Citations

BACKGROUND: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) may result in dissecting aneurysm (DA) formation. We aimed to characterize risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with DA in a large, international CeAD cohort. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of STOP-CAD (Antithrombotic Treatment for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection), an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort. Patients with spontaneous CeAD were assessed for DA at baseline and de novo DA formation. Significant covariates in univariable analysis were included in multivariable regression models aiming to identify factors associated with DA formation. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the association of DA with ischemic and hemorrhagic outcomes. RESULTS: Among 4008 patients with CeAD, 546 (13.6%) had a DA at baseline, and 221/2938 (7.5%) patients developed a de novo DA during follow-up, of which 172/221 (78.2%) were detected in the first 180 days. Patients with DA had a mean age of 47 years, and 383 (49.9%) were women. Baseline or de novo DA was associated with a history of connective tissue disorder (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.02 [95% CI, 1.22–3.36]), fibromuscular dysplasia (aOR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.28–2.25]), and multiple vessel dissection (aOR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.19–1.98]). Lower odds of DA were seen in Hispanic ethnicity (aOR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.43–0.97]) and ischemic stroke presentation (aOR, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.34–0.49]). Fibromuscular dysplasia was associated with de novo DA formation (aOR, 2.30 [95% CI, 1.52–3.49]). DA was not associated with ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.44–1.16]; P =0.173) or intracranial hemorrhage (HR, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.42–2.84]; P =0.86) by day 180. CONCLUSIONS: DAs are relatively common manifestations of CeAD, typically occurring within 6 months of CeAD diagnosis. DA was not associated with an increased risk of subsequent ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage.

Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of neural axial abnormalities in congenital early-onset scoliosis (C-EOS) patients stratified by age group, correlate prevalence of treatment, and determine if a delay in MRIs affects outcomes. Methods: A multicenter registry with data on 751 C-EOS patients was retrospectively reviewed, of which 659 patients were included. Data included demographics, pre-index major coronal curve, age at first MRI, intraspinal MRI findings, neurosurgical interventions and scoliosis fixation performed, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR) for orthopaedic complications. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts utilizing age 3 as a cutoff. This age cutoff was selected based on an FDA warning of the potential neurocognitive effects of anesthesia used for MRIs in patients younger than 3 years. Spearman Rho correlations, independent t tests, and χ 2 tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Patients were divided into 2 groups: first MRI younger than or equal to 3 years of age (n=277) and older than 3 years of age (n=382). One hundred thirty-three abnormal MRIs were identified (20%). There was no significant correlation between age at MRI and abnormal intraspinal findings (rs= −0.018, P =0.64). Among patients with abnormal MRIs, no correlation existed between age at MRI and UPROR. In this cohort, 23 neurosurgical procedures were performed and no significant difference was found in UPROR between groups ( P =0.54). There were 3 neurologic complications in the younger than or equal to 3-year group and 0 in the older than 3-year group ( P =0.07). No significant difference was found in mean pre-index major coronal curve ( P =0.25). Conclusions: The prevalence of neural axis abnormalities in C-EOS was 20%. There was no significant correlation between age at first MRI and the chance of an abnormal MRI. There were no significant differences in neurological complications and UPROR between the younger than or equal to 3-year and older than 3-year groups. Thus, in C-EOS, MRI may be cautiously deferred until after the age of 3 in patients with normal neurological examinations and radiological findings.

Objectives: Smoking is a key risk factor for pancreatitis, contributing to pathogenesis and disease progression. Data regarding second-hand smoking, or passive smoking (PS) exposure, are lacking. We therefore aimed to assess the impact of PS exposure across the pancreatitis spectrum. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from the PROCEED study, a multicenter study in the United States including patients with acute (AP), recurrent acute (RAP), and chronic (CP) pancreatitis. Participants detailed their individual smoking history and PS exposure, which was compared between AP, RAP, and CP subgroups. Participant factors and clinical characteristics were compared by level of individual and PS exposure. Results: Among 1369 participants (190 AP, 498 RAP, 681 CP), 346 (25.3%) were current and 409 (29.9%) were former smokers. The CP subgroup had the highest proportion of current smokers (36.7% CP vs 15.1% RAP, 11.1% AP, P < 0.001). PS exposure was also significantly higher in the CP subgroup (68.6% CP vs 58.2% RAP, 55.3% AP, P < 0.001). A minority (16.3%) with CP reported no smoking exposure (by self or passive) while nearly half smoked ≥20 pack-years. The mean PS duration was significantly higher in CP participants (21.8 y) compared with those with AP (17.8 y) or RAP (18.9 y) ( P < 0.0166). Conclusions: In this multicenter study, we affirmed an association with smoking use and intensity with CP-related complications. For the first time, we report a high prevalence of prior exposure to passive smoking in all pancreatitis subtypes, which requires further study to understand the impact on disease outcomes.

Death or dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells occurs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and certain inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived-RPE have been used in early-stage clinical trials to treat AMD and IRDs by injecting them as a cell suspension or monolayers. While RPE transplant shows therapeutic potential, issues ranging from failure to repopulate the entire treatment area, clumping and monolayer folding, and a foreign body response to the support have been reported. We’ve shown that RPE can be grown on high concentration (&gt;30 mg/mL) degradable fibrin hydrogels, and that cell free fibrin hydrogels implanted in the subretinal space degrade without causing inflammation. Here we describe manufacture and surgical implantation of degradable fibrin hydrogels carrying iPSC-RPE into a porcine model of geographic atrophy (GA). Large (15.25 × 58.42 × 0.2 mm) fibrin gel blanks were produced by injection molding, and iPSC-RPE were grown on their surface. Using a mechanical punch, the blank was subdivided into 1.5 × 5.0 × 0.2 mm doses, which fit a custom tool used for storage and surgical placement. Following aseptic packaging, RPE and gels were stable at 37 °C for at least 7 weeks. When transplanted into a pig model of GA, the fibrin scaffold degraded in &lt;1 month and the iPSC-RPE provided partial rescue from GA as assessed by preservation of photoreceptors and blood flow in the choriocapillaris. We conclude that iPSC-RPE delivered on degradable fibrin hydrogels represent a potentially safe and effective approach to RPE transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical artery dissection (CeAD) may experience a recurrent dissection, but its frequency, risk factors, and clinical implications are not well defined. We aimed to determine the risk, associated factors, and clinical impact of recurrent CeAD. METHODS: The STOP-CAD study (Antithrombotic Treatment for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection) was a multicenter international retrospective observational study of patients with CeAD treated between January 2015 and June 2022. Recurrent dissection was defined as a CeAD occurring at least 7 days after the diagnosis of the index event that affects a different artery or a different segment of the same artery. Patients were followed from day 7 up to 2 years. The absolute risk of recurrent CeAD over time was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models were used to assess predictors of CeAD recurrence. RESULTS: Of the 4023 patients included in STOP-CAD, 3836 (median age 46 years, 45% women) were eligible for this analysis. During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 295 (97–720) days, 88 (2.29%) patients had a CeAD recurrence. Median time-to-recurrent CeAD was 53 (interquartile range, 18–157) days. The estimated risk of recurrent CeAD at 2 years was 3.22% (95% CI, 2.59%–4.00%). In multivariable analyses, younger age (adjusted odds ratios, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96–0.99]), migraine (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.14–3.07]), and fibromuscular dysplasia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.90 [95% CI, 1.66–5.06]) were associated with CeAD recurrence, while presenting with an ischemic stroke was associated with a lower likelihood of recurrence (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.29–0.75]). These associations with CeAD recurrence over time were confirmed by Cox regression analyses. Among the 88 patients with recurrent CeAD, only 5 had accompanying ischemic events (3 strokes, 2 transient ischemic attacks). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, recurrent CeAD was uncommon, approximately half of the events were diagnosed within the first 2 months of the index event, and recurrent events rarely caused new ischemic events. Younger age, migraine, absence of ischemic stroke at presentation, and signs of fibromuscular dysplasia may help identify high-risk patients.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Small Cell Lung Cancer provide recommendations for diagnostic workup, staging, and treatment. These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight recent updates, with a particular focus on changes to systemic therapies and radiation treatment in the NCCN Guidelines for Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Abstract Background More than 85% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) donor brains exhibit some degree of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which is characterized predominantly by Aβ40 deposits in the brain vasculature and can cause blood brain barrier (BBB) leakage. CAA is associated with risk of infarcts, cerebral hemorrhages, and cognitive decline. Brain cell type‐specific mechanisms that influence CAA pathology, as well as related measures such as Aβ40 biochemical measures and tight junction proteins, an indicator of BBB integrity, are still elusive. Method We performed single‐nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) of temporal cortex tissue from 79 AD donors, with varying levels of CAA co‐pathology. Measurements of soluble, insoluble and membrane‐associated fractions of brain Aβ40 and tight junction protein (claudin‐5, occludin) levels were available for these donors. We correlated these measures with cell proportions. We also conducted differential gene expression and analyses for intercellular communications and regulatory networks. Result We identified 25 clusters and annotated them with major brain cell types. There were 3 oligodendrocyte, 7 excitatory and 7 inhibitory neuronal, 2 microglial, 2 astrocytic, and 1 each for endothelial, pericytic, fibroblast, and oligodendrocyte precursor cell clusters. We found that higher CAA and Aβ40 levels correlate with reduced neuronal and increased microglial, astrocytic and vascular cell proportions. Increased tight junction proteins correlate with increased inhibitory neuronal and reduced microglial, astrocytic and vascular cell proportions. Among all clusters, one microglial, both astrocytic and the pericytic clusters have greater number of genes significantly associated with CAA, Aβ40 and tight junction protein levels. Most significant genes have negative associations with CAA and membrane‐bound Aβ40 and positive with tight junction protein measures. Using these genes as input for intercellular communications analysis, we prioritized ligand‐target interactions from microglia or astrocytes to pericytes. Some of the prioritized targets are transcription factors in pericytes. Using regulon analysis, we identified genes downstream of these transcription factors that are also significantly associated with lower CAA and membrane‐bound Aβ40 and higher tight junction protein levels. Conclusion We revealed glia‐to‐pericytes intercellular interactions and pericytic gene regulatory networks that are potentially perturbed by CAA and BBB breakdown. Future directions include analyzing external snRNAseq datasets and performing functional validations.

Abstract The immune mechanisms underlying Kawasaki disease (KD), a febrile systemic vasculitis in children, are poorly understood. Reports indicate elevated levels of circulating IL-33 in acute KD patients; however, if IL-33 contributes to the pathogenesis of KD vasculitis remains unclear. Here, we used the Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE)-induced murine model of KD to determine the contribution of IL-33 to vasculitis development. We observed increased expression of Il33 transcripts and IL-33 protein in LCWE-induced cardiovascular lesions. Bone marrow chimera experiments suggest that IL-33 production by both hematopoietic and stromal cells is important for LCWE-induced KD vasculitis; however, single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and flow cytometric analysis revealed that stromal cells were the predominant sources of IL-33. Furthermore, immune cells infiltrating LCWE-induced cardiovascular lesions expressed Il1rl1 transcripts, coding for the IL-33 receptor ST2. In vitro stimulation of bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-33 enhanced their production of IL-1b and TNF-α. In vivo blockade of IL-33, using either neutralizing IL-33 antibody or Il33-/- mice, effectively attenuated LCWE-induced cardiovascular inflammation. Our results indicate that IL-33 contributes to LCWE-induced vascular inflammation through redundant mechanisms across multiple immune cell subsets rather than a single population and highlight IL-33 as a potential therapeutic target.

ABSTRACT Accurate identification of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus (BE) remains a challenge. Advanced optical imaging techniques may allow for better localization of dysplasia in BE. Here, we have assessed the potential clinical utility of a previously described multimodal imaging probe combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) with angle‐resolved low coherence interferometry (a/LCI) to prospectively identify dysplasia in BE. Imaging was conducted on 37 patients undergoing endoscopic surveillance of BE, yielding co‐registered biopsies of 50 esophageal sites. The a/LCI nuclear morphology data were compared to a previous decision line to prospectively predict dysplasia, demonstrating 100% sensitivity, 93% specificity, and 94% overall accuracy. The NPV was 100%, comparable to previous a/LCI studies. The addition of OCT imaging markedly improved PPV and specificity, compared to previous studies with a/LCI alone, illustrating the clinical utility of the combined platform. These findings suggest that combining OCT and a/LCI enables better detection of dysplasia by providing better guidance.