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.

Intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activation and macrophage infiltrations in pediatric chronic glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND

The current study tested the hypothesis that urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (UMCP-1) levels provide a specific index of intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) status and the degree of infiltration of macrophages associated with RAS blockade and immunosuppressant treatment in pediatric patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

METHODS

We measured baseline UAGT and UMCP-1 levels to examine the correlation between glomerular injury in 48 pediatric chronic glomerulonephritis patients before treatment. Furthermore, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of angiotensinogen (AGT) and CD68 in 27 pediatric chronic glomerulonephritis patients treated with RAS blockades and immunosuppressants for 2 years. Finally, we examined the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in cultured human mesangial cells (MCs).

RESULTS

Baseline UAGT and UMCP-1 levels positively correlated with urinary protein levels, scores for mesangial hypercellularity, rate of crescentic formation, and expression levels of AGT and CD68 in renal tissues (p < 0.05). UAGT and UMCP-1 levels were significantly decreased after RAS blockade and immunosuppressant treatment (p < 0.01), which was accompanied by AGT and CD68 (p < 0.01), as well as the magnitude of glomerular injury. Cultured human MCs showed increased MCP-1 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels after Ang II treatment (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicates that UAGT and UMCP-1 are useful biomarkers of the degree of glomerular injury during RAS blockade and immunosuppressant treatment in pediatric patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

A surge in respiratory syncytial virus infection-related hospitalizations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study at pediatric emergency referral hospitals in Tokushima Prefecture

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resulted in implementation of social distancing and other public health measures to control the spread of infection and improve prevention, resulting in a decrease in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pediatric respiratory tract infection rates. However, there was a rapid and large re-emergence of RSV infection in Japan. Notably, we were faced with a difficult situation wherein there was a shortage of hospital beds. This study aimed to examine the epidemiological patterns of RSV-related hospitalizations among children before and after the COVID-19 pandemic onset at two pediatric emergency referral hospitals covering the entire Tokushima Prefecture. Data were extracted from electronic medical records of children hospitalized with RSV infection between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. All patients meeting the eligibility criteria were included in this study. The rates of study outcomes were documented annually during 2018-2021 and compared between the 2018-2020 and 2021 periods. In 2020, there was no RSV infection outbreak. Hospitalizations at the peak week in 2021 were 2.2- and 2.8-fold higher than those in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Hospitalizations in 2021 were concentrated within a short period. In addition, there was a significant increase in hospitalizations among children aged 3-5 months and those older than 24 months. The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) use rate nearly doubled in 2021. A new pandemic in the future may cause an outbreak of RSV infection that can result in an intensive increase in the number of hospitalizations of pediatric patients requiring respiratory support, especially in infants aged <6 months. There is an urgent need to improve the preparedness of medical systems, particularly in terms of the number of inpatient beds and the immediate availability of HFNC.

A pediatric case of infliximab-resistant ulcerative colitis successfully treated using vedolizumab

Pediatric ulcerative colitis is likely to be more severe than adult ulcerative colitis. Failure to thrive should be considered during therapy. A 10-year-old boy was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis based on his clinical presentation and colonoscopy and biopsy results. The administration of 5-aminosalicylic acid and prednisolone resulted in remission ; however, the symptoms reappeared after the discontinuation of prednisolone. Then, infliximab was administered ; however, the patient was resistant to it and appeared to be dependent on prednisolone. Vedolizumab, a monoclonal antibody against ?4?7 integrin, was administered, which resulted in rapid remission. A steady decrease in prednisolone followed, and remission was maintained even after prednisolone discontinuation. Vedolizumab may be effective in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe refractory ulcerative colitis. Vedolizumab prevents lymphocytes from binding to MAdCAM-1, which is selectively expressed in the gastrointestinal submucosa, leading to the mitigation of the systemic side effects of immunosuppression, such as infections. In Japan, vedolizumab use is not yet approved for use in children, but its effectiveness and safety in children is expected to be investigated in the future. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 294-297, February, 2023.

Osteoarticular infections at a pediatric emergency core hospital in Japan

OBJECTIVES

Osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis (SA) in childhood might cause complications, sequelae, or even death if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Here, we examined the outcomes of OM/SA at a pediatric emergency core hospital in Japan.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study at a pediatric emergency core hospital in Japan. Pediatric outpatients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the hospital in the period 2012?2020 were recruited. Primary outcomes were sequelae, recurrent symptoms, chronicity, and death.

RESULTS

Fifteen OM/SA patients (9 OM, 4 SA, 2 OM+SA) were recruited. The identified major pathogens included methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (40.0 %, n=6) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (13.3 %, n=2). Mean time from onset to first hospital visit, hospitalization, and initiation of effective antibiotics was 2 days, 3.9?±?1.8 days, and 4.9±2.2 days, respectively. All OM/SA patients recovered without complications or sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, all patients with OM/SA showed a good prognosis. Despite the small sample size, this pilot study suggests that the pediatric emergency core system in Japan provides early treatment and a good prognosis for patients diagnosed with OM/SA. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 236-240, February, 2023.

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&lt;0.0001 and 2W follow-up versus 3.3±3.3% at 1Y follow up, p&lt;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&lt;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&lt;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.

Urinary angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and disease activity in pediatric IgA nephropathy

Background : Our previous studies demonstrated that the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) status was activated in pediatric patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the kidney is associated with the development of pediatric IgA nephropathy. Methods : We analyzed urinary ACE2 levels and ACE2 expression in the kidney tissues of pediatric patients with IgA nephropathy treated with RAS blockade. Paired tests were used to analyze changes from the first to the second biopsy. Results : Urinary ACE2 levels were significantly decreased after RAS blockade treatment, accompanied by decreased ACE2 expression levels in kidney tissues, urinary protein levels and mesangial hypercellularity scores. Urinary ACE2 levels at the first biopsy were positively correlated with the ACE2 expression levels. Conclusions : These data suggest that urinary ACE2 is associated with ACE2 expression in the diseased kidney, which correlates with the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy in pediatric patients. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 292-296, August, 2021.

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.

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.

Escherichia coli pyomyositis in a patient with Down syndrome: A case report

Pyomyositis is an infection of the skeletal muscle that involves intramuscular abscess formation. It is typically caused by gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus. Few cases of Escherichia coli pyomyositis have been reported in immunocompromised adult patients, while none have been reported in children.

We present a case of a 4-year-old boy with Down syndrome who developed Escherichia coli pyomyositis. The patient presented to our hospital with a fever and right forearm swelling. The magnetic resonance imaging findings suggested pyomyositis of the right forearm muscle and osteomyelitis of the distal radius. Both the blood and puncture fluid cultures were negative. Cefazolin and vancomycin were administered, and his blood examination results and right forearm swelling improved; however, a slight fever persisted. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction isolated the chuA gene but not the YjaA gene; thus the patient was diagnosed with pyomyositis and osteomyelitis caused by Escherichia coli group D. The cefazolin was substituted with meropenem, and the vancomycin was discontinued. Thereafter, his fever promptly improved, which indicated that the cause of persistent fever was vancomycin drug fever. The patient was discharged after receiving 3 weeks of intravenous antimicrobial therapy, and recovered fully with no long-term sequelae.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Escherichia coli pyomyositis in a child. The findings in this case suggest that Escherichia coli should be considered when choosing initial empiric therapy for pyomyositis, especially in children with underlying conditions.

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

Biallelic variants/mutations of IL1RAP in patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a renal disease characterized by severe proteinuria and hypoproteinemia. Although several single-gene mutations have been associated with steroid-resistant NS, causative genes for steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) have not been clarified. While seeking to identify causative genes associated with SSNS by whole-exome sequencing, we found compound heterozygous variants/mutations (c.524T>C; p.I175T and c.662G>A; p.R221H) of the interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) gene in two siblings with SSNS. The siblings' parents are healthy, and each parent carries a different heterozygous IL1RAP variant/mutation. Since IL1RAP is a critical subunit of the functional interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R), we investigated the effect of these variants on IL-1R subunit function. When stimulated with IL-1β, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the siblings with SSNS produced markedly lower levels of cytokines compared with cells from healthy family members. Moreover, IL-1R with a variant IL1RAP subunit, reconstituted on a hematopoietic cell line, had impaired binding ability and low reactivity to IL-1β. Thus, the amino acid substitutions in IL1RAP found in these NS patients are dysfunctional variants/mutations. Furthermore, in the kidney of Il1rap-/- mice, the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which require IL-1β for their differentiation, was markedly reduced although these mice did not show significantly increased proteinuria in acute nephrotic injury with lipopolysaccharide treatment. Together, these results identify two IL1RAP variants/mutations in humans for the first time and suggest that IL1RAP might be a causative gene for familial NS.

(Pro)renin receptor promotes crescent formation via the ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in glomerulonephritis

(Pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] has multiple functions, but its regulation and role in the pathogenesis in glomerulonephritis (GN) are poorly defined. The aims of the present study were to determine the effects of direct renin inhibition (DRI) and demonstrate the role of (P)RR on the progression of crescentic GN. The anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis rat model developed progressive proteinuria (83.64 ± 10.49 mg/day) and glomerular crescent formation (percent glomerular crescent: 62.1 ± 2.3%) accompanied by increased macrophage infiltration and glomerular expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, (P)RR, phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, Wnt4, and active β-catenin. Treatment with DRI ameliorated proteinuria (20.33 ± 5.88 mg/day) and markedly reduced glomerular crescent formation (20.9 ± 2.6%), induction of macrophage infiltration, (P)RR, phospho-ERK1/2, Wnt4, and active β-catenin. Furthermore, primary cultured parietal epithelial cells stimulated by recombinant prorenin showed significant increases in cell proliferation. Notably, while the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 or (P)RR-specific siRNA treatment abolished the elevation in cell proliferation, DRI treatment did not abrogate this elevation. Moreover, cultured mesangial cells showed an increase in prorenin-induced MCP-1 expression. Interestingly, (P)RR or Wnt4-specific siRNA treatment or the β-catenin antagonist XAV939 inhibited the elevation of MCP-1 expression, whereas DRI did not. These results suggest that (P)RR regulates glomerular crescent formation via the ERK1/2 signaling and Wnt/β-catenin pathways during the course of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis and that DRI mitigates the progression of crescentic GN through the reduction of (P)RR expression but not inhibition of prorenin binding to (P)RR.

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.

Expression of NADPH oxidase and production of reactive oxygen species contribute to ureteric bud branching and nephrogenesis

Ureteric bud branching and nephrogenesis are performed through large-scale proliferation and apoptosis events during renal development. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by NADPH oxidase, may contribute to cell behaviors, including proliferation and apoptosis. We investigated the role of NADPH oxidase expression and ROS production in developing kidneys. Immunohistochemistry revealed that NADPH oxidase componentswere expressed on epithelial cells in ureteric bud branches, as well as on immature glomerular cells and epithelial cells in nephrogenic zones. ROS production, detected by dihydroethidium assay, was strongly observed in ureteric bud branches and nephrogenic zones, corresponding with NADPH oxidase localization. Organ culture of E14 kidneys revealed that the inhibition of NADPH oxidase significantly reduced the number of ureteric bud branches and tips, consistent with reduced ROS production. This was associated with reduced expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3. Organ culture of E18 kidneys showed that the inhibition of NADPH oxidase reduced nephrogenic zone size, accompanied by reduced ROS production, fewer proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells, lower p-ERK1/2 expression, and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3. These results demonstrate that ROS produced by NADPH oxidase might play an important role in ureteric bud branching and nephrogenesis by regulating proliferation and apoptosis. J.Med. Invest. 66 :93-98, February, 2019.

Isolation and Characterization of Antihyperglycemic Compounds from Vigna angularis Extracts

Functional foods that inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity are effective for regulating the blood glucose level and preventing hyperglycemia. Extracts of adzuki beans (ABs, Vigna angularis), widely eaten in East Asia, can inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. In this study, we identified and evaluated the components in an AB water extract (ABWE) after boiling, which is an essential process for cooking ABs. The ABWE before boiling inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity and the boiled ABWE showed slightly stronger inhibitory effects. High-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses identified (+)-catechin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (C7G), (+)-epicatechin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (E7G), and (+)-catechin as the bioactive components in boiled ABWE. Interestingly, the quantity of E7G significantly increased after boiling (from 0% to 17.1 ± 1.3%). E7G showed stronger inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase than C7G; the IC₅₀ values for α-amylase were 0.74 ± 0.04 mg/mL (C7G) and 0.40 ± 0.09 mg/mL (E7G), and for α-glucosidase the IC₅₀ values were 0.085 ± 0.032 mg/mL (C7G) and 0.051 ± 0.007 mg/mL (E7G). Our findings suggest that C7G and E7G are the main active components in ABWE as they inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase and their inhibitory effect is not lost after boiling. These results support the effectiveness of boiled ABs in the promotion of health. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We identified (+)-catechin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (C7G), (+)-epicatechin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (E7G), and (+)-catechin in adzuki bean extracts and commercially available boiled adzuki bean products. Interestingly, the E7G content was increased by boiling, and this compound showed strong inhibitory activity toward α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These results support the consumption of boiled adzuki beans to prevent acute rises in blood glucose level.

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.