Decipher correlation patterns post prostatectomy: initial experience from 2 342 prospective patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are multiple commercially available RNA-based biomarkers that are Medicare approved and suggested for use by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. There is uncertainty as to which patients benefit from genomic testing and for whom these tests should be ordered. Here, we examined the correlation patterns of Decipher assay to understand the relationship between the Decipher and patient tumor characteristics. METHODS: De-identified Decipher test results (including Decipher risk scores and clinicopathologic data) from 2 342 consecutive radical prostatectomy (RP) patients tested between January and September 2015 were analyzed. For clinical testing, tumor specimen from the highest Gleason grade was sampled using a 1.5 mm tissue punch. Decipher scores were calculated based on a previously locked model. Correlations between Decipher score and clinicopathologic variables were computed using Spearman's rank correlation. Mixed-effect linear models were used to study the association of practice type and Decipher score. The significance level was 0.05 for all tests. RESULTS: Decipher score had a positive correlation with pathologic Gleason score (PGS; r=0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.41), pathologic T-stage (r=0.31, 95% CI 0.28-0.35), CAPRA-S (r=0.32, 95% CI 0.28-0.37) and patient age (r=0.09, 95% CI 0.05-0.13). Decipher reclassified 52%, 76% and 40% of patients in CAPRA-S low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, respectively. We detected a 28% incidence of high-risk disease through the Decipher score in pT2 patients and 7% low risk in pT3b/pT4, PGS 8-10 patients. There was no significant difference in the Decipher score between patients from community centers and those from academic centers (P=0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Although Decipher correlated with baseline tumor characteristics for over 2 000 patients, there was significant reclassification of tumor aggressiveness as compared to clinical parameters alone. Utilization of the Decipher genomic classifier can have major implications in assessment of postoperative risk that may impact physician-patient decision making and ultimately patient management.

Mapping and serodiagnostic application of a dominant epitope within the human herpesvirus 8 ORF 65-encoded protein.

A dominant epitope within the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) ORF 65-encoded protein was mapped to an 8-amino-acid (aa) sequence (RKPPSGKK [aa 162 to 169]) by an amino acid replacement method. Using a 14-aa peptide (P4) encompassing this epitope as the antigen, we developed an enzyme immunoassay for HHV8 antibodies. The presence of P4 antibodies in a panel of 61 human serum specimens was highly correlated with biopsy-confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma. The homologous Epstein-Barr virus peptide derived from BFBR3-encoded protein did not interfere with the assay, suggesting that P4 is specific for HHV8.

Dietary calcium intake in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Dietary calcium intake has been shown to vary both between and within populations. The aim of this study was to compare two methods of assessment of dietary calcium in the local population of postmenopausal Chinese women. The intake was measured using 24h dietary recall as well as a food frequency questionnaire. There was a high correlation in the measurement of calcium intake between these methods. The mean daily intake in postmenopausal women not taking calcium supplementation was 397.6 mg assessed using 24 h recall, and 390.9 mg according to the food frequency questionnaire. There was no evidence of a difference in the reproducibility of the results given by the two methods. The dietary intake of calcium in postmenopausal Chinese women is below the recommended daily allowance for adult females in East Asia, and coupled with other factors may predispose to the development of osteoporotic fractures.

Semisynthetic cephalosporins. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 7-sulfonylacetamido-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acids.

The synthesis and in vitro and in vivo activities of a series of 7-sulfonylacetamido-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acids with acetoxymethyl or heterocyclic thiomethyl substituents at the 3 position are described. Lengthening the alkyl chain attached to the sulfonyl group increased gram-positive activity but the effect on gram-negative activity was variable. Other structural changes on the 7-acyl side chain resulted in only minor changes in vitro activity. the protective effectiveness in infected mice generally paralleled the in vitro activity, except that the butylsulfonyl derivatives were less protective than predicted by in vitro activity. replacement of the 3-acetoxymethyl by a 3-heterocyclic thiomethyl group resulted in an overall improvement of activity both in vitro and in vivo.