Citations

Abstract Rationale Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is the defining morphology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Guidelines for IPF diagnosis conditionally recommend surgical lung biopsy for histopathology diagnosis of UIP when radiology and clinical context are not definitive. A “molecular diagnosis of UIP” in transbronchial lung biopsy, the Envisia Genomic Classifier, accurately predicted histopathologic UIP. Objectives We evaluated the combined accuracy of the Envisia Genomic Classifier and local radiology in the detection of UIP pattern. Methods Ninety-six patients who had diagnostic lung pathology as well as a transbronchial lung biopsy for molecular testing with Envisia Genomic Classifier were included in this analysis. The classifier results were scored against reference pathology. UIP identified on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) as documented by features in local radiologists’ reports was compared with histopathology. Measurements and Main Results In 96 patients, the Envisia Classifier achieved a specificity of 92.1% (confidence interval [CI],78.6–98.3%) and a sensitivity of 60.3% (CI, 46.6–73.0%) for histology-proven UIP pattern. Local radiologists identified UIP in 18 of 53 patients with UIP histopathology, with a sensitivity of 34.0% (CI, 21.5–48.3%) and a specificity of 96.9% (CI, 83.8–100%). In conjunction with HRCT patterns of UIP, the Envisia Classifier results identified 24 additional patients with UIP (sensitivity 79.2%; specificity 90.6%). Conclusions In 96 patients with suspected interstitial lung disease, the Envisia Genomic Classifier identified UIP regardless of HRCT pattern. These results suggest that recognition of a UIP pattern by the Envisia Genomic Classifier combined with HRCT and clinical factors in a multidisciplinary discussion may assist clinicians in making an interstitial lung disease (especially IPF) diagnosis without the need for a surgical lung biopsy.

mTOR activation has been observed in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS); however, mTOR complex (mTORC) 1 inhibition has had limited success thus far. mTOR activation alters the metabolic pathways, which is linked to survival and metastasis. These pathways have not been thoroughly analyzed in RMSs. We performed immunohistochemistry on 65 samples to analyze the expression of mTOR complexes (pmTOR, pS6, Rictor), and several metabolic enzymes (phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase-A, β-F1-ATPase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutaminase). RICTOR amplification, as a potential mechanism of Rictor overexpression, was analyzed by FISH and digital droplet PCR. In total, 64% of the studied primary samples showed mTOR activity with an mTORC2 dominance (82%). Chemotherapy did not cause any relevant change in mTOR activity. Elevated mTOR activity was associated with a worse prognosis in relapsed cases. RICTOR amplification was not confirmed in any of the cases. Our findings suggest the importance of the Warburg effect and the pentose-phosphate pathway beside a glutamine demand in RMS cells. The expression pattern of the studied mTOR markers can explain the inefficacy of mTORC1 inhibitor therapy. Therefore, we suggest performing a detailed investigation of the mTOR profile before administering mTORC1 inhibitor therapy. Furthermore, our findings highlight that targeting the metabolic plasticity could be an alternative therapeutic approach.

AbstractBackgroundLimited tools are available for the assessment of orthostatic tremor severity and disability.ObjectivesTo develop and validate a self‐administered orthostatic tremor scale.MethodsAfter expert consensus and literature review generating a list of 42 items, the scale was developed and modified for validation after a patient focus group, multiple rounds of Delphi panels, and cognitive interviews. Clinimetric evaluations included assessing content validity, internal consistency, measurement error and reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity anchored on the examiner's Clinical Global Impression score.ResultsEleven items ranked on a Likert scale from 0 (no disability/severity) to 5 (maximal disability/severity) were evaluated in 54 orthostatic tremor patients (16 men and 38 women; mean age: 69.17 ± 9.64 years; disease duration: 13.83 ± 11.24 years) to probe severity and disability over the preceding 1‐week period. The 11‐item scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.863) and acceptable (>0.40) item‐to‐total correlation. However, one item was removed at the final Delphi panel because of significant floor effect, poor item‐to‐total correlation, and poor factor‐loading, leaving the scale with 10 items (10‐item Orthostatic Tremor Severity and Disability Scale). Test‐retest reliability at 2 weeks was excellent (two‐way random intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.90), and the individual item test‐retest reliability showed good agreement, with a threshold weighted kappa >0.60 for all items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a parsimonious two‐factor construct accounting for 57.7% of the scale's variance. The 10‐item Orthostatic Tremor Severity and Disability Scale scores correlated with the CGI.ConclusionsThe self‐administered 10‐item Orthostatic Tremor Severity and Disability Scale scale is valid and reliable for capturing orthostatic tremor–related severity and disability. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Background and Purpose: Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug that is metabolized to its active form by the CYP2C19 enzyme. The CHANCE trial (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events) found a significant interaction between loss-of-function allele status for the CYP2C19 gene and the effect of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel on the rate of early recurrent stroke following acute transient ischemic attack/minor stroke. The POINT (Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke Trial), similar in design to CHANCE but performed largely in North America and Europe, demonstrated a reduction in early recurrent stroke with dual antiplatelet therapy compared with aspirin alone. This substudy was done to evaluate a potential interaction between loss-of-function CYP2C19 alleles and outcome by treatment group in POINT. Methods: Of the 269 sites in 10 countries that enrolled patients in POINT, 134 sites participated in this substudy. DNA samples were genotyped for CYP2C19 *2, *3, and *17 alleles and classified as being carriers or noncarriers of loss-of-function alleles. Major ischemia consisted of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemic vascular death. Results: Nine hundred thirty-two patients provided analyzable DNA. The rates of major ischemia were 6.7% for the aspirin group versus 2.3% for the dual antiplatelet therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.09–1.21]; P =0.09) among carriers of loss-of-function allele. The rates of major ischemia were 5.6% for the aspirin group versus 3.7% for the dual antiplatelet therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.32–1.34]; P =0.25) among noncarriers. There was no significant interaction by genotype for major ischemia ( P =0.36) or stroke ( P =0.33). Conclusions: This substudy of POINT found no significant interaction with CYP2C19 loss-of-function carrier status and outcome by treatment group. Failure to confirm the findings from the CHANCE trial may be because the loss-of-function alleles tested are not clinically important in this context or because the 2 trials had differences in racial/ethnic composition. Additionally, differences between the 2 trials might be due to chance as our statistical power was limited to 50%. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00991029.

ABSTRACT Background: The routine use of empiric combination therapy with aminoglycosides during critical illness is associated with uncertain benefit and increased risk of acute kidney injury. This study aimed to assess the benefits of aminoglycosides in immunocompromised patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter study. Adult immunocompromised patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia and sepsis or septic shock were included. Primary outcome was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were needed for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Mortality was also assessed in neutropenic patients and in those with confirmed bacterial pneumonia. Results were further analyzed in a cohort matched on risk of receiving aminoglycosides combination. Results: Five hundred thirty-five patients were included in this analysis, of whom 187 (35%) received aminoglycosides in addition to another antibiotic effective against gram-negative bacteria. Overall hospital mortality was 59.6% (58.3% vs. 60.3% in patients receiving and not receiving combination therapy; P = 0.71). Lack of association between mortality and aminoglycosides was confirmed after adjustment for confounders and center effect (adjusted OR 1.14 [0.69–1.89]) and in a propensity matched cohort (adjusted OR = 0.89 [0.49–1.61]). No association was found between aminoglycosides and need for RRT (adjusted OR = 0.83 [0.49–1.39], P = 0.477), nor between aminoglycoside use and outcome in neutropenic patients or in patients with confirmed bacterial pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.66 [0.23–1.85] and 1.25 [0.61–2.57], respectively). Conclusion: Aminoglycoside combination therapy was not associated with hospital mortality or need for renal replacement therapy in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary sepsis.

Abstract Tumor-induced Osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare condition in which excess FGF23 produced by a tumor leads to renal phosphate wasting, impaired 1,25(OH)2D synthesis, osteomalacia, fractures, weakness, fatigue, and decreased mobility. In an ongoing open-label Phase 2 study (NCT02304367), 17 adults with TIO or cutaneous skeletal hypophosphatemia syndrome (CSHS) were enrolled and received burosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against FGF23. Key endpoints were changes in serum phosphorus and osteomalacia as assessed from trans-iliac crest bone biopsies. This report excludes 3/17 subjects who did not have TIO: 2 subjects diagnosed with X-linked hypophosphatemia post-enrollment and 1 subject with CSHS. Serum phosphorus increased from baseline (BL; 1.60 mg/dL) and was maintained after titration, from Week (W) 22 (2.85 mg/dL, dosing cycle midpoint) to W144 (2.56 mg/dL, dosing cycle endpoint, p<0.0001). Serum TmP/GFR and 1,25(OH)2D also increased with burosumab. Eleven subjects underwent paired bone biopsies at BL and W48. Osteoid volume/bone volume decreased from a mean ± SE of 17.6% ± 5.9% at BL to 12.1% ± 4.7% at W48 (p=0.086). Mean ± SE osteoid thickness decreased from 16.5 ± 3.6 µm to 11.3 ± 2.8 µm (p<0.05). Using imputation (Dempster et al. 2012), mineralization lag time decreased from a mean ± SE of 1598 ± 420 days to 1032 ± 712 days (p=0.41). Osteoid surface/bone surface showed no change from BL (mean ± SE BL: 57% ± 9%, W48: 57% ± 7%). Of 249 areas identified with increased uptake on bone scan at BL, 68 (27%) and 81 (33%) were fully healed at W96 and W144, respectively; 56 (23%) and 32 (13%) were partially healed at W96 and W144, respectively. Mean (SD) Global Fatigue Score decreased from 5.6 (2.5) at BL to 3.5 (3.0) at W48, and to 3.8 (2.2) at W144 (both p<0.01). All 3 domains of the Brief Pain Inventory decreased with burosumab (W144 Pain Severity and Pain Interference p<0.05), indicating reduced pain. The SF-36 mean (SD) physical component summary score increased from 33 (10) at BL to 39 (10) at W48 (p<0.05) and to 41 (12) at W144 (p<0.01), indicating improved physical functioning. The mean (SD) number of sit-to-stand repetitions, an assessment of proximal muscle function, increased from 6.7 (4.2) at BL to 8.5 (4.2) at W48 (n=10; p<0.01). All subjects had ≥1 adverse event (AE). Two subjects discontinued: 1 to undergo chemotherapy to treat an AE of neoplasm progression and 1 failed to meet serum phosphorus dosing criteria and therefore received minimal burosumab dosing. There were 16 serious AEs in 7 subjects, all unrelated to drug. Of the 6 subjects with a serious AE of tumor progression/compression, 5 had a history of tumor progression prior to enrollment. There was 1 death, considered unrelated to treatment. In adults with TIO Syndrome, burosumab was associated with improvements in phosphate metabolism, osteomalacia, skeletal metabolism/fracture healing, physical functioning, fatigue, pain, and quality of life.

Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. Methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Findings In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Interpretation Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.