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ImportanceIncreased white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume is a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding in both autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) and late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD), but it remains unclear whether increased WMH along the AD continuum is reflective of AD-intrinsic processes or secondary to elevated systemic vascular risk factors.ObjectiveTo estimate the associations of neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis with WMH accumulation and investigate whether systemic vascular risk is associated with WMH beyond these AD-intrinsic processes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used data from 3 longitudinal cohort studies conducted in tertiary and community-based medical centers—the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN; February 2010 to March 2020), the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI; July 2007 to September 2021), and the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS; September 2010 to December 2019).Main Outcome and MeasuresThe main outcomes were the independent associations of neurodegeneration (decreases in gray matter volume), parenchymal amyloidosis (assessed by amyloid positron emission tomography), and vessel amyloidosis (evidenced by cerebral microbleeds [CMBs]) with cross-sectional and longitudinal WMH.ResultsData from 3960 MRI sessions among 1141 participants were included: 252 pathogenic variant carriers from DIAN (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [11.2] years; 137 [54%] female), 571 older adults from ADNI (mean [SD] age, 72.8 [7.3] years; 274 [48%] female), and 318 older adults from HABS (mean [SD] age, 72.4 [7.6] years; 194 [61%] female). Longitudinal increases in WMH volume were greater in individuals with CMBs compared with those without (DIAN: t = 3.2 [P = .001]; ADNI: t = 2.7 [P = .008]), associated with longitudinal decreases in gray matter volume (DIAN: t = −3.1 [P = .002]; ADNI: t = −5.6 [P < .001]; HABS: t = −2.2 [P = .03]), greater in older individuals (DIAN: t = 6.8 [P < .001]; ADNI: t = 9.1 [P < .001]; HABS: t = 5.4 [P < .001]), and not associated with systemic vascular risk (DIAN: t = 0.7 [P = .40]; ADNI: t = 0.6 [P = .50]; HABS: t = 1.8 [P = .06]) in individuals with ADAD and LOAD after accounting for age, gray matter volume, CMB presence, and amyloid burden. In older adults without CMBs at baseline, greater WMH volume was associated with CMB development during longitudinal follow-up (Cox proportional hazards regression model hazard ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.72-4.03; P < .001).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings suggest that increased WMH volume in AD is associated with neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis but not with elevated systemic vascular risk. Additionally, increased WMH volume may represent an early sign of vessel amyloidosis preceding the emergence of CMBs.

AbstractBackgroundAs heart transplant guidelines evolve, the clinical indication for 73% of durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implants is now destination therapy. Although completely magnetically levitated LVAD devices have demonstrated improved durability relative to previous models, LVAD replacement procedures are still required for a variety of indications. Thus, the population of patients with a replaced LVAD is growing. There is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes and risk factors for those patients receiving first‐time LVAD replacements.MethodsThe study cohort consisted of all consecutive patients between 2006 and 2020 that received a first‐time LVAD replacement at a single institution. Preoperative clinical and laboratory variables were collected retrospectively. The primary endpoint was death or need for an additional LVAD replacement. Data were subjected to Kaplan–Meier, univariate, and multivariate Cox hazard ratio analyses.ResultsIn total, 152 patients were included in the study, of which 101 experienced the primary endpoint. On multivariate analysis, patients receiving HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVADs as the replacement device showed superior outcomes (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.065–0.35, p < 0.0001). Independent risk factors for death or need for additional replacement included preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (HR 4.44, 95% CI 1.87–14.45, and p = 0.00042), increased number of sternotomies (HR 5.20, 95% CI 1.87–14.45, and p = 0.0016), and preoperative mechanical ventilation (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.01–3.86, and p = 0.045).ConclusionsReplacement with HM3 showed superior outcomes compared to all other pump types when controlling for both initial pump type and other independent predictors of death or LVAD replacement. Preoperative ECMO, mechanical ventilation, and multiple sternotomies also increased the odds for death or the need for subsequent replacement.

Abstract Objectives We investigated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women with autoimmune diseases (AID) in the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study. Methods Delayed-onset (&gt;7 days) vaccine-related adverse events (AE), disease flares and AID-related treatment modifications were analysed upon diagnosis of AID vs healthy controls (HC) and the pregnancy/breastfeeding status at the time of at least one dose of vaccine. Results Among the 9201 participants to the self-administered online survey, 6787 (73.8%) were women. Forty pregnant and 52 breastfeeding patients with AID were identified, of whom the majority had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine (100% and 96.2%, respectively). AE were reported significantly more frequently in pregnant than in non-pregnant patients (overall AE 45% vs 26%, P = 0.01; minor AE 40% vs 25.9%, P = 0.03; major AE 17.5% vs 4.6%, P &lt; 0.01), but no difference was found in comparison with pregnant HC. No difference was observed between breastfeeding patients and HC with respect to AE. Post-vaccination disease flares were reported by 17.5% of pregnant and 20% of breastfeeding patients, and by 18.3% of age- and disease-matched non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding patients (n = 262). All pregnant/breastfeeding patients who experienced a disease flare were managed with glucocorticoids; 28.6% and 20% of them required initiation or change in immunosuppressants, respectively. Conclusion This study provides reassuring insights into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines administered to women with AID during the gestational and post-partum periods, helping overcome hesitant attitudes, as the benefits for the mother and for the fetus by passive immunization appear to outweigh potential risks.

Abstract The link between bipolar disorder (BP) and immune dysfunction remains controversial. While epidemiological studies have long suggested an association, recent research has found only limited evidence of such a relationship. To clarify this, we investigated the contributions of immune-relevant genetic factors to the response to lithium (Li) treatment and the clinical presentation of BP. First, we assessed the association of a large collection of immune-related genes (4,925) with Li response, defined by the Retrospective Assessment of the Lithium Response Phenotype Scale (Alda scale), and clinical characteristics in patients with BP from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen, N = 2,374). Second, we calculated here previously published polygenic scores (PGSs) for immune-related traits and evaluated their associations with Li response and clinical features. We found several genes associated with Li response at p < 1x10− 4 values, including HAS3, CNTNAP5 and NFIB. Network and functional enrichment analyses uncovered an overrepresentation of pathways involved in cell adhesion and intercellular communication, which appear to converge on the well-known Li-induced inhibition of GSK-3β. We also found various genes associated with BP’s age-at-onset, number of mood episodes, and presence of psychosis, substance abuse and/or suicidal ideation at the exploratory threshold. These included RTN4, XKR4, NRXN1, NRG1/3 and GRK5. Additionally, PGS analyses suggested serum FAS, ECP, TRANCE and cytokine ligands, amongst others, might represent potential circulating biomarkers of Li response and clinical presentation. Taken together, our results support the notion of a relatively weak association between immunity and clinically relevant features of BP at the genetic level.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of <5%. Approximately half of GBM tumors lack the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), which reverses O6-alkylguanine (O6G) lesions. Patients presenting MGMT– GBM are treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy and temozolomide (TMZ), an imidazotetrazine prodrug that produces O6-methylguanine (O6MeG) lesions. However, ~50% of these patients will develop TMZ resistance by silencing of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway. We recently reported that the novel N3-(2-fluoroethyl)imidazotetrazine “KL-50” is efficacious and well-tolerated in murine models of TMZ-resistant GBM (Lin et al. Science 2022, 377, 502). Herein, we rigorously establish that KL-50 generates DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) by DNA alkylation to generate O6-(2-fluoroethyl)guanine (O6FEtG), displacement of fluoride to form an N1,O6-ethanoguanine (N1,O6EtG) intermediate, and ring-opening by the adjacent cytidine. 2-Chloroethylating agents, such as lomustine and mitozolomide (MTZ), generate the same ICL by an analogous mechanism. However, DNA ICLs form >10-fold more slowly from O6FEtG than O6ClEtG, and this slower rate of cross-linking allows MGMT to reverse the initial O6FEtG in healthy tissue while also reducing MGMT–DNA cross-links arising from addition of MGMT to the N1,O6EtG intermediate. KL- 50 is efficacious in an intracranial patient-derived murine xenograft of TMZ-resistant, MGMT–/MMR– GBM (mOS = 205, 28, and 26 d for KL-50, TMZ, and vehicle-treated control, respectively) and in murine models of newly-diagnosed MGMT–/MMR+ GBM, suggesting its use in recurrent and up-front settings, respectively. These studies underscore the significance of considering the rates of chemical DNA modification and biochemical DNA repair in the design of systemic DNA alkylation agents.

7016 Background: Many patients (pts) with myelofibrosis (MF) experience anemia resulting from disease or JAK inhibitor therapy. The open-label, phase 2 ACE-536-MF-001 study (NCT03194542) evaluated the safety and efficacy of luspatercept (LUSPA) for the treatment of MF-related anemia. Methods: Eligible pts comprised 4 cohorts based on transfusion dependence (TD, defined as receiving 4–12 red blood cell [RBC] units/84 days [d] immediately up to cycle 1 d 1) and stable ruxolitinib (RUX) treatment; cohort 1: no TD, no RUX; cohort 2: TD, no RUX; cohort 3A: no TD, RUX; cohort 3B: TD, RUX. Pts received subcutaneous LUSPA 1.0 mg/kg (1.33 mg/kg for pts in cohort 3B expansion) with titration up to 1.75 mg/kg in 21-d cycles. Disease response was assessed at d 169 and treatment extended for pts showing clinical benefit; pts were followed for ≥ 3 years (y) post last dose. The primary endpoint was anemia response (defined as 84 consecutive d: ≥ 1.5 g/dL hemoglobin [Hgb] from baseline without transfusion [cohorts 1 and 3A] or RBC transfusion-free [cohorts 2 and 3B]); secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), transfusion frequency, change in Hgb level, and symptom response. Results: Of 95 pts in the ITT group, the most common reason for treatment discontinuation was lack of clinical benefit at d 169 (n = 28). Median (range) age was 71.0 (50–89) y. Most (54.7%) pts had primary MF, intermediate-risk 2 disease (75.8%), and > 2 y since initial diagnosis (74.7%). Median prior RUX therapy was 18.1 months (cohorts 3A/3B) and 84.7% of pts had baseline transfusion burden 6–12 units/84 d (cohorts 2/3B). Mean treatment duration was 42.8 weeks. Cohort 3B had the highest anemia response rate with 26.3% (95% CI, 13.4–43.1) of pts transfusion independent during the primary treatment period and 31.6% (95% CI, 17.5–48.7) transfusion independent during the entire treatment period; median (range) DOR was 448 d (85–1582). In cohort 3B: 19 (50.0%) pts had reduced transfusion burden by ≥ 50% during the primary treatment period; 8 (21.1%) pts achieved mean Hgb increase ≥ 1.5 g/dL from baseline throughout the entire treatment period and 6 (15.8%) achieved a mean ≥ 50% reduction in symptom score from baseline. Overall, 47.4% of pts had ≥ 1 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), most frequently hypertension (17.9%, 5.3% grade ≥ 3); 3.2% of pts had a serious TRAE. One TRAE led to LUSPA discontinuation. Two (2.1%) pts had transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Nine pts died on treatment from: post-procedural hemorrhage, pneumonia, intracranial hemorrhage, septic shock, ischemic stroke, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, renal failure, pneumonitis, and myelofibrosis (n = 1 each); no deaths were considered related to the study drug. Conclusions: In pts with MF, the safety profile of LUSPA was consistent with previous studies and efficacy results showed promising improvements in anemia and transfusion burden in all cohorts. Clinical trial information: NCT03194542 .

Abstract Objectives Disease flares in the post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination period represent a prominent concern, though risk factors are poorly understood. We studied these flares among patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs). Methods The COVAD-1 and -2 global surveys were circulated in early 2021 and 2022, respectively, and we captured demographics, comorbidities, AIRDs details, COVID-19 infection history and vaccination details. Flares of IIMs were defined as (a) patient self-reported, (b) immunosuppression (IS) denoted, (c) clinical sign directed and (d) with &gt;7.9-point minimal clinically significant improvement difference worsening of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) PROMISPF10a score. Risk factors of flares were analysed using regression models. Results Of 15 165 total respondents, 1278 IIMs (age 63 years, 70.3% female, 80.8% Caucasians) and 3453 AIRDs were included. Flares of IIM were seen in 9.6%, 12.7%, 8.7% and 19.6% patients by definitions (a) to (d), respectively, with a median time to flare of 71.5 (10.7–235) days, similar to AIRDs. Patients with active IIMs pre-vaccination (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.03, 1.6, P = 0.025) were prone to flares, while those receiving rituximab (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1, 0.7, P = 0.010) and AZA (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1, 0.8, P = 0.016) were at lower risk. Female gender and comorbidities predisposed to flares requiring changes in IS. Asthma (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.05, 2.50, P = 0.028) and higher pain visual analogue score (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.11, 1.27, P &lt; 0.001) were associated with disparity between self-reported and IS-denoted flares. Conclusion A diagnosis of IIMs confers an equal risk of flares in the post–COVID-19 vaccination period to AIRDs, with active disease, female gender and comorbidities conferring a higher risk. Disparity between patient- and physician-reported outcomes represents a future avenue for exploration.