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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been linked to elevated inflammatory biomarkers, yet few studies have evaluated these associations using iothalamate-based measures of kidney function, highlighting the need for further research. Research question: Is CKD associated with elevated inflammatory markers when defined by measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)? Methods: Participants from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) cohort were included if they had data available for at least one inflammatory marker at visit 2. 17 inflammatory markers were assessed, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-18, tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (TNFR1, TNFR2), serum amyloid A, intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM), E-selectin, P-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1, TIMP-2). Kindey function was assessed using the urinary clearance of iothalamate. CKD was defined as mGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 or UACR ≥ 30 mg/g. To further assess whether associations persisted without albuminuria, we also defined CKD solely by mGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess associations between CKD status and inflammatory markers, accounting for familial clustering. Exponentiated beta coefficients from GEE models were used to present geometric mean (GM) ratios of each biomarker by CKD status, adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, cardiovascular risk factors, and medication use. Results: Among 1,010 participants (mean age 61 ± 10 years; 67% women; 48% Black adults), 207 were classified as having CKD. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with CKD had significantly higher levels of hsCRP, VCAM, TNFR1, and TNFR2 compared to those without CKD (GM ratios > 1; p < 0.05), while the remaining inflammatory markers showed no significant differences ( Figure 1 ). Importantly, these elevations remained significant when CKD was defined by mGFR alone ( Figure 2 ). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CKD, defined by mGFR, is associated with specific inflammatory biomarkers, underscoring the need for mechanistic studies to investigate these associations.

Background: Hypertension and systemic inflammation are independently associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. While hypertension is a known risk factor for left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, the role of inflammation in LV structural changes remains unclear. It is also uncertain whether concomitant inflammation and hypertension ("inflammatory hypertension") exacerbate LV hypertrophy. Research Question: Is inflammatory hypertension associated with increased LV mass index (LVMI) compared to hypertension without inflammation? Methods: We analyzed baseline data from Black adults enrolled in the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) cohort in Jackson, Mississippi. Inflammation was defined by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) >3 mg/L, and hypertension as systolic blood pressure (SBP) >130 mmHg. Participants were classified into four groups: noninflammatory-normotensive (reference group), noninflammatory-hypertensive, inflammatory-normotensive, and inflammatory-hypertensive. The primary outcome was LVMI, assessed by echocardiography. Associations between groups and LVMI were evaluated using generalized estimating equations to account for familial clustering and adjusted for covariates including age, sex, education, smoking status, body mass index, number of antihypertensive medications, statin use, cholesterol, and diabetes. Results: Among 1,027 participants (mean age 64 ± 8.5 years; 71% women), baseline LVMI differed by inflammation-hypertension status. Compared with the LVMI in noninflammatory-normotensive cohort (n=108; 74.5 g/m 2 [70.4–78.6]), significantly higher LVMI was observed in noninflammatory-hypertensive (n=343; 83.6 g/m 2 [81.3–85.9], p<0.001) and inflammatory-hypertensive groups (n=497; 84.7 g/m 2 [82.8–86.7], p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between inflammatory-hypertensive and noninflammatory-hypertensive groups (84.7 vs 83.6 g/m 2 )(p=0.460). The inflammatory-normotensive cohort also did not differ from the reference group (74.9 g/m 2 [70.2–79.5], p=0.901). Secondary analyses using elevated IL-6 to define inflammation yielded similar findings ( Figure 1 ). Conclusion: In individuals with inflammatory hypertension, hypertension appears to be the primary driver of LV hypertrophy. Further studies in larger, diverse populations are needed to definitively evaluate the potential additive effect of inflammatory hypertension on LV remodeling.

Background: The progression of CHF after MI has been traditionally evaluated by serial changes in EF. However, mechanical parameters can provide a greater insight into cardiac function. Wall strain measures myocardial deformation, and reflects contractile function as a percentage change in length. Wall stress represents the force per unit area on the myocardium, as an evaluation of LV afterload. The relationship between wall stress and wall strain is termed Young’s modulus, and it represents cardiac elasticity. This study leverages in-vivo Young’s modulus analysis derived from cardiac MRI, which has the potential to quantify the extent of myocardial remodeling, and aid in early detection of heart failure progression. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that Young’s modulus offers a more detailed assessment of regional wall motion abnormality than conventional imaging measures alone. Methods: Male Yucatan mini-swine underwent 90-minute balloon occlusion-reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery to induce MI (N=13). Cardiac MRIs were obtained at baseline and 1-month post-MI. Cardiac wall stress and wall strain were calculated separately in the anteroseptal (infarcted) and inferolateral (non-infarcted) regions, and in the longitudinal and circumferential fiber orientations. These measurements were correlated to determine the Young’s modulus of the LV. Results: Anteroseptal and inferolateral longitudinal Young’s modulus increased from 28.01±8.14 to 67.14±15.08 kPa (p < 0.05) from 13.88±1.92 to 38.80±7.29 kPa (p < 0.001), respectively. Anteroseptal and inferolateral circumferential Young’s modulus increased from 34.61±10.33 to 119.17±30.94 kPa (p < 0.05) and from 16.77±1.32 to 58.76±18.98 kPa (p < 0.001), respectively. The regional changes were accompanied by a decrease in EF from 60.6±1.5 to 50.9±3.3% (p < 0.01). Discussion: Our findings show that Young’s modulus is a valuable parameter in quantifying regional changes that occur with LV systolic dysfunction after ischemic insult; specifically that regional abnormalities occur in the non-infarcted area as well as the infarcted area––a change that would not be picked up by global LV EF. Thus, quantifying regional and directional cardiac elasticity non-invasively is a novel parameter that warrants further study. Prior research has explored the in-vitro characteristics of cardiac elasticity, but there is limited research that details the in-vivo changes within any disease affecting myocardial fiber contractility.

Background Outcome selection in regional anesthesia and acute pain research is inconsistent, often lacking patient-centered priorities and validated instruments. We aimed to prioritize key outcomes and propose suitable measurement tools to improve the quality, consistency, and relevance of regional anesthesia research. Methods We conducted a multiround Delphi process, including two electronic voting rounds, a multiday in-person meeting, and a patient panel. Experts and patients evaluated existing and proposed outcomes for importance, validity, and relevance. Outcomes reaching ≥70% agreement were prioritized, and appropriate measurement instruments were identified. Results Thirty-two experts and three patients participated. Across three Delphi rounds, 10 outcomes were prioritized for future regional anesthesia research: seven efficacy outcomes (pain scores; opioid consumption; Brief Pain Inventory; functional outcomes; cognitive function; length of stay; block duration); two multidimensional outcomes (quality of recovery and development of a regional anesthesia-specific quality-of-recovery instrument); one safety outcome (chronic postsurgical pain). Patients prioritized cognitive recovery, function, chronic pain, and pain scores. Conclusions This consensus-based, patient-centered framework defines the core priorities for future regional anesthesia and acute pain research. Future work should focus on developing and validating a regional anesthesia-specific quality-of-recovery instrument, refining multidimensional measures such as functional recovery, cognitive outcomes, and the Brief Pain Inventory, and standardizing the reporting of chronic pain and opioid-related outcomes. Adoption of these priorities will enhance methodological consistency, comparability, and patient relevance in future clinical trials.

Abstract Disclosure: R.J. Auchus: Has been involved in contracted research with companies such as Neurocrine Biosciences/Neurocrine UK, LTD, Spruce Biosciences, Corcept Therapeutics, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases, Adrenas Therapeutics, and Mineralys Pharmaceuticals, Served as consultant for organizations like Quest Diagnostics, Corcept Therapeutics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Neurocrine Biosciences/Neurocrine UK, LTD, Recordati Rare Diseases, H Lundbeck A/S, Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, and Acerand Therapeutics. O. Hamidi: Advisory board member for Neurocrine Biosciences, Corcept Therapeutics, Recordati Rare Diseases, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Camurus, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Educational speaking engagement with Recordati Rare Diseases. I. Bancos: None. K. Saag: Recieved grants or contracts from Amgen, Arthrosi, Horizon, LG Pharma, Radius, and Olatec, Received consulting fees from Amgen, Anthrosi, Atom Bioscience, Horizon, LG Pharma, Angitia, and Gruenthal. H. Falhammar: None. U. Srirangalingam: Consulting fees from Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Diurnal Ltd and H Lundbeck A/S. M. Calanchini: None. E. Jen: Full-time employee of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. V.H. Lin: Full-time employee of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. J. Sturgeon: Full-time employee of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. J.L. Chan: Full-time employee of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Background: Crinecerfont, a corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1) antagonist, is a first-in-class medication that is FDA-approved for adjunctive treatment to glucocorticoid (GC) replacement to control androgens in patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In the Phase 3 CAHtalyst™ Adult study (NCT04490915), crinecerfont (100 mg BID) significantly reduced adrenal androgens, enabling substantial GC dose reductions from Day 1 baseline (BL) at the end of double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) treatment at Week 24, with a least-squares (LS) mean percent change of -27.3% vs. -10.3% for placebo (LS mean difference [LSMD] -17.0%, P&lt;0.0001). At the end of open-label (OL) treatment at Month 12, mean percent decreases from BL in GC dose were -24.6% in participants who continued on crinecerfont (CFT/CFT) and -29.7% in those who switched from placebo (PBO/CFT). Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes in adults with CAH who received up to 1 year of crinecerfont, in the context of substantial GC dose reductions. Methods: Outcomes related to excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/androgens (e.g., hirsutism in female participants) and GC exposure (e.g., body mass index [BMI], insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia) were analyzed at the end of DBPC treatment (Week 24) and the end of OL treatment (Month 12). DBPC outcomes with P-values are presented as LS mean changes with LSMD. Results: In female participants, mean hirsutism visual analog scale scores (out of 0 [no symptoms] to 100 [very severe symptoms]) were 40.6 (crinecerfont) and 37.4 (placebo) at BL. Changes from BL at end of DBPC (Week 24) and OL (Month 12) were: Week 24 (-9.8 for crinecerfont [n=58] vs -2.8 placebo [n=27], LSMD -7.0, P=0.1564); Month 12 (-11.5 CFT/CFT [n=56], -12.9 PBO/CFT [n=27]). Mean BMI at BL was 30.1 kg/m2 (crinecerfont) and 29.0 kg/m2 (placebo). Changes from BL were: at Week 24 (-0.4 vs. -0.02 for crinecerfont [n=118] vs. placebo [n=57], LSMD -0.40, P=0.1068); at Month 12 (-0.8 CFT/CFT [n=114], -0.4 PBO/CFT [n=56]). Mean homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values were high at BL (crinecerfont 3.2, placebo 3.0). Changes from BL were: at Week 24 (-0.6 vs. -0.4 for crinecerfont [n=61] vs placebo [n=29], LSMD -0.29, P=0.3454); at Month 12 (-0.5 CFT/CFT [n=107], -0.9 PBO/CFT [n=54]). Mean values for cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides were within normal range or near optimal at BL and remained stable. Conclusion: Adults with CAH who received up to 1 year of crinecerfont continued to show improvements in BMI and insulin resistance, as expected with lower GC doses. Moreover, despite substantial GC dose reductions, hirsutism in female participants improved with crinecerfont. Given the known adverse effects of ACTH/androgen excess and chronic supraphysiologic GC exposure, these results represent a promising therapeutic advancement in CAH. Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025

Background Challenges in predicting which neoantigens mediate tumor rejection limit the efficacy of neoantigen vaccines to treat cancers, especially for cancers with a high mutational burden like cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Only a small portion of neoantigens prioritized by current methods elicit effective T cell responses, demonstrating the critical need for improved criteria for the prediction of tumor-rejecting neoantigens. Methods Publicly available human cSCC datasets were used to assess the frequency of shared mutations between patients. A transplantable ultraviolet light-induced mouse model of cSCC was generated. The mutational signature and driver mutations in the mouse model were compared with human tumors. Neoantigens were prioritized in the mouse model, and tumor-rejecting neoantigens were identified through (enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and in vivo prophylactic vaccination. Binding of the neoantigens and corresponding wild-type peptides to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I was determined. Structural modeling of peptide:MHC complexes was performed to assess for changes in structural characteristics of the neoantigens relative to the wild-type peptides. Results A minority of human cSCC tumors shared neoantigens. The mouse cSCC model recapitulated the mutational signature and driver mutations found in human disease and was constrained by CD8 T cells. Two MHC class I neoantigens were identified in the mouse model that constrained cSCC growth. One tumor-rejecting neoantigen exhibited improved MHC binding, and the other had increased solvent accessibility of the mutated residue, compared with wild-type. Across known neoantigens that do not impact MHC binding, increased exposure of the mutated residue distinguished tumor-rejecting from non-immunogenic neoantigens. Conclusions Given the paucity of shared mutations, this work supports the need for personalized neoantigen vaccines in cSCC. To facilitate further discovery, we provide a clinically relevant mouse cSCC model with two defined neoantigens that mediate tumor rejection. Structural changes in the exposure of features that promote T cell receptor recognition defined tumor-rejecting neoantigens. Incorporation of structural modeling to predict changes in T cell receptor accessibility is anticipated to improve the selection of neoantigens for inclusion in personalized cancer vaccines.

Background: Health disparities between racial groups continue to exist. There is a paucity of data regarding presentation severity for acute diverticulitis (AD) and surgery need by race. This study’s aim was to evaluate outcomes of AD in United States racial groups. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using the 2016–2019 National Inpatient Sample of adult patients discharged for AD. Patients were classified into six racial and ethnic groups: Caucasian, African American (AA), Hispanic, Asian, Native American (NA), and other. Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics was performed for primary and secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 647,119 admissions with acute diverticulitis (AD) were identified. Most patients were Caucasian (about three-quarters), followed by Hispanics (11%), AA (9%), Asians (1%), Native Americans (<1%), and other (2%). Minority groups were generally younger than Caucasians and less likely to undergo colonoscopy or surgical procedures such as partial or total colectomy. In the multivariable analysis, both Hispanics and AA were less likely to present with complicated diverticulitis. Despite this, their hospitalizations were associated with higher overall charges and costs. No significant differences were found across groups in terms of inpatient mortality or the need for percutaneous abscess drainage. Conclusions: Hispanic and AA have higher healthcare- related charges and costs compared to Caucasians when admitted with AD. Further studies are needed to understand the healthcare-related spending variations seen in these groups despite them often having less complicated AD.

Abstract Transcription factors and their cofactors are major and selective nononcogene dependencies in multiple myeloma cells. By performing a gain-of-function perturbation screen in human multiple myeloma cell lines, we identified the inhibitor of DNA binding (ID) genes as putative suppressors of multiple myeloma cell fitness. Among them, ID2 was found to be downregulated in multiple myeloma patient cells and acted as a tumor suppressor by directly binding and repressing the basic helix-loop-helix factor TCF3, also known as E2A. Lower ID2 expression in multiple myeloma cells conferred a proliferative advantage by increasing TCF3 activity, leading to a dependency on this transcription factor. In contrast, ID2 overexpression reduced TCF3 binding to DNA, which resulted in cell-cycle arrest and a halt in multiple myeloma cell proliferation. The myeloma bone marrow milieu supported this process by further decreasing the expression of ID2 and enhancing TCF3 activity, partly via IL6, revealing a mechanism by which the tumor microenvironment affects multiple myeloma cell behavior. Significance: Multiple myeloma cells exploit the oncogenic and proliferative potential of TCF3 by downregulating the transcriptional regulator ID2, a process facilitated by the bone marrow microenvironment.

Background and Objectives. Preoperative time spent with patients has been abbreviated with the advent of same-day admission requirements and outpatient surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects that materials mailed to the home relating to anesthetic-focused patient education may have on preoperative patient anxiety. Methods. Patients scheduled for a total hip arthroplasty or for a total knee arthroplasty were screened via telephone for inclusion in a prospective, randomized study. Patients were asked about their access to a video cassette recorder/player (VCR) and their limitations regarding hearing or vision. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the intervention group and received two pamphlets and a video describing general and regional anesthesia or to the usual care group. All subjects were mailed a preoperative demographic questionnaire and a State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), as developed by CD Spielberger (1). Questionnaires were completed at least 96 hours prior to admission and again preoperative on the day of surgery. Results. Of 236 patients screened, 26 had no access to a VCR, 6 were hearing or visually impaired, and 4 declined participation. Of 200 subjects randomized, 134 completed both sets of questionnaires and thus form the basis of this report. A statistically significant difference between the subjects who received the video and pamphlets and the usual care subjects was detected with respect to change in STAI-assessed anxiety from baseline to immediately prior to surgery (P = .035). The intervention subjects experienced a smaller mean increase in anxiety. Forty-nine percent of the usual care subjects expressed interest in having additional information. Conclusions. Increase in preoperative anxiety is diminished when additional anesthesia information in printed and video format is made available. Useful information can be provided to patients to view or read prior to surgery.