Introduction HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition. However, studies have demonstrated discordance between self-reported measures and biomedical benchmarks of PrEP adherence. We estimated the correlation between self-reported PrEP adherence and PrEP biomarkers and explored factors associated with adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Nigeria. Methods TRUST-PrEP, an open-label, prospective study; conducted in Abuja between April 2018 and May 2019. MSM ≥ 18 years with substantial HIV risk were enrolled. Participants reported PrEP adherence in the last month using a 4-point scale from “poor” to “perfect” and serum samples for PrEP biomarkers were collected at months 3 and 9. Serum tenofovir concentration was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and considered protective for adherence if ≥ 4.2 ng/ml. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to estimate correlation between self-reported adherence and measured tenofovir levels. Generalized estimating equations with a logit link was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between self-reported adherence and laboratory-measured adherence. Results A total of 219 MSM with median age 23 (interquartile range 20–27) years had at least one PrEP biomarker assay. Only 66/219 (30%) had at least one record of protective tenofovir concentration. Correlation between tenofovir and self-reported adherence at 3 and 9 months were 0.1 and 0.02 respectively. Furthermore, 17/219 (8%,) and 49/219 (22%) had serum tenofovir of 4.2–35.4 ng/mL and ≥ 35.5 ng/mL, corresponding to at least 4 and 7 days’ PrEP use in a week, respectively. PrEP adherence was higher among participants introduced to PrEP in the clinics compared with communities (aOR: 8.35, 95%CI: [3.24, 21.5]) and those with same-sex practices family disclosure (aOR: 3.60 95% CI: [1.73, 7.51]). Conclusion Self-reported PrEP adherence poorly correlated with biomarkers. Facilitating clinic-based PrEP introduction and disclosure of same-sex practices to family among MSM may improve PrEP adherence.
// Qixin Leng 1, * , Yanli Lin 1, * , Min Zhan 2 and Feng Jiang 1 1 Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA 2 Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Feng Jiang, email: fjiang@som.umaryland.edu Keywords: diagnosis; early stage; lung cancer; plasma; biomarkers Received: March 24, 2018 Accepted: April 07, 2018 Published: May 15, 2018 ABSTRACT We previously developed three microRNAs (miRs-21, 210, and 486-5p), two long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) (SNHG1 and RMRP), and two fucosyltransferase (FUT) genes (FUT8 and POFUT1) as potential plasma biomarkers for lung cancer. However, the diagnostic performance of the individual panels is not sufficient to be used in the clinics. Given the heterogeneity of lung tumors developed from multifactorial molecular aberrations, we determine whether integrating the different classes of molecular biomarkers can improve diagnosis of lung cancer. By using droplet digital PCR, we analyze expression of the seven genes in plasma of a development cohort of 64 lung cancer patients and 33 cancer-free individuals. The panels of three miRNAs (miRs-21, 210, and 486-5p), two lncRNAs (SNHG1 and RMRP), and two FUTs (FUT8 and POFUT1) have a sensitivity of 81-86% and a specificity of 84-87% for diagnosis of lung cancer. From the seven genes, an integromic plasma signature comprising miR-210, SNHG1, and FUT8 is developed that produces higher sensitivity (95.45%) and specificity (96.97%) compared with the individual biomarker panels (all p<0.05). The diagnostic value of the signature was confirmed in a validation cohort of 40 lung cancer patients and 29 controls, independent of stage and histological type of lung tumor, and patients' age, sex, and smoking status (all p>0.05). The integration of the different categories of biomarkers might improve diagnosis of lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80 to 85 % of all lung cancer. Although the standard treatment regimen has been established, long-term survival for NSCLC patients is still generally poor. The histone demethylase Jumonji domain containing 1A (JMJD1A) has been proposed as an oncogene in several types of human cancer, but its clinical significance and functional roles in NSCLC remain largely unclear. In the present study, JMJD1A was frequently upregulated in NSCLC compared with para-carcinoma tissues. JMJD1A knockdown significantly inhibited NSCLC cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Further experiments demonstrated that JMJD1A knockdown could decrease the expression of EZH2, which has been shown to play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC and, in turn, increase the expression of anti-tumor microRNA let-7c. Also, let-7c directly targeted the 3'-untranslated regions of JMJD1A and EZH2. Taken together, JMJD1A could promote NSCLC tumorigenesis. JMJD1A/EZH2/let-7c constituted a feedback loop and might represent a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is a traditional Chinese medicine to treat the syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis. Platelets play an important role in regulating thrombus and inflammation after ischemic injury, studies have shown that BYHWD regulate myocardial fibrosis and exert anti-inflammatory effects through IL-17 and TLR4 pathways, but the mechanism of platelet activation by BYHWD in stable coronary heart disease is still unknown. In the present study, model of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation was applied to investigate the mechanisms of BYHWD on modulating platelets hyperreactivity and heart function after fibrosis of ischemic myocardial infarction (MI).
C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is predictive of coronary heart disease (CHD) events. However, the extent to which high CRP levels (>3 mg/L) may be attributable to high cholesterol levels and other CHD risk factors has not been well defined.
Methods
The prevalence of high CRP levels in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 15 341) was studied using CHD risk-factor cut points designated asabnormal(total cholesterol values, ≥240 mg/dL [≥6.22 mmol/L]; fasting blood glucose levels, ≥126 mg/dL [≥6.99 mmol/L]; blood pressure, ≥140/90 mm Hg; body mass index [BMI], ≥30 kg/m2; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values, <40 mg/dL [<1.04 mmol/L] for men and <50 mg/dL [<1.30 mmol/L] for women; triglyceride levels, ≥200 mg/dL [≥2.26 mmol/L]; current smoking status) orborderline(total cholesterol values, 200-239 mg/dL [5.18-6.19 mmol/L]; fasting blood glucose levels, 100-125 mg/dL [5.55-6.94 mmol/L]; blood pressure, 120-139/80-89 mm Hg; BMI, 25.0-29.9 kg/m2, and triglyceride values 150-199 mg/dL [1.70-2.25 mmol/L], former smoking status), ornormal.
Results
Weighted multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high CRP level was significantly more common with obesity (odds ratio [OR], 3.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.28-4.35]), overweight (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.62-2.18), and diabetes (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.54-2.38) and that high CRP level was rare in the absence of any borderline or abnormal CHD risk factor in men (4.4%) and women (10.3%). Overall, the risk of elevated CRP level attributable to the presence of any abnormal or borderline CHD risk factor was 78% in men and 67% women.
Conclusions
These data suggest that elevated CRP levels in the general population are in large measure attributable to traditional CHD risk factors. Moreover, CRP level elevation is rare in the absence of borderline or abnormal risk factors. As such, CRP measurements may have limited clinical utility as a screening tool beyond other known CHD risk factors.
Abstract Abstract #2006 Background: GP88 is an autocrine growth factor that plays a critical role in breast tumorigenesis. GP88 is expressed in human BC tumors in a positive correlation with their tumorigenicity. Increased GP88 expression is associated with resistance to anti-estrogen therapy in ER + cells and with herceptin resistance in Her-2 overexpressing breast tumors. Inhibition of GP88 expression in human breast adenocarcinoma inhibited tumor incidence and growth in nude mice. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that GP88 was expressed in invasive ductal carcinomas in correlation with the expression of poor prognosis markers whereas normal tissues and benign lesions were negative. High GP88 expression in tumor biopsies was accompanied by decreased disease-free survival. Since GP88 can be secreted, we have hypothesized that GP88 could be secreted in the circulation and found in serum. We examined whether GP88 could be found in the circulation and whether GP88 could be elevated in the sera of breast cancer patients when compared to healthy individuals.
 Methods: An IRB approved blood sampling study was conducted at the University of Maryland Breast Clinic to determine the serum level of GP88 in healthy volunteers (HV) and breast cancer patients (BC pts). Serum GP88 concentration was determined in triplicate by quantitative enzyme immunoassay. 189 BC pts were accrued. In addition, sera from 18 HV were obtained to establish a GP88 baseline in healthy volunteers. BC patient characteristics: Race: Caucasian- 91, African American-92, Asian-6; median age, 51 (range 29-86), stage I – 48, II - 52, III – 26, IV - 63.
 Results: Circulating GP88 was measurable in the serum. Median level of GP88 was 28.7 ng/ml (range 16.6-38.2) in HV; 40.7 ng/ml (range 6.4-100) in early stage (stage 1 –3) BC pts (p- value = 0.007) and 45.3 ng/ml (range 9.8 to 158.4) in stage 4 metastatic BC patients (p-value= 0.0007). Statistically significant increase in circulating GP88 level was found in early stages as well as in metastatic disease. Correlation studies with BC prognostic factors such as stage, tumor size, lymph node involvement, tumor grade and presence of ER and HER-2 will be presented.
 Conclusion: GP88 can be detected in the sera of HV and BC pts. Comparison between the two groups of subjects indicates that GP88 level is significantly higher in the sera of BC pts. These studies are important as they identify as a measurable circulating biomarker GP88 that is also a therapeutic target of malignant transformation or malignant progression of breast carcinoma (BC). Future studies will examine whether there is any correlation between the serum level of GP88 and therapeutic response to systemic therapy in breast cancer patients.
 This study was supported by grant from MIPS, the Avon Foundation and 1R43 CA 124179-01A1 from the National Institutes of Health. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 2006.
Background: In addition to lowering lipids, statins also may be beneficial for older adults sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), as statin use prior to and following trauma may decrease mortality following injury. However, despite statins’ potential to reduce mortality, there is limited research regarding statin use among older adults. Objective: To characterize and investigate factors associated with statin use among older adults with TBI. Methods: A retrospective drug utilization study was used to characterize statin use among Medicare beneficiaries 65 and older hospitalized with a TBI during 2006 to 2010 and with continuous Medicare Parts A, B, and D coverage 6 months prior and 12 months following TBI. Logistic regression was used to investigate the factors associated with statin use. The exposure of interest was statin use prior to and following TBI. Results: Of the 75 698 beneficiaries included in the study, 37 874 (~50%) of beneficiaries used a statin at least once during the study period. The most common statin used was simvastatin, while fluvastatin was the least used statin. Statin users were more likely to have cardiovascular diseases when compared to nonusers. Hyperlipidemia was a major factor associated with statin use and had the greatest impact on statin use compared to nonuse (odds ratio = 9.54; 95% confidence interval = 9.07, 10.03). Conclusions: This national sample of older adults with TBI suggests that statins are commonly used. Future studies must next examine the impact of statin use on mortality and secondary injury in order to shape pharmacological therapy guidelines following TBI.
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