Bmc Med
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Multicenter Study
Prospective validation study: a non-invasive circulating tumor DNA-based assay for simultaneous early detection of multiple cancers in asymptomatic adults.
Non-invasive multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests have shown promise in enhancing early cancer detection. However, their clinical utility across diverse populations remains underexplored, limiting their routine implementation. This study aims to validate the clinical utility of a multimodal non-invasive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based MCED test, SPOT-MAS (Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by DNA Methylation And Size). ⋯ This study presents a prospective validation of a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test conducted in a lower middle-income country, demonstrating the potential of SPOT-MAS for early cancer detection. Our findings indicate that MCED tests could be valuable additions to national cancer screening programs, particularly in regions where such initiatives are currently limited.
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Women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs; gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (PE), gestational diabetes (GD), preterm birth (PTB), small or large for gestational age, miscarriage, multiple miscarriages, stillbirth, and offspring with major congenital anomalies) have increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to compare cardiometabolic health trajectories across the life course between women with and without APOs. ⋯ Women with APOs had adverse cardiometabolic profiles before first pregnancy, persisting up to 15 years post-pregnancy. Findings highlight the potential for targeted public health interventions to promote good cardiometabolic health in young adults transitioning from contraceptive use to planning pregnancies. APOs may identify young women who could benefit from monitoring CVD risk factors and interventions to improve cardiometabolic health.
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Cryoablation plays a key role in the comprehensive management of lung adenocarcinoma, characterized by its ability to activate antitumor immunity. This study aimed to explore the impact of cryoablation on the local immune microenvironment, focusing on regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the TGF-β pathway. ⋯ This study revealed the effective modification of the lung adenocarcinoma microenvironment by cryoablation through the suppression of Tregs and activation of antitumor immunity via the TGF-β pathway. These findings hold implications for optimizing cryoablation-based therapies and guiding future clinical trials on lung adenocarcinoma treatment.
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In parts of Africa, women who become widowed lose housing, bank accounts, and other property and must re-marry to avoid extreme poverty. To re-marry, some women are required to undergo widow "cleansing"-condomless sex with a man who removes "impurities" ascribed to her from her husband's death-and are "inherited" as a wife of a brother-in-law. This study explores how HIV biomedical and structural interventions could reduce HIV-related harms associated with these practices. ⋯ Widowed women are a vulnerable population with extremely high HIV prevalence. Combined biomedical and structural interventions focused on the practice of widow cleansing and wife inheritance have the potential to avert up to one-quarter of HIV infections among widowed women, and a smaller proportion among men participating in these practices.
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A disco matanga, or "disco funeral," is a celebration of a decedent's life that is culturally important in parts Africa, often involving overnight travel and alcohol consumption. These are known risk factors for HIV, which is prevalent in many areas where disco matanga is practiced. However, the contribution of disco matanga to HIV transmission is not well-understood. We used agent-based network modeling to estimate how disco matanga impacted HIV transmission, and to explore the impact of relevant biomedical, biobehavioral, and structural interventions to reduce HIV risk. ⋯ We conducted the first modeling study, to our knowledge, simulating the interactions between disco matanga, HIV/AIDS, and intervention options. We found that biomedical, biobehavioral, or structural interventions implemented during disco matanga could substantially reduce HIV transmission and mortality in the Nyanza region. Research is needed to understand the feasibility and acceptability of HIV interventions tailored to local cultural practices.