Interaction with B-type lamin reveals the function of Drosophila Keap1 xenobiotic response factor in nuclear architecture

BACKGROUND

The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway serves as a central regulator that mediates transcriptional responses to xenobiotic and oxidative stimuli. Recent studies have shown that Keap1 and Nrf2 can regulate transcripts beyond antioxidant and detoxifying genes, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our research has uncovered that Drosophila Keap1 (dKeap1) and Nrf2 (CncC) proteins can control high-order chromatin structure, including heterochromatin.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we identified the molecular interaction between dKeap1 and lamin Dm0, the Drosophila B-type lamin responsible for the architecture of nuclear lamina and chromatin. Ectopic expression of dKeap1 led to an ectopic localization of lamin to the intra-nuclear area, corelated with the spreading of the heterochromatin marker H3K9me2 into euchromatin regions. Additionally, mis-regulated dKeap1 disrupted the morphology of the nuclear lamina. Knocking down of dKeap1 partially rescued the lethality induced by lamin overexpression, suggesting their genetic interaction during development.

CONCLUSIONS

The discovered dKeap1-lamin interaction suggests a novel role for the Keap1 oxidative/xenobiotic response factor in regulating chromatin architecture.

A hierarchical modeling approach to predict the distribution and density of Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator)

Carnivores play critical roles in ecosystems, yet many species are declining worldwide. The Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator; SNRF) is a rare and endangered subspecies of red fox limited to upper montane forests, subalpine, and alpine environments of California and Oregon, United States. Having experienced significant distribution contractions and population declines in the last century, the subspecies is listed as at-risk by relevant federal and state agencies. Updated information on its contemporary distribution and density is needed to guide and evaluate conservation and management actions. We combined 12 years (2009-2020) of detection and nondetection data collected throughout California and Oregon to model the potential distribution and density of SNRFs throughout their historical and contemporary ranges. We used an integrated species distribution and density modeling approach, which predicted SNRF density in sampled locations based on observed relationships between environmental covariates and detection frequencies, and then projected those predictions to unsampled locations based on the estimated correlations with environmental covariates. This approach provided predictions that serve as density estimates in sampled regions and projections in unsampled areas. Our model predicted a density of 1.06 (95% credible interval = 0.8-1.36) foxes per 100 km2 distributed throughout 22,926 km2 in three distinct regions of California and Oregon-Sierra Nevada, Lassen Peak, and Oregon Cascades. SNRFs were most likely to be found in areas with low minimum temperatures and high snow water equivalent. Our results provide a contemporary baseline to inform the development and evaluation of conservation and management actions, and guide future survey efforts.

Creating a Guardrail System to Ensure Appropriate Activation of Adolescent Portal Accounts

The parent of an adolescent patient noticed an upcoming appointment in the patient's portal account that should have remained confidential to the parent. As it turned out, this parent was directly accessing their child's adolescent patient portal account instead of using a proxy account. After investigation of this case, it was found that the adolescent account had been activated with the parent's demographic (i.e., phone/email) information. This case illustrates the challenges of using adult-centric electronic health record (EHR) systems and how our institution addressed the problem of incorrect portal account activations.Confidentiality is fundamental to providing healthcare to adolescents. To comply with the 21st Century Cures Act's information blocking rules, confidential information must be released to adolescent patients when appropriate while also remaining confidential from their guardians. While complying with this national standard, systems of care must also account for interstate variability in which services allow for confidential adolescent consent. Unfortunately, there are high rates of guardian access to adolescent portal accounts which may lead to unintended disclosure of confidential information. Therefore, measures must be taken to minimize the risk of inadvertent confidentiality breaches via adolescent patient portals.Our institution implemented a guardrail system that checks the adolescent patient's contact information against the contact information of their parent/guardian/guarantor. This guardrail reduced the rate of account activation errors after implementation. However, the guardrail can be bypassed when demographic fields are missing. Thus, ongoing efforts to create pediatric-appropriate demographic fields, clearly distinguishing patient from proxy, in the EHR and workflows for registration of proxy accounts in the patient portal are needed.

Usability and Utility of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Clinical Decision Support to Increase Knowledge and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Initiations among Pediatric Providers

OBJECTIVES

 An effective clinical decision support system (CDSS) may address the current provider training barrier to offering preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to youth at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study evaluated change in provider knowledge and the likelihood to initiate PrEP after exposure to a PrEP CDSS. A secondary objective explored perceived provider utility of the CDSS and suggestions for improving CDSS effectiveness.

METHODS

 This was a prospective study using survey responses from a convenience sample of pediatric providers who launched the interruptive PrEP CDSS when ordering an HIV test. McNemar's test evaluated change in provider PrEP knowledge and likelihood to initiate PrEP. Qualitative responses on CDSS utility and suggested improvements were analyzed using framework analysis and were connected to quantitative analysis elements using the merge approach.

RESULTS

 Of the 73 invited providers, 43 had available outcome data and were included in the analysis. Prior to using the CDSS, 86% of participants had never been prescribed PrEP. Compared to before CDSS exposure, there were significant increases in the proportion of providers who were knowledgeable about PrEP (p = 0.0001), likely to prescribe PrEP (p < 0.0001) and likely to refer their patient for PrEP (p < 0.0001). Suggestions for improving the CDSS included alternative "triggers" for the CDSS earlier in visit workflows, having a noninterruptive CDSS, additional provider educational materials, access to patient-facing PrEP materials, and additional CDSS support for adolescent confidentiality and navigating financial implications of PrEP.

CONCLUSION

 Our findings suggest that an interruptive PrEP CDSS attached to HIV test orders can be an effective tool to increase knowledge and likelihood to initiate PrEP among pediatric providers. Continual improvement of the PrEP CDSS based on provider feedback is required to optimize usability, effectiveness, and adoption. A highly usable PrEP CDSS may be a powerful tool to close the gap in youth PrEP access and uptake.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy – evolution of electrocardiographic markers during long-term follow-up prior to ascertainment of diagnosis

Background

Depolarization and repolarization abnormalities are part of the diagnostic Task Force Criteria of 2010 (TFC2010) for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). These abnormalities are thought to be progressive but have also been described as dynamic and sometimes reversible. Evolution of ECG abnormalities prior to clinical ARVC diagnosis is poorly studied.

Objective

To assess the evolution of ECG depolarization and repolarization characteristics in patients with ARVC prior to diagnosis and to identify markers of disease progression at a preclinical stage.

Methods

353 patients with definite ARVC from Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada with at least one 12-lead digital ECG (65% males, 67% probands, 56% mutation carriers, median age at diagnosis 42 [IQR 29–53] years and median age at first ECG 44 [30–55] years) were included. Digital ECGs were extracted from regional ECG archives. ECGs with left bundle branch block, ventricular pacing or recorded either prior to 15 years of age or after heart transplantation were excluded. Remaining 6,871 ECGs were digitally processed and automatically analysed using the Glasgow algorithm. Median values for overall QRS duration, terminal activation delay (TAD) in lead V1 as well as amplitudes of QRS-T-components in precordial leads per patient per year were used for analyses and graphically represented using Lowess smoothing with cubic splines (Figure 1). Blue lines indicate smoothed conditional mean with 95% confidence interval (shadow). Time “0” (red line) indicates the time when TFC2010 were fulfilled for definite diagnosis.

A database of 18,564 anonymized digital ECGs (58% males, median age at latest ECG 41 years [IQR 32–52]) who were in contact with health care during 2020–2021 was processed using the same exclusion criteria and signal-processing methodology as in the ARVC group and used as a reference (black line).

Results

TAD in lead V1 and overall QRS duration demonstrated a significant increase years before ARVC diagnosis, and significant reductions were seen in QRS-T voltages measured as R wave amplitude, QRS amplitude (the absolute sum of R wave and S wave), and T wave amplitude (Table 1 and Figure 1). The changes were seen in all precordial leads, not only the right-sided, and visually diverging from the controls.

Conclusion

Development of the ARVC ECG phenotype started several years before diagnosis and continued afterwards. QRS duration and TAD increased, QRS voltages decrease, and T wave amplitude decreased eventually leading to T wave inversion. These changes might be visually assessed but also measured with available ECG software. These findings may be clinically useful in the screening and follow-up of ARVC relatives.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Governmental funding of clinical research (ALF), Region Ostergotland, Sweden.The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.

Longer left ventricular activation time is associated with lower mortality and risk of heart failure hospitalization in CRT recipients

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): ALF Governmental Funding within the Swedish health care system

Introduction

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for heart failure in selected patients. Longer QRS duration has been showed to correlate to clinical outcome, but measures global activation time, rather than the left ventricular dyssynchrony that CRT aims to correct. This study therefore evaluated the incremental value of using Left Ventricular Activation Time (LVAT) for prediction of outcome after CRT.

Methods

Medical records of 445 patients receiving CRT implants at a large-volume tertiary care center were retrospectively evaluated. Digital electrocardiograms (ECG) before and after CRT implantation were collected and ECG parameters were analysed in relation to a primary composite endpoint of time to heart failure hospitalisation or death from any cause. LVAT was defined as time from QRS onset to maximum positive deflection in lead V6 (Figure 1).

Results

Patients were followed for up to 6 years (median 2.7), during which 147 patients (33%) reached the primary endpoint (93 deaths and 103 heart failure hospitalisations). LVAT was measured pre-implant (median 71ms [58-88]) and post-implant (median 74ms [57-96]). There was no CRT-mediated reduction in LVAT (delta -2.3ms +/-31ms, p=0.27). When divided into quartiles, preoperative LVAT had a significant association with clinical outcome (HR 0.76 [0.64-0.90] per increasing quartile, p=0.001), also shown in a median-split Kaplan Meier curve (Figure 2, log rank p=0.001). Multivariate hazard ratio (adjusted for relevant clinical variables) was 0.83; [0.69-0.99]; p=0.047). There was an interaction between LVAT and ECG morphology (p=0.033), and when ECG groups were analysed separately, there was only a significant result for those with native left bundle branch block morphology. Post-implant LVAT, or change in LVAT, did not correlate with the primary endpoint (p=0.25 and p=0.38 respectively.

Conclusion

In CRT recipients, longer pre-implant LVAT was associated with lower risk of heart failure hospitalisation and death during a follow-up of up to 6 years. This association was mainly seen in patients with native LBBB prior to implant. No association was seen with post-CRT LVAT and clinical outcome. If confirmed in prospective trials, evaluation of preoperative LVAT may help optimise patient selection for CRT.

Pediatric Provider Utilization of a Clinical Decision Support Alert and Association with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Prescription Rates

OBJECTIVES

An electronic clinical decision support (CDS) alert can provide real-time provider support to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to youth at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate provider utilization of a PrEP CDS alert in a large academic-community pediatric network and assess the association of the alert with PrEP prescribing rates.

METHODS

HIV test orders were altered for patients 13 years and older to include a hard-stop prompt asking if the patient would benefit from PrEP. If providers answered "Yes" or "Not Sure," the CDS alert launched with options to open a standardized order set, refer to an internal PrEP specialist, and/or receive an education module. We analyzed provider utilization using a frequency analysis. The rate of new PrEP prescriptions for 1 year after CDS alert implementation was compared with the year prior using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Of the 56 providers exposed to the CDS alert, 70% (n = 39) responded "Not sure" to the alert prompt asking if their patient would benefit from PrEP, and 54% (n = 30) chose at least one clinical support tool. The PrEP prescribing rate increased from 2.3 prescriptions per 10,000 patients to 6.6 prescriptions per 10,000 patients in the year post-intervention (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a knowledge gap among pediatric providers in identifying patients who would benefit from PrEP. A hard-stop prompt within an HIV test order that offers CDS and provider education might be an effective tool to increase PrEP prescribing among pediatric providers.

Clinical risk factors and P wave indices in prediction of atrial fibrillation development during long-term follow-up after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction

In patients with high thromboembolic risk detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is crucial for implementation of proper anticoagulation therapy, which highlights the need for identification of patients at risk for AF. P wave indices reflect atrial structural abnormalities linked to AF development.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the value of clinical risk factors and P wave indices in prediction of incident AF after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PCI).

Methods

Study sample comprised of 2277 consecutive patients with STEMI admitted to a tertiary care hospital for primary PCI from 2007 to 2010. SWEDEHEART registry was used as the source of information regarding clinical characteristics and events during index admission. Patients without known AF at discharge were included in the current study (n=1837, mean age 65±12 years, 30% females). AF in follow-up (median 9, interquartile range 25–75% (IQR) 7–10 years) was documented by linkage with the Swedish National Patient Register and Swedish Cause-of-Death Register. The closest available ECGs prior to STEMI (median 448, interquartile rate 25–75% 112–1390 days before STEMI) were extracted from the regional electronic ECG databases and automatically processed using Glasgow algorithm. P-wave duration, PR interval, P-wave frontal axis and P terminal force in lead V1 (PTF-V1) were assessed. PTF-V1 &gt;40 mm*ms was considered abnormal.

Results

In follow-up incident AF was documented in 285 patients (15.4%). In univariate Cox regression analysis age, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, history of stroke, smoking status, P wave duration &gt;120 ms, PR interval and abnormal PTF-V1 predicted the AF development during follow-up (Table). In multivariate Cox regression analysis in which significantly associated variables were included only age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.07, 95% CI 1.05–1.08, p&lt;0.001) and abnormal PTF-V1 (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.08–2.05, p=0.015, Figure) remained independent predictors of incident AF.

Conclusion

In patients with acute STEMI incident AF developed during long-term follow-up after discharge from hospital was strongly associated with age and atrial structural abnormalities reflected as abnormal PTF-V1 on pre-STEMI ECG which might serve as a tool in risk stratification of STEMI patients in regard to AF development.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Scholarship grant from Swedish Institute. Table 1Figure 1

ECG markers of atrial abnormalities are not associated with new onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction

New onset AF is a known complication in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, whether new-onset AF is linked to atrial structural abnormalities or has different underlying mechanisms is not fully clarified.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the association of P wave indices as ECG markers of atrial structural abnormalities with new-onset AF in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PCI).

Methods

Study sample comprised of 2277 consecutive patients with STEMI admitted to a tertiary care hospital for primary PCI from 2007 to 2010. SWEDEHEART registry was used as the source of information regarding clinical characteristics and events during index admission, including new-onset AF. The closest available ECGs prior to STEMI (median 448, interquartile rate 25–75% 112–1390 days before STEMI) were extracted from the regional electronic ECG databases and automatically processed using Glasgow algorithm. Patients with sinus rhythm ECGs were included in the current analysis (n=1481, mean age 68±12 years, 33% females). P-wave duration, PR interval, P-wave frontal axis and P terminal force in lead V1 (PTF-V1) were assessed. PTF-V1 &gt;40 mm*ms was considered abnormal.

Results

Paroxysmal AF prior to STEMI was known in 77 patients (5.2%). Among patients without pre-existing AF (n=1404), new-onset AF during hospital admission was identified in 102 patients (6.9%). Patients with new-onset AF were older than those without AF history (74±9 vs 67±12 years, p&lt;0.001), but did not differ in regard to other clinical characteristics. In univariate logistic regression analysis P wave duration as continuous variable, P wave duration &gt;120 ms and PR interval were significantly associated with new onset AF (Table 1). However, after adjustment for age both, P wave duration &gt;120 ms (odds ratio (OR) 1.20, 95% CI 0.77–1.89, p=0.418) and PR interval (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.01, p=0.068), failed to demonstrate the significant association with new onset AF while age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.08, p&lt;0.001) remained an independent risk factor for AF development.

Conclusion

In patients with acute STEMI new onset AF developed during hospital admission is common and strongly associated with age. P wave indices failed to demonstrate the significant association with new onset AF thus indicating that atrial structural abnormalities are unlikely the underlying cause of AF development in acute STEMI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Scholarship grant from Swedish Institute. Table 1

Low-Energy Availability and the Electronic Preparticipation Examination in College Athletes: Is There a Better Way to Screen?

ABSTRACT

The electronic preparticipation physical examination (ePPE) is commonly used to identify health conditions that would affect participation in sports for athletes, including disordered eating and/or low energy availability (EA). A secondary analysis was performed using a cohort study of female college athletes attending a Division 1 university between 2008 and 2014. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between responses to questions on the ePPE related to eating behaviors and Female Athlete Triad (Triad). Risk categories (low, moderate, or high) were assigned to 239 athletes participating in 16 sports. The majority of responses on the ePPE did not identify athletes associated with moderate-/high-risk categories. Our findings suggest that ePPE may not sufficiently identify athletes at elevated risk for health concerns of the Triad. Our findings suggest that future ePPE may consider validated screening tools for disordered eating to help identify athletes at risk of low EA.

Abstract 111: Accurate multi-cancer detection using methylated DNA markers and proteins in plasma

Purpose: Screening for high prevalence cancers (breast, colorectum and uterine cervix) reduces mortality; however, most cancer deaths arise in unscreened organs. An ideal solution would accurately detect multiple currently unscreened cancers in a single round of testing. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a targeted assay panel of methylated DNA markers (MDMs) and proteins for detection of highly lethal cancers in a multi-cancer case-control study.

Experimental Procedures: Prospectively collected plasmas from 180 cases of 6 cancer types (stage A-D liver (n=36), and TNM stage II-IV esophageal (n=18), lung (n=36), ovarian (n=30), pancreatic (n=30), and stomach (n=30)) and 257 smoking status, age-, and gender-matched asymptomatic controls were tested in blinded fashion. To quantify 26 MDMs previously found to be common among many cancers, multiplex PCR followed by LQAS (Long probe Quantitative Amplified Signal) assay was performed on bisulfite converted DNA extracted from 3 mL of plasma. Additionally, 5 proteins were tested from paired serum aliquots and combined with MDMs for a multi-analyte analysis. Two-thirds of the cases and controls were used to develop prediction algorithms, both logistic regression and random forest models, and the remaining 1/3 were used to validate the models.

Results: Using stepwise logistic regression, a combination of 3 proteins (CEA, CA-125, CA19-9) and 5 MDMs (ZNF671, GRIN2D, NDGR4, SHOX2, B3GALT6) resulted in an AUC of 0.95 and an overall sensitivity of 87% for all cancers at 95% specificity. The logistic model on the validation set of the samples resulted in an AUC of 0.96 and a sensitivity of 83% with an observed specificity of 94%. The cancer-specific sensitivities ranged from 78% for lung cancer to 90% for ovarian and pancreatic cancer (Table). Random forest and logistic analyses were in agreement.

Conclusion: Targeted assay of select MDMs and proteins show high discrimination for multiple cancers in a case control study, which included early stage patients.

Performance with 95% confidence intervals of multi-target assay for multi-cancer detectionSensitivitySpecificityModelOverallBy cancer typeLungEsophagealGastricPancreaticLiverOvarianLogisticTraining set87%(79-92%)79%83%90%95%88%85%95%(90-97%)Test set83%(72-91%)75%100%80%80%75%100%94%(87%-98%)Training + Test186%(80-90%)78%89%87%90%83%90%95%(91-97%)Training + Test275%(68-81%)50%89%83%76%81%80%98%(96-99%)Random forest377%(70-83%)58%78%83%77%81%87%95%(92-97%)195% specificity goal, 5 MDMs and 3 proteins.298% specificity goal, 5 MDMs and 3 proteins.3With 500-fold in silico cross-validation on all samples and all markers (26 MDMs + 5 proteins)

Citation Format: Slava Katerov, Abram Vaccaro, Jacquelyn Hennek, Jennifer Carlson, William R. Taylor, Douglas Mahoney, John B. Kisiel, Hatim T. Allawi. Accurate multi-cancer detection using methylated DNA markers and proteins in plasma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 111.

Relationship between atrial fibrillatory rate based on analysis of a modified base-apex surface electrocardiogram analysis and the results of transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with spontaneous atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES

To compare the atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) derived from a local right atrial intracardiac recording (RA-FR) and from a single-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) during atrial fibrillation (AF) and to evaluate the correlation with transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) threshold (in Joules), number of shocks and cardioversion success rate in horses.

ANIMALS

ECGs and clinical records of horses with AF treated by TVEC. Horses were included if a simultaneous recording of the right atrial intracardiac electrogram and a modified base-apex ECG were available.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical records of horses with AF treated by TVEC were reviewed. Three-minute long episodes of simultaneous electrograms and surface ECG during AF were selected for analysis and compared using Bland-Altman analysis. The mean RA-FR was measured from the deflections on the intracardiac electrogram, while the AFR was extracted from the surface ECG using spatiotemporal QRS and T-wave cancellation.

RESULTS

Seventy-three horses satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean difference between RA-FR and AFR was -13 fibrillations per minute (fpm), the 95% limits of agreement were between -66 and 40 fpm, and there was a moderate (ρ = 0.65) correlation between RA-FR and AFR (p < 0.001). Neither RA-FR nor AFR appeared to influence the TVEC cardioversion threshold or the number of TVEC shocks applied.

CONCLUSIONS

The AFR may allow non-invasive long-term monitoring of AF dynamics. Neither RA-FR nor AFR could be used to predict the minimal defibrillation threshold for TVEC.

Progressive ECG changes over time in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy precede diagnosis and continue – indices of disease substrate development?

Background

Depolarization and repolarization abnormalities are common in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and are included in the diagnostic 2010 Task Force criteria (TFC2010). However, first ARVC symptoms commonly occur before ECG abnormalities reach the diagnostic thresholds and the time course of ECG abnormalities during initial phase of the disease remains obscure. Regional digital ECG archives allow computerized signal-processing and assessment of ECG phenotype during different disease phases, including the time prior to ascertainment of ARVC diagnosis.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the natural course of ECG characteristics associated with ARVC, hypothesizing that ARVC is a progressive disease and that ECG parameters progress over time due to disease substrate development.

Methods

Definite ARVC patients with at least one digital ECG recruited in three tertiary care hospitals in Sweden and Denmark were included (n=102, 66% males, 68% probands, 52% carrying a pathogenic genetic variant, 74% ICD carriers and 25% physically active &gt;4 hours/week). Median age at diagnosis was 41 years (IQR 30–55). 12-lead digital ECGs were extracted from the regional ECG archives, containing all recordings in the hospital catchment areas since 1988. After excluding ECGs with heart rate &lt;40 or &gt;100/min, left bundle branch block or ventricular pacing, and those recorded prior to 14 years of age, the remaining 2067 ECGs were digitally processed and automatically analyzed using the Glasgow algorithm (median 3 [IQR 0–9] ECGs prior to diagnosis and 6 [IQR 2–14] ECGs during follow-up). Overall QRS duration as well as the right precordial lead indices exemplified by the lead V2 (terminal activation delay [TAD], area under the T-wave [T-wave area] and R-prime amplitude) were calculated and graphically represented using generalized additive model (GAM) with cubic splines (Figure 1). A median value for each measurement per patient per year was used for analysis. Blue line indicates smoothed conditional mean with 95% confidence interval (shadow). Time “0” (red line) indicates the time when TFC2010 criteria were fulfilled.

Results

Marked and consistent changes are seen in all studied depolarization and repolarization parameters over 10 years preceding ARVC diagnosis and continue afterwards. TAD demonstrates gradual increase, while T-wave area demonstrates consistent decrease over time before and after diagnosis indicating amplitude reduction and transition to T-wave inversion. The R-prime curve indicates that the terminal part of QRS complex demonstrate abnormalities first late in the course of the disease (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Electrocardiographic ARVC phenotype appears to become detectable long before the time of ARVC diagnosis indicating the progressive nature of ARVC and may explain arrhythmic events that may occur during the subclinical phase before ECG criteria are fulfilled.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of new onset atrial fibrillation on long-term prognosis in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction

New onset AF is a known complication in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, whether new-onset AF affects the long-term prognosis to the same extent as pre-existing AF is not fully clarified and prescription of oral anticoagulants (OAC) in patients with new-onset AF remains a matter of debates.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the impact of new-onset AF in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) on outcome during long-term follow-up in comparison with pre-existing AF and to evaluate effect of OAC therapy in patients with new-onset AF on survival.

Methods

Study sample comprised of 2277 consecutive patients with STEMI admitted to a tertiary care hospital for primary PCI from 2007 to 2010 (age 66±12 years, 70% male). AF prior to STEMI was documented by record linkage with the Swedish National Patient Register and review of ECGs obtained from the digital archive containing ECGs recorded in the hospital catchment area since 1988. SWEDEHEART registry was used as the source of information regarding clinical characteristics and events during index admission, including new-onset AF and OAC at discharge. All-cause mortality was assessed using the Swedish Cause-of-Death Register 8 years after discharge.

Results

AF prior to STEMI was documented in 177 patients (8%). Among patients without pre-existing AF (n=2100), new-onset AF was identified in 151 patients (7%). Patients with new-onset AF were older than those without AF history (74±9 vs 65±12 years, p&lt;0.001), but did not differ in regard to other clinical characteristics. Among 2149 STEMI survivors discharged alive, 523 (24%) died during 8 years of follow-up. OAC was prescribed at discharge in 45 (32%) patients with new onset AF and in 49 (31%) patients with pre-existing AF, p=0.901. In a univariate analysis, both new-onset AF (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.70–2.81, p&lt;0.001) and pre-existing AF (HR 2.80, 95% CI 2.25–3.48, p&lt;0.001) were associated with all-cause mortality, Figure 1. After adjustment for age, gender, cardiac failure, diabetes, BMI and smoking history, new-onset AF remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02–1.92, p=0.037). OAC prescribed at discharge in patients with new-onset AF was not significantly associated with survival (univariate HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.50–1.50, p=0.599).

Conclusion

New-onset AF developed during hospital admission with STEMI is common and independently predicts all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up after STEMI with risk estimates similar to pre-existing AF. The effect of OAC on survival in patients with new-onset AF is inconclusive as only one third of them received OAC therapy at discharge.

Kaplan-Meier survival curve

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Interatrial Block Predicts Atrial Fibrillation and Total Mortality in Patients with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background

Interatrial block (IAB) and abnormal P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) are electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and death. However, their prognostic importance has not been proven in CRT recipients with advanced heart failure (HF).

Purpose

To assess if IAB and abnormal PTFV1 are associated with new-onset AF or death in CRT recipients.

Methods

CRT recipients without AF history before CRT implantation were included (n=210, median age 67 years, 80% male, 55% ischemic heart disease, 70% NYHA Class III/IV, median LVEF 25%, 51% CRT-P). Automated analysis of P-wave duration (PWD) and morphology classified patients as having either No IAB (PWD &lt;120ms), Partial IAB (pIAB: PWD ≥120 ms, positive P waves in leads II and aVF) or Advanced IAB (aIAB: PWD ≥120 ms and biphasic or negative P wave in leads II or aVF). PTFV1 &gt;0.04 mm·s was considered abnormal. Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, NYHA Class, ischemic etiology of HF, LBBB, LVEF and CRT-P vs. CRT-D were performed to assess the impact of IAB and abnormal PTFV1 on the primary endpoint new-onset AF, death or heart transplant (HTx) and the secondary endpoint death or HTx at 5 years of follow up.

Results

IAB was found in 45% (34% pIAB and 11% aIAB) and was associated with both the primary (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–2.9, p=0.004) and the secondary (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.4, p=0.006) endpoints. Abnormal PTFV1 was not associated with outcome. See Forest plot for adjusted HRs for individual P-wave indices.

Conclusions

IAB is associated with new-onset AF and death in CRT recipients and may be helpful in risk stratification in the context of HF management. Abnormal PTFV1 did not demonstrate any prognostic value in the setting of CRT-treated patients with advanced HF.

Forest plot

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation

Early monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is associated with increased long-term mortality in STEMI

Background

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias occurring early during ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are known to markedly contribute to increased in-hospital mortality, but not to influence the long-term prognosis. However recent data advocate differential approach to the type of arrhythmia and indicate long-term hazard of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of monomorphic VT compared to non-monomorphic VT or ventricular fibrillation (VF) during the first 48 hours of STEMI in non-selected cohort of STEMI patients admitted for primary PCI.

Methods

Consecutive STEMI patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital for primary PCI during 2007–2010 were included. The Swedish national SWEDEHEART registry was used for assessment of clinical characteristics and the presence of VT/VF during index admission. The occurrence and type of VT/VF during the first 48 hours from symptom onset were verified in medical records. Information on all-cause mortality endpoint 8 years after STEMI was obtained from the Swedish Cause of Death Register.

Results

In total, 2277 patients were included (age 66±12 years, 70% male). Early monomorphic VT during index STEMI was documented in 35 (1.5%) and non-monomorphic VT or VF – in 115 (5.1%) patients. Patients with monomorphic VT had similar clinical characteristics compared to those with non-monomorphic VT/VF with a trend of higher prevalence of history of myocardial infarction by index admission among those with monomorphic VT (31% vs 21%, p=0.256). In total, 22 (63%) patients with monomorphic VT and 43 (37%) with non-monomorphic VT/VF died by 8 years of follow up (p=0.011). Monomorphic VT was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-monomorphic VT/VF in a univariate analysis (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.21–3.39, p=0.007) and after adjustment for age and history of myocardial infarction (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.02–2.97, p=0.041) (Figure).

Conclusion

Monomorphic VT during the first 48 hours of STEMI is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-monomorphic VT/VF and deserves further studies in order to refine risk stratification strategies.

Survival after STEMI by VT/VF &lt;48 hours

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation

Clustering of Four-Component Unitary Fermions

Ab initio nuclear physics tackles the problem of strongly interacting four-component fermions. The same setting could foreseeably be probed experimentally in ultracold atomic systems, where two- and three-component experiments have led to major breakthroughs in recent years. Both due to the problem's inherent interest and as a pathway to nuclear physics, in this Letter we study four-component fermions at unitarity via the use of quantum Monte Carlo methods. We explore novel forms of the trial wave function and find one which leads to a ground state of the eight-particle system whose energy is almost equal to that of two four-particle systems. We investigate the clustering properties involved and also extrapolate to the zero-range limit. In addition to being experimentally testable, our results impact the prospects of developing nuclear physics as a perturbation around the unitary limit.

The State of Cancer Care in America: Impact of State Policy on Access to High-Quality Cancer Care

Health policy in America has shifted rapidly over the last decade, and states are increasingly exercising greater authority over health policy decision-making. This localization and regionalization of healthcare policy poses significant challenges for patients with cancer, providers, advocates, and policymakers. To identify the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead of stakeholders, NCCN hosted the 2019 Policy Summit: The State of Cancer Care in America on June 27, 2019, in Washington, DC. The summit featured multidisciplinary panel discussions to explore the implications for access to quality cancer care within a shifting health policy landscape from a patient, provider, and lawmaker perspective. This article encapsulates the discussion from this NCCN Policy Summit.

Nrf2 and the Nrf2-Interacting Network in Respiratory Inflammation and Diseases

Atmospheric pollutants and cigarette smoke influence the human respiratory system and induce airway inflammation, injury, and pathogenesis. Activation of the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor and downstream antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptions play a central role in protecting respiratory cells against reactive oxidative species (ROS) that are induced by airway toxins and inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that Nrf2 can also target and activate many genes involved in developmental programs such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell death, and metabolism. Nrf2 is closely regulated by the interaction with kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), while also directly interacts with a number of other proteins, including inflammatory factors, transcription factors, autophagy mediators, kinases, epigenetic modifiers, etc. It is believed that the multiple target genes and the complicated interacting network of Nrf2 account for the roles of Nrf2 in physiologies and pathogeneses. This chapter summarizes the molecular functions and protein interactions of Nrf2, as well as the roles of Nrf2 and the Nrf2-interacting network in respiratory inflammation and diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), cystic fibrosis (CF), viral/bacterial infections, and lung cancers. Therapeutic applications that target Nrf2 and its interacting proteins in respiratory diseases are also reviewed.

P5683Incremental hazard associated with the degree of advanced intaratrial block in cardiac resynchronization therapy treated heart failure patients

Background

Advanced Inter Atrial Block (aIAB) reflects a disruption of the electrical signal between the atria and develops gradually. It has been predictive of atrial fibrillation and death in patients with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). A higher number of inferior ECG leads demonstrating biphasic P waves was proposed as a measure of aIAB severity, however its prognostic importance has not been proven.

Purpose

To assess if aIAB is associated with poor prognosis in CRT recipients and to see if there is a dose-response relationship between the aIAB severity and the outcome.

Methods

CRT recipients with sinus rhythm on digitally stored preoperative ECG were included (n=565, median age 70 years, 82% male, 55% ischemic heart failure [HF] etiology, 54% CRT-P, 70% left bundle branch block [LBBB]). Automated analysis of P-wave duration [PWD] and morphology in leads II, aVF and III assessed as positive, negative or biphasic +/− was performed and patients classified as having either No IAB (PWD <120ms), Partial IAB (pIAB, PWD ≥120 ms, positive P-waves in inferior leads), aIAB (PWD ≥120 ms and biphasic p-waves in one of the inferior leads). aIAB patients were further stratified by the presence of biphasic P waves in only one (aIAB-1) or more (aIAB-2) inferior leads. Extreme aIAB was defined as biphasic P waves in lead II and negative in leads III and aVF. Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, NYHA class, ischemic HF etiology, left ventricular ejection fraction, LBBB, CRT-P versus CRT-D and PWD were performed to assess the impact of aIAB and its types on the endpoint hospitalization for HF or death at 5 years of follow up.

Results

Advanced IAB was observed in 65 patients (10 with aIAB-1, 53 with aIAB-2 and 2 with extreme aIAB) and pIAB in 151. No clinically relevant significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between groups. Compared to the NoIAB group, aIAB-2 and extreme aIAB independently predicted the combined endpoint with adjusted HR=1.82 (95% CI 1.14–2.90, p-value 0.012) and HR=4.70 (95% CI 1.10–20.16, p-value 0.037), respectively.

Conclusion

Advanced IAB is associated with HF admissions or death from any cause in HF patients treated with CRT. Our findings indicate dose-response relationship between the severity of aIAB and the outcome.

P2661Ventricular fibrillation during acute STEMI is not associated with early repolarization pattern on ECG recorded prior to the index ischemic episode

Background

Generally considered as benign, ECG early repolarization (ER) pattern was recently claimed to be an indicator of increased susceptibility to fatal arrhythmias during acute ischemia. The victims of sudden cardiac death have been reported to have high prevalence of ER comparing with survivors of acute coronary event.

We aimed to test the association between the ER pattern on resting ECG recorded prior to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and the risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF) during acute phase of STEMI in non-selected population of STEMI patients.

Methods

For STEMI patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital for primary PCI during 2007–2010 (n=2286), all ECGs recorded prior to the date of admission with STEMI were extracted from a digital archive. The latest ECG recorded prior to the index STEMI was used for analysis.

After excluding ECGs with paced rhythm and intraventricular blocks with QRS duration ≥120ms, the remaining ECGs were processed using the Glasgow algorithm allowing automatic ER detection. The association between ER-pattern on historical ECG and VF during the first 48 hours of STEMI was tested using logistic regression.

Results

Historical ECGs were available for 1584 patients; 124 of them were excluded due to a paced rhythm or wide QRS, leaving 1460 patients available for analysis (age 68±12 years, 67% male). The time from historical ECG to STEMI was 16 (IQR 4–49) months. ER pattern was present on historical ECG in 272 of 1460 (18.6%) (ER+ group), among them in 90 (33%) – in inferior leads, in 116 (43%) – in lateral leads, in 66 (24%) – both in inferior and lateral leads.

ER+ patients were younger both at the time of historical ECG (64±13 vs 66±19; p=0.041) and at the time of STEMI (67±12 vs 68±12; p=0.033), and had lower heart rate on historical ECG (68±12 vs 73±15; p<0.001) than ER- patients. ER+ and ER- groups did not differ regarding clinical characteristics and conventional ECG measurements. The course of STEMI was complicated by VF in 106 patients (17 of them from ER+ group). The occurrence of VF during STEMI was not associated with ER-pattern on historical ECG (OR 0.875 95% CI 0.518–1.479; p=0.618). There was no association of ER pattern with VF before reperfusion (OR 0.54 95% CI 0.25–1.21; p=0.135) or reperfusion VF (OR 1.28 95% CI 0.55–3.01; p=0.569). No association was observed with regard to localization (inferior or lateral) of ER-pattern either.

Conclusion

In a non-selected population of STEMI patients the presence of ER-pattern on ECG recorded prior to the acute coronary event was not associated with VF during the first 48 hours of STEMI.

P5653Atrial fibrillation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and its association with left atrial volume index

Background

Recent studies in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) support atrial involvement in the disease progression and consider atrial fibrillation (AF) as one of the primary manifestations of ARVC. We aimed to assess clinical factors, components of 2010 Task Force criteria (TFC2010) and echocardiographic characteristics of atria associated with AF in the Scandinavian cohort of ARVC patients.

Methods

Study sample comprised of 106 definite ARVC patients by TFC2010 from three tertiary care centers participating in the Nordic ARVC Registry (33% females, median age at ARVC diagnosis 41 years [IQR 30–54 years]). No concomitant diseases were observed in 90 patients (85%) while 16 patients had one or more comorbidities: hypertension (n=6), diabetes mellitus (n=5), coronary artery disease (n=5) or congestive heart failure (n=9). AF was included in the registry protocol as a pre-specified clinical event and verified by processing of the electronic ECG databases which contains all ECG recordings from the involved hospitals catchment areas (earliest ECG from 1988). Left (LA) and right atrial (RA) dimensions were obtained by revisiting cardiac ultrasound examinations performed at the time of ARVC diagnosis. Association between AF and clinical characteristics was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender.

Results

AF was diagnosed in 29 patients (27%) at a median age of 53 (IQR 38–63) years, 7 females (24%). Median time from ARVC diagnosis to AF onset was 8 (IQR 2–12) years. AF was univariately associated with right ventricular structural abnormalities meeting the definition of major imaging criterion by 2010TFC, ventricular tachycardia (VT) with superior axis (major criterion) and LA volume index. Significantly associated variables were included in a multivariate model, in which LA volume index (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p=0.021) and superior axis VT (OR=7.45, 95% CI 1.82–30.55, p=0.005) remained independently associated with AF. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, LA volume index was significantly associated with AF (AUC=0.703, p=0.005) and with superior axis VT (AUC=0.703, p=0.021). AF was not associated with either RA volume index (univariate OR=1.03, 95% CI 0.99–1.06, p=0.203) or left ventricular ejection fraction (OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.92–1.03, p=0.299).

Conclusion

In patients with ARVC,AF is primarily associated with LA structural abnormalities without indication of RA involvement and is strongly associated with ventricular arrhythmias thus indicating parallel development of atrial and ventricular arrhythmic substrate.

P2247Pregnancies and childbirth in women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy are associated with low risk of ventricular arrhythmias

Background

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is associated with a risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Even though female patients with ARVC are considered to be at lower risk of VA, the impact of pregnancy and child birth on the arrhythmic risk and development of arrhythmic substrate in the context of ARVC remains insufficiently studied.

Objective

To assess the risk of VA in relation to childbirth in women with ARVC and the impact of multiple pregnancies on progression of arrhythmic manifestations of the disease.

Methods

The study included 186 females with definite ARVC (n=107, 70 probands) or unaffected mutation-carriers (n=79) with median age at the end of follow up of 48 (IQR 34–60) years. Seventeen women had 1, 59 had 2 and 29 had ≥3 child births by the age of 40 years. VA was defined as ventricular tachycardia, appropriate ICD therapy, aborted cardiac arrest or SCD. Proportions of patients who experienced VA by the age of 40 years were compared between nulliparous women (n=81) and those with reported child births (n=105). VA-free survival after accomplished pregnancies was assessed for women ≥40 years of age (n=119). Cumulative probability of VA for each pregnancy (n=230) was assessed from conception through 2 years after child birth and compared between those that occurred before ARVC diagnosis (Pre-Ds, n=164), after it (Post-Ds, n=11) and in unaffected mutation carriers (No-Ds, n=55).

Results

The nulliparous women had lower age at ARVC diagnosis (37 vs 44, p=0.023) and more often had VA before the age of 40 (31% vs 13%, p=0.003) while the number of child births was not related to the prevalence of VA (18% among women with 1 childbirth, 12% in those with 2 and 14% in those with 3 or more, ns). Three women suffered SCD before the age of 40. VA-free survival after 40 years did not differ between nulliparous and those who gave birth (Figure A). Only four pregnancy-related events were documented (Figure B): 1 in the Post-Ds group and three in the Pre-Ds group. No pregnancy-related events were reported in the unaffected mutation carriers.

Conclusion

In this Scandinavian cohort of women with ARVC we observed no indication of an increased VA risk either associated with pregnancies or during long-term follow up after the last child birth.

3056Orthogonal P wave morphology, traditional P wave indices, and the risk of atrial fibrillation in the general population

Background

A substantial portion of the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unexplained by the established risk markers. However, accurate assessment of AF risk would be beneficial, especially among stroke patients and subjects with symptoms attributable to arrhythmia.

Purpose

To study the associations of P-wave indices with AF risk in the general population.

Methods

Electrocardiograms, including orthogonal leads, of 7217 Finnish subjects aged over 30 years who took part in the baseline examinations of the Mini-Finland Health Survey in 1978–80, were digitized. P-wave duration, third-degree interatrial block (IAB), and P terminal force (PTF) were assessed manually. PTF was considered abnormal when the amplitude of the negative terminal part of the P wave in lead V1 was ≥0.1mV and duration ≥40ms. Third-degree IAB was defined as P-wave duration ≥120ms and the presence of ≥2 +/− biphasic P-waves in the inferior leads. Orthogonal P-wave morphology, which is related to left atrial breakthrough site and affected by atrial fibrosis (1 being considered benign, 2 borderline, and 3 shown to be associated with adverse events), was assessed with an automated algorithm, and ascertained manually. Subjects were followed 10 years for AF hospitalization and mortality. The risk of AF associated with P wave parameters was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Model discrimination improvement was quantified by the change in C index, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI).

Results

There were 5489 subjects (47.8% male, mean age 50.5 years) with a readable ECG, sinus rhythm, no missing data, and a predefined orthogonal P-wave morphology. Type 3 orthogonal P morphology (n=216, multivariate adjusted HR [maHR] 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66–5.45, p<0.001), P-wave duration ≥120ms (n=752, maHR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.64, p=0.027), and third-degree IAB (n=103, maHR 3.18, 95% CI 1.66–6.13, p=0.001) were independently associated with the risk of AF in separate models. PTF did not independently predict AF. Subjects presenting with both Type 1 orthogonal P-wave morphology and P-wave duration <110ms (n=2074) were at low risk of AF (maHR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.83, p=0.006) when compared to the rest of the subjects. The inclusion of variables combining orthogonal P-wave morphology and P-wave duration to a multivariate model including conventional AF risk factors improved C index from 0.815 to 0.832 (change 0.017, 95% CI 0.001–0.033), IDI was 0.012 (95% CI 0.006–0.051), and cNRI was 0.220 (95% CI 0.048–0.357).

Conclusions

P-wave indices and orthogonal P-wave morphology can be used to identify subjects at high and low risk for AF and possibly direct extensive AF screening protocols towards high-risk subjects in the general population in order to decrease the risk of cardioembolic stroke. However, more research is needed in this topic.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Finnish Medical Foundation, Onni and Hilja Tuovinen's Foundation, Orion Research Foundation, Paavo Nurmi's Foundation, Veritas Foundation

Predictive capacity of prodromal symptoms in first-episode psychosis of recent onset

BACKGROUND

Both the nature and number of a wide range of prodromal symptoms have been related to the severity and type of psychopathology in the psychotic phase. However, at present there is an incomplete picture focused mainly on the positive pre-psychotic dimension.

AIM

To characterize the prodromal phase retrospectively, examining the number and nature of prodromal symptoms as well as their relationship with psychopathology at the onset of first-episode psychosis.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 79 patients experiencing a first-episode psychosis of less than 1 year from the onset of full-blown psychosis. All patients were evaluated with a comprehensive battery of instruments including socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, IRAOS interview, PANSS, stressful life events scale (PERI) and WAIS/WISC (vocabulary subtest). Bivariate associations and multiple regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Regression models revealed that several prodromal dimensions of IRAOS (delusions, affect, language, behaviour and non-hallucinatory disturbances of perception) predicted the onset of psychosis, with positive (22.4% of the variance) and disorganized (25.6% of the variance) dimensions being the most widely explained.

CONCLUSION

In addition to attenuated positive symptoms, other symptoms such as affective, behavioural and language disturbances should also be considered in the definitions criteria of at-high-risk people.

Regulation of position effect variegation at pericentric heterochromatin by Drosophila Keap1-Nrf2 xenobiotic response factors

The Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway plays a central role in the regulation of transcriptional responses to oxidative species and xenobiotic stimuli. The complete range of molecular mechanisms and biological functions of Keap1 and Nrf2 remain to be fully elucidated. To determine the potential roles of Keap1 and Nrf2 in chromatin architecture, we examined the effects of their Drosophila homologs (dKeap1 and CncC) on position effect variegation (PEV), which is a transcriptional reporter for heterochromatin formation and spreading. Loss of function mutations in cncC, dKeap1, and cncC/dKeap1 double mutants all suppressed the variegation of w^m4 and Sb^V PEV alleles, indicating that reduction of CncC or dKeap1 causes a decrease of heterochromatic silencing at pericentric region. Depletion of CncC or dKeap1 in embryos reduced the level of the H3K9me2 heterochromatin marker, but had no effect on the transcription of the genes encoding Su(var)3-9 and HP1. These results support a potential role of dKeap1 and CncC in the establishment and/or maintenance of pericentric heterochromatin. Our study provides preliminary evidence for a novel epigenetic function of Keap1-Nrf2 oxidative/xenobiotic response factors in chromatin remodeling.

Interatrial block in prediction of all-cause mortality after first-ever ischemic stroke

Background

Interatrial block (IAB) is an ECG indicator of atrial fibrosis related to atrial remodeling and thrombus formation thus leading to embolic stroke and increasing mortality. We aimed to assess weather IAB predicted all-cause mortality during 10 years after ischemic stroke.

Methods

The study sample comprised 235 patients (median age 74 (interquartile range 25–75% 65–81) years, 95 female) included in the Lund Stroke Register in 2001–2002, who had sinus rhythm ECGs at stroke admission. IAB was defined as a P-wave duration ≥120 ms without = partial IAB (n = 56) or with = advanced IAB (n = 41) biphasic morphology (±) in the inferior ECG leads. All-cause mortality was assessed via linkage with the Swedish Causes of Death Register.

Results

During follow-up 126 patients died (54%). Advanced IAB, but not partial, was associated with all-cause mortality in univariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio (HR) 1.98, 95% CI 1.27–3.09, p = 0.003). After adjustment for age, gender, severity of stroke measured by NIHSS scale and smoking status in patients without additional comorbidities advanced IAB independently predicted all-cause mortality (HR 7.89, 95% CI 2.01–30.98, p = 0.003), while in patients with comorbidities it did not (HR 1.01 95% CI 0.59–1.72, p = 0.966).

Conclusion

Advanced IAB predicted all-cause mortality after ischemic stroke, but mostly in patients without additional cardiovascular comorbidities.

Exploratory Analysis of Single-Gene Predictive Biomarkers in HERA DASL Cohort Reveals That C8A mRNA Expression Is Prognostic of Outcome and Predictive of Benefit of Trastuzumab

Purpose

The Herceptin Adjuvant study is an international multicenter randomized trial that compared 1 or 2 years of trastuzumab given every 3 weeks with observation in women with human epidermal growth factor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer after chemotherapy. Identification of biomarkers predictive of a benefit from trastuzumab will minimize overtreatment and lower health care costs.

Methods

To identify possible single-gene biomarkers, an exploratory analysis of 3,669 gene probes not expected to be expressed in normal breast tissue was conducted. Disease-free survival (DFS) was used as the end point in a Cox regression model, with the interaction term between C8A mRNA and treatment as a categorical variable split on the cohort mean.

Results

A significant interaction between C8A mRNA and treatment was detected (P < .001), indicating a predictive response to trastuzumab treatment. For the C8A-low subgroup (mRNA expression lower than the cohort mean), no significant treatment benefit was observed (P = .73). In the C8A-high subgroup, patients receiving trastuzumab experienced a lower hazard of a DFS event by approximately 75% compared with those in the observation arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.25; P < .001). A significant prognostic effect of C8A mRNA also was seen (P < .001) in the observation arm, where the C8A-high group hazard of a DFS event was three times the respective hazard of the C8A-low group (HR, 3.27; P < .001). C8A mRNA is highly prognostic in the Hungarian Academy of Science HER2+ gastric cancer cohort (HR, 1.72; P < .001).

Conclusion

C8A as a single-gene biomarker prognostic of DFS and predictive of a benefit from trastuzumab has the potential to improve the standard of care in HER2+ breast cancer if validated by additional studies. Understanding the advantage of overexpression of C8A related to the innate immune response can give insight into the mechanisms that drive cancer.

Abstract 1622: In vivo study of dasatinib in combination with veliparib plus carboplatin in triple-negative breast cancer xenograft models

Background: Recently, poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have shown potential to increase the sensitivity of platinum-based agents in tumor cells and provide therapeutic benefit for patients with advanced malignancies in BRCA or DNA repair pathway genes altered or WT condition (Basourakos et al., 2017; Gampenrieder et al., 2017). Src, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival and apoptotic ability of cancer cells (Tryfonopoulos et al., 2011; Pusztai et al., 2014). Dasatinib (D) is a short-acting dual ABL/SRC family tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which has displayed anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effectiveness against TNBC in both preclinical and clinical studies (Finn et al., 2011).

Our current study examines whether combinational inhibition of Src pathway (D) would exhibit greater antitumor activity of PARP inhibitor [veliparib (V)] plus carboplatin (C) in TNBC xenograft models with different genetic back grounds.

Methodology: a) We utilized MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and SUM149PT cells for in vivo study. b) TNBC cells were implanted subcutaneously into immune-compromised mice (NCr Nu/Nu, Taconic) to generate tumor xenografts. c) We evaluated the effects on tumor growth inhibition of D (12.5 mg/kg, i.p., Qd for 4 weeks) / V (25 mg/kg, oral, Bid for 5 days) / C (40mg/kg, i.v., once) as single agent or in combinations (Chan et al., 2012; De et al., 2014). d) For IHC studies, tumor tissue sections were stained with respective antibodies for proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis and apoptosis, including: phospho-Src, Ki-67, phospho-S6 RP, phospho-Akt, phospho-ERK, CD31, cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase3. e) Student's t test was used for data analyses.

Results: We observed that 1) MDA-MB-231(KRAS/BRAF mutated) xenograft model: D alone or combined with V or C or in triple combination inhibited tumor growth, the best tumor inhibition result was induced by triple combination (p &lt; 0.004); 2) MDA-MB-468 (PTEN null) xenograft model: D alone or combined with V or C or in triple combination significantly inhibited

tumor growth, the best tumor inhibition result was observed by triple combination (p &lt; 0.00006); 3) SUM149PT (BRCA1 mutated, PTEN null) xenograft model: D alone or combined with V or C or in triple combination inhibited tumor growth, and triple combination, as well as D plus C, showed greater (p &lt; 0.0025) than other combinations / single agents; 4) Single agent of D / V / C was well tolerated with less than 10% mean body weight loss compared with control groups in all models.

Conclusion: Our in vivo study suggests that D may enhance the antitumor activity of PARP inhibitor plus standard cytotoxic agent in TNBC xenograft tumors with different genetic backgrounds. Immunohistochemical studies of xenograft tumor samples are ongoing, the results of which will be presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Yuliang Sun, Xiaoqian Lin, Jennifer Carlson, Pradip De, Nandini Dey, Casey Williams, Brian Leyland-Jones. In vivo study of dasatinib in combination with veliparib plus carboplatin in triple-negative breast cancer xenograft models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1622.

Properties of Nuclei up to A=16 using Local Chiral Interactions

We report accurate quantum Monte Carlo calculations of nuclei up to A=16 based on local chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions up to next-to-next-to-leading order. We examine the theoretical uncertainties associated with the chiral expansion and the cutoff in the theory, as well as the associated operator choices in the three-nucleon interactions. While in light nuclei the cutoff variation and systematic uncertainties are rather small, in ^{16}O these can be significant for large coordinate-space cutoffs. Overall, we show that chiral interactions constructed to reproduce properties of very light systems and nucleon-nucleon scattering give an excellent description of binding energies, charge radii, and form factors for all these nuclei, including open-shell systems in A=6 and 12.

Ground-State Properties of Unitary Bosons: From Clusters to Matter

The properties of cold Bose gases at unitarity have been extensively investigated in the last few years both theoretically and experimentally. In this Letter we use a family of interactions tuned to two-body unitarity and very weak three-body binding to demonstrate the universal properties of both clusters and matter. We determine the universal properties of finite clusters up to 60 particles and, for the first time, explicitly demonstrate the saturation of energy and density with particle number and compare with bulk properties. At saturation in the bulk we determine the energy, density, two- and three-body contacts, and the condensate fraction. We find that uniform matter is more bound than three-body clusters by nearly 2 orders of magnitude, the two-body contact is very large in absolute terms, and yet the condensate fraction is also very large, greater than 90%. Equilibrium properties of these systems may be experimentally accessible through rapid quenching of weakly interacting boson superfluids.