Clinical effectiveness of house dust mite immunotherapy in mono- versus poly-sensitised patients with allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Selecting an appropriate allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) regimen for polysensitised allergic rhinitis (AR) patients is challenging for clinicians. Although previous studies showed comparable effectiveness of single-allergen AIT with house dust mite (HDM) extract between monosensitised and polysensitised AR patients, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating the comparable effectiveness of HDM AIT. In this meta-analysis, we analysed nine studies to compare the clinical effectiveness of HDM AIT. The primary outcome was nasal symptom score and secondary outcomes were medication and quality of life scores. The changes in nasal symptom score after HDM AIT did not significantly differ between monosensitised and polysensitised patients. The clinical effectiveness of HDM AIT regarding medication and quality of life score was not significantly different between monosensitised and polysensitised patients). In conclusion, single-allergen AIT with HDM extract showed comparable clinical effectiveness between polysensitised and monosensitised patients with AR.

Combination of Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4231 and MG4244 attenuates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-fed obese mice

We investigated the anti-obesity effect and the underlying mechanisms of action of human-derived Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4231, MG4244, and their combination, in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Administration of the Limosilactobacillus strains decreased body weight gain, liver and adipose tissue weight, and glucose tolerance. Serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and leptin were reduced, while adiponectin increased. The administration of Limosilactobacillus strains improved the histopathological features of liver tissue, such as hepatic atrophy and inflammatory penetration, and significantly reduced the content of triglyceride in the liver. Limosilactobacillus administration discovered a significant reduction in the size of the adipocytes in the epididymal tissue. Limosilactobacillus treatment significantly reduced the expression of important regulators in lipid metabolism, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, fatty acid synthase (FAS), adipocyte-protein 2, and lipoprotein lipase in the epididymal tissue. Also, Limosilactobacillus lowered sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1-c and FAS in the liver tissue. Such changes in the expression of these regulators in both liver and epididymis tissue were caused by Limosilactobacillus upregulating phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Therefore, we suggest that the use of the combination of L. fermentum MG4231 and MG4244, as probiotics could effectively inhibit adipogenesis and lipogenesis from preventing obesity.

Imaging mass spectrometry: a new way to distinguish dermal contact from administration of cocaine, using a single fingerprint

Here we show a new and significant application area for mass spectrometry imaging. The potential for fingerprints to reveal drug use has been widely reported, with potential applications in forensics and workplace drug testing. However, one unsolved issue is the inability to distinguish between drug administration and contamination by contact. Previous work using bulk mass spectrometry analysis has shown that this distinction can only be definitively made if the hands are washed prior to sample collection. Here, we illustrate how three mass spectrometry imaging approaches, desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI), matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) can be used to visualise fingerprints at different pixel sizes, ranging from the whole fingerprint down to the pore structure. We show how each of these magnification scales can be used to distinguish between cocaine use and contact. We also demonstrate the first application of water cluster SIMS to a fingerprint sample, which was the sole method tested here that was capable of detecting excreted drug metabolites in fingerprints, while providing spatial resolution sufficient to resolve individual pore structure. We show that after administration of cocaine, lipids and salts in the fingerprint ridges spatially correlate with the cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine. In contrast after contact, we have observed that cocaine and its metabolite show a poor spatial correlation with the flow of the ridges.

Cell-Free DNA Tissue Damage Mapping in Transplant Patients Infected with COVID-19

Purpose

Patients with COVID-19 show variable clinical course; transplant patients often show worse outcomes. The effect of COVID-19 on the allograft and the sources of tissue injury that contribute to such poor outcomes are poorly defined. This study leverages cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to measure allograft injury as donor-derived cfDNA (ddcfDNA) and injury from different tissue types using tissue-specific DNA methylomic signatures.

Methods

14 consecutive COVID-19 transplant patients (8 Kidney, 3 Lung, 1 Heart, 1 Liver, and one multi-organ transplant patients) and 30 healthy controls were included. Plasma nuclear cfDNA (ncfDNA) and mitochondrial cfDNA (mtcfDNA) level were measured via digital droplet PCR, and ddcfDNA using AlloSure (CareDx). cfDNA whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was performed to identify cfDNA tissues of origin leveraging tissue specific DNA methylomes and deconvolution algorithm.

Results

75% of the COVID-19 transplant patients showed high ddcfDNA level compared to published quiescent values, including all lung, 50% of the kidney, liver and multi-organ transplant patients (8.5, 4.4, 30 and 16-X fold change, respectively). Total ncfDNA and mtcfDNA were 15X and 310X higher in COVID-19 transplant patients compared to controls, respectively; < 0.0001.The predominant tissues contributing to cfDNA were hematopoietic cells (80%) (Figure). More importantly, COVID-19 transplant patients showed 10 to 100 fold higher tissue specific cfDNA derived from monocyte, neutrophil, erythroblast, vascular endothelium, adipocyte, hepatocyte, kidney, heart and lung compared to controls. Analysis comparing cfDNA in transplant and non-transplant COVID-19 patients is on-going.

Conclusion

The allograft undergoes significant injury following COVID-19. Further, cfDNA from multiple tissue types is significantly higher in COVID-19 transplant patients. Future studies in a larger cohorts of transplant and non-transplant patients are needed to elucidate why transplant patients show worse COVID-19 outcomes.

AB1185 BUDGET IMPACT ANALYSIS OF INTRODUCING SUBCUTANEOUS INFLIXIMAB CT-P13 SC FROM THE UK PAYER PERSPECTIVE

Background:

CT-P13 subcutaneous (SC) is the first and only SC version of infliximab developed by Celltrion Healthcare and currently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Infliximab has been only available in intravenous (IV) formulation and thus this new mode of administration will allow patients to self-inject at homes. Self-injection will reduce number of outpatient visits and expected to decrease IV administration cost significantly. This research describes the economic impact of introducing infliximab SC from the UK payer perspective.

Objectives:

The budget impact analysis (BIA) was conducted to assess the financial impact of the adoption of infliximab SC. The BIA calculates the costs of treatment (drug acquisition cost and administration) for patients with RA as first-line treatments, and compares the cost in a scenario without infliximab SC vs a scenario with infliximab SC to estimate the budget impact over the 5 year period.

Methods:

A prevalence-based BIM was developed incorporating epidemiological data, administration cost data from the literature and market share data from IQVIA. The analysis compared a market scenario where a proportion of patients were treated with infliximab SC (‘World With’ infliximab SC) to an alternative market scenario where infliximab SC were not available and all patients were treated with IV (‘World Without’ infliximab SC). The model assumed that the clinical outcomes are same between infliximab SC and infliximab IV, and patients entering the model were all naïve and remained in the treatment for 5 years. In the ‘World With’ scenario, patients receiving infliximab IV switched to SC administration at 30% in Year 1, 45% in Year 2, and remained 60% from Year 3 to 5. The drug cost of infliximab SC is assumed to be the same as that of comparator treatments. Administration cost per infliximab IV infusion was estimated to be ₤382 and ₤3.32 per SC administration.

Results:

Compared to the “World Without” infliximab SC, the introduction of subcutaneous infliximab resulted in cost savings of ₤39.6 million in UK over a 5-year period, equating to 4,466 additional patients to be treated with infliximab SC in base case scenario.

Sensitivity analysis includes dose-escalation up to 5mg/kg to reflect the real-world setting. In that scenario, the saving increases to ₤279.6 million over a 5-year period, equating to 30,839 additional patients to be treated with infliximab SC.

Conclusion:

Utilization of subcutaneous infliximab may lead to substantial cost savings for UK payers. Self-injection will significantly reduce the burden on healthcare delivery allowing resource to be spent elsewhere. Sensitivity analysis concluded that treatment with increased IV dose will result in higher savings from switching patients to subcutaneous infliximab.

References:

[1]European Medicines Agency. Remsima SC authorization details.https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/remsima-epar-product-information_en.pdf

[2]Carpenter, L., et al. (2014). Patients with Moderate Disease Activity in the First 5 Years of Rheumatoid Arthritis Still Progress Radiographically Despite Conventional Disease Modifying Therapy.: 2135.Arthritis & Rheumatology,66.

[3]The NICE British National Formulary (BNF).https://bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-forms/

[4]Tetteh, E. K., & Morris, S. (2014). Evaluating the administration costs of biologic drugs: development of a cost algorithm. Health economics review, 4(1), 26.

[5]National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2016). Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab and abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis not previously treated with DMARDs or after conventional DMARDs only have failed.

Disclosure of Interests:

Martin Perry Grant/research support from: Grifols, Abbvie, Sandoz unrestricted educational grant, Consultant of: Abbvie, Gilead, Celltrion Advisory Board, Speakers bureau: Sandoz, Minyoung Jang Employee of: HEOR & Market access specialist in Celltrion Healthcare

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

On the relevance of cocaine detection in a fingerprint

The finding that drugs and metabolites can be detected from fingerprints is of potential relevance to forensic science and as well as toxicology and clinical testing. However, discriminating between dermal contact and ingestion of drugs has never been verified experimentally. The inability to interpret the result of finding a drug or metabolite in a fingerprint has prevented widespread adoption of fingerprints in drug testing and limits the probative value of detecting drugs in fingermarks. A commonly held belief is that the detection of metabolites of drugs of abuse in fingerprints can be used to confirm a drug has been ingested. However, we show here that cocaine and its primary metabolite, benzoylecgonine, can be detected in fingerprints of non-drug users after contact with cocaine. Additionally, cocaine was found to persist above environmental levels for up to 48 hours after contact. Therefore the detection of cocaine and benzoylecgonine (BZE) in fingermarks can be forensically significant, but do not demonstrate that a person has ingested the substance. In contrast, the data here shows that a drug test from a fingerprint (where hands can be washed prior to donating a sample) CAN distinguish between contact and ingestion of cocaine. If hands were washed prior to giving a fingerprint, BZE was detected only after the administration of cocaine. Therefore BZE can be used to distinguish cocaine contact from cocaine ingestion, provided donors wash their hands prior to sampling. A test based on the detection of BZE in at least one of two donated fingerprint samples has accuracy 95%, sensitivity 90% and specificity of 100% (n = 86).

Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches to improve skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity and hydration

OBJECTIVE

Although dissolving microneedle patches have been widely studied in the cosmetics field, no comparisons have been drawn with the topical applications available for routine use. In this study, two wrinkle-improving products, adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches and an adenosine cream, were evaluated for efficacy, with respect to skin wrinkling, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration, and safety in a clinical test on the crow's feet area.

METHODS

Clinical efficacy and safety tests were performed for 10 weeks on 22 female subjects with wrinkles around their eyes. The adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patch was applied once every 3 days, in the evening, for 8 weeks to the designated crow's feet area. The adenosine cream was applied two times per day, in the morning and evening, for 8 weeks to the other crow's feet area. Skin wrinkling, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration were measured by using PRIMOS^® premium, Dermascan^® C, Cutometer^® MPA580, and Corneometer^® CM 825, respectively. In addition, subjective skin irritation was evaluated by self-observation, and objective skin irritation was assessed through expert interviews.

RESULTS

The adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches had a similar or better efficacy than the adenosine cream. Both groups showed statistically significant efficacy for almost all parameters (P < 0.05). The dissolving microneedle patches had a long-lasting effect on the average wrinkle depth (P < 0.05), only showed efficacy in dermal density (P < 0.05), had an early improving effect on elasticity (P < 0.05), and demonstrated better hydration efficacy (P < 0.001). No adverse effects were observed in either group during the test period.

CONCLUSIONS

In the clinical efficacy test of four skin-improvement parameters, adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed the same or better effect than the adenosine cream, although the weekly adenosine dose was 140 times lower. The dissolving microneedle patches caused no adverse reactions. These adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches are expected to be safe, effective, and novel cosmetics for skin improvement.

Towards Automatic Generation of Portions of Scientific Papers for Large Multi-Institutional Collaborations Based on Semantic Metadata

Scientific collaborations involving multiple institutions are increasingly commonplace. It is not unusual for publications to have dozens or hundreds of authors, in some cases even a few thousands. Gathering the information for such papers may be very time consuming, since the author list must include authors who made different kinds of contributions and whose affiliations are hard to track. Similarly, when datasets are contributed by multiple institutions, the collection and processing details may also be hard to assemble due to the many individuals involved. We present our work to date on automatically generating author lists and other portions of scientific papers for multi-institutional collaborations based on the metadata created to represent the people, data, and activities involved. Our initial focus is ENIGMA, a large international collaboration for neuroimaging genetics.

White matter hyperintensities as a new predictor of driving cessation in the elderly

Background/aims

Motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions affect driving competence. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) changes on brain MRI are associated structural brain changes along with cognitive and motor performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between WMH and driving ability in the elderly.

Methods

Participants (n = 540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort study. Each participant underwent clinical evaluations, neuropsychological tests, and interview for caregiver including driving capacity, which was categorized as ‘now driving’, and ‘driving cessation (driving before, not now)’. A total 540 participants were divided into three groups (389 mild, 116 moderate, and 35 severe) depending on the degree of WMH. The same evaluations of them were followed after each year. The statistical analyses were performed using χ2 test, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE).

Results

In a SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive and motor dysfunction (β = –0.110, P < 0.001). In GEE models controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, the more severe changes of the degree of WMH was associated with the faster change from ‘now driving’ state to ‘driving cessation’ state over time in the elderly (β = –0.508, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In both cross-sectional and longitudinal aspects, the degree of WMH might be one of the predictive factors for driving cessation in the elderly, reflecting both motor and cognitive functions or independently.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Optical Phase Conjugation with Less Than a Photon per Degree of Freedom

We demonstrate experimentally that optical phase conjugation can be used to focus light through strongly scattering media even when far less than a photon per optical degree of freedom is detected. We found that the best achievable intensity contrast is equal to the total number of detected photons, as long as the resolution of the system is high enough. Our results demonstrate that phase conjugation can be used even when the photon budget is extremely low, such as in high-speed focusing through dynamic media or imaging deep inside tissue.