PeerJ

ObjectiveCervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections; however, there are no molecularly defined subtypes, and few approved targeted therapies. We defined molecular subtypes and tested targeted agents. MethodsPublic datasets were analyzed; cell lines were treated with drugs; and donor T cells and their proliferation were measured. ResultsWe define three molecular subtypes: I, Wild type for PIK3CA/no YAP1 amplification; II, PIK3CA mutation/no YAP1 amplification; III, PIK3C...

Importance: Lung cancer mortality in the United States has fallen substantially in recent decades, yet the relative influence of behavioral, environmental, socioeconomic, and therapeutic factors and their sex specific contributions remains unclear. Understanding these drivers is essential to sustain progress and reduce persistent disparities. Objective: To quantify how behavioral, environmental, socioeconomic, and therapeutic determinants collectively shaped US lung cancer mortality from 1994 to...

Early detection is critical for lung cancer patients. One lung cancer detection method under study is using sniffer dogs. This study aimed to evaluate, retrospectively, the sensitivity and specificity of the Cancer Detection Dog Collective (CDDC(R)) method under training conditions. A team of five trained sniffer dogs analyzed breath samples from lung cancer patients and cancer-free volunteers, and a cancer sample is positive if at least three dogs indicate it. Dog handlers and experimental obse...

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) are mucosal diseases with an increased risk of progression to cancer, although not all cases develop cancer in patients lifetimes. Although epithelial dysplasia (ED) grading is the current approach for assessing the risk of malignant transformation (MT), cancer risk prediction is limited by its subjective interpretation and inaccuracy. To address these challenges, this study developed COCOH (Comprehensive Oral Cancer predictor in OPMD using Histopathol...

After the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater monitoring is increasingly used for infectious disease surveillance. Using the data from a controlled experimental hospital setting, this paper examines the association wastewater SARS-CoV-2 with COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality, and whether this association varies by patients characteristics. Weekly wastewater samples were collected from the University of Miami (UM) hospitals where COVID-19 patients were admitted from February 2020 to October 202...

BackgroundGlyphosate-based herbicides are among the most widely used agricultural chemicals globally. Concerns regarding their carcinogenic potential, particularly in relation to non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), persist despite multiple prior systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, these reviews have demonstrated important methodological limitations and inconsistent analytic decisions, limiting confidence in their conclusions. ObjectiveTo conduct a rigorous, up-to-date systematic review and ...

Anemia, particularly iron-deficiency anemia, is a critical global health concern, with a high prevalence among children under six years of age. Early and non-invasive detection can significantly improve health outcomes. This study proposes a computer vision and machine learning framework for anemia screening and hemoglobin (Hb) level prediction using palmar images from pediatric subjects. The region of interest (palm) was segmented using a U-Net model, achieving a Dice coefficient of 0.96. Image...

BackgroundErythrocyte indices are essential for the diagnosis and monitoring of hematologic diseases, but their determination depends on automated hematology analyzers, which limits access in regions with limited laboratory infrastructure. Although artificial intelligence approaches have been proposed for hematologic analysis, they usually rely on slide scanners or digitization systems. To date, no validated approaches have been identified in the literature that estimate these indices directly f...

BackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. The poor prognosis is largely attributed to late-stage diagnosis, pronounced tumor heterogeneity, and limited therapeutic efficacy. These challenges underscore the urgent need for the identification of robust molecular biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. MethodsGene expression data from a total of 146 pancreatic tissue samples, comprising 72 normal and 74 tumor s...

BackgroundMedical students represent a critical population for photoprotection education, as future physicians responsible for skin cancer prevention counseling. However, no previous studies have characterized knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding photoprotection among medical students in Central America or the Caribbean. ObjectiveTo assess KAP related to photoprotection and identify associated factors among medical students at a Nicaraguan university. MethodsA cross-sectional st...

Cancer accounts for one in six deaths globally, making patient survivorship critical for medical professionals. Thyroid cancer incidence is rising in the United States, with Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) representing approximately 80% of cases. This study develops a semi-parametric Cox Proportional Hazards model to investigate associations between PTC patient survival time and five risk factors: age, sex, malignant tumor size, race, and cancer stage. Our final Cox-PH model, which satisfies all ...

IntroductionHarms associated with recreational nitrous oxide use have been documented. Studies on the prevalence of past-year inhalant use disorder among individuals who have ever used nitrous oxide are lacking. This descriptive study, conducted in the United States from 2021 to 2023, examined the prevalence of ever using nitrous oxide, determined the proportion of people meeting the past-year criteria for an inhalant use disorder, and reported the yearly number of nitrous oxide poisonings. Met...

BackgroundGastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and is associated with poor prognosis, placing a considerable burden on public health. Overall treatment outcomes remain unsatisfactory, and accurate lymph node staging is essential for optimizing therapeutic strategies and improving survival. This study aimed to compare the prognostic value of different lymph node staging systems in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and to provide a more refined prognostic assessment t...

Influenza forecasting in (sub-)tropical regions remains understudied due to year-round, irregular transmission patterns. Further, the variation in seasonality and transmission characteristic of influenza in post-COVID-19 pandemic could be attributed to various drivers to quantify for better understanding. To address this issue, this study introduced an ensemble forecasting approach that incorporates varied dataset lengths to forecast influenza activity in Hong Kong, integrating multi-stream surv...

BackgroundDengue fever is a major neglected tropical disease with a rapidly rising global burden, and localized outbreaks are increasingly reported in southern subtropical China. Fujian Province, a coastal subtropical region with favorable ecological conditions for Aedes albopictus breeding and frequent cross-border exchanges with dengue-endemic areas, has had continuous local dengue cases for over a decade, raising concerns about the establishment of a stable natural endemic focus. Sustained lo...

BackgroundConcern about long-term health effects of repetitive head impacts in football has increased, but it remains unclear whether position-specific exposure patterns were associated with differential long-term all-cause mortality among elite players across the 20th century. MethodsWe conducted two retrospective cohort studies of elite male professional football players. The World Cup cohort included all players on the team rosters from FIFA World Cup tournaments (1930-1990), and the UEFA Eu...

IntroductionSalvage surgery is known for an increased surgical complication rate. However, currently available patient, tumor and therapy factors are not reliable enough to predict surgical site complications (SSC). This exploratory study tests skin acquired by neck dissection for several histochemical and immunohistochemical stains to explore tissue changes related to wound healing. Patients and methodsFrom an existing database of 232 isolated neck dissections (ND), seventeen patients with ski...

Weight misperception is a critical indicator of body dissatisfaction and cardiovascular risk, yet remains understudied in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) populations who face unique barriers to health literacy. Addressing this gap is vital given the potential for "visual normalization," where limited access to health information can influence how weight status is interpreted without adequate health literacy. This study investigated weight misperception prevalence among DHH adults using a represen...

BackgroundDespite substantial efforts, anemia continues to pose a significant public health challenge, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age. In Lesotho, insufficient data exist on its geographic distribution and key determinants using advanced techniques. This study seeks to address this gap, contributing to the development of interventions and thereby accelerating the pathway to reducing its burden. MethodsThis study used LDHS 2023/24 data on women of reproductive age (15-49 ...

IntroductionOpioid use continues to cause harm and fatalities worldwide, despite ongoing preventive efforts. Early administration of the antidote naloxone can reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses. Naloxone distribution programs have increased survival across regions; however, additional efforts are needed to reduce opioid overdose mortality. One approach is to expand naloxone availability within communities. Methods and analysisThe feasibility trial RESPONDER (REgion Sk[a]ne Preventing Ov...