Calendar Age Research Articles

Effectiveness of homologous/heterologous booster COVID-19 vaccination schedules against severe illness in general population and clinical subgroups in three European countries

Using 4 data-sources (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom) data and a 1:1 matched cohort study, we aimed to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections with hospitalisations (±30 days) and death (±56 days) in general population and clinical subgroups with homologous/heterologous booster schedules (Comirnaty-BNT and Spikevax-MOD original COVID-19 vaccines) by comparison with unboosted individuals, during Delta and beginning of Omicron variants. Hazard Ratio (HR, by Cox models) and VE ([1-HR]*100) were calculated by inverse probability weights. Between December 2020-February 2022, in adults without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, we matched 5.5 million people (>1 million with immunodeficiency, 343,727 with cancer) with a booster (3rd) dose by considering doses 1 and 2 vaccine brands and calendar time, age, sex, region, and comorbidities (immunodeficiency, cancer, severe renal disease, transplant recipient, Down Syndrome). We studied booster doses of BNT and MOD administered after doses 1 and 2 with BNT, MOD, or Oxford-AstraZeneca during a median follow-up between 9 and 16 weeks. BNT or MOD showed VE ranging from 70 to 86% across data sources as heterologous 3rd doses, whereas it was 42–88% as homologous 3rd doses. Depending on the severity and available follow-up, 3rd-dose effectiveness lasted between 1 and 5 months. In people with immunodeficiency and cancer, protection across data sources was detected with both heterologous (VE = 54–83%) and homologous (VE = 49–80%) 3rd doses. Overall, both heterologous and homologous 3rd doses with BTN or MOD showed additional protection against the severe effects of SARS-CoV-2 infections for the general population and for patients at potentially high risk of severe COVID-19 (elderly, people with immunodeficiency and cancer) in comparison with two doses schemes during Delta or early Omicron periods. The early VE after vaccination may be due to less testing among vaccinated pairs and unknown confounders, deserving cautious interpretation. The VE wane over time needs further in-depth research to properly envisage when or whether a booster of those vaccines should be administered.

Epidemiology of distal radius fractures in Germany - incidence rates and trends based on inpatient and outpatient data

SummaryWe examined incidence rates (IR) for all distal radius fracture (DRF) events based on inpatient and outpatient data from a large statutory health insurance in Germany. Of all DRF, 56% were treated as inpatients, and thus, 44% treated as outpatients. IR were higher in women than in men.PurposeAlthough a distal radius fracture (DRF) is one of the most common fractures in the elderly population, epidemiological data are limited. Many studies examine only hospitalized patients, do not analyze time trends, or include only small populations. In this retrospective population-based observational study, routine data on inpatient and outpatient care of persons aged ≥ 60 years insured by a large statutory health insurance in Germany were analyzed from 2014 to 2018.MethodsDRF were identified by ICD-10 codes. All DRF events of an individual were considered with a corresponding individual washout period. Incidence rates (IR) and time trends were estimated assuming a Poisson distribution per 100,000 person-years, with 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] and age-sex standardization to the German population in 2018. Associations of calendar year, age, sex, and comorbidity with IR were examined using Poisson regression estimating incidence rate ratios (IRR) with CI.ResultsThe study population consists of 974,332 insured individuals, with 16,557 experiencing one or more DRF events during the observation period. A total of 17,705 DRF events occurred, of which 9961 (56.3%) were hospitalized. Standardized IR were 439 [424–453] (inpatient: 240 [230–251], outpatient: 199 [189–209]) in 2014 and 438 [423–452] (inpatient: 238 [227–249], outpatient: 200 [190–210]) in 2018. Female sex, older age, and comorbidity were associated with higher IR and adjusted Poisson regression showed no significant time trend (IRR overall 0.994 [0.983–1.006]).ConclusionA relevant proportion of DRF were treated in outpatient settings, so both inpatient and outpatient data are necessary for a valid estimate.

Взаимосвязь профессионального выгорания с показателями возраста и характеристиками образовательной среды

<p style="text-align: justify;">The article examines the dependence of professional burnout of secondary school teachers on the favorable educational environment and on the age characteristics of teachers. The study was carried out in two stages (the first stage included the study of the relationship between the professional burnout of teachers and age characteristics; the second stage was aimed at studying the relationship between the indicators of the favorable educational environment of the school and the professional burnout of teachers). The study involved 70 subjects (women, mean age 43.2 + 12.61 years, minimum age 23 years, maximum age 62). The main research methods were: diagnostic (MBI professional burnout questionnaire, educational environment safety questionnaire, psychotic atmosphere in the team questionnaire, assessment of the index of relative biological aging according to V.P. Voitenko) and statistical (correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression with the inclusion of variables). The authors come to the conclusion that for teachers with a work experience of 1 year or more, there is no linear relationship between experience, calendar age and indicators of professional burnout. At the same time, there is a correlation between the indicators of burnout and the index of relative biological aging: the higher the indicators of burnout, the stronger the rate of biological aging of the body. The main conclusion in the work is the established fact of the relationship of professional burnout with an increase in biological age, and the absence of a linear relationship with calendar age and length of service. On the other hand, professional burnout depends on the degree of favorable educational environment: the more favorable the environment, the less burnout.</p>

THU169 Role Of Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy In Short Children With Skeletal Dysplasias And Pathogenic Variants In The COL2A1 Gene

Abstract Disclosure: L.D. Cellin: None. K.G. Guimaraes: None. N.L. Menezes De Andrade: None. G.A. Vasques: None. E.D. Goiano: None. M. Akkari: None. C. Santili: None. A.A. Jorge: None. A.C. Malaquias: None. Introduction: COL2A1 is the primary collagen synthesized by chondrocytes and plays a critical structural role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and migration. Mutations in the COL2A1 gene may cause heterogeneous phenotypes ranging from skeletal dysplasia to nonsyndromic short stature. Clinical characteristics in COL2A1-related disorders are abnormalities in the ocular, skeletal, oro-facial, and audiological systems. Unfortunately, data were scarce about GH treatment in short children with pathogenic variants in COL2A1.Objective: To evaluate recombinant growth hormone (GH) treatment in short children carrying mutations in the COL2A1 gene. Methods: Retrospectively, we selected 8 prepubertal patients with short stature and pathogenic variants in the COL2A1 gene who were treated with GH (mean dose of 45.8 ± 7.9 µg/kg/d at the start). The primary outcomes were changes in height SDS and growth velocity in the 1st year and at the end of treatment. Results: Five patients were male; 3 were disproportionate, and 5 showed skeletal dysplasia signs. Two had familial short stature. At the start of the treatment, the mean calendar age was 8.1 ± 3.9 yr, and bone age was 6.9 ± 4.2 yr. The mean height SDS was -4.0 ± 0.9 for the CDC reference. In the 1st year of therapy, the growth velocity (GV) increased from baseline values of 5.2 ± 1.9 cm/yr to 7.4 ± 1.4cm/yr, an increment of 2.2 ± 2.2cm (p=0.02). GV SDS increased from -1.2 ± 1.5 to 1.2 ± 1.8 in the whole cohort during the 1st year of treatment (p=0.02). Height SDS showed a modest improvement after one year of therapy (from -4.0 ± 0.9 to -3.5 ± 0.9; p=0.005). To improve adult height, we treated two patients with GnRH analogs associated with GH. After a mean duration of therapy of 5.5 ± 2.5 years, 5 patients ended the treatment with rhGH (one prematurely stopped therapy due to poor growth response). No increment was observed in height SDS at the end of treatment (from -3.8 ± 0.9 to -3.4 ± 1.3; p=0.2). Four patients achieved adult height after 6.4 ± 1.7 years of therapy (height SDS ranging from -3.4 ± 0.4 to -2.9 ± 0.8; p=0.08). The mean gain in adult height SDS was 0.5 ± 0.4 (ranging from zero to 0,97). Conclusions: Our patients with COL2A1-associated disorders showed no response to GH therapy to improve adult height as a group. However, we need more studies to determine which patient will benefit from this treatment once there is considerable phenotype heterogeneity. GnRH analogs may help to improve adult height in association with GH. Also, alternative therapies might be evaluated to treat short children with these disorders. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Critical Contribution of Imbalanced Charge Loss to Performance Deterioration of Si-Based Lithium-Ion Cells during Calendar Aging.

Increasing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, and thereby reducing costs, is a major target for industry and academic research. One of the best opportunities is to replace the traditional graphite anode with a high-capacity anode material, such as silicon. However, Si-based lithium-ion batteries have been widely reported to suffer from a limited calendar life for automobile applications. Heretofore, there lacks a fundamental understanding of calendar aging for rationally developing mitigation strategies. Both open-circuit voltage and voltage-hold aging protocols were utilized to characterize the aging behavior of Si-based cells. Particularly, a high-precision leakage current measurement was applied to quantitatively measure the rate of parasitic reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The rate of parasitic reactions at the Si anode was found 5 times and 15 times faster than those of LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 and LiFePO4 cathodes, respectively. The imbalanced charge loss from parasitic reactions plays a critical role in exacerbating performance deterioration. In addition, a linear relationship between capacity loss and charge consumption from parasitic reactions provides fundamental support to assess calendar life through voltage-hold tests. These new findings imply that longer calendar life can be achieved by suppressing parasitic reactions at the Si anode to balance charge consumption during calendar aging.

Khengerekte-Sukhotino-An Upper Paleolithic Culture in Transbaikalia

During the studies at the Barun-Alan-1 stratified site in Western Transbaikalia, a lithic industry was described, providing a basis for a new archaeological culture, termed Khengerekte. Similar materials were excavated from nearby sites such as Sloistaya Skala and Khenger-Tyn-3 Svyatilishche. A comparative analysis of the Khengerekte industry of Barun-Alan-1 and that from the Sukhotino-4 in southern Chita, Eastern Tranbaikalia, reveals that most of their typological groups are quite similar. On that basis, the culture’s distribution area was extended, and the culture itself was renamed Khengerekte-Sukhotino, spanning ~400 km from Barun-Alan-1 in the west to Unenker in the east. The calendar age of excavated layers of key Khengerekte-Sukhotino sites, Barun-Alan-1 and Sukhotino-4, was estimated at 12–33 ka BP. Their lithic industry, based mainly on microblades, is described. Bifaces, unifaces, and high side-scrapers are common. The origin of the Khengerekte-Sukhotino culture is an open question.

Demographic characteristics associated with West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease - A retrospective study on the wider European area 2006-2021.

With a case-fatality-risk ranging from 3.0 to >20.0% and life-long sequelae, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) is the most dangerous outcome of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans. As no specific prophylaxis nor therapy is available for these infections, focus is on preventive strategies. We aimed to find variables associated with WNND diagnosis, hospitalisation or death, to identify high-risk sub-groups of the population, on whom to concentrate these strategies. We used data from The European Surveillance System-TESSy, provided by National Public Health Authorities, and released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In two Firth-penalised logistic regression models, we considered age, sex, clinical criteria, epidemiological link to other cases (epi-link), calendar year, and season as potential associated variables. In one model we considered also the rural/urban classification of the place of infection (RUC), while in the other the specific reporting country. Among confirmed West Nile Virus cases, 2,916 WNND cases were registered, of which 2,081 (71.4%), and 383 (13.1%) resulted in the hospitalisation and death of the patient, respectively. Calendar year, RUC/country, age, sex, clinical criteria, and epi-link were associated with WNND diagnosis. Hospitalisation was associated with calendar year and RUC/country; whereas death was associated with age, sex and country. Our results support previous findings on WNND associated variables (most notably age and sex); while by observing the whole population of WNND cases in the considered area and period, they also allow for stronger generalizations, conversely to the majority of previous studies, which used sample populations.

Exacerbated High‐Temperature Calendar Aging of SiOx‐Graphite Electrode Induced by Interparticle Lithium Crosstalk

AbstractSilicon oxide‐graphite (SiOx‐G) composites are promising anode materials for building practical high‐energy Li‐ion batteries. To acquire long and safe operation of battery, extensive efforts are made to maintain stable Li storage of SiOx‐G against materials aging and the accompanied performance fade. While previous studies mostly focus on the cycling aging, the calendar aging occurred during battery storage at a high state of charge or high temperature has not received sufficient attention. In this work, a mechanism study on the calendar aging chemistry of fully lithiated SiOx‐G electrodes in half‐cells both at ambient and high temperature (60 °C) is performed. Unmodified SiOx is employed as active materials to inspect the change of thermodynamics properties in the bulk and at interfaces. By excluding the interference from cathode, it is revealed that besides aggravated parasitic reactions happening at interface, Li migration from the lithiated graphite to the vicinal SiOx particles is also responsible for calendar aging of SiOx‐G electrodes, and high‐temperature storage notably accelerates the aging process. This work enriches the fundamental understandings about the multifactor‐coupled aging process of anode materials and sheds lights on rational materials design toward improved calendar life of a high‐energy rechargeable battery.

The Epidemiology of Palmoplantar Pustulosis: An Analysis of Multiple Health Insurance Claims and Electronic Health Records Databases.

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by sterile pustules on the palms and soles. This study evaluated the epidemiology of PPP using claims and electronic health record (EHR) databases. Patients coded for PPP in the United States (US) and Japan from 2016 to 2020 were identified. Several PPP definitions were evaluated; the specific definition (≥2 visits coded for PPP, the second 31-730days after diagnosis) was chosen for characterizing PPP epidemiology. Baseline characteristics and pre- and post-diagnosis treatments were summarized. Prevalence and incidence rates were analyzed by calendar year, sex, age, and database. Prevalence and incidence of PPP were higher in Japan than the US. PPP prevalence increased over time. PPP occurred predominantly in adulthood and was more common among women. Features of metabolic syndromes, anxiety, and depression were more common among US PPP patients. Consistently high baseline use of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory/anti-rheumatic, and obstructive airway disease treatments was observed among PPP patients. Potential miscoding or misclassification of PPP limited this analysis. Prevalence estimates from databases may differ from field- and population-based approaches. The burden of PPP was greater in Japan than in the US. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate PPP epidemiology worldwide.

The burden of hospital admissions for skeletal dysplasias in Sri Lanka: a population-based study

BackgroundSkeletal dysplasias are a diverse group of rare disorders in the chondro-osseous tissue that can have a significant impact on patient’s functionality. The worldwide prevalence of skeletal dysplasias at birth is approximately 1:5000 births. To date, disease burden and trends of skeletal dysplasias in the Sri Lankan population have not been described in any epidemiological study. Our aim was to evaluate the burden and the current trends in hospital admissions for skeletal dysplasias in the Sri Lankan population. A retrospective evaluation of hospital admissions for skeletal dysplasia during 2017–2020 was performed using population-based data from the eIMMR database which covers government hospitals in the entire country. The trends in hospital admissions for skeletal dysplasias by calendar year, age, and types of skeletal dysplasia were described using appropriate summary statistics.ResultsRespective crude admission rates of skeletal dysplasias in the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were 5.2, 8.1, 8.0, and 6.5 per million population. A female predominance (1.4:1) was noted during the studied period. Of all reported cases the majority (n = 268; 44.2%) were children less than 4 years. Each year, 0–4 years age group represented 40–47% of the total hospital admissions. More than half of the cases were reported from Colombo (28.1%) and Kandy (25.4%) districts combined. 60% of cases were diagnosed as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Rising trends were observed in the hospital admissions for osteogenesis imperfecta, achondroplasia and osteopetrosis, while other skeletal dysplasia types collectively showed a relatively stable trend.ConclusionThis preliminary study revealed a female predominance of skeletal dysplasias and a relatively high admission rate of osteogenesis imperfecta in the Sri Lankan population. A distinct trend was not visible in the studied years probably due to the impact on hospital services due to COVID- Pandemic. Future research on the healthcare burden on families affected by skeletal dysplasia is required to better understand the overall cost of care and identify therapies that reduce admission rates. This study highlights the value of analysing population-based data on rare diseases to improve healthcare in low-resource countries.

Consequences of utilizing a redox-active polymeric binder in Li-ion batteries

Development of new polymeric binders can help enable the use of silicon-rich anodes in Li-ion batteries, by providing stronger adhesion to the active material particles. The compositional features that improve interfacial interactions and mechanical properties can often impart electronic conductivity and redox activity to these polymers, which are generally seen as beneficial to cell performance. Alternatively, it is also possible that the addition of charge-transferring centers to the electrode can accelerate cell degradation. Here, we use an aromatic polyimide (∼320 mA h/g of reversible capacity) to explore how a redox-active conductive polymer can affect cell performance. We demonstrate that the lithiated polymer is less stable than the traditional binders upon storage, leading to increased rates of calendar aging. Furthermore, we determine that the adhesion properties of the polymer deteriorate upon repeated cycling, to an extent that is proportional to the degree of delithiation of the binder. More critically, we establish that progressive degradation of the redox behavior of the polymer leads to the release of “extra” Li+ into the cell, which can give the false perception of good performance even under conditions of poor stability. Our work suggests that redox-active conductive binders can sometimes be detrimental to cell performance, and that works evaluating new polymers must include careful experimental validation under realistic conditions.

Formation of postural control in infants of the first year of life with impaired motor development, born at different gestation periods

The postural control development is a complex physiological process, which is the basis for the development of motor functions. Approaches to the assessment of postural control and the features of its formation in infants of the first year of life have not been studied enough. Purpose. To reveal the features of postural control development in infants of the first year of life with the consequences of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system in the form of impaired motor development, born at different gestational ages. Material and methods. We examined 120 infants of the first year of life with impaired motor development and 16 infants without neurological pathology. Infants with impaired motor development were divided into 4 subgroups: 1 (n = 30) — full-term, 2 (n = 30) — very preterm, 3 (n = 30) — moderately preterm, 4 (n = 30) — late premature children depending on their gestational age at birth. The examination was conducted at 3–4 months of calendar age in full-term and corrected in premature infants and included an assessment of the neurological status, a clinical assessment of postural control, and computer stabilometry. Results. Violation of postural control was found in infants of the first year of life with the consequences of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system in the form of impaired motor development, born at different gestational ages. These postural disorders may be associated with changes in muscle tone and impaired sensorimotor integration. Conclusion. Further research will enable the development of objective criteria for diagnosing postural disorders in infants of the first year of life, depending on the gestational age at birth. This will contribute to the timely start of treatment and rehabilitation measures, reducing the frequency and severity of disabling consequences of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system.

Research on the impact of high-temperature aging on the thermal safety of lithium-ion batteries

Understanding the thermal safety evolution of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature usage conditions bears significant implications for enhancing the safety management of aging batteries. This work investigates the thermal safety evolution mechanism of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature aging. Similarities arise in the thermal safety evolution and degradation mechanisms for lithium-ion batteries undergoing cyclic aging and calendar aging. Employing multi-angle characterization analysis, the intricate mechanism governing the thermal safety evolution of lithium-ion batteries during high-temperature aging is clarified. Specifically, lithium plating serves as the pivotal factor contributing to the reduction in the self-heating initial temperature. Additionally, the crystal structure of the cathode induced by the dissolution of transition metals and the reductive gas generated during aging attacking the crystal structure of the cathode lead to a decrease in thermal runaway triggering temperature. Furthermore, the loss of active materials and active lithium during aging contributes to a decline in both the maximum temperature and the maximum temperature rise rate, ultimately indicating a decrease in the thermal hazards of aging batteries.

Changes in incidence trends of meningioma in Finland, 1990–2017: analysis of Finnish Cancer Registry data

Background Meningiomas are the most common primary neoplasm of the central nervous system. Previous research on the incidence of meningioma in Finland showed an increase in the age-standardized incidence rate over three decades (1968–1997). In this study, we analysed meningioma incidence in Finland during 1990–2017. Materials and methods Data on 9842 meningioma patients were obtained from the Finnish Cancer Registry, and population size by calendar year, sex, and age group from Statistics Finland. The European Standard Population was used to calculate age-standardized incidence rates. Poisson regression was used to evaluate differences by sex and age, and joinpoint regression to examine changes in trend. Results At the beginning of the study period, the age-standardized incidence of meningioma for men was 2.35/100,000 and for women 6.96/100,000. In the end, it was 4.09/100,000 and 10.19/100,000, respectively. The annual percent change (APC) for women was +4.6 (95% confidence interval, CI 3.10 to 6.20) from 1990 to 2001 and −1.0 (95% CI −1.70 to −0.30) from 2001 to 2017. For men, the APC was +3.1 (95% CI 0.80–5.40) during 1990–2002 and −0.9 (95% CI −2.10 to 0.30) in 2002–2017. The incidence of meningioma in women was 2.8 times higher than in men (rate ratio 2.81; 95% CI 2.68–2.94). Conclusions Meningioma incidence increased in both sexes from 1990, but the trend reversed in 2001–2002. Medical imaging or risk factors do not appear to explain the changes.

Estimation of Perspectives of Sapling Development of <i>Quercus robur</i> L. in the Wood Coenoses of Moscow Region

The perspectives of transition of the immature and virginal saplings of Quercus robur L. to the A1 and A2 canopy sublayers have been analyzed. The studies have been conducted in the different forest types within the Southern Moscow region. For the estimation of the phytosociological role an individual could claim we applied morphometric and architectural methods. We measured height, trunk diameter, crown projection, calendar age and lengths of five trunk increments in a row. We considered growth habit, configuration and branching of the trunk and of the branches themselves. Four degrees of an individual’s prospect have been identified. 0 – an individual will not go beyond the level of low shrubs. 1 – an individual will reach the level of high shrubs and can start fruiting. 2 – an individual will reach the A2 canopy sublayer. 3 – an individual will reach the A1 canopy sublayer. From the degree 0 to the degree 3 an increase in the values of the trunk increments and branching intensity was noted.

Type 1 Diabetes Incidence Trends in a Cohort of Turkish Children and Youth.

The aim was to analyze the incidence trend and annual average incidence change of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in the population <18 years of age in Malatya province. Medical files of patients followed up with T1DM in pediatric endocri- nology clinics were reviewed. The data for the child census was taken from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), and T1DM incidence was analyzed according to the calendar year, gender, and age groups. Recently diagnosed T1DM patients per 100 000 children per year were calculated. In addition, the trend in annual incidence change over the period 2007-2019 was analyzed. The mean incidence of T1DM during the 13 years was 13.1/105 child years (13.8/105 child years for girls and 12.4/105 child years for boys). During the 13-year follow-up period, a sig- nificant increasing trend in the incidence of T1DM was detected. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was 8.3%. According to age groups, the average AAPC was 8.1% between 0 and 4 years old, 9.4% between 5 and 9 years old, 12.1% between 10 and 14 years old, and 30.1% between 15 and 17 years old. The incidence of T1DM in children under 18 years of age in Malatya, one of the larg- est cities in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, was determined as 13.1/105 child years in the last 13 years and the average annual increase rate was 8.3%.

Trends in infection-related and infection-unrelated cancer incidence among people with and without HIV infection in Ontario, Canada, 1996-2020: a population-based matched cohort study using health administrative data.

People with HIV infection are at higher risk for certain cancers than the general population. We compared trends in infection-related and infection-unrelated cancers among people with and without HIV infection. We conducted a retrospective population-based matched cohort study of adults with and without HIV infection using linked health administrative databases in Ontario, Canada. Participants were matched on birth year, sex, census division (rurality), neighbourhood income quintile and region of birth. We followed participants from cohort entry until the earliest of date of cancer diagnosis, date of death, Nov. 1, 2020, or date of loss to follow-up. Incident cancers identified from Jan. 1, 1996, to Nov. 1, 2020, were categorized as infection-related or-unrelated. We examined calendar periods 1996-2003, 2004-2011 and 2012-2020, corresponding to the early combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), established cART and contemporary cART eras, respectively. We used competing risk analyses to examine trends in cumulative incidence by calendar period, age and sex, and cause-specific hazard ratios (HRs). We matched 20 304 people with HIV infection to 20 304 people without HIV infection. A total of 2437 cancers were diagnosed, 1534 (62.9%) among infected people and 903 (37.0%) among uninfected people. The risk of infection-related cancer by age 65 years for people with HIV infection decreased from 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.6%-22.3%) in 1996-2011 to 10.0% (95% CI 7.9%-12.1%) in 2012-2020. Compared to uninfected people, those with HIV infection had similar HRs of infection-unrelated cancer but increased rates of infection-related cancer, particularly among younger age groups (25.1 [95% CI 13.2-47.4] v. 1.9 [95% CI 1.0-3.7] for age 18-39 yr v. ≥ 70 yr); these trends were consistent when examined by sex.Interpretation: We observed significantly higher rates of infection-related, but not infection-unrelated, cancer among people with HIV infection than among uninfected people. The elevated rate of infection-related cancer in 2012-2020 highlights the importance of early and sustained antiretroviral therapy along with cancer screening and prevention measures.

A Review of the Epigenetic Clock: Emerging Biomarkers for Asthma and Allergic Disease.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a dynamic, age-dependent epigenetic modification that can be used to study interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Environmental exposures during critical periods of growth and development may alter DNAm patterns, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases such as asthma and allergies. One method to study the role of DNAm is the epigenetic clock-an algorithm that uses DNAm levels at select age-informative Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) dinucleotides to predict epigenetic age (EA). The difference between EA and calendar age (CA) is termed epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and reveals information about the biological capacity of an individual. Associations between EAA and disease susceptibility have been demonstrated for a variety of age-related conditions and, more recently, phenotypes such as asthma and allergic diseases, which often begin in childhood and progress throughout the lifespan. In this review, we explore different epigenetic clocks and how they have been applied, particularly as related to childhood asthma. We delve into how in utero and early life exposures (e.g., smoking, air pollution, maternal BMI) result in methylation changes. Furthermore, we explore the potential for EAA to be used as a biomarker for asthma and allergic diseases and identify areas for further study.

Mechanical Impacts from Cycling on Silicon Calendar Aging Measurements

Much of the silicon anodes for lithium ion batteries literature concentrates on the volume expansion of silicon leading to poor cycle life. Recently, the poor calendar life of silicon has become more of a focus. Calendar aging is typically measured by long periods of open circuit voltage (OCV) that are intermittently interrupted with a reference performance test (RPT) to quantify performance and capacity fade. The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC protocol calls for an RPT once a month with daily voltage pulses to keep the state of charge the same during the rest. If the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is unstable and there is substantial volumetric changes during cycling, as is the case with silicon, the frequency and amount of cycling interruption may impact how calendar life is quantified. It was hypothesized that an SEI that equilibrates during a rest may be disrupted enough during RPT cycling that the SEI passivation is decreased and the start of the next rest will result in greater irreversible lithium inventory consumption to rebuild the SEI that was lost during cycling. To test this, a specially designed variable OCV-RPT protocol was applied to silicon – NMC622 full cells. It was found that for all rest durations, time since assembly, rather than cycling, dominated capacity fade, indicating that calendar aging is likely primarily governed by chemical SEI degradation during rest rather than mechanical SEI degradation during RPTs.This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office under the Silicon Consortium Project, directed by Brian Cunningham, and managed by Anthony Burrell. This work was conducted in part by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission Laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

SECM as a Direct Method to Track Changes in Silicon Passivation

Silicon is a promising next-generation anode to increase energy density over current state of the art graphite anodes. Despite much progress in improving the cycling of silicon electrodes, the calendar life is still problematic. In this work, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to track the reactivity of the surface of a silicon thin film over time to better understand the role of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during calendar aging. The passivation of silicon was found to decrease with increasing time and potential relative to Li/Li+. Along with the decrease in passivation with time, the homogeneity of passivation decreases. Despite some local “hot spots” of reactivity, within resolution limits (tip radius of 12.5 μm), the changes in passivation seemed to be global SEI failure rather than local (for example, cracking). In all cases, the delithiated silicon was less passivated than the lithiated silicon. When delithiated up to 1.5 V versus Li/Li+ the surface was found to be more reactive than the pristine silicon surface. This could potentially be the result of destabilization of the surface by SEI oxidation. When the cell was only delithiated up to 0.75 V versus Li/Li+, the surface was still passivating, but still less so than the lithiated surface. This indicates that the potential of the anode should be kept at or below ∼ 0.75 V Li/Li+ for half cell and full cell cycling to prevent decreasing SEI passivation.This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office under the Silicon Consortium Project, directed by Brian Cunningham, and managed by Anthony Burrell. This work was conducted in part by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission Laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.