Citations

INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prognostic value of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in these patients remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the association between irAEs and clinical outcomes in patients with HCC treated with ICIs. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for articles published from inception to June 2024, using keywords including ICI, HCC, and irAEs. Statistical analysis was performed with a random effects model. RESULTS: Of 3,028 studies, 24 (4,127 patients) met the criteria for inclusion. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was the most common treatment regimen (n = 10 studies). IrAEs were associated with an increased objective response rate (pooled relative ratio: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–2.21, I 2 = 41%), a higher disease control rate (pooled relative ratio: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.21–1.74, I 2 = 74%), and longer progression-free survival (pooled hazard ratio [HR]: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.52–0.84, I 2 = 71%). There was a trend toward longer overall survival for patients with irAEs compared with those without (pooled HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.63–1.12, I 2 = 73%). Subgroup analysis indicated a survival benefit for patients with grade 1–2 irAEs (pooled HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.36–0.67, I 2 = 0%) and for those with endocrine irAEs (pooled HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.48–0.83, I 2 = 12%). DISCUSSION: The development of irAEs is associated with favorable clinical outcomes in HCC, including improved progression-free survival and higher objective response rate. Overall survival benefit was noted in patients with mild irAEs but not those with severe irAEs.

566 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the preferred treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conflicting data exist regarding the prognostic value of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in these patients. We aimed to explore potential the association between irAEs and prognosis in HCC patients treated with ICIs. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases for articles published from inception to June 2024 using keywords including ICI, HCC, and irAEs. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility and relevant data. A random effects model was used for statistical analysis, and subgroup analysis was performed by the grade of irAEs. Results: Of 3,028 studies, 25 (n=4,116 patients) met criteria for inclusion. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was the most common treatment regimen (n=10 studies). About half (49.5%) of patients experienced irAEs. irAEs were associated with increased objective response rate (ORR) (pooled OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.36 – 2.19, I 2 =39%), higher complete response rate (pooled OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.21-1.74, I 2 =74%), and longer progression-free survival (PFS) (pooled HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.52-0.84, I 2 =71%). Although irAEs were associated with longer overall survival, this difference was not statistically significant (pooled HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.62 – 1.11, I 2 =73%). Subgroup analysis showed a survival benefit for patients with grade 1-2 irAEs (pooled HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.36-0.67, I 2 =0%) but not for those with grade 3-4 irAEs (pooled HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.24-3.72, I 2 =84%). Conclusions: The development of irAEs is associated with a favorable prognosis in HCC, including improved PFS and higher ORR. A survival benefit was noted in patients with mild irAEs, but not in those with severe irAEs. Future studies are needed to determine if a differential survival benefit relates to the continuation vs. discontinuation of ICI therapy.

The absence of a positive family history (PFH) in 10%–25% of patients poses a diagnostic challenge for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In the Toronto Genetic Epidemiology Study of Polycystic Kidney Disease, 210 affected probands underwent renal function testing, abdominal imaging, and comprehensive PKD1 and PKD2 mutation screening. From this cohort, we reviewed all patients with and without an apparent family history, examined their parental medical records, and performed renal imaging in all available parents of unknown disease status. Subsequent reclassification of 209 analyzed patients revealed 72.2% (151 of 209) with a PFH, 15.3% (32 of 209) with de novo disease, 10.5% (22 of 209) with an indeterminate family history, and 1.9% (four of 209) with PFH in retrospect. Among the patients with de novo cases, we found two families with germline mosaicism and one family with somatic mosaicism. Additionally, analysis of renal imaging revealed that 16.3% (34 of 209) of patients displayed atypical PKD, most of which followed one of three patterns: asymmetric or focal PKD with PFH and an identified PKD1 or PKD2 mutation (15 of 34), asymmetric and de novo PKD with proven or suspected somatic mosaicism (seven of 34), or focal PKD without any identifiable PKD1 or PKD2 mutation (eight of 34). In conclusion, PKD without an apparent family history may be due to de novo disease, missing parental medical records, germline or somatic mosaicism, or mild disease from hypomorphic PKD1 and PKD2 mutations. Furthermore, mutations of a newly identified gene for ADPKD, GANAB , and somatic mosaicism need to be considered in the mutation-negative patients with focal disease.

Renal disease variability in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is strongly influenced by the gene locus ( PKD1 versus PKD2 ). Recent studies identified nontruncating PKD1 mutations in approximately 30% of patients who underwent comprehensive mutation screening, but the clinical significance of these mutations is not well defined. We examined the genotype-renal function correlation in a prospective cohort of 220 unrelated ADPKD families ascertained through probands with serum creatinine ≤1.4 mg/dl at recruitment. We screened these families for PKD1 and PKD2 mutations and reviewed the clinical outcomes of the probands and affected family members. Height–adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) was obtained in 161 affected subjects. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling for renal and patient survival was performed in 707 affected probands and family members. Overall, we identified pathogenic mutations in 84.5% of our families, in which the prevalence of PKD1 truncating, PKD1 in–frame insertion/deletion, PKD1 nontruncating, and PKD2 mutations was 38.3%, 4.3%, 27.1%, and 30.3%, respectively. Compared with patients with PKD1 truncating mutations, patients with PKD1 in–frame insertion/deletion, PKD1 nontruncating, or PKD2 mutations have smaller htTKV and reduced risks (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) of ESRD (0.35 [0.14 to 0.91], 0.10 [0.05 to 0.18], and 0.03 [0.01 to 0.05], respectively) and death (0.31 [0.11 to 0.87], 0.20 [0.11 to 0.38], and 0.18 [0.11 to 0.31], respectively). Refined genotype-renal disease correlation coupled with targeted next generation sequencing of PKD1 and PKD2 may provide useful clinical prognostication for ADPKD.

In order to develop novel, effective therapies for central nervous system regeneration, it is essential to better understand the role of neurotrophic factors and to design, accordingly, better artificial scaffolds to support both neurite outgrowth and synapse formation. Both nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are major factors in neural survival, development, synaptogenesis, and synaptic connectivity of primary cultured neurons. As a prime candidate coating material for such neural cultures, carbon nanotubes offer unique structural, mechanical, and electrical properties. In this study, carbon nanotubes coated glass-coverslips were used as the matrix of a primary neural culture system used to investigate the effects of carbon nanotubes on neurite outgrowth and nerve growth factor/brain-derived neurotrophic factor release and expression. For these purposes, we performed comparative analyses of primary cultured neurons on carbon nanotubes coated, non-coated, and Matrigel-coated coverslips. The morphological findings showed definite carbon nanotubes effects on the neurite outgrowths and synaptogenic figures in both cortical and hippocampal neurons when compared with the non-coated negative control. Although the carbon nanotubes did not change neurotrophin expression levels, it stimulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor release into the media from both types of neurons. Accordingly, we suggest a different mechanism of action between carbon nanotubes and Matrigel in relation to the specific neurotrophic factors. Since carbon nanotubes supply long-term extracellular molecular cues for the survival and neurite outgrowths of cultured neurons, the results from this study will contribute to an understanding of carbon nanotubes biological effects and provide new insight into their role in the secretion of neurotrophic factors.

Abstract Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been reported as a major participant in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that oxLDL can also interact with granulocytes during inflammatory airway diseases, such as asthma. To test the chemotactic effect of oxLDL, isolated human peripheral granulocytes were added to the upper chambers of Transwell filters and migration in response to oxLDL was determined. Cu+2-oxidized LDL stimulated neutrophil (23.4 ± 3.2% for 100 μg/ml oxLDL versus 2.9 ± 1.1% for buffer, P < 0.05) and eosinophil (19.3 ± 3.5% versus 0.6 ± 0.02% for buffer, P < 0.05) chemotaxis in a concentration-dependent manner. The magnitude of chemotaxis was dependent on the degree of LDL oxidation. Granulocyte transmigration across IL-1β–activated human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell monolayers was similarly stimulated by oxLDL. OxLDL activated significant degranulation of both neutrophils (100.9 ± 9.8 versus 49.6 ± 8.4 ng lactoferrin released/5 × 105 neutrophils for buffer, P < 0.05) and eosinophils (342 ± 115.4 versus 85.8 ± 30.4 ng eosinophil-derived neurotoxin/1 × 106 eosinophils for buffer, P < 0.05). Therefore, in vivo influx and oxidation of LDL may be an important mediator for the initiation of bronchial inflammation where granulocytes are recruited to the lung.