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1.
Parasit Vectors ; 17(1): 254, 2024 Jun 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38863023

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti is the primary mosquito vector for several arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, which cause frequent outbreaks of human disease in tropical and subtropical regions. Control of these outbreaks relies on vector control, commonly in the form of insecticide sprays that target adult female mosquitoes. However, the spatial coverage and frequency of sprays needed to optimize effectiveness are unclear. In this study, we characterize the effect of ultra-low-volume (ULV) indoor spraying of pyrethroid insecticides on Ae. aegypti abundance within households. We also evaluate the effects of spray events during recent time periods or in neighboring households. Improved understanding of the duration and distance of the impact of a spray intervention on Ae. aegypti populations can inform vector control interventions, in addition to modeling efforts that contrast vector control strategies. METHODS: This project analyzes data from two large-scale experiments that involved six cycles of indoor pyrethroid spray applications in 2 years in the Amazonian city of Iquitos, Peru. We developed spatial multi-level models to disentangle the reduction in Ae. aegypti abundance that resulted from (i) recent ULV treatment within households and (ii) ULV treatment of adjacent or nearby households. We compared fits of models across a range of candidate weighting schemes for the spray effect, based on different temporal and spatial decay functions to understand lagged ULV effects. RESULTS: Our results suggested that the reduction of Ae. aegypti in a household was mainly due to spray events occurring within the same household, with no additional effect of sprays that occurred in neighboring households. Effectiveness of a spray intervention should be measured based on time since the most recent spray event, as we found no cumulative effect of sequential sprays. Based on our model, we estimated the spray effect is reduced by 50% approximately 28 days after the spray event. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of Ae. aegypti in a household was mainly determined by the number of days since the last spray intervention in that same household, highlighting the importance of spray coverage in high-risk areas with a spray frequency determined by local viral transmission dynamics.


Subject(s)
Aedes , Family Characteristics , Insecticides , Mosquito Control , Mosquito Vectors , Pyrethrins , Spatio-Temporal Analysis , Animals , Aedes/drug effects , Insecticides/pharmacology , Insecticides/administration & dosage , Mosquito Control/methods , Mosquito Vectors/drug effects , Pyrethrins/pharmacology , Female , Peru , Humans , Population Density , Dengue/prevention & control , Dengue/transmission
2.
J Clin Oncol ; 42(19): 2327-2335, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38630954

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Locally advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma (LA BCC) can be treated with radiation therapy (RT), but locoregional control (LRC) rates are unsatisfactory. Vismodegib is a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HPI) active in BCC that may radiosensitize BCC. We evaluated the combination of vismodegib and RT for patients with LA BCC. METHODS: In this multicenter, single-arm, phase II study, patients with unresectable LA BCC received 12 weeks of induction vismodegib, followed by 7 weeks of concurrent vismodegib and RT. The primary end point was LRC rate at 1 year after the end of treatment. Secondary end points included objective response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety, and patient-reported quality of life (PRQOL). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients received vismodegib; five were unable to complete 12 weeks of induction therapy. LRC was achieved in 91% (95% CI, 68 to 98) of patients at 1 year. The response rate was 63% (95% CI, 38 to 84) after induction vismodegib and 83% (95% CI, 59 to 96) after concurrent vismodegib and RT. With a median follow-up of 5.7 years, 1-year PFS and OS rates were 100% and 96%, and at 5 years PFS and OS rates were 78% and 83%, respectively. Distant metastasis or BCC-related death has not been observed. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were dysgeusia, fatigue, and myalgias occurring in 83%, 75%, and 75% of patients. No grade 4 to 5 treatment-related AEs occurred. PRQOL demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in all subscales, with emotions and functioning improvements persisting for a year after the end of treatment. CONCLUSION: In patients with unresectable LA BCC, the combination of vismodegib and RT yielded high rates of LRC and PFS and durable improvements in PRQOL.


Subject(s)
Anilides , Carcinoma, Basal Cell , Pyridines , Skin Neoplasms , Humans , Anilides/therapeutic use , Anilides/adverse effects , Anilides/administration & dosage , Pyridines/therapeutic use , Pyridines/adverse effects , Pyridines/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/drug therapy , Female , Male , Aged , Middle Aged , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , Skin Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Skin Neoplasms/mortality , Aged, 80 and over , Quality of Life , Adult , Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects , Progression-Free Survival
3.
J Environ Manage ; 358: 120810, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38593738

ABSTRACT

The rise in oil trade and transportation has led to a continuous increase in the risk of oil spills, posing a serious worldwide concern. However, there is a lack of numerical models for predicting oil spill transport in freshwater, especially under icy conditions. To tackle this challenge, we developed a prediction system for oil with ice modeling by coupling the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME) model with the Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (GLOFS) model. Taking Lake Erie as a pilot study, we used observed drifter data to evaluate the performance of the coupled model. Additionally, we developed six hypothetical oil spill cases in Lake Erie, considering both with and without ice conditions during the freezing, stable, and melting seasons spanning from 2018 to 2022, to investigate the impacts of ice cover on oil spill processes. The results showed the effective performance of the coupled model system in capturing the movements of a deployed drifter. Through ensemble simulations, it was observed that the stable season with high-concentration ice had the most significant impact on limiting oil transport compared to the freezing and melting seasons, resulting in an oil-affected open water area of 49 km2 on day 5 with ice cover, while without ice cover it reached 183 km2. The stable season with high-concentration ice showed a notable reduction in the probability of oil presence in the risk map, whereas this reduction effect was less prominent during the freezing and melting seasons. Moreover, negative correlations between initial ice concentration and oil-affected open water area were consistent, especially on day 1 with a linear regression R-squared value of 0.94, potentially enabling rapid prediction. Overall, the coupled model system serves as a useful tool for simulating oil spills in the world's largest freshwater system, particularly under icy conditions, thus enhancing the formulation of effective emergency response strategies.


Subject(s)
Ice Cover , Lakes , Petroleum Pollution , Ice Cover/chemistry , Models, Theoretical , Environmental Monitoring
5.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep ; 34: 102021, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38444640

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report a case of metastatic uveal melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibition in which serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was assessed throughout treatment. Observations: A 33-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic uveal melanoma and initially had progression of disease following hepatic embolization and nivolumab/ipilimumab. At the time, plasma ctDNA GNA11 and SF3B1 were measurable and repeat ctDNA showed increased variant allele frequency following further progression of disease on vorinostat. Following additional nivolumab/ipilimumab, radiographic response was noted and repeat ctDNA became undetectable and remained so at 27 months follow up. Conclusions and importance: Clearance of cell free DNA in metastatic uveal melanoma may be associated with radiographic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

6.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys ; 118(5): 1404-1421, 2024 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38184173

ABSTRACT

Immunotherapeutic agents have revolutionized cancer treatment over the past decade. However, most patients fail to respond to immunotherapy alone. A growing body of preclinical studies highlights the potential for synergy between radiation therapy and immunotherapy, but the outcomes of clinical studies have been mixed. This review summarizes the current state of immunotherapy and radiation combination therapy across cancers, highlighting existing challenges and promising areas for future investigation.


Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Humans , Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Immunotherapy , Combined Modality Therapy
7.
Stud Health Technol Inform ; 310: 805-809, 2024 Jan 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38269920

ABSTRACT

Identifying potentially fraudulent or wasteful medical insurance claims can be difficult due to the large amounts of data and human effort involved. We applied unsupervised machine learning to construct interpretable models which rank variations in medical provider claiming behaviour in the domain of unilateral joint replacement surgery, using data from the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule. For each of three surgical procedures reference models of claims for each procedure were constructed and compared analytically to models of individual provider claims. Providers were ranked using a score based on fees for typical claims made in addition to those in the reference model. Evaluation of the results indicated that the top-ranked providers were likely to be unusual in their claiming patterns, with typical claims from outlying providers adding up to 192% to the cost of a procedure. The method is efficient, generalizable to other procedures and, being interpretable, integrates well into existing workflows.


Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement , National Health Programs , Aged , Humans , Australia , Fees and Charges , Unsupervised Machine Learning
8.
J Clin Oncol ; 42(1): 38-46, 2024 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37748124

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: External-beam radiation therapy (RT) is standard of care (SOC) for pain relief of symptomatic bone metastases. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of radiation to asymptomatic bone metastases in preventing skeletal-related events (SRE). METHODS: In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, adult patients with widely metastatic solid tumor malignancies were stratified by histology and planned SOC (systemic therapy or observation) and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive RT to asymptomatic high-risk bone metastases or SOC alone. The primary outcome of the trial was SRE. Secondary outcomes included hospitalizations for SRE and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 78 patients with 122 high-risk bone metastases were enrolled between May 8, 2018, and August 9, 2021, at three institutions across an affiliated cancer network in the United States. Seventy-three patients were evaluable for the primary end point. The most common primary cancer types were lung (27%), breast (24%), and prostate (22%). At 1 year, SRE occurred in one of 62 bone metastases (1.6%) in the RT arm and 14 of 49 bone metastases (29%) in the SOC arm (P < .001). There were significantly fewer patients hospitalized for SRE in the RT arm compared with the SOC arm (0 v 4, P = .045). At a median follow-up of 2.5 years, OS was significantly longer in the RT arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.89; P = .018), which persisted on multivariable Cox regression analysis (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.85; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Radiation delivered prophylactically to asymptomatic, high-risk bone metastases reduced SRE and hospitalizations. We also observed an improvement in OS with prophylactic radiation, although a confirmatory phase III trial is warranted.


Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms , Standard of Care , Male , Adult , Humans , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy , Proportional Hazards Models , Regression Analysis
9.
Gut Microbes ; 15(2): 2274127, 2023 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37942526

ABSTRACT

Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining gut and overall health. The objective of this study was to investigate whether different types of dietary fiber elicited specific changes in gut microbiota composition and the production of short-chain fatty acids. To test this, a longitudinal crossover study design was employed, in which healthy adult women consumed three distinct dietary fiber supplements: Inulin (fructo-oligosaccharide), Vitafiber (isomalto-oligosaccharide), and Fibremax (mixture of different fiber) during a one-week intervention period, followed by a 2-week washout period. A total of 15 g of soluble fiber was consumed daily for each supplement. Samples were collected before and after each intervention to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing and fecal levels of short-chain fatty acids measured using nuclear magnetic resonance. Phenotypic changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied in subsets of participants with higher SCFA levels post-intervention using spectral flow cytometry. The results revealed substantial stability and resilience of the overall gut bacterial community toward fiber-induced changes. However, each supplement had specific effects on gut bacterial alpha and beta diversity, SCFA production, and immune changes. Inulin consistently exerted the most pronounced effect across individuals and certain taxa were identified as potential indicators of SCFA production in response to inulin supplementation. This distinguishing feature was not observed for the other fiber supplements. Further large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings. Overall, our study implies that personalized dietary fiber intervention could be tailored to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria to maximize SCFA production and associated health benefits.


Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Inulin , Adult , Female , Humans , Bacteria/genetics , Cross-Over Studies , Dietary Fiber/analysis , Fatty Acids, Volatile/pharmacology , Feces/microbiology , Immunity , Inulin/pharmacology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Oligosaccharides/pharmacology , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Longitudinal Studies
10.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys ; 117(5): 1090-1095, 2023 Dec 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37791935

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Little is known about patient-reported quality of life (QOL) before and after radiotherapy (RT) for early keratinocyte carcinoma (KC). The present study tested the hypothesis that QOL is hypothesized to deteriorate soon after RT, with subsequent improvement of a magnitude similar to other KC treatments. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This observational study assessed prospectively collected longitudinal patient-reported QOL data at a single center. Patients undergoing external beam RT for early-stage (T0-2, <4 cm) KC that completed the Skindex-16 (S16) or Skin Cancer Index (SCI) before and at least once after RT were included. These indices include subscales of symptoms, emotions, and functioning for S16 and emotional, social, and appearance for SCI. RESULTS: 81 patients (median age 79 years) were treated for early KC, most being basal cell carcinomas (87%) on the face (80%) an average of 1.3 cm in diameter. Composite S16 scores and total SCI scores showed significant, clinically meaningful improvements at 3 months and 6 weeks after RT, respectively. QOL declined at 6 weeks after treatment on the S16 symptoms subscale. Concurrently, S16 and SCI emotional subscales significantly improved, and this trend persisted for 2+ years. Improvements in S16 functioning and SCI social and appearance QOL occurred after RT. The magnitude of improvement in QOL 3-12 months after RT was comparable to what has been previously reported after other types of KC treatments, like surgery. CONCLUSIONS: QOL related to symptoms deteriorates during the first 6 weeks after RT for early KC, but it improves by 3 months. QOL related to emotions, functioning, social, and appearance all improve after RT. These changes in QOL are similar to those observed after other treatments of early KC.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma , Skin Neoplasms , Humans , Aged , Quality of Life , Skin Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Keratinocytes
11.
Cytogenet Genome Res ; 163(3-4): 121-130, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37793357

ABSTRACT

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay is an established method for assessing chromosome damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes resulting from exposure to genotoxic agents such as ionizing radiation. The objective of this study was to measure cytogenetic DNA damage and hematology parameters in vivo based on MN frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from adult and pediatric leukemia patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation preceded by total body irradiation (TBI) as part of the conditioning regimen. CBMN assay cultures were prepared from fresh blood samples collected before and at 4 and 24 h after the start of TBI, corresponding to doses of 1.25 Gy and 3.75 Gy, respectively. For both age groups, there was a significant increase in MN yields with increasing dose (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent decrease in the nuclear division index (NDI; p < 0.0001). In the pre-radiotherapy samples, there was a significantly higher NDI measured in the pediatric cohort compared to the adult due to an increase in the percentage of tri- and quadri-nucleated cells scored. Complete blood counts with differential recorded before and after TBI at the 24-h time point showed a rapid increase in neutrophil (p = 0.0001) and decrease in lymphocyte (p = 0.0006) counts, resulting in a highly elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of 14.45 ± 1.85 after 3.75 Gy TBI (pre-exposure = 4.62 ± 0.49), indicating a strong systemic inflammatory response. Correlation of the hematological cell subset counts with cytogenetic damage, indicated that only the lymphocyte subset survival fraction (after TBI compared with before TBI) showed a negative correlation with increasing MN frequency from 0 to 1.25 Gy (r = -0.931; p = 0.007). Further, the data presented here indicate that the combination of CBMN assay endpoints (MN frequency and NDI values) and hematology parameters could be used to assess cytogenetic damage and early hematopoietic injury in the peripheral blood of leukemia patients, 24 h after TBI exposure.


Subject(s)
Leukemia , Whole-Body Irradiation , Adult , Humans , Child , Whole-Body Irradiation/adverse effects , Micronucleus Tests/methods , Cytokinesis/genetics , Cytokinesis/radiation effects , Lymphocytes
12.
Pigment Cell Melanoma Res ; 36(6): 542-556, 2023 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37804122

ABSTRACT

Mucosal melanoma remains a rare cancer with high mortality and a paucity of therapeutic options. This is due in significant part to its low incidence leading to limited patient access to expert care and downstream clinical/basic science data for research interrogation. Clinical challenges such as delayed and at times inaccurate diagnoses, and lack of consensus tumor staging have added to the suboptimal outcomes for these patients. Clinical trials, while promising, have been difficult to activate and accrue. While individual institutions and investigators have attempted to seek solutions to such problems, international, national, and local partnership may provide the keys to more efficient and innovative paths forward. Furthermore, a mucosal melanoma coalition would provide a potential network for patients and caregivers to seek expert opinion and advice. The Melanoma Research Foundation Mucosal Melanoma Meeting (December 16, 2022, New York, USA) highlighted the current clinical challenges faced by patients, providers, and scientists, identified current and future clinical trial investigations in this rare disease space, and aimed to increase national and international collaboration among the mucosal melanoma community in an effort to improve patient outcomes. The included proceedings highlight the clinical challenges of mucosal melanoma, global clinical trial experience, basic science advances in mucosal melanoma, and future directions, including the creation of shared rare tumor registries and enhanced collaborations.


Subject(s)
Melanoma , Humans , New York , Melanoma/therapy , Melanoma/pathology , Mucous Membrane/pathology , Combined Modality Therapy , Neoplasm Staging
13.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis ; 17(9): e0011593, 2023 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37656759

ABSTRACT

Dengue virus (DENV) transmission from humans to mosquitoes is a poorly documented, but critical component of DENV epidemiology. Magnitude of viremia is the primary determinant of successful human-to-mosquito DENV transmission. People with the same level of viremia, however, can vary in their infectiousness to mosquitoes as a function of other factors that remain to be elucidated. Here, we report on a field-based study in the city of Iquitos, Peru, where we conducted direct mosquito feedings on people naturally infected with DENV and that experienced mild illness. We also enrolled people naturally infected with Zika virus (ZIKV) after the introduction of ZIKV in Iquitos during the study period. Of the 54 study participants involved in direct mosquito feedings, 43 were infected with DENV-2, two with DENV-3, and nine with ZIKV. Our analysis excluded participants whose viremia was detectable at enrollment but undetectable at the time of mosquito feeding, which was the case for all participants with DENV-3 and ZIKV infections. We analyzed the probability of onward transmission during 50 feeding events involving 27 participants infected with DENV-2 based on the presence of infectious virus in mosquito saliva 7-16 days post blood meal. Transmission probability was positively associated with the level of viremia and duration of extrinsic incubation in the mosquito. In addition, transmission probability was influenced by the day of illness in a non-monotonic fashion; i.e., transmission probability increased until 2 days after symptom onset and decreased thereafter. We conclude that mildly ill DENV-infected humans with similar levels of viremia during the first two days after symptom onset will be most infectious to mosquitoes on the second day of their illness. Quantifying variation within and between people in their contribution to DENV transmission is essential to better understand the biological determinants of human infectiousness, parametrize epidemiological models, and improve disease surveillance and prevention strategies.


Subject(s)
Culicidae , Dengue , Zika Virus Infection , Zika Virus , Animals , Humans , Viremia , Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology , Dengue/epidemiology
15.
J Hazard Mater ; 459: 132160, 2023 Oct 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37562351

ABSTRACT

Oil weathering models are essential for predicting the behavior of spilled oil in the environment. Most models use a "Pseudo Component" (PC) approach to represent the wide range of compounds found in petroleum products. Within the approach, rather than modeling each individual compound in an oil, a manageable number of PCs are developed that represent whole classes of compounds. However, previous studies focused mainly on traditional crude oils and did not develop a generic approach to create an optimal set of PCs for a variety of oils. In developing the updates to the NOAA oil weathering model, we propose herein a generic approach to construct PCs using oil distillation data to capture the complexity of oil evaporative weathering. We validated our approach with 899 oils from the Automated Data Inquiry for Oil Spills (ADIOS) oil library and found that an optimal set of sixteen PCs should be used. These PCs include two with low boiling point (below 144 °C), one with a high boiling point (above 400 °C), and thirteen constructed within a middle range of boiling points with a temperature resolution of 20 °C. Our simulation tests suggested that this set of sixteen PCs adequately characterizes oil evaporation processes for a wide variety of oils.

16.
Cancer ; 129(20): 3275-3286, 2023 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37382208

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in the treatment of primary uveal melanoma (UM), patients with metastatic disease continue to exhibit poor survival. METHODS: A retrospective review of metastatic UM patients at Yale (initial cohort) and Memorial Sloan Kettering (validation cohort) was conducted. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine baseline factors that are associated with overall survival, including sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status Scale, laboratory measurements, metastasis location, and use of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 therapies. Differences in overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients with metastatic UM were identified; 71 and 18, in the initial and validation cohorts, respectively. In the initial cohort, median follow-up was 19.8 months (range, 2-127 months) and median overall survival was 21.8 months (95% CI, 16.6-31.3). Female sex, anti-CTLA-4, and anti-PD-1 therapy were associated with better survival outcomes with adjusted death hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.40 (95% CI, 0.20-0.78), 0.44 (0.20-0.97), and 0.42 (0.22-0.84), respectively, whereas development of hepatic metastases and ECOG score ≥1 (per 1 U/L) were associated with worse survival outcomes with HRs of 2.86 (1.28-7.13) and 2.84 (1.29-6.09), respectively. In both the initial and validation cohorts, use of immune checkpoint inhibitors was associated with improved overall survival after adjusting for sex and ECOG score, with death HRs of 0.22 (0.08-0.56) and 0.04 (0.002-0.26), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Development of extrahepatic-only metastases, ECOG of 0, immune checkpoint therapy, and female sex were each associated with more than 2-fold reductions in risk of death. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Metastatic uveal melanoma patients face limited treatment options and poor survival rates. Results from this retrospective analysis indicate that immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 therapies, were associated with improved survival outcomes. Factors such as extrahepatic-only metastases, better baseline performance status, and female sex contributed to a more than 2-fold reduction in death risk. These findings highlight the potential of immunotherapy in treating metastatic uveal melanoma.


Subject(s)
Melanoma , Uveal Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Ipilimumab/therapeutic use , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Melanoma/drug therapy
17.
Biomolecules ; 13(6)2023 05 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37371464

ABSTRACT

Multiple inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (MINPP1) is an enigmatic enzyme that is responsible for the metabolism of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) and inositol 1,3,4,5,6 pentakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 in mammalian cells, despite being restricted to the confines of the ER. The reason for this compartmentalization is unclear. In our previous studies in the insulin-secreting HIT cell line, we expressed MINPP1 in the cytosol to artificially reduce the concentration of these higher inositol phosphates. Undocumented at the time, we noted cytosolic MINPP1 expression reduced cell growth. We were struck by the similarities in substrate preference between a number of different enzymes that are able to metabolize both inositol phosphates and lipids, notably IPMK and PTEN. MINPP1 was first characterized as a phosphatase that could remove the 3-phosphate from inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4). This molecule shares strong structural homology with the major product of the growth-promoting Phosphatidyl 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) and PTEN can degrade both this lipid and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Because of this similar substrate preference, we postulated that the cytosolic version of MINPP1 (cyt-MINPP1) may not only attack inositol polyphosphates but also PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, a key signal in mitogenesis. Our experiments show that expression of cyt-MINPP1 in HIT cells lowers the concentration of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. We conclude this reflects a direct effect of MINPP1 upon the lipid because cyt-MINPP1 actively dephosphorylates synthetic, di(C4:0)PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 in vitro. These data illustrate the importance of MINPP1's confinement to the ER whereby important aspects of inositol phosphate metabolism and inositol lipid signaling can be separately regulated and give one important clarification for MINPP1's ER seclusion.


Subject(s)
Inositol Phosphates , Signal Transduction , Animals , Inositol Phosphates/metabolism , Phosphatidylinositols , Kinetics , Mammals/metabolism
18.
Epidemics ; 44: 100697, 2023 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37348378

ABSTRACT

Ivermectin (IVM)-treated birds provide the potential for targeted control of Culex mosquitoes to reduce West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Ingestion of IVM increases mosquito mortality, which could reduce WNV transmission from birds to humans and in enzootic maintenance cycles affecting predominantly bird-feeding mosquitoes and from birds to humans. This strategy might also provide an alternative method for WNV control that is less hampered by insecticide resistance and the logistics of large-scale pesticide applications. Through a combination of field studies and modeling, we assessed the feasibility and impact of deploying IVM-treated birdfeed in residential neighborhoods to reduce WNV transmission. We first tracked 105 birds using radio telemetry and radio frequency identification to monitor their feeder usage and locations of nocturnal roosts in relation to five feeder sites in a neighborhood in Fort Collins, Colorado. Using these results, we then modified a compartmental model of WNV transmission to account for the impact of IVM on mosquito mortality and spatial movement of birds and mosquitoes on the neighborhood level. We found that, while the number of treated lots in a neighborhood strongly influenced the total transmission potential, the arrangement of treated lots in a neighborhood had little effect. Increasing the proportion of treated birds, regardless of the WNV competency status, resulted in a larger reduction in infection dynamics than only treating competent birds. Taken together, model results indicate that deployment of IVM-treated feeders could reduce local transmission throughout the WNV season, including reducing the enzootic transmission prior to the onset of human infections, with high spatial coverage and rates of IVM-induced mortality in mosquitoes. To improve predictions, more work is needed to refine estimates of daily mosquito movement in urban areas and rates of IVM-induced mortality. Our results can guide future field trials of this control strategy.


Subject(s)
Culex , Culicidae , West Nile Fever , West Nile virus , Animals , Humans , West Nile Fever/prevention & control , West Nile Fever/veterinary , Ivermectin/pharmacology , Ivermectin/therapeutic use , Birds
19.
JAMA Netw Open ; 6(5): e2312824, 2023 05 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37166798

ABSTRACT

Importance: Patients with recurrent or unresectable skin cancers have limited treatment options. Diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT), a novel solid tumor management strategy using alpha-particle interstitial brachytherapy, may address this challenge. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of using DaRT to manage recurrent or unresectable skin cancers. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study of patients who received a 2-week to 3-week treatment course and were followed up for 24 weeks after treatment during 2021 and 2022 at 2 sites in the US. Patients with malignant skin tumors or soft tissue tumors were recruited if they had limited treatment options for tumors recurrent after prior surgery or external beam radiotherapy or unresectable tumors. Intervention: Patients underwent DaRT to deliver a physical dose of 10 Gy (equivalent weighted dose of 200 CGE) to the tumor. Main Outcomes and Measures: Feasibility of the DaRT procedure was evaluated based on the ability of investigators to successfully deliver radiation to the tumor. Patients were followed up for adverse events (AEs) for 24 weeks and for tumor response by physicians' physical examination and imaging 12 weeks after device removal. Results: This study included 10 participants with recurrent or unresectable skin cancer (median [IQR] age, 72 [68-75] years; 6 males [60%]; 4 females [40%]). Six patients (60%) had recurrent disease, and 4 (40%) had tumors that were deemed unresectable. Tumors were located on the nose, chin, eyelid, scalp, neck, trunk, and extremities. Median (range) tumor volume before treatment was 2.1 cm3 (0.65-12.65 cm3). The mean (SD) prescription dose coverage of the gross tumor volume was 91% (2.8%) with all tumors having coverage of 85% or more. No device-related grade 3 AEs were noted. Common AEs were grade 1 to 2 erythema, edema, and pruritus. At 12 weeks following treatment, there was a 100% complete response rate. Nine of 10 complete responses (90%) were confirmed by CT imaging. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study suggests the feasibility and preliminary safety of DaRT in the management of recurrent or unresectable skin cancers. The favorable safety profile and high response rates are promising. A US trial for marketing approval based on this pilot study is under way. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04377360.


Subject(s)
Brachytherapy , Skin Neoplasms , Male , Female , Humans , Aged , Brachytherapy/adverse effects , Cohort Studies , Prospective Studies , Pilot Projects , Feasibility Studies , Skin Neoplasms/radiotherapy
20.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys ; 115(4): 820, 2023 03 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36822784

Subject(s)
Nitric Oxide , Nose , Humans
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