Objective: This study seeks to investigate the impact of antithrombotics, including Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and Warfarin, on the severity of bleeding and outcomes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We hypothesize that patients with a history of antithrombotic use have a more severe injury from SAH. Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic Florida consecutively between July 2008 and July 2011 were studied retrospectively. Of this group, 77 patients had a known history of antithrombotic use while 151 did not. Both aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal cases were included in the study. Each patient’s Hunt and Hess Score, Fisher Grade, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were evaluated. Associations between history of antithrombotic use and severity of SAH were assessed using Spearman’s test of correlation and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: There was strong evidence of higher mRS grades in patients with a history of antithrombotic use compared to other patients (Median: 3 vs. 2, P=0.001). There was no significant difference between patients with and without a history of antithrombotic use regarding SAH Fisher grade (Median: 3 vs. 3, P=0.31) and Hunt and Hess score (Median: 2 vs. 2, P=0.93). The difference in GCS score was not statistically significant (Median: 14 vs. 15, P=0.20). Conclusion: This analysis found a significant effect of previous use of antithrombotics on overall outcome following SAH. Further analysis is needed to correlate the outcomes with specific medications and investigate the role of aggressive reversal of coagulopathy on overall outcomes.
Outcomes in accommodative esotropia with a high AC/A ratio
Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to report the outcomes of high AC/A ratio accommodative esotropia (AET) among children. Methods: The medical records of all children <19 years diagnosed with accommodative esotropia and a high AC/A ratio while residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 1975, through December 31, 2004, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 512 patients were diagnosed with AET during the 30-year study period, of which 395 (77.1%) had fully accommodative ET, 117 (22.8%) had partially accommodative ET and 106 (20.5%) had a high AC/A ratio. Of the 93 (87.7 %) high AC/A patients managed with bifocals, 50 (53.8 %) discontinued their use after a mean of 58.7 (range: 5.6–229) months. The Kaplan–Meier rate of discontinuing bifocals was 24.5% at 3 years, 36.4% at 5 years, and 61.4% at 10 years. Patients who discontinued bifocals were more likely to have had strabismus surgery (44% vs 18.6%, p = 0.009) than those who did not discontinue bifocals. The high AC/A patients managed with bifocals achieved similar stereoacuity outcomes to those who did not wear bifocals ( p = 0.65) and were no more likely to require surgery ( p = 0.13). Conclusion: Among this cohort of children with accommodative esotropia and a high AC/A ratio, bifocal use was discontinued in the majority of children within 10 years, and more commonly among those who underwent strabismus surgery. The use of bifocals was not associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing surgery or enhanced stereopsis compared to those who did not use them.
Mitophagy alterations in Alzheimer's disease are associated with granulovacuolar degeneration and early tau pathology
Abstract Introduction The cytoprotective PTEN‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1)‐parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PRKN) pathway selectively labels damaged mitochondria with phosphorylated ubiquitin (pS65‐Ub) for their autophagic removal (mitophagy). Because dysfunctions of mitochondria and degradation pathways are early features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), mitophagy impairments may contribute to the pathogenesis. Methods Morphology, levels, and distribution of the mitophagy tag pS65‐Ub were evaluated by biochemical analyses combined with tissue and single cell imaging in AD autopsy brain and in transgenic mouse models. Results Analyses revealed significant increases of pS65‐Ub levels in AD brain, which strongly correlated with granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD) and early phospho‐tau deposits, but were independent of amyloid beta pathology. Single cell analyses revealed predominant co‐localization of pS65‐Ub with mitochondria, GVD bodies, and/or lysosomes depending on the brain region analyzed. Discussion Our study highlights mitophagy alterations in AD that are associated with early tau pathology, and suggests that distinct mitochondrial, autophagic, and/or lysosomal failure may contribute to the selective vulnerability in disease.
Tau and apolipoprotein E modulate cerebrovascular tight junction integrity independent of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease
AbstractIntroductionCerebrovascular pathologies including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) dysregulation are prominent features in the majority of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases.MethodsWe performed neuropathologic and biochemical studies on a large, neuropathologically confirmed human AD cohort (N = 469). Amounts of endothelial tight junction proteins claudin‐5 (CLDN5) and occludin (OCLN), and major AD‐related molecules (amyloid beta [Aβ40], Aβ42, tau, p‐tau, and apolipoprotein E) in the temporal cortex were assessed by ELISA.ResultsHigher levels of soluble tau, insoluble p‐tau, and apolipoprotein E (apoE) were independently correlated with lower levels of endothelial tight junction proteins CLDN5 and OCLN in AD brains. Although high Aβ40 levels, APOE ε4, and male sex were predominantly associated with exacerbated CAA severity, those factors did not influence tight junction protein levels.DiscussionRefining the molecular mechanisms connecting tau, Aβ, and apoE with cerebrovascular pathologies is critical for greater understanding of AD pathogenesis and establishing effective therapeutic interventions for the disease.
Association of prior epidemiologic exposures with cytogenetic risk in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
7047 Background: In addition to secondary AML (sAML), important lifestyle and environmental exposures associated with increased risk of AML development have been identified in recent case-control studies including obesity (BMI>30kg/m2), smoking, regular acetaminophen use, and rural/farm habitat. The association of these exposures with AML cytogenetic risk groups is unknown. We therefore evaluated relevant exposures in a cohort of 301 AML patients with confirmed central cytogenetics analysis diagnosed and treated at Mayo Clinic FL and AZ since 1995. Methods: Documented patient exposures were extracted from central electronic medical records, including: prior chemotherapy/radiation or hematologic malignancy, occupation, select medications, “toxins” (esp. benzene) and solid organ transplantation (SOT). Standard cytogenetic risk categories (including intermediate abnormal) were applied. The association of epidemiologic exposures with cytogenetic risk was evaluated on multivariable analysis using logistic regression models. Results: sAML was significantly associated with cytogenetic risk groups, as was prior SOT, healthcare occupation, farm habitat and toxin exposures [see Odds Ratios (OR), Table). In contrast, prior radiation for epithelial malignancies, smoking and BMI were not independently associated with specific cytogenetic risk categories. Conclusions: Specific epidemiologic exposures are significantly associated with AML cytogenetic risk categories suggesting a unique clinical phenotype. This supports a link to leukemogenesis and requires validation in a controlled prospective therapeutic study. [Table: see text]
Association of
Tripartite Motif Containing 11
rs564309 With Tau Pathology in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Association of Clinical Epidemiologic Exposures and Overall Survival with Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiles in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Analysis of the Mayo Clinic AML Epidemiology Cohort
Abstract Background: We previously demonstrated that putative clinical epidemiologic exposures associated with leukemia risk are prevalent among AML patients, and some are associated with unique cytogenetic risk group and with clinical phenotype (Finn, Cancer Epidemiol, 2015). Herein, we studied genome-wide DNA methylation in a cohort of AML patients to evaluate the association of individual hyper- and hypo-methylated CpG sites with epidemiologic exposures and overall survival. Methods: The Mayo Clinic AML Epidemiology Cohort is a highly annotated retrospective case series of 295 consecutive patients (pts) with AML diagnosed and treated at Mayo Clinic Florida and Arizona, with central cytogenetics performed in all cases. The prevalence of clinical epidemiologic exposures, past medical and family history as well as medication use and lifestyle was systematically obtained. After IRB approval, we interrogated the cytogenetic database and successfully obtained leukemia DNA from available remnant diagnostic cytogenetic cell pellets in a cohort of 148 AML patients in the Mayo epidemiology case series and performed an assessment of genome-wide DNA methylation using the Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip. Samples were processed using the R Bioconductor package 'minfi' using Subset Within Array Quantile Normalization (PMID: 22703947). Individual CpGs that did not reach a detection p-value of <0.05 were filtered out. An internal control was included on each array to control for significant batch effects. To determine differential methylation status of 473,864 individual CpG sites (after exclusion of 11,648 that did not pass detection p-value QC), CpG sites with low interpatient variability, a standard deviation <0.05 of methylation values, and an interquartile range <0.05 of methylation values and X/Y chromosome probes were excluded from analysis. Epidemiologic and important clinical variables occurring in at least 10 pts or previously-identified as of unique interest but in fewer than 10 pts were evaluated, including sex, BMI, performance status and comorbidities, tobacco and alcohol use, family history of hematologic malignancy, medications of interest, history of toxin exposure, and history of immunosuppression and/or solid organ transplant or of secondary and therapy-related AML (t-AML). Associations of differential hypo or hypermethylation at 281,259 CpG sites with epidemiologic exposures/clinical variables were evaluated using Spearman's test of correlation (continuous or ordinal exposures), a Wilcoxon rank sum test (dichotomous exposures), or a Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test (multi-category exposures). A Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing, after which p <1.8 x 10-7 was considered as significant. To reduce the likelihood of false-negative findings, we additionally considered p <5 x 10-6 as indicating suggestive evidence of an association. CpG sites and associated gene and function was determined using Illumina manifest file & www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene. Results: Statistically significant associations (p <1.8 x 10-7) with individual epidemiologic and clinical exposures were identified for 109 unique CpG sites, corresponding to differential methylation in the genes listed in Table. Specifically, obesity (predominantly hypomethylation), specific cytogenetic lesions and risk group, and gender were highly significantly associated with unique CpG methylation status, but not smoking, toxin exposure, family history, comorbidity or performance status, secondary or t-AML, immunosuppression, medication use, of family history in the analysis. A further 353 unique CpG sites had defined suggestive associations (ongoing analysis). We also identified 8 additional CpG sites where differential methylation was associated with overall survival (p <5 x 10-6, Table). Conclusion: Obesity, cytogenetic lesions, and sex are associated with differential methylation of unique CpG sites at AML diagnosis, using stringent univariate statistical criteria. Significant CpG sites were identified in genes previously linked to AML biology and prognosis (DOCK6, HOXB3, MIR10A, FOXN3/CHES1, GPX1, MYST2/KAT7, PTPRD), but some represent novel findings in AML. These preliminary results suggest an association of some AML risk factors and clinical variables with unique gene methylation and will undergo validation in a prospective AML epidemiology dataset. Disclosures Cerhan: Jannsen: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Nanostring: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Foran:Agios: Research Funding; Xencor, Inc.: Research Funding.
Clinical Outcomes and Cost Analysis of Dose-Adjusted R-EPOCH Vs R-CHOP in Treatment of Diffuse Large B- Cell Lymphoma with High Risk Features
Abstract Background Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with high-risk features carries a poor prognosis despite treatment with immunochemotherapy regimen incorporating rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP). Hence, dose adjusted rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (DA.R-EPOCH), a higher intensity regimen, is suggested as an upfront treatment of high-risk DLBCL. In our study, we analyzed the outcomes in a prospectively followed cohort of patients with de novo high-risk DLBCL who received DA.R-EPOCH, and compared them to the patients who received R-CHOP. Furthermore, we conducted a cost analysis to determine which of the two treatments produces a larger financial burden. Method Patients diagnosed with DLBCL who received chemo-immunotherapy at our center between January 2011 to December 2016 were included in the analysis. High-risk DLBCL was defined by the presence of any of the following features at diagnosis: NCCN- IPI score ≥4, tumor measuring ≥5 cm, MYC ± BCL2 or BCL6 rearrangement by FISH or MYC overexpression (>40% by immunohistochemistry [IHC]), Ki-67 index ≥80% and non-GCB immunophenotype by Hans algorithm. Responses were evaluated at middle and end of chemotherapy. Overall (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated. For the cost analysis, standardized costs were obtained from Mayo Clinic Florida cost data warehouse based upon patient encounters and treatments. Report cost-to-charge ratios were multiplied by the charges for all hospital billed services, and all resulting costs were adjusted to 2016 dollars with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Implicit Price Deflator. Patients who did not receive their complete planned treatment at our facility were excluded from the cost analysis. Results Of 80 patients with high-risk DLBCL, 52 (65%) patients were treated with R-CHOP and 28 (35%) with DA.R-EPOCH. The median follow-up was 11.2 months (range: 0.7- 151.3 months). The planned treatment completion rate and complete remission rate at the end of treatment were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in OS and PFS among the patients treated with DA.R-EPOCH compared to R-CHOP. The hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was 0.79 (95% CI- 0.28-2.29, P=0.67) and OS was 0.86 (95% CI- 0.26-2.78, P=0.80) (Figure 1). In Cox-regression analysis, low baseline albumin, ECOG performance status ≥2, above-normal LDH, high NCCN- IPI and low cumulative chemotherapy doses were associated with poor OS and PFS. Overall incidence of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia, neuropathy, and unplanned hospitalizations were similar between the two treatment groups. Patients treated with DA.R-EPOCH required more red cell transfusions during the treatment (P=0.004). The total mean cost associated with DA.R-EPOCH and R-CHOP regimens was $106,940 ± $39,351 and $58,509 ± 24,588, respectively (P<0.001). The cost associated with hospital services, laboratory testing and evaluation and management were higher in DA.R-EPCOH group compared to R-CHOP group (P<0.001) (Table 2). Conclusion Our study showed that there was no significant difference in PFS and OS of patients with DLBCL with high-risk features when treated with R-CHOP compared to DA.R-EPOCH. DA.R-EPOCH was associated with higher red cell transfusion requirement and treatment related expenses. A prospective randomized comparison is warranted between these two regimens specifically for patients with high-risk DLBCL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Unique Clinical Epidemiologic Risk Factors Are Associated with Distinct Methylation Subgroups in Newly-Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Abstract Background: Large case-control studies have identified common epidemiologic exposures associated with risk of AML development, including obesity [BMI ≥30 kg/m2] associated with 2-fold increase risk. However it is not known whether individual risk factors are associated with unique AML genetic lesions. We have recently identified a significant association of some common exposures including obesity with unique disease cytogenetic subgroups in a cohort of n=295 consecutive AML patients diagnosed and treated at Mayo Clinic [Cancer Epidemiol 39:1084, 2015]. Aberrant DNA methylation is a hallmark of cancer and has been reported in AML, and we therefore performed an analysis of global DNA methylation in patients in this cohort to determine whether specific epidemiologic exposures are associated with a unique pattern of DNA methylation. Methods: Patients in the initial cohort were previously reported. An available baseline AML bone marrow cytogenetic pellet from diagnosis was identified for n=148 patients (50.2%). Following IRB approval and using previously reported techniques [Leukemia 24:1283, 2010], leukemia DNA was isolated from the remnant diagnostic cytogenetic samples and processed on the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array (Illumina). Individual CpG dinucleotides were assigned a Beta value (i.e. methylation value) ranging from 0 (unmethylated) to 1 (methylated). We excluded those with minor methylation changes (<0.2 between any two samples), resulting in 383,524 CpG's. For the purposes of this first analysis we have focused only on CpG's with an inter-quartile range (IQR, i.e. difference between 75th and 25th percentiles) of greater than 0.25, comprising a total of 39,657 CpG's. An unsupervised cluster analysis of differential methylation was generated ("Heatmap", Figure). Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed adjusting for age as a continuous variable to determine the association of individual exposures with unique methylation clusters (primary endpoint), and we also evaluated the association of clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes after therapy (secondary endpoint). The median age of patients was 69 yrs (range 19-89), male 65%, and Caucasian 89%. The median BMI was 27.2 (range 16.9-59.9), and n=47 patients (32%) had BMI ≥30. Standard cytogenetic risk groups were applied [favorable (n=8), normal (n=61), intermediate abnormal (n=32) and poor (n=47)]. Results: We identified 4 distinct methylation clusters (Figure: Cluster #1, Black horizontal bar; Cluster #2, Green; Cluster #3, Blue; and Cluster #4, Red). Multivariate analysis of select variables is shown in Table. Patients in cluster #1 were significantly more likely to have a BMI ≥30 [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.49, p=0.017] and more likely to have favorable risk cytogenetics although this was not statistically significant [OR 6.71, p=0.088], while those in cluster #2 were significantly more likely to be have a history of regular NSAID use [OR 3.26, p=0.03] and less likely to have normal [OR 0.40, p=0.044] and possibly intermediate abnormal cytogenetics [OR 0.34, p=0.051]. Those in cluster #3 were significantly younger [median age 48 yrs, p<0.001] and were also more likely to have prior history MDS although this was not statistically significant [OR 3.7, p=0.082]. Cluster #4 was not correlated with any distinct exposure apart from possible decreased alcohol use [OR 0.3, p=0.079]. History of past or current tobacco use, regular acetaminophen use, documented myelotoxin exposure, family history, and secondary AML did not correlate with a unique methylation cluster. There was no independent association of methylation cluster with overall survival (p=0.46), although among patients receiving intensive therapy cluster #2 was associated with lower complete remission rate [OR 0.28 (95% CI 0.09-0.86), p=0.026]. Conclusion: This first analysis of AML molecular epidemiology and clinical outcome suggests that specific disease risk factors (esp. obesity and age) are associated with unique leukemia DNA methylation clusters. In addition, aberrant methylation is associated with some clinical features and with outcome after therapy, suggesting that epidemiologic risk factors may have a prognostic impact. This provides novel insight into leukemogenesis, and will guide prospective studies of AML epidemiology and outcome. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Foran: medscape: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; novartis: Honoraria; karyopharm: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; agios: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding.