SUMMARY AIDS caused by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection is associated with gastrointestinal disease, systemic immune activation and, in cross sectional studies, changes in the enteric virome. Here we performed a longitudinal study of a vaccine cohort to define the natural history of changes in the fecal metagenome in SIV-infected monkeys. Matched rhesus macaques were either uninfected or intrarectally challenged with SIV, with a subset receiving the Ad26 vaccine, an adenovirus vector expressing the viral Env/Gag/Pol antigens. Progression of SIV infection to AIDS was associated with increased detection of potentially pathogenic viruses and bacterial enteropathogens. Specifically, adenoviruses were associated with an increased incidence of gastrointestinal disease and AIDS-related mortality. Viral and bacterial enteropathogens were largely absent from animals protected by the vaccine. These data suggest that the SIV-associated gastrointestinal disease is associated with the presence of both viral and bacterial enteropathogens and protection against SIV infection by vaccination prevents enteropathogen emergence.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in the United States. There is currently a lack of safe and effective radiosensitizers that can enhance the effectiveness of radiation treatment (RT) for Pca. Clonogenic assay, PCNA staining, Quick Cell Proliferation assay, TUNEL staining and caspase-3 activity assay were used to assess proliferation and apoptosis in DU145 Pca cells. RT-PCR/IHC were used to investigate the mechanisms. We found that the percentage of colonies, PCNA staining intensity, and the optical density value of DU145 cells were decreased (RT/GT vs. RT). TUNEL + cells and the relative caspase-3 activity were increased (RT/GT vs. RT). Compared to RT, the anti-proliferative effect of RT/GT correlated with increased expression of the anti-proliferative molecule p16. Compared to RT, the pro-apoptotic effect of RT/GT correlated with decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2. GT enhances RT sensitivity of DU145 by inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis.

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Within a matter of 48 hours, the promotion of the article entitled "Prevalence of unprofessional social media content among young vascular surgeons," aptly demonstrated the power of social media and the dangers of unconscious bias as it spread across Twitter with the #MedBikini tag. In response, vascular surgeons from around the world have come together in a call to action to address the article and highlight the misogynistic, racist, and oppressive issues facing young surgeons today. We, as female vascular surgery trainees, would like to make our own call to action. The publication of this article (now appropriately retracted) has encouraged important dialogue among female vascular surgeons, male colleagues who support #HeforShe initiatives, other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in surgery, and the future generation of surgeons who will pave the path forward. We have converged to discuss the current climate of our specialty and have determined that now is an opportunity for change.It is essential that we pursue ethics, as well as excellence, in surgical practice and research. The inherent conscious and unconscious biases, poor study design, and unethical data collection methods within the article have demonstrated a critical flaw within the editorial process of the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS). We are disappointed to find ourselves represented by the article. The publication was both tone deaf toward, and discriminatory against, us as professionals, trainees, and women. As vascular surgeons, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. Our call to action for the JVS includes the following:1. Re-examine the review process for publication of ethical abstracts from regional and national meetings and manuscripts, and provide training in ethical research for all editors and reviewers.

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