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Li-Fraumeni Exploration Consortium Data Coordinating Center: Building an Interactive Web-Based Resource for Collaborative International Cancer Epidemiology Research for a Rare Condition

Background:

The success of multisite collaborative research relies on effective data collection, harmonization, and aggregation strategies. Data Coordination Centers (DCC) serve to facilitate the implementation of these strategies. The utility of a DCC can be particularly relevant for research on rare diseases where collaboration from multiple sites to amass large aggregate datasets is essential. However, approaches to building a DCC have been scarcely documented.

Methods:

The Li-Fraumeni Exploration (LiFE) Consortium's DCC was created using multiple open source packages, including LAM/G Application (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Grails), Extraction-Transformation-Loading (ETL) Pentaho Data Integration Tool, and the Saiku-Mondrian client. This document serves as a resource for building a rare disease DCC for multi-institutional collaborative research.

Results:

The primary scientific and technological objective to create an online central repository into which data from all participating sites could be deposited, harmonized, aggregated, disseminated, and analyzed was completed. The cohort now include 2,193 participants from six contributing sites, including 1,354 individuals from families with a pathogenic or likely variant in TP53. Data on cancer diagnoses are also available. Challenges and lessons learned are summarized.

Conclusions:

The methods leveraged mitigate challenges associated with successfully developing a DCC's technical infrastructure, data harmonization efforts, communications, and software development and applications.

Impact:

These methods can serve as a framework in establishing other collaborative research efforts. Data from the consortium will serve as a great resource for collaborative research to improve knowledge on, and the ability to care for, individuals and families with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.




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Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention




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Systemic Immune Response and Cancer Risk: Filling the Missing Piece of Immuno-Oncology

While immuno-oncology has made significant advances in activating local tumor immune responses, leading to improved outcomes, the role of systemic immunity in cancer incidence remains poorly understood. Le Cornet and colleagues prospectively studied circulating immune cells quantified by DNA methylation markers in relation to incidence of breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer among initially healthy individuals. A positive association with cancer risk was observed for higher FOXP3+ T-cell–mediated immune tolerance and lower CD8+ T-cell–mediated cytotoxicity. Further studies of systemic immunity in cancer development are crucial to identify novel prediction markers and interventional targets for cancer immunoprevention.See related article by Le Cornet et al., p. 1885




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[PERSPECTIVES] Toward Systems Pathology for PTEN Diagnostics

Germline alterations of the tumor suppressor PTEN have been extensively characterized in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes, encompassing subsets of Cowden syndrome, Bannayan–Riley–Ruvalcaba syndrome, Proteus and Proteus-like syndromes, as well as autism spectrum disorder. Studies have shown an increase in the risk of developing specific cancer types in the presence of a germline PTEN mutation. Furthermore, outside of the familial setting, somatic variants of PTEN occur in numerous malignancies. Here we introduce and discuss the prospect of moving toward a systems pathology approach for PTEN diagnostics, incorporating clinical and molecular pathology data with the goal of improving the clinical management of patients with a PTEN mutation. Detection of a germline PTEN mutation can inform cancer surveillance and in the case of somatic mutation, have value in predicting disease course. Given that PTEN functions in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, identification of a PTEN mutation may highlight new therapeutic opportunities and/or inform therapeutic choices.




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Is Histologic Thrombus Composition in Acute Stroke Linked to Stroke Etiology or to Interventional Parameters? [INTERVENTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Detailed insight into the composition of thrombi retrieved from patients with ischemic stroke by mechanical thrombectomy might improve pathophysiologic understanding and therapy. Thus, this study searched for links between histologic thrombus composition and stroke subtypes and mechanical thrombectomy results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Thrombi from 85 patients who had undergone mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke between December 2016 and March 2018 were studied retrospectively. Thrombi were examined histologically. Preinterventional imaging features, stroke subtypes, and interventional parameters were re-analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Spearman correlation as appropriate.

RESULTS:

Cardioembolic thrombi had a higher percentage of macrophages and a tendency toward more platelets than thrombi of large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis (P = .021 and .003) or the embolic stroke of undetermined source (P = .037 and .099) subtype. Thrombi prone to fragmentation required the combined use of contact aspiration and stent retrieval (P = .021) and were associated with an increased number of retrieving maneuvers (P = .001), longer procedural times (P = .001), and a higher lymphocyte content (P = .035).

CONCLUSIONS:

We interpreted the higher macrophage and platelet content in cardioembolic thrombi compared with large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis or embolic stroke of undetermined source thrombi as an indication that the latter type might be derived from an atherosclerotic plaque rather than from an undetermined cardiac source. The extent of thrombus fragmentation was associated with a more challenging mechanical thrombectomy and a higher lymphocyte content of the thrombi. Thus, thrombus fragmentation not only might be caused by the recanalization procedure but also might be a feature of a lymphocyte-rich, difficult-to-retrieve subgroup of thrombi.




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Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Radiologic Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Emergency Setting [INTERVENTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

The use of invasive cerebral angiography with CTA for active treatment of patients with suspected ischemic strokes has been increasing recently. This study aimed to identify the incidence of postcontrast acute kidney injury using baseline renal function when CTA and cerebral angiography were performed sequentially.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This retrospective observational study evaluated adults (18 years of age or older) with ischemic stroke who underwent CTA and cerebral angiography sequentially between 2010 and 2018. The incidence of postcontrast acute kidney injury was determined using the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate. The value of the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate at which the occurrence of postcontrast acute kidney injury increased was also determined.

RESULTS:

Postcontrast acute kidney injury occurred in 57/601 (9.5%) patients. Those with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate of <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 showed a higher incidence of acute kidney injury. Age, chronic kidney disease, medication (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, β blockers, statins, and insulin) use following contrast media exposure, and serum albumin affected the incidence of postcontrast acute kidney injury. The incidence of postcontrast acute kidney injury increased when the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was <43 mL/min/1.73 m2.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with low baseline renal function had the highest incidence of postcontrast acute kidney injury after CTA and cerebral angiography, but no fatal adverse effects were documented. Thus, patients suspected of having a stroke should be actively managed with respect to neurovascular function.




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Hippocampal Sclerosis Detection with NeuroQuant Compared with Neuroradiologists [FUNCTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

NeuroQuant is an FDA-approved software that performs automated MR imaging quantitative volumetric analysis. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of NeuroQuant analysis with visual MR imaging analysis by neuroradiologists with expertise in epilepsy in identifying hippocampal sclerosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We reviewed 144 adult patients who underwent presurgical evaluation for temporal lobe epilepsy. The reference standard for hippocampal sclerosis was defined by having hippocampal sclerosis on pathology (n = 61) or not having hippocampal sclerosis on pathology (n = 83). Sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were compared between NeuroQuant analysis and visual MR imaging analysis by using a McNemar paired test of proportions and the Bayes theorem.

RESULTS:

NeuroQuant analysis had a similar specificity to neuroradiologist visual MR imaging analysis (90.4% versus 91.6%; P = .99) but a lower sensitivity (69.0% versus 93.0%, P < .001). The positive predictive value of NeuroQuant analysis was comparable with visual MR imaging analysis (84.0% versus 89.1%), whereas the negative predictive value was not comparable (79.8% versus 95.0%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Visual MR imaging analysis by a neuroradiologist with expertise in epilepsy had a higher sensitivity than did NeuroQuant analysis, likely due to the inability of NeuroQuant to evaluate changes in hippocampal T2 signal or architecture. Given that there was no significant difference in specificity between NeuroQuant analysis and visual MR imaging analysis, NeuroQuant can be a valuable tool when the results are positive, particularly in centers that lack neuroradiologists with expertise in epilepsy, to help identify and refer candidates for temporal lobe epilepsy resection. In contrast, a negative test could justify a case referral for further evaluation to ensure that false-negatives are detected.




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Polymorphous Low-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor of the Young as a Partially Calcified Intra-Axial Mass in an Adult [RADIOLOGY-PATHOLOGY CORRELATION]

SUMMARY:

Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumors of the young (PLNTYs) are recently described CNS tumors. Classically, PLNTYs are epileptogenic and are a subtype of a heterogeneous group of low-grade neuroepithelial tumors that cause refractory epilepsy, such as angiocentric gliomas, oligodendrogliomas, gangliogliomas, and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas. Although they are a relatively new entity, a number of imaging and histologic characteristics of PLNTYs are already known. We present the imaging and pathologic findings of such a tumor as well as the surgical approach and clinical management.




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MR Thermometry in Cerebrovascular Disease: Physiologic Basis, Hemodynamic Dependence, and a New Frontier in Stroke Imaging [ADULT BRAIN]

SUMMARY:

The remarkable temperature sensitivity of the brain is widely recognized and has been studied for its role in the potentiation of ischemic and other neurologic injuries. Pyrexia frequently complicates large-vessel acute ischemic stroke and develops commonly in critically ill neurologic patients; the profound sensitivity of the brain even to minor intraischemic temperature changes, together with the discovery of brain-to-systemic as well as intracerebral temperature gradients, has thus compelled the exploration of cerebral thermoregulation and uncovered its immutable dependence on cerebral blood flow. A lack of pragmatic and noninvasive tools for spatially and temporally resolved brain thermometry has historically restricted empiric study of cerebral temperature homeostasis; however, MR thermometry (MRT) leveraging temperature-sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena is well-suited to bridging this long-standing gap. This review aims to introduce the reader to the following: 1) fundamental aspects of cerebral thermoregulation, 2) the physical basis of noninvasive MRT, and 3) the physiologic interdependence of cerebral temperature, perfusion, metabolism, and viability.




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Novel Coronavirus: What Neuroradiologists as Citizens of the World Need to Know [EDITORIALS]




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Authorship Trends in the American Journal of Neuroradiology [LETTERS]




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American Journal of Neuroradiology




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Project land for sale - KDC Gia Long Riverside - ecological peninsula

Gia Long Riverside: The area of security fences, 24/24 security cameras and 3 security latches, complete infrastructure and state lights. Location KDC is located on 3 sides of the ecological river, cool and quiet. Road width: 8m - 13m - 16m. How to Phu My Hung: 5 minutes by motor...




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Psychological Horror Game The Medium Announced for Xbox Series X and PC

Bloober Team has announced psychological horror game, The Medium, for Xbox Series X and Windows PC via Steam. It will launch this holiday season and be available on Xbox Game Pass.

"Every one of our games has a central theme that drives its creative and technological design," said Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno.

"In The Medium, we focus on perspective and perception. When you change your point of view, you discover that things are more complicated and nuanced than you initially thought. The Medium is our most ambitious game ever and we can’t wait to show you how we’re translating this vision into a psychological horror."

View the reveal trailer below:

Here is an overview of the game:

Become a medium living in two different worlds: the real one and the spirit one. Haunted by the vision of a child’s murder, you travel to an abandoned hotel resort, which many years ago became the stage of an unthinkable tragedy. There you begin your search for difficult answers.

As a medium with access to both worlds, you have a wider perspective and can see more clearly that there’s no one simple truth to what others perceive. Nothing is what it seems, everything has another side.

The Medium features a “dual” soundtrack by Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski and legendary composer Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/443420/psychological-horror-game-the-medium-announced-for-xbox-series-x-and-pc/




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Rumor: Mass Effect Trilogy HD Remaster to Launch by March 31, 2021

Electronic Arts in their fiscal year Q4 2020 results said they plan to release 14 titles in the 2021 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2021. Electronic Arts labeled one of the game as "an HD remake of an EA game."

VentureBeat is reporting this HD remake is an HD remaster of the Mass Effect Trilogy.

"We are planning to launch 14 new titles to players this fiscal year," said EA CEO Andrew Wilson. "hat includes four new EA Sports titles — FIFA, Madden, NHL, and one more unannounced sports game — all of which deliver on the mix of creativity, authenticity, and quality that sets EA Sports apart.

"Our FY21 plans also include four more games drawing on the breadth of our IP, from Command & Conquer Remastered to unannounced games for our console and PC players. We’ll have more games from indie developers launching this year through EA Partners, and two new mobile titles leveraging top IP that we’ll bring to players worldwide."

Read EA's full lineup for the 2021 fiscal year below:

  1. Burnout Paradise Remastered (Nintendo Switch)
  2. Command & Conquer Remastered (PC)
  3. Medal of Honor VR
  4. FIFA 21
  5. Madden NFL 21
  6. NHL 21
  7. Unannounced sports game
  8. An HD remake of an EA game
  9. EA Partner game
  10. EA Partner game
  11. EA Partner game
  12. EA Partner game
  13. EA Mobile game
  14. EA Mobile game

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/443409/rumor-mass-effect-trilogy-hd-remaster-to-launch-by-march-31-2021/




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The Doors of Eden review: A gripping alternative biology tech-thriller

Adrian Tchaikovsky's latest novel The Doors of Eden rewrites Earth's evolutionary history, with highlights including fish that upload their minds to supercomputers and cats that rule over primates




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Video game psychology: Are they addictive and can they harm us?

Psychologist Pete Etchells explores what the scientific research has to say about game violence and addiction and busts some myths




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Retro computers reveal three decades of technological evolution

In a new photography book, the home computer revolution of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s is told through nostalgic industrial-design images




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Telco You've Never Heard Of Is Flogging 103GB Data For $38 A Month With No Contract

Circles.Life is a little-known telco with a questionable name choice. But it also happens to have a real hectic SIM-only plan deal right now. For $38 a month you get a whopping 103GB data -- also per month. And you don't even need to sign a contract. More »
    




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A Scheme of Heaven reveals what scientists can learn from astrology

Astrology is bunk, but a new book exploring its ancient history argues that it has crucial lessons for today's data science with its seemingly opaque algorithms




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I'm a space archaeologist studying junk strewn across the solar system

From vintage satellites to lunar rovers, space archaeologist Alice Gorman is teasing out a unique history of humanity from the objects we've dispatched from Earth




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Blue Ocean Robotics Acquires Beam Telepresence Robot From Suitable Technologies

Beam now belongs to a Danish robot venture factory




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China Says Its Mars Landing Technology Is Ready for 2020

Spacecraft propulsion systems are ready for China’s daring touchdown attempt on the red planet




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The Blogger Behind "AI Weirdness" Thinks Today's AI Is Dumb and Dangerous

Janelle Shane talks about the absurdity, perils, and limits of AI



  • robotics
  • robotics/artificial-intelligence

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RPGCast – Episode 334: “Jem and the Holograms”

Today’s podcast is truly outrageous. Anna Marie, Alex, and Chris try to talk about some video game news. Unfortunately for our heroes, it seems that...




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RPGCast – Episode 388: “Mars Wars Logos”

It’s the weekend before E3. What can we do but get on the hype train? First stop is Square Enix. Second stop is XSEED. Third...




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RPGCast – Episode 517: “Sonic and the Holograms”

Not much news, but there are many games out this week. We won't play any of them though. Alice is on about Space Station 13, Kelley re-upped World of Warcraft, Anna Marie is playing Dragon Quest III, and Chris is still playing Final Fantasy IV.




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Texas Residents Warned Not to Flush Gloves and Face Masks, After Workers Unclog Sewage Pumps 20 Times in a Day

Water utility workers in El Paso, Texas were forced to unclog pumps over 20 times in 24 hours after residents refused to heed their call to refrain from flushing personal protective equipment and other coronavirus-related items down the toilet.




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Early Devonian Fossil Provides Earliest Evidence for Advanced Reproductive Biology in Land Plants

A species of plant that grew about 400 million years ago (Early Devonian period) produced a spectrum of spore sizes, which is an essential innovation necessary for all advanced plant reproductive strategies, including seeds and flowers. The Devonian period is one of the most important time periods for the evolution of land plants. It witnessed [...]




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Raptorial Dinosaurs Did Not Hunt in Coordinated Packs, Paleontologists Say

An analysis of the fossilized teeth of Deinonychus antirrhopus, a species of wolf-sized dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived between 115 and 108 million years ago (Cretaceous period) in what is now the United States, adds to the growing evidence that this and other raptors were not complex social hunters by modern mammalian standards. The image of [...]




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After 160,000 accounts are compromised, Nintendo shuts down NNID logins

Nintendo today confirmed earlier reports of account breaches dating back over the past few weeks. The gaming giant issued an update (via Nintendo Japan) noting that around 160,000 Nintendo Accounts were impacted, which found multiple being used to purchase digital items without the owner’s consent. Along with the purchasing powers, the offending parties may have […]




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Psychology tips for maintaining social relationships during lockdown

Touch is key to social relationships, and while coronavirus social distancing measures may limit physical interactions, there are still many ways to connect from afar, says evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar




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Square Enix Eidos Anthology: Get 54 Games for $39, for Charity

54 games, including titles from Tomb Raider, Just Cause, and Deus Ex, are in this charity bundle.





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Meet the Ecologist Who Wants You to Unleash the Wild on Your Backyard

Fed up with invasive species and sterile landscapes, Douglas Tallamy urges Americans to go native and go natural




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A billion years missing from geologic record: Where it may have gone

The geologic record is exactly that: a record. The strata of rock tell scientists about past environments, much like pages in an encyclopedia. Except this reference book has more pages missing than it has remaining. So geologists are tasked not only with understanding what is there, but also with figuring out what's not, and where it went.




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Beer was here! A new microstructural marker for malting in the archaeological record

A new method for reliably identifying the presence of beer or other malted foodstuffs in archaeological finds is described in a new study.




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TV stars make UK lockdown dramas with help of family, technology

While most drama productions around world have stopped shooting during the coronavirus pandemic, a team in Britain headed by Oscar nominee Jeff Pope filmed a series of four short stories for television that are already being aired.




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Police apologise as man handcuffed and threatened with spray after dropping off food for family members

Read our live coronavirus blog HERE




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Home Secretary Priti Patel dodges direct apology to NHS workers over lack of PPE

Read our live coronavirus blog HERE




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Heartbreak for families of devoted NHS nurse, radiology worker and GP who died with coronavirus

Tributes have been paid to three more NHS workers who have lost their lives with coronavirus.




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Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething apologises for Zoom blunder after swearing about colleague with mic still on

A Zoom blunder from Wales's health minister left fellow politicians with their heads in their hands as he was heard swearing about a colleague with his microphone still on.




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Lawyer for woman charged over Harry Dunn road death &apos;opens up dialogue with Foreign Office&apos;

The lawyer for the woman who has been charged over the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has opened up a dialogue with the UK Foreign Office (FCO), a source has said.




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Moment care home chief demands apology from Matt Hancock over testing shortages

It comes after the UK's Covid-19 death toll jumped by 3,811 on Wednesday to top 26,000 when care home victims were factored in for the first time.




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Schools after lockdown: Education experts on social distancing, PPE for teachers and the psychological impact on children

Headteachers are planning for life after the lockdown to ensure the return to school will be safe for all children and staff.




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Cumbria police apologise for &apos;ill-judged&apos; tweet telling people not to buy plants or compost during lockdown

Cumbria Police have apologised for an "ill-judged" tweet that suggested people should not buy plants or compost during the coronavirus lockdown.




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North Korean defectors apologise after making &apos;false claims&apos; about Kim Jong-un&apos;s death

A former senior North Korean diplomat has apologised after saying Kim Jong-un was probably so ill he could not stand, days before he was seen at an event attended by hundreds of officials.




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Boris Johnson could ditch &apos;stay at home&apos; slogan as plan to ease coronavirus lockdown moves forward

Boris Johnson could ditch the Government's "stay at home" slogan ahead of an expected easing of restrictions next week, it has been reported.





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Some Companies Are Turning To Tracking Technologies To Ensure Safe Reopening

Companies are trying to figure out how to welcome back employees to their offices, and keep them safe once they return. The new normal might involve smartphone apps and badges to track employees.