Citations

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the gastrointestinal tract whose genetic basis is only partly resolved because most risk variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) lie in non-coding regions, limiting direct gene assignment and biological interpretation 1,2 . Here we analysed whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing data from 86,213 IBD cases and 478,363 controls of European ancestry. We identified 68 IBD genes directly implicated by conditionally independent protein-coding associations across the allele frequency spectrum. Many newly implicated IBD genes are supported by orthogonal genomic or pleiotropic evidence, pointing to disease-related pathways and nominating targets with therapeutic relevance. We further identified allelic series and non-additive effects at key loci such as NOD2 and TYK2. These results show that large-scale sequencing can resolve disease genes and pathways that remain ambiguous from non-coding association alone, providing a more direct route from human genetics to biological insight and therapeutic hypotheses.

Autoimmune diseases arise when B and T lymphocytes lose tolerance to self. Yet in most disorders, the underlying molecular determinants, including autoantibodies, epitopes and lymphocyte clones that drive tissue injury remain undefined. Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD) is a rare and often fatal pediatric neuroendocrine syndrome with strong evidence of antigen-driven paraneoplastic autoimmunity, including association with the intracellular autoantigen ZSCAN1. However, the effector immune circuit and the epitope-level determinants operating within the hypothalamus and brainstem have remained unknown. To address this challenge in ROHHAD and more broadly in autoimmune disease, we developed the Autoimmune Epitope and immunoGlobulin/Immune-receptor identification System (AEGIS), an integrated framework that links immune repertoires to their cognate self-epitopes. AEGIS combines B cell and T cell receptor profiling from sites of tissue injury with high-resolution epitope mapping, direct sequencing of antigen-specific autoantibodies, in silico antibody-antigen folding, selection, and T cell antigen discovery. Applied to a deeply phenotyped child with ROHHAD, AEGIS revealed a compartmentalized, clonally restricted immune response in which brain-deposited IgG and expanded cerebrospinal fluid B cell and CD4 T cell clonotypes converged on shared ZSCAN1 epitopes, resolved to minimal determinants and peptide-MHC ligands. These findings provide a clone- and epitope-linked mechanistic map of ROHHAD autoimmunity and establish a generalizable framework for identifying candidate pathogenic clones and antigens across diverse autoimmune diseases.

Background: Managing heart failure (HF) can be challenging for rural dyads, potentially contributing to depressive symptoms. Coping resources may be important components for dyadic interventions targeting depressive symptoms. Purpose: To explore actor and partner effects of coping resources on depressive symptoms in rural HF dyads. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 42 rural HF dyads using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short, Global Family Function, Family APGAR, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scales. Data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results: Patients were 66.42 and caregivers were 60.83 years old. No partner effects noted. Significant actor effects for patients and caregivers between their own social support and depressive symptoms and their own problem-solving and depressive symptoms were found. There was also a significant actor effect between the caregivers’ family satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Dyadic interventions that enhance coping resources are needed.

Abstract Background The Global Bipolar Cohort (GBC) was established to identify existing bipolar disorder (BD) cohorts worldwide and foster collaborations focused on descriptive and analytic outcomes relevant to BD. A distributed analytic framework has been implemented to engage multiple sites without the need for central data pooling. This report describes the GBC endeavor and global functional impairment patterns. Cross-cohort comparisons of functional correlates are limited by heterogeneous measures and data-sharing constraints. Large, culturally diverse comparisons are needed to distinguish broadly reproducible correlates from cohort-specific effects. Participating sites completed a 28-item descriptive survey covering diagnostic methods, cognition, genetics, treatment, functioning, and follow-up strategies. We implemented a harmonized local logistic regression model of dichotomized functional outcome and shared summary statistics only. Results We identified 69 cohorts across five continents. Thirty-seven cohorts contributed functional outcome analyses from 17,130 participants. Outcome measures included clinician-rated disability scales and social indicators such as employment and marital status. The proportion classified with poor functioning ranged from 16% to 77% (mean 50%). In 32 of 37 cohorts, the overall regression model significantly explained variance in functioning. Current depressive symptoms were the most robust and reproducible correlate of poor functional outcome: they were assessed in 29 cohorts, significant in 22 (75.8%), ranked among the top three correlates in 22, and were the top-ranked correlates in 19. Associations between depressive burden and poor functioning were observed across clinician-rated disability scales and work or social indicators, and across geographically diverse cohorts. Comorbid substance use disorder and medication-related variables were associated with poorer functioning in subsets of cohorts, whereas sex, ancestry, bipolar subtype, psychosis history, and premorbid IQ showed weak or inconsistent associations. Cognitive measures, available in a minority of regression models, showed modest and non-uniform effects. Conclusions Across heterogeneous international cohorts, current depressive symptom burden emerged as the most consistent correlate of poor functioning in bipolar disorder. These findings replicate earlier multisite work at a larger scale, show that protocol-based distributed analyses can identify reproducible clinical signals without sharing individual-level data, and support prioritizing detection and treatment of depressive symptoms when aiming to improve real-world functioning. Future work should expand longitudinal harmonization and representation of under-studied populations.

Abstract Introduction Isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is characterized by loss of normal REM sleep atonia and dream enactment behavior. iRBD is strongly associated with α-synucleinopathies and risk for developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), yet phenoconversion risk for long-term outcomes of younger women and men remains undefined. We aimed to ascertain longitudinal outcomes and phenoconversion risk in the Mayo Clinic iRBD cohort. Methods Eighty-nine of 165 registry participants with at least one-year follow-up were included. Retrospective chart review attained baseline demographics, age at presentation, baseline Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and phenoconversion status (iRBD, PD, DLB, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], MSA, or other). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling were analyzed with alpha at p < 0.05. Results 68 men and 21 women had a mean age of 63 years at polysomnographic diagnosis. At follow-up, 64 (71.9%) remained iRBD; 7 (7.9%) developed PD, 11 (12.4%) developed DLB, 3 (3.4%) developed MCI, 1 (1.1%) developed MSA, and 3 (3.4%) developed another dementia. Abnormal TUG (>12 seconds) occurred in 5.9% and abnormal MoCA (< 24) in 23.3%. Phenoconversion rates were similar in women and men (p = 0.44). Older age at PSG predicted phenoconversion, corresponding to a two-fold increase in risk with each 10-year increase (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.15–3.52). Neither abnormal TUG nor MoCA predicted conversion. Cumulative phenoconversion was approximately 1% at 1 year, 7% at 3 years, 10% at 5 years, 30% at 10 years, 34% at 12 years, and 49% at 15 years. Mean and median time to phenoconversion was 7 years (range, 1-18 years). Conclusion We found that iRBD phenoconversion rates were lower than historically reported. Only age at presentation predicted phenoconversion, with risk doubling per decade. At 12 years, cumulative phenoconversion rate was approximately 34%. Support (if any)

Abstract Introduction Jazz DUET (Develop hypersomnia Understanding by Evaluating low-sodium oxybate Treatment; NCT05875974) was the first study to evaluate effectiveness/safety of low-sodium oxybate (LXB; Xywav®) >9 g/night (outside the recommended range: 6–9 g/night). This analysis evaluated changes in patient-reported hypersomnolence measures in participants with narcolepsy taking LXB >9 g/night compared with LXB 9 g/night. Methods DUET was a phase 4, prospective, open-label study with screening, 8-day LXB 9 g/night (9g-baseline), titration/optimization, stable-dose, and 8-day end-of-treatment (EOT) optimized LXB >9 g/night (up to 12g; >9g-EOT) periods. Patient-reported measures included Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), electronic sleep diaries (completed daily during 9g-baseline and >9g-EOT; subjective total sleep time [TST], number of awakenings, sleep efficiency [TST divided by time in bed], sleep quality [5-point scale; “very good” to “very poor”], and how rested/refreshed the participant felt upon awakening [5-point scale; “very well” to “not at all”]), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS; administered 90 minutes post-polysomnography awakening at 9g-baseline and >9g-EOT), and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10 (FOSQ-10). LSM differences (95% CI) from 9g-baseline to >9g-EOT (nominal P-values) were 9g-baseline-adjusted. Results Forty-eight participants took LXB >9g (mean±SD age: 39.2±10.9 years; 62.5% female). Total stable-dose LXB (mean±SD) was 11.1±1.0 g/night (n=45). From 9g-baseline to >9g-EOT, ESS scores improved (LSM [95% CI]: –3.1 [–4.2, –1.9]; P< 0.0001; n=44), nocturnal TST increased (0.3h [0.1, 0.4]; P=0.0163; n=26), sleep efficiency increased (3.8% [1.7, 5.9]; P=0.0011; n=26), and number of awakenings remained stable (–0.2 [–0.7, 0.3]; P=0.3959; n=26). Percentage of participants rating sleep quality as “very good”/”good” increased from 26.9% (9g-baseline) to 61.5% (>9g-EOT), as did rested sleep (“very well”/”well”/”somewhat” rested) from 57.7% to 69.2%, respectively. From 9g-baseline to >9g-EOT, KSS scores decreased (–0.9 [–1.4, –0.4]; P=0.0004; n=39); FOSQ-10 scores also increased (1.3 [0.5, 2.0]; P=0.0014; n=40). Of 48 participants, 36 (75.0%) experienced ≥1 TEAE (mostly mild/moderate and 1 serious [syncope, unrelated to treatment]). No changes in respiratory polysomnography measures were observed. Conclusion Participants with narcolepsy who optimized to LXB >9 g/night, relative to 9 g/night, reported increased sleep quality and restfulness that paralleled improvements in daytime sleepiness and daytime functioning. TEAEs were consistent with those at lower dosages. Support (if any) Jazz Pharmaceuticals

OBJECTIVE Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is a rare type of brain tumor that affects a wide age range, from children to older adults. Due to the rarity of the disease, existing studies are predominantly limited to single-center or single-surgeon experiences, often lacking statistical power and generalizability. The aim of this study was to address this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of ACP outcomes based on a large multicenter cohort from the Registry of Adenomas of the Pituitary and Related Disorders (RAPID). METHODS This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted via the RAPID consortium and assessed patients with histologically confirmed ACP treated surgically between August 2000 and November 2024 at high-volume pituitary centers across the United States. RESULTS Among the 359 patients (206 male, median age at primary surgery of 47 years) included in the analysis, 76% underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and 22% underwent craniotomy. Gross-total resection was achieved in 45% and subtotal resection in 47%. Notably, 120 of 311 patients (39%) presented with preoperative hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction. Following all treatments, permanent hypothyroidism was reported in 40% of patients, adrenal insufficiency in 33%, and arginine vasopressin deficiency in 19%. Of 263 patients who underwent primary surgery, radiation therapy was administered in 84 (32%). Progression-free survival (PFS) declined from 66% at 1 year to 31% at 6 years. In the multivariable analysis, independent predictors of worse PFS included subtotal resection (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.11–0.42; p = 0.001), partial resection (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.04–0.28, p = 0.001), larger tumor size (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.94; p = 0.009), and tumor extension beyond the sella and suprasellar regions (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.74; p = 0.016). Primary surgery and salvage surgery groups showed comparable PFS. CONCLUSIONS In this large multicenter cohort study, gross-total resection was achieved in fewer than half of patients and was independently associated with improved PFS. Approximately one-third of patients underwent radiation therapy after primary surgery. These findings provide robust evidence supporting the prognostic value of extent of resection and inform contemporary treatment algorithms for ACP. The high incidence of postoperative endocrinopathy underscores the need for individualized multidisciplinary long-term care. While the retrospective design is a limitation, the multicenter approach enhances the generalizability of these results.

ABSTRACT Aims Exercise capacity is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk. In patients unable to exercise, body composition analysis can potentially be used to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness. We developed a body composition “fitness” score, then validated its utility in two external populations. Methods and Results We included patients from four sites undergoing single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and twelve sites undergoing positron emission tomography (PET). We quantified body composition using deep learning. We evaluated associations between body composition and good exercise capacity (defined as completing ≥7 minutes on a Bruce protocol) then developed a body composition “fitness” score. We then assessed the associations of “fitness” score with exercise capacity and all-cause mortality in external populations. In total, 36471 patients were included with median age 67 (interquartile range 58 – 74). Median skeletal muscle density was higher among patients with good exercise capacity. In the external SPECT population, the body composition “fitness” score had higher prediction performance for good exercise capacity (AUC 0.771, 95% CI 0.752 – 0.789) than age (AUC 0.717, p<0.01). In the external PET population, high body composition “fitness” score was associated with lower cardiovascular death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.62 – 0.79, p<0.001). Conclusions We demonstrated that a comprehensive body composition “fitness” score could identify patients with good cardiorespiratory fitness. This approach transforms routinely acquired CT data into a surrogate marker of fitness which can be applied in patients undergoing PET, or other CT imaging, where exercise testing is not performed. Graphical Abstract Overview of study design. The overall population (n=36471) was split as outlined above. Body composition was analyzed from available computed tomography imaging. The distribution of body composition measures were analyzed in the combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) populations. A body composition “fitness” score was derived to predict good exercise capacity in the internal population, with associations assessed in the two external testing populations.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Prospective studies of blood‐based biomarkers reflecting pathogenic processes, other than Alzheimer‐specific pathologies, that contribute to dementia in diverse cohorts are lacking. METHODS We jointly fitted linear mixed‐effect models and proportional hazards models to examine associations of midlife glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), chitinase‐3‐like protein 1 (YKL‐40), soluble cluster of differentiation‐14 (sCD14), neurofilament light chain (NfL), total tau (t‐tau), and ubiquitin C‐terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) levels in serum (collected in 1993 to 1995) with cognitive decline and incident dementia (ascertained over 29 years through 2022) in the community‐based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. sCD14 and YKL‐40 were measured in 3082 participants and the other four biomarkers in 1766 participants. RESULTS Higher serum GFAP, YKL‐40, sCD14, and NfL were associated with faster cognitive decline and elevated dementia rate (e.g., 1 standard deviation [SD] higher log‐base2 YKL‐40 was associated with −0.11SD faster 25‐year cognitive decline (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.15,−0.07) and 45% higher dementia hazard (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.45 [95% CI: 1.25, 1.68]). Higher t‐tau and UCHL1 were also associated with faster cognitive decline. DISCUSSION Midlife blood biomarkers reflecting glial and neuronal dysfunction and neuroinflammation are associated with early cognitive impairment.