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Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Significant efforts have been focused on utilizing advanced genomic technologies to further subclassify DLBCL, NOS into clinically relevant subtypes. These efforts have led to the implementation of novel algorithms to support optimal risk-oriented therapy and improvement in the overall survival of DLBCL patients. The pathogenesis of DLBCL at the molecular level indicates copy number variation (CNV) as one of the major forms of genetic alterations in the somatic mutational landscape. Random deregulation that results in complex breaks of chromosomes and restructuring of shattered chromosomal segments is called chromothripsis. Gene expression changes influenced by chromothripsis have been reported in cancer and congenital diseases. This chaotic phenomenon results in complex CNV, gene fusions, and amplification and loss of tumor suppressor genes. We present herein a summary of the most clinically relevant genomic aberrations, with particular focus on copy number aberrations in a case that highlights DLBCL, NOS arising from relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. The focus of our study was to understand the relationship between the clinical, morphological, and genomic abnormalities in DLBCL, NOS through multiple techniques for therapeutic considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the relationship between a neighborhood's built environment and resident health has largely either used a static, cross-sectional research design or focused on the neighborhood in its entirety, making it difficult to understand the relationship between specific dynamic neighborhood characteristics and individual well-being. We use longitudinal data from the Pittsburgh Research on Neighborhood Change and Health (PHRESH) studies to assess the relationship between publicly funded neighborhood investments between 2011 and 2018 and five health-related outcomes: food insecurity, stress, perceived neighborhood safety, neighborhood satisfaction, and dietary quality. We additionally determine whether the distance between an individual's place of residence and the investment affects the magnitude of associations. Using individual and year fixed effects models, we find that when measured at the neighborhood level, an increase by one standard deviation (SD) in investments (about $130 million) is associated with decreased food insecurity (−0.294 SD), increased safety (0.231 SD), and increased neighborhood satisfaction (0.201 SD) among adults who remain in the study for at least two waves of data collection. We also analyze specific investment types and find that commercial investments are largely driving the changes in food insecurity, safety, and neighborhood satisfaction, while business and residential investments are correlated with the decrease in stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by toxic gain of function of the androgen receptor (AR). Previously, we found that co-regulator binding through the activation function-2 (AF2) domain of AR is essential for pathogenesis, suggesting that AF2 may be a potential drug target for selective modulation of toxic AR activity. We screened previously identified AF2 modulators for their ability to rescue toxicity in a Drosophila model of SBMA. We identified two compounds, tolfenamic acid (TA) and 1-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl]-2-[(2-phenoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-1H-benzimidazole (MEPB), as top candidates for rescuing lethality, locomotor function and neuromuscular junction defects in SBMA flies. Pharmacokinetic analyses in mice revealed a more favorable bioavailability and tissue retention of MEPB compared with TA in muscle, brain and spinal cord. In a preclinical trial in a new mouse model of SBMA, MEPB treatment yielded a dose-dependent rescue from loss of body weight, rotarod activity and grip strength. In addition, MEPB ameliorated neuronal loss, neurogenic atrophy and testicular atrophy, validating AF2 modulation as a potent androgen-sparing strategy for SBMA therapy., Author(s): Nisha M Badders [1]; Ane Korff [1, 2]; Helen C Miranda [3]; Pradeep K Vuppala [4]; Rebecca B Smith [1]; Brett J Winborn [1]; Emmanuelle R Quemin [1]; Bryce [...]

Bird densities within coastal scrub and slash pine flatwoods were compared with time since fire, mean shrub height, number of snags and percent burn. Most shrub-dwelling birds preferred older stands (> 10 yr since last fire) with taller shrubs, or intermediate stands (4 yr since last fire) than recently burned stands (1-2 yr since last fire). Five species were negatively correlated with percent burn in stands burned 1-2 yr previously. The downy woodpecker was most abundant in recently burned areas. Densities of three species of woodpeckers and the northern bobwhite were positively correlated with snag density. The results suggest that extensive burns occurring every 4 yr or less are likely to have a negative influence on shrub-dwelling birds that are a natural component of these coastal communities.

Limited evidence in the literature suggests that the assumption of equal catchability in mark-recapture studies of turtles may be invalid. These papers suggest that turtles may alter their behavior to avoid recapture following initial handling. If turtles are less likely to be recaptured following initial capture and handling, then population models estimating demographic characteristics and population sizes from mark-recapture data may be invalid (e.g., overestimating population size). Because conservation and management decisions are largely based on population sizes and trends, it is essential to investigate whether marking animals has any effect on behavior. We tested the effects of handling and permanently marking gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida from 20-22 July 2003 to determine if short-term activity and recapture rates were affected. We used two distinct groups of tortoises: one group was handled (captured, measured, marked) and the other was not handled, but was marked with paint from a distance of 2.2 m. Although the behavior of handled and non-handled animals was distinct, we found no differences in recapture rates or time to recapture between the groups. We suggest that handled gopher tortoises are as likely to be recaptured as tortoises that have not been handled, although more subtle or long-term effects cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) occupies the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States where it digs burrows in upland habitats. Two burrow survey techniques commonly used to estimate tortoise population size (classification of burrows based on external characteristics and surveying burrow contents with a burrow camera) were tested to determine accuracy and subjectivity among researchers. Accuracy of both methods was verified by excavating the burrows to determine if tortoises were present. Classification of burrows based on external characteristics was found to be highly subjective, related to the researchers' prior gopher tortoise experience, and unrelated to familiarity with the landscape. Burrow camera surveys were accurate, but should be used with caution as mistakes can be costly. Inadequacies in the currently accepted burrow survey methods are discussed and suggestions for improvements are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]