Citations

Abstract Background: Self-efficacy theory proposes that confidence to engage in a health behavior is associated with engaging in that specific behavior. Most research examining self-efficacy has been conducted with white young adult populations. This secondary analysis examined the association of self-efficacy (i.e., confidence) for healthy eating and physical activity in two immigrant communities. Methods: At enrollment into the Healthy Immigrant Community study, a clinical weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction intervention set in southeastern [state], 475 participants completed assessments about their confidence for healthy eating and physical activity. Measurements also included self-reports of dietary quality and intake, physical activity, quality of life, and biometric assessments. Study materials were available in English, Spanish, and Somali. Results In total, 450 adults (Hispanic/Latinx = 267; Somali = 183) completed measures at baseline and were included for analysis. Their average age was 45 years (range 18–87) and 59% were female. Confidence for healthy eating was significantly associated with self-report of eating healthy snacks ( p = < 0.0001) and less consumption of high-calorie drinks ( p = 0.02) and regular soda ( p = < 0.0001). Confidence to be physically active was significantly associated with more self-reported physical activity ( p = < 0.01). Conclusions Confidence to eat healthy and be physically active appears to be associated with having a healthier diet and higher levels of physical activity. Given the large sample size and strength of the associations, it also appears that the theoretical model of self-efficacy can be effectively measured and applied within these immigrant populations. Self-efficacy theory may be useful in understanding potential mediating mechanisms when designing future interventions with immigrant communities. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05136339; April 23, 2022

745 Background: The combination of EV-P therapy has recently been approved as first-line (1L) therapy for patients with LA/mUC based on the results of the EV-302 trial. Herein, we report the updated results from a cohort of patients with LA/mUC who received EV-P in real world clinical setting. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with LA/mUC (07/2022-08/2024) at the Mayo Clinic who completed at least one cycle of EV-P. The best overall response (BOR) was evaluated using radiographic imaging and was adjudicated as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), mixed response (MR), or progressive disease (PD). The median progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from treatment initiation to disease progression or death, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Patients who had not experienced disease progression by their last follow-up were censored for the PFS analysis. Results: A total of 120 patients were included; 79 (65.8%) were males, 41 (34.1%) females, 109 (91%) White, and 119 (99%) were non-Hispanic/Latino. The median age was 72 years (IQR: 65-77). Of these, only 22 (18.3%) had locally advanced disease while the remaining had mUC; 62 (51.6%) had lower tract urothelial carcinoma (LUTC), 36 (30%) had upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The median follow-up time was 7.1 months (IQR: 4.93-9.26). In terms of BOR, 56 patients (46.6%) experienced PR, 34 (28.3%) CR, 12 (10%) PD, 7 (5.8%) MR, and 8 (6.6%) experienced SD. 3 (2.5%) patients were not evaluable. The BOR across subgroups, LA and mUC, including LUTC and UTUC, is summarized in the table. Among the responders, the median number of treatment cycles to first response was 3 (IQR: 2.25–4). Within the follow-up, 28 patients (23.3%) experienced eventual radiographic disease progression; death was observed in 25 patients (20.8%). The median PFS was 12.7 months (95% CI: 9.8-NE), and OS was 25.1 months (16.3-NE). Conclusions: In real world setting, the combination of EV-P in LA/mUC demonstrated clinical efficacy compatible with the findings from the EV-302 trial. Our results showed comparable efficacy with EV-P in both UTUC and LUTC, highlighting it's broad therapeutic potential. However, clinical data at longer follow-up is required to fully evaluate overall survival and the durability of response. mUC LA Overall LUTC UTUC Total patients 98 62 36 22 BOR CR 23 (23.4%) 13 (20.9%) 10 (28.5%) 11 (50%) PR 49 (52.6%) 31 (50%) 18 (50%) 7 (31.8%) SD 6 (6.4%) 2 (3.2%) 4 (11.4%) 2 (9.0%) PD 10 (10.7%) 9 (15.5%) 1 (2.8%) 2 (9.0%) MR 7 (7.5%) 5 (8.6%) 2 (5.7%) 0 (0%)

136 Background: The ECOG performance status (PS) is a critical measure for evaluating functional capacity and determining clinical trial eligibility in patients with advanced prostate cancer. We aim to assess the capability of large language models (LLMs) to accurately infer ECOG PS from unstructured oncology notes. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) receiving Lutetium-177–PSMA-617 ( 177 Lu) at the Mayo Clinic (2022-2023). Baseline ECOG PS scores were manually curated by a trained clinician from clinical notes recorded within four weeks prior to 177 Lu initiation. Structured zero-shot prompts were then used to prompt GPT-4 to infer ECOG PS scores from unstructured oncology notes. Total dataset was randomly sampled to prompt development (20%) and held-out test set (80%). Three experimental setups were employed to assess model performance: (i) utilizing unmasked clinical notes, (ii) clinical notes with only numerical ECOG PS scores masked while retaining narrative descriptive/assessment by oncologist of ECOG score, and (iii) clinical notes with both numerical scores and narrative ECOG descriptors masked. Final performance was assessed using evaluation metrics (precision, recall, F1 score) on the held-out test set. Results: A total of 240 patients (n: 50 prompt development; n: 190 test set) were included in the analysis. The median age was 70 (IQR: 66-76); a majority of patients were White (n: 229; 95%) and non-Hispanic (n: 233; 97%). The most prevalent ECOG PS score was 0 (n: 140; 58%), followed by 1 (n: 88; 37%), and 2 (n: 12; 5%). The performance was numerically higher when using unmasked notes (weighted average precision: 0.89; recall: 0.89; F1: 0.89), compared to using notes with masked scores only (weighted average precision: 0.76; recall: 0.79; F1: 0.75) and notes with both scores and narrative masked (weighted average precision: 0.57; recall: 0.53; F1: 0.48). Metrics by each ECOG PS score is outlined (Table). Conclusions: Large language models demonstrate significant potential in precisely extracting ECOG performance status from unstructured oncology notes, offering valuable support for treatment decision-making and clinical trial enrollment. However, model performance declines as reliance on implicit reporting within clinical notes increases. Future efforts focusing on prediction of ECOG using a series of notes over time will be the next step. ECOG Unmasked oncology notes ECOG Score masked only ECOG Score + ECOG narrative marked Precision Recall F1 Score Precision Recall F1 Score Precision Recall F1 Score 0 0.89 0.92 0.91 0.75 0.93 0.83 0.59 0.74 0.66 1 0.88 0.86 0.87 0.76 0.74 0.75 0.19 0.47 0.27 2 1.00 0.82 0.90 0.78 0.33 0.47 0.78 0.16 0.26

Background and Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy arising from the biliary epithelium with limited therapeutic options and poor long-term survival rates. To address the limitations of CCA treatment, we investigated cell-targeted nanovesicles as a delivery platform for transcriptome-targeting therapeutics. Approach and Results: Milk-derived nanovesicles were loaded with short interfering RNAs targeting Yes-associated protein (YAP), the downstream effector of the Hippo pathway; LCK, an upstream regulator of YAP; and tafazzin, a protein critical for the integrity of the inner mitochondrial membrane. These transcriptome-targeting nanovesicles were decorated with a lipid-coupled RNA aptamer to epithelial cell adhesion molecule, including a tracking fluorophore. In vitro studies were conducted using multiple CCA cell lines. In vivo studies were performed using C57BL/6 and non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice to evaluate delivery and efficacy in both an immunocompetent syngeneic murine and a patient-derived xenograft model. We demonstrated that transcriptome-targeting nanovesicles were selectively taken up by liver tumor cells, which was augmented by the incorporation of a targeting aptamer, and that milk-derived nanovesicles loaded with short interfering RNA effectively downregulated target gene expression, both in vitro and in vivo. Downstream effects of target gene inhibition were observed, including downregulation of YAP-TEAD target genes and an increase in reactive oxygen species production at the mitochondrial level. Administration of transcriptome-targeting nanovesicles targeting YAP, LCK, and tafazzin inhibited CCA growth and further synergized with chemotherapy in 2 preclinical CCA models. Conclusions: Herein, we show that aptamer-directed, nanovesicle-mediated targeting of YAP, LCK, and tafazzin potentiates chemosensitivity in 2 CCA models when delivered using aptamer-guided milk-derived nanovesicles.

AbstractIntroductionClinicopathological correlations differ by sex in Lewy body dementia (LBD). However, previous studies have focused on pathological staging systems that place less emphasis on regional pathologies.MethodsWe included 357 people (131 female, 226 male) with a high likelihood of LBD based on pathology from the Brain Bank for Neurodegenerative (Jacksonville, FL). Sex differences for regional Lewy body, senile plaque, and neurofibrillary tangle counts and their associations with clinical LBD diagnosis were assessed.ResultsFemales were less likely to have a clinical LBD diagnosis; they had more Lewy bodies, neurofibrillary tangles, and senile plaques in various regions than males (all p’s < 0.05). A higher likelihood of clinical LBD diagnosis was associated with more middle frontal, cingulate, and entorhinal Lewy body pathology, and more so for males than for females (all p’s < 0.045).DiscussionSex differences for clinicopathological correlations in LBD also occur at the regional pathology level. Females have a higher frequency of clinical misdiagnosis than males.Highlights Females have a higher risk of clinical underdiagnosis for Lewy body dementia (LBD) than males. Regional pathology counts differ by sex for people with a high likelihood of LBD. Regional pathology association with clinical LBD diagnosis differs by sex. Regional Lewy body counts have a stronger association with LBD phenotype for males.

Abstract The largest risk factor for dementia is age. Heterochronic blood exchange studies have uncovered age-related blood factors that demonstrate ‘pro-aging’ or ‘pro-youthful’ effects on the mouse brain. The clinical relevance and combined effects of these factors for humans is unclear. We examined five previously identified brain rejuvenation factors in cerebrospinal fluid of adults with autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Our frontotemporal dementia cohort included 100 observationally followed adults carrying autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementia mutations (Mage = 49.6; 50% female; 43% C9orf72, 24% GRN, 33% MAPT) and 62 non-carriers (Mage = 52.6; 45% female) with cerebrospinal fluid analysed on Somascan, and longitudinal (Mvisits = 3 years, range 1–7 years) neuropsychological and functional assessments and plasma neurofilament light chain. Our Alzheimer’s disease cohort included 35 adults with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (Mage = 69.4; 60% female) and 56 controls (Mage = 68.8, 50% female) who completed the same cerebrospinal fluid and clinical outcome measures cross-sectionally. Levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 11, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, beta-2-micorglobulin, bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (aka Osteocalcin) and colony stimulating factor 2 in cerebrospinal fluid were linearly combined into a composite score, with higher values reflecting ‘pro-youthful’ levels. In genetic frontotemporal dementia, higher baseline cerebrospinal fluid rejuvenation proteins predicted slower decline across cognitive, functional, and neurofilament light chain trajectories; estimates were similar across genotypes. In transdiagnostic analyses, higher cerebrospinal fluid rejuvenation proteins associated with better functional, cognitive, and neurofilament light chain outcomes in adults with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Proteins with pre-clinical evidence for brain rejuvenation show translational clinical relevance in adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and warrant further investigation.

ABSTRACT Neurodegenerative pathologies including multiple sclerosis (MS) are consistently associated with energy deficit in the central nervous system (CNS). This might directly impact myelinating oligodendrocytes as these are particularly vulnerable to metabolic insults. Importantly, oligodendroglial dysfunction and myelin alterations occur in most, if not all neurodegenerative diseases, and are associated with axonal pathology/loss. Thus, elucidating metabolic mechanisms required for oligodendroglial myelin maintenance and axonal support might be crucial to identify therapeutic targets to achieve neuroprotection. While monocarboxylates are important energy fuels for the CNS, their role in myelinating oligodendrocyte function remains unclear. Here we show that, just like neurons, myelinating oligodendrocytes express high affinity monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2) both in mice and humans, which is downregulated in progressive MS. While deletion of MCT2 in mouse oligodendrocytes did not affect the survival of these cells, it resulted in downregulation of lipid synthesis-associated enzymes and failure of myelin maintenance. Moreover, axonal upregulation of lactate dehydrogenase A concomitant with axonal damage was observed but could be alleviated by ketogenic diet. We conclude that oligodendroglial MCT2 is required for myelin maintenance and axonal support, which becomes altered in progressive MS, but may be compensated for by specific metabolic therapies. Graphical abstract

AbstractBackgroundAs new anti‐amyloid immunotherapies emerge for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is clear that early diagnosis of AD pathology is crucial for treatment success. This can be challenging in atypical presentations of AD and, together with our reliance on CSF or PET scans, can, at times, lead to delayed diagnosis. Here, we further explore the possible role of plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (P‐tau217) for the detection of primary AD or AD co‐pathology when frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders are the main clinical presentation.MethodParticipants were recruited through ALLFTD, a North American multisite research consortium for the longitudinal assessment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. After excluding cases with known FTD‐causing mutations, 573 participants with sporadic disease, mild cognitive/behavioral impairment, or healthy familial controls evaluated between 2014 and 2023 were included in this analysis (45.8% female, median age 66 years). 39 of those cases underwent neuropathological evaluation. Plasma P‐tau217 was measured with the Eli Lilly electrochemiluminescence‐based assay. P‐tau217 concentrations were compared by phenotype, disease severity, genotype, and, when available, neuropathological diagnosis with non‐parametric tests. Its diagnostic performance was tested with ROC curves. Associations between plasma P‐tau217 concentrations and clinical scales of global cognition, memory, executive function, motor function, and social cognition with linear regressions and non‐parametric tests.ResultPlasma P‐tau217 concentrations were higher in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) and amnestic dementia (AmDem), compared to participants with normal cognition or other FTD phenotypes. P‐tau217 concentrations were higher in APOE e4 carriers, compared to non‐carriers, regardless of phenotype, but were not affected by disease severity. P‐tau217 concentrations showed associations with clinical measures of global cognition, memory, and executive function, but had no associations with measures of motor function or social cognition. Plasma P‐tau217 concentrations were elevated in high and intermediate ADNC scoring, or more advanced Braak stages, even when AD was not the primary pathology.ConclusionEven when FTD is suspected, high plasma p‐tau 217 concentrations are strongly associated with underlying AD as primary pathology or contributing co‐pathology. Plasma P‐tau217 could be a tool to support the development of disease‐modifying therapies for atypical Alzheimer’s disease presentations or for FTD cases with Alzheimer’s disease co‐pathology.

AbstractBackgroundThere is a strong link between tau and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), necessitating an understanding of tau spreading mechanisms. Prior research, predominantly in typical AD, suggested that tau propagates from epicenters (regions with earliest tau) to functionally connected regions. However, given the constrained spatial heterogeneity of tau in typical AD, validating this connectivity‐based tau spreading model in AD variants with distinct tau deposition patterns is crucial.MethodWe included 269 amyloid‐β‐positive (PET/CSF) individuals with clinically diagnosed atypical AD (113 posterior cortical atrophy, PCA‐AD; 83 logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, lvPPA‐AD; 33 behavioural variant AD, bvAD; 40 corticobasal syndrome, CBS‐AD) and 68 with typical AD from 12 international cohorts, who underwent tau‐PET (54% [18F]AV1451/[18F]flortaucipir/Tauvid, 27% [18F]MK6240, 19% [18F]PI2620). Using Gaussian mixture modeling including amyloid‐β‐negative controls, cross‐sectional tau‐PET standardized uptake value ratios within Schaefer‐200 atlas regions were transformed to tau positivity probabilities. Tau epicenters were defined as the 5% regions with highest tau positivity probabilities. For each variant, the association between functional connectivity‐based distance (using the 30% strongest positive region‐to‐region connections of a group‐average connectivity matrix from ADNI elderly controls) and tau‐PET covariance (group‐average correlation per region pair) was assessed through linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, site, and Euclidean distance. Regions were categorized based on functional proximity to the epicenter (quartiles 1‐4) and tau positivity probabilities were assessed accordingly.ResultTau positivity probabilities matched clinical variants, with a posterior pattern in PCA‐AD, left‐hemispheric dominant pattern in lvPPA‐AD, widespread pattern in bvAD, sensorimotor cortex involvement in CBS‐AD, and temporo‐parietal predominance in typical AD (Figure 1). In line with this, tau epicenters were highly heterogeneous across variants (Figure 1). In all variants, greater tau‐PET covariance was associated with shorter functional connectivity‐based distance (Figure 2). We observed that regions in closer functional proximity to the epicenter exhibited higher tau positivity probabilities than regions functionally further away (p<0.05, Figure 3).ConclusionThis multi‐center study shows that the brain’s functional architecture serves as a universal predictor of tau spreading in AD. Since tau is a key driver of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in AD, this finding holds potential for personalized medicine and defining participant‐specific endpoints in clinical trials.