Citations

Pollen exposure drives allergic disease in millions of Americans, yet no standardized, publicly available national pollen dataset has existed until now. We describe the first nationally standardized and publicly available dataset of pollen season timing and airborne pollen concentrations. The data were derived from the National Allergy Bureau™ (NAB™), the only pollen and mold measuring network in the United States certified by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), and curated, processed, and disseminated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2003–2024 dataset provides standardized measures of (1) taxa-specific historical average main pollen season (MPS) concentrations and timing (e.g., start dates, peak dates, end dates, season length); (2) taxa-specific yearly MPS concentrations and timing; (3) grouped weekly MPS concentrations, levels, and timing; and (4) grouped daily pollen levels and MPS timing. Pollen concentrations are reported as pollen grains per cubic meter (PPCM). MPS timing is computed using a 3-day consecutive method: season start occurs after the first occurrence of three consecutive days with concentrations > 1.0 PPCM; season peak is the day of maximum concentration; and season end occurs after the first occurrence of three consecutive days with concentrations < 1.0 PPCM after the peak. Historical average timing is calculated in a 365-day-of-year format and converted to calendar dates using 2024 as a reference year for display and consistency. By combining long-term data from monitoring sites across the country, this dataset shows how pollen levels vary over time and across geographic locations. This resource supports tracking pollen trends, linking pollen with weather and climate factors, and informing public health action, clinical care, and communication about population exposure and the impact to allergic diseases such as asthma and hay fever.

Abstract Background Data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) acute respiratory infection (ARI) among community-dwelling U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 years, particularly those with high-risk conditions (HRC), remain limited. This study estimated incidence and attack rates of RSV-ARI and RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in adults with and without HRCs. Methods A multistate, community-based prospective cohort of adults aged 18 to 64 years with and without HRCs was followed from October 2022 to September 2024. Incidence rates and annual attack rates of RSV-ARI and RSV-LRTD were calculated by HRC presence and age group. Results Of 3375 adults with at least 1 HRC, the RSV-ARI incidence rate was 17.9 per 1000 person-years (attack rates: year 1, 1.87%; year 2, 1.56%), compared with 14.8 per 1000 person-years (year 1, 1.33%; year 2, 1.50%) among adults without HRCs. RSV-LRTD incidence was 10.0 per 1000 person-years in adults with HRCs versus 5.7 per 1000 person-years in those without. Asthma, congenital immunodeficiency, and immunosuppressive medication use were associated with increased incidence of RSV-ARI and RSV-LRTD; whereas adults with solid organ transplant and chronic kidney disease had a significantly higher incidence rate of RSV-LRTD compared to those without these conditions. Adults aged 18 to 49 years with HRCs had significantly higher RSV-LRTD incidence (9.6 vs 4.3 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment for age and sex, having ≥1 HRC was associated with a 62% increased RSV-LRTD risk, rising to 117% among adults aged 18 to 49 years. Conclusions Adults with HRCs—particularly asthma, congenital immunodeficiency, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppressive medication use, and solid organ transplant—experienced higher RSV-ARI and RSV-LRTD incidence. The elevated RSV-LRTD burden was most pronounced in adults aged 18 to 49 years with HRCs.

Abstract Background An accurate discrete spot scanning (DSS) beam delivery time (BDT) model is essential, particularly as 4D dynamic dose accumulation calculations rely on machine‐specific time models for reliable interplay evaluation. Purpose To derive a BDT model for a synchrotron‐based Hitachi Probeat PBS proton system from oscilloscope measurements of key BDT structures, including multi‐energy extraction (MEE) characteristics. Methods Key BDT structures were characterized using oscilloscope measurements, supplemented by delivery log files where appropriate. Spot‐to‐spot scanning trajectories were visualized using a CROSSmini 2D strip ionization chamber (Liverage Biomedical Inc, Taiwan) via the dose‐driven continuous scanning (DDCS) mode. The MEE design and MEE charge recapture efficiencies were also characterized. In addition, the impact of the number of delivered spots on both the extractable fraction of charge and MEE recapture efficiency was investigated. Results An improved synchrotron‐based BDT model was derived that incorporates dead times between radiofrequency knockout (RFK) and high‐speed steering magnet (HSST) signals. Spot‐to‐spot movement follows a “hockey‐stick”‐like behavior where the effective spot‐to‐spot move time is governed by the slower axis. An energy‐dependent variation in the number of MEE layers deliverable per spill was also observed, with fewer MEE layers per spill (1–3) was observed in low and high energy ranges compared to the mid‐energy range (4–5), deviating from the nominal vendor value of five MEE layers per spill per block. A reduction in the extractable fraction of charge was observed with an increasing number of spots per spill, while increasing the number of delivered spots in the preceding layer significantly reduced the MEE recapture efficiency. Conclusion MEE characteristics should be incorporated into synchrotron‐based time models for accurate beam delivery modeling. The methodology presented here also provides a framework for centers seeking to derive machine‐specific delivery time models for their proton systems.

Abstract Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies of follicular lymphoma (FL) have revealed heterogeneity among malignant B (MB) cells and selected components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), but have been constrained by relatively small sample sizes and a lack of spatial context. We performed comprehensive cellular profiling and spatial dissection of over five million cells by integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) from 182 samples (FL, n = 167; control, n = 15) with single-cell spatial transcriptomics (ST) from 386 samples (FL, n = 365; control, n = 21). After stringent quality control, 1,289,073 and 3,968,427 cells from snRNA-seq and ST data, respectively, were analyzed. Unsupervised clustering of snRNA-seq data identified 58 TME cell subtypes. To extend this classification to the ST dataset, we integrated snRNA-seq and ST data by co-embedding them into a shared principal component space, enabling robust batch correction and cell-type label transfer across modalities. Using this supervised annotation framework, ST data recapitulated 54 TME cell subtypes. MB, proliferating MB (MBprolif), and healthy B (HB) cells were classified using sample-level unsupervised clustering in ST. Macrophages exhibited previously uncharacterized heterogeneity in transcriptomic profiles and spatial distribution. We identified CXCL13-expressing macrophage subtypes with high intra- and peri-follicular abundance, termed follicular macrophages (FMs). Non-negative matrix factorization of intrafollicular cell fractions identified five TME archetypes: FM, follicular stroma, two follicular T, and HB archetypes. The FM archetype was enriched for intrafollicular macrophages, including FMs, and showed a significantly higher proportion of grade 3A/3B cases (53.4%) compared to other archetypes (≤16.5%). It was also associated with a higher frequency of high tumor burden requiring treatment initiation rather than a watch-and-wait (WW) approach. Among patients managed by WW, those with the FM archetype showed significantly shorter event-free survival (EFS) compared to those with non-FM archetypes, whereas this association was not observed among treated patients. The percentage of intrafollicular macrophages (IFMP) showed excellent predictive performance for the FM archetype (area under the curve: 0.90). IFMP calculated in a published multiplex spatial protein imaging dataset from an independent cohort of 242 FL patients validated the associations between high IFMP and both pathology grade 3A/3B and shorter EFS in WW patients. Consistently, spatial neighborhood and cell–cell communication analyses revealed co-localization of FMs and MBprolif cells, forming a distinct niche with activated signaling mediated by FM-derived CXCL13, APRIL, and BAFF. Our integrative multi-modal analysis defines previously unrecognized cellular heterogeneity and spatial architecture in FL and highlights macrophage-enriched follicular ecosystems associated with aggressive clinicopathological features, providing a framework for improved biological understanding and patient management. Citation Format: Yoshiaki Abe, Bijal Thakkar, Atish Kizhakeyil, Ashley Wilson, Andrew L. Feldman, Jared Henderson, Amy Ayers, Sara Borgschatz, R. Andrew Harkins, Priya Lakra, Daisuke Kaji, Jonathon B. Cohen, David Russler-Germain, Eric Mou, Francisco Vega, Jennifer Chapman, Giorgio Inghirami, Carla Casulo, Izidore S. Lossos, Jean L. Koff, Chijioke Nze, Peter Martin, Sergei Syrbu, Kiran Vij, David L. Jaye, James R. Cerhan, Christopher R. Flowers, Anne J. Novak, Richard Burack, Dai Chihara, Mamiko Sakata-Yanagimoto, Joshua Tobin, Xubin Li, Michael R. Green. Spatially resolved microenvironment profiling reveals distinct follicular lymphoma archetypes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: From Discovery to Clinical Impact; 2026 Jun 24-27; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2026;7(3_Suppl):Abstract nr A049.

Abstract Background: Although some vaccines seem to be associated with a lower risk of lymphoma, their impact on outcomes is largely unknown. Methods: Data from a large prospective lymphoma cohort study were utilized to estimate associations of self-reported history of vaccination against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, and yellow fever with event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: None of the vaccines were associated with EFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77–1] or OS (HRs 0.96–1.04). Similarly, there were no significant associations between the vaccines and outcomes for each lymphoma subtype. Conclusions: Prior vaccination against selected viruses was not associated with EFS or OS among patients with lymphoma. Impact: We did not find evidence for an impact of prior vaccination on lymphoma prognosis.

Précis: Glaucoma patients of similar age and educational level, compared with healthy individuals, exhibit a greater number of saccades and fixations during eye-tracking-aloud reading, resulting in reduced reading speed. Purpose: To evaluate reading performance in patients with glaucoma compared with controls using an eye tracker and to explore the potential confounding effects of patients’ contrast sensitivity and cognition. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 111 participants (57 with glaucoma and 54 controls) with a best-corrected visual acuity of ≥0.5 logMAR. Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and contrast sensitivity was measured with the Freiburg Visual Acuity and Contrast Test. A reading performance evaluation was conducted using the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test displayed on slides on a computer screen. Reading speed was calculated in words per minute, and an eye tracker was used to analyze saccade and fixation patterns during the reading task. Results: Mean age was 61.8 (±11.6) and 66.5 (±13.7) in the glaucoma and control groups, respectively ( P =0.05). Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.18 (±0.16) and 0.04 (±0.10) logMAR in the glaucoma and control groups, respectively ( P <0.001). Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 21.8 (±3.5) in the glaucoma and 21.4 (±4.0) in the control group ( P =0.566). A total of 26% of the glaucoma group and 33% of the control group had at least a primary education. Controls read faster and showed fewer saccades and fixations than patients with glaucoma ( P <0.05) across all 5 slides. Conclusions: Patients with glaucoma exhibit poorer reading performance, as evidenced by eye-tracking data, compared with controls of similar age, cognitive function, and educational level.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting 10% to 15% of reproductive-aged women. The urinary tract is the second most common extragenital site of endometriosis after the gastrointestinal tract, with a prevalence of 15% to 50% of women with deep endometriosis (DE). The urinary bladder is the most common site of urinary tract involvement (85%), followed by the ureter (10%), kidney (4%), and urethra (2%). Urinary bladder (anterior compartment) and ureter (mediolateral compartment) involvement are considered different disease entities. Patients with bladder involvement are more symptomatic with dysuria, urinary frequency, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Ureteral involvement is more commonly due to extrinsic compression, but may be intrinsic, involving the ureteral mucosa or muscularis. Hematuria is a rare presenting symptom of both bladder and ureteral involvement. Malignant transformation of urinary tract endometriosis is rare; however, DE involvement of the urinary tract may be mistaken for malignancy. Radiologists need a high index of suspicion for endometriosis in reproductive-aged women, and recognition of urinary tract involvement is important for timely treatment.