Abstract Background: Lithium (Li) remains the treatment of choice for bipolar disorders (BP). Its mood-stabilizing effects help reduce the long-term burden of mania, depression and suicide risk in patients with BP. It also has been shown to have beneficial effects on disease-associated conditions, including sleep and cardiovascular disorders. However, the individual responses to Li treatment vary within and between diagnostic subtypes of BP (e.g. BP-I and BP-II) according to the clinical presentation. Moreover, long-term Li treatment has been linked to adverse side-effects that are a cause of concern and non-adherence, including the risk of developing chronic medical conditions such as thyroid and renal disease. In recent years, studies by the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) have uncovered a number of genetic factors that contribute to the variability in Li treatment response in patients with BP. Here, we leveraged the ConLiGen cohort (N=2,064) to investigate the genetic basis of Li effects in BP. For this, we studied how Li response and linked genes associate with the psychiatric symptoms and polygenic load for medical comorbidities, placing particular emphasis on identifying differences between BP-I and BP-II. Results: We found that clinical response to Li treatment, measured with the Alda scale, was associated with a diminished burden of mania, depression, substance and alcohol abuse, psychosis and suicidal ideation in patients with BP-I and, in patients with BP-II, of depression only. Our genetic analyses showed that a stronger clinical response to Li was modestly related to lower polygenic load for diabetes and hypertension in BP-I but not BP-II. Moreover, our results suggested that a number of genes that have been previously linked to Li response variability in BP differentially relate to the psychiatric symptomatology, particularly to the numbers of manic and depressive episodes, and to the polygenic load for comorbid conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that the effects of Li on symptomatology and comorbidity in BP are partially modulated by common genetic factors, with differential effects between BP-I and BP-II.
AHOD2131: A Randomized Phase 3 Response-Adapted Trial Comparing Standard Therapy with Immuno-Oncology Therapy for Children and Adults with Newly Diagnosed Stage I and II Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
Background: Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy (RT) is the standard for early-stage (ES) Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Despite high cure rates (12-year overall survival (OS) >93%), there is room to improve short and long-term outcomes for children and adults with ES cHL. Incorporation of immunotherapy (IO) into front line treatment of ES cHL is an opportunity to both improve progression-free survival (PFS) and maintain OS, while minimizing long-term morbidity and mortality by reducing exposure to RT and high-dose chemotherapy. Study Design and Methods: HL leaders of the NCTN groups, expert HL researchers and physicians, and representatives from the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) formed a working group in April 2020 with the goals of harmonizing treatment approaches for ES cHL across pediatric and adult patients and reaching consensus regarding the optimal study design for incorporating IO therapy into frontline treatment. Study champions identified from each of the North American cooperative groups [Children's Oncology Group (COG), SWOG, ECOG-ACRIN, Alliance, NRG] and experts in imaging, radiation oncology, lymphoma biology and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were included. The resulting COG-led clinical trial, AHOD2131, represents the largest ES cHL trial in the history of North American cooperative groups and the first to enroll patients across the age continuum. AHOD2131 (NCT05675410; Figure) is a randomized, phase 3 trial enrolling patients ages 5 to 60 years with newly diagnosed, previously untreated stage I and II cHL and will investigate the addition of the CD30-antibody drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (Bv) with PD-1 blockade (nivolumab) compared to standard chemotherapy +/- RT. Since the April 2023 activation, 97 North American sites have activated the trial, and 21 participants have enrolled. Target enrollment is 1875 patients over 5 years of accrual, for an estimated 1782 eligible and evaluable patients. The primary objective is to compare the 3-year PFS of patients with ES cHL treated through a response-adapted, superiority design with either standard therapy or with an IO approach (BV + nivolumab). All patients will be stratified as favorable or unfavorable based on disease risk features at enrollment. Based on initial response assessment by PET/CT (via central review) after 2 cycles of ABVD, patients were classified to PET2 positive (SER, defined as 5 Point Score 4 or 5, ~15% of patients) and PET negative (RER). Those who are PET positive will receive involved site RT (ISRT). The SER and RER patients will be randomized to standard chemotherapy vs. IO therapy respectively. In addition to the primary outcome of PFS, there are 11 secondary and 10 exploratory aims. The secondary aims focus on OS, PFS of subgroups, and event-free survival at 12 years, physician-reported treatment-related adverse event (AE) rates, patient-reported AE using pediatric and adult versions of Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE), and the capture of representation by self-report and the use of electronic PRO data collections. The exploratory aims include the assessment of imaging central review as compared to local institutional review and the use of convolutional neural networks through artificial-intelligence machine learning. The study will examine the effect of therapy on acute and long-term adverse effects including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and OS for up to 12 years. The study will compare patient self-report and provider AE reports and evaluate the associations of self-reported race/ethnicity and social determinants of health (SDOH)and post-progression/post-relapse OS. AHOD2131 strengthens the effort between the North American cooperative groups to conduct collaborative clinical trials and aims to harmonize an improved standard of care for ES cHL across the age continuum.
Histologic and Molecular Correlates in Patients with AL Amyloidosis in Hematologic Remission but with Persistent Renal Disease
ABSTRACT: Despite the high prevalence of kidney involvement in patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding how immunoglobulin light chains drive kidney injury. The chief reason is the lack of molecular data from high-quality kidney tissue samples from this patient population. The RAIN trial (NCT03168906) was a phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled, clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid fibrils, versus placebo in patients with AL nephropathy. Before drug administration, renal biopsies were taken and analyzed. OBJECTIVE: Identifying amyloid-specific molecular signatures in kidney biopsy tissue. MATERIALS & METHODS: Renal biopsies were collected on all RAIN participants before randomization to NEOD001 or placebo. Clinical data was collected and correlated to histologic and molecular findings. Histologic assessment included a composite scarring injury score (CSIC) as determined by the degree of glomerular and tubulointerstitial scarring, and a novel amyloid score (AS), as quantified by the extent and distribution of amyloid deposition. Glomerular (G) and tubulointerstitial (TI) compartments were micro-dissected and sequenced separately. To identify enriched pathways in AL nephropathy, the expression data was compared to the glomerular and tubular expression profiles of healthy living donor (LD) from the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) study. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined . RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled, randomized and treated in the RAIN trial (5 NEOD001 and five placeboes) before trial closure in April 2018. Kidney tissue was available in nine of the ten patients. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct patient clusters (G1 and G2) within the glomerular and TI compartments ( See Figure 1). Key clinical data pertaining to kidney function and biopsy morphology by compartment and cluster type were documented. Despite similar eGFR and degree of proteinuria, there was a significantly higher AS score in the TI compartment (6.5 vs. 4.5; p=0.0290) of G2 which was driven most entirely by an increase in mesangial and capillary wall amyloid deposition. Pathway Enrichment in G2 versus G1: Glomeruli showed activation of fibrotic pathways accompanied by a reduction in metabolic processes including gluconeogenesis, lipid transport and xenobiotics. There was an increase in canonical signaling of LPS/IL-1 that drives increased IL1 and TNF release from macrophages. Transcriptomic evidence of TNF activation was also noted in the TI compartment. Other enriched ingenuity canonical pathways to note in the TI included ‘coagulation system’, ‘GADD45 signaling’, ‘Wnt/Ca+ pathway’, ‘intrinsic prothrombin activation pathway’ among others. Of note, genes like BRCA and CDKN1A were enriched between G1 and G2, both of which have been associated with molecular mechanisms that underly certain neoplasms ( See Figure 2). Pathway enrichment in Amyloid kidney disease versus LD: IPA analysis identified unique activation signatures in the glomeruli and tubules. In the glomeruli, there was increased signaling of TNF, NFKB, IL33, IL-8 and IL15, consistent with an important inflammatory response. There was also an enrichment in pathways related to migration, adhesion and integrin signaling. PI3K/Akt signaling was also noted. Tubules showed increased activation of transcriptional regulators TP53, TP73 and PI3K/AKT signaling. Some gene regulators of cellular proliferation such as ABL1, BCL2 and AKT1 were found to be enriched in the amyloid group. CONCLUSIONS: While the RAIN trial closed prematurely and NEOD001 cannot be evaluated, the molecular data revealed the presence of two distinct molecular subtypes of AL nephropathy. Whether these distinct molecular subtypes reflect different stages of the disease along a continuous spectrum or are of unique prognostic entities in of themselves remains unclear. Detailed studies, of a larger cohort of patients including investigating diseased tissue at a single cell resolution can help identify the response of individual kidney cell types. Understanding the cellular responses of key cell types to injury from amyloid deposits could provide novel therapeutic targets to mitigate renal injury and improve patient outcomes. Based on this early work, targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway may be a worthy pursuit in this disease.
Pooled Analysis of Safety from Birtamimab Phase 1-3 Studies in Patients with Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis
Introduction: SystemicAL amyloidosis is a progressive and often fatal disease caused by misfolded light chains that aggregate into amyloid fibrils and deposit in vital organs, leading to organ dysfunction. Current standard of care (SoC) therapies for AL amyloidosis target the plasma cell clone to reduce or eliminate light chain production, but do not remove soluble toxic light chain aggregates or insoluble amyloid deposits. Early mortality remains high for patients with advanced disease (e.g., Mayo 2012 Stage IV disease, median overall survival <6 months). Birtamimab - a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes soluble, toxic light chain aggregates and depletes insoluble amyloid deposits by inducing phagocytosis - is under investigation for the treatment of AL amyloidosis. Here, we present a pooled safety analysis from previous Phase 1-3 clinical trials, with a focus on the 2 double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs): PRONTO (NCT02632786) and VITAL (NCT02312206). Methods: Patients with AL amyloidosis were treated with intravenous birtamimab up to 24 mg/kg every 28 daysin the non-placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 open-label trial (NCT01707264) with open-label extension (OLE; NCT02613182) and 2 RCTs (Phase 2 PRONTO with OLE [NCT03154047] and Phase 3 VITAL). In PRONTO, patients had received ≥1 previous systemic therapy with at least a partial hematologic response and persistent cardiac dysfunction, and received birtamimab or placebo. In VITAL, newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients with cardiac involvement received birtamimab + SoC or placebo + SoC (where SoC was a bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimen). The analysis included all patients who received ≥1 dose of birtamimab. Pooled median exposure times were calculated, and baseline characteristics and demographics were summarized. For VITAL and PRONTO, pooled rates and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with birtamimab were compared with rates in the placebo arms. In addition, safety data from the non-placebo-controlled studies were summarized. Results: The median (range) exposure to birtamimab among 302 patients pooled from the Phase 1-3 trials was 12.24 (0.03-57.72) months. Of the 302 patients exposed to birtamimab, 295 received at least one 24-mg/kg infusion, up to 2500 mg. Analysis of the 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trials included data from 196 patients treated with birtamimab from the PRONTO (n=66) and VITAL (n=130) trials and 193 patients who received placebo (PRONTO, n=63; VITAL, n=130). Both trials had comparable treatment durations overall. The rates of TEAEs, serious and grade ≥3 TEAEs were similar between birtamimab and placebo arms within each trial and between treatment arms in the placebo-controlled pooled analysis set (PRONTO and VITAL; Table 1). Higher rates of treatment-related, serious, and grade ≥3 TEAEs were reported in VITAL compared with PRONTO, presumably due to the treatment-naïve population and receipt of concomitant SoC therapy in VITAL. In the pooled analysis set, the most common TEAEs that occurred with greater frequency in the birtamimab vs placebo arms in either trial were, respectively, fatigue (36.2%, 34.2%), diarrhea (33.2%, 33.7%), nausea (31.6%, 30.1%), constipation (31.1%, 31.6%), and dyspnea (25.0%, 24.9%). The most commonly reported (≥5%) serious and grade ≥3 TEAEs were primarily cardiac disorders (cardiac failure, syncope, cardiac arrest), consistent with the underlying disease. Infusion-associated TEAE rates were low in the pooled birtamimab and placebo arms (5.1% vs 3.6%, respectively) and were generally mild to moderate. The safety profile observed in the non-placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 trial plus OLE and PRONTO OLE (n=106) was consistent with the safety data reported in the placebo-controlled studies. Conclusions: Birtamimab was well tolerated in patients with AL amyloidosis when administered as monotherapy and did not demonstrate additive toxicity when given with SoC chemotherapy. Rates of TEAEs in the birtamimab arm were similar to rates in the placebo arm in the PRONTO and VITAL trials. The safety and efficacy of birtamimab is being further investigated in an ongoing confirmatory Phase 3 double-blind RCT in patients with Mayo Stage IV AL amyloidosis (AFFIRM-AL; NCT04973137), which is currently enrolling.
Outcomes following proton therapy for pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma
AbstractBackgroundPediatric esthesioneuroblastoma (EN) can infiltrate skull base anatomy, presenting challenges due to high radiation doses and pediatric tissue sensitivity. This study reports outcomes of pediatric EN treated with proton radiotherapy (PT).ProcedureUsing an IRB‐approved prospective outcomes registry, we evaluated patient, tumor, and treatment‐related variables impacting disease control and toxicity in pediatric nonmetastatic EN treated with modern multimodality therapy, including PT.ResultsFifteen consecutive patients (median age 16) comprising Kadish stage B (n = 2), C (n = 9), and D (n = 4) tumors were assessed, including six with intracranial involvement, four with cranial nerve deficits, and four with cervical lymphadenopathy. Before radiation, two had subtotal and 13 had gross total resections (endoscopic or craniofacial). Two underwent neck dissection. Eleven received chemotherapy before radiation (n = 5), concurrent with radiation (n = 4), or both (n = 2). Median total radiation dose (primary site) was 66 Gy/CGE for gross disease and 54 Gy/CGE (cobalt Gray equivalent) for microscopic disease. Median follow‐up was 4.8 years. No patients were lost to follow‐up. Five‐year disease‐free and overall survival rates were 86% (no local or regional recurrences). Two patients developed vertebral metastases and died. Two required a temporary feeding tube for oral mucositis/dysphagia. Late toxicities included symptomatic retinopathy, major reconstructive surgery, cataracts, chronic otitis media, chronic keratoconjunctivitis, hypothyroidism, and in‐field basal cell skin cancer.ConclusionsA multimodality approach for pediatric EN results in excellent local control. Despite the moderate‐dose PT, serious radiation toxicity was observed; further dose and target volume reductions may benefit select patients. Longer follow‐up and comparative data from modern photon series are necessary to fully characterize any relative PT advantage.
Polygenic Risk Score Modifies Prostate Cancer Risk of Pathogenic Variants in Men of African Ancestry
Abstract Prostate cancer risk is influenced by rare and common germline variants. We examined the aggregate association of rare germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic/deleterious (P/LP/D) variants in ATM, BRCA2, PALB2, and NBN with a polygenic risk score (PRS) on prostate cancer risk among 1,796 prostate cancer cases (222 metastatic) and 1,424 controls of African ancestry. Relative to P/LP/D non-carriers at average genetic risk (33%–66% of PRS), men with low (0%–33%) and high (66%–100%) PRS had Odds Ratios (ORs) for overall prostate cancer of 2.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58–7.49] and 18.06 (95% CI = 4.24–76.84) among P/LP/D carriers and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.46–0.71) and 3.02 (95% CI = 2.53–3.60) among non-carriers, respectively. The OR for metastatic prostate cancer was 2.73 (95% CI = 0.24–30.54) and 28.99 (95% CI = 4.39–191.43) among P/LP/D carriers and 0.54 (95% CI = 0.31–0.95) and 3.22 (95% CI = 2.20–4.73) among non-carriers, for men with low and high PRS, respectively. Lifetime absolute risks of overall prostate cancer increased with PRS (low to high) from 9.8% to 51.5% in P/LP/D carriers and 5.5% to 23.9% in non-carriers. Lifetime absolute risks of metastatic prostate cancer increased with PRS from 1.9% to 18.1% in P/LP/D carriers and 0.3% to 2.2% in non-carriers These findings suggest that assessment of prostate cancer risk for rare variant carriers should include PRS status. Significance: These findings highlight the importance of considering rare and common variants to comprehensively assess prostate cancer risk in men of African ancestry.
1708. Molecular Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Colonizing Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A 4-Year Cohort Study
Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections, both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant (MSSA, MRSA), cause significant morbidity among infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Colonization usually precedes infection. We studied the molecular epidemiology of SA colonization in NICU infants using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and in relation to the opening of a new NICU with single-family rooms. Methods From 2019-22, a prospective cohort of infants admitted to the Level IV NICU at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN was screened twice weekly for SA colonization using cultures of nares/axilla/groin swabs. Infection control procedures were consistent throughout, including use of Contact Precautions for infants colonized with MRSA but not for MSSA. The study was divided into period 1 (1/1/2019-11/30/2020) and period 2 (12/1/2020-12/31/2022) due to a move from a 34-bed unit (26 beds in four open-bay rooms and 8 beds in single-family rooms) to a new 34-bed unit (all single-family rooms). WGS was performed using Illumina MiSeq instrumentation and chemistry with Illumina Nextera XT library chemistry. Assembly and core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis were performed with Ridom SeqSphere+ software. Groups of related isolates were identified based on the number of allelic differences (related 0-8 differences, possibly related 9-29 differences, unrelated ≥ 30 differences). Groups of MRSA-related isolates were compared with reference USA genotypes. Chi square tests did not adjust for clustering. Results There were 663 admissions in period 1 and 730 in period 2. The prevalence of MSSA and MRSA colonization was unchanged in the two periods (MSSA, 18.6% vs. 16.7%, p=0.37; MRSA 1.8% vs. 3.3%, p=0.08). By WGS, most MSSA and MRSA isolates were unrelated to another isolate in both periods (Table). Groups of related MSSA and MRSA isolates differed between the two periods and the number of isolates/group was small (< 6 isolates). Groups of related MRSA isolates were associated with reference genotypes USA100 (period 1), USA1000 (periods 1 & 2), and USA300 (period 2). WGS Results for MSSA and MRSA in Periods 1 and 2 Conclusion NICU infants were usually colonized with unrelated strains of MSSA and MRSA, with only small clusters of related strains. The new NICU was not associated with a change in MSSA or MRSA colonization. Disclosures Priya Sampathkumar, MD, Merck Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant Robin Patel, MD, Abbott Laboratories: Advisor/Consultant|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Mayo Clinic has a royalty-bearing know-how agreement and equity in Adaptive Phage Therapeutics.|BIOFIRE: Grant/Research Support|CARB-X: Advisor/Consultant|ContraFect: Grant/Research Support|Day Zero Diagnostics: Advisor/Consultant|HealthTrackRx: Advisor/Consultant|Mammoth Biosciences: Advisor/Consultant|Netflix: Advisor/Consultant|Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Advisor/Consultant|PhAST: Advisor/Consultant|See details: Patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic|See details: continued, patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued|TenNor Therapeutics Limited: Grant/Research Support|Torus Biosystems: Advisor/Consultant|Trellis Bioscience, Inc.: Advisor/Consultant W. Charles Huskins, MD, MSc, ADMA Biologics: Advisor/Consultant|Bristol Myers Squibb: Stocks/Bonds|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds|Zimmer Biomet: Stocks/Bonds
Despite recent therapeutic developments, pulmonary fibrosis remains a debilitating disease with poor prognosis. In order to create effective treatments, promising molecular targets need to be identified and validated. Across multiple organs, mesenchymal derived myofibroblasts play an essential role in matrix deposition and tissue contraction. We previously carried out a high‐content, RNAi screen to characterize myofibroblast cytoskeletal phenotypes (α‐SMA and organized F‐actin) in cultured fibroblasts. Hits from this screen, including STAT3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), were validated in primary lung fibroblasts from patients with IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) on compliant hydrogels. To further evaluate STAT3 as a therapeutic target, we have focused on LLL12, a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3. LLL12 dose‐dependently (0.3, 1.0μM) reduced RNA expression of profibrotic genes ( ACTA2 , CTGF , COL1A1 , and FN1 ) as well as protein deposition of collagen III and fibronectin, in TGFβ stimulated cultured fibroblasts. LLL12 also reduced contractile force, as measured by traction force microscopy, to levels comparable to that seen with inhibition of Rho kinase (Y27632, 20μM). In an effort to support the role of STAT3 as a multi‐organ regulator of tissue fibrosis we confirmed similar effects of LLL12 in primary human hepatic stellate cells and cardiac fibroblasts. Using the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis we assessed the in vivo efficacy of STAT3 inhibition. The lungs of the mice treated therapeutically (day 14–28) with LLL12 (5 mg/kg i.p. daily) showed reduced collagen and fibrotic matrix content measured by hydroxyproline and trichrome histology. RNA expression of COL1A1 , FN1 , CTGF , and ACTA2 also decreased (~50%) in the mice treated with LLL12. Importantly, in the mice which did not receive bleomycin, LLL12 had no effect on RNA expression of these genes. These data not only validate the RNAi screening approach, but also point towards STAT3 as an important molecular target for regulation of myofibroblast activation in pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases. Support or Funding Information Supported by NIH RO1 HL092961 and HL113796, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Monosialoganglioside‐Containing Nanoliposomes Protect Against AL Amyloidosis Light Chain Induced Endothelial Injury through Nrf2 Defense Pathway
Light chain (LC) amyloidosis (AL) is a systemic amyloidosis associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current treatment involves depletion of LC producing cells but patients with advanced disease are usually intolerant of chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, with no treatment available to directly address the tissue pathology of LC. Microvascular injury may be important in it spathobiology. Our overall objective is to discover strategies to ameliorate LC‐mediated injury at the level of endothelial cell death and dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that nanoliposomes containing monosialoganglioside, phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (NLGM1) are capable of protecting human endothelial cells from LC‐mediated injury by hormetic induction of the nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like (Nrf2) oxidative defense pathway. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to LC (purified from the urine of 2 AL patients with cardiac involvement, 20μg/ml) for 18–20 hours either with or without co‐treatment with NLGM1 (given at 1:10 mass ratio to LC). Using a fluorescent probe for peroxynitrite, we found that LC caused a 51.2% (p<0.01) increase in peroxynitrite production with a coincident 33% (p<0.01) decrease in cell viability as measured by Calcein‐AM fluorescence. However, in samples that were given NLGM1 and LC, peroxynitrite was diminished and cell viability was preserved to near control levels. Interestingly, in HUVEC that were treated with NLGM1 alone, we noticed a4‐fold increase in Nrf2 gene expression (p<0.05) and in antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxioreductase 1 (NQO1)(119‐fold, p<0.05; and 5‐fold, p<0.01 respectively). Similarly, we found significant upregulation of Nrf2, HO‐1 and NQO1 proteins in response to NLGM1 treatment. To determine if induction of HO‐1 and NQO1 by NLGM1 were dependent on Nrf2 activation, we knocked down Nrf2 using specific siRNAs. We were able to reduce Nrf2 gene expression in HUVEC by 41%. HUVEC treated with control siRNA demonstrated a 9.4‐fold increase in HO‐1 (p<0.05)and a 3.8‐fold increase in NQO1 (p<0.05) gene expression, whereas cell streated with Nrf2‐specific siRNAs had blunted NLGM1‐mediated increases to 3.0‐fold and 1.3‐fold for HO‐1 and NQO1 ( p<0.001 and p<0.05 vs. control siRNA ), respectively. Nrf2 knockdown abolished the protective effect of NLGM1 on HUVEC viability; Nrf‐2 siRNA treated cells exposed to LC and NLGM1 demonstrated 30% reduction in viability (p<0.05) similar to the 28% reduction in control siRNA‐treated cells exposed to LC; control siRNA‐treated cells exposed to LC and NLGM1 demonstrated no difference in viability versus those exposed to vehicle. Presently, we show that NLGM1 preserve endothelial cell viability and reduce peroxynitrite production in HUVEC exposed to LC proteins. We further demonstrate that NLGM1 has the potential to modulate Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway and is likely a relevant protective mechanism against nitrative stress generated by LC exposure. When considered together, these findings hint at a novel potential therapeutic approach to mitigate the pathobiology of AL. Support or Funding Information Funding: Veterans Affairs Merit grant (I01BX007080), National Institutes Health (NIA R21AG044723, GM RO1 071514), Amyloidosis Foundation, American Heart Association 0855683G
Standardizing nomenclature in regional anesthesia: an ASRA-ESRA Delphi consensus study of upper and lower limb nerve blocks
Background Inconsistent nomenclature and anatomical descriptions of regional anesthetic techniques hinder scientific communication and engender confusion; this in turn has implications for research, education and clinical implementation of regional anesthesia. Having produced standardized nomenclature for abdominal wall, paraspinal and chest wall regional anesthetic techniques, we aimed to similarly do so for upper and lower limb peripheral nerve blocks. Methods We performed a three-round Delphi international consensus study to generate standardized names and anatomical descriptions of upper and lower limb regional anesthetic techniques. A long list of names and anatomical description of blocks of upper and lower extremities was produced by the members of the steering committee. Subsequently, two rounds of anonymized voting and commenting were followed by a third virtual round table to secure consensus for items that remained outstanding after the first and second rounds. As with previous methodology, strong consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement and weak consensus as 50%–74% agreement. Results A total of 94, 91 and 65 collaborators participated in the first, second and third rounds, respectively. We achieved strong consensus for 38 names and 33 anatomical descriptions, and weak consensus for five anatomical descriptions. We agreed on a template for naming peripheral nerve blocks based on the name of the nerve and the anatomical location of the blockade and identified several areas for future research. Conclusions We achieved consensus on nomenclature and anatomical descriptions of regional anesthetic techniques for upper and lower limb nerve blocks, and recommend using this framework in clinical and academic practice. This should improve research, teaching and learning of regional anesthesia to eventually improve patient care.