Research Roundup

Aysha Mendes provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to community nurses, highlighting key points to keep you up to date; a full reference is provided for those who wish to read the research in more detail.

Research Roundup

Aysha Mendes provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to community nurses, highlighting key points to keep you up to date; a full reference is provided for those who wish to read the research in more detail.

Research Roundup

Aysha Mendes provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to community nurses, highlighting key points to keep you up to date; a full reference is provided for those who wish to read the research in more detail.

POS0423 CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE APTAMER TREATMENT ATTENUATES COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS

Background

Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) appear 10–15 years before the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with a more severe disease course. In previous work, we rationally designed and screened ACPA-binding peptide aptamer sequences in silico and constructed a nanoparticle with chitosan and hyaluronic acid(1). A developmental stage version of this nanoparticle was able to reduce disease activity in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and the serum transfer arthritis mouse models (2).

Objectives

Here, we investigated the effect and potential toxicity of three different versions of the aptamer nanoparticle (loading of 20%, 10% and 5% aptamer, respectively) in the CIA rat model.

Methods

Wistar rats (males and females) were given a single intravenous dose (100 mg/kilo) of type II collagen in PBS in the tail vein. The dosing was repeated three times with one day interval, followed by blood sample collection at day 7 after the initial collagen injection. To evaluate route of administration and dosing, we injected a single intravenous and subcutaneous dose (2.5 mg/kg) of aptamer-nanoparticles (A/N ratio 20%) in PBS in the tail vein/abdomen, and plasma concentration−time profiles were followed for 2 days after dosing with weekly blood sampling. To evaluate organ uptake, rats were given a single intravenous and subcutaneous dose (2.5 mg/kg) of aptamer-nanoparticles (A/N ratio 20%) in PBS in the tail vein/abdomen. The procedure was repeated after 24 hours. Blood and urine samples were taken once a week. A group of 10 animals was sacrificed every week over a three-week period, and the organs were processed. To examine efficacy, rats were given a single subcutaneous dose (2.5 mg/kilo) of aptamer-nanoparticles and nanoparticle controls without aptamer or PBS alone in the abdomen. The procedure was repeated once a week over a course of three weeks. Weight, joint measurement, blood, and urine samples were taken once a week. Paw swelling was measured on a weekly basis. In the plasma samples we measured CPEP2 and anti-collagen II by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Using a rather high dose of collagen (100 mg/kilo) via an intravenous administration route, ACPA was measurable in all CIA rats with rapid development of RA in 82% of the included animals. Intravenous administration resulted in an immediate high plasma concentration post injection, which decreased rapidly to low levels. The s.c. administration route gave a steady, long-term aptamer release with a maximum availability 8 hours post-injection. After three aptamer-nanoparticle doses (2.5 mg/kg; either 20%, 10% or 5% aptamer), we observed a dose-dependent reduction in swollen joint count for the aptamer-nanoparticle treated groups (10 rats in each group) compared with the healthy control group (10 rats) (P-value = 2,1E-6). We observed decreased ACPA IgG levels in the rats treated with aptamer-nanoparticle. The decrease in ACPA levels correlated with the aptamer-nanoparticle having higher loading. Anti-collagen II IgG levels slightly increased towards the end of the study.

Conclusion

We developed and tested a novel peptide aptamer-based drug candidate for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in CIA rats. Over a 3-week course of treatment with subcutaneous administration of aptamer-nanoparticles, joint swelling was decreased during treatment, and completely reversed at the end of the observation period. The reduction of joint swelling was associated with decreased levels of ACPA in the blood.

References

[1]Khatri S, Hansen J, Mendes AC, et al. Citrullinated Peptide Epitope Targets Therapeutic Nanoparticles to Human Neutrophils. Bioconjug Chem. 2019;30(10):2584-2593. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00518

[2]Khatri S, Hansen J, Clausen MH, et al. LB0002 A FIRST IN CLASS THERAPEUTIC NANOPARTICLE FOR SPECIFIC TARGETING OF ANTI-CITRULLINATED PROTEIN ANTIBODY AMELIORATES SERUM TRANSFER AND COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:212.

Disclosure of Interests

Sangita Khatri: None declared, Jonas Hansen: None declared, Nadia Pedersen: None declared, Sanne Gram-Nielsen: None declared, Ana Mendes: None declared, Ioannis Chronakis: None declared, Ulrik Keiding: None declared, Bence Réthi: None declared, Mads Hartvig Clausen Shareholder of: affiliated with IBIO TECH ApS, Tue Wenzel Kragstrup Shareholder of: affiliated with IBIO TECH ApS, Speakers bureau: TWK received speaking fees from Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB, and Abbvie., Consultant of: Consultancy fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead, Grant/research support from: Received research grant from Gilead, Kira Astakhova Shareholder of: KA is affiliated with iBio tech.

Monitoring non-small cell lung cancer progression and treatment response through hyaluronic acid in sputum

We evaluated whether hyaluronan (HA) levels in the sputum could be used as a noninvasive tool to predict progressive disease and treatment response, as detected in a computed tomography scan in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Sputum samples were collected from 84 patients with histological confirmation of NSCLC, 33 of which were in early-stage and 51 in advanced-stage disease. Patients received systemic chemotherapy (CT) after surgery (n=36), combined CT and immunotherapy (IO) (n=15), or targeted therapy for driver mutation and disease relapse (N=4). The primary end-point was to compare sputum HA levels in two different concentrations of hypertonic saline solution with overall survival (OS) and the secondary and exploratory end-points were radiologic responses to treatment and patient outcome. Higher concentrations of HA in the sputum were significantly associated to factors related to tumor stage, phenotype, response to treatment, and outcome. In the early stage, patients with lower sputum HA levels before treatment achieved a complete tumor response after systemic CT with better progression-free survival (PFS) than those with high HA levels. We also examined the importance of the sputum HA concentration and tumor response in the 51 patients who developed metastatic disease and received CT+IO. Patients with low levels of sputum HA showed a complete tumor response in the computed tomography scan and stable disease after CT+IO treatment, as well as a better PFS than those receiving CT alone. HA levels in sputum of NSCLC patients may serve as a candidate biomarker to detect progressive disease and monitor treatment response in computed tomography scans.

Patient-level costs in intensive care: a case report of a standardized and scalable approach

Background

Intensive care units (ICU) costs account to up to 30% of hospital budgets. Nevertheless, determination of their costs is complex and without agreed methodology, specially when considering patient-level costs (Value-Based Healthcare).

Methods

Case report of a costing methodology implementation, in a 15-bed ICU, in a public, teaching hospital at Teresina/Piauí-Brazil (as part of a broader initiative, with 10 hospitals from all Brazilian regions). All costs incurred during ICU stay were measured from the hospital perspective, applying absorption costing method, by using a standardized approach and a specific central IT system. The study was carried out from Oct/19-Sep/20, including 613 patients, and a team of 10 researchers working with 4 teams of the local hospital (costs, IT, ICU and managers).

Results

ICU fixed costs (personnel, overheads, energy/water, depreciation, non-tracked drugs/medical materials), were divided by service capacity (total bed-hours) for calculation of the costs/minute. Costs were then allocated in the patient level multiplying costs/minute by the ICU length of stay. Variable costs (lab/image tests, transfusions, hemodialysis, and traceable medical materials/drugs) were directly allocated, multiplying the unit cost by the volume consumed per patient. A mini-survey applied 1-year after showed that both cost researchers and hospital staff agreed on the main challenges in measuring patient-level costs (fragmented process; fixed costs available only at the hospital level; lack of control on cost-drivers; indirect costs not considered; any reference for lab/image costs) and that the approach was sufficient to overcome them. The local team also reported increased awareness about the importance of patient-level costs after the experience.

Conclusions

The proposed costing approach allowed the assessment of estimated total costs of each ICU admission. We believe this model can be easily and quickly replicated in other similar scenarios.

Key messages

ICU costs account to up to 30% of hospital budgets. Nevertheless, determination of their costs is complex and without agreed methodology, specially when considering patient-level costs. The proposed costing approach allowed the assessment of estimated total costs of each ICU admission. We believe this model can be easily and quickly replicated in other similar scenarios.

Decidual NK cell-derived conditioned medium from miscarriages affects endometrial stromal cell decidualisation: endocannabinoid anandamide and tumour necrosis factor-α crosstalk

STUDY QUESTION

What are the effects of endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) in uterine natural killer (unK) cells from miscarriage decidua, regarding their cytokine profile and endometrial stromal cell (ESC) crosstalk?

SUMMARY ANSWER

uNK-conditioned media from miscarriage samples present high TNF-α levels which inhibit ESC decidualisation.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

AEA plasma levels are higher in women who have suffered a miscarriage. Moreover, AEA inhibits ESC proliferation and differentiation, although the levels and impact on the uNK cell cytokine profile at the feto-maternal interface remain elusive.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This laboratory-based study used human primary uNK cells which were isolated from first-trimester decidua (gestational age, 5-12 weeks) derived from 8 women with elective pregnancy termination and 18 women who suffered a miscarriage.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The first-trimester placental tissues were assayed for AEA levels by UPLC-MS/MS and respective enzymatic profile by western blot. The uNK cells were isolated and maintained in culture. The expression of angiogenic markers in uNK cells was examined by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The uNK-conditioned medium was analysed for IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the impact on ESC differentiation was assessed by measuring decidual markers Prl, Igfbp-1 and Fox01 mRNA expression using qPCR.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

AEA levels were higher in miscarriage decidua compared with decidua from elective terminations. The uNK cell-conditioned medium from the miscarriage samples exhibited high TNF-α levels and interfered with the decidualisation of ESCs. Exacerbated inflammation and elevated TNF-α levels at the feto-maternal interface may trigger AEA signalling pathways that, in turn, may impact decidualisation and the angiogenic ability of uNK cells.

LARGE-SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Primary uNK cell responses are based on a simple in vitro model. Thus, in complex microenvironments, such as the feto-maternal interface, the mechanisms may not be exactly the same. Also, the inflammatory events of miscarriage that, in this study, have happened prior to processing of the samples may cause different responses to that observed. In addition, the magnitude of the inflammatory response, required to trigger the AEA pathways that impact decidualisation and the uNK angiogenic ability in vivo, is still unclear.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The endocannabinoid AEA is a modulator of reproductive competence. AEA not only may contribute to neuroendocrine homeostasis but also can take part in uterine changes occurring during early pregnancy.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The work was supported by UID/MULTI/04378/2019 with funding from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/MCTES through national funds and PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000024. S.C. Cunha acknowledges FCT for the IF/01616/2015 contract. There are no conflicts of interest.