Chemical interactions between Saturn’s atmosphere and its rings

The Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft made close-up measurements of Saturn’s ionosphere and upper atmosphere in the 1970s and 1980s that suggested a chemical interaction between the rings and atmosphere. Exploring this interaction provides information on ring composition and the influence on Saturn’s atmosphere from infalling material. The Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer sampled in situ the region between the D ring and Saturn during the spacecraft’s Grand Finale phase. We used these measurements to characterize the atmospheric structure and material influx from the rings. The atmospheric He/H2 ratio is 10 to 16%. Volatile compounds from the rings (methane; carbon monoxide and/or molecular nitrogen), as well as larger organic-bearing grains, are flowing inward at a rate of 4800 to 45,000 kilograms per second.

Guidelines for Ethical Review of Qualitative Research

In recognition of the important ethical issues posed by qualitative research in health care, the authors present key questions to aid ethical review. The purpose is to assist lay and professional members of research ethics committees in their assessment of applications involving qualitative research methods and to inform researchers intending to submit such applications for ethical approval. For the benefit of those less familiar with this type of research, the authors include an overview of different types of qualitative research, together with an explanation of terms commonly used by qualitative researchers.

One-stop microvascular screening service: an effective model for the early detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the high-risk foot

AIMS

To evaluate the feasibility of a one-stop microvascular screening service for the early diagnosis of diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy, painful distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and the at-risk diabetic foot.

METHODS

People with diabetes attending retinal screening in hospital and community settings had their feet examined by a podiatrist. Assessment included: Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score evaluation; a 10-g monofilament test; and two validated, objective and quick measures of neuropathy obtained using the point-of-care devices 'DPN-Check', a hand-held device that measures sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, and 'Sudoscan', a device that measures sudomotor function. The diagnostic utility of these devices was assessed against the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score as the 'gold standard'.

RESULTS

A total of 236 consecutive people attending the retinal screening service, 18.9% of whom had never previously had their feet examined, were evaluated. The prevalence of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy, assessed using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score, was 30.9%, and was underestimated by 10-g monofilament test (14.4%). The prevalence of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy using DPN-check was 51.5% (84.3% sensitivity, 68.3% specificity), 38.2% using Sudoscan foot electrochemical skin conductance (77.4% sensitivity, 68.3% specificity), and 61.9% using abnormality in either of the results (93.2% sensitivity, 52.8% specificity). The results of both devices correlated with Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (P<0.001). A new diagnosis of painful distal symmetrical polyneuropathy was made in 59 participants (25%), and 56.6% had moderate- or high-risk foot. Participants rated the service very highly.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined, eye, foot and renal screening is feasible, has a high uptake, reduces clinic visits, and identifies painful distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and the at-risk foot. Combined large- and small-nerve-fibre assessment using non-invasive, quantitative and quick point-of-care devices may be an effective model for the early diagnosis of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy.

Abstract 2187: A rapid autopsy program for cancer research

Many new technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, are directed at molecular-level analyses of high-quality human normal and diseased tissues. At present, however, the relative lack of suitable tissue for this work is a critical roadblock to the full utilization of these new methods. Tissue is traditionally collected at the time of therapeutic surgical interventions, such as biopsy, or at the time of death, by autopsy. Biopsy is only done on individuals with disease and therefore normal control tissues are only obtained by chance. Biopsy tissue is often completely used for diagnostic purposes or is insufficient in quantity to constitute a shared resource, or for studies of intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Metastatic tissue is often not biopsied, precluding analysis of its evolving molecular changes. Both diseased and normal control tissue could potentially be obtained at autopsy, but autopsy tissue is generally only suitable when it is rapidly obtained after death. The Brain and Body Donation Program (BBDP) in Sun City, Arizona, is a not-for-profit longitudinal clinicopathological study of aging and is the world's only consistently-rapid autopsy program (3 h median). Board-certified pathologists diagnose all tissue microscopically. Many cases have both primary and metastatic tumor tissue. Both fresh-frozen & formalin-fixed samples are saved. All subjects are research volunteers with comprehensive clinical documentation. Our informed consent allows wide sharing of tissue and data, including with for-profit companies. More than 100 cancer autopsies have been done; fixed and frozen tissue is available from more than 25 cancer types, many of which have both primary and metastatic tumor tissue. Normal control tissue is available from more than 40 tissue types and RNA quality is high (Walker DG et al, Cell Tissue Bank 2016 17(3):361-75). The BBDP is listed on the NCI Specimen Resource Locator, and inquiries may be made directly to our website, www.brainandbodydonationprogram.org.

Citation Format: Thomas G. Beach, Lucia I. Sue, Geidy E. Serrano, Anthony Intorcia, Jessica Walker, Michael Glass, Michael Callan. A rapid autopsy program for cancer research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2187.

Surgical re-excision vs. observation for histologically dysplastic naevi: a systematic review of associated clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

The management of histologically dysplastic naevi (HDN) with re-excision vs. observation remains controversial because of lack of evidence about associated melanoma outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To assess published data on the development of biopsy-site primary cutaneous melanoma among biopsy-proven HDN managed with either re-excision or observation.

METHODS

A systematic review of all published data: a total of 5293 records were screened, 18 articles were assessed in full text and 12 studies met inclusion criteria. No controlled trials were identified.

RESULTS

Most studies (11 of 12, 92%) were retrospective chart reviews, and one was both a cross-sectional and cohort study. Many studies (nine of 12, 75%) had no head-to-head comparison groups and either only reported HDN that were re-excised or observed. A total of 2673 (1535 observed vs. 1138 re-excised) HDN of various grades were included. Follow-up varied between 2 weeks and 30 years. Nine studies reported that no melanomas developed. Eleven biopsy-site melanomas developed across three of the studies, six among observed lesions (0·39%) and five among re-excised lesions (0·44%).

CONCLUSIONS

Based upon the available evidence the rates of biopsy-site primary melanoma were similarly low among observed lesions and re-excised lesions. This suggests that HDNs can be observed with minimal adverse melanoma-associated outcomes. However, all included articles were of low quality and further prospective trials could better guide clinical decision making.

Identification of an anti-inflammatory potential of Eriodictyon angustifolium compounds in human gingival fibroblasts

Polyphenol-rich plant extracts have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity against oral pathogen-induced cytokine release in model systems of inflammation. Here, it was hypothesized that a flavanone-rich extract of E. angustifolium exhibits an anti-inflammatory potential against endotoxin-induced inflammatory response in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1). HGF-1 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (pg-LPS) to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Concentrations of interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 in the incubation media upon stimulation were determined by means of magnetic bead analysis. A crude ethanol/water extract of E. angustifolium (EE) was fractionated via gel permeation chromatography into a flavanone-rich fraction (FF) and an erionic acid-rich fraction (EF). Individual flavanones and erionic acids as well as EE, EF and FF were tested in the pg-LPS-stimulated HGF-1 cells for their anti-inflammatory potential. The E. angustifolium extract possessed anti-inflammatory potential in this model system, attenuating the pg-LPS-induced release of IL-6 by up to 52.0 ± 15.5%. Of the individual flavanones, eriodictyol and naringenin had the most pronounced effect. However, a mixture of the flavanones did not possess the same effect as the entire flavanoid fraction, indicating that other compounds may contribute to the anti-inflammatory potential of E. angustifolium. For the first time, an anti-inflammatory potential of E. angustifolium and containing erionic acids has been determined.

Abstract P2-02-14: Circulating tumor DNA predicts clinical outcome in early stage triple negative breast cancer

Background- Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer as these patients have the highest risk of recurrence and death. Only 35% of TNBC patients achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who do not achieve pCR have a 27% risk of distant recurrence and ultimate death at 3 years compared to 9% for pCR. Unidentified micrometastases are responsible for ultimate overt progression and death. Developing strategies to identify patients with minimal residual disease following curative treatment is an unmet need. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can characterize and monitor advanced cancers. In this study, we sought to assess if ctDNA can predict clinical outcome in TNBC.

Methods-Biospecimens were obtained from patients with stages II and III TNBC enrolled on a neoadjuvant trial (NCT02124902). Patients have a research biopsy and plasma for ctDNA collected at baseline, cycle 1 day 3, definitive surgery for those with residual disease, and at recurrence for those who relapse. Plasma for ctDNA is also collected every 6 months for 5 years after treatment. Patients receive docetaxel and carboplatin every 3 weeks X 6 cycles. Surgery is 3-5 weeks after chemotherapy. Six patients' serial tumor samples and germline DNA were studied by whole exome sequencing. The median sequencing depth was 90.13x. Sequencing was performed on samples with high cellularity (≥50%). All 6 patients also had serial ctDNA analyzed using Swift Biosciences Accel-Amplicon™ 56G Oncology Panel v2. After identifying somatic mutations in each breast tumor series, we determined the subset of mutations that intersected with the regions targeted by the Swift 56 gene panel. We then evaluated whether corresponding mutations could be detected in ctDNA, and if ctDNA predicted clinical outcome.

Results-Four of the 6 patients were non-pCR with residual disease following chemotherapy. We identified 627 somatic variants by exome analysis that were called by at least two somatic variant callers and passed additional quality filtering steps. Of these, 10 variants overlapped with the Swift panel. TP53 variants were identified in all 6 patients' tumor tissue samples. At least one TP53 variant was identified in 4 patients' baseline pre-chemotherapy ctDNA samples. Both pCR patients had either no detectable ctDNA TP53 mutations (NTN007-ref. in baseline tumor tissue was 19.58% variant allele frequency [VAF]); or clearance of ctDNA following chemotherapy from 4.45% VAF at baseline to 0.06% following chemotherapy (NTN004-ref. in baseline tumor tissue 37.34% VAF). Three non-PCR patients had persistent TP53 mutations in ctDNA during the treatment course. One non-pCR patient did not have detectable mutations in ctDNA. The only patient with recurrent disease whose ctDNA TP53 mutation persisted during the treatment course (baseline VAF-1.65%, cycle 1 day 3-0.78%, definitive surgery-0.09%), was found to have a higher ctDNA VAF at recurrence (29.55%).

Conclusion-In this pilot study, mutation tracking by ctDNA is sensitive and distinguishes pCR from non-pCR in TNBC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. ctDNA also identifies recurrence following curative therapy. Evaluating ctDNA as a biomarker of outcome in TNBC is warranted.

Citation Format: Ademuyiwa F, Feng Y-Y, Skidmore Z, Kunisaki J, Walker J, Fulton R, Krysiak K, Skinner T, Weilbaecher K, Ma C, Griffith O, Griffith M. Circulating tumor DNA predicts clinical outcome in early stage triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-02-14.

[Acupuncture covered by statutory health insurance in Germany : An observational study based on claims data]

BACKGROUND

The coverage for acupuncture for chronic lower back or knee pain by the statutory health insurance was introduced in 2007. The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of patients and providers of acupuncture and temporal and regional trends in the utilization of acupuncture.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study used anonymized statutory health insurance claims data from a sample of roughly four million subjects. The sample is representative of the German population regarding age and gender in 2013.

RESULTS

Lower back pain was the most common coded indication (86%) for billing acupuncture. Women were more often treated with acupuncture than men; the mean age was 61.1 years. For 63% acupuncture was billed in 2014 for the first time, 37% already had an acupuncture treatment in 2012 or 2013. Premature termination (<6 sessions) was observed in 14% of all insurants receiving acupuncture for the first time in 2014 for knee pain and in 21% of those with back pain. Overall there was a statistically significant decrease in the utilization of acupuncture from 2008 to 2015. Regional differences between East and West Germany and city states were observed. Half of all acupuncture treatments in 2014 were provided by 11% of all physicians who billed acupuncture at least once.

DISCUSSION

Higher utilization of acupuncture by women reflects the epidemiology of back and knee pain and their preference for alternative complementary medicine. On the one hand, the large proportion of patients treated repeatedly with acupuncture suggests perceived benefits. On the other hand, provision of acupuncture services is decreasing continuously and a relevant proportion of subjects are terminating treatment prematurely.

Correction to: Abstracts : 29th European Congress of Pathology

Due to an error with the registration system, the following abstract was regrettably omitted from the Poster Sessions. The abstract should have been included as PS-10-021 and displayed on page S166.

Multicenter Assessment of Immunohistochemical Methods for Pathological Alpha-Synuclein in Sigmoid Colon of Autopsied Parkinson's Disease and Control Subjects

BACKGROUND

Conflicting results from studies of Lewy-type α-synucleinopathy (LTS) in colonic biopsies of subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) prompted a two-part multicenter assessment. The first assessment, now published (Acta Neuropathol Commun 4 : 35, 2016), examined archived colonic biopsies and found that none of the tested methods was adequately sensitive or specific.

OBJECTIVE

As the amount of nervous tissue in typical colonic biopsies may be insufficient, and the clinical diagnosis of PD not completely accurate, the objective of the current study was to use instead full-thickness sections of sigmoid colon from autopsy-proven PD and normal subjects.

METHODS

Seven different immunohistochemical (IHC) methods were used, employing five different primary antibodies and four different combinations of epitope exposure and signal development protocols. Specific staining was defined as being restricted to morphological features consistent with neuronal elements. Stained slides from each subject were independently categorized as being positive or negative for LTS, and their density semi-quantitatively graded, by four raters blinded to diagnosis.

RESULTS

Agreement and mean diagnostic performance varied markedly between raters. With the two most accurate raters, 5 methods achieved diagnostic accuracies of 70% or greater; one method had 100% accuracy and 100% inter-rater agreement. The submucosa had the highest prevalence of pathological LTS staining, followed by the muscularis and mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

The major conclusion of this study is that, when sufficient submucosa and LTS is present, and when specific staining is defined as being consistent with neuronal morphology, adequately-trained raters may reliably distinguish PD colon from control using suitable IHC methods.

Isolation of Mitochondrial DNA from Single, Short Hairs without Roots Using Pressure Cycling Technology

Hairs are commonly submitted as evidence to forensic laboratories, but standard nuclear DNA analysis is not always possible. Mitochondria (mt) provide another source of genetic material; however, manual isolation is laborious. In a proof-of-concept study, we assessed pressure cycling technology (PCT; an automated approach that subjects samples to varying cycles of high and low pressure) for extracting mtDNA from single, short hairs without roots. Using three microscopically similar donors, we determined the ideal PCT conditions and compared those yields to those obtained using the traditional manual micro-tissue grinder method. Higher yields were recovered from grinder extracts, but yields from PCT extracts exceeded the requirements for forensic analysis, with the DNA quality confirmed through sequencing. Automated extraction of mtDNA from hairs without roots using PCT could be useful for forensic laboratories processing numerous samples.