The impact of rare cancer and early-line treatments on the benefit of comprehensive genome profiling-based precision oncology

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive genome profiling (CGP) serves as a guide for suitable genomically matched therapies for patients with cancer. However, little is known about the impact of the timing and types of cancer on the therapeutic benefit of CGP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single hospital-based pan-cancer prospective study (TOP-GEAR; UMIN000011141) was conducted to examine the benefit of CGP with respect to the timing and types of cancer. Patients with advanced solid tumors (>30 types) who either progressed with or without standard treatments were genotyped using a single CGP test. The subjects were followed up for a median duration of 590 days to examine therapeutic response, using progression-free survival (PFS), PFS ratio, and factors associated with therapeutic response.

RESULTS

Among the 507 patients, 62 (12.2%) received matched therapies with an overall response rate (ORR) of 32.3%. The PFS ratios (≥1.3) were observed in 46.3% (19/41) of the evaluated patients. The proportion of subjects receiving such therapies in the rare cancer cohort was lower than that in the non-rare cancer cohort (9.6% and 17.4%, respectively; P = 0.010). However, ORR of the rare cancer patients was higher than that in the non-rare cancer cohort (43.8% and 20.0%, respectively; P = 0.046). Moreover, ORR of matched therapies in the first or second line after receiving the CGP test was higher than that in the third or later lines (62.5% and 21.7%, respectively; P = 0.003). Rare cancer and early-line treatment were significantly and independently associated with ORR of matched therapies in multivariable analysis (P = 0.017 and 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Patients with rare cancer preferentially benefited from tumor mutation profiling by increasing the chances of therapeutic response to matched therapies. Early-line treatments after profiling increase the therapeutic benefit, irrespective of tumor types.

The vascular response to ultrathin biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent at 2-weeks and 1-year follow up in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Recent clinical study suggests newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) that combine ultrathin strut and nano-coating with biodegradable polymers sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) could improve long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over current generation DES. However, the details of vascular response in very early and chronic phase have not been systematically addressed.

Objective and method

We exploratory investigate early and chronic vascular response following BP-SES implantation in patients with STEMI to reveal mechanism of the favorable clinical outcomes in recent studies using frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).

Consecutive twenty-four patients with STEMI who underwent FD-OCT after primary PCI and were eligible for follow-up FD-OCT at 2 weeks and 1 year after implantation were enrolled between June 2018 and August 2020.

OCT was performed immediately after PCI, at 2-weeks (2W) and 1-year (1Y) after the primary PCI. Struts were recorded as uncovered if any part was visibly exposed in the lumen or covered if a layer of tissue covered all reflecting surfaces. Struts of stents that are smaller than 3.0mm of diameter with more than 80μm between the center reflection and the adjacent vessel surface were recorded as malapposed. The reduction of atherothrombotic protrusion burden within the stent was also assessed.

Results

Twenty-four patients (age 64.9±11.4 years, male 83.3%) were enrolled.

The percentage of uncovered struts significantly decreased from post-PCI to 2W follow-up and from 2W follow-up to 1Y follow-up (62±20% post-PCI versus 27±11% at 2W follow up, p<0.0001 and 2W follow-up versus 3.3±3.3% at 1Y follow up, p<0.0001). Malapposed struts also decreased from post-PCI to 2W follow-up (4.1±3.6% post-PCI versus 1.5±2.2% at 2W follow-up, p<0.0001), but no significant difference was shown between 2W follow-up and 1Y follow-up (2W follow-up versus 1.0±2.3 at 1Y follow up, p=0.12). The average protrusion area of athero-thrombotic burden decreased (0.57±0.32 at post-PCI versus 0.42±0.22 mm2 at 2W follow up, p<0.0001) and its volume showed similar tendency (16.6±10.7 at post-PCI versus 12.9±8.23 mm3 at 2W follow up, p=0.0011). Thrombus was shown in all patients at post-PCI, but two patients (8.0%) showed it at 1Y follow-up.

Conclusion(s)

This study elucidated very early and chronic vascular responses following ultrathin strut BP-SES implantation in STEMI patients by FD-OCT. It showed resolution of athero-thrombotic materials in very early phase and favorable progression of strut coverage in very early and chronic phase.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Drosophila immunity: the Drosocin gene encodes two host defence peptides with pathogen-specific roles

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key to defence against infection in plants and animals. Use of AMP mutations in Drosophila has now revealed that AMPs can additively or synergistically contribute to defence in vivo. However, these studies also revealed high specificity, wherein just one AMP contributes an outsized role in combatting a specific pathogen. Here, we show the Drosocin locus (CG10816) is more complex than previously described. In addition to its namesake peptide 'Drosocin', it encodes a second mature peptide from a precursor via furin cleavage. This peptide corresponds to the previously uncharacterized 'Immune-induced Molecule 7'. A polymorphism (Thr52Ala) in the Drosocin precursor protein previously masked the identification of this peptide, which we name 'Buletin'. Using mutations differently affecting Drosocin and Buletin, we show that only Drosocin contributes to Drosocin gene-mediated defence against Enterobacter cloacae. Strikingly, we observed that Buletin, but not Drosocin, contributes to the Drosocin gene-mediated defence against Providencia burhodogranariea, including an importance of the Thr52Ala polymorphism for survival. Our study reveals that the Drosocin gene encodes two prominent host defence peptides with different specificity against distinct pathogens. This finding emphasizes the complexity of the Drosophila humoral response and demonstrates how natural polymorphisms can affect host susceptibility.

Evaluation of elastin fibres in young and aged eyelids and abdominal skin using computational 3D structural analysis

Background

Aging‐related degeneration of elastic fibres causes skin wrinkles and loss of elasticity. A correlation has been reported between dermal elastic fibre degradation and wrinkles. However, the mechanism of wrinkle formation is complex and unclear. To establish methods for treating wrinkles, it is necessary to understand the aging‐related morphological alterations underlying elastin fibre degradation or disappearance.

Objectives

To image and analyse aging‐related three‐dimensional (3D) morphological alterations of elastic fibres in the eyelid and abdominal skin.

Methods

Excised human eyelid and abdominal skin tissues were examined. The structure of elastic fibres in the skin tissues was examined via nuclear, tropoelastin and fibrillin‐1 immunostaining. Then, 3D imaging was performed using a confocal laser microscope and tissue decolourization technology. Images were analysed using a computational method.

Results

The decolourization technology made it possible to image elastin fibres in 3D, and we devised a method for analyzing the elastin fibre structure using computational methods. It was quantitatively shown that the eyelid skin has a more complex fibrous structure than the abdomen, and the fibres became curved, shortened and thickened with age.

Conclusions

We provide a novel 3D analysis method for elastin fibres and report age‐related alterations in elastin fibre structure in the human eyelid and abdominal skin. This method contributes to the understanding of elastin fibre degeneration in more detail than conventional methods. Applying this 3D analysis method to skin tissues will contribute to a better understanding of age‐related changes in fibres and to the development of novel wrinkle treatments.

Contributions of small dense LDL and oxidized LDL on the formation of neoatherosclerosis in patients under statin treatment

Aim

In-stent neoatherosclerosis (NA) has emerged as an important contributing factor to late stent failure and cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate whether lipid markers are associated with NA using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease under well-controlled low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) on statin treatment.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive 115 patients under statin treatment who underwent PCI with current-generation drug-eluting stent for acute and chronic coronary syndrome. OCT image and various lipid markers were obtained at 1-year for scheduled research assessment. NA was defined as a lipid laden neointima or calcified neointima. Both small dense LDL-c (sd-LDL-c) and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RL-c) were measured using direct homogenous assay.

Results

During an average follow-up of 13 months, NA was observed in 14 (13.6%) patients. Not LDL-c but sd-LDL-c, Malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) as oxidized LDL and (RL-c) were significantly higher in patients with NA. The optimal threshold values of sd-LDL-c, MDA-LDL and RL-c for predicting NA according to receiver operating characteristics analysis were 32.3 mg/dl, 91.0 U/L, and 3.3 mg/dL, respectively. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, sd-LDL-c (≥32.3 mg/dL) and MDA (≥91.0 U/L) were significantly associated with NA (odds ratio [OR]:13.62, p=0.016, OR: 12.68, p=0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

In statin-treated patients, sd-LDL-c and MDA-LDL but not LDL-c might be useful biomarkers to identify the formation of NA at 1 years after PCI. Aggressive reduction of these atherogenic LDL may have a potential to prevent the formation of NA.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Higher plasma level of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with plaque rupture

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-c) and various lipid markers between patients exhibiting plaque rupture (PR) in the culprit lesions evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and those without PR in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Methods

We studied consecutive 60 de novo culprit lesions in 60 patients with STEMI who underwent pre-intervention OCT. PR was defined as a plaque containing a cavity that had overlying residual fibrous caps. Plasma sd-LDL-c was measured directly by homogeneous assay at the time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Results

The patients were classified into PR (n=40, 66.7%) or non-PR (n=20, 33.3%). There were no significant differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) and pre-admission statin therapy between two groups (135.1±38.0 mg/dL vs 129.2±43.8 mg/dL; p=0.35, 157.1±37.4 mg/dL vs 143.0±37.7 mg/dL; p=0.24, 15.0% vs 20.0%; p=0.93). However, sd-LDL-c level was significantly higher in patients with PR than those with non-PR (44.0±18.1 mg/dL vs 28.0±9.3 mg/dL; p=0.0005). On multiple logistic regression analysis, sd-LDL-c was an independent predictor of PR (odds ratio, 1.14 per 1 mg/dL; p=0.0063).

Conclusion

Sd-LDL-c was significantly associated with PR of the culprit lesion in patients with STEMI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Oral corticosteroid dosage and clinical presentation of psychiatric conditions after steroid use: A consultation-liaison psychiatry service's experience

Aim

Psychiatric disturbances are the major adverse effects of corticosteroids. There are no consistent conclusions regarding changes in steroid dosage and the incidence of psychiatric conditions, due in part to the lack of consistent evaluation criteria. The purpose of this research was to determine the incidence and dose‐dependency of psychiatric conditions as assessed by trained psychiatrists.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted at a university hospital in Japan. We identified inpatients receiving oral prednisolone treatment, who were referred to the consultation‐liaison psychiatry team from April 2015 to March 2018. Patients were divided into high‐dose (≥0.5 mg/kg/day) and low‐dose (<0.5 mg/kg/day) groups. We investigated the associations between steroid dosage and incidence of psychiatric conditions.

Results

A total of 93 patients (35 in the high‐dose group, 58 in the low‐dose group) were included. Various psychiatric conditions, such as insomnia, delirium, depression, and psychosis, occurred during steroid therapy. The most common condition was insomnia (72%). We observed no significant differences in the patient background characteristics and the incidence of most psychiatric conditions between the high‐dose and low‐dose groups. However, there were more patients with delirium in the low‐dose group than in the high‐dose group.

Conclusions

Based on the accurate assessment of psychiatric conditions by psychiatrists, our analysis suggests that, among inpatients referred to a consultation‐liaison psychiatry team, the incidence of psychiatric conditions, with the exception of delirium, is independent of the dose of oral prednisolone.

We investigated the differences in psychiatric symptoms and clinical features according to the dose of oral prednisolone by conducting a retrospective chart review of the 93 patients referred to our consultation‐liaison psychiatry team. The results showed that psychiatric symptoms, except for delirium, were not dose‐related.

Ectopic ovary presenting as mesenteric abscess

Ectopic ovary is a rare gynaecological condition that results in problems with menstruation and pregnancy and may develop into a malignant tumour. However, as the condition is often asymptomatic, diagnosis is difficult and frequently delayed. We report a case of a 42-year-old female who presented with a 10-day history of abdominal pain. The patient underwent surgery that confirmed the diagnosis of an ectopic ovary with an internal abscess. The findings of our study indicate that ectopic ovaries can present with an abscess. Ectopic ovaries should be included in the differential diagnosis of masses with internal abscesses.

Clinical benefits of precision medicine in treating solid cancers: European Society of Medical Oncology-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale score-based analysis

Background

Precision and matched cancer medicine has the potential to complement the existing biomarker approaches in cancer treatment. However, despite their promising potential, certain negative results have highlighted their limitations in molecular biology-driven treatment strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of precision therapies.

Materials and methods

Three reviewers independently identified and assessed precision and matched cancer treatment studies published between January 2015 and December 2020. Clinical benefits of the treatments included in our cohort were assessed using two established frameworks; the European Society of Medical Oncology-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale version 1.1 (ESMO-MCBS) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology Value Framework.

Results

Of the 290 eligible studies, 130 were for lung cancer, 51 for solid tumors, 24 for melanoma, and 24 for breast cancer. The common targets were: epidermal growth factor receptor (N = 66), serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (N = 40), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) (N = 34), breast cancer protein (N = 26), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PI3K/AKT/PTEN) pathway (N = 19), receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (HER2) (N = 19), mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/RAF/MAPK) pathway (N = 18), programmed death-ligand 1 (N = 12), fibroblast growth factor receptor (N = 8), and others (N = 43). The ESMO-MCBS scales ranged from 0 to 4. Based on the clinical benefit values, tumor mutational burden/mismatch repair-deficient/microsatellite instability-high for immunotherapy, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase therapeutic targets were considered high, whereas RAS/RAF/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/PTEN were considered low. Additionally, we found a significant difference between each average score (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study showed that precision and matched cancer therapies require further improvement. This is consistent with the views of the tumor board and of clinicians that precision strategies need to be revised to improve their therapeutic effects.

•

Of the 290 eligible studies, 130 were for lung cancer, 51 for solid tumors, 24 for melanoma, and 24 for breast cancer.

•

Precision strategies need to be revised to improve their therapeutic effects.

•

Therapeutic targets need to be narrowed down to improve the efficacy of precision medicine in the clinical setting.

The advanced lung cancer inflammation index predicts outcomes in patients with Crohn's disease after surgical resection

AIM

Precise biomarkers for predicting prognosis could help to identify high-risk Crohn's disease (CD) patients to facilitate better follow-up during the postoperative course. In this study, the primary aim is the identification of the most reliable nutrition marker that predicts surgical relapse in CD patients.

METHOD

We first evaluated the predictive value of various nutrition markers for postoperative surgical relapse in CD patients and identified the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) as a promising biomarker. Then, we assessed the clinical significance of preoperative ALI in CD patients using two cohorts.

RESULTS

Preoperative ALI showed the highest correlation with reoperation rate compared with other nutritional parameters in CD patients receiving surgical resection (sensitivity 53%, specificity 86%, area under the curve 0.71). Lower levels of preoperative ALI were significantly correlated with the presence of perianal disease. A lower level of preoperative ALI was an independent prognostic factor for reoperation rate after an intestinal resection (hazard ratio 3.37, 95% CI 1.38-10.12, P = 0.006), and the prognostic impact of preoperative ALI was successfully validated in an independent cohort using the same cut-off value.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative ALI might be useful for postoperative management of CD patients.

Purification of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by HDAC inhibition through inducing apoptosis and cell arrest in non-cardiomyocytes

Background

Cell therapy is one of the most promising strategies for treatment of heart failure. During preparation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for cells therapy, it is important to eliminate the presence of residual proliferative non-target cells in the preparation as these non-target cells could present the risk of tumorgenicity. To minimize the risk, selective and more precise purification process is necessary.

Purpose

We hypothesized that the differences in proliferative activity between cardiomyocytes and non-target cells might result in different sensitivities to the drugs targeting cell growth/survival. The aim of this study is to obtain compounds that eliminate non-cardiomyocytes selectively and to study the mechanism of action of these compounds.

Methods and results

We screened 314 small compounds using both iPSCs and sorted hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We identified several compounds, which markedly decreased the cell numbers of iPSCs, but showed minimum effects on those of hiPSC-CMs. Among them, HDAC inhibitors were selected as the most promising candidates. We examined whether HDAC inhibitors could purify hiPSC-CMs containing non-cardiomyocytes populations, which were differentiated using the classical embryoid body (EB) method. As a result, HDAC inhibitors increased the purity of cardiomyocytes (up to 98%) by decreasing non-target cells such as smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and endodermal lineage cells. Moreover, we confirmed HDAC inhibitors could be used for purification of cardiomyocytes in monolayer differentiation protocol using GSK3β inhibitor and Wnt inhibitor. We measured the expression levels of mRNA and protein in iPSCs and hiPSC-CMs (EB method) treated with HDAC inhibitors. mRNA levels of CDKN1A (p21) and BAX were upregulated in iPSCs. Western blotting analyses revealed that HDAC inhibitors also induced the expression of p21 and the cleavage of Caspase3 in iPSCs.

Conclusions

Our result suggests that the inhibition of HDAC enables an efficient purification of hiPSC-CMs in multiple differentiation methods. Furthermore, our data indicate that HDAC inhibitors induce the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in iPSCs but not hiPSC-CMs.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Early vascular healing following bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in comparison with durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent: sequential optical coherence tomography study

Background

Orsiro ultrathin-strut bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) might facilitate early vascular healing responses that seems to be associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes. We compared the early vascular healing responses to BP-SES and Xience durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

A total of 40 patients with CCS receiving OCT-guided PCI were included. 20 patients were assigned to BP-SES, and 20 to DP-EES. OCT was performed immediately after stent placement (post-procedure) and at 1 month follow-up. Struts were recorded as uncovered if any part was visibly exposed in the lumen or covered if a layer of tissue covered all reflecting surfaces. The incidence of intrastent thrombus (IS-Th) and irregular protrusion (IRP) were also assessed.

Results

At 1 month, the percentage of uncovered struts was significantly lower in the BP-SES compared with the DP-EES (2.8±1.6% vs. 5.8±1.8%, respectively; p&lt;0.001), and that of malapposed struts was similar between both groups (2.5±3.1% vs. 2.4±2.2%; p=0.76). There were no differences in the incidence of IS-Th (65.0% vs. 55.0% at post-procedure; p=0.54, 30.0% vs. 35.0% at 1 month; p=0.75) and IRP (30.0% vs. 25.0% at post-procedure; p=0.74). IRP had completely resolved at 1 month in both groups.

Conclusion

Early vascular healing response to Orsiro BP-SES implantation was revealed in CCS patients at 1 month compared with Xience DP-EES. Orsiro BP-SES may have a potential to shorten the dual antiplatelet therapy duration.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Early vascular responses to ultrathin biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent for the treatment of st-elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Recent clinical study suggests newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) that combine ultrathin strut and nano-coating with biodegradable polymers sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) could improve long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over current generation DES. However, safety profiles in very early phase have not been systematically addressed.

Objective and method

We exploratory investigate early vascular response following BP-SES implantation in patients with STEMI to reveal mechanism of the favorable clinical outcomes in recent studies using frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).

Consecutive twenty patients with STEMI who underwent FD-OCT immediately after primary PCI and were eligible for follow-up FD-OCT at 2 weeks after implantation were enrolled between June 2018 and November 2019.

Results

Twenty patients (age 62.7±11.3 years, male 85.0%) were enrolled with frequencies of hypertension (45.0%), diabetes mellitus (35.0%), dyslipidemia (55.0%) and smoking (80.0%). Aspiration catheter were used in all patients, and 1.13±0.34 stents were used. Only one patient (5.0%) received chronic antiplatelet therapy with aspirin prior to the onset of STEMI. All patients started to receive prasugrel as thienopyridine from this event and continued dual antiplatelet therapy for 2 weeks.

The percentage of uncovered struts significantly decreased from post-procedure to 2W follow-up (69±18% post-procedure versus 30±11% at 2W follow up, p&lt;0.0001). Malapposed struts also decreased (5.6±5.7% post-procedure versus0.9±1.2% at 2W follow up, p&lt;0.0001).The average protrusion area of athero-thrombotic burden numerically decreased (0.37±0.19 at post-procedure versus 0.34±0.14 mm2 at 2W follow up, p=0.19) and its volume showed similar tendency (10.60±6.40 at post-procedure versus 9.36±5.14 mm3 at 2W follow up, p=0.19).

Conclusion(s)

This study firstly elucidated very early vascular responses following ultrathin strut BP-SES implantation in STEMI patients, showing early progression of strut coverage and resolution of athero-thrombotic materials. This technology may have a potential to overcome the current generation DESs in this clinical setting.

Thrombus, uncovered and malapposed struts

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Long-Term Undiagnosed Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus Identified by Urgent Electroencephalography with Hyperventilation Activation

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) might be underdiagnosed in cases where clinical symptoms are ambiguous. If a patient exhibits ictal psychiatric symptoms such as NCSE presentation and is misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric disorder, the patient may be treated in psychiatry settings, where continuous electroencephalography (cEEG), the gold standard for NCSE diagnosis, is typically not used. Herein, we report our experience with a patient having NCSE who exhibited psychiatric symptoms and remained misdiagnosed for many years. We also included a brief review of the relevant literature. Our experience with this patient presents two clinically significant points: (1) clinicians should consider NCSE in the differential diagnosis of interictal psychosis when patients with epilepsy, in whom the seizure type is unknown, repeatedly present transient psychiatric symptoms, and (2) urgent EEG with hyperventilation activation during acute periods may help diagnose patients with suspected NCSE.

Resting-state EEG beta band power predicts quality of life outcomes in patients with depressive disorders: A longitudinal investigation

BACKGROUND

Quality of life is severely impaired in patients with depressive disorders. Previous studies have focused on biomarkers predicting depressive symptomatology; however, studies investigating biomarkers predicting quality of life outcomes are limited. Improving quality of life is important because it is related not only to mental health but also to physical health. We need to develop a biomarker related to quality of life as a therapeutic target for patients with depressive disorders. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) is easy to record in clinical settings. The index of bandwidth spectral power predicts treatment response in depressive disorders and thus may be a candidate biomarker. However, no longitudinal studies have investigated whether EEG-recorded power could predict quality of life outcomes in patients with depressive disorders.

METHODS

The resting-state EEG-recorded bandwidth spectral power at baseline and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (QOL)-26 scores at 3-year follow-up were measured in 44 patients with depressive disorders.

RESULTS

The high beta band power (20-30 Hz) at baseline significantly predicted QOL at the 3-year follow-up after considering depressive symptoms and medication effects in a longitudinal investigation in patients with depressive disorders (β = 0.38, p = 0.01).

LIMITATIONS

We did not have healthy subjects as a comparison group in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that resting-state beta activity has the potential to be a useful biomarker for predicting future quality of life outcomes in patients with depressive disorders.

Assessing physical activity in people with mental illness: 23-country reliability and validity of the simple physical activity questionnaire (SIMPAQ)

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a key contributor to the global burden of disease and disproportionately impacts the wellbeing of people experiencing mental illness. Increases in physical activity are associated with improvements in symptoms of mental illness and reduction in cardiometabolic risk. Reliable and valid clinical tools that assess physical activity would improve evaluation of intervention studies that aim to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in people living with mental illness.

METHODS

The five-item Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ) was developed by a multidisciplinary, international working group as a clinical tool to assess physical activity and sedentary behaviour in people living with mental illness. Patients with a DSM or ICD mental illness diagnoses were recruited and completed the SIMPAQ on two occasions, one week apart. Participants wore an Actigraph accelerometer and completed brief cognitive and clinical assessments.

RESULTS

Evidence of SIMPAQ validity was assessed against accelerometer-derived measures of physical activity. Data were obtained from 1010 participants. The SIMPAQ had good test-retest reliability. Correlations for moderate-vigorous physical activity was comparable to studies conducted in general population samples. Evidence of validity for the sedentary behaviour item was poor. An alternative method to calculate sedentary behaviour had stronger evidence of validity. This alternative method is recommended for use in future studies employing the SIMPAQ.

CONCLUSIONS

The SIMPAQ is a brief measure of physical activity and sedentary behaviour that can be reliably and validly administered by health professionals.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the INSPIRE measure of staff support for personal recovery in community mental health service users in Japan

BACKGROUND

Supporting personal recovery in people with mental health difficulties is central to mental health services. This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of INSPIRE and Brief INSPIRE measure of staff support for personal recovery and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted from October to December 2015. The authors asked users to participate in the survey of 14 community mental health services in the Kanto region of Japan. The service users completed self-administered questionnaires that include the Japanese version of INSPIRE, the Recovery Assessment Scale, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, the patient version of the Scale to Assess Therapeutic Relationship in Community Mental Health care and the Short Form Health Survey. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and weighted kappa. Convergent validity was examined by assessing correlation with other scales. Factor validity was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with generalized least-squares mean and oblimin rotation. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was used to check the fitness of the factor structure models derived from the EFA.

RESULTS

A total of 195 out of 212 users gave written informed consent and participated in the study. Data from 190 respondents were analyzed (response rate 89.6%). INSPIRE, Brief INSPIRE, and the subscales all showed Cronbach's alpha coefficient over 0.78. ICC and weighted kappa derived more than 0.92 for subscales and Brief INSPIRE. These numerical values indicated good reliability. The convergent validity of Brief INSPIRE and the subscales was significantly positively correlated with the other scales. Different from the previous study, the factor structure was extracted using EFA. Both factor structures were checked by CFA, but the degree of fitness index was not good in either. Therefore, the factor analysis did not show goodness of fit.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found the Japanese version of INSPIRE and Brief INSPIRE to be reliable and valid for use among community mental health service users in Japan.

Correction to: The Japanese version of the questionnaire about the process of recovery: development and validity and reliability testing

After publication of our article [1] we were notified that the 5-point Likert-type scale in Additional file 1 needs to change from "1 to 5" to "0 to 4". The updated Additional file 1 is included in this correction.

Severity-dependent and -independent brain regions of major depressive disorder: A long-term longitudinal near-infrared spectroscopy study

BACKGROUND

Long-term longitudinal studies are necessary to establish neuroimaging indicators which contribute to the detection of severity changes over time in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

One hundred sixty-five patients with MDD underwent clinical assessments and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) examination at the initial evaluation (T0). After 1.5 years, 45 patients who visited for the follow-up evaluation (T1.5) were included in the analysis. The authors conducted analyses using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) scores and mean oxy-hemoglobin concentration ([oxy-Hb]) changes during a cognitive task in NIRS at T0 (T0_HAMD, T0_[oxy-Hb]) and at T1.5 (T1.5_HAMD, T1.5_[oxy-Hb]), and their intra-individual longitudinal changes (ΔHAMD = T1.5_HAMD - T0_HAMD, Δ[oxy-Hb] = T1.5_[oxy-Hb] - T0_[oxy-Hb]).

RESULTS

For severity-dependent regions, the Δ[oxy-Hb] in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was negatively correlated with the ΔHAMD. For severity-independent regions, the intra-class correlation coefficients between T0_ and T1.5_[oxy-Hb] were moderate in the bilateral middle frontal gyri (MFG).

LIMITATIONS

The percentage of patients included in the follow-up examination was relatively small.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain activation in the right IFG and the bilateral MFG as measured by NIRS may differentially indicate clinical severity and trait-related abnormalities in MDD.

Drug-induced oral lichenoid reaction during nivolumab therapy

Oral lichenoid reaction, an immune-related adverse event of immunotherapy, has been reported in very few patients receiving anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Here, we describe a case of severe stomatitis (grade ≥3 by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0) accompanied by pharyngolaryngitis that was observed in a patient receiving nivolumab therapy. The stomatitis was diagnosed as drug-induced lichenoid reaction. Nivolumab therapy was discontinued, and the patient was administered systemic prednisolone (1mg/kg). Most of the patient's mucosal changes in the oral cavity and pharyngolarynx resolved within approximately 3 weeks after starting the prednisolone. Clinicians should be aware that severe oral lichenoid reactions can occur in patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy.

Improvement in anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody-mediated temporal lobe epilepsy with amygdala enlargement without immunotherapy

Focal neuroinflammation is considered one of the hypotheses for the cause of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with amygdala enlargement (AE). Here, we report a case involving an adult female patient with TLE-AE characterized by late-onset seizures and cognitive impairment. Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies were detected in her cerebrospinal fluid. However, administration of appropriate anti-seizure drugs (ASD), without immunotherapy, improved TLE-AE associated with NMDAR antibodies. In the present case, two clinically significant observations were made: 1) anti-NMDAR antibody-mediated autoimmune processes may be associated with TLE-AE, and 2) appropriate administration of ASD alone can improve clinical symptoms in mild cases of autoimmune epilepsy.

Emotional stimuli-provoked seizures potentially misdiagnosed as psychogenic non-epileptic attacks: A case of temporal lobe epilepsy with amygdala enlargement

The association between emotional stimuli and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is largely unknown. Here, we report the case of a depressed, 50-year-old female complaining of episodes of a “spaced out” experience precipitated by emotional stimuli. Psychogenic non-epileptic attacks were suspected. However, video-EEG coupled with emotional stimuli-provoked procedures and MRI findings of amygdala enlargement, led to the diagnosis of left TLE. Accurate diagnosis and explanation improved her subjective depression and seizure frequency. This case demonstrated that emotional stimuli can provoke seizures in TLE and suggested the involvement of the enlarged amygdala and the modulation of emotion-related neural circuits.

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Emotional stimuli provoked seizures in TLE with amygdala enlargement.

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Amygdala enlargement may be associated with the mechanism that elicits seizures.

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Optimizing anti-seizure drugs and emotional stimuli management were crucial.

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A correct diagnosis may resolve the distress of patients with PNEA and/or TLE.

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Thorough investigation is needed before the diagnosis of PNEA is confirmed.

A case of interictal dysphoric disorder comorbid with interictal psychosis: Part of the same spectrum or separate entities?

Depressive disorders in epilepsy often present characteristic clinical manifestations atypical in primary, endogenous depression. Here, we report a case of a 64-year-old woman with right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, who complained of bizarre, antipsychotic-refractory cenesthetic hallucinations in her interictal phase, and was hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Detailed clinical observations revealed mood symptoms, which led to the diagnosis of interictal dysphoric disorder comorbid with interictal psychosis. Sertraline with low-dose aripiprazole markedly alleviated both depressive and psychotic symptoms. This case suggested that the two diagnostic entities may overlap and that depressive symptoms tend to be concurrent when concurring with psychosis, which hampers the appropriate choice of a treatment option.

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Prominent psychosis overshadowed symptoms of interictal dysphoric disorder (IDD).

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Interictal psychosis (IIP) may be more severe form of IDD.

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Self-report inventories may miss IDD with psychotic features.

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Sertraline with low-dose aripiprazole may be a promising pharmacological treatment in severe IDD.

The Japanese version of the questionnaire about the process of recovery: development and validity and reliability testing

BACKGROUND

Personal recovery is increasingly recognised as an important outcome measure in mental health services. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR-J) and test its validity and reliability.

METHODS

The study comprised two stages that employed the cross-sectional and prospective cohort designs, respectively. We translated the questionnaire using a standard translation/back-translation method. Convergent validity was examined by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficients with scores on the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS) and the Short-Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to examine factorial validity. We used intraclass correlation and Cronbach's alpha to examine the test-retest and internal consistency reliability of the QPR-J's 22-item full scale, 17-item intrapersonal and 5-item interpersonal subscales. We conducted an EFA along with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 197 users of mental health services (mean age: 42.0 years; 61.9% female; 49.2% diagnosed with schizophrenia). The QPR-J showed adequate convergent validity, exhibiting significant, positive correlations with the RAS and SF-8 scores. The QPR-J's full version, subscales, showed excellent test-retest and internal consistency reliability, with the exception of acceptable but relatively low internal consistency reliability for the interpersonal subscale. Based on the results of the CFA and EFA, we adopted the factor structure extracted from the original 2-factor model based on the present CFA.

CONCLUSION

The QPR-J is an adequately valid and reliable measure of the process of recovery among Japanese users with mental health services.