Preclinical evaluation of the epithelial sodium channel inhibitor AZD5634 and implications on human translation.

Airway dehydration causes mucus stasis and bacterial overgrowth in cystic fibrosis (CF), resulting in recurrent respiratory infections and exacerbations. Strategies to rehydrate airway mucus including inhibition of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) have the potential to improve mucosal defense by enhancing mucociliary clearance (MCC) and reducing the risk of progressive decline in lung function. In the current work, we evaluated the effects of AZD5634, an ENaC inhibitor that shows extended lung retention and safety profile as compared with previously evaluated candidate drugs, in healthy and CF preclinical model systems. We found that AZD5634 elicited a potent inhibition of amiloride-sensitive current in non-CF airway cells and airway cells derived from F508del-homozygous individuals with CF that effectively increased airway surface liquid volume and improved mucociliary transport (MCT) rate. AZD5634 also demonstrated efficacious inhibition of ENaC in sheep bronchial epithelial cells, translating to dose-dependent improvement of mucus clearance in healthy sheep in vivo. Conversely, nebulization of AZD5634 did not notably improve airway hydration or MCT in CF rats that exhibit an MCC defect, consistent with findings from a first single-dose evaluation of AZD5634 on MCC in people with CF. Overall, these findings suggest that CF animal models demonstrating impaired mucus clearance translatable to the human situation may help to successfully predict and promote the successful translation of ENaC-directed therapies to the clinic.

Anthropometric Measures Correspond with Functional Motor Outcomes in Females with Rett Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize growth and anthropometric measurements in females with Rett syndrome and compare these measurements with functional outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We obtained longitudinal growth and anthropometric measurements from 1154 females with classic and atypical Rett syndrome seen between 2006 and 2019 in the US Natural History Study. We calculated the Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment score, and arm and leg muscle areas and recorded the functional assessments of arm and hand use and ambulation. We compared growth and anthropometric variables from females with Rett syndrome in regard to normative data. We analyzed Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment, and anthropometric measurements in regard to functional assessments. RESULTS: Growth and anthropometric measurements were significantly lower in females with classic and severe atypical Rett syndrome compared with those classified as mild atypical Rett syndrome and deviated from normative patterns among all 3 groups. Suprailiac skinfold measurements correlated with body mass index measurements in each group. Lower leg muscle area measurements were significantly greater among females in all 3 Rett syndrome groups who ambulated independently compared with those who did not. In females with classic Rett syndrome, arm, thigh, and lower leg muscle area measurements increased significantly over time and were significantly greater among those who had purposeful arm and hand use and independent ambulation compared with those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of growth and anthropometric measures in females with Rett syndrome differs from normative data and demonstrates clear differences between classic and mild or severe atypical Rett syndrome. Anthropometric measures correspond with functional outcomes and could provide markers supporting efficacy outcomes in clinical trials.

Cortical and Subthalamic Nucleus Spectral Changes During Limb Movements in Parkinson's Disease Patients with and Without Dystonia.

BACKGROUND: Dystonia is an understudied motor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although considerable efforts have focused on brain oscillations related to the cardinal symptoms of PD, whether dystonia is associated with specific electrophysiological features is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate subcortical and cortical field potentials at rest and during contralateral hand and foot movements in patients with PD with and without dystonia. METHODS: We examined the prevalence and distribution of dystonia in patients with PD undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery.  During surgery, we recorded intracranial electrophysiology from the motor cortex and directional electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) both at rest and during self-paced repetitive contralateral hand and foot movements. Wavelet transforms and mixed models characterized changes in spectral content in patients with and without dystonia. RESULTS: Dystonia was highly prevalent at enrollment (61%) and occurred most commonly in the foot. Regardless of dystonia status, cortical recordings display beta (13-30 Hz) desynchronization during movements versus rest, while STN signals show increased power in low frequencies (6.0 ± 3.3 and 4.2 ± 2.9 Hz peak frequencies for hand and foot movements, respectively). Patients with PD with dystonia during deep brain stimulation surgery displayed greater M1 beta power at rest and STN low-frequency power during movements versus those without dystonia. CONCLUSIONS: Spectral power in motor cortex and STN field potentials differs markedly during repetitive limb movements, with cortical beta desynchronization and subcortical low-frequency synchronization, especially in patients with PD with dystonia. Greater knowledge on field potential dynamics in human motor circuits can inform dystonia pathophysiology in PD and guide novel approaches to therapy. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Excess mucus viscosity and airway dehydration impact COPD airway clearance.

The mechanisms by which cigarette smoking impairs airway mucus clearance are not well understood. We recently established a ferret model of cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibiting chronic bronchitis. We investigated the effects of cigarette smoke on mucociliary transport (MCT).Adult ferrets were exposed to cigarette smoke for 6 months, with in vivo mucociliary clearance measured by technetium-labelled DTPA retention. Excised tracheae were imaged with micro-optical coherence tomography. Mucus changes in primary human airway epithelial cells and ex vivo ferret airways were assessed by histology and particle tracking microrheology. Linear mixed models for repeated measures identified key determinants of MCT.Compared to air controls, cigarette smoke-exposed ferrets exhibited mucus hypersecretion, delayed mucociliary clearance (-89.0%, p<0.01) and impaired tracheal MCT (-29.4%, p<0.05). Cholinergic stimulus augmented airway surface liquid (ASL) depth (5.8±0.3 to 7.3±0.6 µm, p<0.0001) and restored MCT (6.8±0.8 to 12.9±1.2 mm·min-1, p<0.0001). Mixed model analysis controlling for covariates indicated smoking exposure, mucus hydration (ASL) and ciliary beat frequency were important predictors of MCT. Ferret mucus was hyperviscous following smoke exposure in vivo or in vitro, and contributed to diminished MCT. Primary cells from smokers with and without COPD recapitulated these findings, which persisted despite the absence of continued smoke exposure.Cigarette smoke impairs MCT by inducing airway dehydration and increased mucus viscosity, and can be partially abrogated by cholinergic secretion of fluid secretion. These data elucidate the detrimental effects of cigarette smoke exposure on mucus clearance and suggest additional avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Impact of bladder cancer on health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To identify changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after diagnosis of bladder cancer in older adults in comparison with a group of adults without bladder cancer (controls). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries were linked with Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) data. Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years in the period 1998-2013, who were diagnosed with bladder cancer between baseline and follow-up through the MHOS, were matched with control subjects without cancer using propensity scores. Linear mixed models were used to estimate predictors of HRQoL changes. RESULTS: After matching, 535 patients with bladder cancer (458 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer [NMIBC] and 77 with muscle-invasive bladder cancer [MIBC]) and 2 770 control subjects without cancer were identified. Both patients with NMIBC and those with MIBC reported significant declines in HRQoL scores over time vs controls: physical component summary -2 and -5.3 vs -0.4, respectively; bodily pain -1.9 and -3.6 vs -0.7; role physical -2.7 and -4.7 vs -0.7; general health -2.4 and -6.1 vs 0; vitality -1.2 and -3.5 vs -0.1; and social functioning -2.1 and -5.7 vs -0.8. All scores ranged from 0 to 100. When stratified by time since diagnosis, HRQoL improved over 1 year for some domains (role physical), but remained lower across most domains. CONCLUSIONS: After diagnosis, patients with bladder cancer experienced significant declines in physical, mental and social HRQoL relative to controls. Decrements were most pronounced among individuals with MIBC. Methods to better understand and address HRQoL decrements among patients with bladder cancer are needed.

Assessing responsiveness over time of the PROMIS® pediatric symptom and function measures in cancer, nephrotic syndrome, and sickle cell disease.

PURPOSE: Previous studies provided evidence for the validity of the PROMIS Pediatric measures in cross-sectional studies. This study evaluated the ability of the PROMIS Pediatric measures to detect change over time in children and adolescents with cancer, nephrotic syndrome (NS), or sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: Participants (8-17 years) completed measures of fatigue, pain interference, anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, mobility, upper extremity, and peer relationships at three or four time points (T1-T4). Between T1 and T2, children with cancer received chemotherapy and children with SCD experienced a pain exacerbation. Children with NS were first assessed during active disease (T2), with T3 and T4 conducted at disease remission. For the primary analysis of responsiveness, we expected better scores at T3 (recovery) compared to T2 (event) for all diseases. T1 and T4 are also expected to have better scores than T2. Linear mixed models were used and adjusted for time, gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, comorbid conditions, and disease. RESULTS: Enrolled were 96 children with cancer, 121 children with SCD, and 127 children with NS. Fatigue, pain interference, mobility, and upper extremity scores worsened from T1 (baseline) to T2 (event) (p < 0.01), and significantly improved from T2 to T3 and T4 (p < 0.01). Similarly, anxiety and depressive symptoms significantly improved from T2 to T3 and T4 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the responsiveness of seven PROMIS Pediatric measures to clinical disease state in three chronic illnesses. The findings support use of PROMIS Pediatric measures in clinical research.

Novel baseline predictors of adverse events during oral immunotherapy in children with peanut allergy.

BACKGROUND: Though peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising investigational therapy, its potential is limited by substantial adverse events (AEs), which are relatively understudied. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective analysis was conducted, pooling data from 3 pediatric peanut OIT trials, comprising the largest analysis of peanut OIT safety to date. METHODS: We pooled data from 104 children with peanut allergy from 3 peanut OIT studies. We catalogued AEs from parental reports, daily symptom diaries, and dose escalations. We included events that were considered likely related to OIT and identified potential baseline predictors of higher AE rates using generalized linear regression models. RESULTS: Eighty percent of subjects experienced likely related AEs during OIT (72% during buildup and 47% during maintenance). Of these AEs, over 90% occurred while at home. Approximately 42% of subjects experienced systemic reactions, and 49% experienced gastrointestinal symptoms. Twenty percent of subjects dropped out, with half (10% of the overall group) due to persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. Baseline allergic rhinitis (AR) and peanut SPT wheal size were significant predictors of higher overall AE rates. SPT wheal size predicted increased gastrointestinal AEs, and AR predicted increased systemic reactions. Over the course of OIT, 61% of subjects received treatment for likely related AEs, 59% with antihistamines and 12% with epinephrine. CONCLUSIONS: Peanut OIT is associated with frequent AEs, with rates declining over time, and most graded mild. However, systemic reactions and intolerable gastrointestinal AEs do occur and are significantly associated with AR and peanut SPT wheal size, respectively. Further study is needed of predictive biomarkers and the overall risks and benefits of OIT.

Early extubation in pediatric heart surgery across a spectrum of case complexity: Impact on hospital length of stay and chest tube days.

Early extubation is increasingly common in congenital heart surgery, but there are limited outcomes data across the spectrum of case complexity. We performed a retrospective review of 201 pediatric operations using cardiopulmonary bypass between 2012 and 2014. Patients extubated in the operating room or immediately on arrival to the ICU were compared to those extubated by traditional protocols. In-hospital mortality, major complications, need for re-intubation, hospital length of stay, and chest-tube days were compared between groups and by Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery Congenital Heart Surgery (STAT) mortality category. Outcome measures of hospital length of stay and chest tube days were analyzed using multivariable regression modeling. Early extubation subjects were older, weighed more, had shorter bypass and aortic cross-clamp time, more often received caudal anesthesia, and had shorter hospital length of stay and fewer chest tube days. Subjects not extubated early had more chromosomal abnormalities, more preoperative co-morbidities, and had more major complications. Inhospital death, major complications, and re-intubation were rare outcomes for both groups across all STAT categories. Multivariable regression analysis showed that cardiopulmonary bypass time was a significant predictor of hospital length of stay and chest tube days. Hospital LOS and chest tube days were significantly lower for the early extubation group in both the unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Early extubation can be performed safely in congenital heart surgery across a spectrum of case complexity. No increased early mortality or re-intubation was observed with early extubation although there were important differences between the groups that merits further study. The potential benefits of early extubation include decreased hospital length of stay and fewer chest tube days, particularly in young children and patients with long bypass times.

Responsiveness of PROMIS® Pediatric Measures to Hospitalizations for Sickle Pain and Subsequent Recovery.

BACKGROUND: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System(®) (PROMIS(®) ) created pediatric self-report scales measuring a variety of health attributes (domains), but their responsiveness to changes in health status has not yet been determined in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). PROCEDURE: A convenience cohort of symptomatic SCD children, aged 8-17 years, was asked to complete PROMIS pediatric scales at an initial clinic visit, at the end of a subsequent hospitalization for sickle pain, at a subsequent clinic visit or at home 2-3 weeks after hospitalization, and at a clinic visit 1-2 years after their initial assessment. RESULTS: A total of 121 participants (mean age 12.5 ± 3.1 years, 56.2% female) participated in the study. Pain interference and fatigue domain scores were elevated at baseline, increased substantially during hospitalization, and largely returned to baseline by the recovery period, whereas the depressive symptoms, anger, and anxiety domain scores displayed a less pronounced elevation during hospitalizations and a slower return to baseline levels. The two physical functioning scales showed a substantial decline in response to hospitalization, but only modest improvements at the recovery assessment, likely representing incomplete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Several PROMIS pediatric measures were responsive to changes in health status associated with occurrence and resolution of acute vaso-occlusive pain requiring hospitalization. The substantial differences in these domains during SCD-related pain exacerbations support their potential usefulness in clinical research or in clinical practice. Further studies to characterize variations in symptom patterns over time may provide insights into strategies for more effective management of sickle pain.

Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline Among Chinese Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Prospective evidence of associations of dietary patterns with cognitive decline is limited and inconsistent. We examined how cognitive changes among Chinese older adults relate to either an adapted Mediterranean diet score or factor analysis-derived dietary patterns. METHODS: This prospective cohort study comprised 1,650 adults ≥55 years of age, who completed a cognitive screening test at two or more waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 1997, 2000, or 2004. Outcomes were repeated measures of global cognitive scores, composite cognitive z scores (standardized units [SU]), and standardized verbal memory scores (SU). Baseline diet was measured by 24-hour recalls over 3 days. We used linear mixed effects models to evaluate how changes in cognitive scores were associated with adapted Mediterranean diet score and two dietary pattern scores derived from factor analysis. RESULTS: Among adults ≥65 years of age, compared with participants in the lowest tertile of adapted Mediterranean diet, those in the highest tertile had a slower rate of cognitive decline (difference in mean SU change/year ß = 0.042; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002, 0.081). A wheat-based diverse diet derived by factor analysis shared features of the adapted Mediterranean diet, with the top tertile associated with slower annual decline in global cognitive function (ß = 0.069 SU/year; 95% CI: 0.023, 0.114). We observed no associations among adults <65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an adapted Mediterranean diet or a wheat-based, diverse diet with similar components may reduce the rate of cognitive decline in later life in the Chinese population.

Fish intake is associated with slower cognitive decline in Chinese older adults.

Modifiable lifestyle changes, including dietary changes, could translate into a great reduction in the global burden of cognitive impairment and dementia. Few studies evaluated the benefits of fish intake for delaying cognitive decline, and no studies were conducted in a Chinese population, which may differ with respect to types, amounts, and correlates of fish consumption compared with Western populations. We hypothesized that higher consumption of fish would predict slower decline in cognitive function, independent of a wide range of potential confounders. This prospective cohort study comprised 1566 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 55 y who completed a cognitive screening test at ≥2 waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 1997, 2000, or 2004, with a mean follow-up of 5.3 y [age at entry (mean ± SD): 63 ± 6 y]. Diet was measured by 3-d 24-h recalls at baseline. Outcomes included repeated measures of global cognitive scores (baseline mean ± SD: 19 ± 6 points), composite cognitive Z-scores (standardized units), and standardized verbal memory scores (standardized units). Multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the relation of fish intake with changes in cognitive scores. Age was found to significantly modify the association between fish consumption and cognitive change (P = 0.007). Among adults aged ≥ 65 y, compared with individuals who consumed <1 serving/wk (i.e., 100 g) fish, the mean annual rate of global cognitive decline was reduced by 0.35 point (95% CI: 0.13, 0.58) among those consuming ≥ 1 serving/wk, equivalent to the disparity associated with 1.6 y of age. Fish consumption was also associated with a slower decline in composite and verbal memory scores. No associations were observed among adults aged 55-64 y. Our findings suggest a potential role of fish consumption as a modifiable dietary factor to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in later life.

Patient characteristics associated with favorable perceptions of patient-provider communication in early-stage lung cancer treatment.

Perceived quality of lung cancer communication is strongly associated with receiving potentially curative surgery for early-stage disease. The patient characteristics associated with poor quality communication in the setting of new lung cancer diagnosis are not known, although race may be a contributing factor. Using data from a prospective study of decision making in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients in five academic and community medical centers (N = 386), the authors used logistic regression techniques to identify patient-level characteristics correlated with scoring in the lowest quartile of a communication scale and a single-item communication variable describing shared communication. Income, lung cancer diagnostic status, and trust score were significantly associated with the overall communication scale. Lung cancer diagnostic status and trust score were also associated with patient perceptions of the single shared communication item, in addition to participation in a religious organization. Improving patient perceptions of communication with their provider is an important next step in ensuring that eligible patients receive optimal care for this deadly disease. This analysis identifies several modifiable factors that could improve patient perceptions of patient-provider communication. The fact that patient perception of communication is a predictor of the decision to undergo surgery independent of race highlights the need for broad communication interventions to ensure that as many eligible patients as possible are receiving surgery.

Effects of High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) on Clinical Symptoms in COPD.

Background: Mucociliary clearance plays a critical role in pulmonary host defense. Abnormal mucociliary clearance contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary disorders, including COPD. In bronchiectasis, treatments targeting mucus obstruction in the airways include the use of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy. This prospective outcome based study was designed to investigate the changes in symptoms and quality of life (QOL) to measure the effect of adjunctive HFCWO therapy to standard of care therapy for patients with COPD. Research Question: When HFCWO is indicated and used as intended, will the quality of life for those patients with COPD improve and sustain improvement. Study Design and Methods: We conducted a prospective, openl-label, observational study in COPD patients without concomitant bronchiectasis. Participants had assessments of QOL at baseline (day 0) and then at 30 and 90 days after initiation of HFCWO therapy. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD Patients (SGRQ-C) was employed and longitudinally followed at each timepoint. Paired t-tests were used to compare means between each time points adjusted for multiple comparisons. A linear mixed model for the analysis of longitudinal data was then constructed to determine the simultaneous contribution of race, gender, ethnicity, time, and selected interactions in the primary outcome of change in SGRQ-C across 0, 30, and 90 days. Results: The cohort of patients (n=102) demonstrated a significant reduction in the SGRQ-C at 30 and sustained at 90 days compared to baseline. In addition, two component scores of the SGRQ-C questionnaire ("Symptoms" and Impacts") were significantly reduced at 30 and 90 days. Interpretation: This prospective, observational study demonstrates statistically significant and clinically favorable responses to HFCWO as an adjunctive therapy for patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD without concomitant bronchiectasis. Results of this study inform the design of additional additional studies of HFCWO to prove efficacy inCOPD patients.

Effect of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on mucus and mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (E/T/I) is highly effective clinically for those with at least one F508del-CFTR allele. The effects of E/T/I on mucociliary clearance (MCC) and sputum properties are unknown. We, therefore, sought to characterize the effects of E/T/I on in vivo MCC and sputum characteristics hypothesized to impact mucus transport. METHODS: Forty-four participants ≥12 years of age were enrolled into this prospective, observational trial prior to initiation of E/T/I and had baseline measurement of MCC and characterization of induced sputum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. Study procedures were repeated after 1 month of E/T/I treatment. RESULTS: Average age was 27.7 years with baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 78.2 % predicted. 52 % of subjects had previously been treated with a 2-drug CFTR modulator combination. The average whole lung MCC rate measured over 60 min (WLAveClr60) significantly improved from baseline to post-E/T/I (14.8 vs. 22.8 %; p = 0.0002), as did other MCC indices. Sputum% solids also improved (modeled mean 3.4 vs. 2.2 %; p<0.0001), whereas non-significant reductions in sputum macrorheology (G', G") were observed. No meaningful changes in exhaled breath condensate endpoints (sialic acid:urea ratio, pH) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: E/T/I improved the hydration of respiratory secretions (% solids) and markedly accelerated MCC. These data confirm the link between CFTR function, mucus solid content, and MCC and help to define the utility of MCC and mucus-related bioassays in future efforts to restore CFTR function in all people with CF.

Novel lower-extremity dexterity assessment for Parkinson's disease: validation against measures of arm dexterity and general mobility.

PURPOSE: To establish criterion and construct validity of a novel, clinically feasible assessment of lower-extremity dexterity for PD patients. METHODS: Thirty-three PD patients performed a unilateral lower-extremity dexterity task "off" and "on" dopaminergic medications with each leg. The task involves iteratively tapping targets with the foot in a specified pattern, and the measured outcome is the time to complete the movement sequence, with longer times indicating worse performance. We correlated leg movement time with standard, validated measures of gait (comfortable and maximal walk speeds), general mobility (timed up and go), upper-extremity dexterity (9-Hole Pegboard), and elements of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). RESULTS: We found significant relationships between lower extremity dexterity and each of these tasks "off" and "on" medications. Task performance also captures known features of PD, including dopamine-mediated improvement in performance and asymmetrical symptom presentation. CONCLUSIONS: This task provides a simple assessment of lower extremity function that correlates with validated measures of dexterity, gait, and mobility. It provides objective, continuous data, is inexpensive, requires little technical expertise/equipment, has a small physical footprint, and can be administered quickly. These features increase the feasibility of implementing this assessment tool in clinical settings.Implications for rehabilitationWe introduce a novel task that captures lower extremity dexterity in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).The task is validated against gold standard measures of upper extremity dexterity, gait, and general mobility.Performance on the task is sensitive to known features of PD, including dopamine-mediated improvements and asymmetrical symptom presentation.The task is easy to implement and provides higher quality data compared to other common clinical assessments (e.g., MDS-UPDRS).

Cortical Thinning in High-Grade Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-grade carotid artery stenosis may alter hemodynamics in the ipsilateral hemisphere, but consequences of this effect are poorly understood. Cortical thinning is associated with cognitive impairment in dementia, head trauma, demyelination, and stroke. We hypothesized that hemodynamic impairment, as represented by a relative time-to-peak (TTP) delay on MRI in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stenosis, would be associated with relative cortical thinning in that hemisphere. METHODS: We used baseline MRI data from the NINDS-funded Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis-Hemodynamics (CREST-H) study. Dynamic contrast susceptibility MR perfusion-weighted images were post-processed with quantitative perfusion maps using deconvolution of tissue and arterial signals. The protocol derived a hemispheric TTP delay, calculated by subtraction of voxel values in the hemisphere ipsilateral minus those contralateral to the stenosis. RESULTS: Among 110 consecutive patients enrolled in CREST-H to date, 45 (41%) had TTP delay of at least 0.5 seconds and 9 (8.3%) subjects had TTP delay of at least 2.0 seconds, the maximum delay measured. For every 0.25-second increase in TTP delay above 0.5 seconds, there was a 0.006-mm (6 micron) increase in cortical thickness asymmetry. Across the range of hemodynamic impairment, TTP delay independently predicted relative cortical thinning on the side of stenosis, adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, hemisphere, smoking history, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and preexisting infarction (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that hemodynamic impairment from high-grade asymptomatic carotid stenosis may structurally alter the cortex supplied by the stenotic carotid artery.

Multicenter, prospective, phase II study of maintenance bevacizumab for children and adults with NF2-related schwannomatosis and progressive vestibular schwannoma.

BACKGROUND: Prospective data on maintenance therapy with bevacizumab for persons with NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) is lacking. In this prospective multicenter phase II study, we evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of bevacizumab for maintenance therapy in children and adults with NF2-SWN and hearing loss due to vestibular schwannomas (VS). METHODS: Following induction therapy, participants received bevacizumab 5 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 18 months. Participants were monitored for changes in hearing, tumor size, and quality of life (QOL), and for adverse events. Hearing loss was defined as a statistically significant decline in word recognition score (WRS) or pure-tone average compared to the study baseline; tumor growth was defined as >20% increase in volume compared to baseline. RESULTS: Twenty participants with NF2-SWN (median age 23.5 years; range, 12.5-62.5 years) with hearing loss in the target ear (median WRS 70%, range 2%-94%) received maintenance bevacizumab. Freedom from hearing loss in the target ear was 95% after 48 weeks, 89% after 72 weeks, and 70% after 98 weeks. Freedom from tumor growth in the target VS was 94% after 48 weeks, 89% after 72 weeks, and 89% after 98 weeks. NF2-related QOL remained stable for 98 weeks whereas tinnitus-related distress decreased. Maintenance bevacizumab was well tolerated, with 3 participants (15%) discontinuing treatment due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance bevacizumab (5 mg/kg every 3 weeks) is associated with high rates of hearing and tumor stability during 18 months of follow-up. No new unexpected adverse events related to bevacizumab were identified in this population.

Distribution of hand function by age in individuals with Rett syndrome.

Objective: To determine the longitudinal distribution of hand function skills in individuals with classic Rett Syndrome (RTT), an X-linked dominant neurodevelopmental disorder, and correlate with MECP2 variants. Method: We conducted a longitudinal study of 946 girls and young women with typical RTT seen between 2006 and 2021 in the US Natural History Study (NHS) featuring a structured clinical evaluation to assess the level of hand function skills. The specific focus in this study was to assess longitudinal variation of hand skills from age 2 through age 18 years in relation to specific MECP2 variant groups. Results: Following the initial regression period, hand function continues to decline across the age spectrum in individuals with RTT. Specific differences are noted with steeper declines in hand function among those with milder variants (Group A: R133C, R294X, R306C, and C-terminal truncations) compared to groups composed of individuals with more severe variants. Conclusions: These temporal variations in hand use represent specific considerations which could influence the design of clinical trials that test therapies aiming to ameliorate specific functional limitations in individuals with RTT. Furthermore, the distinct impact of specific MECP2 variants on clinical severity, especially related to hand use, should be considered in such interventional trials.

Mucociliary transport deficiency and disease progression in Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Substantial clinical evidence supports the notion that ciliary function in the airways is important in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Although ciliary damage has been observed in both in vitro and in vivo models, the extent or nature of impairment of mucociliary transport (MCT) in in vivo models remains unknown. We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in MCT deficiency in the airways of golden Syrian hamsters that precedes pathological injury in lung parenchyma. Micro-optical coherence tomography was used to quantitate functional changes in the MCT apparatus. Both genomic and subgenomic viral RNA pathological and physiological changes were monitored in parallel. We show that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a 67% decrease in MCT rate as early as 2 days postinfection (dpi) in hamsters, principally due to 79% diminished airway coverage of motile cilia. Correlating quantitation of physiological, virological, and pathological changes reveals steadily descending infection from the upper airways to lower airways to lung parenchyma within 7 dpi. Our results indicate that functional deficits of the MCT apparatus are a key aspect of COVID-19 pathogenesis, may extend viral retention, and could pose a risk factor for secondary infection. Clinically, monitoring abnormal ciliated cell function may indicate disease progression. Therapies directed toward the MCT apparatus deserve further investigation.

Early-life soy exposure and age at menarche.

This study examines the timing of menarche in relation to infant-feeding methods, specifically addressing the potential effects of soy isoflavone exposure through soy-based infant feeding. Subjects were participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Mothers were enrolled during pregnancy and their children have been followed prospectively. Early-life feeding regimes, categorised as primarily breast, early formula, early soy and late soy, were defined using infant-feeding questionnaires administered during infancy. For this analysis, age at menarche was assessed using questionnaires administered approximately annually between ages 8 and 14.5. Eligible subjects were limited to term, singleton, White females. We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models to assess age at menarche and risk of menarche over the study period. The present analysis included 2920 girls. Approximately 2% of mothers reported that soy products were introduced into the infant diet at or before 4 months of age (early soy). The median age at menarche [interquartile range (IQR)] in the study sample was 153 months [144-163], approximately 12.8 years. The median age at menarche among early soy-fed girls was 149 months (12.4 years) [IQR, 140-159]. Compared with girls fed non-soy-based infant formula or milk (early formula), early soy-fed girls were at 25% higher risk of menarche throughout the course of follow-up (hazard ratio 1.25 [95% confidence interval 0.92, 1.71]). Our results also suggest that girls fed soy products in early infancy may have an increased risk of menarche specifically in early adolescence. These findings may be the observable manifestation of mild endocrine-disrupting effects of soy isoflavone exposure. However, our study is limited by few soy-exposed subjects and is not designed to assess biological mechanisms. Because soy formula use is common in some populations, this subtle association with menarche warrants more in-depth evaluation in future studies.