Citations

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with cognitive decline, but their importance outside of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and the mechanisms of their impact on cognition are poorly understood. We evaluated the cross-sectional association between CMB patterns and cerebral Aβ (amyloid-β) deposition, by florbetapir positron emission tomography. METHODS: The longitudinal ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) recruited individuals from 4 US communities from 1987 to 1989. From 2012 to 2014, the ARIC-PET (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities - Positron Emission Tomography) ancillary recruited 322 nondemented ARIC participants who completed 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging with T2*GRE as part of ARIC visit 5 to undergo florbetapir positron emission tomography imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging images were read for CMBs and superficial siderosis; on positron emission tomography, global cortical standardized uptake value ratio >1.2 was considered a positive Aβ scan. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated CMB characteristics in association with Aβ positivity. Effect modification by sex, race, APOE status, and cognition was evaluated. RESULTS: CMBs were present in 24% of ARIC-PET participants. No significant associations were found between CMBs and Aβ positivity, but a pattern of isolated lobar CMBs or superficial siderosis was associated with over 4-fold higher odds of elevated Aβ when compared with those with no CMBs (odds ratio, 4.72 [95% CI, 1.16–19.16]). A similar elevated risk was not observed in those with isolated subcortical or mixed subcortical and either lobar CMBs or superficial siderosis. Although no significant interactions were found, effect estimates for elevated Aβ were nonsignificantly lower ( P >0.10, odds ratio, 0.4–0.6) for a mixed CMB pattern, and odds ratios were nonsignificantly higher for lobar-only CMBs for 4 subgroups: women (versus men); Black participants (versus White participants), APOE ε4 noncarriers (versus carriers), and cognitively normal (versus mild cognitive impairment). CONCLUSIONS: In this community-based cohort of nondemented adults, lobar-only pattern of CMBs or superficial siderosis is most strongly associated with brain Aβ, with no elevated risk for a mixed CMB pattern. Further studies are needed to understand differences in CMB patterns and their meaning across subgroups.

AbstractPatients with viral myocarditis are at risk of sudden death and may progress to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Currently, no disease‐specific therapies exist to treat viral myocarditis. Here it is examined whether reconstituted, lyophilized extracellular vesicles (EVs) from platelets from healthy men and women reduce acute or chronic myocarditis in male mice. Human‐platelet‐derived EVs (PEV) do not cause toxicity, damage, or inflammation in naïve mice. PEV administered during the innate immune response significantly reduces myocarditis with fewer epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐like module‐containing mucin‐like hormone receptor‐like 1 (F4/80) macrophages, T cells (cluster of differentiation molecules 4 and 8, CD4 and CD8), and mast cells, and improved cardiac function. Innate immune mediators known to increase myocarditis are decreased by innate PEV treatment including Toll‐like receptor (TLR)4 and complement. PEV also significantly reduces perivascular fibrosis and remodeling including interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1β), transforming growth factor‐beta 1, matrix metalloproteinase, collagen genes, and mast cell degranulation. PEV given at days 7–9 after infection reduces myocarditis and improves cardiac function. MicroRNA (miR) sequencing reveals that PEV contains miRs that decrease viral replication, TLR4 signaling, and T‐cell activation. These data show that EVs from the platelets of healthy individuals can significantly reduce myocarditis and improve cardiac function.

Abstract Myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are a collection of hematopoietic disorders with widely variable prognoses and treatment options. Accurate pathologic diagnoses present challenges because of interobserver variability in interpreting morphology and quantifying dysplasia. We compared local clinical site diagnoses with central, adjudicated review from 918 participants enrolled in the ongoing National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National MDS Natural History Study, a prospective observational cohort study of participants with suspected MDS or MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Locally, 264 (29%) were diagnosed as having MDS, 15 (2%) MDS/MPN overlap, 62 (7%) idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS), 0 (0%) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with <30% blasts, and 577 (63%) as other. Approximately one-third of cases were reclassified after central review, with 266 (29%) diagnosed as MDS, 45 (5%) MDS/MPN overlap, 49 (5%) ICUS, 15 (2%) AML with <30%, and 543 (59%) as other. Site miscoding errors accounted for more than half (53%) of the local misdiagnoses, leaving a true misdiagnosis rate of 15% overall, 21% for MDS. Therapies were reported in 37% of patients, including 43% of patients with MDS, 49% of patients with MDS/MPN, and 86% of patients with AML with <30% blasts. Treatment rates were lower (25%) in cases with true discordance in diagnosis compared with those for whom local and central diagnoses agreed (40%), and receipt of inappropriate therapy occurred in 7% of misdiagnosed cases. Discordant diagnoses were frequent, which has implications for the accuracy of study-related and national registries and can lead to inappropriate therapy. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT05074550.

Abstract Background: Home telemonitoring has been shown to reduce 30-day readmissions patients at high risk for return to the hospital. The reason for this remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the association of nurse contact with 30-day hospital readmission in these high risk patients. Methods: This study was a subgroup analysis from a prior randomized control comparing home telemonitoring for readmission for 30 days to usual care at discharge. Patients randomized to the home telemonitoring who had vital signs outside a preset range, triggered an alert flag for the monitoring nurse, which generated a contact to the patient. We compared patients who had at least one nurse contact to those who had none to see if the contact reduced the rate of readmissions in patients being monitored. Results: Of 449 patients, 292 (65.0%) received 1 or more telemonitoring flags. Single variable and multivariable logistic regression models exploring the association of flag type with hospital 30-day readmission did not find any statistically significant associations of telemonitoring flags with hospital 30-day readmission (all unadjusted P≥0.13, all adjusted P≥0.18). Conclusion: While post-hospitalization home telemetry has been shown to reduce 30-day readmission, our subset analysis did not show that the nurse contact was the factor that reduced readmission in these patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02136186, registration date May 12, 2014.

SIGNIFICANCE This pilot randomized trial, the first to evaluate a specific base‐in relieving prism treatment strategy for childhood intermittent exotropia, did not support proceeding to a full‐scale clinical trial. Defining and measuring prism adaptation in children with intermittent exotropia are challenging and need further study. PURPOSE This study aimed to determine whether to proceed to a full‐scale trial of relieving base‐in prism spectacles versus refractive correction alone for children with intermittent exotropia. METHODS Children 3 years old to those younger than 13 years with distance intermittent exotropia control score of ≥2 points on the Intermittent Exotropia Office Control Scale (Strabismus 2006;14:147–150; 0 [phoria] to 5 [constant]), ≥1 episode of spontaneous exotropia, and 16 to 35∆ by prism‐and‐alternate‐cover test, who did not fully prism adapt on a 30‐minute in‐office prism‐adaptation test were randomized to base‐in relieving prism (40% of the larger of distance and near exodeviations) or nonprism spectacles for 8 weeks. A priori criteria to conduct a full‐scale trial were defined for the adjusted treatment group difference in mean distance control: “proceed” (≥0.75 points favoring prism), “uncertain” (>0 to <0.75 points favoring prism), or “do not proceed” (≥0 points favoring nonprism). RESULTS Fifty‐seven children (mean age, 6.6 ± 2.2 years; mean baseline distance control, 3.5 points) received prism (n = 28) or nonprism (n = 29) spectacles. At 8 weeks, mean control values were 3.6 and 3.3 points in prism (n = 25) and nonprism (n = 25) groups, respectively, with an adjusted difference of 0.3 points (95% confidence interval, −0.5 to 1.1 points) favoring nonprism (meeting our a priori “do not proceed” criterion). CONCLUSIONS Base‐in prism spectacles, equal to 40% of the larger of the exodeviations at distance or near, worn for 8 weeks by 3‐ to 12‐year‐old children with intermittent exotropia did not yield better distance control than refractive correction alone, with the confidence interval indicating that a favorable effect of 0.75 points or larger is unlikely. There was insufficient evidence to warrant a full‐scale randomized trial.

9069 Background: With the emergence of effective targeted-therapies for KRAS G12C, and the development of promising agents for KRAS G12V and G12D among others, the identity of unique KRAS mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become increasingly relevant. Acquired KRAS mutations are a known mechanism of resistance observed across driver mutation-positive (DM+) NSCLC. The incidence and diversity of these acquired alterations, and whether they differ from those observed in de novo KRAS-mutated NSCLC, is unknown. Methods: NSCLC molecular profiles were obtained using next-generation sequencing (Caris Life Sciences) with paired whole-transcriptomic sequencing (Illumina NovaSeq) and immunohistochemistry (Caris Life Sciences). Demographic data were abstracted from medical records. KRAS mutation diversity was defined for de novo KRAS-mutated ( KRASmt) NSCLC ( KRAS as only identified driver – KRASmt_dn) and DM+ NSCLC with acquired KRAS mutations (concurrent KRASmt with other known driver – KRASmt_acq). Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the distribution of unique KRAS mutations between the groups. Due to the unique biology of NSCLC with class II/III BRAF mutations, this subset was removed from the KRASmt_acq subgroup for the final analysis. Results: A total of 5932 KRASmt NSCLC samples were identified, among which 5879 were KRASmt_dn and 53 were KRASmt_acq (see table). The distribution of unique KRAS mutations was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.14). Within the KRASmt_dn group, KRAS G12C was most common (40%), followed by G12V (19%), G12D (14%), G12A (7%) and Q61H/G13C (4% each). In the KRASmt_acq group, KRAS G12C was most common (30%), followed by G12D (19%), G12V (17%), Q61H (11%), G12A (7%), and G13C (6%). The most common observed driver mutations in the KRASmt_acq group were EGFR (38%) and MET (30%). In the EGFR group, KRAS G12D (25%), Q61H/G12C (20% each), G12V/G13C (10% each), and G12F/A/R (5% each) were observed. In the MET group, KRAS G12C (25%), G12D/V/A (19% each), Q61H (12%) and G12S (6%) were seen. Among 7 patients with a documented history of smoking in the KRASmt_acq group, KRAS G12D and Q61H were most common (29% each), followed by G12V/F and G13C (14% each). Conclusions: While the distribution of unique KRAS mutations did not differ significantly between KRASmt_dn and KRASmt_acq groups, acquired KRAS mutations were seen across DM+ NSCLC subsets, among which the frequency of observed mutations appeared to vary. The functional and immunological significance of these mutations, and their impact on clinical outcomes, warrants further investigation. [Table: see text]

Abstract Two inherited autosomal dominant cancer predisposition conditions - BRCA related hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome (LS) - are termed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tier 1 (CDCT1) genetic conditions, for which early identification and intervention have a positive impact on public health. Selection of individuals for genetic testing for these conditions is based on personal and family history. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether screening in a tertiary medical center using exome sequencing could efficiently identify carriers of HBOC and LS and to determine the frequency of incremental carriers identified outside of traditional clinical practice guidelines. Participants from three geographically diverse Mayo Clinic practices in the USA (Rochester MN, Phoenix AZ, Jacksonville FL) consented to clinical “Exome+” sequencing (Helix, San Mateo, CA; Mayo GeneGuide, Rochester, MN) in the TAPESTRY study (NCT05212428), which links sequencing data with electronic health records and the return of CDCT1 genetic findings. For this study we focused on two inherited cancer predisposition conditions: BRCA-related HBOC (BRCA1 and BRCA2) and LS (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM). Detailed chart review to collect demographic information, personal and family history, and assessment of clinical practice guidelines for genetic evaluation (National Cancer Control Network 2021). To date, 44,306 patients have enrolled and sequenced in TAPESTRY. Annotation and interpretation of all variants in 7 genes for HBOC and LS resulted in identification of 550 carriers (prevalence 1.24%) which included 387 with HBOC (27.2% BRCA1, 42.8% BRCA2) and 163 with LS (12.3% MSH6, 8.8% PMS2, 4.5% MLH1, 3.8% MSH2 and 0.2% EPCAM). Demographics of the cohort included: 62.7% female, mean age 55.2 years, non-white race 9.6% and 3.8% Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. A personal history of cancer was present in 46.4% of test positive patients, including 22.5% of HBOC patients with breast or ovarian cancer and 20.9% of LS patients with colorectal or uterine cancer. More than half of the patients (52.1%) were newly diagnosed with HBOC and LS based on the results of this study. Overall, 39.2% of HBOC/LS carriers identified through Exome+ sequencing did not satisfy NCCN criteria for genetic evaluation, this was higher for LS (56.2%) compared to HBOC (32%). Amongst those newly diagnosed with HBOC/LS (n=286), NCCN criteria were not satisfied in 60% of cases (78% for LS and 51% for HBOC). Of the pathogenic germline variant carriers who met NCCN guidelines for testing, 34.2% were not aware of their diagnosis prior to participation in this study. Our results emphasize the need for wide genomic screening for CDCT1 cancer predisposition syndromes. Such screening could identify at-risk carriers of HBOC and LS, who would not otherwise be identified through clinical practice guidelines. Citation Format: Emily Gay, Niloy Jewel Samadder, Michelle L. Bublitz, Melanie M. Peterson, Tammy A. Wilson, Lorelei A. Bandel, Sebastian M. Armasu, Robert A. Vierkant, Matthew J. Ferber, Eric W. Klee, Nicholas B. Larson, Teresa M. Kruisselbrink, Timothy B. Curry, Jan B. Egan, Jennifer L. Kemppainen, Jessa S. Bidwell, Jennifer L. Anderson, Tammy M. McAllister, T'Nita S. Walker, Katie L. Kunze, Vanda Lindpere, Michael A. Golafshar, Margaret Klint, Richard J. Presutti, William V. Bobo, Aleksander Sekulic, Jolene M. Summer Bolster, Cheryl L. Willman, Konstantinos N. Lazaridis. Genetic screening in a tertiary medical center identifies carriers of cancer predisposition diseases that would be missed by clinical guidelines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5768.

Abstract Introduction The transgender population has long been marginalized by society. Societal stigmata, fear to seek care, and dearth of provider knowledge regarding transgender health issues has caused disparities to widen. Objective The purpose of this case study is to call to attention the often-overlooked aspect of pediatric transgender care: the importance of fertility preservation prior to instituting gender-affirming therapy. Methods Twenty-one genetically XY females, followed by their multidisciplinary transgender care teams, were interested in starting hormone therapy due to impending onset and/or progression of puberty. Fortunately for these patients, their physicians were aware of fertility struggles after undergoing hormone therapy. Results Sperm cryopreservation via open gonadal biopsy, testicular tissue cryopreservation (TTC), and semen sample (when age/maturity-appropriate) were discussed. Though requiring surgery, biopsy/TTC relieves patients of the psychological impact of semen sample production. With IRB approval, 20 patients (median age 12 years, range 10-16 years) underwent TTC (Figure 1). One patient (age 16 years) opted for semen sample. All patients had success with spermatogonial stem cells cryopreserved for future patient use. Conclusions Gender affirming procedures and hormone therapy affect the long-term reproductive potential of transgender individuals. While cost concerns and insurance coverage regarding oncofertility is a prominent area of discussion, the transgender community is often excluded. With more individuals beginning medical and surgical therapy at a younger age, fertility preservation discussions are essential but often overlooked, depriving these individuals the joy of becoming a biological parent. As health care providers, addressing psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of patients is crucial, and fertility is a key aspect of this care. TTC can be safely done in pediatric populations, though research is necessary to expand beyond current experimental stage of tissue-development. Disclosure No

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in (patho)physiological processes by mediating cell communication. Although EVs contain glycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), these biomolecules have been overlooked due to technical challenges in comprehensive glycome analysis coupled with EV isolation. Conventional mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods are restricted to the assessment of N-linked glycans. Therefore, methods to comprehensively analyze all glyco-polymer classes on EVs are urgently needed. In this study, tangential flow filtration-based EV isolation was coupled with glycan node analysis (GNA) as an innovative and robust approach to characterize most major glyco-polymer features of EVs. GNA is a molecularly bottom-up gas chromatography-MS technique that provides unique information that is unobtainable with conventional methods. The results indicate that GNA can identify EV-associated glyco-polymers that would remain undetected with conventional MS methods. Specifically, predictions based on GNA identified a GAG (hyaluronan) with varying abundance on EVs from two different melanoma cell lines. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and enzymatic stripping protocols confirmed the differential abundance of EV-associated hyaluronan. These results lay the framework to explore GNA as a tool to assess major glycan classes on EVs, unveiling the EV glycocode and its biological functions.

Aims Guidelines for suspected cardiac chest pain have used historical risk stratification tools, advocating invasive coronary angiography (ICA) first-line in those at highest risk. We aimed to determine whether different strategies to manage suspected stable angina affected medium-term cardiovascular event rates and patient-reported quality of life (QoL) measures. Methods CE-MARC 2, a three-arm parallel group trial, randomised patients with suspected stable cardiac chest pain and a Duke Clinical pretest likelihood of coronary artery disease between 10% and 90%. Patients were randomised to either first-line cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) CG95 (2010) guidelines-directed care. For the three arms, 1-year and 3-year first major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rates and QoL assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, Short Form 12 (V.12) Questionnaire and EuroQol-5 Dimension Questionnaire were recorded. Results 1202 patients were randomised to CMR (n=481), SPECT (n=481) and NICE (n=240). Forty-two patients (18 CMR, 18 SPECT, 6 NICE) experienced one or more MACEs. The percentage rates (95% CIs) of MACE in the CMR, SPECT and NICE groups at 3 years were 3.7% (2.4%, 5.8%), 3.7% (2.4%, 5.8%) and 2.1% (0.9%, 4.8%), respectively. QoL scores did not significantly differ across domains. Conclusion Despite a fourfold increase in referrals for ICA, the NICE CG95 (2010) guidelines risk-stratified care strategy did not significantly reduce 3-year MACE or improve QoL, as compared with functional imaging with CMR or SPECT. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT01664858).