-speaking individuals, a Spanish-language PROM for trust in pregnancy care clinician had initial validity.
Tobacco and E-Product Use by US Adults With Disabilities
Authors: Michael J. Parks, Daniela Marshall, Heather L. Kimmel, John H. Kingsbury, Colm D. Everard, Eiman Aboaziza, Carlos Blanco, Wilson M. Compton
Journal: JAMA Network Open (2025)

Importance Research on cumulative disabilities and tobacco use in the current tobacco landscape is lacking. Objective To examine prevalence of tobacco use across cumulative disabilities within and across years among US adults. Design, Setting, and Participants Representative cross-sectional surveys of the US adult (aged ≥18 years) civilian, noninstitutionalized population from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study were compared across 2013 to 2014 (wave 1), 2016 to 2018 (wave 4), and 2022 to 2023 (wave 7). Age-adjusted estimates and change scores were compared using design-based significance tests. Data were analyzed from November 2023 and April 2024. Main Outcomes and Measures Past 30-day use of tobacco (cigarette, electronic nicotine [e-product], traditional cigar, filtered cigar, cigarillo, pipe, hookah, and smokeless products); disability types (mobility, self-care, independent living, cognitive, hearing, and vision) summed to generate a 4-level cumulative disability measure (0, 1, 2, or ≥3). Results In 2013 to 2014, among 32 314 participants at wave 1, 3110 participants were 65 years or older (18.2%), 15 993 (51.9%) were female, 5536 (15.2%) were Hispanic, 4496 (11.2%) were non-Hispanic Black, 19 295 (66.0%) were non-Hispanic White, and 2428 (7.5%) were another non-Hispanic race. A total of 32 314 adults were included in 2013 to 2014, 33 638 in 2016 to 2018, and 30 681 in 2022 to 2023. In 2013 to 2014, any tobacco use prevalence for those with no disabilities was 25.4% (95% CI, 24.7% to 26.1%), while prevalence was 40.2% (95% CI, 38.6% to 41.8%), 48.9% (95% CI, 45.4% to 52.5%), and 51.8% (95% CI, 48.6% to 55.0%) for those with 1, 2, and 3 or more disabilities, respectively. Any tobacco, cigarette, e-product, cigarillo, filtered cigar, and pipe use were consistently higher among those with multiple disabilities compared with those with 0 or 1 disability. Prevalence was highest among those with 3 or more disabilities for all products. Tobacco use declined over time, except e-product use increased. However, not all declines in prevalence between 2013 to 2014 and 2022 to 2023 were significant among those with 3 or more disabilities. The declines for those who used any tobacco (−4.6%; 95% CI, −8.7% to −0.6%) and cigarettes (−8.9%; 95% CI, −12.7% to −5.1%) were small, and increases in e-product use were large (4.6%; 95% CI, 1.0% to 8.3%) for those with 3 or more disabilities compared with other groups. Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study, disparities in tobacco use existed across cumulative disabilities. Despite declines in tobacco use over time, differences in use across cumulative disabilities persisted or worsened, especially among those with 3 or more disabilities. Targeted prevention, screening, and cessation efforts inclusive of multiple products are needed.
Analysis of gut microbiota profiles in patients with prostate cancer: The PROMISE-JAPAN study.
Authors: Koji Hatano, Toshiki Oka, Takuji Yamada, Makoto Matsushita, Saizo Fujimoto, Junya Hata, Akira Tsujimura, Wataru Obara, Tetsuya Takao, Shingo Takada, Shinichi Yachida, Norio Nonomura, Kazutoshi Fujita
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

212 Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is clinically associated with dietary habits such as high-fat diets. The gut microbiota is strongly influenced by dietary habits and is involved in the host immune response and metabolic pathways. Recently, the gut microbiota has been shown to influence a variety of diseases, including PCa. We have found that the gut microbiome and its metabolite, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), promote cancer growth in PCa mouse models. To clarify the association between gut microbiota and PCa in humans, we conducted a study of PCa, gut microbiome, and lifestyle in Japan (PROMISE-JAPAN). In this study, we evaluated the gut microbiota profiles in PCa patients with a particular focus on differences between non-metastatic PCa (nmPCa) and metastatic PCa (mPCa). Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study enrolled 869 Japanese patients between 2020 and 2022. Eligibility criteria were men with suspected PCa who underwent prostate biopsy, and rectal swab samples were collected before prostate biopsy. Men who had taken antibiotics within 6 months before sample collection or whose previous antibiotic use was unknown were excluded. The gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The raw sequencing data was processed by the QIIME2 pipeline. The Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare characteristics between groups. Results: A total of 723 participants were eligible for analysis, including 262 men without cancer and 461 men with PCa, including 56 men with mPCa. The composition of the gut microbiota differed significantly between the non-cancer and the PCa group, with PCa having more Lachnospiraceae, which produce SCFA. The mPCa group had a higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae (UCG-005 and NK4A214), which belong to the Firmicutes pylum, compared to the nmPCa group. The mPCa group had a lower abundance of Prevotella, which belongs to the Bacteroidota pylum, compared to the nmPCa group. In mPCa compared to nmPCa, 19 gut microbiota pathways were significantly altered. In particular, the androstenedione degradation pathway was significantly increased in the mPCa group (p=0.0287). Conclusions: The composition of the gut microbiota differed between the non-cancer, the nmPCa and the PCa group. The gut microbiome associated with androgen metabolism was more common in mPCa patients. Clinical trial information: UMIN000043489 .
Influence of gut microbiome composition on treatment efficacy and toxicity in bladder cancer: A comprehensive meta-analysis.
Authors: Atif Hussain Sarwar, Hashim Talib Hashim, Ahmed Qasim Mohammed Alhatemi, Muhammad Nabeel Saddique, Sheena Shamoon
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

768 Background: The gut microbiome has emerged as a critical factor influencing the efficacy and toxicity of cancer treatments. In bladder cancer, variations in microbiome composition may affect patient responses to therapy, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy. This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the impact of gut microbiome composition on treatment outcomes in bladder cancer. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases were systematically searched from inception until June 2024 using relevant keywords. The pooled data were presented as Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Random Effects model in OpenMeta (version 5.3). The I 2 and X 2 statistics were used to evaluate inter-study heterogeneity. An I 2 value of &gt;50% was considered significant heterogeneity. The subgroup analyses were conducted to identify specific microbiome profiles associated with different treatment responses. Results: A total of 20 studies comprising 2,500 bladder cancer patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with a higher abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus had significantly better treatment responses (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.8-3.4) and lower toxicity rates (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). Conversely, an increased presence of pathogenic bacteria like Clostridium and Escherichia coli was associated with poorer outcomes (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8) and higher toxicity (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.7). Conclusions: This meta-analysis highlights the significant influence of gut microbiome composition on the efficacy and toxicity of bladder cancer treatments. Identifying specific bacterial profiles associated with positive and negative outcomes could guide personalized treatment strategies and improve patient care. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations and to develop microbiome-targeted therapies.
Divergent trends in cirrhosis and liver cancer highlight the ongoing efforts required for hepatitis elimination
Authors: Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Henry Lik-Yuen Chan
Journal: Hepatology (2025)

1Medical Data Analytics Centre 2Department of Medicine and Therapeutics 3State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China 4Department of Internal Medicine, Union Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; NA, nucleos(t)ide analogues; WHO, World Health Organization. Correspondence Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, 9/F Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, Hong Kong. Email: [email protected]
Evaluating the combined role of HHLA2 and PD-L1 as biomarkers in first-line nivolumab therapy in advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Authors: Yasmin Nabil Laimon, Nourhan El Ahmar, Opeyemi Jegede, Aseman Baghari Sheshdeh, Gordon J. Freeman, David F. McDermott, Michael B. Atkins, Sabina Signoretti, Kathleen Margaret Mahoney
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

598 Background: PD-1 directed immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective in many tumor types, including kidney cancers. HHLA2 is a negative immune checkpoint, generally expressed on PD-L1 negative clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) (Bhatt, et al. 2021). Therapeutics targeting either HHLA2 or its inhibitory receptor KIR3DL3 are in Phase I trials and predictive biomarkers are needed to help direct treatment. We previously reported that efficacy of nivolumab correlated with tumor PD-L1 status in patients with kidney cancer treated in the first line setting (GU16- 260; Atkins, et al. 2022). We hypothesize that HHLA2 expression in combination with PD-L1 expression may provide a clinically significant biomarker for resistance to PD-1 blockade in patients with advanced ccRCC. Methods: HHLA2 expression in tumor cells (TC) was assessed by immunohistochemistry coupled with image analysis algorithms in 63 pre-treatment primary ccRCC tissues from patients enrolled in the HCRN GU16-260 trial. TC PDL-1 positivity had been previously evaluated in this cohort (Atkins, 2022). TC HHLA2 expression in combination with TC PD-L1 expression was correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). Results: Consistent with our prior reports, HHLA2 expression did not overlap with PD-L1 expression on tumor cells. TC HHLA2 expression in combination with TC PD-L1 expression identified three groups of patients with different clinical outcomes with regards to ORR (trend test p-value = 0.016) and PFS (trend test p-value = 0.024) (Table). Patients with positive (&gt;0%) TC PD-L1 expression had the best outcomes (ORR=62.5%, median PFS=24.7 months); patients with negative TC PD-L1 expression and low (&lt;61%) TC HHLA2 expression had intermediate outcomes (ORR=38.5%, median PFS=10.6 months) and patients with negative TC PD-L1 expression and high (≥61%) TC HHLA2 expression had the worst outcomes (ORR=12.5%, median PFS=3.5 months). Conclusions: Further investigation of the HHLA2/PD-L1 combined biomarker is warranted as it may be helpful in identifying patients that do not respond to anti-PD-1 therapy but could benefit from agents targeting the HHLA2/KIR3DL3 pathway. HHLA2 and PDL-1 category Number of patients(63 total) ORR PFS (median, months) TC PD-L1 &gt;0% 16 62.5% 24.7 TC PD-L1 = 0% &amp; TC HHLA2 &lt;61% (low) 39 38.5% 10.6 TC PD-L1 = 0% &amp; TC HHLA2 ≥61% (high) 8 12.5% 3.5 Trend test p-value 0.016 0.024
The immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of a bivalent mRNA or protein COVID-19 vaccine given as a fourth dose
Authors: Nadia Mazarakis, Zheng Quan Toh, Eleanor Neal, Kathryn Bright, Skyy Luu, Leanne Quah, Yan Yung Ng, Cattram Nguyen, John Hart, Lien Anh Ha Do, Anna Rudel, Shashini Dassanayake, Rachel A Higgins, Darren Suryawijaya Ong, Fran Justice, Kerryn A Moore, Emma Watts, Siddhartha Mahanty, Kanta Subbarao, Kim Mulholland, Claire von Mollendorf, Paul V Licciardi
Journal: Journal of Infection (2025)
Preliminary efficacy and safety of disitamab vedotin (DV) combined with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in the treatment of high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with HER2 expression: A prospective, open label, single-center study.
Authors: Yijun Shen, Liangju Peng, Weijie Gu, Xiaolin Lu, Ying Shen, Dingwei Ye
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

775 Background: Current treatment for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) involves Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, or radical cystectomy (RC) especially for patients with very-high-risk features. However, 40%-60% HR-NMIBC pts will relapse after BCG treatment. Moreover there are a high incidence of postoperative complications and a negative impact on health-related quality of life after RC. Disitamab Vedotin (DV) is a novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC) that targets the HER2 protein, however its efficacy and safety in HR-NMIBC are limited.We conducted a prospective, open label, single-center study to evaluate the value of RC48 combined with BCG in HR-NMIBC pts. Methods: In this study, two cohorts of BCG-naive pts with very-high-risk features who refused to undergo RC or did not meet the requirements of RC with HER2 expression (IHC 1+/2+/3+) were enrolled (Cohort A:pts were unable to undergo complete tumor resection or have CIS. Cohort B: pts underwent complete tumor resection). All pts will receive eight cycles of intravenous injection of DV (2mg/kg, once every three weeks) and at least one year of BCG intravesical instillation. The Primary endpoints included the 3-month cCR rate in Cohort A and the 6-month EFS rate in Cohort B. The secondary endpoints were to evaluate additional efficacy end points and safety. Results: From Dec 2023 to Aug 2024, twenty eligible pts(16 male;4 female)were enrolled, with 15 pts in Cohort A and 5 pts in Cohort B. 17 of pts had HER2 high expression (2+ or 3+), and 3 of them had HER2 low expression (1+). As a cut-off date (12-Sep-2024), the cCR rate at 3 months and 6 months were both 100% in 11 and 5 pts of Cohort A and the EFS rate at 6 months was also 100% in 3 pts of Cohort B. 65% (13/20) pts experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). The most common TRAEs included AST/ALT increase 40%(8/20) ,alopecia 45% (9/20), peripheral sensory neuropathy 35% (7/20), anorexia 10% (2/20) and rash 5% (1/20). Grade 3 TRAEs occurred in 10% (2/20) pts with one peripheral sensory neuropathy caused by DV and one hematuria caused by BCG. 60% (12/20) pts had BCG-related AEs including bladder irritation, fever, arthralgia, conjunctivitis and hematuria. Conclusions: This was the first study to evaluate DV in combination with BCG in the treatment for HR-NMIBC. Preliminary results showed the combination had promising efficacy with a manageable safety profile. This may potentially provide a new bladder-sparing therapy for very HR-NMIBC pts with HER2 expression who refused RC or did not meet the requirements of RC. Clinical trial information: NCT06187506 .
First-in-human phase 1 study of an orally bioavailable vascular-disrupting agent DX1002 in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Xiao-Li Wei, Hao-Xiang Wu, Dan-Yun Ruan, Feng Wang, Li Xu, Yu-Hong Li, Yu-Xiang Ma, Zhi-Qiang Wang, Yun-Peng Yang, Liang-Wei Tang, Bao-Lin Chen, Zhi-Quan Yong, Rui-Hua Xu, Hong-Yun Zhao
Journal: Cell Reports Medicine (2025)