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Studies suggest that reduced‐nicotine cigarettes decrease nicotine intake and dependence. However, questions remain about reduced‐nicotine cigarette abuse liability, whether reduced‐nicotine cigarette exposure lowers reduced‐ and full‐nicotine cigarette use, and whether reduced‐nicotine cigarettes substitute for full‐nicotine cigarettes. This randomized, double‐blind laboratory study used operant behavioral economics to examine abuse liability of cigarettes with varying nicotine content. Non‐treatment‐seeking smokers (N = 43) self‐administered reduced‐ (5.2, 2.4, or 1.3 mg/g) and full‐nicotine (15.8 mg/g) cigarettes before and after 3 weeks of at‐home exposure. Participants were randomized to full‐nicotine or one of the reduced‐nicotine cigarettes to determine the effect of exposure on abuse liability and substitutability. Abuse liability was assessed in single‐commodity sessions, and substitutability was measured in concurrent‐commodity sessions. In the self‐administration sessions, concurrently available reduced‐nicotine cigarettes attenuated full‐nicotine cigarette demand and rendered reduced‐nicotine cigarettes partial substitutes for full‐nicotine cigarettes. Exposure to study cigarettes for 3 weeks marginally reduced demand for reduced‐ and full‐nicotine cigarettes irrespective of nicotine content. Results suggest a limited influence of nicotine content on smoking behavior in established smokers and highlight the role of nonpharmacological factors (e.g., taste/smell) on the maintenance of smoking. These results should be considered in determining whether a nicotine‐reduction standard is a feasible path for reducing cigarette demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding factors associated with opioid dispensing in cancer patients is important for developing tailored guidelines and ensuring equitable access to pain management. We examined patterns and predictors of opioid dispensing among older cancer patients from 2008 to 2015. Methods: We analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database linked to Medicare claims. We included the most common cancer types among patients aged 66–95 years. Opioids dispensed within 30 days before and 120 days after cancer diagnosis were assessed. We used logistic regression models to examine trends, adjusted odds ratios (aORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for opioid dispensing, considering patient demographics, geography, cancer stage, comorbidities, and treatment options. Models were stratified by sex. Results: A total of 211,759 cancer patients aged 66–95 years were included in the study. For cancers combined, non‐Hispanic Black men had a significantly lower odds of receiving opioids during the 120 days post‐diagnosis (aOR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.84–0.94) compared to non‐Hispanic White men. Factors such as pre‐diagnosis opioid dispensing, age, geography, cancer stage, comorbidities, and type of cancer treatment were associated with opioid dispensing during the 120 days post‐diagnosis. Surgery had the strongest association, with men undergoing surgery being 4.4 times more likely to receive opioids within 120 days post‐diagnosis (aOR = 4.41, 95% CI = 4.23–4.60), while women had an odds ratio of 2.72 (95% CI = 2.62–2.83). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were also positively associated with opioid dispensing, with less pronounced estimates. Conclusions: We observed significant variations in opioid dispensing among cancer patients aged 66‐95 years across cancer types and demographic and clinical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimated 38 million people live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide and are at excess risk for multiple cancer types. Elevated cancer risks in people living with HIV (PLWH) are driven primarily by increased exposure to carcinogens, most notably oncogenic viruses acquired through shared transmission routes, plus acceleration of viral carcinogenesis by HIV‐related immunosuppression. In the era of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), life expectancy of PLWH has increased, with cancer now a leading cause of co‐morbidity and death. Furthermore, the types of cancers occurring among PLWH are shifting over time and vary in their relative burden in different parts of the world. In this context, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a meeting in September 2022 of multinational and multidisciplinary experts to focus on cancer in PLWH. This report summarizes the proceedings, including a review of the state of the science of cancer descriptive epidemiology, etiology, molecular tumor characterization, primary and secondary prevention, treatment disparities and survival in PLWH around the world. A consensus of key research priorities and recommendations in these domains is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classifying specimens is a critical component of ecological research, biodiversity monitoring and conservation. However, manual classification can be prohibitively time‐consuming and expensive, limiting how much data a project can afford to process.Computer vision, a form of machine learning, can help overcome these problems by rapidly, automatically and accurately classifying images of specimens. Given the diversity of animal species and contexts in which images are captured, there is no universal classifier for all species and use cases. As such, ecologists often need to train their own models. While numerous software programs exist to support this process, ecologists need a fundamental understanding of how computer vision works to select appropriate model workflows based on their specific use case, data types, computing resources and desired performance capabilities. Ecologists may also face characteristic quirks of ecological datasets, such as long‐tail distributions, 'unknown' species, similarity between species and polymorphism within species, which impact the efficacy of computer vision.Despite growing interest in computer vision for ecology, there are few resources available to help ecologists face the challenges they are likely to encounter. Here, we present a gentle introduction for species classification using computer vision. In this manuscript and associated GitHub repository, we demonstrate how to prepare training data, basic model training procedures, and methods for model evaluation and selection. Throughout, we explore specific considerations ecologists should make when training classification models, such as data domains, feature extractors and class imbalances.With these basics, ecologists can adjust their workflows to achieve research goals and/or account for uncertainty in downstream analysis. Our goal is to provide guidance for ecologists for getting started in or improving their use of machine learning for visual classification tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in the average age at cancer diagnosis are observed across countries. We therefore aimed to assess international variation in the median age at diagnosis of common cancers worldwide, after adjusting for differences in population age structure. We used IARC's Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) Volume XI database, comprising cancer diagnoses between 2008 and 2012 from population‐based cancer registries in 65 countries. We calculated crude median ages at diagnosis for lung, colon, breast and prostate cancers in each country, then adjusted for population age differences using indirect standardization. We showed that median ages at diagnosis changed by up to 10 years after standardization, typically increasing in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and decreasing in high‐income countries (HICs), given relatively younger and older populations, respectively. After standardization, the range of ages at diagnosis was 12 years for lung cancer (median age 61‐Bulgaria vs 73‐Bahrain), 12 years for colon cancer (60‐the Islamic Republic of Iran vs 72‐Peru), 10 years for female breast cancer (49‐Algeria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea vs 59‐USA and others) and 10 years for prostate cancer (65‐USA, Lithuania vs 75‐Philippines). Compared to HICs, populations in LMICs were diagnosed with colon cancer at younger ages but with prostate cancer at older ages (both pLMICS‐vs‐HICs < 0.001). In countries with higher smoking prevalence, lung cancers were diagnosed at younger ages in both women and men (both pcorr < 0.001). Female breast cancer tended to be diagnosed at younger ages in East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our findings suggest that the differences in median ages at cancer diagnosis worldwide likely reflect population‐level variation in risk factors and cancer control measures, including screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence was rising in the United States. Previously, using data collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program through 2017, we found that overall incidence had begun to decline, although not in Black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Utilizing expanded SEER data encompassing ~50% of the population, we examined secular trends and demographic differences in HCC incidence through 2019. Methods: We included cases of HCC diagnosed in adults aged ≥20 years residing in SEER‐22 registry areas. We examined case counts, incidence rates (per 100,000 person‐years), annual percent changes (APCs), and calendar years when APCs changed significantly. Results: HCC incidence increased from 5.56 in 2000 to 8.89 in 2009 (APC, 5.17%), then rose more slowly during 2009–2015 (APC, 2.28%). After peaking at 10.03 in 2015, incidence fell to 9.20 in 2019 (APC, −2.26%). In Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI), the decline began in 2007 and accelerated in 2015 (APCs: 2007–2015, −1.84%; 2015–2019, −5.80%). In 2014, incidence began to fall in the White (APC: 2014–2019, −1.11%) and Hispanic populations (APC: 2014–2019, −1.72%). In 2016, rates began to fall in Black individuals (APC: 2016–2019, −6.05%). In the AI/AN population, incidence was highest in 2017, although the subsequent decline was not statistically significant. In 2019, population‐specific rates were: White, 6.94; Black, 10.74; A/PI, 12.11; AI/AN, 14.56; Hispanic, 15.48. Conclusion: HCC incidence is now decreasing in most US racial/ethnic populations, including among Black individuals. The onset of decline differed among racial/ethnic groups and wide disparities in HCC rates remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B‐cell lymphoma that occurs worldwide. A study of BL in the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program during 1973 to 2005 (n = 3043) revealed three age‐specific incidence peaks of BL and rates that were rising. We studied BL cases diagnosed in SEER 22 during 2000 to 2019 (n = 11 626) to investigate age‐specific BL incidence rates and temporal trends. The age‐standardized BL incidence rate was 3.96/million person‐years, with a 2.85:1 male‐to‐female ratio. The BL rate among both Hispanic and White individuals was higher than in Black individuals (4.52, 4.12 vs 3.14). Age‐specific BL rates showed peaks during pediatric, adult and elderly years in males and pediatric and elderly peaks in females. Based on 4524 BL cases with HIV status (SEER 13), only one peak in adult males (45 years) was observed. Overall age‐standardized BL incidence rates rose 1.2%/year (not significant) up to 2009 then fell significantly by 2.4%/year thereafter. Temporal trends in BL rates during 2000 to 2019 varied with age group as pediatric BL rates rose 1.1%/year, while elderly BL rates fell 1.7%/year and adult BL rates rose 3.4%/year until 2007 before falling 3.1%/year thereafter. Overall survival from BL was 64% at 2 years, being highest in pediatric patients and lowest in Black and elderly individuals vs other subgroups. Survival improved by 20% between 2000 and 2019. Our data suggest that BL age‐specific incidence rates are multimodal and that overall BL rates rose up to 2009 and then fell, suggesting changes in etiological factors or diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free college/promise programs provide scholarships that cover students' tuition and fees to attend college. These programs are flexible in that they can be adapted to local and/or state needs when crafting the design, scope, and benefits offered to students. Based on their adaptability, there is variation in the funding of these programs due to the available financial resources and programs' ability to leverage established community and state partnerships. This chapter discusses how local and state promise programs are funded, what their funding covers, and how these programs affect postsecondary institutions' finances. Also described are how promise programs have adapted to changing financial circumstances, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Finally, the chapter provides recommendations for their financial sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: We report two, genotypically identical but phenotypically distinct cases of Schaaf‐Yang syndrome and propose the early use of Genome Sequencing in patients with nonspecific presentations to facilitate the early diagnosis of children with rare genetic diseases and improve overall health care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and the prevalence of obesity, an established risk factor for RCC, have been increasing for several decades. RCC is more common among older individuals. We sought to quantify the contribution of excess adiposity to the rising incidence of RCC among individuals 60 years or older. National Institutes of Health‐American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study data (n = 453 859 participants, enrolled in 1995‐1996, age at enrollment 50‐71 years) were used to estimate multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for RCC across body mass index categories and HRs associated with smoking. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated using estimated HRs and annual overweight/obesity prevalence from the National Health Interview Survey (1985‐2008). PAF estimates were combined with RCC incidence from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results‐13 to calculate annual percent changes in RCC incidence attributable (and unrelated) to overweight/obesity. We found that between 1995 and 2018, among individuals aged 60 years and older, PAF for overweight/obesity increased from 18% to 29% for all RCCs. In comparison, the PAF for smoking declined from 12% to 9%. RCC incidence increased 1.8% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5%‐2.1%) overall, while RCC incidence attributable to overweight/obesity increased 3.8% per year (95%CI 3.5%‐4.2%) and RCC incidence unrelated to overweight/obesity increased 1.2% per year (95% CI 0.9%‐1.4%). In conclusion, overweight/obesity appears to have contributed importantly to the rising incidence of RCC in the United States since the mid‐1990s. Public health interventions focused on reducing overweight and obesity could help substantially in curbing this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Costa Rica (CR), only one report on head and neck cancer (HNC) incidence trends (1985‐2007) has been published and no investigations on the epidemiology of potentially human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related and HPV‐unrelated HNCs have been done. We examined the age‐standardized incidence rates (IRs) and trends of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and compared incidence trends of potentially HPV‐related and HPV‐unrelated HNSCCs. We obtained all available HNC cases for the period 2006‐2015 from the Costa Rican National Cancer Registry of Tumors and the population estimates from the Costa Rican National Institute of Statistics and Census. The analysis was restricted to invasive HNSCCs (n = 1577). IRs and incidence rate ratios were calculated using SEER*Stat software and were age‐standardized for the 2010 Costa Rican population. Joinpoint regression analysis program was used to calculate trends and annual percent changes (APCs) in rates. For all HNSCCs, the age‐standardized IR was 34.0/million person‐years; 95% CI 32.4, 35.8. There was a significant decline in the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer (APC: −5.9% per year; 95% CI −10.8, −0.7) and laryngeal cancer (APC: −5.4% per year; −9.2, 1.5). The incidence trends for hypopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancers each remained stable over time. HNSCCs were categorized by their potential relatedness to HPV infection. Though the APCs were not statistically significant, IRs of potentially HPV‐related HNSCCs trended upward, while HPV‐unrelated HNSCCs trended downward. HNSCCs are uncommon in CR and decreased over time. We observed a divergent pattern of decreasing HPV‐unrelated with increasing HPV‐related HNSCCs that should be further informed by HPV genotyping tumor samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with significant individual and relationship impairment for people with PTSD and their romantic partners. Conjoint treatments, such as cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD (CBCT), are designed to address individual and relationship factors, yet significant barriers impede accessing in‐person therapy. Couple HOPES (i.e., Helping Overcome PTSD and Enhance Satisfaction) is a coach‐guided, online couple intervention for PTSD based on CBCT that was designed to address these barriers. Previous investigations have found preliminary efficacy of Couple HOPES for improving PTSD symptoms, relationship functioning, and some individual functioning domains for the partner with probable PTSD. However, no study to date has tested individual outcomes for romantic partners, which is needed to fully evaluate the intervention's promise. The current study tested these partner outcomes in a combined, uncontrolled sample of 27 couples. Intent‐to‐intervene analyses found significant improvements at postintervention in four of eight tested outcomes, including ineffective arguing, g = 0.74; anger, g = 0.32; perceived health, g = 0.67; and quality of life, g = 0.56. Depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, alcohol misuse, and work functioning did not significantly change, gs = 0.17–0.42. Among participants who completed a 1‐month follow‐up assessment, generalized anxiety, g = 0.43, and perceived health, g = 0.73, significantly improved over follow‐up, whereas anger, g = ‐0.48, lost gains previously made. Results were largely consistent in the completer sample. These findings show the potential of Couple HOPES to have broad benefits not only for individuals with probable PTSD but also for their romantic partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera traps (CTs) are a valuable tool in ecological research, amassing large quantities of information on the behaviour of diverse wildlife communities. CTs are predominantly used as passive data loggers to gather observational data for correlational analyses. Integrating CTs into experimental studies, however, can enable rigorous testing of key hypotheses in animal behaviour and conservation biology that are otherwise difficult or impossible to evaluate.We developed the 'BoomBox', an open‐source Arduino‐compatible board that attaches to commercially available CTs to form an Automated Behavioural Response (ABR) system. The modular unit connects directly to the CT's passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, playing audio files over external speakers when the sensor is triggered. This creates a remote playback system that captures animal responses to specific cues, combining the benefits of camera trapping (e.g. continuous monitoring in remote locations, lack of human observers, large data volume) with the power of experimental manipulations (e.g. controlled perturbations for strong mechanistic inference).Our system builds on previous ABR designs to provide a cheap (~100USD) and customizable field tool. We provide a practical guide detailing how to build and operate the BoomBox ABR system with suggestions for potential experimental designs that address a variety of questions in wildlife ecology. As proof‐of‐concept, we successfully field tested the BoomBox in two distinct field settings to study species interactions (predator–prey and predator–predator) and wildlife responses to conservation interventions.This new tool allows researchers to conduct a unique suite of manipulative experiments on free‐living species in complex environments, enhancing the ability to identify mechanistic drivers of species' behaviours and interactions in natural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promise programs are an increasing popular solution to improving college affordability, reducing educational inequities, and promoting economic development. Promise programs are distinct from other forms of financial aid because they emphasize residency in their eligibility criteria, where students must live and/or attend school in specific locations to be awarded the promise scholarship. In this chapter, we review extant literature on community college promise programs by discussing the prevalence of these programs, their variations in designs, and their funding sources. We also review studies on the effect of these programs on students and institutions. Based on our survey of the literature, we propose several practical recommendations for community college stakeholders that are aimed at improving student access and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condom use substantially reduces unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. While condom availability is a significant public health priority, effects of condom availability constraints remain relatively under‐researched. The limited research on condom availability suggests two major barriers to use: (1) effort/costs and (2) delay to access. To date, we are aware of no study that explores both demand for and discounting of condom availability; the focus of this study was to account for condom decisions using a reinforcement pathology framework. This study used a condom purchase task and the Sexual Delay Discounting Task to quantify behavioral economics of condom use. Low sexual discounting was associated with higher willingness to engage unprotected sex. Demand metrics suggest participants indicating abstinence at condom breakpoint were willing to pay nearly double for condoms relative to individuals indicating unprotected sex at breakpoint. Finally, we grouped participants into reinforcement pathology risk groups based on their discounting and demand indices; these groups significantly differed in self‐reported number of sexual partners, unprotected sexual partners, and Sexual Desire scores. This study demonstrates the value of behavioral economic approaches to public health concerns, and further underscores the translational benefits of quantitative metrics to shed novel light on risky health decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To investigate the completeness of death certificates for recording viral hepatitis in HCC death, we compared the proportion of HCC deaths with hepatitis virus infection reported on death certificates to that reported as claims in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare database among individuals ≥66 years of age. For 2001–2015, we tabulated proportions of HCC deaths with HBV or HCV infection in each database overall, and by demographic factors. To correct for under ascertainment of viral hepatitis‐associated HCC on death certificates, we multiplied by the reciprocal ratio of death certificates to SEER‐Medicare. Among HCC decedents, HBV infection was reported on 3.6% of death certificates and 17.2% of Medicare claims. For HCV, corresponding proportions were 14.9% and 26.9%. The ratio of HBV‐attributable HCC deaths in death certificates to SEER‐Medicare remained ~0.21 over time. The ratio of HCV‐attributable HCC deaths decreased 22.1% per year, from 0.70 in 2001 to 0.37 in 2003, and increased 4.1% per year, from 0.47 in 2004 to 0.66 in 2015. Following correction, the 2015 mortality rate from death certificate data increased from 0.2 to 0.9 per 100,000 for HBV‐attributable HCC and from 2.3 to 3.5 per 100,000 for HCV‐attributable HCC. In conclusion, among older Americans dying from HCC, death certificates captured 21% of HBV and 55% of HCV infections compared to Medicare claims. Our results suggest that death certificates provide incomplete data for viral hepatitis‐associated HCC surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected people and solid organ transplant recipients have elevated risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Little is known regarding ALCL risk factors in immunosuppressed populations. We used data from US cancer registries linked to HIV registries (1996–2016) and to the national transplant registry (1992–2017). ALCL risk in HIV‐infected people and transplant recipients relative to the general population was calculated as a standardized incidence ratio (SIR). ALCL risk factors were evaluated using Poisson regression. We identified 121 incident ALCL cases in the HIV (n = 86) and transplant (n = 35) populations. We reviewed pathology reports for 45 cases and most (86·7%) were confirmed as ALCL. Epstein–Barr virus tested positive in 1/8 (12·5%) cases. Compared to the general population, ALCL risk was strongly elevated among HIV‐infected people [SIR 5·43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4·27–6·81] and transplant recipients (5·96; 4·03–8·49). Among HIV‐infected people, ALCL incidence was strongly related to CD4 count [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 0·15 for ≥500 vs. <200 cells/μl; P trend < 0·001]. Among transplant recipients, risk was highest within the first year (aIRR 6·82) and 10+ years post‐transplant (5·99). In conclusion, ALCL risk is strongly increased in these immunosuppressed populations but may be unrelated to EBV infection based on limited reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain population groups are known to have higher than average anal cancer risk, namely persons living with HIV (PLHIV), men who have sex with men (MSM), women diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related gynecological precancerous lesions or cancer, solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) and patients with autoimmune diseases. Our aim was to provide robust and comparable estimates of anal cancer burden across these groups. Summary incidence rates (IRs), as cases per 100 000 person‐years (py), were calculated by fixed‐effects meta‐analysis. IRs were 85 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 82‐89) for HIV‐positive MSM (n = 7 studies; 2 229 234 py), 32 (95% CI = 30‐35) for non‐MSM male PLHIV (n = 5; 1626 448 py) and 22 (95% CI = 19‐24) for female PLHIV (n = 6; 1 472 123 py), with strong variation by age (eg, from 16.8 < 30 years to 107.5 ≥ 60 years for HIV‐positive MSM). IR was 19 (95% CI = 10‐36) in HIV‐negative MSM (n = 2; 48 135 py). Anal cancer IRs were much higher after diagnosis of vulvar (IR = 48 [95% CI = 38‐61]; n = 4; 145 147 py) than cervical (9 [95% CI = 8‐12]; n = 4; 779 098 py) or vaginal (IR = 10 [95% CI = 3‐30]; n = 4; 32 671) cancer, with equivalent disparity after respective precancerous lesions. IR was 13 (95% CI = 12‐15) in SOTRs (n = 5; 1 946 206 py), reaching 24.5 and 49.6 for males and females >10 years after transplant. Anal cancer IRs were 10 (95% CI = 5‐19), 6 (95% CI = 3‐11) and 3 (95% CI = 2‐4) for systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, respectively. In conclusion, a unifying anal cancer risk scale, based upon comprehensive meta‐analysis, can improve prioritization and standardization in anal cancer prevention/research initiatives, which are in their public health infancy. What's new? Anal cancer (AC) is quite rare in the general population. However, some groups are known to be at higher risk. In this meta‐analysis, the authors identified these groups (e.g., HIV‐positive status, other HPV‐related cancers, etc.), and were then able to develop an AC‐risk scale based on incidence estimates. Because there is currently no consensus regarding standardized screening for AC, this risk scale can help clinicians to prioritize and compare risk profiles for AC research and prevention initiatives. These can then be guided by similar principles of management for populations with similar absolute risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 has halted research around the globe and forced researchers out of their laboratories. Non‐emergency medical appointments were canceled. Ongoing clinical trials were challenged to create new modes of operation while public pressure mounted to find therapeutic options against COVID‐19. Yet, the inability to conduct research during COVID‐19 was overcome with cooperation, resource sharing, and compassion, which provides important lessons on how to improve health related research as we enter a new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the role of species interactions within communities is a central focus of ecology. A key challenge is to understand variation in species interactions along environmental gradients. The stress gradient hypothesis posits that positive interactions increase and competitive interactions decrease with increasing consumer pressure or environmental stress. This hypothesis has received extensive attention in plant community ecology, but only a handful of tests in animals. Furthermore, few empirical studies have examined multiple co‐occurring stressors. Here we test predictions of the stress gradient hypothesis using the occurrence of mixed‐species groups in six common grazing ungulate species within the Serengeti‐Mara ecosystem. We use mixed‐species groups as a proxy for potential positive interactions because they may enhance protection from predators or increase access to high‐quality forage. Alternatively, competition for resources may limit the formation of mixed‐species groups. Using more than 115,000 camera trap observations collected over 5 yr, we found that mixed‐species groups were more likely to occur in risky areas (i.e., areas closer to lion vantage points and in woodland habitat where lions hunt preferentially) and during time periods when resource levels were high. These results are consistent with the interpretation that stress from high predation risk may contribute to the formation of mixed‐species groups, but that competition for resources may prevent their formation when food availability is low. Our results are consistent with support for the stress gradient hypothesis in animals along a consumer pressure gradient while identifying the potential influence of a co‐occurring stressor, thus providing a link between research in plant community ecology on the stress gradient hypothesis, and research in animal ecology on trade‐offs between foraging and risk in landscapes of fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise dosing of warfarin is important to achieve therapeutic benefit without adverse effects. Pharmacogenomics explains some interindividual variability in warfarin response, but less attention has been paid to drug‐drug interactions in the context of genetic factors. We investigated retrospectively the combined effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex (VKORC)1 genotypes and concurrent exposure to CYP2C9‐interacting drugs on long‐term measures of warfarin anticoagulation. Study participants predicted to be sensitive responders to warfarin based on CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes, had significantly greater international normalized ratio (INR) variability over time. Participants who were concurrently taking CYP2C9‐interacting drugs were found to have greater INR variability and lesser time in therapeutic range. The associations of INR variability with genotype were driven by the subgroup not exposed to interacting drugs, whereas the effect of interacting drug exposure was driven by the subgroup categorized as normal responders. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering drug interactions in pharmacogenomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera trap technology has galvanized the study of predator–prey ecology in wild animal communities by expanding the scale and diversity of predator–prey interactions that can be analysed. While observational data from systematic camera arrays have informed inferences on the spatiotemporal outcomes of predator–prey interactions, the capacity for observational studies to identify mechanistic drivers of species interactions is limited.Experimental study designs that utilize camera traps uniquely allow for testing hypothesized mechanisms that drive predator and prey behaviour, incorporating environmental realism not possible in the laboratory while benefiting from the distinct capacity of camera traps to generate large datasets from multiple species with minimal observer interference. However, such pairings of camera traps with experimental methods remain underutilized.We review recent advances in the experimental application of camera traps to investigate fundamental mechanisms underlying predator–prey ecology and present a conceptual guide for designing experimental camera trap studies.Only 9% of camera trap studies on predator–prey ecology in our review use experimental methods, but the application of experimental approaches is increasing. To illustrate the utility of camera trap‐based experiments using a case study, we propose a study design that integrates observational and experimental techniques to test a perennial question in predator–prey ecology: how prey balance foraging and safety, as formalized by the risk allocation hypothesis. We discuss applications of camera trap‐based experiments to evaluate the diversity of anthropogenic influences on wildlife communities globally. Finally, we review challenges to conducting experimental camera trap studies.Experimental camera trap studies have already begun to play an important role in understanding the predator–prey ecology of free‐living animals, and such methods will become increasingly critical to quantifying drivers of community interactions in a rapidly changing world. We recommend increased application of experimental methods in the study of predator and prey responses to humans, synanthropic and invasive species, and other anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Programmed cell death (PCD) is the destruction of unwanted cells through an intracellularly mediated process. Perforation formation in the lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) provides an excellent model for studying developmentally regulated PCD. Ca2+ fluxes have previously been identified as important signals for PCD in plants and mammals. The fundamental goal of this project was to determine the influence of Ca2+ on the rate of cell death and perforation formation during leaf development in the lace plant. This was investigated using the application of various known calcium modulators including lanthanum III chloride (LaCl3), ruthenium red and calcium ionophore A23187. Detached lace plant leaves at an early stage of development were treated with these modulators in both short‐ and long‐term exposure assays and analysed using live cell imaging. Results from this study indicate that calcium plays a vital role in developmentally regulated PCD in the lace plant as application of the modulators significantly altered the rate of cell death and perforation formation during leaf development. In conclusion, this study exemplifies the suitability of the lace plant for live cell imaging and detached leaf experiments to study cell death and provides insight into the importance of Ca2+ in developmentally regulated PCD in planta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, is used in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have received prior therapy with a platinum-based regimen. As a monotherapy, it is generally well tolerated, but a small percentage of patients may develop immune-mediated inflammatory reactions. We report a case of mucositis and laryngeal edema in a patient on pembrolizumab and review the literature. Laryngoscope, 130:E140-E143, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) leaves are remodeled via developmental programmed cell death (PCD) to produce perforations located equidistantly between longitudinal and transverse veins. Auxin has been implicated in other developmental PCD processes in plants; however, the role of auxin in perforation formation in lace plant is unknown. Here the role of auxin in developmental PCD in lace plant was studied using two auxin inhibitors N‐1‐naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), an auxin transport inhibitor, and auxinole, a potent auxin antagonist. Methods: Sterile cultures of lace plants were propagated and treated with NPA or auxinole. Leaf length, leaf width, and number of perforations were then analyzed. Vein patterning and perforation area were further examined in NPA‐treated plants. Downstream PCD transduction events were investigated via spectrophotometric assays, histochemical staining, and immuno‐probing. Results: Lace plants treated with NPA or auxinole produced leaves with fewer perforations compared to their respective controls. Although NPA treatment was insufficient to completely alter vein patterning, NPA‐treated leaves did have significantly more atypical areoles compared to control leaves. Events involved in perforation formation in lace plant leaves were altered following treatment with NPA, including anthocyanin production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. Conclusions: Our results indicated that inhibition of auxin signaling disrupts several downstream features of the lace plant PCD signaling cascade and results in fewer or no perforations. Therefore, we concluded that auxin signaling is important for developmentally regulated PCD in lace plant leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) risk is highly increased in immunosuppressed individuals, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus infection and solid organ transplant recipients, but rates are increasing among immunocompetent older adults (age ≥65 years). We utilized data from a large, nationally‐representative cohort of older adults in the United States and found that PCNSL is significantly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodusa, autoimmune hepatitis, myasthenia gravis and uveitis. Immunosuppressive drugs given to treat these conditions may increase PCNSL risk, but these associations cannot explain the observed temporal increase in PCNSL rates, given the low prevalence of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We determined the association between ratios of plasma ceramide species of differing fatty‐acyl chain lengths and incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia in a large, community‐based sample. Methods: We measured plasma ceramide levels in 1892 [54% women, mean age 70.1 (SD 6.9) yr.] dementia‐free Framingham Offspring Study cohort participants between 2005 and 2008. We related ratios of very long‐chain (C24:0, C22:0) to long‐chain (C16:0) ceramides to subsequent risk of incident dementia and AD dementia. Structural MRI brain measures were included as secondary outcomes. Results: During a median 6.5 year follow‐up, 81 participants developed dementia, of whom 60 were diagnosed with AD dementia. In multivariable Cox‐proportional hazards analyses, each standard deviation (SD) increment in the ratio of ceramides C24:0/C16:0 was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of dementia (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.96) and AD dementia (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.00). The ratio of ceramides C22:0/C16:0 was also inversely associated with incident dementia (HR per SD 0.75, 95% CI 0.57–0.98), and approached statistical significance for AD (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.01, P = 0.056). Higher ratios of ceramides C24:0/C16:0 and C22:0/C16:0 were also cross‐sectionally associated with lower white matter hyperintensity burden on MRI (−0.05 ± 0.02, P = 0.02; −0.06 ± 0.02, P = 0.003; respectively per SD increase), but not with other MRI brain measures. Conclusions: Higher plasma ratios of very long‐chain to long‐chain ceramides are associated with a reduced risk of incident dementia and AD dementia in our community‐based sample. Circulating ceramide ratios may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting dementia risk in cognitively healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an increased risk of developing several cancers, but to the authors' knowledge less is known regarding how HIV impacts the rate of progression to advanced cancer or death.Methods: The authors compared stage of disease at the time of presentation and mortality after diagnosis between 14,453 PLWH and 6,368,126 HIV-uninfected patients diagnosed with cancers of the oral cavity, stomach, colorectum, anus, liver, pancreas, lung, female breast, cervix, prostate, bladder, kidney, and thyroid and melanoma using data from the National Cancer Data Base (2004-2014). Polytomous logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the association between HIV, cancer stage, and stage-adjusted mortality after diagnosis, respectively. Regression models accounted for the type of health facility at which cancer treatment was administered and the type of individual health insurance.Results: HIV-infected patients with cancer were found to be more likely to be uninsured (HIV-infected: 5.0% vs HIV-uninfected: 3.3%; P < .0001) and were less likely to have private health insurance (25.4% vs 44.7%; P < .0001). Compared with those not infected with HIV, the odds of being diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease were significantly elevated in PLWH for melanoma and cancers of the oral cavity, liver, female breast, prostate, and thyroid (odds ratio for stage IV vs stage I range, 1.24-2.06). PLWH who were diagnosed with stage I to stage III disease experienced elevated mortality after diagnosis across 13 of the 14 cancer sites evaluated, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.20 (95% CI, 1.14-1.26) for lung cancer to 1.85 (95% CI, 1.68-2.04), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.51-2.27), and 2.93 (95% CI, 2.08-4.13), respectively, for cancers of the female breast, cervix, and thyroid.Conclusions: PLWH were more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage cancers and to experience elevated mortality after a cancer diagnosis, even after accounting for health care-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are increasing in older individuals. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are important causes of HCC; however, the contribution of viral hepatitis to recent trends in HCC incidence among older Americans is unclear.Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linkage (SEER-Medicare) for the years 2001 through 2013 were used to identify HCC cases among individuals aged ≥66 years and Medicare files were used to assess the HCV and HBV status of these HCC cases. Age-standardized incidence rates of HCV-attributable, HBV-attributable, and HCV/HBV-unrelated HCC were estimated overall and by age group, sex, and race/ethnicity. The authors also calculated annual percent changes (APCs) in HCC incidence.Results: Between 2001 and 2013, a total of 15,300 HCC cases occurred in this population. Overall HCC rates increased 43% from 16.3 to 23.3 per 100,000 population (APC, 3.40% per year), whereas HCV-attributable HCC rates nearly doubled from 4.2 to 8.2 per 100,000 population (APC, 5.62% per year). HCC rates increased more slowly for HBV-attributable HCC (1.3 to 1.8 per 100,000 population; APC, 3.17% per year) and HCV/HBV-unrelated HCC (11.3 to 14.1 per 100,000 population; APC, 2.35% per year). The percentage of HCC cases with evidence of HCV infection increased from 25.7% in 2001 through 2004 to 32.3% in 2011 through 2013, whereas the percentage with HBV remained stable at 8%. In 2013, higher rates for both HCV-attributable and HBV-attributable HCC were noted among individuals aged 66 to 75 years, men, and individuals of Asian ancestry.Conclusions: Among Americans aged ≥66 years, HCC rates increased rapidly between 2001 and 2013. Although HCV-attributable cases contributed substantially to this increase, rates of HBV-attributable and HCV/HBV-unrelated HCC also rose during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) rates have increased over time in the United States and worldwide. Improvements in imaging for the diagnosis of DTC have been hypothesized as a potential driver of these increases. This study stratifies temporal trends in pediatric DTC by stage and tumor size to assess whether rates of large, late-stage cancers, which are likely to be clinically meaningful, are increasing over time.Methods: Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) of DTC and annual percent changes (APCs) in primary DTC rates were estimated for 0- to 19-year-olds with data from 39 US cancer registries during 1998-2013.Results: During 1998-2013, 7296 cases of DTC were diagnosed (6652 papillary cases and 644 follicular cases). APCs of pediatric DTCs significantly increased by 4.43%/y [95% CI, 3.74%/y-5.13%/y], primarily because of increases in papillary histologies. Increasing trends were observed for children aged 10 to 19 years for both sexes and for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics. Rates increased significantly over the time period for all tumor stages (APClocalized , +4.06%/y [95% CI, 2.84%/y-5.29%/y]; APCregional , +5.68%/y [95% CI, 4.64%/y-6.73%/y]; APCdistant , +8.55%/y [95% CI, 5.03%/y-12.19%/y]) and across tumor sizes (APC<1 cm , +9.46%/y [95% CI, 6.13%/y-12.90%/y]; APC1-2 cm , +6.92%/y [95% CI, 4.31%/y-9.60%/y]; APC>2 cm , +4.69%/y [95% CI, 2.75%/y-6.67%/y]).Conclusions: Significantly increasing rates of DTC over time among 10- to 19-year-olds in the United States are unlikely to be entirely explained by increases in medical surveillance during childhood because rates of large and late-stage DTC are increasing over time. Future studies should examine environmental and other factors that may be contributing to rising DTC rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In order to address the current opioid crisis, research on treatment outcomes for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) should account for biological factors that could influence individual treatment response. Women and men might have clinically meaningful differences in their experience in OUD treatment and might also have unique challenges in achieving successful, long-term recovery. This review summarizes and synthesizes the current literature on sex-based differences in OUD treatment outcomes.Methods: Relevant literature was identified via automated and manual searches using the terms "opioid treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences" and "opiate treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences." Search methodology was consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and were conducted within the PubMed electronic database during March and April of 2018.Results: The initial PubMed search yielded 241 manuscripts and 31 original research articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria were synthesized in this review. Several important trends emerged, including findings that women are more likely than men to present to treatment with co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression, and that women might respond particularly well to buprenorphine maintenance.Discussion and Conclusions: While much of the literature on this topic is subject to potential cohort effects, interventions that address co-occurring mental health conditions and psychosocial stress might improve treatment outcomes for women with OUD.Scientific Significance: Funding agencies and researchers should focus attention toward human laboratory studies and clinical trials that are prospectively designed to assess sex-based differences in OUD recovery. (Am J Addict 2019;28:246-261). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare but deadly cancers (gallbladder cancer [GBC], intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ICC], extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ECC], and ampulla of Vater cancer [AVC]). A recent US study reported increasing GBC incidence among people younger than 45 years and blacks; however, it did not examine trends for other biliary tract sites. Methods: This study characterized demographic differences in BTC incidence rates and time trends by anatomic site. Population‐based North American Association of Central Cancer Registries data were used to calculate age‐adjusted incidence rates, incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and estimated annual percent changes (eAPCs) for 1999‐2013 by site and demographic group. For sites with significant differences in eAPC by age group, IRRs were compared by age group. Results: GBC incidence rates declined among women (eAPC, –0.5%/y; P = .01) and all racial/ethnic groups except for non‐Hispanic blacks, among whom rates increased (1.8%/y; P < .0001). Although GBC rates increased among 18‐ to 44‐year‐olds (eAPC, 1.8%/y; P = .01), they decreased among people 45 years old or older (–0.4%/y; P = .009). Sex (P < .0001) and racial/ethnic differences (P = .003 to.02) in GBC incidence were larger for younger people than older people. During this period, ICC (eAPC, 3.2%/y; P < .0001) and ECC rates (1.8%/y; P = .001) steadily increased across sex and racial/ethnic groups. Although AVC incidence rates increased among younger adults (eAPC, 1.8%/y; P = .03) but not older adults (–0.20%/y; P = .30), sex and racial/ethnic IRRs did not differ by age. Conclusions: Differential patterns of BTC rates and temporal trends have been identified by anatomic site and demographic groups. These findings highlight the need for large pooling projects to evaluate BTC risk factors by anatomic site. Significant and novel variations in biliary tract cancer incidence rates and trends are identified across anatomic sites by demographic group among adults in the United States between 1999 and 2013. Differences in sex‐ and race/ethnicity‐specific gallbladder cancer incidence rate ratios are larger among younger adults than older adults, and this may reflect underlying differences in the prevalence of and trends in risk factors by demographic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While antagonistic species interactions such as predation or competition have a long history of study, positive inter‐species interactions have received comparatively little attention. Mutualisms and commensalisms appear to be widespread in the animal kingdom, with examples of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles from around the world engaging with other species in evidentially beneficial ways. Cleaning mutualism is a specific type positive inter‐species interaction in which one species removes and feeds upon parasites infesting the other. Here, we document a new subset of positive inter‐species "cleaning" interactions, in which one partner benefits from and reduces the abundance of pest species attracted by but not attached to their host. We observed in person and in camera trap footage numerous instances of insectivorous bats associating with white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and feeding on the swarms of biting flies attracted to these large mammals. We call for the increased reporting of positive inter‐species associations to better our understanding of the mechanisms leading to the formation of these interactions and the effects that these relationships may for the structuring of ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relapse is the recovery of a previously suppressed response. Animal models have been useful in examining the mechanisms underlying relapse (e.g., reinstatement, renewal, reacquisition, resurgence). However, there are several challenges to analyzing relapse data using traditional approaches. For example, null hypothesis significance testing is commonly used to determine whether relapse has occurred. However, this method requires several a priori assumptions about the data, as well as a large sample size for between‐subjects comparisons or repeated testing for within‐subjects comparisons. Monte Carlo methods may represent an improved analytic technique, because these methods require no prior assumptions, permit smaller sample sizes, and can be tailored to account for all of the data from an experiment instead of some limited set. In the present study, we conducted reanalyses of three studies of relapse (Berry, Sweeney, & Odum, ; Galizio et al., ; Odum & Shahan,) using Monte Carlo techniques to determine if relapse occurred and if there were differences in rate of response based on relevant independent variables (such as group membership or schedule of reinforcement). These reanalyses supported the previous findings. Finally, we provide general recommendations for using Monte Carlo methods in studies of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many survivors of lung injury, including bacterial pneumonia and COVID‐19, suffer from incident dementia. Patients who have had pneumonia and other infections are at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) (Chu et al., BBI, 2022, Sipila et al., Lancet Infec Dis, 2021, Girard et al., J Gen Intern Med, 2018). There is growing appreciation and strong evidence that neurovascular uncoupling, cerebral blood flow reductions and dysregulation, and breakdown of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB), including the loss of pericytes, are early events in the ADRD pathophysiological cascade. Furthermore, astrocytes and microglia are activated in the ADRD brain and can also disrupt cerebrovascular health and impact cognition. Because these are key events in ADRD, we aimed to determine the effects of bacterial pneumonia on the cerebrovascular system. Method: C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally infected with P. aeruginosa PA103 (ExoU and ExoT competent, 2.5×105 CFU) was introduced as a virulent bacterial strain for 24 or 48 hours. In addition, ΔPcrV (PA103ΔPcrV, 2.5×107 CFU), a mutant lacking a functional Type III secretion system was used for control. Following transcardial perfusion, brains were snap frozen in OCT and serially sectioned. Next, we performed immunofluorescence staining for CD13 (pericytes), lectin (endothelial cells), IgG (BBB leakage), Gfap (reactive astrocytes), and Iba1 (microglia). Result: Significant BBB leakage of IgG was detected in both cortex and hippocampus 48 hours post‐infection with PA103 compared to ΔPcrV. Significant activation of astrocytes and microglia was detected 48 hours post‐PA103 infection compared to ΔPcrV. Pericyte coverage was unchanged in cortex and hippocampus both 24‐ and 48‐hours post‐infection with PA103 compared to ΔPcrV. Conclusion: Here we have shown that bacterial pneumonia causes BBB breakdown and gliosis in young mice. Because BBB breakdown and gliosis are early events in many neurodegenerative diseases leading to cognitive dysfunction, understanding how pneumonia can accelerate these events is extremely timely and important. Future studies should focus on the mechanism(s) by which pneumonia causes cerebrovascular dysfunction and how this may increase ADRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]