At the intersection of criminal justice involvement and sexual orientation: Dynamic networks and health among a population-based sample of young Black men who have sex with men.

Mass incarceration of young Black men has a significant impact on their network composition and stability that, in turn, may have major implications for health and well-being. A sub-group of young Black men with criminal justice involvement (CJI) identify as gay, bisexual or are non-identified men who have sex with men (hereafter MSM). This paper focuses on the potential effects of CJI on the composition of Black MSM social and sexual networks, their stability over time, and concomitant health and social outcomes. We use data from the UConnect study, a population-based cohort of young Black MSM 16-29 years of age (n=618) selected using respondent-driven sampling in Chicago from 2013-2016. Both confidant and sexual network name generators and interpreters were administered at 9-month intervals over three waves of data collection. Ego and dyadic-level data were collected on behaviors prevalent among MSM and including factors associated with network CJI, network stability, and health outcomes. Generalized Structural Equation Models (GSEM) were utilized to determine the relationship between CJI network composition, network stability and behaviors prevalent among young Black MSM and their networks. In the UConnect cohort, 46% had at least once been detained, arrested or spent time in jail or prison. In addition, 20% of participants reported incident CJI over the study period. Respondents with a history of CJI were significantly more likely to have CJI homophily in their confidant and sexual networks. Multivariate analyses demonstrate that the association between one's history of CJI, housing instability and drug use is partially explained by one's network CJI. In addition, a higher prevalence of network CJI is associated with increased turnover in the confidant network, and this network instability is also related to important health and social outcomes. This analysis describes the networks of criminal justice involved men among a representative sample of young Black MSM and demonstrates the relationship between CJI network homophily, network stability and their impact on several key health and social outcomes relevant to this population.

Spectral graph analysis of modularity and assortativity.

Expressions and bounds for Newman's modularity are presented. These results reveal conditions for or properties of the maximum modularity of a network. The influence of the spectrum of the modularity matrix on the maximum modularity is discussed. The second part of the paper investigates how the maximum modularity, the number of clusters, and the hop count of the shortest paths vary when the assortativity of the graph is changed via degree-preserving rewiring. Via simulations, we show that the maximum modularity increases, the number of clusters decreases, and the average hop count and the effective graph resistance increase with increasing assortativity.

Phase I Trial of ISIS 5132, an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of c-raf-1, administered by 24-hour weekly infusion to patients with advanced cancer.

Raf-1 is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as a critical effector of Ras-mediated signal transduction via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Constitutive activation of this pathway directly contributes to malignant transformation in many human tumors. A 20-base phosphorothioate oligonucleotide complementary to c-raf-1 mRNA (ISIS 5132; CGP 69846A) has been shown to specifically suppress Raf-1 expression both in vitro and in vivo. This Phase I trial, involving 22 patients with advanced cancer, was designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and maximum tolerated dose of ISIS 5132 administration as a weekly 24-h i.v. infusion. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed, and c-raf-1 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. This trial defined a maximum tolerated dose of 24 mg/kg/week on this schedule. Two of four patients treated at 30 mg/kg/week had serious adverse events after the first dose of ISIS 5132, including acute hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure and anasarca. There were no major responses documented. Dose-dependent complement activation was demonstrated on this schedule, but not on previously evaluated schedules, of ISIS 5132 administration. In contrast to other trials of ISIS 5132, there appeared to be no consistent suppression of peripheral blood mononuclear cell c-raf-1 mRNA level on this schedule at any of the dose levels analyzed. These data suggest that the efficacy and toxicity profiles of antisense oligonucleotides may be highly dependent on the schedule of administration and support the analysis of the putative molecular target in the evaluation of novel therapeutics.

Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among clinic-based African American families with breast cancer.

To define the prevalence and relative contributions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among African American families with breast cancer, we analyzed 28 DNA samples from patients identified through two oncology clinics. The entire coding regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 were screened by protein truncation test, heteroduplex analysis, or single-stranded conformation polymorphism followed by DNA sequencing of variant bands. Deleterious protein-truncating BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were identified in five patients or 18% of the entire cohort. Only 8% (1 of 13) of women with a family history of breast cancer, but no ovarian cancer, had mutations. The mutation rates were higher for women from families with a history of breast cancer and at least one ovarian cancer (three of six, 50%). One woman with a family history of undocumented cancers was also found to carry a deleterious mutation in BRCA2. The spectrum of mutations was unique in that one novel BRCA1 mutation (1625del5) and three novel BRCA2 mutations (1536del4, 6696delTC, and 7795delCT) were identified. No recurrent mutations were identified in this cohort, although one BRCA2 (2816insA) mutation had been previously reported. In addition, two BRCA1 and four BRCA2 missense mutations of unknown significance were identified, one of which was novel. Taken together with our previous report on recurrent mutations seen in unrelated families, we conclude that African Americans have a unique mutation spectrum in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, but recurrent mutations are likely to be more widely dispersed and therefore not readily identifiable in this population.

Quality of life and performance in advanced head and neck cancer patients on concomitant chemoradiotherapy: a prospective examination.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate performance and quality of life (QOL) in advanced-stage head and neck cancer (HNC) patients on a curative-intent, concomitant-chemoradiotherapy (CT/XRT) (twice-daily radiation, fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, and cisplatin) regimen aimed at improving locoregional control, survival, and QOL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients were assessed before, during, and at 3-month intervals after treatment. Standardized measures of QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck), performance (Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients and Karnofsky Performance Status Rating Scale), and patient-reported symptoms (McMaster University Head and Neck Radiotherapy Questionnaire) were administered. RESULTS: Acute treatment toxicities were severe, with declines in virtually all QOL and functional domains. Marked improvement was seen by 12 months; general functional and physical measures returned to baseline levels of good to excellent. Although up to a third of the patients continued to report problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and mouth pain, these difficulties were present in similar magnitudes before treatment. The following symptoms were more frequent at 12 months: dry mouth (58% v 17%), difficulties tasting (32% v 8%), and soft food diet (82% v 42%). Twelve-month diet was not related to pretreatment functioning, disease, treatment, or patient characteristics. Twelve-month QOL was best predicted by pretreatment QOL, with very little relationship to residual side effects or functional impairments. Small numbers of patients in four of the five disease sites precluded examination of outcome by site. CONCLUSION: These data support the feasibility of intense CT/XRT as primary treatment for advanced HNC. Results confirm acute toxicity but indicate that many of the treatment-related performance and QOL declines resolve by 12 months. The persistent inability to eat a full range of foods warrants further attention and monitoring.

Thallium-201 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

6 patients were studied by 201Tl scintigraphy; 1 of them suffered from a benign, and another from a malignant adrenal pheochromocytoma. 1 patient had a hormonal inactive adrenal tumor, 3 others multiple organ metastases of malignant pheochromocytomas. At the same time, 3 of the patients were studied by 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Using different techniques like kinetic studies, whole-body scan or a 201Tl-99m-Tc difference scan, benign and malignant pheochromocytoma tissues could be localized by 201Tl scintigraphy. Benign and malignant pheochromocytomas showed different kinetics of 201Tl. In 2 patients with multiple organ metastases of malignant pheochromocytomas, the metastases were partly imaged by 131I-MIBG, the others by 201Tl.

[Conservative treatment of hyperthyroidism (author's transl)]. / Konservative Therapie der Hyperthyreose. Retrospektive Studie.

Antithyroid medication was given to 158 patients with hyperthyroidism over a period of 3 to 60 months. After cessation of therapy patients were followed up for 18 to 90 months. Permanent euthyroidism was seen in 70 patients (44.3%) after stopping treatment, however, 88 patients (55.7%) showed recurrence of hyperthyroidism occurring 1 to 56 months after ceasing treatment. In more than 50% recurrence of hyperthyroidism was within the first 3 months and in almost 80% within the first year after end of treatment. There was no connection either between the length of thyrostatic treatment and the recurrence rate or between the length of treatment and recurrence time. Comparison of patients with and without recurrence according to various parameters prior, during and after thyrostatic treatment indicates that there is a high risk of recurrence in patients with 1) nodular and (or) large goitres, 2) marked clinical symptomatology and delayed attainment of a euthyroid state after starting conservative treatment, and 3) the symptom of sweating remaining uninfluenced by antithyroid treatment.