POS0526 SEXUAL FUNCTION IN MALE AND FEMALE PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A POST-HOC ANALYSIS OF THE FINCH STUDIES

Background:

While sexual function is impaired in a high proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it is often neglected in patient care.1 FINCH 1 (NCT02889796), FINCH 2 (NCT02873936) and FINCH 3 (NCT02886728) were Phase 3 studies to assess the safety and efficacy of filgotinib (FIL) for moderate-to-severe RA; patient-reported sexual function was also evaluated.

Objectives:

To analyse disease characteristics associated with sexual function and explore the effect of FIL and adalimumab (ADA) on sexual function in males and females in the FINCH studies.

Methods:

Post-hoc analyses included data from patients who were randomised and received ≥1 dose of study drug in the FINCH studies. Male and female subgroup analyses were performed to describe the correlation between baseline disease characteristics and baseline visual analogue scale (VAS) sexual function score (using Pearson correlation coefficient) and to assess the treatment effect on the change from baseline in VAS sexual function (mm) up to Week 52 (FINCH 1 and 3) or Week 24 (FINCH 2). Patients indicated how RA affected their ability to have sex during the last week using an exploratory 0–100 VAS (0: no effect; 100: complete inhibition). Changes from baseline were analysed with a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. All P values are nominal for exploratory purposes.

Results:

Baseline characteristics are shown in the Table 1. Univariate analyses revealed significant positive correlations (P<0.05) between disease duration and baseline VAS sexual function score in male and female subgroups in FINCH 1; no significant correlations were seen in male and female subgroups of FINCH 2 and 3. In all studies, significant correlations (P<0.05) were observed between baseline VAS sexual function score and baseline disease characteristics (swollen/tender joint count 28, Disease Activity Score-28, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, 36-Item Short Form Survey, patient global VAS, pain VAS or fatigue) in males or females. In all studies, analysis of least-squares mean changes from baseline in VAS sexual function revealed improvements in both males and females on FIL as early as Week 2, until Week 52 (Week 24 in FINCH 2). Figure 1 shows data for FINCH 1.

Conclusion:

Sexual function should be considered as an important patient outcome in RA treatment. At baseline in the FINCH studies, disease activity negatively impacted sexual function in both male and female patients. Active treatment with FIL or ADA resulted in early and sustained improvements from baseline in sexual function.

References:

[1]Tristano AG. World J Orthop 2014;5:107–11

Table 1.

Mean (standard deviation) baseline characteristics

FINCH 1FINCH 2FINCH 3Male n=258Female n=990Malen=79Female n=270Male n=233Female n=691Duration of RA, yr6.8 (7.38)8.0 (7.63)11.3 (8.53)12.7 (9.35)2.1 (5.35)2.2 (4.85)SJC2811 (5.0)11 (5.1)13 (6.2)12 (6.1)11 (5.4)11 (5.7)TJC2814 (6.5)15 (6.4)15 (7.5)16 (7.0)14 (6.6)15 (6.7)HAQ-DI1.35 (0.614)1.64 (0.601)1.41 (0.689)1.73 (0.634)1.37 (0.651)1.62 (0.617)DAS28 (CRP)5.6 (0.95)5.8 (0.90)5.8 (1.08)5.9 (0.92)5.7 (1.00)5.7 (0.99)SF-36 PCS34.3 (7.72)33.0 (7.34)31.7 (8.48)30.9 (7.75)34.4 (7.72)33.4 (7.47)SF-36 MCS45.9 (10.15)43.6 (10.65)43.7 (11.20)44.5 (11.71)46.2 (11.75)43.0 (10.89)FACIT-fatigue30.0 (10.00)26.8 (10.49)26.3 (11.15)24.0 (11.64)30.7 (10.93)26.6 (10.89)Patient global VAS (mm)64 (19.8)67 (19.0)66 (20.0)70 (19.5)65 (22.4)66 (20.3)Pain VAS (mm)61 (20.6)66 (19.5)62 (22.3)68 (20.6)64 (22.3)66 (20.9)VAS sexual function score44 (30.2)49 (32.3)48 (34.6)49 (36.8)42 (34.4)48 (35.1)

Variables in bold significantly correlated with VAS sexual function score (P<0.05)

DAS28 (CRP), Disease Activity Score-28 using C-reactive protein; FACIT, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SF-36, 36-Item Short Form Survey; S/TJC28, swollen/tender joint count based on 28 joints; VAS, visual analogue scale

Acknowledgements:

The FINCH studies were funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc (Foster City, CA, USA). Medical writing/editorial support was provided by Debbie Sherwood, BSc, CMPP (Aspire Scientific, Bollington, UK), funded by Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium).

Disclosure of Interests:

Luis Fernando Perez-Garcia Consultant of: Galapagos, Grant/research support from: CONACYT, ReumaNederland, and ZonMw, Mihaela Micu Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Angelini, Eli Lilly, Ewopharma, Novartis, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Lien Gheyle Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Zhaoyu Yin Shareholder of: Gilead, Employee of: Gilead, YingMeei Tan Shareholder of: Gilead, Employee of: Gilead, Kun Chen Shareholder of: Gilead, Employee of: Gilead, Patrick Papazian Speakers bureau: Amgen, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Consultant of: Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Employee of: Galapagos, part-time employee since Sept 2020, Katrien Van Beneden Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Radboud Dolhain Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Genzyme, Novartis, Roche, UCB, Consultant of: Galapagos, Grant/research support from: UCB, Rene Westhovens Speakers bureau: Celltrion, Galapagos/Gilead, Consultant of: Celltrion, Galapagos/Gilead

XPG gene polymorphisms and glioma susceptibility: a two-centre case-control study

Background: Glioma, the most common tumour in children next to leukaemia, is difficult to treat, with a poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) plays a key role in the nucleotide excision repair pathway, which may modulate individual susceptibility to developing cancer. We hypothesized links between XPG variants and glioma in children.Methods: We tested our hypothesis in a study comparing 171 glioma cases with 228 age and sex matched controls, determining XPG polymorphisms rs2094258 C > T, rs751402 C > T, rs2296147 T > C, rs1047768 T > C, rs873601 G > A by standard molecular genetic methods.Results: rs2094258 C > T was associated with a decreased glioma risk, but carrying the rs1047768 C or rs873601 A allele brought an increased risk. Subjects carrying 5 risk genotypes had a significantly increased glioma risk at an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (95% confidence Interval 1.26-3.08)(p = 0.003) when compared with those carrying 0-4 risk genotypes. Furthermore, children with 5 risk genotypes had a higher glioma risk when aged >60 months, were more likely to be male, and with subtypes of astrocytic tumours, and low-grade clinical stage, when compared to those with 0-4 risk genotypes. Preliminary functional exploration suggested that rs2094258 is linked with the expression of its surrounding genes in the expression quantitative trait locus analysis.Conclusion: Certain variants of XPG are risk factors for paediatric glioma, and so may be useful in early diagnosis.

[Active screening of intestinal carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in high-risk patients admitted to the hematology wards and its effect evaluation]

目的

观察血液科肠道碳青霉烯类耐药的肠杆菌科细菌（CRE）主动筛查患者CRE定植、感染的特征，并评价主动筛查结合加强干预在血液科患者CRE感染预防控制中的效果。

方法

以2017年3月至2019年12月血液内科接受化疗或免疫抑制治疗且预期会出现粒细胞缺乏（粒缺）的患者为研究对象，进行至少3个时间点（治疗前、治疗后粒缺期、粒缺伴发热期）的肠道CRE筛查，以2016年12月至2017年2月血液内科未开展肠道CRE主动筛查的、接受化疗或免疫抑制治疗的115例患者为历史对照组，两组患者均进行CRE感染实时监测，CRE筛查阳性者均采取接触隔离措施，CRE筛查阳性者出现发热或者感染症状时启动针对CRE联合抗生素治疗。

结果

主动筛查患者CRE定植率为16.46%（66/401）；病种分布上，以急性白血病定植率最高，为23.03%（26/113）。66例筛查阳性患者中，其中第1次筛查阳性患者为27例，占40.9%（27/66），第2次筛查阳性患者为15例，占22.7%（15/66），第3次及以后筛查阳性患者为24例，占36.4%（24/66）。CRE定植病原菌中耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌（CRKP）最多，占54.55%（36/66）。主动筛查患者CRE感染率（2.49%）及死亡率（50.00%）低于历史对照组的11.30%及69.23%；干预期间10例CRE血流感染患者病原菌种类与前期主动筛查病原菌完全相同，符合率为100.0%。

结论

血液科病房急性白血病患者CRE定植率最高，CRKP是CRE定植、感染的主要病原菌，提高筛查频率可以显著提高筛查阳性率，采取主动筛查并及早干预能有效降低血液科患者CRE发生率及死亡率，CRE筛查阳性病原菌与后续CRE感染病原菌符合率高。恶性血液病患者肠道CRE筛查可以对后期CRE血流感染起到预警以及优化抗菌药物使用的作用。

[Research progress in pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis]

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease that is mainly caused by diffuse fibrosis of lung tissue due to long-term inhalation of productive dust during occupational activities and retention in the lungs. Macrophages, epithelial cells and other cells can release a large number of cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-β, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, etc. These cytokines can participate in pathologies such as local injury, inflammatory response, and pulmonary fibrosis. This article reviews the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis in order to provide a basis for further research.

[Association between lifestyle-related factors and colorectal adenoma]

Objective: To explore the association between lifestyle-related factors and colorectal adenoma. Methods: Based on the Screening Project of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer in Jiashan county Zhejiang province, from August 2012 to March 2018, information gathered through records on questionnaire and colonoscopic diagnosis were collected from participants with positive results during the primary screening stage. According to the findings of colonoscopy, 11 232 controls without any colorectal diseases and 3 895 cases with colorectal adenoma were included in the study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between lifestyle-related factors and colorectal adenoma. Results: After adjusting for possible confounding factors, results from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking, alcohol drinking and obesity were positively related to the risk of colorectal adenoma, with ORs (95%CIs) as 1.38 (1.24-1.54), 1.37 (1.24-1.51) and 1.38 (1.20-1.59) respectively. However, regular aspirin intake was negatively related with the risk of colorectal adenoma (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.53-0.80). After stratified by sex and age, data showed that the associations between smoking, alcohol drinking and colorectal adenoma were statistically significant in males, and the association between regular aspirin intake and colorectal adenoma was also statistically significant in older participants (aged 60 years and older). Conclusion: Smoking, alcohol drinking, regular aspirin intake and obesity were associated with colorectal adenoma.

Sugar in Beverage and the Risk of Incident Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the association between sugar in beverage and dementia, Alzheimer Disease (AD) dementia and stroke.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study were based on the US community-based Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Sugar in beverage was assessed between 1991 and 1995 (5th exam). Surveillance for incident events including dementia and stroke commenced at examination 9 through 2014 and continued for 15-20 years.

RESULTS

At baseline, a total of 1865 (63%) subjects consumed no sugar in beverage, whereas 525 (18%) subjects consumed it in 1-7 servings/week and 593 (29%) in over 7 servings/week. Over an average follow-up of 19 years in 1384 participants, there were 275 dementia events of which 73 were AD dementia. And 103 of 1831 participants occurred stroke during the follow-up nearly 16 years. After multivariate adjustments, individuals with the highest intakes of sugar in beverage had a higher risk of all dementia, AD dementia and stroke relative to individuals with no intakes, with HRs of 2.80(95%CI 2.24-3.50) for all dementia, 2.55(95%CI 1.55-4.18) for AD dementia, and 2.11(95%CI 1.48-3.00) for stroke. And the same results were shown in the subgroup for individuals with median intakes of sugar in beverage.

CONCLUSION

Higher consumption of sugar in beverage was associated with an increased risk of all dementia, AD dementia and stroke.

Antifungal activity screening for mint and thyme essential oils against Rhizopus stolonifer and their application in postharvest preservation of strawberry and peach fruits

AIMS

With a goal to identify specific essential oils that can control postharvest Rhizopus rot on strawberry and peach fruits, we performed screening for 26 essential oils based on their antifungal activity against Rhizopus stolonifer in vitro and investigated the underlying mechanism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mentha spicata (Ms), Mentha piperita (Mp), Thymus vulgaris CT carvacrol (Tc) and Thymus vulgaris CT thymol (Tt) exhibited strong inhibition on R. stolonifer growth in the screening. These essential oils increased plasma membrane permeability of R. stolonifer and resulted in the outflow of intercellular electrolyte, nucleic acid, protein and soluble sugar. Morphology of R. stolonifer mycelia was greatly altered by these essential oils. Hyphae treated by these essential oils exhibited high accumulation of superoxide anion and malonaldehyde. Combination of these essential oils in commercial package reduced Rhizopus rot on strawberry and peach fruits, with Mp showing the strongest efficiency.

CONCLUSION

Ms, Mp, Tc and Tt essential oils inhibited R. stolonifer growth by targeting its plasma membrane and reduced Rhizopus rot on strawberry and peach fruits.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provides potential applications of natural plant extract, as alternatives to tradition fungicides, to control postharvest decay on fruits and vegetables.

[Prevalence and influence factors of job burnout among hospital staffs-a cross-sectional study]

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of job burnout of medical staff and provide reference for the formulation of intervention measures. Methods: From November to December, 2018, a questionnaire survey was conducted among medical staff in a general hospital by using the research design of the current situation survey. A total of 1193 questionnaires were distributed and 939 questionnaires were returned, with a recovery rate of 78.7%, including 891 valid questionnaires and an effective recovery rate of 94.9%. Social support rating scale (SSRs) was used to evaluate social support, and Maslach Burnout Scale (MBI-GS) was used to evaluate job burnout. Single factor analysis was performed by chi square test and Fisher exact probability method. To explore the influencing factors of job burnout by using disordered multi classification logistic. Results: The average age was (27.47 ± 4.22) years old, female accounted for 71.5% (637/891) . The total physical examination rate of job burnout was 46.6%. The scores of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and decreased sense of achievement were (10.10±3.75) , (6.14±3.43) , (17.91±4.13) respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with the non detected job burnout, the young, working for 1-3 years, average sleep ≤6 hours, and poor social support were more likely to have mild job burnout (OR=0.91, 0.40, 2.25, 2.38, P<0.05) ; female, high night shift frequency in the past year, average sleep ≤6 h. Those with poor social support were more likely to have moderate to severe job burnout (OR=1.59, 2.94, 4.01, 2.40, 3.66, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Corresponding measures should be taken to reduce job burnout and improve work efficiency.

MicroRNA-22 targets FMNL2 to inhibit melanoma progression via the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition

OBJECTIVE

Melanoma is regarded as one common malignancy in skin cancers, and there is growing evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in the oncogenesis of tumors. This study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanism of miR-22 in melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expressions of miR-22 and mRNA. The functions of miR-22 in melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion were investigated with functional assays, including MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and transwell assay. Western blots were utilized to examine the protein expressions. Luciferase reporter analysis was conducted to confirm the interactions between formin-like 2 (FMNL2) and miR-22 in melanoma cells. FMNL2 expression levels in melanoma tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.

RESULTS

The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated significant decreased miR-22 expressions in melanoma tissues. Decreased miR-22 in melanoma tissues were correlated with adverse clinicopathologic features and poor prognosis. Functional assays indicated that upregulation inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities. Luciferase reporter assays showed that FMNL2 was targeted by miR-22 in melanoma cells. Western blots indicated that miR-22 exerted anti-tumor functions by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that miR-22 served as a tumor suppressor in melanoma progression, implying that miR-22 may function as a novel therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for melanoma treatments.