Translating a motivational interviewing intervention for childhood cancer survivors into an eHealth tool: A user-centered design process.

Childhood cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing cardiomyopathy than members of the general population. Screening echocardiograms can facilitate early detection and treatment of cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, motivational interviewing can increase uptake of cardiac screening. However, such approaches are time- and resource-intensive, which limits their reach to the survivors who need them. We describe how we utilized a user-centered design process to translate an in-person motivational interviewing intervention into an eHealth tool to improve cardiac screening among childhood cancer survivors. We used an iterative, three-phase, user-centered design approach: (i) setting the stage (convening advisory boards and reviewing the original intervention), (ii) content programming and development (writing and programming intervention text and flow), and (iii) intervention testing (research team testing and cognitive interviews.) For cognitive interviews, participants were recruited via institutional participant registries and medical records. Data were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis. During Phase 1, we identified survivor and provider advisors and outlined elements of the in-person intervention to change for the eHealth tool. During Phases 2 and 3, advisors recommended several modifications that guided the final intervention content and flow. Examples include: acknowledging potential hesitation or apprehension surrounding medical screenings, addressing barriers and facilitators to obtaining screening, and improving the tool's usability and appeal. In Phase 3, cognitive interview participants suggested additional refinements to the intervention language. This translation process shows that continued in-depth engagement of community advisors and iterative testing can improve the applicability of an eHealth to survivors' lived experiences and social contexts.

Childhood cancer survivors have a higher-than-average risk for developing heart damage compared to the general population. One-on-one interviews aimed at educating survivors about the importance of screening for heart damage can increase engagement in screening, but these programs are often too resource-intensive to be made available to large groups of survivors. Programs delivered using digital technology, like websites and smartphone apps, can be a more accessible alternative. In this article, we describe how we translated an in-person counseling program into a digital tool. We convened advisors who were childhood cancer survivors and healthcare providers to review the tool throughout the three-phase translation process: (i) setting the stage (convening advisory boards and reviewing original intervention), (ii) content programming and development (writing, and programming intervention text and flow), and (iii) intervention testing (research team testing and cognitive interviews.). Our translation process shows that continuously engaging with advisory boards and testing apps with participants can improve health programs in line with communities' diverse perspectives.

Complete genome sequences of mycobacteriophages Ageofdapage, Aubs, BABullseye, CheetoDust, ShaboiShabazz, and TomBrady.

We report genome sequences of six mycobacteriophages. Each virus was isolated from a soil sample and belongs to the siphovirus morphology. Genomes are 41,901-60,613 bp in length, contain between 62 and 103 protein-coding genes, with up to 40% of those genes having a predicted function.

Biomechanical stimulation promotes blood vessel growth despite VEGFR-2 inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis, or the growth of new vasculature from existing blood vessels, is widely considered a primary hallmark of cancer progression. When a tumor is small, diffusion is sufficient to receive essential nutrients; however, as the tumor grows, a vascular supply is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients into the increasing mass. Several anti-angiogenic cancer therapies target VEGF and the receptor VEGFR-2, which are major promoters of blood vessel development. Unfortunately, many of these cancer treatments fail to completely stop angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Since these therapies focus on the biochemical activation of VEGFR-2 via VEGF ligand binding, we propose that mechanical cues, particularly those found in the TME, may be a source of VEGFR-2 activation that promotes growth of blood vessel networks even in the presence of VEGF and VEGFR-2 inhibitors. RESULTS: In this paper, we analyzed phosphorylation patterns of VEGFR-2, particularly at Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214, stimulated via either VEGF or biomechanical stimulation in the form of tensile strains. Our results show prolonged and enhanced activation at both Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214 residues when endothelial cells were stimulated with strain, VEGF, or a combination of both. We also analyzed Src expression, which is downstream of VEGFR-2 and can be activated through strain or the presence of VEGF. Finally, we used fibrin gels and microfluidic devices as 3D microtissue models to simulate the TME. We determined that regions of mechanical strain promoted increased vessel growth, even with VEGFR-2 inhibition through SU5416. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, understanding both the effects that biomechanical and biochemical stimuli have on VEGFR-2 activation and angiogenesis is an important factor in developing effective anti-angiogenic therapies. This paper shows that VEGFR-2 can be mechanically activated through strain, which likely contributes to increased angiogenesis in the TME. These proof-of-concept studies show that small molecular inhibitors of VEGFR-2 do not fully prevent angiogenesis in 3D TME models when mechanical strains are introduced.

Examining the role of dopamine in methylphenidate's effects on resting brain function.

The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and global functional connectivity density (gFCD) are fMRI (Functional MRI) metrics widely used to assess resting brain function. However, their differential sensitivity to stimulant-induced dopamine (DA) increases, including the rate of DA rise and the relationship between them, have not been investigated. Here we used, simultaneous PET-fMRI to examine the association between dynamic changes in striatal DA and brain activity as assessed by ALFF and gFCD, following placebo, intravenous (IV), or oral methylphenidate (MP) administration, using a within-subject double-blind placebo-controlled design. In putamen, MP significantly reduced D2/3 receptor availability and strongly reduced ALFF and increased gFCD in the brain for IV-MP (Cohen's d > 1.6) but less so for oral-MP (Cohen's d < 0.6). Enhanced gFCD was associated with both the level and the rate of striatal DA increases, whereas decreased ALFF was only associated with the level of DA increases. These findings suggest distinct representations of neurovascular activation with ALFF and gFCD by stimulant-induced DA increases with differential sensitivity to the rate and the level of DA increases. We also observed an inverse association between gFCD and ALFF that was markedly enhanced during IV-MP, which could reflect an increased contribution from MP's vasoactive properties.

Neural circuit selective for fast but not slow dopamine increases in drug reward.

The faster a drug enters the brain, the greater its addictive potential, yet the brain circuits underlying the rate dependency to drug reward remain unresolved. With simultaneous PET-fMRI we linked dynamics of dopamine signaling, brain activity/connectivity, and self-reported 'high' in 20 adults receiving methylphenidate orally (results in slow delivery) and intravenously (results in fast delivery) (trial NCT03326245). We estimated speed of striatal dopamine increases to oral and IV methylphenidate and then tested where brain activity was associated with slow and fast dopamine dynamics (primary endpoint). We then tested whether these brain circuits were temporally associated with individual 'high' ratings to methylphenidate (secondary endpoint). A corticostriatal circuit comprising the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula and their connections with dorsal caudate was activated by fast (but not slow) dopamine increases and paralleled 'high' ratings. These data provide evidence in humans for a link between dACC/insula activation and fast but not slow dopamine increases and document a critical role of the salience network in drug reward.

Acorn woodpecker movements and social networks change with wildfire smoke.

Climate change has contributed to increased wildfires1,2. Wildfire smoke exposes wildlife to hazards and mortality from particulate matter on a scale larger than the area impacted by fire3,4. Using automated radiotelemetry, we illustrate how smoky conditions are associated with changes in behavior of acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a flagship species of oak (Quercus spp.) savannas of western North America. On smoky days, birds spent more time at their home territory and reduced visitation to others, especially to distant territories. Associations between birds decreased, and individuals were less assorted by group in co-visitation networks, suggesting less inter-individual coordination on smoky days. We show that between 2016 and 2020, ∼14% of the acorn woodpecker population in the US experienced fire, potentially exposing on average 89.42% of the range to atmospheric smoke annually. These findings highlight how potential effects of smoke on animal behavior may be widespread and exacerbate negative impacts of increasingly common "megafires", even in fire-adapted ecosystems.

UPDOs Protective Styles, a Multilevel Intervention to Improve Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Black Cisgender Women: Pretest-Posttest Evaluation.

ABSTRACT: In the United States, Black cisgender women account for one in five new HIV infections with Black Americans, accounting for 57% of new diagnoses in the South. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is 99% effective at preventing HIV. Still, Black women's uptake remains at 2% due to multiple documented barriers, including lack of awareness and knowledge, mistrust, stigma, and low perceived risk. Culturally relevant interventions leveraging trusted venues, such as beauty salons, can overcome these barriers. This article reports preliminary results of an intervention to improve PrEP knowledge and awareness, PrEP stigma, PrEP trust, and uptake among Black cisgender women. This multilevel, mixed-methods study used a community-engagement approach to develop and pilot a salon-based intervention, Using PrEP and Doing it for Ourselves (UPDOs) Protective Styles. The intervention improved knowledge, awareness, and trust around PrEP among Black cisgender women. PrEP use stigma within interpersonal relationships decreased, but low perceived risk and social stigma remained constant. Culturally and socially acceptable interventions like UPDOs Protective Styles can model health care delivery to improve trust, thus improving uptake over time for this population.

20 kDa isoform of connexin-43 augments spatial reorganization of the brain endothelial junctional complex and lesion leakage in cerebral cavernous malformation type-3.

Cerebral cavernous malformation type-3 (CCM3) is a type of brain vascular malformation caused by mutations in programmed cell death protein-10 (PDCD10). It is characterized by early life occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke and profound blood-brain barrier defects. The pathogenic mechanisms responsible for microvascular hyperpermeability and lesion progression in CCM3 are still largely unknown. The current study examined brain endothelial barrier structural defects formed in the absence of CCM3 in vivo and in vitro that may lead to CCM3 lesion leakage. We found significant upregulation of a 20 kDa isoform of connexin 43 (GJA1-20 k) in brain endothelial cells (BEC) in both non-leaky and leaky lesions, as well as in an in vitro CCM3 knockdown model (CCM3KD-BEC). Morphological, biochemical, FRET, and FRAP analyses of CCM3KD-BEC found GJA1-20 k regulates full-length GJA1 biogenesis, prompting uncontrolled gap junction growth. Furthermore, by binding to a tight junction scaffolding protein, ZO-1, GJA1-20 k interferes with Cx43/ZO-1 interactions and gap junction/tight junction crosstalk, promoting ZO-1 dissociation from tight junction complexes and diminishing claudin-5/ZO-1 interaction. As a consequence, the tight junction complex is destabilized, allowing "replacement" of tight junctions with gap junctions leading to increased brain endothelial barrier permeability. Modifying cellular levels of GJA1-20 k rescued brain endothelial barrier integrity re-establishing the spatial organization of gap and tight junctional complexes. This study highlights generation of potential defects at the CCM3-affected brain endothelial barrier which may underlie prolonged vascular leakiness.

Ecogeography of group size suggests differences in drivers of sociality among cooperatively breeding fairywrens.

Cooperatively breeding species exhibit a range of social behaviours associated with different costs and benefits to group living, often in association with different environmental conditions. For example, recent phylogenetic studies have collectively shown that the evolution and distribution of cooperative breeding behaviour is related to the environment. However, little is known about how environmental variation may drive differences in social systems across populations within species, and how the relationship between environmental conditions and sociality may differ across species. Here, we examine variation in social group size along a steep environmental gradient for two congeneric cooperatively breeding species of fairywrens (Maluridae) and show that they exhibit opposing ecogeographic patterns. Purple-backed fairywrens, a species in which helpers increase group productivity, have larger groups in hot, dry environments and smaller groups in cool, wet environments. By contrast, superb fairywrens, a species with helpers that do not increase group productivity despite the presence of alloparental care, exhibit the opposite trend. We suggest differences in the costs and benefits of sociality contribute to these opposing ecogeographical patterns and demonstrate that comparisons of intraspecific patterns of social variation across species can provide insight into how ecology shapes social systems.

Time-varying SUVr reflects the dynamics of dopamine increases during methylphenidate challenges in humans.

Dopamine facilitates cognition and is implicated in reward processing. Methylphenidate, a dopamine transporter blocker widely used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, can have rewarding and addictive effects if injected. Since methylphenidate's brain uptake is much faster after intravenous than oral intake, we hypothesize that the speed of dopamine increases in the striatum in addition to its amplitude underly drug reward. To test this we use simulations and PET data of [11C]raclopride's binding displacement with oral and intravenous methylphenidate challenges in 20 healthy controls. Simulations suggest that the time-varying difference in standardized uptake value ratios for [11C]raclopride between placebo and methylphenidate conditions is a proxy for the time-varying dopamine increases induced by methylphenidate. Here we show that the dopamine increase induced by intravenous methylphenidate (0.25 mg/kg) in the striatum is significantly faster than that by oral methylphenidate (60 mg), and its time-to-peak is strongly associated with the intensity of the self-report of "high". We show for the first time that the "high" is associated with the fast dopamine increases induced by methylphenidate.

Evidence of a Set of Core-Function Genes in 16 Bacillus Podoviral Genomes with Considerable Genomic Diversity.

Bacteriophage genomes represent an enormous level of genetic diversity and provide considerable potential to acquire new insights about viral genome evolution. In this study, the genome sequences of sixteen Bacillus-infecting bacteriophages were explored through comparative genomics approaches to reveal shared and unique characteristics. These bacteriophages are in the Salasmaviridae family with small (18,548-27,206 bp) double-stranded DNA genomes encoding 25-46 predicted open reading frames. We observe extensive nucleotide and amino acid sequence divergence among a set of core-function genes that present clear synteny. We identify two examples of sequence directed recombination within essential genes, as well as explore the expansion of gene content in these genomes through the introduction of novel open reading frames. Together, these findings highlight the complex evolutionary relationships of phage genomes that include old, common origins as well as new components introduced through mosaicism.

Striatal D1 and D2 receptor availability are selectively associated with eye-blink rates after methylphenidate treatment.

Eye-blink rate has been proposed as a biomarker of the brain dopamine system, however, findings have not been consistent. This study assessed the relationship between blink rates, measured after oral placebo) (PL) and after a challenge with oral methylphenidate (MP; 60 mg) and striatal D1 receptor (D1R) (measured at baseline) and D2 receptor (D2R) availability (measured after PL and after MP) in healthy participants. PET measures of baseline D1R ([11C]NNC112) (BL-D1R) and D2R availability ([11C]raclopride) after PL (PL-D2R) and after MP (MP-D2R) were quantified in the striatum as non-displaceable binding potential. MP reduced the number of blinks and increased the time participants kept their eyes open. Correlations with dopamine receptors were only significant for the eye blink measures obtained after MP; being positive for BL-D1R in putamen and MP-D2R in caudate (PL-D2R were not significant). MP-induced changes in blink rates (PL minus MP) were negatively correlated with BL-D1R in caudate and putamen. Our findings suggest that eye blink measures obtained while stressing the dopamine system might provide a more sensitive behavioral biomarker of striatal D1R or D2R in healthy volunteers than that obtained at baseline or after placebo.

Using PrEP and Doing it for Ourselves (UPDOs Protective Styles), a Web-Based Salon Intervention to Improve Uptake of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Black Women: Protocol for a Pilot Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Multilevel interventions are necessary to address the complex social contributors to health that limit pre-exposure prophylaxis use among Black women, including medical distrust, pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, and access to equitable health care. Strategies to improve knowledge, awareness, and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis among Black women will be more successful if information-sharing and implementation take place within trusted environments. Providing women with information through trusted cultural and social channels can effectively support informed decision-making about pre-exposure prophylaxis for themselves and members of their social networks who are eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this project is to improve knowledge, awareness, uptake, and trust of pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as reduce pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, among Black women living in the US South. METHODS: This multilevel, mixed methods study uses a community-engagement approach to develop and pilot test a salon-based intervention. There are three components of this intervention: (1) stylist training, (2) women-focused entertainment videos and modules, and (3) engagement of a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator. First, stylist training will be provided through two 2-hour training sessions delivered over 2 consecutive weeks. We will use a pre- and posttest design to examine knowledge and awareness improvement of pre-exposure prophylaxis among the stylists. Upon full completion of training, the stylists will receive a certificate of completion and "Ask Me about PrEP" signage for their beauty salons. Second, together with the community, we have codeveloped a 4-part entertainment series (The Wright Place) that uses culturally and socially relevant stories to highlight key messages about (1) HIV, (2) pre-exposure prophylaxis, and (3) Black women's social contributors to health. Quantitative and qualitative measures will be used in a pre- and posttest design to examine pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, awareness, risk, stigma, trust, intentions, and women's perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the overall intervention and its implementation strategies. A video blog will be provided after each video. Third, participants will have access through an email or text message link to a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator, who will respond to them privately to answer questions or make referrals for pre-exposure prophylaxis as requested. RESULTS: This project was funded in October 2020 by Gilead Sciences and was approved by the Duke University School of Nursing institutional review board in April 2021 (Pro00106307). Intervention components were developed in partnership with community partners in the first year. Data collection for phase 1 began in April 2022. Data collection for phase 2 began in May 2022. The study will be complete by October 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel interventions that consider the assets of the community have promise for promoting health among Black women who have influence within their social networks. The findings of this study have the potential to be generalizable to other populations. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/34556.

Sex differences in weight gain during medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder: A meta-analysis and retrospective analysis of clinical trial data.

BACKGROUND: Side effects of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) such as weight gain contribute to their stigma. Substantial evidence suggests that women have a more severe side effect profile to MOUD than men, and concerns about weight gain during treatment are prevalent. However, the few studies reporting sex differences in weight gain during treatment show conflicting results and are restricted to methadone. In addition, little is known about possible sex differences in weight gain to buprenorphine, which is the most commonly prescribed MOUD in the United States. METHODS: To address these issues, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the few studies reporting longitudinal data on sex differences in body mass index (BMI) gain during methadone treatment (Study 1). In a separate study, we also re-analyzed data from trial CTN-0030 of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trial Network (NIDA CTN), which involved a 12-week buprenorphine treatment regimen (Study 2; n = 360; 209 Male, 151 Female). RESULTS: For Study 1, across all papers reporting longitudinal data (k = 4, n = 362 OUD patients), there were BMI increases that ranged from 2.2 to 5.4 BMI after at least one year of methadone treatment, but there were no significant sex differences in BMI increases (Standardized Mean Difference, Female > Male = 0.352, SE =0.270; 95 % CI = [-0.18 0.88]; p = .193). Study 2 showed no significant differences in weight before and after 12 weeks of buprenorphine treatment nor did it show sex differences in weight change with treatment (ß = 2.34, p = .511). CONCLUSION: These analyses corroborate evidence of weight gain with methadone treatment but did not observe a sex-based disparity in weight gain with methadone or buprenorphine treatment for OUD.

Ketamine use disorder: preclinical, clinical, and neuroimaging evidence to support proposed mechanisms of actions.

Ketamine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, has been exclusively used as an anesthetic in medicine and has led to new insights into the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Clinical studies have shown that low subanesthetic doses of ketamine produce antidepressant effects for individuals with depression. However, its use as a treatment for psychiatric disorders has been limited due to its reinforcing effects and high potential for diversion and misuse. Preclinical studies have focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ketamine's antidepressant effects, but a precise mechanism had yet to be elucidated. Here we review different hypotheses for ketamine's mechanism of action including the direct inhibition and disinhibition of NMDA receptors, AMPAR activation, and heightened activation of monoaminergic systems. The proposed mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, and their combined influence may exert the observed structural and functional neural impairments. Long term use of ketamine induces brain structural, functional impairments, and neurodevelopmental effects in both rodents and humans. Its misuse has increased rapidly in the past 20 years and is one of the most common addictive drugs used in Asia. The proposed mechanisms of action and supporting neuroimaging data allow for the development of tools to identify 'biotypes' of ketamine use disorder (KUD) using machine learning approaches, which could inform intervention and treatment.

Biodiversity and Distribution of Reticulitermes in the Southeastern USA.

Reticulitermes subterranean termites are widely distributed ecosystem engineers and structural pests, yet describing their species distribution worldwide or regionally has been hindered by taxonomic uncertainties. Morphological plasticity confounds the use of taxonomic keys, while recent species descriptions and molecular techniques lacking taxonomic support have caused a muddle in interpreting the literature on Reticulitermes species distributions. We employed an integrative taxonomic approach combining behavioral, morphological, and molecular techniques to identify 4371 Reticulitermes samples to species. Five Reticulitermes species were collected from wood-on-ground at 1570 sites covering 153,900 km2 in the state of Georgia, USA. Three species were collected throughout Georgia, with R. flavipes identified from every one of the 159 counties. R. nelsonae was the second most frequently collected species, found in 128 counties, with R. virginicus third with 122. Two species had distributions confined to the northern part of the state. R. malletei was collected from 73 counties, while the least collected species, R. hageni, was found in 16. Results show that the most recently described species (R. nelsonae, 2012) is widely distributed and the second-most frequently encountered termite, representing 23% of all samples. The invasive species R. flavipes represented half of all the samples collected, while R. hageni, the least at less than 1%. A search of GenBank identified a number of accessions mismatched to a species designation resulting in the literature under-reporting the biodiversity of the genus. We, therefore, outline a path to standardize methods for species identification using an integrated taxonomic approach with appropriate barcodes for consistent identification across research teams worldwide. The data also illuminate new opportunities to examine questions related to the ecology, evolution, dispersal, and resource partitioning behaviors of these sympatric species across distinct geographical regions.

Inflammatory Markers in Substance Use and Mood Disorders: A Neuroimaging Perspective.

Chronic exposure to addictive drugs in substance use disorders and stressors in mood disorders render the brain more vulnerable to inflammation. Inflammation in the brain, or neuroinflammation, is characterized by gliosis, microglial activation, and sustained release of cytokines, chemokines, and pro-inflammatory factors compromising the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. There is increased curiosity in understanding how substance misuse and/or repeated stress exposure affect inflammation and contribute to abnormal neuronal activity, altered neuroplasticity, and impaired cognitive control, which eventually promote compulsive drug-use behaviors and worsen mood disorders. This review will emphasize human imaging studies to explore the link between brain function and peripheral markers of inflammation in substance use disorders and mood disorders.

Cortical D1 and D2 dopamine receptor availability modulate methylphenidate-induced changes in brain activity and functional connectivity.

Dopamine signaling plays a critical role in shaping brain functional network organization and behavior. Prominent theories suggest the relative expression of D1- to D2-like dopamine receptors shapes excitatory versus inhibitory signaling, with broad consequences for cognition. Yet it remains unknown how the balance between cortical D1R versus D2R signaling coordinates the activity and connectivity of functional networks in the human brain. To address this, we collected three PET scans and two fMRI scans in 36 healthy adults (13 female/23 male; average age 43 ± 12 years), including a baseline D1R PET scan and two sets of D2R PET scans and fMRI scans following administration of either 60 mg oral methylphenidate or placebo (two separate days, blinded, order counterbalanced). The drug challenge allowed us to assess how pharmacologically boosting dopamine levels alters network organization and behavior in association with D1R-D2R ratios across the brain. We found that the relative D1R-D2R ratio was significantly greater in high-level association cortices than in sensorimotor cortices. After stimulation with methylphenidate compared to placebo, brain activity (as indexed by the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations) increased in association cortices and decreased in sensorimotor cortices. Further, within-network resting state functional connectivity strength decreased more in sensorimotor than association cortices following methylphenidate. Finally, in association but not sensorimotor cortices, the relative D1R-D2R ratio (but not the relative availability of D1R or D2R alone) was positively correlated with spatial working memory performance, and negatively correlated with age. Together, these data provide a framework for how dopamine-boosting drugs like methylphenidate alter brain function, whereby regions with relatively higher inhibitory D2R (i.e., sensorimotor cortices) tend to have greater decreases in brain activity and connectivity compared to regions with relatively higher excitatory D1R (i.e., association cortices). They also support the importance of a balanced interaction between D1R and D2R in association cortices for cognitive function and its degradation with aging.

Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water and Bladder Cancer: Evaluation of Risk Modification by Common Genetic Polymorphisms in Two Case-Control Studies.

BACKGROUND: By-products are formed when disinfectants react with organic matter in source water. The most common class of disinfection by-products, trihalomethanes (THMs), have been linked to bladder cancer. Several studies have shown exposure-response associations with THMs in drinking water and bladder cancer risk. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated gene-environment interactions for total THMs (TTHMs) with known bladder cancer susceptibility variants. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the combined effect on bladder cancer risk contributed by TTHMs, bladder cancer susceptibility variants identified through genome-wide association studies, and variants in several candidate genes. METHODS: We analyzed data from two large case-control studies-the New England Bladder Cancer Study (n/n=989 cases/1,162 controls), a population-based study, and the Spanish Bladder Cancer Study (n/n=706 cases/772 controls), a hospital-based study. Because of differences in exposure distributions and metrics, we estimated effects of THMs and genetic variants within each study separately using adjusted logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with and without interaction terms, and then combined the results using meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of the 16 loci showing strong evidence of association with bladder cancer, rs907611 at 11p15.5 [leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1 region)] showed the strongest associations in the highest exposure category in each study, with evidence of interaction in both studies and in meta-analysis. In the highest exposure category, we observed OR=1.66 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.34, p-trend=0.005) for those with the rs907611-GG genotype and p-interaction=0.02. No other genetic variants tested showed consistent evidence of interaction. DISCUSSION: We found novel suggestive evidence for a multiplicative interaction between a putative bladder carcinogen, TTHMs, and genotypes of rs907611. Given the ubiquitous exposure to THMs, further work is needed to replicate and extend this finding and to understand potential molecular mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9895.