Transcription factor RORα enforces stability of the Th17 cell effector program by binding to a Rorc cis-regulatory element.

T helper 17 (Th17) cells regulate mucosal barrier defenses but also promote multiple autoinflammatory diseases. Although many molecular determinants of Th17 cell differentiation have been elucidated, the transcriptional programs that sustain Th17 cells in vivo remain obscure. The transcription factor RORγt is critical for Th17 cell differentiation; however, it is not clear whether the closely related RORα, which is co-expressed in Th17 cells, has a distinct role. Here, we demonstrated that although dispensable for Th17 cell differentiation, RORα was necessary for optimal Th17 responses in peripheral tissues. The absence of RORα in T cells led to reductions in both RORγt expression and effector function among Th17 cells. Cooperative binding of RORα and RORγt to a previously unidentified Rorc cis-regulatory element was essential for Th17 lineage maintenance in vivo. These data point to a non-redundant role of RORα in Th17 lineage maintenance via reinforcement of the RORγt transcriptional program.

The N-Degron Pathway Mediates ER-phagy.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is susceptible to wear-and-tear and proteotoxic stress, necessitating its turnover. Here, we show that the N-degron pathway mediates ER-phagy. This autophagic degradation initiates when the transmembrane E3 ligase TRIM13 (also known as RFP2) is ubiquitinated via the lysine 63 (K63) linkage. K63-ubiquitinated TRIM13 recruits p62 (also known as sequestosome-1), whose complex undergoes oligomerization. The oligomerization is induced when the ZZ domain of p62 is bound by the N-terminal arginine (Nt-Arg) of arginylated substrates. Upon activation by the Nt-Arg, oligomerized TRIM13-p62 complexes are separated along with the ER compartments and targeted to autophagosomes, leading to lysosomal degradation. When protein aggregates accumulate within the ER lumen, degradation-resistant autophagic cargoes are co-segregated by ER membranes for lysosomal degradation. We developed synthetic ligands to the p62 ZZ domain that enhance ER-phagy for ER protein quality control and alleviate ER stresses. Our results elucidate the biochemical mechanisms and pharmaceutical means that regulate ER homeostasis.

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins protect human airway epithelial ciliated cells from oxidative damage.

Apical cilia on epithelial cells defend the lung by propelling pathogens and particulates out of the respiratory airways. Ciliated cells produce ATP that powers cilia beating by densely grouping mitochondria just beneath the apical membrane. However, this efficient localization comes at a cost because electrons leaked during oxidative phosphorylation react with molecular oxygen to form superoxide, and thus, the cluster of mitochondria creates a hotspot for oxidant production. The relatively high oxygen concentration overlying airway epithelia further intensifies the risk of generating superoxide. Thus, airway ciliated cells face a unique challenge of producing harmful levels of oxidants. However, surprisingly, highly ciliated epithelia produce less reactive oxygen species (ROS) than epithelia with few ciliated cells. Compared to other airway cell types, ciliated cells express high levels of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins, UCP2 and UCP5. These proteins decrease mitochondrial protonmotive force and thereby reduce production of ROS. As a result, lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidant injury, decreases. However, mitochondrial uncoupling proteins exact a price for decreasing oxidant production; they decrease the fraction of mitochondrial respiration that generates ATP. These findings indicate that ciliated cells sacrifice mitochondrial efficiency in exchange for safety from damaging oxidation. Employing uncoupling proteins to prevent oxidant production, instead of relying solely on antioxidants to decrease postproduction oxidant levels, may offer an advantage for targeting a local area of intense ROS generation.

Golgi export of the Kir2.1 channel is driven by a trafficking signal located within its tertiary structure.

Mechanisms that are responsible for sorting newly synthesized proteins for traffic to the cell surface from the Golgi are poorly understood. Here, we show that the potassium channel Kir2.1, mutations in which are associated with Andersen-Tawil syndrome, is selected as cargo into Golgi export carriers in an unusual signal-dependent manner. Unlike conventional trafficking signals, which are typically comprised of short linear peptide sequences, Golgi exit of Kir2.1 is dictated by residues that are embedded within the confluence of two separate domains. This signal patch forms a recognition site for interaction with the AP1 adaptor complex, thereby marking Kir2.1 for incorporation into clathrin-coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi. The identification of a trafficking signal in the tertiary structure of Kir2.1 reveals a quality control step that couples protein conformation to Golgi export and provides molecular insight into how mutations in Kir2.1 arrest the channels at the Golgi.

mTORC1 Promotes Metabolic Reprogramming by the Suppression of GSK3-Dependent Foxk1 Phosphorylation.

The mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1)-signaling system plays a critical role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis by sensing and integrating multiple extracellular and intracellular cues. Therefore, uncovering the effectors of mTORC1 signaling is pivotal to understanding its pathophysiological effects. Here we report that the transcription factor forkhead/winged helix family k1 (Foxk1) is a mediator of mTORC1-regulated gene expression. Surprisingly, Foxk1 phosphorylation is increased upon mTORC1 suppression, which elicits a 14-3-3 interaction, a reduction of DNA binding, and nuclear exclusion. Mechanistically, this occurs by mTORC1-dependent suppression of nuclear signaling by the Foxk1 kinase, Gsk3. This pathway then regulates the expression of multiple genes associated with glycolysis and downstream anabolic pathways directly modulated by Foxk1 and/or by Foxk1-regulated expression of Hif-1α. Thus, Foxk1 mediates mTORC1-driven metabolic rewiring, and it is likely to be critical for metabolic diseases where improper mTORC1 signaling plays an important role.

MeCP2 ubiquitination and sumoylation, in search of a function†.

MeCP2 (Methyl CpG binding protein 2) is an intrinsically disordered protein that binds to methylated genome regions. The protein is a critical transcriptional regulator of the brain, and its mutations account for 95% of Rett syndrome (RTT) cases. Early studies of this neurodevelopmental disorder revealed a close connection with dysregulations of the ubiquitin system (UbS), notably as related to UBE3A, a ubiquitin ligase involved in the proteasome-mediated degradation of proteins. MeCP2 undergoes numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs), including ubiquitination and sumoylation, which, in addition to the potential functional outcomes of their monomeric forms in gene regulation and synaptic plasticity, in their polymeric organization, these modifications play a critical role in proteasomal degradation. UbS-mediated proteasomal degradation is crucial in maintaining MeCP2 homeostasis for proper function and is involved in decreasing MeCP2 in some RTT-causing mutations. However, regardless of all these connections to UbS, the molecular details involved in the signaling of MeCP2 for its targeting by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the functional roles of monomeric MeCP2 ubiquitination and sumoylation remain largely unexplored and are the focus of this review.

White matter diffusion estimates in obsessive-compulsive disorder across 1653 individuals: machine learning findings from the ENIGMA OCD Working Group.

White matter pathways, typically studied with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), have been implicated in the neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, due to limited sample sizes and the predominance of single-site studies, the generalizability of OCD classification based on diffusion white matter estimates remains unclear. Here, we tested classification accuracy using the largest OCD DTI dataset to date, involving 1336 adult participants (690 OCD patients and 646 healthy controls) and 317 pediatric participants (175 OCD patients and 142 healthy controls) from 18 international sites within the ENIGMA OCD Working Group. We used an automatic machine learning pipeline (with feature engineering and selection, and model optimization) and examined the cross-site generalizability of the OCD classification models using leave-one-site-out cross-validation. Our models showed low-to-moderate accuracy in classifying (1) "OCD vs. healthy controls" (Adults, receiver operator characteristic-area under the curve = 57.19 ± 3.47 in the replication set; Children, 59.8 ± 7.39), (2) "unmedicated OCD vs. healthy controls" (Adults, 62.67 ± 3.84; Children, 48.51 ± 10.14), and (3) "medicated OCD vs. unmedicated OCD" (Adults, 76.72 ± 3.97; Children, 72.45 ± 8.87). There was significant site variability in model performance (cross-validated ROC AUC ranges 51.6-79.1 in adults; 35.9-63.2 in children). Machine learning interpretation showed that diffusivity measures of the corpus callosum, internal capsule, and posterior thalamic radiation contributed to the classification of OCD from HC. The classification performance appeared greater than the model trained on grey matter morphometry in the prior ENIGMA OCD study (our study includes subsamples from the morphometry study). Taken together, this study points to the meaningful multivariate patterns of white matter features relevant to the neurobiology of OCD, but with low-to-moderate classification accuracy. The OCD classification performance may be constrained by site variability and medication effects on the white matter integrity, indicating room for improvement for future research.

Small-molecule ion channels increase host defences in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia.

Loss-of-function mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) compromise epithelial HCO3- and Cl- secretion, reduce airway surface liquid pH, and impair respiratory host defences in people with cystic fibrosis1-3. Here we report that apical addition of amphotericin B, a small molecule that forms unselective ion channels, restored HCO3- secretion and increased airway surface liquid pH in cultured airway epithelia from people with cystic fibrosis. These effects required the basolateral Na+, K+-ATPase, indicating that apical amphotericin B channels functionally interfaced with this driver of anion secretion. Amphotericin B also restored airway surface liquid pH, viscosity, and antibacterial activity in primary cultures of airway epithelia from people with cystic fibrosis caused by different mutations, including ones that do not yield CFTR, and increased airway surface liquid pH in CFTR-null pigs in vivo. Thus, unselective small-molecule ion channels can restore host defences in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia via a mechanism that is independent of CFTR and is therefore independent of genotype.

Continuous glucose monitoring with structured education in adults with type 2 diabetes managed by multiple daily insulin injections: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of stand-alone intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) with or without a structured education programme and blood glucose monitoring (BGM) in adults with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections (MDI). METHODS: In this 24 week randomised open-label multicentre trial, adults with type 2 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy with HbA1c levels of 58-108 mmol/mol (7.5-12.0%) were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to isCGM with a structured education programme on adjusting insulin dose and timing according to graphical patterns in CGM (intervention group), isCGM with conventional education (control group 1) or BGM with conventional education (control group 2). Block randomisation was conducted by an independent statistician. Due to the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and investigators was not possible. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c from baseline at 24 weeks, assessed using ANCOVA with the baseline value as a covariate. RESULTS: A total of 159 individuals were randomised (n=53 for each group); 148 were included in the full analysis set, with 52 in the intervention group, 49 in control group 1 and 47 in control group 2. The mean (± SD) HbA1c level at baseline was 68.19±10.94 mmol/mol (8.39±1.00%). The least squares mean change (± SEM) from baseline HbA1c at 24 weeks was -10.96±1.35 mmol/mol (-1.00±0.12%) in the intervention group, -6.87±1.39 mmol/mol (-0.63±0.13%) in control group 1 (p=0.0367 vs intervention group) and -6.32±1.42 mmol/mol (-0.58±0.13%) in control group 2 (p=0.0193 vs intervention group). Adverse events occurred in 28.85% (15/52) of individuals in the intervention group, 26.42% (14/53) in control group 1 and 48.08% (25/52) in control group 2. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Stand-alone isCGM offers a greater reduction in HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes on MDI when education on the interpretation of graphical patterns in CGM is provided. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04926623. FUNDING: This study was supported by Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The sperm nuclear basic proteins of the sword fern (Polystichum munitum).

Sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) were isolated from extracted antheridia-rich male gametophytes raised from spores of the swordfern, Polystichum munitum. Electrophoretic (acetic acid-urea PAGE and SDS-PAGE) and chromatographic (rp-HPLC) characterization of the nuclear proteins exhibited the characteristics of the histone (H-type). In both types of gel electrophoresis, histones H1, H2A, and H2B showed an altered electrophoretic mobility corresponding to that which is routinely observed for the histones in other plants. Histones present during spermatogenesis of the fern P. munitum were compared with the few current SNBPs known to be present in higher and lower evolutionary plant clades. A transition from an early protamine (P-type) SNBPs in charophytes and bryophytes to the (H-type) SNBP observed here is reminiscent of similar reversions observed in the animal kingdom.

Protamines and the sperm nuclear basic proteins Pandora's Box of insects.

Insects are the largest group of animals when it comes to the number and diversity of species. Yet, with the exception of Drosophila, no information is currently available on the primary structure of their sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs). This paper represents the first attempt in this regard and provides information about six species of Neoptera: Poecillimon thessalicus, Graptosaltria nigrofuscata, Apis mellifera, Nasonia vitripennis, Parachauliodes continentalis, and Tribolium castaneum. The SNBPs of these species were characterized by acetic acid urea gel electrophoresis (AU-PAGE) and high-performance liquid chromatography fractionated. Protein sequencing was obtained using a combination of mass spectrometry sequencing, Edman N-terminal degradation sequencing and genome mining. While the SNBPs of several of these species exhibit a canonical arginine-rich protamine nature, a few of them exhibit a protamine-like composition. They appear to be the products of extensive cleavage processing from a precursor protein which are sometimes further processed by other post-translational modifications that are likely involved in the chromatin transitions observed during spermiogenesis in these organisms.

Post-Cardiac Arrest Care in Adult Patients After Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) serves as a lifesaving intervention for patients experiencing refractory cardiac arrest. With its expanding usage, there is a burgeoning focus on improving patient outcomes through optimal management in the acute phase after cannulation. This review explores systematic post-cardiac arrest management strategies, associated complications, and prognostication in ECPR patients. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search from inception to 2023 using search terms such as post-cardiac arrest care, ICU management, prognostication, and outcomes in adult ECPR patients was conducted. STUDY SELECTION: Selection includes original research, review articles, and guidelines. DATA EXTRACTION: Information from relevant publications was reviewed, consolidated, and formulated into a narrative review. DATA SYNTHESIS: We found limited data and no established clinical guidelines for post-cardiac arrest care after ECPR. In contrast to non-ECPR patients where systematic post-cardiac arrest care is shown to improve the outcomes, there is no high-quality data on this topic after ECPR. This review outlines a systematic approach, albeit limited, for ECPR care, focusing on airway/breathing and circulation as well as critical aspects of ICU care, including analgesia/sedation, mechanical ventilation, early oxygen/C o2 , and temperature goals, nutrition, fluid, imaging, and neuromonitoring strategy. We summarize common on-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complications and the complex nature of prognostication and withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy in ECPR. Given conflicting outcomes in ECPR randomized controlled trials focused on pre-cannulation care, a better understanding of hemodynamic, neurologic, and metabolic abnormalities and early management goals may be necessary to improve their outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Effective post-cardiac arrest care during the acute phase of ECPR is paramount in optimizing patient outcomes. However, a dearth of evidence to guide specific management strategies remains, indicating the necessity for future research in this field.

The autoimmune response induced by α-synuclein peptides drives neuronal cell death and glial cell activation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons and neuroinflammation. Recent studies have identified a role of T cells in the pathogenesis of PD. Additionally, these studies suggested that α-synuclein (α-Syn) is related to abnormal T-cell responses and may act as an epitope and trigger autoimmune T-cell responses. However, it is unclear whether the α-Syn-mediated autoimmune response occurs and whether it is related to neuronal cell death and glial cell activation. In this study, we investigated the autoimmune T-cell response induced by α-Syn peptides and evaluated the neurotoxic effect of the α-Syn peptide-mediated autoimmune response. The immunization of mice with α-Syn peptides resulted in enhanced autoimmune responses, such as the peptide recall response, polarization toward Th1/Th17 cells, and regulatory T cell imbalance. Furthermore, the α-Syn autoimmune response led to the death of primary neurons cocultured with splenocytes. Treatment with conditioned media from α-Syn peptide-immunized splenocytes induced microglia and toxic A1-type astrocyte activation. Taken together, our results provide evidence of the potential role of the α-Syn-initiated autoimmune response and its contribution to neuronal cell death and glial cell activation.

Metabolic effects and cardiovascular disease risks of antiviral treatments in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Different antiviral treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have been known to have different metabolic effects. This study aimed to reveal whether tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-induced dyslipidemia and its associated outcomes are significant. This study utilized 15-year historical cohort including patients with CHB in Korea and consisted of two parts: the single-antiviral and switch-antiviral cohorts. In the single-antiviral cohort, patients were divided into four groups (entecavir [ETV]-only, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF]-only, TAF-only, and non-antiviral). Propensity score matching (PSM) and linear regression model were sequentially applied to compare metabolic profiles and estimated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risks longitudinally. In the switch-antiviral cohort, pairwise analyses were conducted in patients who switched NAs to TAF or from TAF. In the single-antiviral cohort, body weight and statin use showed significant differences between groups before PSM, but well-balanced after PSM. Changes in total cholesterol were significantly different between groups (-2.57 mg/dL/year in the TDF-only group and +2.88 mg/dL/year in the TAF-only group; p = 0.002 and p = 0.02, respectively). In the TDF-only group, HDL cholesterol decreased as well (-0.55 mg/dL/year; p < 0.001). The TAF-only group had the greatest increase in ASCVD risk, followed by the TDF-only group and the non-antiviral group. In the switch-antiviral cohort, patients who switched from TDF to TAF had a higher total cholesterol after switching (+9.4 mg/dL/year) than before switching (-1.0 mg/dL/year; p = 0.047). Sensitivity analysis on data with an observation period set to a maximum of 3 years for NA treatment showed consistent results on total cholesterol (-2.96 mg/dL/year in the TDF-only group and +3.09 mg/dL/year in the TAF-only group; p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Another sensitivity analysis conducted on statin-treated patients revealed no significant change in cholesterol and ASCVD risk. TAF was associated with increased total cholesterol, whereas TDF was associated with decreased total and HDL cholesterol. Both TAF and TDF were associated with increased ASCVD risks, and statin use might mitigate these risks.

Risk of cardiovascular disease associated with long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in a large real-world ankylosing spondylitis (AS) cohort. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Database. Patients aged ≥18 years old who were newly diagnosed with AS without prior cardiovascular disease between January 2010 and December 2018 were included in this study. Controls without AS were randomly selected by age, sex, and index year. The primary outcome was cardiovascular disease, a composite outcome of ischemic heart disease, stroke, or congestive heart failure. Long-term use of NSAIDs was defined as use of NSAIDs for >365 cumulative defined daily doses. The association between long-term use of NSAIDs and incident cardiovascular disease was examined in both AS and non-AS populations. RESULTS: Among 19 775 patients with AS and 59 325 matched controls without AS, there were 1,663 and 4,308 incident cases of cardiovascular disease, showing an incidence of 16.9 and 13.8 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Long-term use of NSAIDs was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in non-AS controls (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.48-1.82). In contrast, long-term use of NSAIDs did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in AS patients (aHR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.94-1.20; adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor use). CONCLUSION: Prolonged NSAID treatment in AS patients may not be as harmful as in the general population regarding cardiovascular risk.

K-ras mutation detected by peptide nucleic acid-clamping polymerase chain reaction, Ki-67, S100P, and SMAD4 expression can improve the diagnostic accuracy of inconclusive pancreatic EUS-FNB specimens.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of an immunohistochemical panel including calcium-binding protein P, p53, Ki-67, and SMAD family member 4 and K-ras mutation for diagnosing pancreatic solid lesion specimens obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy and to confirm their usefulness in histologically inconclusive cases. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and peptide nucleic acid-clamping polymerase chain reaction for K-ras mutation were performed on 96 endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy specimens. The diagnostic efficacy of each marker and the combination of markers was calculated. The diagnostic performances of these markers were evaluated in 27 endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy specimens with histologically inconclusive diagnoses. A classification tree was constructed. RESULTS: K-ras mutation showed the highest accuracy and consistency. Positivity in more than two or three of the five markers showed high diagnostic accuracy (94.6 % and 93.6 %, respectively), and positivity for more than three markers showed the highest accuracy for inconclusive cases (92.0 %). A classification tree using K-ras mutation, Ki-67, S100P, and SMAD4 showed high diagnostic performance, with only two misclassifications in inconclusive cases. CONCLUSIONS: K-ras mutation detection via peptide nucleic acid-clamping polymerase chain reaction is a stable and accurate method for distinguishing between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and non-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma lesions. A classification tree using K-ras mutation, Ki-67, S100P, and SMAD4 helps increase the diagnostic accuracy of cases that are histologically difficult to diagnose.

Comparable outcomes of allogeneic peripheral blood versus bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a sibling donor for pediatric patients.

Traditionally, bone marrow (BM) has been preferred as a source of stem cells (SCs) in pediatric hematopoietic SC transplantation (HSCT); however, the use of peripheral blood SCs (PBSC) has recently increased. With advancing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, whether the BM is still a better SC source than PB in sibling donor HSCT remains controversial. Here, we compared the results of BM transplantation (BMT) and PBSC transplantation (PBSCT) in pediatric patients with malignant or non-malignant diseases receiving sibling HSCT using a total of 7.5 mg/kg of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). We retrospectively reviewed children who received HSCT from a sibling donor between 2005 and 2020 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Of the 86 patients, 40 underwent BMT, and 46 underwent PBSCT. Fifty- six patients had malignant diseases, whereas thirty patients had non-malignant diseases. All conditioning regimens comprised ATG. Busulfan-based myeloablative conditioning regimens were administered to patients with malignant diseases and approximately half of those with non-malignant diseases. The remaining half of the patients with non-malignant diseases were administered cyclophosphamide-based reduced- intensity conditioning regimens. According to studies conducted at our center, all BM donors received G-CSF before harvest to achieve early engraftment. In all 86 patients (47 males and 39 females), the median age at the time of HSCT was 11.4 (range, 0.7 - 24.6) years. The median follow-up period was 57.9 (range, 0.9-228.6) months, and the corresponding values for those with BM and PBSC were 77 (range, 2.4-228.6) months and 48.7 (range, 0.9-213.2) months, respectively. Engraftment failure occurred in one patient with BM and no patient with PBSC. The cumulative incidence of acute GVHD with grades II-IV was higher in PBSC (BM 2.5%, PBSC 26.1%, p = 0.002), but there was no significant difference in those with grades III-IV acute GVHD (BM 0%, PBSC 6.5%, p = 0.3703) and extensive chronic GVHD (BM 2.5%, PBSC 11.6%, p = 0.1004). There were no significant differences in treatment-related mortality (TRM) (BM 14.2%, PBSC 6.8%, p = 0.453), 5-year event-free survival (EFS) (BM 71.5%, PBSC 76.2%, p = 0.874), and overall survival (OS) rates (BM 80.8%, PBSC 80.3%, p = 0.867) between BM and PBSC in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, which included all factors with p < 0.50 in the univariate analysis, there was no significant prognostic factor for EFS or OS. There was no significant difference in the relapse incidence between BM and PBSC among patients with malignant diseases (BM 14.2%, PBSC 6.8%, p = 0.453). Additionally, there were no significant differences in the TRM, 5-year EFS, and OS rates between malignant and non-malignant diseases nor between the busulfan-based myeloablative regimen and reduced-intensity chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide. In this study, we showed no significant differences in EFS, OS, TRM, and GVHD, except for acute GVHD grades II-IV, between BMT and PBSCT from sibling donors, using ATG (a total of 7.5 mg/kg). Therefore, PB collection, which is less invasive for donors and less labor-intensive for doctors, could also be considered an acceptable SC source for sibling donor HSCT in children.

Synthetic temporal bone CT generation from UTE-MRI using a cycleGAN-based deep learning model: advancing beyond CT-MR imaging fusion.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to develop a deep-learning model to create synthetic temporal bone computed tomography (CT) images from ultrashort echo-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, thereby addressing the intrinsic limitations of MRI in localizing anatomic landmarks in temporal bone CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent temporal MRI and temporal bone CT within one month between April 2020 and March 2023. These patients were randomly divided into training and validation datasets. A CycleGAN model for generating synthetic temporal bone CT images was developed using temporal bone CT and pointwise encoding-time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA). To assess the model's performance, the pixel count in mastoid air cells was measured. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the successful generation rates of 11 anatomical landmarks. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included in this study (training dataset, n = 54, mean age 58 ± 14, 34 females (63%); validation dataset, n = 48, mean age 61 ± 13, 29 females (60%)). In the pixel count of mastoid air cells, no difference was observed between synthetic and real images (679 ± 342 vs 738 ± 342, p = 0.13). For the six major anatomical sites, the positive generation rates were 97-100%, whereas those of the five major anatomical structures ranged from 24% to 83%. CONCLUSION: We developed a model to generate synthetic temporal bone CT images using PETRA MRI. This model can provide information regarding the major anatomic sites of the temporal bone using MRI. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The proposed algorithm addresses the primary limitations of MRI in localizing anatomic sites within the temporal bone. KEY POINTS: CT is preferred for imaging the temporal bone, but has limitations in differentiating pathology there. The model achieved a high success rate in generating synthetic images of six anatomic sites. This can overcome the limitations of MRI in visualizing key anatomic sites in the temporal skull.

Point-of-Care Bedside Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Safe in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients With Swan Ganz Catheters: A Phantom Experiment and Single Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: More than 1.2 million pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) are used in cardiac patients per annum within the United States. However, it is contraindicated in traditional 1.5 and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We aimed to test preclinical and clinical safety of using this imaging modality given the potential utility of needing it in the clinical setting. METHODS: We conducted two phantom experiments to ensure that the electromagnetic field power deposition associated with bare and jacketed PACs was safe and within the acceptable limit established by the Food and Drug Administration. The primary end points were the safety and feasibility of performing Point-of-Care (POC) MRI without imaging-related adverse events. We performed a preclinical computational electromagnetic simulation and evaluated these findings in nine patients with PACs on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. RESULTS: The phantom experiments showed that the baseline point specific absorption rate through the head averaged 0.4 W/kg. In both the bare and jacketed catheters, the highest net specific absorption rates were at the neck entry point and tip but were negligible and unlikely to cause any heat-related tissue or catheter damage. In nine patients (median age 66, interquartile range 42-72 y) with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to cardiogenic shock and PACs placed for close hemodynamic monitoring, POC MRI was safe and feasible with good diagnostic imaging quality. CONCLUSIONS: Adult ECMO patients with PACs can safely undergo point-of-care low-field (64 mT) brain MRI within a reasonable timeframe in an intensive care unit setting to assess for acute brain injury that might otherwise be missed with conventional head computed tomography.

Influence of renin-angiotensin system blockades on vascular access survival in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Results on the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system blockades (RASBs) and vascular access-related outcomes are inconsistent. We aimed to compare vascular access-related outcomes according to the use of RASBs in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This study used data from a national hemodialysis quality assessment program of the Republic of Korea (n = 54,903). Group 1 was not prescribed any blood pressure-lowering drugs (n = 28,521). Group 2 was prescribed other blood pressure-lowering agents except for RASBs (n = 9571). Group 3 was prescribed RASBs (n = 16,811). Vascular access-related outcomes were classified into intervention-free survival (IFS), thrombosis-free survival (TFS), and vascular access survival (VAS). RESULTS: No significant difference in the three access survival rates was identified among the three groups. The multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that Group 3 had better outcomes in IFS and TFS than Group 1. The numbers of angioplasties performed were significantly greater in Group 1 than in the other two groups. The numbers of thrombectomies performed were significantly the lowest in Group 3 among all the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed different results according to types of access survival in univariate or multivariate analyses. The association of RASBs with favorable outcomes in vascular access remains unclear.