5950Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio could predict adverse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing with aging of the population, whereas the mechanisms of HFpEF remain poorly understood. It was reported that systemic inflammation is associated with pathophysiology of HFpEF. Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is a marker of systemic inflammation, which predicts clinical outcomes in various cancers. However, the prognostic value of LMR has not yet been elucidated in patients with HFpEF.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of LMR on clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF.

Methods and results

We prospectively analyzed 414 consecutive patients with HFpEF. Preserved EF was defined as an EF ≥50%. During a median follow-up period of 740 days, there were 111 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). When patients were divided into tertiles according to LMR, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the low LMR was associated with the greatest risk for MACE. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that the low LMR was significantly associated with MACE after adjustment for confounding factors.

Conclusions

Low LMR could predict poor clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF. LMR is a feasible marker for predicting MACE in patients with HFpEF.

129Elevated plasma xanthine oxidoreductase activity predicts cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background

The pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains poorly understood, although reactive oxygen species (ROS) is reportedly involved in underlying mechanisms. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is the rate-limiting enzyme of purine metabolism that plays an important role in producing uric acid, and also generates the ROS. However, the impact of plasma XOR activity on the clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF remains unclear.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess whether plasma XOR activity predicts cardiovascular events in patients with HFpEF.

Methods and results

We measured plasma XOR activity in 257 patients with HFpEF. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on XOR activity: low XOR group (<33 pmol/h/mL, n=45), normal XOR group (33 - 120 pmol/h/mL, n=160), and high XOR group (≥120 pmol/h/mL, n=52). During a median follow-up period of 809 days, there were 74 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the patients with high XOR activity were at greatest risk for MACEs. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that high XOR activity was significantly associated with MACEs after adjustment for confounding factors. Furthermore, we divided the patients into 4 groups according to the presence of high XOR activity and/or hyperuricemia. Cox multivariate hazard regression analysis revealed that the patients with high XOR activity were associated with cardiovascular events in patients with HFpEF, regardless of whether hyperuricemia was present or not.

Conclusions

Elevated plasma XOR activity is significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF. Inhibition of XOR could be a potential therapy for HFpEF.

P1918Comparison of the clinical outcome of pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon and radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with pulmonary vein triggers

Background

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency (RF) or cryoballoon (CB) has been an established treatment for atrial fibrillation. PVI using RF is the most common method with a rather complex technique of a point-by-point tissue heating and navigation of electro-anatomical-guided mapping system, and PVI with CB is also the common method with a relatively simple technique of freezing balloon occlusion. These 2 types of ablation are comparable in terms of the efficacy of the PVI procedure.

Purpose

The data on the clinical outcome of each AF type with PV triggers has been limited. We compared the outcome of success rate between RF and CB group with respect to each AF type, and further assessed the efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation for AF patients with the origin of only PV.

Methods

A total of 3402 AF patients (age 64±11; 2463 males) underwent initial PVI from May 2009 to July 2018 (PAF: 67%, non-PAF: 37%). Radiofrequency using irrigation-tip catheter was employed to 1796 patients since May 2009 (RF-PAF: 55%, RF-non-PAF: 45%). Second-generation cryoballoon was employed to other 1606 patients since September 2014 (CB-PAF: 81%, CB-non-PAF: 19%). In CB group, PV touch-up ablation with RF was needed for 113 patients (7%) (CB-PAF: 6%, CB-non-PAF: 13%; p<0.001). After PVI, additional ablation for non-PV foci was undergone after the induction by using isoproterenol infusion and rapid atrial pacing (RF-AF: 34%, CB-AF: 32%; p=0.107).

Results

In all PAF patients, AF free survival rate was significantly superior in CB group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB 83.2%, RF 75.2%; log-rank p<0.001). The percentage of patients with non-PV foci was almost equivalent in both group (CB 30%, RF 31%, p=0.644). And in PAF patients with only PV-foci, AF free survival rate was significantly superior in CB group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB 85.0%, RF 78.8%; log-rank p<0.001). On the other hand, in all non-PAF patients, AF free survival rate was almost equivalent in both non-PAF group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB 65.5%, RF-non-PAF 70.0%; log-rank p=0.9). The percentage of patients with non-PV foci was almost equivalent in both group (CB 40%, RF 39%, p=0.731), And in non-PAF patients with only PV-foci, AF free survival rate was almost equivalent in both non-PAF group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB 69.7%, RF 73.0%; log-rank p=0.376).

Conclusions

Our study showed better outcome of PVI with CB for PAF patients with PV triggers, and indicated the non-inferiority of PVI with CB for non-PAF patients with PV triggers to PVI with RF.

P6380The impact of coronary artery disease to predict mortality and neurological outcome in post-cardiac arrest patients

Background

Some studies reported that performing coronary angiography (CAG) for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is effective for the prognosis and neurological outcome. However, the impact of complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) on CAG findings has not been evaluated sufficiently.

Purpose

We sought to investigate the complexity of CAD to predict the prognosis and neurological outcome in patients with OHCA.

Methods

A total of 1382 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were transferred to our critical care center, of which 252 cardiovascular arrest patients achieving the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were extracted from the institutional consecutive database between January 2015 and December 2018. Among those patients, we performed CAG for 160 patients. To predict mortality in hospital and neurological outcome at 30 days, we investigated basic patients' characteristics, pre-hospital information, coronary anatomical angiographical findings.

Results

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) (P=0.001), younger age (P=0.007), pre-hospital ROSC (P<0.001) and normal coronary artery on CAG findings (P=0.014) were associated with low 30-days mortality in hospital. VF (P=0.003), younger age (P=0.004), pre-hospital ROSC (P<0.001), bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (P=0.043) and normal coronary artery (P=0.001) were associated with good neurological outcome (cerebral-performance-category (CPC) =1 or 2) at 30 days. We further investigated 100 patients who had any coronary artery stenosis on CAG findings. Among these patients, 55 patients (55.0%) had multi-vessel coronary artery disease and 29 patients (29.0%) had at least a chronic total occlusion lesion. VF survivor (P=0.035), without previous history of CAD (P=0.008), pre-hospital ROSC (P=0.013), and Syntax score (P=0.002) were associated with low 30-days mortality. In multivariate analysis, Syntax score (OR 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.99; P=0.042) was independent predictor of mortality. Bystander CPR (P=0.001), pre-hospital ROSC (P<0.001) were associated with good neurological outcome at 30 days. Bystander CPR (OR 5.92; 95% CI 2.01–17.5; P<0.001) and pre-hospital ROSC (OR 9.22; 95% CI 3.34–25.5; P<0.001) were predictive for good neurological outcome.

Conclusions

OHCA patients with any coronary stenosis had high mortality and bad neurological outcome in comparison with those who had normal coronary arteries. OHCA patients with CAD had complex lesions such as multi-vessel disease or chronic total occlusion lesions. The coronary complexity in patients with OHCA was a predictor of in-hospital 30-days mortality. However, pre-hospital care such as bystander CPR and pre-hospital ROSC were the most important to achieve good neurological outcome at 30 days in the present study.

P1626MicroRNA-21 deteriorates left ventricular reverse remodeling by promoting cardiac fibrosis in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

Background

Left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) contributes to better outcomes in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). It is reported that LVRR is associated with progression of cardiac fibrosis. MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as powerful regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression. We focused on miR-21, which plays a key role in pathogenesis of fibrosis in multiple organs. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of miR-21 on cardiac fibrosis and LVRR in patients with NICM.

Methods

We measured plasma miR-21 levels in 16 patients with NICM. LVRR was defined as increased LVEF by ≥10% and decreased LV end-diastolic diameter index by ≥10% from baseline data after optimal medication treatment at 1-year of follow-up. Further, we examined miR-21 expression and its potential role in cardiac fibrosis induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice and angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs).

Results

There were 12 patients without LVRR and 4 patients with LVRR. Plasma miR-21 levels were significantly higher in patients without LVRR compared with those with LVRR. In TAC mice heart, miR-21 levels were significantly increased and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), a main target of miR-21, was decreased. In vitro, miR-21 levels were significantly increased and its upstream transcriptional factor, activator protein 1 (AP-1), was activated by Ang II stimulation in NRCMs. After transfection of miR-21 specific inhibitor, PDCD4 levels were upregulated. Furthermore, AP-1 activity, expression of collagen type I, and α-smooth muscle actin levels were significantly decreased after miR-21 inhibition.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that miR-21/PDCD4/AP-1 feedback loop pathway was involved in LVRR in patients with NICM by promoting cardiac fibrosis. MiR-21 can be the therapeutic target in NICM.

5945Single nucleotide polymorphisms of PAR2 gene is associated with subclinical myocardial damage in the general population

Introduction

The protease activated receptor (PAR) 2 is a G protein-coupled receptor and expressed in cardiomyocytes, vascular cells, and leukocytes. Experimental studies demonstrated that PAR2 signaling is associated with adverse cardiac remodeling, heart failure, vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Recently, we and others demonstrated that subclinical myocardial damage is associated with cardiovascular mortality in general population. However, the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PAR2 gene on subclinical myocardial damage in general population is unclear.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate whether SNPs of PAR2 gene is associated with subclinical myocardial damage in general population.

Methods

The present study included 2,926 apparently healthy subjects (aged ≥40) who participated in a community-based health checkup. We investigated 639 SNPs and measured serum heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) as markers of subclinical myocardial damage.

Results

We found the association of SNPs rs616235 within a PAR2 gene with subclinical myocardial damage. The homozygous A-allele (AA), heterozygous (AG), and homozygous G-allele (GG) carriers of rs616235 were identified in 2084 (71%), 791 (27%), and 51 (2%) subjects, respectively. The prevalence rates of subclinical myocardial damage were 29% in AA carriers, 23% in AG carriers, and 18% in GG carriers. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the homozygous (AA) of rs616235 was independently associated with subclinical myocardial damage (odds ratio: 1.330, 95% confidence interval: 1.077–1.641, P=0.0080) after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions

Genetic variant of PAR2 gene was independently associated with subclinical myocardial damage in the general population.

P6379The impact of coronary artery evaluation and intervention to predict mortality and neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with extra corporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Background

Refractory cardiac arrest (CA), as defined by the absence of a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is associated with poor prognosis. Current guidelines advocate the use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for selected patients with CA. Although previous studies have reported the association of survival with some prognostic factors such as age, bystander CPR attempt, low-flow duration or lactate serum level, the impact of the evaluation of coronary artery by coronary angiography (CAG) and the revascularization of coronary artery stenosis have not been sufficiently elucidated.

Purpose

We sought to investigate impact of the CAG and the revascularization of coronary artery stenosis to predict mortality and neurological outcome at 30 days in out-of-hospital CA (OHCA) patients resuscitated by ECPR.

Methods

1382 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were transferred to our critical care center, of which 899 patients with refractory CA at the emergency department were extracted from the institutional consecutive database between January 2015 and December 2018. Among those patients, we performed ECPR for 85 patients, who were successfully resuscitated. To predict mortality in hospital and neurological outcome at 30 days, we investigated basic patients' characteristics, pre-hospital information, and post-hospital care including CAG and coronary revascularization.

Results

Among those who had first resuscitated by ECPR, 20 patients (23.5%) survived and 10 patients (11.8%) achieved good neurological outcome (cerebral-performance-category (CPC) =1 or 2) at 30 days. We performed CAG for 40 patients (47.1%) and revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention for 25 patients (29.4%). Younger age (P=0.037), CAG (P=0.001), PCI (P=0.001), and hypothermia therapy (P<0.001) were associated with low mortality. In the multivariate analysis, age (Odds ratio (OR) 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91–0.99; P=0.0025), PCI (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.15–17.6; P=0.031), and hypothermia therapy (OR 13.7; 95% CI 1.52–124; P=0.020) were independent predictors of 30-days survival. Without diabetes mellitus (P=0.024), CAG (P<0.001), PCI (P=0.006), and hypothermia therapy (P=0.038) were associated with good neurological outcome. PCI (OR 7.39; 95% CI 1.73–31.6; P<0.001) was independently predictive for good neurological outcome.

Conclusions

Successful PCI was an independent predictor of 30-days survival and good neurological outcome in OHCA patients who were resuscitated by ECPR.

P2672Coronary artery calcification on the whole body computed tomography predicts coronary artery disease and mortality in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Although the prompt evaluation of coronary artery in OHCA patients is recommended, it is not easy to identify the CAD by coronary artery angiography (CAG) because OHCA patients often exhibit unstable systemic condition after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The Agatston score, which is a popular calcium scoring of coronary artery calcification by computed tomography (CT), is useful for the risk stratification in patients suspected CAD. The impact of coronary artery calcification to predict the existence of CAD in OHCA patients has not been sufficiently elucidated. The usefulness of coronary artery calcification to predict mortality has also been unclear.

Purpose

We sought to assess the impact of evaluating the Agatston score to predict the existence of coronary artery stenosis and patients' mortality at 30 days in OHCA.

Method

A total of 748 OHCA patients were transferred to our critical care center, of which 126 cardiovascular arrest patients achieving the ROSC were extracted from the institutional database from January 2017 to December 2018. Among those patients, we performed the whole-body CT scanning in Emergency Department (ED) for 101 patients and evaluated coronary artery by CAG for 82 patients. We assessed their coronary artery calcifications on CT findings, calculating the Agatston score. We investigated the usefulness of the Agatston score to predict the existence of coronary artery stenosis on CAG findings, and patients' mortality at 30 days.

Result

Both the whole-body CT scanning and CAG were performed in 70 patients. Among those patients, 31 (44.3%) patients had any coronary artery stenosis on CAG findings. The Agatston score was significantly higher in those who had any coronary artery stenosis (p<0.01). The optimal cut off value of the Agatston score to predict the existence of coronary artery stenosis was 9.9 ((Area under the curve (AUC) 0.75; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.63 - 0.87). The positive predictive value to predict coronary artery stenosis was 72.5%. In the present study, 101 patients were eligible to be calculated the Agatston score. The Agatston score was significantly higher in those who was dead at 30 days (p=0.04). The optimal cut off value of the Agatston score to predict the 30-days mortality was 15.1 ((Area under the curve (AUC) 0.62; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.51 - 0.73). Among the patients who had lower Agatston score (<15.1), 22 (50%) patients survived at 30 days.

Conclusion

The Agatston score calculated by the whole-body CT scanning in ED is helpful to predict the existence of coronary artery stenosis in OHCA patients. And evaluating the Agatston score is useful to predict mortality in OHCA patients.

P2266The predictor of mortality and neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with non-ST-segment elevation

Background

The prognosis of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cause of OHCA. The prompt evaluation and revascularization for coronary artery in OHCA patients with ST-segment elevation are recommended because they often have CAD. However, OHCA patients without ST-segment elevation also have any coronary stenosis in the non-negligible proportion. The predictor of mortality and neurological outcome in OHCA patients with no ST-segment elevation has not been sufficiently elucidated.

Purpose

We sought to investigate the predictor of mortality and neurological outcome at 30 days in OHCA patients without ST-segment elevation.

Methods

A total of 1382 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were transferred to our critical care center, of which 252 cardiovascular arrest patients achieving the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were extracted from the institutional consecutive database between January 2015 and December 2018. Among those patients, 183 patients' electrocardiogram after ROSC were without ST-segment elevation. We performed coronary angiography (CAG) for 103 patients, who were eligible for final analysis. To predict mortality in hospital and neurological outcome at 30 days, we investigated basic patients' characteristics, pre-hospital information, post-hospital care.

Results

Any coronary stenosis was founded in 50 patients (48.5%). Male (P=0.007), older age (P<0.001), past history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (P=0.037) and diabetes mellitus (P=0.087) were associated with coronary artery stenosis on CAG findings. Age (OR 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.08; P<0.001), male (OR 5.33; 95% CI 1.37–20.7; P<0.001) were independent predictors of coronary artery stenosis. Among those who had stenosis, 34 patients (68.0%) survived and 27 patients (54.0%) achieved good neurological outcome (cerebral-performance-category (CPC) =1 or 2) at 30 days. Successful revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was not associated with low mortality (P=0.77). Past history of CAD (P=0.014) and high Syntax score (P=0.030) were associated with mortality. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (P-0.021), pre-hospital ROSC (P<0.001) was more frequent in patients with good neurological outcome. Pre-hospital ROSC (OR 14.7; 95% CI 3.1–69.3; P<0.001) was independently predictive for good neurological outcome.

Conclusions

Successful PCI for OHCA patients with no ST-segment elevation was not a predictor of mortality. CAD past history and complex CAD was associated with mortality. Pre-hospital information such as pre-hospital ROSC was important to achieve good neurological outcome.

P2462Left atrial appendage wall velocity evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography is a feasible parameter for predicting cardiac prognosis in patients with heart failure

Background

It was reported that left atrial (LA) remodeling is occurred in patients with heart failure (HF), and increased LA volume index (LAVI) is a feasible predictor for poor prognosis of HF. It was reported that LA remodeling is associated with LA appendage (LAA) dysfunction. We previously reported that LAA wall motion velocity (LAWV) obtained by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can noninvasively evaluate LAA dysfunction. However, it remains to be determined whether LAWV is useful for predicting poor prognosis in patients with HF.

Purpose

We investigated whether LAA dysfunction assessed by LAWV is associated with poor prognosis in patients with HF.

Methods

We performed TTE at discharge in 217 consecutive patients who hospitalized for HF (126 males, 71±13 years) and prospectively followed them up. LAWV was measured using Doppler tissue imaging at the LAA tip from the parasternal short-axis view on TTE imaging.

Results

There were 86 patients with cardiac events including 14 cardiac deaths and 72 rehospitalizations for HF during a median follow-up period of 404 days (interquartile range 168–748 days). LAWV was significantly lower in patients with cardiac events than in those without. LAWV was significantly decreased with advancing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction grade. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that significantly higher cardiac event rate was observed in patients with low LAWV (log-rank test, P=0.004). Cox multivariate hazard analysis revealed that LAWV was an independent predictor for cardiac events after adjusting for confounding factors (hazard ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.40–0.82, P<0.05). Further, we categorized the patients into 3 groups based on the median of LAWV and left atrial volume index (LAVI), and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with both low LAWV and high LAVI had the highest rate of cardiac events among 3 groups (log-rank test, P<0.001; Figure).

Figure 1

Conclusion

LAWV may be a feasible parameter for predicting cardiac prognosis in patients with HF.

P1919The assessment of the application and the efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Background

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using second generation cryoballoon (CB) ablation has become an established treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients. On the other hand, PVI with radiofrequency (RF) has been an established treatment for non-PAF patients, in addition to PAF patients.

Purpose

The data on second generation CB ablation for non-PAF patients is limited. We assessed the application of PVI with CB for non-PAF patients and compared the outcomes of success rate, radiational time, and procedural time.

Methods

A total of 2632 AF patients (age 64±10; 1873 males) underwent initial PVI from September 2014 to June 2018. Second-generation CB was employed to 1587 patients (CB-PAF: 80%, CB-non-PAF: 20%) and RF using irrigation-tip catheter was employed to other 1045 patients (RF-PAF: 40%, RF-non-PAF: 60%). In CB group, PV touch-up ablation with RF was needed for 113 patients (7%) (CB-PAF: 6%, CB-non-PAF: 13%; p<0.001). After PVI, additional ablation for non-PV foci was undergone after the induction by using ISP infusion and rapid atrial pacing.

Results

AF free survival rate was almost equivalent in both non-PAF group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB-non-PAF 66.3%, RF-non-PAF 69.8%; log-rank p=0.297). There was significantly difference in procedural time (CB-non-PAF 132±56min, RF-non-PAF: 189±52min, p<0.001), and radiation time (CB-non-PAF: 47±40min, RF-non-PAF: 75±31min, p<0.001). The percentage of patients with non-PV foci was significantly higher in CB group (CB-non-PAF 41%, RF-non-PAF 54%, p<0.001), and after excluding the patients with non-PV foci, AF free survival rate was almost equivalent in both group (2-years Kaplan-Meier event rate, CB-non-PAF 75.4%, RF-non-PAF 78.8%; log-rank p=0.577). On the other hand, in patients in CB, AF free survival rate was significantly superior in PAF group (2-years Kaplan-Meir event rate, CB-PAF 83.3%, CB-non-PAF 65.2%; log-rank p<0.001). There was significantly difference in procedural time (CB-PAF: 117±47min, CB-non-PAF: 132±56min, p<0.001), and radiation time (CB-PAF: 38±22min, CB-non-PAF: 46±27min, p<0.001). The percentage of patients with non-PV foci was significantly higher in non-PAF group (CB-PAF 30%, CB-non-PAF 41%, p<0.001), and after excluding the patients with non-PV foci, AF free survival rate was also significantly superior in PAF group (2-years Kaplan-Meier event rate, CB-PAF 85.1%, CB-non-PAF 69.8%; log-rank p<0.001).

Conclusions

For non-PAF patients with PV triggers, PVI with CB might be non-inferior to PVI with RF. Our study showed the efficacy of CB in terms of the shortening of procedural time, and the reduction of radiational exposure. PVI with CB for non-PAF patients was inferior to that for PAF patients.

P1615HECT-Type Ubiquitin E3 Ligase ITCH attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing Wnt signaling pathway

Background

The homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus (HECT)–type ubiquitin E3 ligase ITCH is an enzyme that plays an important role in ubiquitin proteasomal protein degradation. Dishevelled proteins (Dvl1, Dvl2 and Dvl3), which are involved in canonical Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway, play a role in cardiac hypertrophy.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine whether ITCH interacts with Dvls and prevents cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload.

Methods and results

We confirmed the protein interaction between ITCH and Dvls in cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of ITCH decreased protein expression levels of Dvls, phospho-GSK3β and β-catenin. Conversely, knockdown of ITCH using small interfering RNA augmented canonical Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway. Thoracic transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was performed in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of ITCH (ITCH-Tg) and wild-type (WT) mice. The canonical Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway was inhibited and cardiac hypertrophy was attenuated in ITCH-Tg mice compared with WT mice after TAC.

Overexpression of ITCH in cardiomyocytes

Conclusion

We demonstrated that ITCH targets Dvls for ubiquitin-proteasome degradation in cardiomyocytes and ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing canonical Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway.

First Detection of Photons with Energy beyond 100 TeV from an Astrophysical Source

We report on the highest energy photons from the Crab Nebula observed by the Tibet air shower array with the underground water-Cherenkov-type muon detector array. Based on the criterion of a muon number measured in an air shower, we successfully suppress 99.92% of the cosmic-ray background events with energies E>100  TeV. As a result, we observed 24 photonlike events with E>100  TeV against 5.5 background events, which corresponds to a 5.6σ statistical significance. This is the first detection of photons with E>100  TeV from an astrophysical source.

Ossified Metaplastic Spinal Meningioma Without Psammomatous Calcification: A Case Report

Meningiomas constitute approximately 25% of primary spinal cord tumors, and 1% to 5% are calcified. Ossification is a rare event and the etiology of ossification in meningiomas is not well known. We present the case of a 29-year-old female with a rare case of ossified thoracic spinal metaplastic meningioma. The tumor was successfully resected, and pathology confirmed ossified metaplastic meningioma. On histopathological examination, only mature bone tissue and tumor cells were present in the region containing no psammoma bodies, suggesting that the tumor cells had transitioned to mature osteocytes.

Emerging investigator series: investigation of mercury emission sources using Hg isotopic compositions of atmospheric mercury at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS), Japan

This study conducted mercury (Hg) isotopic analysis, which has been expected as a new indicator for understanding the behavior of atmospheric Hg. The dominant atmospheric Hg species, namely gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, Hg0), were collected at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS) in Okinawa, Japan, for evaluating possible source(s) and transformation process(es) of Hg. The Hg isotopic compositions of GEM samples showed that the mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) of δ202Hg and the mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of Δ199Hg ranged from -2.15‰ to 0.79‰ and from -0.32‰ to 0.00‰, respectively. The results were classified into two groups: (1) negative δ202Hg and near-zero Δ199Hg in summer and (2) near-zero δ202Hg and negative Δ199Hg in the other season. According to the NOAA Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the dominant air masses traveled from East Asia during winter and South and East Asia during summer. However, the air masses also traveled from mainland Japan and rotated around Okinawa before reaching CHAAMS. In contrast, clear positive correlations between δ202Hg values and CO and PM2.5 concentrations were observed during summer. A small peak of Ox concentration was observed at three atmospheric monitoring stations, namely Nago, Naha, and Miyako Island during summer. Since Miyako Island is located ∼370 km southwest of CHAAMS, the main emission source of GEM transported to CHAAMS was not from mainland Okinawa but traveled from the southwest during summer.

Nosocomial infection by human bocavirus and human rhinovirus among paediatric patients with respiratory risks

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial infections by respiratory viruses undetected by rapid tests are not often diagnosed. For paediatric patients with background diseases, nosocomial infection could be fatal.

AIM

To determine the relationship between developing symptoms by respiratory viruses undetectable by rapid tests and respiratory risks and to improve the management of infection control.

METHODS

Two episodes of nosocomial infection by human bocavirus (HBoV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) were retrospectively investigated in a tertiary hospital paediatric ward in Japan. Viruses were identified by polymerase chain reaction to determine infection control management. When viruses of the same species were detected from different patients, the virus homology was investigated. The relationship between respiratory risks and developing symptoms was statistically investigated.

FINDINGS

Three and four patients with respiratory risks in the HBoV and HRV outbreaks, respectively, developed respiratory symptoms. The nucleotide sequences of two patients in the HBoV outbreak and all four patients in the HRV outbreak were phylogenetically close. In both outbreaks, the patients with respiratory risks developed significantly more symptoms than those without any risk (P = 0.035 and 0.018, respectively). After the patients with respiratory infection were separated from those with respiratory risks, no additional nosocomial infection occurred.

CONCLUSION

Patients with respiratory risks easily develop respiratory symptoms and acquire severe symptoms of nosocomial infection by those viruses. In a paediatric ward, we should adopt not only standard precautions but also isolation management of the patients with respiratory symptoms, even if they have negative results in rapid tests.

Novel patterns of response under immunotherapy

Novel patterns of response and progression to immunotherapy have been reported that are not observed with conventional cytotoxic or targeted anticancer treatments. A major breakthrough with immunotherapy is its potential to achieve durable responses in a subset of patients with advanced cancer that can be maintained several years even after stopping the treatment. No standardized definition of durable response exists in the literature, and the optimal duration of treatment in case of durable response is not clearly established. However, the majority of patients do not respond to immunotherapy. Initially reported in advanced melanoma patients, pseudoprogression occurs when tumor index lesions regress after initial progression, supporting the concept of treating some patients beyond progression. Overall, reported rates of pseudoprogression never exceeded 10%, meaning that the large majority of patients who have a disease progression will not eventually respond to treatment. The decision to pursue treatment beyond progression must therefore only be taken in carefully selected patients with clinical benefit, who did not experience severe toxicities with immunotherapy. Conversely, rapid progressions, called hyperprogressions, were reported by several teams with rates ranging from 4% to 29%. These observations need to be confirmed from randomized trials. It is essential to interrupt the treatment in patients with hyperprogression, in order to switch to another potentially active treatment. Finally, some patients experience dissociated responses, with some lesions shrinking and others growing. Local treatment with surgery or radiotherapy for growing lesions may be considered. Several immune-specific-related response criteria were developed to better capture benefits of immunotherapy. These criteria only address the pseudoprogression pattern of response, and do not capture the other patterns of response such as hyperprogression and dissociated response. The classic RECIST remains a reasonable and meaningful method to assess response to immunotherapy in the clinic.

Advanced basal cell cancer: concise review of molecular characteristics and novel targeted and immune therapeutics

Metastatic basal cell carcinoma is an ultra-rare manifestation of a common disease, appearing in 0.0028%-0.5% of basal cell carcinomas. Initial therapeutic efforts focused on cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. However, it is now known that the Hedgehog signaling pathway is crucial for basal cell proliferation and Hedgehog pathway mutations may lead to tumorigenesis; thus, small-molecule inhibitors of alterations in the components of this pathway, including smoothened (SMO) and GLI, have been the focus of recent therapeutic developments. Indeed, the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have approved the SMO inhibitors, vismodegib and sonidegib, with additional GLI inhibitors currently in clinical trials. Molecular profiling of these tumors has revealed other potential targets for therapy, including high tumor mutational burden and PD-L1 amplification, which predict response to immune checkpoint blockade (PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors). An illustrative patient with a giant, advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma who obtained an ongoing complete remission after treatment with a combination of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (due to the tumor's high mutational burden) and the Hedgehog inhibitor vismodegib is described. A fuller understanding of the genomic portfolio of these patients can assist in developing novel, rational therapeutic approaches that should continue to improve responses and outcomes.

Simvastatin interferes with cancer 'stem-cell' plasticity reducing metastasis in ovarian cancer

Cell plasticity of 'stem-like' cancer-initiating cells (CICs) is a hallmark of cancer, allowing metastasis and cancer progression. Here, we studied whether simvastatin, a lipophilic statin, could impair the metastatic potential of CICs in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS-ovC), the most lethal among the gynecologic malignancies. qPCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were used to assess simvastatin effects on proteins involved in stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal cell plasticity (EMT). Its effects on tumor growth and metastasis were evaluated using different models (e.g., spheroid formation and migration assays, matrigel invasion assays, 3D-mesomimetic models and cancer xenografts). We explored also the clinical benefit of statins by comparing survival outcomes among statin users vs non-users. Herein, we demonstrated that simvastatin modifies the stemness and EMT marker expression patterns (both in mRNA and protein levels) and severely impairs the spheroid assembly of CICs. Consequently, CICs become less metastatic in 3D-mesomimetic models and show fewer ascites/tumor burden in HGS-ovC xenografts. The principal mechanism behind statin-mediated effects involves the inactivation of the Hippo/YAP/RhoA pathway in a mevalonate synthesis-dependent manner. From a clinical perspective, statin users seem to experience better survival and quality of life when compared with non-users. Considering the high cost and the low response rates obtained with many of the current therapies, the use of orally or intraperitoneally administered simvastatin offers a cost/effective and safe alternative to treat and potentially prevent recurrent HGS-ovCs.

Correction: Myeloproliferative leukemia protein activation directly induces fibrocyte differentiation to cause myelofibrosis

Owing to the insufficient specificity of the anti-myeloproliferative leukemia protein (MPL) antibody in the original version of this Article, Figure 6 and parts of Figures 2a, 4e, and 5a do not represent the correct information. The corrected version of Figure 6 is in this correction and those of Figures 2a, 4e, and 5a are shown in the supplemental information.

Long-term patient survival after the surgical treatment of bone and soft-tissue metastases from renal cell carcinoma

Aims

The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term outcome of surgery for bone or soft-tissue metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to determine factors that affect prognosis.

Patients and Methods

Between 1993 and 2014, 58 patients underwent surgery for bone or soft-tissue metastases from RCC at our hospital. There were 46 men and 12 women with a mean age of 60 years (25 to 84). The mean follow-up period was 52 months (1 to 257). The surgical sites included the spine (33 patients), appendicular skeleton (ten patients), pelvis (eight patients), thorax (four patients), and soft tissue (three patients). The surgical procedures were en bloc metastasectomy in 46 patients (including 33 patients of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES)) and intralesional curettage in 12 patients. These patients were retrospectively evaluated for factors associated with prognosis.

Results

The one-, three-, five-, ten-, and 15-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89%, 75%, 62%, 48%, and 25%, respectively. The median survival time (MST) was 127 months for en bloc metastasectomy and 54 months for intralesional curettage and bone grafting. The median survival time was 127 months for the spine, 140 months for lesions of the appendicular skeleton, and 54 months for the pelvis. Multivariate analysis showed that non-clear cell type RCC and metastases to more than two sites were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Patients with bone or soft-tissue metastases from a RCC have a reasonable prognosis, making surgical resection a viable option even in patients in whom the metastases are advanced. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1241-8.

Spatial self-organization resolves conflicts between individuality and collective migration

Collective behavior can spontaneously emerge when individuals follow common rules of interaction. However, the behavior of each individual differs due to existing genetic and non-genetic variation within the population. It remains unclear how this individuality is managed to achieve collective behavior. We quantify individuality in bands of clonal Escherichia coli cells that migrate collectively along a channel by following a self-generated gradient of attractant. We discover that despite substantial differences in individual chemotactic abilities, the cells are able to migrate as a coherent group by spontaneously sorting themselves within the moving band. This sorting mechanism ensures that differences between individual chemotactic abilities are compensated by differences in the local steepness of the traveling gradient each individual must navigate, and determines the minimum performance required to travel with the band. By resolving conflicts between individuality and collective migration, this mechanism enables populations to maintain advantageous diversity while on the move.

How bacteria migrate collectively despite individual phenotypic variation is not understood. Here, the authors show that cells spontaneously sort themselves within moving bands such that variations in individual tumble bias, a determinant of gradient climbing speed, are compensated by the local gradient steepness experienced by individuals.

Correction to: Stimulation of intestinal calcium absorption by orally administrated vitamin D3 compounds: a prospective open-label randomized trial in osteoporosis

There were two errors in this article. 1. In the section "Ethical considerations", the registration number of the study was incorrectly given as UMIN000024492. The correct number is UMIN0000 20267. 2. The Acknowledgments paragraph was incomplete.

Using surveillance data to simulate the impact of a hypothetical pre-entry tuberculosis screening programme in Japan

BACKGROUND

Despite a growing burden of foreign-born tuberculosis (TB) patients, Japan does not currently practise pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening among foreign-born entrants.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of a hypothetical pre-entry TB screening programme among new foreign-born entrants into Japan.

METHOD

Using publicly available sources, we estimated 1) the number of prevalent TB cases, defined as bacteriologically or clinically confirmed cases among new foreign-born entrants into Japan in 2015, and 2) the yield from a hypothetical pre-entry TB screening programme under three scenarios: Scenario A, in which screening would be required of all applicants intending to stay for 3 months; Scenario B, screening among applicants for visas for settlement purposes; and Scenario C, screening among student and technical intern visa applicants.

RESULTS

The numbers of prevalent TB cases under Scenarios A, B and C were respectively 492, 54 and 248 out of a total of 328 791, 21 554 and 182 879 applicants, respectively 276, 29 and 137 of whom would be detected via the pre-entry screening programme, giving an yield of respectively 83.9, 134.5 and 74.9 per 100 000 screened under each scenario.

CONCLUSION

The yield was the highest under Scenario B; however, the impact was greatest under Scenario A, in that it detected the greatest number of patients and thus contributed the most in reducing the burden of foreign-born TB cases in Japan.

Evaluation of the molecular lipid organization in millimeter-sized stratum corneum by synchrotron X-ray diffraction

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the lamellar and lateral structure of intercellular lipid of stratum corneum (SC) can be evaluated from millimeter-sized SC (MSC) by X-ray diffraction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 12 mm × 12 mm SC sheet from hairless mouse was divided into 16 pieces measuring 3 mm × 3 mm square. From another sheet, 4 pieces of ultramillimeter-sized SC (USC:1.5 mm × 1.5 mm square) were prepared. Small and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD and WAXD) measurements were performed on each piece. For MSC and USC, changes in the lamellar and lateral structure after the application of d-limonene were measured.

RESULTS

The intensity of SAXD peaks due to the lamellar phase of long periodicity phase (LPP) and WAXD peaks due to the lateral hydrocarbon chain-packing structures varied in MSC and USC pieces, although over the 12 mm × 12 mm SC sheet. These results indicated that the intercellular lipid components and their proportion appeared nearly uniform. Application of d-limonene on MSC and USC piece with strong peaks in SAXD and the WAXD resulted in the disappearance of peaks due to the lamellar phase of LPP and decrease in peak intensity for the lateral hydrocarbon chain-packing structures. These changes are consistent with normal-sized sample results.

CONCLUSION

We found that the selection of a sample piece with strong diffraction peaks due to the lamellar and lateral structure enabled evaluation of the SC structure in small-sized samples by X-ray diffraction.

Stimulation of intestinal calcium absorption by orally administrated vitamin D3 compounds: a prospective open-label randomized trial in osteoporosis

Intestinal fractional calcium absorption (FCA) was assessed before and after vitamin D3 treatment. Serum 1,25(OH)2D concentration was significantly increased by plain vitamin D3 and reduced by eldecalcitol. The 1α hydroxyl calcidiol and eldecalcitol treatments increased FCA, which may be induced through direct stimulation of vitamin D receptors in the intestine.

INTRODUCTION

To assess the effects of vitamin D3 compounds on intestinal FCA and calcium-regulating hormones in post-menopausal osteoporosis, a randomized open-label prospective study was conducted.

METHODS

Forty eligible patients were allocated randomly into four groups: eldecalcitol (ELD; 0.75 μg/day), 1α hydroxyl calcidiol (ALF; 1 μg/day), plain vitamin D3 (800 IU/day), and control. Before and after the 4-week treatment, intestinal FCA was estimated by using a double isotope method, and serum concentrations of calcium-regulating hormones and a bone turnover marker were measured.

RESULTS

The baseline FCA value of the participants was 21.5 ± 7.9% (mean ± SD) and was significantly correlated with serum 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) concentration. After the treatment, the FCA significantly increased by 59.5% (95% CI, 41.6 to 77.4%) in the ELD group and by 45.9% (27.9 to 63.8%) in the ALF group, whereas no significant change in the plain vitamin D3 group was found. Unlike the baseline FCA, post-treatment FCA exhibited no significant correlation with serum calcitriol concentration. Parathyroid hormone levels were suppressed by ALF and plain vitamin D3 but were sustained in the ELD and control groups. Serum calcitriol tended to be suppressed by ELD, whereas plain vitamin D3 treatment increased both serum 25(OH)D and calcitriol concentrations.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that oral administration of vitamin D3 analogues (ALF and ELD) stimulates FCA but plain vitamin D3 does not. Those effects of vitamin D3 compounds on FCA were independent of serum calcitriol concentration, suggesting that ALF and ELD may directly stimulate intestinal vitamin D receptors.

Risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus during treatment with low-dose statins in Japan: A retrospective cohort study

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

The risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in Japanese patients using low-dose hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) has not been previously examined. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of NODM associated with use of high- and low-potency statins in Japanese patients taking low-dose statins.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 2554 Japanese patients who started treatment with a statin was conducted. Only patients taking the same dose of the same statin were enrolled, and patients were separated into high- and low-potency statin groups. The outcome was incidence of NODM during statin treatment.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of NODM in the cohort was 7.4% (n = 190). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significantly higher rate of NODM in patients taking high-potency statins compared with those taking low-potency statins (P < .001, log-rank test). Baseline fasting plasma glucose levels, use of high-potency statins, male gender and combination treatment with calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants or steroids were identified as factors that significantly increased the risk for NODM using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

The use of high-potency statins at a low standard daily dose significantly increased the risk of NODM in Japanese patients compared with low-potency statins. Furthermore, clinicians should also be careful when prescribing statins in combination with steroids or immunosuppressants due to the increased risk of NODM.

Evaluation of tuberculosis contact investigations in Japan

SETTING

Although monitoring and evaluation using standardised indicators is an important aspect of tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation, no attempts have been made to systematically evaluate contact investigations in Japan.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate TB contact investigations conducted in public health centres (PHCs) by estimating the scores of selected indicators.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 to estimate six selected indicator scores for contact tracing, contact evaluation and contact treatment at 11 PHCs using the TB registry and relevant contact investigation records of all forms of newly notified active TB cases. Indicator scores were compared across PHCs using median and interquartile range (IQR).

RESULTS

A total of 2527 contacts of 313 index TB cases were identified; of these, 1874 were evaluated using the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). Of 187 contacts who were TST/IGRA-positive, 15 were diagnosed with active TB. Consistently higher medians and lower IQRs were obtained for indicators of contact tracing and contact evaluation than those of contact treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to evaluate the performance of TB contact investigations in Japan using standardised indicators; the study indicated performance gaps, especially in the treatment for latent tuberculous infection among contacts.

Cerebellar Ganglioglioma in Childhood: Histopathologic Implications for Management During Long-term Survival: A Case Report

We report the case of a 19-year-old female with cerebellar ganglioglioma that was diagnosed at 4 years of age. Despite treatment with partial resection, radiation, and chemotherapy, residual tumor slowly expanded into the brainstem and upper cervical cord, resulting in nocturnal hypopnea, progressive tetraparesis, and feeding difficulty during 8-10 years of age. Initiation of temozolomide and bevacizumab was effective in preventing further expansion of the tumor, and the patient has been treated at home and in school with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and gastrostomy. Histopathologic examination of the resected tumor tissue revealed phospho-S6-positive tumor cells of either neuronal or astroglial appearance. This suggests that a higher proportion of cells of glial lineage could be linked to the progression of cerebellar ganglioglioma in childhood. Possible treatment options with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are discussed.

A Case of Diabetic Retinopathy with both Retinal Neovascularization and Complete Posterior Vitreous Detachment

PURPOSE

Report of a case with retinal neovascularization developing in the setting of diabetic retinopathy despite complete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

CASE REPORT

A 76-year-old man had had type II diabetes mellitus for more than 30 years. Weiss' ring was detected by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. PVD was thus considered to be complete. On the other hand, fluorescein angiography showed two areas of hyperfluorescence at the margin of the retinal nonperfusion area.

CONCLUSIONS

The present case underscores the importance of periodic follow-up using fluorescein angiography, given the probability of retinal neovascularization development and proliferative changes for many years even in diabetic retinopathy associated with complete PVD.

RETRACTED: P444 Shared decision making for switching from oral mesalazine tablets to granules in low adherent inflammatory bowel disease patients

BACKGROUND

Oral mesalazine effectively induces and maintains remission in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients. However, adherence to the drug regimen is low. Shared decision-making (SDM) is considered effective in promoting treatment adherence in IBD patients. We used SDM to switch non-adherent IBD patients from oral mesalazine tablets to granules and checked the new adherence rates.

METHODS

The IRB of our hospital approved this observational study named 'Evaluation of improvement of adherence by changing oral mesalazine to Pentasa granule in low adherent inflammatory bowel disease patients, IMPACT-PG'. We used the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8, where an MMAS-8 score of ≥6 indicates good adherence) to assess adherence to oral mesalazine. We met with low adherence patients and explained the benefits and characteristics of mesalazine granules and tablets; we then gave them a choice between continuing with the same pH-dependent mesalazine tablets (with a 20% weight/volume decrease) and switching to oral mesalazine granules (2 g in one stick, 2 g once or twice a day). Primary endpoint was adherence rate in IBD patients with granule or with tablet at 6 months, and secondary endpoint was adherence rate at 12 months. Contributing factors to good adherence to the oral regimen were also examined. The adherence rate was analysed using chi-square test, and contributing factors were determined by multivariate analysis using SPSS ver24.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-three patients (126 UC and 57 Crohn's colitis patients) were enrolled and examined adherence by MMAS-8 score. Good adherence ratio was 42.6% (78 of 183). Both higher age and low frequency of medication were significantly more common in adherent patients than in non-adherent patients. Odds ratios of age and the frequency of daily medication were 1.057 (95% CI 1.029-1.086; p < 0.0001) and 0.407 (95% CI 0.218-0.759; p = 0.005), respectively. SDM was performed to the 105 low adherence patients. 67% of the low adherence patients (70 of 105) preferred mesalazine granules. Five patients were dropped out until 6 months, as well as 13 patients were dropped out until 12 months. Remission rates at 0, 6, and 24 months were not significantly different between granule and tablet groups. Adherence rates at 6 [67% (44/66) vs. 32% (11 of 34)] and at 12 [72% (43 of 60) vs. 44% (14 of 32)] months were significantly higher in the granule group than in the tablet group.

CONCLUSIONS

SDM was effective for switching patients from a mesalazine tablet to a granule regimen, and adherence rates were improved in IBD patients.

Effects of biopolyimide molecular design on their silica hybrids thermo-mechanical, optical and electrical properties

Polymers, derived from bio-derived resources, have gained considerable momentum because of a lower dependence over conventional fossil-based resources without compromising the materials' thermo-mechanical properties. Unique characteristics of organic and inorganic materials can be incorporated by a combination of both to obtain hybrid materials. We have recently developed a series of transparent biopolyimides (BPI) from a biologically derived exotic amino acid, 4-aminocinnamic acid (4ACA) to yield 4-amino truxillic ester (4ATA ester) derivatives. In the present research, the polyimide-precursor was subjected to sol–gel polycondensation reactions with silicon-alkoxide followed by annealing under vacuo to yield a biopolyimide-silica hybrid. The biopolyimide structures (4ATA acid/ester) and their silica hybrids thermo-mechanical, electrical and optical performance were evaluated. It was found that the biopolyimide with 4ATA(ester) yields thermo-mechanically robust films with very high electrical stability as well as optical transparency, plausibly due to the uniform dispersion of the silica particles in the biopolyimide matrix.

Biopolyamide structure and their silica hybrids performances were studied. Biopolyamide with inability to interact with silanol during sol–gel condensation for silica formation showed superior thermo-mechanical, optical and electrical properties.

Dynamic behaviour of the soft palate during nasal positive pressure ventilation under anaesthesia and paralysis: comparison between patients with and without obstructive sleep-disordered breathing

BACKGROUND

Difficult mask ventilation is common and is known to be associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). It is our hypothesis that the incidence of expiratory retropalatal (RP) airway closure (primary outcome) during nasal positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is more frequent in patients with SDB (apnea hypopnea index ≥5 h^-1) than non-SDB subjects.

METHODS

The severity of SDB was assessed before surgery using a portable sleep monitor. In anaesthetized and paralysed patients with (n=11) and without SDB (n=9), we observed the behaviour of the RP airway endoscopically during nasal PPV with the mouth closed and determined the dynamic RP closing pressure, which was defined as the highest airway pressure above which the RP airway closure was reversed. The static RP closing pressure was obtained during cessation of mechanical ventilation in patients with dynamic RP closure during nasal PPV.

RESULTS

The expiratory RP airway closure accompanied by expiratory flow limitation occurred more frequently in SDB patients (9/11, 82%) than in non-SDB subjects (2/9, 22%; exact logistic regression analysis: P=0.022, odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-15.4). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated AHI >10h^-1 and presence of habitual snoring as clinically useful predictors for the occurrence of RP closure during PPV. Dynamic RP closing pressure was greater than the static RP closing pressure by approximately 4-5 cm H₂O.

CONCLUSIONS

Valve-like dynamic RP closure that limits expiratory flow during nasal PPV occurs more frequently in SDB patients.

Robotic-assisted multivisceral resection for rectal cancer: short-term outcomes at a single center

BACKGROUND

The safety and feasibility of robotic-assisted multivisceral resection for locally advanced rectal cancer remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term outcomes of this procedure at our institution.

METHODS

From December 2011 to December 2016, patients who underwent robotic-assisted multivisceral resection for rectal cancer were investigated. Patient demographics, treatment characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and pathological results were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

There were 31 patients; 17 men (54.8%) and 14 women (45.2%), with a median age of 65 years (range 40-82 years). Twenty-one patients (67.7%) had a cT4 tumor, 9 patients (29.0%) had a pT4b tumor, and all patients except one (96.8%) underwent complete resection of the primary tumor with negative resection margins. Eleven patients (35.5%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The most commonly resected organ was the vaginal wall (n = 12, 38.7%), followed by the prostate (n = 10, 32.3%). Lateral lymph node dissection was performed in 20 patients (64.5%). The median operative time was 394 min (range 189-549 min), and the median blood loss was 41 mL (range 0-502 mL). None of the patients received intraoperative blood transfusions or required conversion to open. Overall, postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients (35.5%). The most frequent complication was urinary retention (n = 5, 16.1%), and none of the patients developed serious complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grades III-V.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic-assisted multivisceral resection for rectal cancer is safe and technically feasible.

Significance of measurement of serum trough level and anti-drug antibody of adalimumab as personalised pharmacokinetics in patients with Crohn's disease: a subanalysis of the DIAMOND trial

BACKGROUND

Significance of monitoring adalimumab trough levels and anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAA) for disease outcome in Crohn's disease (CD) patients remained unclear.

AIM

To evaluate the association of adalimumab trough levels and AAA at week 26 with clinical remission at week 52, the effect of azathiopurine on AAA and factors influencing trough levels in CD patients in the DIAMOND trial.

METHODS

We performed this study using adalimumab trough levels, AAA at week 26 and 6-thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) in red blood cells at week 12. A multiple regression model and receiver operating analysis was performed to identify factors influencing adalimumab trough levels and AAA, and adalimumab thresholds for predicting disease activity.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference of adalimumab trough level at week 26 between patients with disease remission and without at week 52 (7.7 ± 3.3 μg/mL vs 5.4 ± 4.3 μg/mL: P <.001). Adalimumab trough level of 5.0 μg/mL yielded optimal sensitivity and specificity for remission prediction (80.2% and 55.6%, respectively). AAA development at week 26 significantly affected remission at week 52 (P = .021), which was strongly associated with adalimumab trough levels. Female gender and increasing body weight were independently associated with low adalimumab trough levels, and female gender was associated with AAA development. A cut-off 6TGN level of >222.5 p mol/8 ×10⁸ RBCs yielded sensitivity (100%) and specificity (60.6%) for AAA negativity.

CONCLUSION

Adalimumab trough levels and AAA occurrence were significantly associated with clinical remission. Higher 6TGN affected AAA negativity. The combination therapy is beneficial in some relevant aspects for CD patients. (UMIN Registration No. 000005146).