Capture-based targeted sequencing using a T-cell control in myeloid malignancies and idiopathic cytopenias.

We report on a study of next-generation sequencing in 257 patients undergoing investigations for cytopenias. We sequenced bone marrow aspirates using a target enrichment panel comprising 82 genes and used T cells from paired blood as a control. One hundred and sixty patients had idiopathic cytopenias, 81 had myeloid malignancies and 16 had lymphoid malignancies or other diagnoses. Forty-seven of the 160 patients with idiopathic cytopenias had evidence of somatic pathogenic variants consistent with clonal cytopenias. Only 39 genes of the 82 tested were mutated in the 241 patients with either idiopathic cytopenias or myeloid neoplasms. We confirm that T cells can be used as a control to distinguish between germline and somatic variants. The use of paired analysis with a T-cell control significantly reduced the time molecular scientists spent reporting compared to unpaired analysis. We identified somatic variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in a higher proportion (24%) of patients with myeloid malignancies or clonal cytopenias compared to less than 2% of patients with non-clonal cytopenias. This suggests that somatic VUS are indicators of a clonal process. Lastly, we show that blood depleted of lymphocytes can be used in place of bone marrow as a source of material for sequencing.

Human impacts and Anthropocene environmental change at Lake Kutubu, a Ramsar wetland in Papua New Guinea.

The impacts of human-induced environmental change that characterize the Anthropocene are not felt equally across the globe. In the tropics, the potential for the sudden collapse of ecosystems in response to multiple interacting pressures has been of increasing concern in ecological and conservation research. The tropical ecosystems of Papua New Guinea are areas of diverse rainforest flora and fauna, inhabited by human populations that are equally diverse, both culturally and linguistically. These people and the ecosystems they rely on are being put under increasing pressure from mineral resource extraction, population growth, land clearing, invasive species, and novel pollutants. This study details the last ∼90 y of impacts on ecosystem dynamics in one of the most biologically diverse, yet poorly understood, tropical wetland ecosystems of the region. The lake is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance, yet, since initial European contact in the 1930s and the opening of mineral resource extraction facilities in the 1990s, there has been a dramatic increase in deforestation and an influx of people to the area. Using multiproxy paleoenvironmental records from lake sediments, we show how these anthropogenic impacts have transformed Lake Kutubu. The recent collapse of algal communities represents an ecological tipping point that is likely to have ongoing repercussions for this important wetland's ecosystems. We argue that the incorporation of an adequate historical perspective into models for wetland management and conservation is critical in understanding how to mitigate the impacts of ecological catastrophes such as biodiversity loss.

Long-term trajectories of non-native vegetation on islands globally.

Human-mediated changes in island vegetation are, among others, largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non-native species. However, data on past changes in non-native plant species abundance that predate historical documentation and censuses are scarce. Islands are among the few places where we can track human arrival in natural systems allowing us to reveal changes in vegetation dynamics with the arrival of non-native species. We matched fossil pollen data with botanical status information (native, non-native), and quantified the timing, trajectories and magnitude of non-native plant vegetational change on 29 islands over the past 5000 years. We recorded a proportional increase in pollen of non-native plant taxa within the last 1000 years. Individual island trajectories are context-dependent and linked to island settlement histories. Our data show that non-native plant introductions have a longer and more dynamic history than is generally recognized, with critical implications for biodiversity baselines and invasion biology.

In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, adding azithromycin to usual care did not reduce 28-d mortality.

SOURCE CITATION: RECOVERY Collaborative Group. Azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. Lancet. 2021;397:605-12. 33545096.

Development and validation of PozQoL: a scale to assess quality of life of PLHIV.

BACKGROUND: Advances in medical treatment for HIV are driving major changes in HIV policy and practice, including the encouragement of intake and adherence to HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) by people living with HIV (PLHIV) for both personal and public health benefits. However, there is increasing recognition that achieving these goals will require a concurrent focus on the broader psychological and social wellbeing of PLHIV. Increasingly calls are being been made to incorporate a stronger focus on quality of life (QoL) of PLHIV into HIV prevention policy. In order to achieve this goal, HIV community, support and healthcare services need a valid, short and practical way to evaluate QoL of PLHIV accessing their programs. Current QoL measures are either long, complex, restricted in their use, or expensive. To address these shortcomings, the PozQoL study aimed to develop, test and validate a short and freely available scale assessing QoL among PLHIV. METHODS: Drawing on a literature review, the prioritisation of domains and development of the initial pool of items was conducted in consultation with PLHIV community organisations in Australia. The items covered health concerns, psychological, social, and functional wellbeing. Testing involved a baseline and a follow-up survey of 465 adult Australians living with HIV. Participants were recruited through social media and various community organizations nationwide. The survey included the pilot PozQoL scale and other validated measures of health and wellbeing. RESULTS: Guided by an Exploratory Factor Analysis and conceptual considerations, a 13-item scale was developed. The PozQoL scale demonstrated high levels of fit in a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, very good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity with other measures that approximated different aspects of QoL. CONCLUSION: The PozQoL scale has been tested in a diverse sample of adult PLHIV living in Australia, demonstrating very good reliability and validity. The insights from PLHIV and other stakeholders supported the balancing of statistical rigour and conceptual accuracy. The scale is now ready to be implemented and field-tested across a range of community, support and healthcare programs for PLHIV. This will make a significant contribution to the evaluation and enhancement of programs for PLHIV.

Interdependent Conductances Drive Infraslow Intrinsic Rhythmogenesis in a Subset of Accessory Olfactory Bulb Projection Neurons.

The accessory olfactory system controls social and sexual behavior. However, key aspects of sensory signaling along the accessory olfactory pathway remain largely unknown. Here, we investigate patterns of spontaneous neuronal activity in mouse accessory olfactory bulb mitral cells, the direct neural link between vomeronasal sensory input and limbic output. Both in vitro and in vivo, we identify a subpopulation of mitral cells that exhibit slow stereotypical rhythmic discharge. In intrinsically rhythmogenic neurons, these periodic activity patterns are maintained in absence of fast synaptic drive. The physiological mechanism underlying mitral cell autorhythmicity involves cyclic activation of three interdependent ionic conductances: subthreshold persistent Na(+) current, R-type Ca(2+) current, and Ca(2+)-activated big conductance K(+) current. Together, the interplay of these distinct conductances triggers infraslow intrinsic oscillations with remarkable periodicity, a default output state likely to affect sensory processing in limbic circuits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We show for the first time that some rodent accessory olfactory bulb mitral cells-the direct link between vomeronasal sensory input and limbic output-are intrinsically rhythmogenic. Driven by ≥ 3 distinct interdependent ionic conductances, infraslow intrinsic oscillations show remarkable periodicity both in vitro and in vivo. As a novel default state, infraslow autorhythmicity is likely to affect limbic processing of pheromonal information.

Symptom-to-Balloon Time is a Strong Predictor of Adverse Events Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the Australian Capital Territory PCI Registry.

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding improvements in door-to-balloon time, adverse event rates after primary PCI have remained steady. We analysed the effect of symptom-to-balloon (STB) time, a reflection of total ischaemic time, on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and explored predictors of prolonged STB time. METHODS: The study population included 1002 consecutive patients (22.4% women) with a mean age of 62.3±13.2 years, who underwent primary PCI during 2008-2014. Groups were compared for STB ≤ and >240min. Primary endpoint was one-year MACE, a composite of death, reinfarction, stent thrombosis or target vessel revascularisation. RESULTS: Symptom-to-balloon time was available in 893 patients of which 588 (65.8%) had STB ≤240min and 305 (34.2%) had STB >240min. The incidence of one-year MACE increased significantly in a stepwise manner with increasing STB time (p for trend=0.003). Symptom-to-balloon time was an independent predictor of one-year MACE along with age >70 years, final TIMI flow <3, three vessel disease, cardiogenic shock and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We also performed a multivariate analysis to determine predictors of delayed treatment. Predictors of STB time >240min were age >70 years, female gender, diabetes, absence of prehospital catheter laboratory activation and presentation to a non-PCI centre. CONCLUSION: Incidence of MACE was strongly correlated with STB time and STB time was an independent predictor of MACE. We have identified specific subgroups with prolonged STB times (age >70, female gender, diabetes, absence of prehospital activation and presentation to a non-PCI centre). This information should inform future studies and strategies to minimise delays in these subgroups for improved outcomes.

Indolent CD8-positive lymphoid proliferation of acral sites: three further cases of a rare entity and an update on a unique patient.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous indolent CD8-positive lymphoid proliferation is an emerging entity characterized by slowly enlarging papules and nodules that are pathologically comprised of clonal nonepidermotropic medium-sized atypical CD8(+) T-cells. Although the majority of lesions are solitary and located on the ears, bilateral symmetrical presentations have been described and lesions may arise at other peripheral or 'acral' sites. Patients follow a benign clinical course and systemic involvement has not yet been observed. Despite this, some medical practitioners classify such lesions as peripheral T-cell lymphoma, NOS, a category implying aggressive disease. OBJECTIVES: We present three cases seen in our institutions and provide an update on a previously reported unique patient who continues to develop recurrent and multifocal skin lesions. RESULTS: Systemic disease progression has not been observed, even in the presence of recurrent and multifocal cutaneous disease. CONCLUSIONS: Indolent CD8-positive lymphoid proliferation of acral sites is a distinctive and readily identifiable entity and should be included in the next consensus revision of cutaneous lymphoma classification. Although cases described thus far have followed an indolent clinical course, dermatologists should remain guarded about the prognosis and full staging and longitudinal observation are recommended until this condition is better understood.

Shorter ischaemic time and improved survival with pre-hospital STEMI diagnosis and direct transfer for primary PCI.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine if our regional program for pre-hospital STEMI diagnosis and direct transfer for primary PCI (PPCI) was associated with shorter ischaemic times and improved survival compared with ED diagnosis. METHODS: STEMI diagnosis was made at the scene by pre-hospital ECG or in local EDs depending on patient presentation. Ambulance ECGs were transmitted to our ED for cath lab activation. Patient variables and outcomes at 12 months were recorded. RESULTS: We treated 782 consecutive patients with PPCI during January 2008-June 2013. Cath lab activation was initiated prior to hospital arrival (pre-hospital) in 24% of cases and by ED in 76% of cases. Median total ischaemic time was 154 min for pre-hospital and 211 minutes for ED patients (p<0.0001). Mortality at 12 months was 7.9% in the ED group compared with 3.7% in the pre-hospital group (p=0.036). On multivariate Cox regression analysis including baseline and procedural variables, pre-hospital activation remained an independent predictor of mortality (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.20-1.0, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-hospital diagnosis of STEMI and direct transfer to the cath lab reduced total ischaemic time by 57 minutes and mortality by >50% following PPCI. Further efforts are needed to increase the proportion of STEMI patients treated using this strategy.

Circumflex coronary artery to left atrium fistula caused by mitral isthmus ablation.

Mitral isthmus ablation is an important component of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation and mitral isthmus dependent flutters. We describe a case where mitral isthmus ablation caused a fistula between the left circumflex artery and the left atrium and symptomatic ischaemia. The fistula was successfully closed with a covered stent.

Outcomes of Patients Treated With RCHOP With a PET-Adapted Approach for Consolidative Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Single-Center Study at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with CHOP-based chemotherapy with consolidative radiotherapy (CRT) for primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL) has been the standard approach in the pre-rituximab era. Overtreatment with CRT for patients who may have already been cured by primary immunochemotherapy in the rituximab era is a significant concern due to the long-term toxicity associated with radiotherapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) may help to identify patients who may not benefit from further CRT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital between 2003 and 2020 for PMBCL to assess CRT use and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were identified, with 95% of the patients receiving R-CHOP. CRT was given in 5 patients. Five-year event-free survival was 79% (95% confidence interval: 64%-89%) and 5-year overall survival was 88% (95% confidence interval: 73%-95%). Seven of 9 patients with DS4 did not receive CRT and instead monitored with serial PET scans. None of these 7 patients relapsed in the mediastinum. CONCLUSION: CRT may be omitted in patients with a negative end of treatment PET scans; however, careful observation may also obviate the need for CRT in PET positive patients.

Localized conjunctival extra-nodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma with presumed Paraproteinic Crystalline Keratopathy.

Crystalline corneal deposits have been well reported in individual cases of lymphoproliferative disorders associated with hyper-gammaglobulinemia, hence called 'Crystalline Paraproteinemic Keratopathy'. This is the first report of corneal deposits in a case of localised conjunctival B-cell Lymphoma without paraproteinaemia/hyper-gammaglobulinemia, hence called 'Presumed Paraproteinic Crystalline Keratopathy'.

A novel latent membrane 2 transcript expressed in Epstein-Barr virus-positive NK- and T-cell lymphoproliferative disease encodes a target for cellular immunotherapy.

Therapeutic targeting of virus-encoded proteins using cellular immunotherapy has proved successful for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease. However, the more limited repertoire and immunogenicity of EBV-encoded proteins in other malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma and extranodal natural killer (NK)/T lymphoma has been more challenging to target. The immunosubdominant latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) is considered the optimal target in such Latency II tumors, although data relating to its expression in T/NK malignancies are limited. In addressing the validity of LMP2 as an immunotherapeutic target we found that LMP2-specific effector CD8(+) T cells recognized and killed EBV-positive NK- and T-cell tumor lines, despite an apparent absence of LMP2A protein and barely detectable levels of LMP2 transcripts from the conventional LMP2A and LMP2B promoters. We resolved this paradox by identifying in these lines a novel LMP2 mRNA, initiated from within the EBV terminal repeats and containing downstream, epitope-encoding exons. This same mRNA was also highly expressed in primary (extra-nodal) NK/T lymphoma tissue, with virtually undetectable levels of conventional LMP2A/B transcripts. Expression of this novel transcript in T/NK-cell lymphoproliferative diseases validates LMP2 as an attractive target for cellular immunotherapy and implicates this truncated LMP2 protein in NK- and T-cell lymphomagenesis. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00062868.