Astrid J. Rodriguez-Acevedo

Scientific knowledge is produced in multiple languages but is predominantly published in English. This practice creates a language barrier to generate and transfer scientific knowledge between communities with diverse linguistic backgrounds, hindering the ability of scholars and communities to address global challenges and achieve diversity and equity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). To overcome those barriers, publishers and journals should provide a fair system that supports non-native English speakers and disseminates knowledge across the globe. We surveyed policies of 736 journals in biological sciences to assess their linguistic inclusivity, identify predictors of inclusivity, and propose actions to overcome language barriers in academic publishing. Our assessment revealed a grim landscape where most journals were making minimal efforts to overcome language barriers. The impact factor of journals was negatively associated with adopting a number of inclusive policies whereas ownership by a scientific society tended to have a positive association. Contrary to our expectations, the proportion of both open access articles and editors based in non-English speaking countries did not have a major positive association with the adoption of linguistically inclusive policies. We proposed a set of actions to overcome language barriers in academic publishing, including the renegotiation of power dynamics between publishers and editorial boards.

Background: Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway dysregulation is implicated in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development. To evaluate the possible wider role of SHH gene variants in skin carcinogenesis, we assessed associations of genes in the SHH pathway with lifetime development of any keratinocyte cancer (KC), and with developing either BCCs or squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) exclusively, in a 25-year prospective, population-based study of 1,621 Australians. Methods: We genotyped 795 unrelated adults with available blood samples: 311 cases with any KC (186 developing BCCs-only, 55 SCCs-only, 70 BCCs and SCCs) and 484 controls. We compared allele frequencies of 158 independent SNPs across 43 SHH genes between cases and controls, and performed a gene-based analysis. Results: We found associations between SNP rs4848627 (GLI2) (related to DNA synthesis in keratinocytes) and development of any KC (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.06–2.13, P < 0.01) and SCCs exclusively (OR = 2.12; 95%CI = 1.39–3.23, P < 0.01). SNP rs3217882 located in CCND2 was associated with exclusive BCC development (OR = 1.43, CI = 1.12–1.82, P < 0.01). The gene-based analysis suggested an association of PRKACG (protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit gamma) with any KC (P = 0.013). Conclusion: We conclude that variants located in genes in the SHH pathway may are involved in SCC as well as BCC development.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause superficial epidermal infections and are only cleared if they trigger an immunological response. We analysed SNPs that had previously been investigated for association with HPV infection to determine whether they play a role in the serological response to cutaneous beta-HPVs in an Australian population. Serum samples from 1,142 participants were analysed for seropositivity against the L1 protein of 21 beta-HPV types. Associations between seropositivity to beta-HPV types and the SNPs rs9264942 (HLA-C; HPV-9, p = 0.022, HPV-15, p = 0.043 and HPV-17, p = 0.004), rs12449858 (EVER1; HPV-23, p = 0.029), and rs2981451 (FGFR2; HPV-22, p = 0.049) were identified. We found that certain SNPs could be involved in the serological response to beta-HPVs.

Evaluating genes involved in the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of epilepsy drugs is critical to better understand pharmacoresistant epilepsy. We reviewed the pharmacogenetics literature on ...

Exposure to artificial tanning devices is carcinogenic to humans, and government regulations to restrict or ban indoor tanning appear to be increasing. We evaluated changes in the international prevalence of indoor tanning among adolescents and adults after artificial tanning devices were classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2009. Systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Science databases were undertaken. Overall, 43 studies reporting 'ever' or 'past-year' indoor tanning exposure after 2009 were identified. We used metaregression analysis to evaluate the prevalence of indoor tanning over time. Random effects meta-analysis was used to summarize the prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents and adults according to sex, region and presence of age prohibitions. Global prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents for 2013-2018 was 6·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·3-10·6], 70% lower than the 22·0% (95% CI 17·2-26·8) prevalence for 2007-2012. Among adults, the prevalence was 10·4% (95% CI 5·7-16·3) for 2013-2018, a decrease of 35% from 18·2% for 2007-2012. Since 2009, the overall past-year prevalence among adolescents was 6·7% (95% CI 4·4-9·6) and 12·5% (95% CI 9·5-15·6) among adults. The prevalence of tanning indoors in the past year was similar in North America (adults, 12·5%; adolescents, 7·6%) and Europe (adults, 11·1%; adolescents, 5·1%). In 2009, three countries had regulations restricting indoor tanning, compared with 26 countries today. Prevalence of indoor tanning has declined substantially and significantly in adolescents and adults since the 2009 IARC statement, reflecting the rise in regulations that limit this source of unnecessary exposure to carcinogenic ultraviolet radiation. What is already known about this topic? Indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of melanoma. A meta-analysis of worldwide indoor tanning prevalence for 1986-2012 found a past-year prevalence of 18% in adolescents and 14% in adults, with higher prevalences during the period 2007-2012. Policies to regulate indoor tanning began to be implemented across the globe in 2009. Only one study carried out in the U.S.A. has evaluated the efficacy of such policies in reducing indoor tanning prevalence. What does this study add? For the period 2013-2018, we found indoor tanning prevalences of 6·7% in adolescents and 11·9% in adults. This implies a reduction in indoor tanning use of 70% in adolescents and 35% in adults during the last 10 years. Our study encourages policy makers to strengthen indoor tanning regulations that reduce sunbed use among the general population in order to produce maximum public health benefit.