Abstract Introduction: Immunoassay technology is subject to matrix interferences that can produce inaccurate results and incorrect conclusions when using samples not previously validated. While many commercially available research grade (RG) immunoassay kits are available, caution should be applied when using RG kits for thyroid health assessments, particularly on samples from pregnant individuals whose blood chemistry is unique to non-pregnant individuals. Question: Do RG immunoassay kits reliably provide precise and accurate measurements of thyroid health biomarkers in serum Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) from pregnant and non-pregnant donors? Methods: T4, T3, rT3, Tg and TSH measurements were conducted on SRMs 971, Hormones in Frozen Human Serum, and SRM 1949, Frozen Prenatal Serum, using RG immunoassay kits. When available, performance was assessed against validated FDA approved immunoassays or mass spectrometric (MS) methods. Results: RG kits were variable, inaccurate, or imprecise for four of the six biomarkers assessed. RG kit total thyroid hormone measurements overall performed comparably to MS methods, except rT3 measurements, which were twofold greater than mass spectrometric measurements (971M RG mean = 0.51 ng/mL, MS mean = 0.20 ng/mL, p < 0.0001; 971F RG = 0.48 ng/mL, MS = 0.18 ng/mL, p < 0.0001) and had CVs over 30 %. RG kit Tg measurements varied sometimes by as much as tenfold (971M means of 6.50 ng/mL up to 63.3 ng/mL, p < 0.0001; 971F means of 0.350 ng/mL up to 14.5 mg/mL, p < 0.0001). TSH values differed by RG kit manufacturer (971M means of 1.27 µIU/mL up to 1.82 µIU/mL, p < 0.0001; 971F means of 1.36 µIU/mL up to 2.27 µIU/mL, p < 0.0001) and by dilution scheme using the same manufacturer with one case indicating a diagnosis of hypothyroid versus normal TSH levels (1949 non-pregnant undiluted mean = 2325 pg/mL, half dilution mean = 1631 pg/mL, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: RG immunoassays are often used for research projects because they do not require expensive equipment and are simple to conducted. However, we demonstrate here that not all kits are accurate for all patient samples. By utilizing a matrix matched SRM with well-defined quantities of thyroid health biomarkers, one can assess method accuracy, making measurements from different methods comparable. Thereby, data can be harmonized to contribute reliable data on thyroid biomarkers to advance the field of thyroid health.
Urinary Steroid Metabolome Signature Is Associated With Pre-Frailty and Frailty Phenotype in Older Adults
Abstract Background: Frailty is characterized by an increased vulnerability and a decline in physiological reserve. Frailty has been previously linked to cortisol concentrations and blunted diurnal cortisol secretion. Our objective was to determine the association of urine steroid metabolome and its diurnal variation with frailty and prefrailty in older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults ≥ 50 years. Participants with adrenal disorders, end-stage renal or liver disease, on exogenous steroids or drugs affecting steroid metabolism were excluded. All participants completed day and night separate urine collection. Frailty was assessed using a phenotype model (weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, low physical activity, and slow walking pace). Participants were characterized as frail if they met at least three criteria, pre-frail if they fulfilled one or two criteria, and robust if no criteria were met. Urine samples were analyzed with the liquid-chromatography, high-resolution, accurate-mass mass spectrometry for 25 urine steroid metabolites. Results: Of 119 participants, 60 (50.4%) were women, without sex differences in age or education status. On frailty assessment, 5 (4.2%) participants were frail and 33 (27.7%) were prefrail, with equal sex distribution. Urine steroid metabolome analysis demonstrated 21/25 steroids were higher in men vs women. In an age adjusted model, presence of prefrailty or frailty was associated with a higher ratio of total cortisol metabolites/total androgen metabolites (TCM/TAM) in men (estimate 0.64, P-value= 0.0004), but not in women. In men, after adjusting for age, among cortisol metabolites, lower day to night ratio of 5α-Tetrahydrocortisol (estimate -0.36, P-value= 0.0419) and β-Cortol (estimate -0.35, P-value= 0.0238) were associated with frail or prefrail phenotype. After adjusting for age, higher ratio of TCM/TAM was associated lower gait speed in men (estimate -1.2, P-value= 0.046) and women (estimate -3.9, P-value= 0.012); and lower hand grip strength in men (estimate -0.04, P-value= 0.046) but not in women. Conclusion: We showed that a higher glucocorticoid to androgen ratio and a flattened circadian steroid variation were associated with presence of frail or prefrail phenotype in men. Further studies should examine the role of steroid metabolism and HPA axis impairment, and the associated sex differences, in the functional decline in aging population.
Urinary Steroid Metabolome Signature is Associated With Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Abstract Background: Elevated urine cortisol (<1% of urinary steroid metabolome) was reported to predict future development of dementia. Our objective was to determine the association of urine steroid metabolome and its diurnal variation with cognitive function in men and women. Methods: Cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults ≥ 50 years. Participants with adrenal disorders, end-stage renal or liver disease, on exogenous steroids or drugs affecting steroid metabolism were excluded. All participants completed day and night separate urine collection. A series of seven IPad-based tests using the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery were administered to evaluate five key domains; performance was reported using fully corrected T-scores for age, sex, education, and race with a national normative mean of 50. T-scores were generated for the two summary measures: 1) fluid cognition (includes executive function, episodic memory, working memory, and processing speed), and 2) total composite (composite of fluid and language score). Urine samples were analyzed with the liquid-chromatography, high-resolution, accurate-mass mass spectrometry for 25 urine steroid metabolites. Results: Of 109 participants, 56 (51%) were women, and age and educational status were similar in men and women. On cognitive assessment, men and women had similar median composite cognition (T-score of 53 vs 54, p=0.74) and fluid cognition (T-score of 53 vs 51, p-value 0.96). Urine steroid metabolome analysis demonstrated 21/25 steroids were higher in men vs women. In both women and men, the ratio of total cortisol metabolites/total androgen metabolites (TCM/TAM) was associated with lower fluid cognition (women: ρ= -0.34, p=0.01, men: ρ= -0.43, p=0.001) and composite cognition (women: ρ= -0.27, p=0.04, men: ρ= -0.39, p=0.004). Higher ratio of day to night TCM were associated with a better fluid cognition in men (ρ= 0.35, p=0.01), but not in women (ρ= -0.11, p=0.41). Steroid ratios suggesting a relative enzymatic deficiency of 5α-Reductase type 2 was associated with lower fluid cognition in women (ρ= -0.29, p=0.03). In men, the fluid composite score was associated with a relative deficiency in 21-Hydroxylase (ρ= 0.42, p=0.002), 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (ρ= 0.43, p=0.001), and P450oxidoreductase (ρ= -0.35, p=0.01). Conclusion: We showed that a higher glucocorticoid to androgen ratio and a flattened circadian steroid variation were associated with lower global and fluid cognition score. Steroid ratios reflecting steroidogenesis enzymatic activity demonstrated sex differences in relation to cognition. Additional studies should examine whether the steroid fingerprint associated with lower cognition is predictive of a future dementia onset.
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Surgical Management of Ulcerative Colitis
AbstractCalcium channels (CCs), a group of ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins, are involved in many pathophysiological processes of protozoan parasites. Our understanding of CCs in cell signaling, organelle function, cellular homeostasis, and cell cycle control has led to improved insights into their structure and functions. In this article, we discuss CCs characteristics of five major protozoan parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma, Trypanosoma, and Cryptosporidium. We provide a comprehensive review of current antiparasitic drugs and the potential of using CCs as new therapeutic targets. Interestingly, previous studies have demonstrated that human CC modulators can kill or sensitize parasites to antiparasitic drugs. Still, none of the parasite CCs, pumps, or transporters has been validated as drug targets. Information for this review draws from extensive data mining of genome sequences, chemical library screenings, and drug design studies. Parasitic resistance to currently approved therapeutics is a serious and emerging threat to both disease control and management efforts. In this article, we suggest that the disruption of calcium homeostasis may be an effective approach to develop new anti‐parasite drug candidates and reduce parasite resistance.
Pralatrexate in Combination with Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisone (CHOP) in Previously Untreated Patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL): A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study
Abstract Background: The prognosis of patients with PTCL remains poor after standard CHOP therapy - the most commonly used combination regimen. Relapses occur in the majority of patients, and curability rates of the relapsed disease are very low. Hence, advances in front-line therapy of PTCL are long overdue. Pralatrexate, a second-generation antifolate, demonstrated a single agent activity in patients with relapsed and refractory PTCL with a response rate of 27%, including complete remissions in 11% of patients (O'Connor et al. J Clin Onc 2011). We conducted a Phase 1 multi-center dose-escalation study of pralatrexate in combination with standard CHOP (Fol-CHOP) in treatment-naïve PTCL patients. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of pralatrexate when administered with a standard CHOP regimen to patients with newly diagnosed PTCL. The secondary objectives included safety, tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of pralatrexate in combination with CHOP (Fol-CHOP). Methods: In Part 1 of this 3+3 dose-escalation study, pralatrexate was administered at 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 mg/m2 as an IV push on days 1 and 8 of a standard 21-day CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 [maximum 2 mg] on day 1 and oral prednisone 100 mg on days 1-5). In Part 2 of the study patients were treated at the MTD of pralatrexate established in Part 1, with standard CHOP. In both parts of the study patients were treated with up to 6 cycles of therapy, or until toxicity or disease progression. Patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis, myeloid growth factor support, and "leucovorin rescue" throughout 6 cycles of therapy. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were considered during the 1st cycle of Fol-CHOP and included: Grade 4 infections, treatment-related non-hematological toxicity ≥Grade 3, platelet count < 25 X 109/L at any time, or ANC < 0.5 X 109/L for >7 days despite G-CSF administration. Responses were assessed by the investigator per the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson 2007). Results: A total of 31 patients have been enrolled (19 in Part 1; 12 in Part 2). MTD was not reached and pralatrexate dose of 30 mg/m2 in combination with CHOP was selected for Part 2 of the study as predefined by the protocol. The majority of patients were male, White, with the median age of 66 yrs (range, 18-78) at the time of enrolment. PTCL diagnoses included: anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphomakinase-negative (ALCL, ALK-, n=5), peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not-otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS, n=18), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n=5). Fol-CHOP was generally well tolerated with median RDI of 98%. Common (≥ 30%) adverse events (AEs) of any grade were fatigue (n=23), constipation (n=20), nausea (n=16), mucositis (n=14), diarrhea (n=12), anemia (n=9), vomiting (n=10) and oral pain (n=10). Most common (≥ 10%) AEs ≥ grade 3 were anemia (n=6), fatigue (n=4) and neutrophil count decreas (n=5). The only Grade >3 treatment-related AEs (≥10%) was neutrophil count decrease (n=4). SAEs were observed in 13 patients, treatment related SAEs were anemia, febrile neutropenia, dehydration, mucositis and nausea. Five patients withdrew from study: 2 due to disease progression, 1 due to AE and 2 due lapse >28 days between doses. In the 27 patients avaluable for response, the investigator assessed objective response (OR) and complete response (CR) rates were 89% wand 67%, respectively. Conclusions: The combination of pralatrexate and CHOP was well tolerated in treatment-naive PTCL patients. MTD of pralatrexate was not reached, and the protocol-defined maximum dose of 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day CHOP cycle was recomended for future studies. The observed OR and CR rates warrant further evaluation of this regimen in newly diagnosed PTCL patients. Disclosures Shustov: Celgene: Other: Publication assistance; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Bhat: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Reddy: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Employment.
Allogeneic stem cell transplant for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms in blast phase: improving outcomes in the recent era
High-grade transformation (HGT) or dedifferentiation has been described in a variety of salivary gland carcinomas, including acinic cell carcinoma, secretory carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, polymorphous adenocarcinoma, low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma. High-grade (HG) transformed tumors are composed of a conventional low-grade component characterized by specific microscopic and immunohistochemical features for the given entity, intermingled with or juxtaposed to areas of HG morphology. This is usually either poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, carcinoma not otherwise specified, or undifferentiated carcinoma, in which the original line of differentiation is lost. The HG component is composed of solid nests of anaplastic cells with large vesicular pleomorphic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and abundant cytoplasm. Frequent mitoses and extensive necrosis may be present. The Ki-67 labeling index is consistently higher in the HG component. The molecular genetic mechanisms responsible for HGT of salivary gland carcinomas are largely unknown, though p53 inactivation and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression and/or gene amplification have been demonstrated in the HG component in a few examples, the frequency varies for each histologic type. Salivary gland carcinomas with HGT are more aggressive than conventional carcinomas, with a higher local recurrence rate and a poorer prognosis. They have a high propensity for cervical lymph node metastasis suggesting a need for a wider resection and neck dissection. HGT of salivary gland carcinoma can occur either at initial presentation or less commonly at the time of recurrence, sometimes following postoperative radiotherapy. The potential for HGT in almost any type of salivary gland carcinoma warrants a thorough sampling of all salivary gland malignancies to prevent oversight of a HG component.