Validation of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 microneutralization assay for evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity

As variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge, assessment of vaccine immunogenicity remains a critical factor to support continued vaccination. To this end, an in vitro microneutralization (MN50) assay was validated to quantitate SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against prototype and variant strains (Beta, Delta, Omicron BA.1, Omicron BA.5, and XBB.1.5) in human serum. For the prototype strain, the MN50 assay met acceptance criteria for inter-/intra-assay precision, specificity, linearity, and selectivity. The assay was robust against changes to virus/serum incubation time, cell seeding density, virus content per well, cell passage number, and serum interference. Analyte in serum samples was stable up to five freeze/thaw cycles and for up to 12 months of storage at -80 ± 10 °C. Similar results were observed for the variant-adapted MN50 assays. The conversion factor to convert assay result units to WHO international standard units (IU/mL) was determined to be 0.62 for the prototype strain. This MN50 assay will be useful for vaccine immunogenicity analyses in clinical trial samples, enabling assessment of vaccine immunogenicity for ancestral and variant strains as variant-adapted vaccines are developed.

A Phase 3, randomized, non-inferiority study of a heterologous booster dose of SARS CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine in adults

Due to waning immunity following primary immunization with COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses may be required. The present study assessed a heterologous booster of SII-NVX-CoV2373 (spike protein vaccine) in adults primed with viral vector and inactivated vaccines. In this Phase 3, observer-blind, randomized, active controlled study, a total of 372 adults primed with two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (n = 186) or BBV152 (n = 186) at least six months ago, were randomized to receive a booster of SII-NVX-CoV2373 or control vaccine (homologous booster of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BBV152). Anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were assessed at days 1, 29, and 181. Non-inferiority (NI) of SII-NVX-CoV2373 to the control vaccine was assessed based on the ratio of geometric mean ELISA units (GMEU) of anti-S IgG and geometric mean titers (GMT) of nAbs (NI margin > 0.67) as well as seroresponse (≥ 2 fold-rise in titers) (NI margin -10%) at day 29. Safety was assessed throughout the study period. In both the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime and BBV152 prime cohorts, 186 participants each received the study vaccines. In the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime cohort, the GMEU ratio was 2.05 (95% CI 1.73, 2.43) and the GMT ratio was 1.89 (95% CI 1.55, 2.32) whereas the difference in the proportion of seroresponse was 49.32% (95% CI 36.49, 60.45) for anti-S IgG and 15% (95% CI 5.65, 25.05) for nAbs on day 29. In the BBV152 prime cohort, the GMEU ratio was 5.12 (95% CI 4.20, 6.24) and the GMT ratio was 4.80 (95% CI 3.76, 6.12) whereas the difference in the proportion of seroresponse was 74.08% (95% CI 63.24, 82.17) for anti-S IgG and 24.71% (95% CI 16.26, 34.62) for nAbs on day 29. The non-inferiority of SII-NVX-CoV2373 booster to the control vaccine for each prime cohort was met. SII-NVX-CoV2373 booster showed significantly higher immune responses than BBV152 homologous booster. On day 181, seroresponse rates were ≥ 70% in all the groups for both nAbs and anti-S IgG. Solicited adverse events reported were transient and mostly mild in severity in all the groups. No causally related SAE was reported. SII-NVX-CoV2373 as a heterologous booster induced non-inferior immune responses as compared to homologous boosters in adults primed with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BBV152. SII-NVX-CoV2373 showed a numerically higher boosting effect than homologous boosters. The vaccine was also safe and well tolerated.

UK esthetics associations: A robust safety net or credibility accessories?

BACKGROUND

Currently, safe practice in the UK esthetics industry is largely reliant on self-regulatory bodies. If these bodies do not maintain high standards of safety guidelines and properly accredit practitioners, patient safety may be at risk. To our knowledge, no studies have addressed cosmetic self-regulatory bodies and their websites on Google, the most commonly used information source. This study aimed to map self-regulatory bodies on Google and evaluate their roles in the current UK esthetics industry.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic search of Google Search results using eight search terms. The first 100 search results were screened against our eligibility criteria. We searched each website of a self-regulatory body for their requirements to join registers, membership fees, and features listed on the UK government's criteria for an effective self-regulatory body.

RESULTS

We identified 22 self-regulating bodies for the UK esthetics industry. Only 15% of registers required an in-person assessment of cosmetic skills to qualify for membership. Of the self-regulatory bodies, 65% did not set clear standards and guidelines for practice. No qualifications were required by 14% of surgical and 31% of non-surgical bodies. The mean membership fee was £331.

CONCLUSION

This study uncovered important information about the self-regulation of the esthetics industry in the UK. A significant majority of self-regulatory bodies did not meet best practices, potentially putting patients at risk. We recommend further studies screening a higher number of pages in a Google Search to scope all other existing self-regulatory bodies, due to the creation of Google "filter bubbles."

Safety and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Vaccine in Children and Adolescents in India: A Phase 2-3 Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The recombinant COVID-19 vaccine NVX-CoV2373 has demonstrated efficacy of approximately 90% in adults; however, its safety and efficacy in children is unknown.

Objective

To assess the noninferiority of SII-NVX-CoV2373 in children and adolescents compared to adults and to evaluate its safety in comparison with placebo.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This phase 2-3 observer-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2 cohorts, children (aged 2 to 11 years) and adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years) between August 2021 and August 2022. Participants were randomized 3:1 to SII-NVX-CoV2373 or placebo and monitored for 179 days. The participants, study team, and laboratory staff were blinded. This was a multicenter study conducted across 10 tertiary care hospitals in India. Exclusion criteria included previous COVID-19 infection or vaccination, immunocompromised condition, and immunosuppressive medications.

Interventions

Two doses of 0.5-mL SII-NVX-CoV2373 or placebo were administered intramuscularly on days 1 and 22.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcomes were geometric mean titer ratio of both anti-spike (anti-S) IgG and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) between both pediatric age groups to that of adults on day 36. Noninferiority was concluded if the lower bound of 95% CI of this ratio was greater than 0.67 for each age group. Both the antibodies were assessed for the index strain and for selected variants at various time points. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded for 7 days after each vaccination, unsolicited AEs were recorded for 35 days, and serious AEs and AEs of special interest were recorded for 179 days.

Results

A total of 460 children in each age cohort were randomized to receive vaccine or placebo. The mean (SD) age was 6.7 (2.7) years in the child cohort and 14.3 (1.6) years in the adolescent cohort; 231 participants (50.2%) in the child cohort and 218 in the adolescent cohort (47.4%) were female. Both anti-S IgG and NAb titers were markedly higher in the SII-NVX-CoV2373 group than in the placebo group on both day 36 and day 180. The geometric mean titer ratios compared to those in adults were 1.20 (95% CI, 1.08-1.34) and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.38-1.67) for anti-S IgG in adolescents and children, respectively; while for NAbs, they were 1.33 (95% CI, 1.17-1.50) and 1.93 (95% CI, 1.70-2.18) in adolescents and children, respectively, indicating noninferiority. SII-NVX-CoV2373 also showed immune responses against variants studied. Injection site reactions, fever, headache, malaise, and fatigue were common solicited AEs. There were no AEs of special interest and no causally related serious AEs.

Conclusions and Relevance

SII-NVX-CoV2373 was safe and well tolerated in children and adolescents in this study. The vaccine was highly immunogenic and may be used in pediatric vaccination against COVID-19.

Trial Registration

Clinical Trials Registry of India Identifier: CTRI/2021/02/031554.

Safety and immunogenicity of SII-NVX-CoV2373 (COVID-19 vaccine) in adults in a phase 2/3, observer-blind, randomised, controlled study

Background

NVX-CoV2373, a Covid-19 vaccine was developed in the USA with ∼90% efficacy. The same vaccine is manufactured in India after technology transfer (called as SII-NVX-CoV2373), was evaluated in this phase 2/3 immuno-bridging study.

Methods

This was an observer-blind, randomised, phase 2/3 study in 1600 adults. In phase 2, 200 participants were randomized 3:1 to SII-NVX-CoV2373 or placebo. In phase 3, 1400 participants were randomized 3:1 to SII-NVX-CoV2373 or NVX-CoV2373 (940 safety cohort and 460 immunogenicity cohort). Two doses of study products (SII-NVX-CoV2373, NVX-CoV2373 or placebo) were given 3 weeks apart. Primary objectives were to demonstrate non-inferiority of SII-NVX-CoV2373 to NVX-CoV2373 in terms of geometric mean ELISA units (GMEU) ratio of anti-S IgG antibodies 14 days after the second dose (day 36) and to determine the incidence of causally related serious adverse events (SAEs) through 180 days after the first dose. Anti-S IgG response was assessed using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and neutralizing antibodies (nAb) were assessed by a microneutralization assay using wild type SARS CoV-2 in participants from the immunogenicity cohort at baseline, day 22, day 36 and day 180. Cell mediated immune (CMI) response was assessed in a subset of 28 participants from immunogenicity cohort by ELISpot assay at baseline, day 36 and day 180. The total follow-up was for 6 months. Trial registration: CTRI/2021/02/031554.

Findings

Total 1596 participants (200 in Phase 2 and 1396 in Phase 3) received the first dose. SII-NVX-CoV2373 was found non-inferior to NVX-CoV2373 (anti-S IgG antibodies GMEU ratio 0.91; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.06). At day 36, there was more than 58-fold rise in anti-S IgG and nAb titers compared to baseline in both the groups. On day 180 visit, these antibody titers declined to levels slightly lower than those after the first dose (13-22 fold-rise above baseline). Incidence of unsolicited and solicited AEs was similar between the SII-NVX-CoV2373 and NVX-CoV2373 groups. No adverse event of special interest (AESI) was reported. No causally related SAE was reported.

Interpretation

SII-NVX-CoV2373 induced a non-inferior immune response compared to NVX-CoV2373 and has acceptable safety profile.

Funding

SIIPL, Indian Council of Medical Research, Novavax.

National audit of non-melanoma skin cancer excisions performed by plastic surgery in the UK

A national, multi-centre audit of non-melanoma skin cancer excisions by plastic surgery.

Comparison between propofol and alfaxalone anesthesia for the evaluation of laryngeal function in healthy dogs utilizing computerized software

Laryngeal paralysis is a well-documented cause of upper respiratory tract obstruction in canines. Diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis is usually made by visual evaluation of laryngeal motion whilst patients are under a light-plane of anesthesia. However, in human studies of laryngeal function evaluation, it has been shown that subjective scoring can lead to significant interobserver variance, which may cause false diagnosis. In this study, we propose to introduce a more objective method of assessing laryngeal function using GlotAnTools and Tracker software to directly measure laryngeal motion in anaesthetized patients. Additionally, two anesthetic agents, alfaxalone and propofol, were compared in this study to assess their relative effect on laryngeal motion and thus their suitability for use in this diagnostic process. This study was a two-stage, cross-over, 1:1 randomization, with two active treatment arms. Ten beagles (10–18 months, five males and five females) were exposed to both anesthetic agents and laryngeal motion was recorded using videoendoscopy. GlotAnTools and Tracker software were applied to the recorded images to measure glottal gap area (A) and length (L). A normalized measure of laryngeal function–computed as A/L–was created, representing the "elongatedness" of the rima glottidis. The glottal gap area was significantly reduced in dogs receiving alfaxalone. This study objectively establishes that alfaxalone impacted laryngeal motion significantly more than propofol and confirms the capability of these computational methods to detect differences in laryngeal motion.

Evolving fetal phenotypes and clinical impact of progressive prenatal exome sequencing pathways: cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To determine (1) the diagnostic yield and turnaround time (TAT) of two consecutive prenatal exome sequencing (ES) pathways, (2) the evolution of the fetal phenotype and (3) the clinical impact of detecting causative pathogenic variants and incidental findings.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected fetal cases that underwent trio ES in the presence of a structural anomaly and normal chromosomal microarray testing in the West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham, UK. The study included two phases: (1) between July 2018 and October 2020, the clinical pathway from the Prenatal Assessment of Genomes and Exomes (PAGE) study was adopted and involved prenatal trio ES based on a panel of 1542 development disorder genes and case selection by a multidisciplinary team; (2) between October 2020 and July 2021, prenatal trio ES investigation was based on the National Health Service (NHS) England R21 pathway, with definitive inclusion criteria and a panel of 1205 prenatally relevant genes. Deep phenotyping was performed throughout pregnancy and postnatally.

RESULTS

A total of 54 cases were included. The diagnostic yield before vs after R21 pathway implementation was 28.0% (7/25) and 55.2% (16/29), respectively (P = 0.04). The respective values for mean TAT were 54.0 days (range, 14-213 days) and 14.2 days (range, 3-29 days). In cases in which a causative pathogenic variant was identified and in which the pregnancy reached the third trimester, additional anomalies were detected between the second and third trimesters in 73.3% (11/15) of cases, predominantly secondary to progressive hydropic features (3/11 (27.3%)), arthrogryposis (3/11 (27.3%)) or brain anomaly (2/11 (18.2%)). In three cases, a variant of uncertain significance was reclassified to likely pathogenic based on postnatal information. Detection of a causative pathogenic variant had a significant clinical impact in 78.3% (18/23) of cases, most frequently affecting decision-making regarding the course of the pregnancy and neonatal management (7/18 (38.9%)).

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal ES using the NHS England R21 pathway showed great promise when applied to this cohort, allowing a genetic diagnosis to be made in over half of preselected cases with a fetal structural anomaly on ultrasound. Monitoring and real-time updating of fetal phenotype and reclassification of variants based on postnatal findings is vital to increase the clinical impact that is already evident from this emerging genomic technology. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Supporting mental health service users to stop smoking: findings from a process evaluation of the implementation of smokefree policies into two mental health trusts

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy is 10-20 years lower among people with a severe mental health disorder. Most of these early deaths are due to chronic conditions, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Smoking is a major risk factor for these conditions and introducing smokefree policies has been recommended to mental health service providers in England by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in their Public Health Guideline 48: Smoking: acute, maternity and mental health services. This paper reports a process evaluation of introducing these policy recommendations, which were updated in 2013.

METHOD

Process data were collected through semi-structured interviews with staff (n = 51), members of partnering organisations (n = 5), service users (n = 7) and carers (n = 2) between November 2016 - April 2017. Normalization Process Theory (NPT) was used to design the data collection tools and analyse the data. A framework approach was taken with the analysis, using the four concepts of NPT: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring.

RESULTS

The policy made sense to some staff, patients and carers (coherence) who 'bought-into' the idea (cognitive participation) but other participants disagreed. Although smokefree policies were operationalised (collective action), sometimes they were opposed. Progress was made, especially in some units, but continued to be resisted in others. Informal appraisal of progress (reflexive monitoring) presented a varied picture.

CONCLUSION

Some progress has been made in terms of changing an entrenched, smoking culture into one that is smokefree on Trust sites across the region. Perseverance and resourcing over the long-term is required to establish a non-smoking culture in on-site provision of mental health services.

Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) inactivation capability of copper-coated touch surface fabricated by cold-spray technology

In this work, cold-spray technique was employed for rapid coating of copper on in-use steel parts. The primary intention was to alleviate the tendency of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus to linger longer on touch surfaces that attract high-to-medium volume human contact, such as the push plates used in publicly accessed buildings and hospitals. The viricidal activity test revealed that 96% of the virus was inactivated within 2-hrs, which was substantially shorter than the time required for stainless steel to inactivate the virus to the same level. Moreover, it was found that the copper-coated samples significantly reduces the lifetime of COVID-19 virus to less than 5-hrs. The capability of the cold-spray technique to generate antiviral copper coating on the existing touch surface eliminates the need for replacing the entire touch surface application with copper material. Furthermore, with a short manufacturing time to produce coatings, the re-deployment of copper-coated parts can be accomplished in minutes, thereby resulting in significant cost savings. This work showcases the capability of cold-spray as a potential copper-coating solution for different in-use parts and components that can act as sources for the spread of the virus.

Abstract OT1-03-04: INTERACT- INTegrated Evaluation of Resistance and Actionability using Circulating Tumor DNA in hormone receptor (HR) positive metastatic breast cancers (MBC)

Background

Mutations in the ligand-binding domain of ESR1 have been demonstrated to mediate resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AI) and are associated with poor survival. Analyses of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offer a minimally invasive and real-time approach to characterize genomic landscape, clonal evolution, and treatment response. Early detection and intervention with alternate therapy to overcome resistance at minimal disease burden progression could have a larger impact than treating higher burden disease at clinical progression. However, whether treatment decisions made based on the emergence of secondary resistance mutations or mutant allele fraction (MAF) changes in ctDNA can improve clinical outcomes is unknown. Currently, the most effective therapy for patients harboring ESR1 mutations is unclear; although, pre-clinical and retrospective clinical trial analyses have suggested that some of these mutations may exhibit greater sensitivity to fulvestrant, a selective estrogen receptor down-regulator, compared to AI. This study hypothesizes that real-time monitoring of ctDNA for secondary ESR1 alterations can identify subclinical progression and early intervention with a targeted-agent that has greater efficacy against ESR1 mutations can improve disease-free survival.

Trial Design

This is a randomized, open-label, Phase-2 study for HR-positive MBC patients who are on AI and CDK 4/6 inhibitor as first line therapy. Patients on treatment for at least 12 months without evidence of clinical progression would be screened for ESR1 mutations using Guardant360 ctDNA assay. Patients with positive ESR1 mutations would be randomized to change of endocrine therapy to fulvestrant vs. continuing AI.

Eligibility criteria

-Histologically confirmed HR-positive (ER and/or PR >10%) and HER2-negative MBC

-On AI with CDK4/6 inhibitor as first line therapy for 12 months without evidence of clinical progression

-Activating ESR1 mutation identified on ctDNA

-ECOG performance status ≤1

-Normal organ and marrow function

Specific aims

- To assess progression-free survival (PFS) with transition to fulvestrant compared with continuing AI therapy in patients with emergence of ESR1 mutations in plasma

-To assess ctDNA ESR1 mutant allele fraction and kinetics with transition to fulvestrant compared with AI

-To assess the prevalence of ESR1 mutations in patients with exposure to endocrine therapy

-To assess overall survival with fulvestrant transition compared with continuing AI therapy in patients with emergence of ESR1 mutations

Statistical methods

To detect a change in median PFS from 5 months (for AI arm) to 9 months (with fulvestrant arm) would require about 124 patients (5% two-sided alpha, 80% power, log rank testing). Interim analysis will be performed when 42 PFS events are observed. Using O'Brien-Fleming stopping boundaries, we will stop for futility if the log rank test p-value > 0.72 and stop for success if it is < 0.004.

Citation Format: Damodaran S, Meric-Bernstam F, Hess KR, Litton JK, Raymond V, Lanman R, Ueno NT, Hamilton S, Wistuba II, Valero V, Moulder SL, Tripathy D. INTERACT- INTegrated Evaluation of Resistance and Actionability using Circulating Tumor DNA in hormone receptor (HR) positive metastatic breast cancers (MBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-03-04.

Weight loss interventions for adults with overweight/obesity and chronic musculoskeletal pain: a mixed methods systematic review

Worldwide prevalence of adult overweight and obesity is a growing public health issue. Adults with overweight/obesity often have chronic musculoskeletal pain. Using a mixed-methods review, we aimed to quantify the effectiveness and explore the appropriateness of weight loss interventions for this population. Electronic databases were searched for studies published between 01/01/90 and 01/07/16. The review included 14 randomized controlled trials that reported weight and pain outcomes and three qualitative studies that explored perceptions of adults with co-existing overweight/obesity and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The random-effects pooled mean weight loss was 4.9 kg (95%CI:2.9,6.8) greater for intervention vs control. The pooled mean reduction in pain was 7.3/100 units (95%CI:4.1,10.5) greater for intervention vs control. Study heterogeneity was substantial for weight loss (I²  = 95%, tau = ±3.5 kg) and pain change (I²  = 67%, tau = ±4.1%). Meta-regression slopes for the predictors of study quality, mean age and baseline mean weight on mean study weight reduction were shallow and not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The meta-regression slope between mean pain reduction and mean weight lost was shallow, and not statistically significant, -0.09 kg per unit pain score change (95%CI:-0.21,0.40, P = 0.54). Meta-synthesis of qualitative findings resulted in two synthesized findings; the importance of healthcare professionals understanding the effects of pain on ability to control weight and developing management/education programmes that address comorbidity.

Congenital Hypothalamic "Hamartoblastoma" Versus "Hamartoma": Suggestions for Neuropathologic Terminology Emanating From a Mid-gestational Autopsy Case of Pallister-Hall Syndrome

Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS) is a rare malformative disorder that is due to truncating functional repressor mutations in GLI3. Since the seminal publication in 1980, hypothalamic tumors have been recognized to be a cardinal feature of PHS. In their original description of the neuropathologic features of PHS, Clarren et al. coined the term "hamartoblastoma" to characterize what they deemed to be a dual malformative and neoplastic mass of the hypothalamus. In subsequent published cases/series of PHS, the term "hamartoma" was often substituted for hamartoblastoma given what appeared to be a benign natural history of this lesion. Additional confusion in the literature has ensued since most hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) encountered on the clinical neuropathology service are "isolated" in nature (ie, no other congenital malformations) and present in a very different and stereotypical fashion with gelastic seizures and/or precocious puberty. While genomic investigations of isolated HH have begun to uncover a mutational profile of these cases, GLI3 mutations have only been recognized in a small subset of isolated HH. Herein, we describe the autopsy findings from a 21-week gestational age fetus with features of PHS. Moreover, we provide a detailed description of the hypothalamic tumor affecting this fetus and propose a novel subclassification of HH, distinguishing syndromic from isolated forms based upon the presence or absence of neocortical-like areas.

Gait evaluation in hip osteoarthritic and normal dogs using a serial force plate system

The effect of canine hip osteoarthritis (OA) on vertical force distribution was studied using a serial force platform system. This system allows simultaneous measurement of vertical and horizontal force impulses from each limb of a trotting dog. Using these measurements and novel analysis techniques a complete and precise analysis of load distribution was performed. Load distribution was compared between a group of normal dogs and a group of dogs with radiographic evidence of hip OA. Results of this study indicate that trotting dogs with hip OA redistribute vertical force primarily by shifting force between trotting pairs (side-to-side compensation) rather than within trotting pairs (hind-to-fore compensation).

Abstract OT3-02-01: Development of cell-free nucleic acid-based tests for early detection of breast cancer: The STRIVE study

Background:

Mammography (digital 2D or digital 3D/tomosynthesis) is the cornerstone of current screening strategies for breast cancer, but new approaches are needed to further reduce the proportion of cancers diagnosed at advanced stages and more effectively identify those women in need of additional testing and biopsies. Circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) shed from tumors, isolated from peripheral blood, and analyzed with ultra-deep and broad sequencing of cancer-associated genes, have great potential for early cancer detection. The ultimate goal is to develop blood cfNA cancer screening tests for use in conjunction with established risk factors and/or radiographic features for improved cancer detection. Development of these tests requires large, well-annotated cohorts of asymptomatic participants with adequate volumes of prediagnostic blood. The STRIVE Study cohort was recently established to train and validate cfNA-based tests for early detection of breast cancer.

Eligibility criteria and trial design: The STRIVE Study is a new prospective, multi-ethnic mammography cohort that will recruit 120,000 subjects from 15+ US breast cancer screening centers (including Mayo Clinic and Sutter Health sites). Eligibility criteria require only that a participant has a scheduled routine screening mammogram at a participating center and has not received a biopsy prior to the research blood draw. Participants are recruited within 28 days of screening mammography (digital or tomosynthesis), consent electronically, provide blood samples, and complete an on-line risk factor questionnaire. Participants will be followed for all cancer diagnoses, cancer recurrences, and death for at least 5 years. Pertinent medical record information, imaging findings (including breast density), and follow-up data will be transferred electronically to a central database throughout the study period. Additional blood samples will be collected from participants with abnormal mammogram results, or who are diagnosed with cancer, to document and better understand the evolution of cfNA signals. Recruitment began in February 2017.

Primary Aims: To train and validate a cfNA blood-based test to identify breast cancer overall in a cohort of women undergoing screening mammography.

Statistical Methods: The study will be divided into a training phase (1/3 of participants) and an independent clinical validation phase (remaining 2/3 of participants). In the training phase, statistical machine learning techniques will be used to develop algorithms incorporating cfNA signals, clinical characteristics, or radiological features. In the validation phase, the prespecified locked algorithm developed from the training phase will be clinically validated in an independent group of women.

Contact information for people with a specific interest in the trial: Additional details regarding the STRIVE Study are available on the ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT03085888). For site-specific questions, please call 844-366-9738 for the Mayo Clinic and 1-855-578-7483 for Sutter Health.

Citation Format: Liu MC, Cummings S, Vachon CM, Kerlikowske K, Couch FJ, Morris EA, Olson JE, Polley EC, Conners AL, Ellis RL, Patel B, Maimone IV S, Zhang N, Hamilton S, Clarke CA, Allen BA, Maddala T, Hartman A-R. Development of cell-free nucleic acid-based tests for early detection of breast cancer: The STRIVE study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-02-01.

The chemical class of quinazoline compounds provides a core structure for the design of anticytomegaloviral kinase inhibitors

HCMV is a member of the family Herpesviridae and represents a worldwide distributed pathogen with seropositivity rates in the adult population ranging between 40% and 90%. Notably, HCMV infection is a serious, sometimes life-threatening medical problem for newborns and immunosuppressed individuals, including transplant recipients and patients under antitumoral chemotherapy. Current standard therapy with valganciclovir has the disadvantage of inducing drug-resistant virus mutants and toxicity-related side effects. Our analysis stresses the earlier finding that kinase inhibitors of the quinazoline class exert an antiviral response by targeting the viral protein kinase pUL97 without inducing resistance. Therefore, quinazolines have been used as a core structure to gain insight in the mode of inhibitor-kinase interaction. Here, we demonstrate that (i) the novel quinazolines Vi7392 and Vi7453 are highly active against HCMV laboratory and clinically relevant strains including maribavir- and ganciclovir-resistant variants, (ii) antiviral activity is not cell-type specific and was also detected in a placental explant tissue model using a genetically intact HCMV strain (iii) the viral kinase pUL97 represents a target of the anticytomegaloviral activity of these compounds, (iv) induction of pUL97-conferring drug resistance was not detectable under single-step selection, thus differed from the induction of ganciclovir resistance, and (v) pUL97 drug docking simulations enabled detailed insights into specific drug-target binding properties providing a promising basis for the design of optimized kinase inhibitors. These novel findings may open new prospects for the future medical use of quinazoline drug candidates and the use of drug-target dynamic simulations for rational design of antivirals.

Viewpoint survey of mental health service users' experiences of discrimination in England 2008-2014

OBJECTIVE

Discrimination reported by mental health service users in England is high. The study aims to determine changes in mental health-related discrimination from 2008 to 2014.

METHODS

Samples of mental health service users were interviewed from 2008 to 2014 using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale version 12. Social capital in terms of access to social resources is a marker of discrimination in terms of effects on social connections, and so from 2011, social capital also measured using the Resource Generator-UK.

RESULTS

Fewer participants reported discrimination in one or more life areas in 2014 compared to 2008 (OR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.94 P = 0.03). A weighted multiple regression model found a decrease in overall discrimination in 2014 compared to 2008 (mean difference: -13.55, 95% CI: -17.32 to -9.78, P < 0.001). There was not a consistent in discrimination decline between each year. No differences in access to social resources were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Discrimination has fallen significantly over 2008-2014, although there was not a consistent decline between years. There is no evidence that social capital has increased.

Qualitative analysis of mental health service users' reported experiences of discrimination

OBJECTIVE

To better understand mental health service users' experiences of stigma and discrimination in different settings.

METHOD

An annual telephone survey of people with a mental health diagnosis conducted to evaluate the Time to Change antistigma campaign in England. Of 985 people who participated in 2013, 84 took part in a qualitative interview which was audio recorded. Of these, 50 interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed to explore accounts of discrimination. We analysed common types of behaviour; motivations ascribed to the discriminators; expectations of what fair treatment would have been; and the impact of discrimination on participants.

RESULTS

Discrimination was most common in five contexts: welfare benefits, mental health care, physical health care, family and friends. Participants often found it hard to assess whether a behaviour was discriminatory or not. Lack of support, whether by public services or by friends and family, was often experienced as discrimination, reflecting an expectation that positive behaviours and reasonable adjustments should be offered in response to mental health needs.

CONCLUSION

The impact of discrimination across different settings was often perceived by participants as aggravating their mental health, and there is thus a need to treat discrimination as a health issue, not just a social justice issue.

The economic costs of mental health-related discrimination

OBJECTIVE

To estimate and compare the economic costs of mental health-related discrimination in the domains of health care, relationships and participation in leisure activities in England between 2011 and 2014.

METHOD

A subsample of the Viewpoint survey was interviewed using the Costs of Discrimination Assessment Questionnaire in 2011 and 2014. Information on the impact of discrimination on healthcare use, help seeking from family and friends and participation in leisure activities was recorded. Pattern of contacts, costs and predictor of costs were examined.

RESULTS

Our findings showed higher costs of health service use for individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings in 2011 compared with those who did not (mean difference £625, P-value 0.019). Individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in relationships in 2014 had higher healthcare costs than those who did not (mean difference £418, P -value 0.034). There was some evidence of a reduction in overall levels of healthcare use, leisure activities and support from families over time. Discrimination did not significantly affect help seeking from family/friends or leisure activities.

CONCLUSION

There is some evidence that discrimination is related to increased healthcare costs. A prospective study is needed to better understand the consequences of these effects.

Measurement of the centrality dependence of the charged-particle pseudorapidity distribution in proton-lead collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

The centrality dependence of the mean charged-particle multiplicity as a function of pseudorapidity is measured in approximately 1 [Formula: see text]b[Formula: see text] of proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Charged particles with absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.7 are reconstructed using the ATLAS pixel detector. The [Formula: see text] collision centrality is characterised by the total transverse energy measured in the Pb-going direction of the forward calorimeter. The charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions are found to vary strongly with centrality, with an increasing asymmetry between the proton-going and Pb-going directions as the collisions become more central. Three different estimations of the number of nucleons participating in the [Formula: see text] collision have been carried out using the Glauber model as well as two Glauber-Gribov inspired extensions to the Glauber model. Charged-particle multiplicities per participant pair are found to vary differently for these three models, highlighting the importance of including colour fluctuations in nucleon-nucleon collisions in the modelling of the initial state of [Formula: see text] collisions.

Utility of a molecular prescreening program in advanced colorectal cancer for enrollment on biomarker-selected clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Incorporation of multiple enrichment biomarkers into prospective clinical trials is an active area of investigation, but the factors that determine clinical trial enrollment following a molecular prescreening program have not been assessed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with 5-fluorouracil-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center were offered screening in the Assessment of Targeted Therapies Against Colorectal Cancer (ATTACC) program to identify eligibility for companion phase I or II clinical trials with a therapy targeted to an aberration detected in the patient, based on testing by immunohistochemistry, targeted gene sequencing panels, and CpG island methylation phenotype assays.

RESULTS

Between August 2010 and December 2013, 484 patients were enrolled, 458 (95%) had a biomarker result, and 157 (32%) were enrolled on a clinical trial (92 on biomarker-selected and 65 on nonbiomarker selected). Of the 458 patients with a biomarker result, enrollment on biomarker-selected clinical trials was ninefold higher for predefined ATTACC-companion clinical trials as opposed to nonpredefined biomarker-selected clinical trials, 17.9% versus 2%, P < 0.001. Factors that correlated positively with trial enrollment in multivariate analysis were higher performance status, older age, lack of standard of care therapy, established patient at MD Anderson, and the presence of an eligible biomarker for an ATTACC-companion study. Early molecular screening did result in a higher rate of patients with remaining standard of care therapy enrolling on ATTACC-companion clinical trials, 45.1%, in contrast to nonpredefined clinical trials, 22.7%; odds ratio 3.1, P = 0.002.

CONCLUSIONS

Though early molecular prescreening for predefined clinical trials resulted in an increase rate of trial enrollment of nonrefractory patients, the majority of patients enrolled on clinical trials were refractory to standard of care therapy. Within molecular prescreening programs, tailoring screening for preidentified and open clinical trials, temporally linking screening to treatment and optimizing both patient and physician engagement are efforts likely to improve enrollment on biomarker-selected clinical trials.

CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER

The study NCT number is NCT01196130.

Factors associated with experienced discrimination among people using mental health services in England

BACKGROUND

Research has found considerable variation in how far individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness experience discrimination.

AIMS

This study tested four hypotheses: (i) a diagnosis of schizophrenia will be associated with more discrimination than depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder; (ii) people with a history of involuntary treatment will report more discrimination than people without; (iii) higher levels of avoidance behaviour due to anticipated discrimination will be associated with higher levels of discrimination and (iv) longer time in contact with services will be associated with higher levels of discrimination.

METHOD

Three thousand five hundred and seventy-nine people using mental health services in England took part in structured telephone interviews about discrimination experiences.

RESULTS

A multiple regression model found that study year, age, employment status, length of time in mental health services, disagreeing with the diagnosis, anticipating discrimination in personal relationships and feeling the need to conceal a diagnosis from others were significantly associated with higher levels of experienced discrimination.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that discrimination is not related to specific diagnoses but rather is associated with mental health problems generally. An association between unemployment and discrimination may indicate that employment protects against experiences of discrimination, supporting efforts to improve access to employment among people with a diagnosis of mental illness.

Early Magnesium Treatment After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is an important cause of poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Trials of magnesium treatment starting <4 days after symptom onset found no effect on poor outcome or DCI in SAH. Earlier installment of treatment might be more effective, but individual trials had not enough power for such a subanalysis. We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis to study whether magnesium is effective when given within different time frames within 24 hours after the SAH.

METHODS

Patients were divided into categories according to the delay between symptom onset and start of the study medication: <6, 6 to 12, 12 to 24, and >24 hours. We calculated adjusted risk ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals for magnesium versus placebo treatment for poor outcome and DCI.

RESULTS

We included 5 trials totaling 1981 patients; 83 patients started treatment<6 hours. For poor outcome, the adjusted risk ratios of magnesium treatment for start <6 hours were 1.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-2.51); for 6 to 12 hours 1.03 (0.65-1.63), for 12 to 24 hours 0.84 (0.65-1.09), and for >24 hours 1.06 (0.87-1.31), and for DCI, <6 hours 1.76 (0.68-4.58), for 6 to 12 hours 2.09 (0.99-4.39), for 12 to 24 hours 0.80 (0.56-1.16), and for >24 hours 1.08 (0.88-1.32).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests no beneficial effect of magnesium treatment on poor outcome or DCI when started early after SAH onset. Although the number of patients was small and a beneficial effect cannot be definitively excluded, we found no justification for a new trial with early magnesium treatment after SAH.

Two-particle Bose-Einstein correlations in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] 0.9 and 7 TeV measured with the ATLAS detector

The paper presents studies of Bose-Einstein Correlations (BEC) for pairs of like-sign charged particles measured in the kinematic range [Formula: see text] 100 MeV and [Formula: see text] 2.5 in proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 0.9 and 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The integrated luminosities are approximately 7 [Formula: see text]b[Formula: see text], 190 [Formula: see text]b[Formula: see text] and 12.4 nb[Formula: see text] for 0.9 TeV, 7 TeV minimum-bias and 7 TeV high-multiplicity data samples, respectively. The multiplicity dependence of the BEC parameters characterizing the correlation strength and the correlation source size are investigated for charged-particle multiplicities of up to 240. A saturation effect in the multiplicity dependence of the correlation source size parameter is observed using the high-multiplicity 7 TeV data sample. The dependence of the BEC parameters on the average transverse momentum of the particle pair is also investigated.