Observation of the Identical Rigidity Dependence of He, C, and O Cosmic Rays at High Rigidities by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report the observation of new properties of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O measured in the rigidity (momentum/charge) range 2 GV to 3 TV with 90×10^{6} helium, 8.4×10^{6} carbon, and 7.0×10^{6} oxygen nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during the first five years of operation. Above 60 GV, these three spectra have identical rigidity dependence. They all deviate from a single power law above 200 GV and harden in an identical way.

Cost-effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II receptor blockers as first-line treatment in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a rare kidney disorder impacting ∼1:2,500 individuals among the general US population. Hypertension is a significant predictor of ADPKD progression, and a risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the most common cause for mortality among ADPKD patients. Angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors (ACE-I) are widely used as first-line treatment in ADPKD for the management of hypertension. However, their cost-effectiveness relative to other hypertensive medications, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), has never been assessed.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if ARB are more cost-effective than ACE-Is as first-line treatment in ADPKD.

METHODS

A Markov-state decision model was constructed for estimation of cost and outcome benefits in hypertensive ADPKD patients. Transition probabilities were extrapolated from a retrospective cohort study comparing chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage transitions in ADPKD patients. Annual pharmaceutical costs per average daily dose per CKD stage were extracted from a US healthcare claims database. Median total healthcare costs per CKD stage or transplant were extracted from the published literature. The time horizon was set to 30 years, with 1-year duration to cycle shift. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of ACE-I vs ARB per additional year of prevented transplant and/or death. A one-way probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted, with 10% variation in probabilities and cost.

RESULTS

Total annual healthcare costs accrued after 30 years among ADPKD patients taking ACE-Is was estimated to be $3,505,028.41, compared to ARB at $3,644,327.65. Life expectancy was increased by 1.39 years among patients taking ACE-I. Approximate 10-year survival in patients taking ACE-Is was 47% compared to ARB at 34%.

CONCLUSIONS

ACE-I dominated ARB and displayed greater cost-effectiveness due to lower cost and increased capacity to prolong years of life without transplant or death among hypertensive ADPKD patients. This model strengthens the value of ACE-I over ARB as first-line treatment for hypertension management in ADPKD patients.

Impact of childhood and adulthood psychological health on labour force participation and exit in later life

BACKGROUND

Adulthood psychological health predicts labour force activity but few studies have examined childhood psychological health. We hypothesized that childhood psychological ill-health would be associated with labour force exit at 55 years.

METHOD

Data were from the 55-year follow-up of the National Child Development Study (n = 9137). Labour force participation and exit (unemployment, retirement, permanent sickness, homemaking/other) were self-reported at 55 years. Internalizing and externalizing problems in childhood (7, 11 and 16 years) and malaise in adulthood (23, 33, 42, 50 years) were assessed. Education, social class, periods of unemployment, partnership separations, number of children, and homemaking activity were measured throughout adulthood.

RESULTS

Childhood internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with unemployment, permanent sickness and homemaking/other at 55 years, after adjustment for adulthood psychological health and education: one or two reports of internalizing was associated with increased risk for unemployment [relative risk (RR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.25; RR 2.37, 95% CI 1.48-3.79] and permanent sickness (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.00-1.74; RR, 1.48, 95% CI 1.00-2.17); three reports of externalizing was associated with increased risk for unemployment (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.01-5.04), permanent sickness (RR 2.63, 95% CI 1.46-4.73) and homemaking/other (RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.00-3.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological ill-health across the lifecourse, including during childhood, reduces the likelihood of working in older age. Support for those with mental health problems at different life stages and for those with limited connections to the labour market, including homemakers, is an essential dimension of attempts to extend working lives.

Childhood adversity and midlife suicidal ideation

BACKGROUND

Childhood adversity predicts adolescent suicidal ideation but there are few studies examining whether the risk of childhood adversity extends to suicidal ideation in midlife. We hypothesized that childhood adversity predicts midlife suicidal ideation and this is partially mediated by adolescent internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders and adult exposure to life events and interpersonal difficulties.

METHOD

At 45 years, 9377 women and men from the UK 1958 British Birth Cohort Study participated in a clinical survey. Childhood adversity was prospectively assessed at the ages of 7, 11 and 16 years. Suicidal ideation at midlife was assessed by the depressive ideas subscale of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. Internalizing and externalizing disorders were measured by the Rutter scales at 16 years. Life events, periods of unemployment, partnership separations and alcohol dependence were measured through adulthood.

RESULTS

Illness in the household, paternal absence, institutional care, parental divorce and retrospective reports of parental physical and sexual abuse predicted suicidal ideation at 45 years. Three or more childhood adversities were associated with suicidal ideation at 45 years [odds ratio (OR) 4.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.67-6.94]. Psychological distress at 16 years partially mediated the associations of physical abuse (OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.29-5.75), sexual abuse (OR 4.99, 95% CI 2.90-11.16) with suicidal ideation. Adult life events partially mediated the association of parental divorce (OR 6.34, 95% CI -7.16 to 36.75) and physical (OR 9.59, 95% CI 4.97-27.88) and sexual abuse (OR 6.59, 95% CI 2.40-38.36) with suicidal ideation at 45 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Adversity in childhood predicts suicidal ideation in midlife, partially mediated by adolescent internalizing and externalizing disorders, adult life events and interpersonal difficulties. Understanding the pathways from adversity to suicidal ideation can inform suicide prevention and the targeting of preventive interventions.

Precision Measurement of the Boron to Carbon Flux Ratio in Cosmic Rays from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the boron to carbon flux ratio (B/C) is important in understanding the propagation of cosmic rays. The precise measurement of the B/C ratio from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV, based on 2.3 million boron and 8.3 million carbon nuclei collected by AMS during the first 5 years of operation, is presented. The detailed variation with rigidity of the B/C spectral index is reported for the first time. The B/C ratio does not show any significant structures in contrast to many cosmic ray models that require such structures at high rigidities. Remarkably, above 65 GV, the B/C ratio is well described by a single power law R^{Δ} with index Δ=-0.333±0.014(fit)±0.005(syst), in good agreement with the Kolmogorov theory of turbulence which predicts Δ=-1/3 asymptotically.

Antiproton Flux, Antiproton-to-Proton Flux Ratio, and Properties of Elementary Particle Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precision measurement by AMS of the antiproton flux and the antiproton-to-proton flux ratio in primary cosmic rays in the absolute rigidity range from 1 to 450 GV is presented based on 3.49×10^{5} antiproton events and 2.42×10^{9} proton events. The fluxes and flux ratios of charged elementary particles in cosmic rays are also presented. In the absolute rigidity range ∼60 to ∼500  GV, the antiproton p[over ¯], proton p, and positron e^{+} fluxes are found to have nearly identical rigidity dependence and the electron e^{-} flux exhibits a different rigidity dependence. Below 60 GV, the (p[over ¯]/p), (p[over ¯]/e^{+}), and (p/e^{+}) flux ratios each reaches a maximum. From ∼60 to ∼500  GV, the (p[over ¯]/p), (p[over ¯]/e^{+}), and (p/e^{+}) flux ratios show no rigidity dependence. These are new observations of the properties of elementary particles in the cosmos.

Abstract P6-07-05: Mutational spectrum and tumor response in metastatic breast cancer

Background: While several comprehensive genomic sequencing tests are clinically available for breast cancer(BC), little is known about the spectrum of findings reported in the general population and clinical utility of findings for patients(pts). Here we report tumor sequencing from the METAMORPH study, a comprehensive genomic testing approach in pts with metastatic(met) BC.

Methods: Pts with either known or suspected BC mets consented to and clinically underwent concurrent diagnostic and research tumor biopsies(bx). FFPE specimens were profiled via Illumina TruSeq Cancer Panel next generation sequencing platform covering 212 amplicons in 47 cancer genes. Pathology, treatment and outcome data were prospectively collected and tracked. Aside from Her2-directed treatment, therapy was not mutation (mut)-matched.

Results: 64 pts enrolled between 11/2013 – 05/2015. Of these, 48 had bx successfully sequenced (75%). Of those without sequencing, 5 had negative/insufficient tissue, 2 had insufficient DNA, remainder no bx/pending. Median age of those sequenced was 56 (range 31-78); 81% Caucasian, 17% African American. 25% (12 pts) presented with de novo stage IV disease. Of those with recurrence (n=36), 83% had prior adjuvant chemotherapy; 81% hormone receptor positive(HR+) had prior endocrine therapy. Median # prior lines of therapy for met disease was 2 (IQR 0 – 8). Tumor characteristics, including mut analyses, are shown in Table 1. # muts did not differ significantly by subtype(p=0.22). Frequency of TP53 and PIK3CA hotspot muts was nearly identical to TCGA. Median # muts was 1 for pts with both de novo mets and recurrence(p=0.79). # of muts was not associated with time to recurrence(p=0.80). Excluding pts found to have TP53 mut only or ERBB2 alterations in known Her2+ disease, 42% of pts were identified as having at least one potentially actionable alteration (PIK3CA mut, AKT1 mut or EGFR amplification). Median time to treatment failure(TTF) on subsequent therapy was 4.1 months for overall group, and 4.1, 6.2, and 1.6 months for HR+/Her2-, any Her2+ and TN, respectively, adjusted for line of therapy(p=0.03). After adjustment for # lines of prior met therapy, TTF was 4.7 vs. 4.1 months for pts with any mut vs. none(p=0.89); 5.7 vs 4.1 months for PIK3CA+ vs. not (p=0.94); 3.3 vs. 6.5 months for TP53+ vs. not (p=0.03).

Conclusion: Pts with met BC have frequent and potentially actionable muts.While overall # of muts did not affect response, tumors with TP53 muts had shorter response to subsequent therapy in this cohort. Additional data are needed to determine the clinical utility of mut testing in met BC, for both standard and mut-matched therapy.

 Total (n=48)HR+/Her2- (n=28)Any HER2+ (n=7)TN (n=13)Receptor concordant with primary 100%78%77%# Mutations Median (Range)1 (0-4)1 (0-3)1 (1-2)1 (0-4)014 (29%)10 (36 %)04 (31%)118 (38%)11 (39%)4 (57%)3 (23%)213 (27%)5 (18%)3 (43%)5 (38%)3+3 (6%)2 (7%)01 (8%)Prevalent Mutations (>20%)TP53 (38%), PIK3CA (35%)PIK3CA (50%), TP53 (25%)TP53 (60%), ERBB2amp (86%)TP53 (62%),PIK3CA (23%)Other Alterations (#)ATM (1), KIT (1), PDGFRA (1), PTEN(1), RB1 (1), SMAD4 (1), SMO (1), STK11 (1)AKT1 (1), ATM VUS (1), ERBB2 (1), PTEN (1), SMAD4 VUS (1), SMO VUS (1)ERBB2 (1), STK11(1)EGFR amp (2), KIT amp (1),PDGFRA amp (1), RB1 VUS (1)

Citation Format: Soucier-Ernst D, Colameco C, Troxel AB, Clark C, Shih N, Maxwell KN, Morrissette J, Lieberman D, Feldman M, Goodman N, Bradbury A, Clark A, Domchek S, Fox K, Glick J, Matro J, Nathanson K, Chodosh L, DeMichele A. Mutational spectrum and tumor response in metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-05.

Molecular Mechanism Linking BRCA1 Dysfunction to High Grade Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancers with Peritoneal Permeability and Ascites

Ovarian cancer constitutes the second most common gynecological cancer with a five-year survival rate of 40%. Among the various histotypes associated with hereditary ovarian cancer, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HGSEOC) is the most predominant and women with inherited mutations in BRCA1 have a lifetime risk of 40-60%. HGSEOC is a challenge for clinical oncologists, due to late presentation of patient, diagnosis and high rate of relapse. Ovarian tumors have a wide range of clinical presentations including development of ascites as a result of deregulated endothelial function thereby causing increased vascular permeability of peritoneal vessels. The molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Studies have shown that fallopian tube cancers develop in women with BRCA1 gene mutations more often than previously suspected. Recent studies suggest that many primary peritoneal cancers and some high-grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinomas actually start in the fallopian tubes. In this article we have addressed the molecular pathway of a recently identified potential biomarker Ubc9 whose deregulated expression due to BRCA1 dysfunction can result in HGSEOC with peritoneal permeability and formation of ascites. We also discuss the role of downstream targets Caveolin-1 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of ascites in ovarian carcinomas. Finally we hypothesize a signaling axis between Ubc9 over expression, loss of Caveolin-1 and induction of VEGF in BRCA1 mutant HGSEOC cells. We suggest that Ubc9-mediated stimulation of VEGF as a novel mechanism underlying ovarian cancer aggressiveness and ascites formation. Agents that target Ubc9 and VEGF signaling may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to impede peritoneal growth and spread of HGSEOC.

Precision Measurement of the Helium Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays of Rigidities 1.9 GV to 3 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.