Excess body fatness, commonly approximated by a one-off determination of body mass index (BMI), is associated with increased risk of at least 13 cancers. Modelling of longitudinal BMI data may be more informative for incident cancer associations, e.g. using latent class trajectory modelling (LCTM) may offer advantages in capturing changes in patterns with time. Here, we evaluated the variation in cancer risk with LCTMs using specific age recall versus decade recall BMI.

We obtained BMI profiles for participants from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. We developed gender-specific LCTMs using recall data from specific ages 20 and 50 years (72,513 M; 74,837 W); decade data from 30s to 70s (42,113 M; 47,352 W) and a combination of both (74,106 M, 76,245 W). Using an established methodological framework, we tested 17 classes for linear, quadratic, cubic and natural spline shapes, and modelled associations for obesity-related cancer (ORC) incidence using LCTM class membership.

Different models were selected depending on the data type used. In specific age recall trajectories, only the two heaviest classes were associated with increased risk of ORC. MK-0991 datasheet For the decade recall data, the shapes appeared skewed by outliers in the heavier classes but an increase in ORC risk was observed. In the combined models, at older ages the BMI values were more extreme.

Specific age recall models supported the existing literature changes in BMI over time are associated with increased ORC risk. Modelling of decade recall data might yield spurious associations.

Specific age recall models supported the existing literature changes in BMI over time are associated with increased ORC risk. Modelling of decade recall data might yield spurious associations.

Epitope prediction is a useful approach in cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Many computational methods, including machine learning and network analysis, have been developed quickly for such purposes. However, regarding clinical applications, the existing tools are insufficient because few of the predicted binding molecules are immunogenic. Hence, to develop more potent and effective vaccines, it is important to understand binding and immunogenic potential. Here, we observed that the interactive association constituted by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-peptide pairs can be regarded as a network in which each HLA and peptide is taken as a node. We speculated whether this network could detect the essential interactive propensities embedded in HLA-peptide pairs. Thus, we developed a network-based deep learning method called DeepNetBim by harnessing binding and immunogenic information to predict HLA-peptide interactions.

Quantitative class I HLA-peptide binding data and qualitative immunogenic data (includiredictive value (PPV) and the proportion of neoantigen recognition.

We developed a network-based deep learning method called DeepNetBim as a pan-specific epitope prediction tool. It extracted the attributes of the network as new features from HLA-peptide binding and immunogenic models. We observed that not only did DeepNetBim binding model outperform other updated methods but the combination of our two models showed better performance. This indicates further applications in clinical practice.

We developed a network-based deep learning method called DeepNetBim as a pan-specific epitope prediction tool. It extracted the attributes of the network as new features from HLA-peptide binding and immunogenic models. We observed that not only did DeepNetBim binding model outperform other updated methods but the combination of our two models showed better performance. This indicates further applications in clinical practice.

Diagnosis of preterm labour is difficult because initial symptoms and signs are often mild and may occur in continuing pregnancies. This study aims to investigate the utility of measuring cervical length, using transvaginal ultrasound, in women presenting to the delivery suite with symptoms of preterm labour.

This was a prospective cohort study performed in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore from September 2017 to July 2018. Women with singleton pregnancies, presenting with symptoms of contraction pain, between 24

to 36

weeks gestation, were included. Transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurements were done at presentation to the labour ward, after four hours and in the following morning. The primary outcome of the study was delivery within 1 week. All statistical analyses were conducted with Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

A total of 95 subjects were included. A one-millimeter increase in the 1st cervical length increases scan-to-delivery time by 0. length is a reliable diagnostic test for delivery within 1 week. However, the results are limited by the small sample size. Further studies should be conducted with a larger sample size.

Our results indicate that by using a cervical length cut off of 27.5mm at presentation, we would have predicted 77.8 % of deliveries within 1 week. If we were to repeat the cervical length scan the next day, with the same cut-off of 27.5mm, we would have predicted 100 % of deliveries within 1 week. In our study, measuring the transvaginal ultrasound cervical length is a reliable diagnostic test for delivery within 1 week. However, the results are limited by the small sample size. Further studies should be conducted with a larger sample size.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 8 incidence has increased in Denmark after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCV). The mechanism behind the serotype 8 replacement is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to present epidemiological data on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and molecular characterization of 96 serotype 8 clinical isolates.

IPD data from 1999 to 2019 were used to calculate the incidence and age distribution. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis was performed on 96 isolates (6.8% of the total serotype 8 IPD isolates in the period) to characterize the isolates with respect to pneumococcal lineage traits, a range of genes with potential species discrimination, presence of colonization and virulence factors, and molecular resistance pattern.

The serotype 8 IPD incidence increased significantly (P < 0.05) for the age groups above 15 years after the introduction of PCV13, primarily affecting the elderly (65+). All isolates were phenotypically susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin.