The Role of Incarceration and Reentry on Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Formerly Incarcerated Black and Hispanic-Latino Men in New York City

In the USA, the rate of incarceration has steadily increased from 1980 to 2010, a period called mass incarceration. Incarcerated individuals are now leaving the jail system in large numbers, the majority of whom are returning to low-income and Black and Hispanic-Latino communities. Although highly preventable, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant risk for minority and underserved men over the age of 50. Black men have the highest CRC incidence and mortality rates, which can be prevented and treated effectively when detected early, especially via colonoscopy. Hispanic-Latino men have the third highest CRC incidence rates and the fourth highest mortality rates. This qualitative study seeks to examine how the experience of incarceration and reintegration affects the awareness of CRC screening practices, the attitudes towards these services, the availability of services, and the frequency of CRC screening among the recently released Black and Hispanic-Latino men over the age of 50 in New York City.

Pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, reduces nicotine craving in humans, with marginal effects on abuse potential

Possibly through their actions upon glia, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists (PPAR) have been shown to alter the abuse potential of addictive drugs in several preclinical models. The current study extends this research into the human laboratory as the first clinical study into the effects of the PPAR gamma agonist, pioglitazone, on the abuse potential of nicotine. Heavy smokers were recruited for this 3-week study. Upon admission, participants were randomized to either active (45mg, n=14) or placebo (0mg, n=13) PIO maintenance conditions for the duration of the study. After 5-7days of stabilization on a 7mg nicotine patch, participants began laboratory testing. On the 1st-4th test days, participants could self-administer cigarettes or receive money by making verbal choices for either option. On the 5th day, participants were administered 10 puffs of their usual brand of cigarette in the morning and later chose between smoking and money by making finger presses on a computer mouse in a progressive ratio self-administration task. Later on the 5th day participants also underwent a smoking cue exposure session. The 8th-11th test days were identical to the 1st-4th test days with the exception that during one of the test weeks de-nicotinized cigarettes were available, and during the other nicotinized cigarettes were available. Nicotinized cigarettes were always administered on the 5th and 12th days. On some measures PIO increased indicators of abuse potential, though this effect was typically not statistically significant. However, PIO did significantly reduce measures of craving.

Abuse liability of intravenous buprenorphine vs. buprenorphine/naloxone: Importance of absolute naloxone amount

BACKGROUND

This study sought to determine the relative importance of a range of Bup/Nx doses compared to Bup alone in producing subjective and reinforcing effects.

METHODS

Heroin-using volunteers (n=13) were transitioned onto daily oral hydromorphone (40mg). Laboratory sessions assessed the reinforcing and subjective effects of intravenous (IV) doses of Bup (1.51, 2.16, 6.15, and 8.64mg) and Bup/Nx (1.51/0.44, 2.16/0.61, 6.15/1.71, and 8.64/2.44mg). Placebo (Pbo), heroin (25mg) and Nx (0.3mg) were tested as neutral, positive, and negative controls, respectively.

RESULTS

IV Bup alone was self-administered substantially less than IV heroin, though the two largest doses of Bup produced positive subjective effects, drug "Liking" (0-100mm), which were comparable to heroin (mean difference: Heroin vs Bup 6.15mg: -3.4mm, Heroin vs Bup 8.64mg: -11.3mm). All indicators of abuse potential seen with IV Bup alone were substantially decreased with the addition of Nx. All Bup/Nx combinations produced ratings of aversive effects, "Bad", which were comparable to, or greater than IV, Nx. On three of the four measures of aversive effects, the largest difference is seen with the 8.64 vs 8.64/2.44 condition.

CONCLUSIONS

This study further demonstrates the ability of the Bup/Nx combination to deter IV use. Although none of the Bup/Nx combinations showed indications of abuse potential, formulations with larger absolute Nx, may be less abusable as they precipitate a greater degree of withdrawal.

[Neuroplasticity: synaptogenesis during normal development and its implication in intellectual disability]

Neuroplasticity is the biological capacity of the nervous system to modify its structure and functioning to adapt to both physiological and pathological variations in the environment. Its main physiological consequences are learning and memory, and its pathological outcome is neurological rehabilitation. The continuous change and initial fragility of the developing brain make the embryonic and foetal periods especially plastic (what is known as developmental neuroplasticity). The progressive reduction in plasticity, however, is never complete and the capacity to modify the brain circuits in response to new learning (adaptive neuroplasticity) or brain injuries (reactive neuroplasticity) remains throughout the individual's entire lifespan. The main neurobiological mechanism underlying neuroplasticity is the formation of synaptic contacts between neurons. Neurodevelopmental disorders are associated to functional anomalies of the brain, often derived from the lack of adaptive or reactive capacity of the brain to modify circuits that are malformed or damaged by genetic or environmental anomalies. They are traditionally associated with the appearance of intellectual disability and mental illnesses. This review deals with the development of the neuroplasticity of the brain and its neurobiological mechanisms. Some of the cellular and molecular processes involved in its normal development are also examined, together with the possible consequences deriving from alterations affecting them.

Synthesis of 4-aryl-1,2,3-triazolyl appended natural coumarin-related compounds with antiproliferative and radical scavenging activities and intracellular ROS production modification

Diverse natural coumarin-based compounds linked to aryl via a 1,2,3-triazole spacer with antiproliferative activity against K562 cells, radical scavenging activity and a decrease of ROS production were provided.

[Brain development and plasticity]

Neurodevelopmental disorders are associated to functional anomalies of the brain that become manifest early on in life. Traditionally, they have been related almost exclusively to the appearance of intellectual disability and delayed psychomotor development. The causes of these disorders have been partially described, and include anomalies due to genetic causes (Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, etc.), exposure to toxic factors during pregnancy (foetal alcohol syndrome), infections (cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, etc.) or other alterations, including a status of great immaturity at birth (very preterm). Epidemiological data based on a better knowledge of the diseases affecting the central nervous system suggest that some mental disorders, which appear in adolescence or early adulthood, also have their origin in anomalies in brain development. This review aims to offer an overview of brain development. Some of the cellular and molecular processes that may account for the similarities and differences in the phenotypes that generate alterations affecting normal development are also analysed. The study is conducted with a view to clearly identifying processes that are susceptible to modification by means of therapeutic intervention consisting in an early care programme.

[Endobronchial ultrasound in the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma]

The diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma relies mostly on the pathological examination of pleural samples, validated by a panel of experts and generally obtained during medical or surgical thoracoscopy performed for the management of an exudative pleural effusion. In the absence of pleural effusion (dry-type mesothelioma), the diagnostic approach depends on the features of the lesions (pleural thickness, nodules and/or masses) and their pleural location. Ultrasound and CT-guided needle aspiration represent recognized alternative diagnostic techniques in these situations. We present the case of a patient, presenting a dry-type mesothelioma, whose diagnosis was obtained by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided needle aspiration of a pleural mediastinal mass and confirmed by a CT-guided needle aspiration of another pleural mass in close contact with the chest wall. The samples have been compared and show quantitative and qualitative similarities. EBUS represents a minimally invasive alternative diagnostic technique for dry-type mesothelioma, showing thickness of the mediastinal pleura in contact with a central airway or when thoracoscopy, which remains the "gold standard" diagnostic approach, is not feasible.

[Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis due to Parsonage-Turner syndrome]

We report the case of a 49-years-old patient who presented to the accident and emergency department with sudden onset dyspnea associated with acute shoulder pain. He was breathless at rest with supine hypoxemia. He had an amyotrophic left shoulder with localized paresis of the shoulder. Both hemi-diaphragms were elevated on chest X-rays. Pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive pattern and both phrenic nerve conduction velocities were decreased. At night, alveolar hypoventilation was evidenced by elevated mean capnography (PtcCO2: 57mmHg). Neuralgic amyotrophy, Parsonage-Turner syndrome was the final diagnosis. This syndrome is a brachial plexus neuritis with a predilection for the suprascapular and axillary nerves. Phrenic nerve involvement is rare but where present can be the most prominent clinical feature as in our case report.

HPV-negative carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a distinct type of cervical cancer with poor prognosis

OBJECTIVE

Using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, we reanalysed all cervical carcinomas (CCs) found to be human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) to determine the prevalence of true HPV-negativity. We also evaluated the characteristics of the patients with tumours with confirmed HPV-negativity.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Barcelona, Spain.

POPULATION

A cohort of 136 women with CC (32 adenocarcinomas, 104 squamous cell carcinomas) who had pre-treatment HC2 testing.

METHODS

All negative cases were reanalysed and genotyped for HPV using three PCR assays (SPF10, GP5+/6+ and E7-specific assay).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Percentage of confirmed HPV-negative and HPV-positive tumours. Clinicopathological features and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of both groups.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 136 women (10.2%) were negative for HPV by HC2. After reanalysis by PCR-based techniques only 8/136 (5.8%) tumours were confirmed as HPV-negative, whereas in six cases different HPVs were identified [HPV-11, -16 (two tumours), -18, -45, and -68]. Confirmed HPV-negativity was more frequent in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas (5/32, 15.6% versus 3/104, 2.9%, respectively; P = 0.017). Patients with CCs with confirmed HPV-negativity had significantly worse DFS than women with HPV-positive tumours [51.9 months (95% CI 12.2-91.7 months) versus 109.9 months (95% CI 98.2-121.5 months); P = 0.010]. In the multivariate analysis HPV-negativity and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging were associated with increased risk of progression and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

An HC2-negative result is an uncommon finding in women with CC, but in almost half of these cases HPVs are identified by more sensitive techniques. CCs with confirmed HPV-negativity are more frequently adenocarcinomas, and seem to be associated with worse DFS.