La Jument lighthouse: a real-scale laboratory for the study of giant waves and their loading on marine structures.

This paper presents results from an experiment designed to improve the understanding of the relationship between extreme breaking waves and their mechanical loading on heritage offshore lighthouses. The experiment, conducted at La Jument, an iconic French offshore lighthouse, featured several records of wave, current and structure accelerations acquired during severe storm conditions, with individual waves as high as 24 m. Data analysis focuses on a storm event marked by a strong peak in the horizontal accelerations measured inside La Jument. Thanks to stereo-video wave measurements synchronized to the acceleration record we were able to identify and describe the breaking wave responsible for this intense loading. Our observations suggest that this giant wave (19 m high) had a crest elevation high enough to directly hit the lighthouse tower, above the substructure. This paper reveals the potential for conducting ambitious field experiments from offshore lighthouses in order to collect valuable storm waves and wave loading observations. This offers a possible second service life for these heritage structures as in situ laboratories dedicated to the study of the coastal hydrodynamics and its interaction with marine structures. This article is part of the theme issue 'Environmental loading of heritage structures'.

The first sixty-five craniopharyngioma operations in France.

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are benign epithelial tumors that develop along the hypothalamus-hypophyseal axis and were first described by Jakob Erdheim in 1904. These tumors have represented a challenge for surgeons since the rise of modern neurosurgery. The study of CPs is linked to the development of this surgical discipline in parallel with neuroendocrinology within the French school of neurology, led by Joseph Babinski. For the present study, all CP cases published in the French scientific literature before the development of modern neuroradiology were gathered, and 65 cases that underwent surgical procedures between 1921 and 1973 were selected. From our analysis of them, useful information has been obtained that can be applied to the management of CPs today. Most tumors were adamantinomatous CPs (62 patients) with an infundibulo-tuberal location (40.6%). The most frequent surgical route employed was subfrontal (69%). Selection of the surgical approach and degree of removal did not appear to have been influenced by the presumed topography of the tumor, and resulted in a poor outcome in 47% of patients. However, the authors were able to recognize the presence of symptoms indicating that the tumor had caused hypothalamic and/or infundibular damage, such as seen in the infundibulo-tuberal syndrome, first described by Claude and Lhermitte in 1917. At present, the optimal surgical approach and degree of removal are still the subject of debate, although the presence of clinical signs pointing to hypothalamic involvement by CPs should always be preoperatively accurately assessed to improve surgical outcomes.

Ovulation-inducing factor (OIF/NGF) in seminal plasma: a review and update.

The ovulation-inducing effect of seminal plasma was first reported in Bactrian camels over 30 years ago, and the entity responsible was dubbed 'ovulation-inducing factor' (OIF). More recent studies, primarily in llamas and alpacas, characterized the biological and chemical properties of OIF and ultimately identified it as ßNGF. This recent discovery has allowed a convergence of knowledge previously separated by discipline and by mechanism; that is, neurobiology and reproductive biology, and autocrine/paracrine vs endocrine. To preserve this link, we have referred to the seminal factor as OIF/NGF. As a highly conserved protein, the implications of discoveries related to OIF/NGF in reproductive tissues extend beyond the camelid species, and results of recent studies show that the presence and function of OIF/NGF in seminal plasma are conserved among species considered to be induced ovulators as well as those considered to be spontaneous ovulators. The abundance of OIF/NGF in seminal plasma and the effects of seminal plasma on ovarian function strongly support the idea of an endocrine mode of action (i.e. systemic distribution with distant target tissues). This review is intended to provide an update on the progress in our understanding of the nature of OIF/NGF in seminal plasma and its effects on reproductive function in the female, including the effects of dose and route of administration, evidence for ovarian effects in other species, tissue sources of OIF/NGF and early findings related to the mechanism of action of OIF.

Predictive characteristics of male fertility in alpacas with special reference to seminal NGF.

Recent studies document the LH-releasing pathway of nerve growth factor (NGF) in male camelids and that the LH response to seminal NGF is associated with elevated plasma testosterone concentration. Results provide rationale for the hypothesis that NGF in semen is associated with male fertility. In Experiment 1, the association between the amount of NGF in the ejaculate and characteristics of the male reproductive system was examined in alpacas. The concentration of NGF was measured by radioimmunoassay in semen samples collected from male alpacas (n = 47) and correlated with sperm morphology and motility, and measurements of the male reproductive anatomy. Most ejaculates had NGF concentrations that, based on previous studies, triggered ovulation in female camelids, however, we only found a positive correlation between NGF concentration with sperm concentration, thread formation and total NGF, and a negative correlation with pH. In Experiment 2, a retrospective analysis was carried out to determine if breeding performance during the previous season was related to recent concentrations of seminal NGF in male alpacas (n = 22). Birth rates tended to be correlated with sperm concentration and total amount of NGF in the ejaculate (P = 0.09). Experiment 3 was a prospective study to determine the relationship between seminal NGF (n = 8 male alpacas) and ovulation and pregnancy rates in a breeding trial. No association was detected between seminal NGF concentration and ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, or LH response in the female. We conclude that among the breeding males used in our study, the abundance of seminal NGF was correlated with sperm concentration and thread formation, however, it was not predictive of male fertility in alpacas. Examination of males not previously selected as breeding stock may be expected to include a broader range of seminal NGF and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between seminal NGF and male fertility.

Synthesis of novel fatty acid 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-one and antitumoral activity against breast and gastric cancer cells.

Monastrol is the best-known small compound from the dihydropyrimidinones/thiones (DHPMs) heterocycle family, a cell-permeable molecule recognized as an inhibitor of mitotic kinesin Eg5, that is over-expressed in tumor cells and is a very promising target for the development of new drugs for cancer. The lipophilic properties of the DHPMs have been demonstrated to be of pivotal importance in the design of new molecules. This work describes the synthesis and antitumoral activity of novel C5-substituted fatty-DHPMs against breast and gastric cancer cell lines. The compounds were synthesized via Biginelli multicomponent reaction from oleyl ß-ketoester in good yields (40-72%) using a simple approach catalyzed by nontoxic and free-metal sulfamic acid. Among the compounds tested, the compound 10c, derived from 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde and urea, exhibited 77% cellular viability to normal cells (C2C12) and was selected to be evaluated against tumoral breast (MCF-7) and gastric (AGS) cell lines. The results obtained afforded an IC50 of breast cancer cells of 2.3 µM, qualifying the molecule as the most potent, and making it a promising compound for future experiments in vivo.

Development and Biodistribution of a Nerve Growth Factor Radioactive Conjugate for PET Imaging.

PURPOSE: The purpose of these studies was to develop a nerve growth factor (NGF) radiometal-chelator conjugate to determine the biodistribution and brain uptake of NGF by positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET-CT). PROCEDURES: Purified NGF from llama seminal plasma was conjugated with FITC, and the chelator NOTA or DFO. NGF conjugates were evaluated for bioactivity. NOTA- and DFO-conjugated NGF were radiolabeled with gallium-68 or zirconium-89 ([68 Ga]GaCl3, half-life = 68 min; [89Zr]Zr(oxalate)4, half-life = 3.3 days). [89Zr]Zr-NGF was evaluated for biodistribution (0.5, 1, or 24 h), PET imaging (60 min), and brain autoradiography in mice. RESULTS: Cell-based in vitro assays confirmed that the NGF conjugates maintained NGF receptor-binding and biological activity. Zirconium-89 and gallium-68 radiolabeling showed a high efficiency; however, only[89Zr]Zr-NGF was stable in vitro. Biodistribution studies showed that, as with most small proteins < 70 kDa, [89Zr]Zr-NGF uptake was predominantly in the kidney and was cleared rapidly with almost complete elimination of NGF at 24 h. Dynamic PET imaging from 0-60 min showed a similar pattern to ex vivo biodistribution with some transient liver uptake. Interestingly, although absolute brain uptake was very low, at 24 h after treatment, cerebral cortex uptake was higher than any other brain area examined and blood. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that conjugation of DFO to NGF through a thiourea linkage allows effective radiolabeling with zirconium-89 while maintaining NGF bioactivity. Following intravenous administration, the radiolabeled NGF targets non-neuronal tissues (e.g., kidney, liver), and although absolute brain uptake was very low, the brain uptake that was observed was restricted to the cortex.

Duct-like Recess in the Infundibular Portion of Third Ventricle Craniopharyngiomas: An MRI Sign Identifying the Papillary Type.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCPs) are particularly challenging lesions requiring accurate diagnosis to plan the best therapy. Our aim was to define a narrow duct-like recess identified on MR imaging at the base of papillary craniopharyngiomas with a strict third ventricle location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A duct-like recess at the infundibular portion of craniopharyngiomas was observed on conventional T1WI and T2WI in 3 strict third ventricle papillary craniopharyngiomas in our craniopharyngioma series (n = 125). We systematically investigated this finding on the MR imaging of 2582 craniopharyngiomas and 10 other categories of third ventricle tumors (n = 690) published in the modern era (1986-2020). The diagnostic value and significance of this finding are addressed. RESULTS: The duct-like recess was recognized in 52 papillary craniopharyngiomas, including 3 of our own cases, as a narrow canal-shaped cavity invaginated at the tumor undersurface, just behind the optic chiasm. This structure largely involves papillary craniopharyngiomas with a strict third ventricle topography (96%), follows the same diagonal trajectory as the pituitary stalk, and finishes at a closed end. The duct-like recess sign identifies the papillary craniopharyngioma type with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 38% in the overall craniopharyngioma population. This finding can also establish the strictly intra-third ventricle location of the lesion with a 90% specificity and 33% sensitivity. These recesses appear as hypointense circular spots on axial/coronal T1WI and T2WI. Their content apparently corresponds to CSF freely flowing within the suprasellar cistern. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a duct-like recess at the infundibular portion of a third ventricle tumor represents a distinctive hallmark of papillary craniopharyngiomas that can be used as a simple MR imaging sign to reliably diagnose these lesions.

RADIOPROTECTION SURVEILLANCE OF THE TJ-II OPERATION BY TLD.

The TJ-II stellarator presently in operation at the National Laboratory of Fusion is subject to radiological surveillance in compliance with the Spanish Nuclear Regulation. During its pulsed operation hard X-rays are emitted by the runaway electrons, and soft X-rays are generated by bremsstrahlung of thermalized electrons. Inside the experimental hall, the plasma heating systems and some active diagnostics are additional sources of radiation. Outside the experimental hall, some auxiliary systems, such as high-voltage power supplies, must be checked for radiological influence. In order to verify the adequate radiological classification of the different working areas, 15 dosemeters are distributed in radiologically controlled areas close to the machine, as well as in areas of public use in the TJ-II building. The integrated dose equivalent is analyzed to help establish the range of radiological influence of the stellarator. The results of the period 2015-20 are presented and analyzed.

Restoration of photosystem II photochemistry and carbon assimilation and related changes in chlorophyll and protein contents during the rehydration of desiccated Xerophyta scabrida leaves.

Recovery of photosynthesis in rehydrating desiccated leaves of the poikilochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant plant Xerophyta scabrida was investigated. Detached leaves were remoistened under 12 h light/dark cycles for 96 h. Water, chlorophyll (Chl), and protein contents, Chl fluorescence, photosynthesis-CO(2) concentration response, and the amount and activity of Rubisco were measured at intervals during the rehydration period. Leaf relative water contents reached 87% in 12 h and full turgor in 96 h. Chl synthesis was slower before than after 24 h, and Chla:Chlb ratios changed from 0.13 to 2.6 in 48 h. The maximum quantum efficiency recovered faster during rehydration than the photosystem II operating efficiency and the efficiency factor, which is known to depend mainly on the use of the electron transport chain products. From 24 h to 96 h of rehydration, net carbon fixation was Rubisco limited, rather than electron transport limited. Total Rubisco activity increased during rehydration more than the Rubisco protein content. Desiccated leaves contained, in a close to functional state, more than half the amount of the Rubisco protein present in rehydrated leaves. The results suggest that in X. scabrida leaves Rubisco adopts a special, protective conformation and recovers its activity during rehydration through modifications in redox status.

Spontaneous acute hemorrhage within a subependymoma of the lateral ventricle: successful emergent surgical removal through a frontal transcortical approach.

INTRODUCTION. Subependymomas are benign neoplasms intimately related to the ventricular system which only exceptionally associate hemorrhagic events. We present neuroradiological and pathological evidences of intratumoral hemorrhage within a single case of subependymoma operated on at our institution. Additionally we analyze retrospectively the well-defined reports of similar cases published in the scientific literature. CASE REPORT. A 71-year-old man on anticoagulant therapy presented with abrupt and progressive deterioration of his level of consciousness. Emergent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging evidenced signs of acute bleeding within a mass located at the frontal horn of the left lateral ventricle, producing obstructive biventricular hydrocephalus. The lesion was immediately and completely removed through a left frontal transcortical approach. Pathological diagnosis was consistent with subependymoma displaying areas of microhemorrhage. After surgery the patient developed global anterograde and retrograde amnesia. CONCLUSIONS. A spontaneous hemorrhagic event within an asymptomatic lateral ventricle subependymoma can result in a surgical emergence as a consequence of sudden obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Prompt and radical surgical removal of the mass, which allows a rapid resolution of hydrocephalus and prevents the risk of rebleeding, may constitute the safest management strategy.

Penetrating ballistic-like frontal brain injury caused by a metallic rod.

Penetrating non-missile intracranial injuries caused by metallic foreign bodies are very rare among the civilian population. We present a unique instance of a severe, high-energy, penetrating orbitocranial injury caused by a solid metallic rod that corresponded to the spray valve lever handle of a kitchen sink pre-rinse spray tap, which was fractured and projected at high speed for an unknown reason. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a high-energy, penetrating brain injury caused by such an object. After careful radiological evaluation of the shape and position of the foreign object, a combined right frontal craniotomy and supraorbital osteotomy was performed in order to achieve safe removal of the metal bar. Successful surgical treatment of an orbitocranial injury caused by a similar object has not previously been reported.

[Giant cavernous sinus haemangioma. Case report]. / Hemangioma gigante del seno cavernoso. Caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial haemangioma is a benign vascular tumor which seldom affects the cavernous sinus region, being it frequently misdiagnosed as a meningioma. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old woman presented with a subacute-onset third cranial nerve palsy. A giant extraaxial mass located in the middle cranial fossa which extended into the selar and supraselar areas was diagnosed. It showed homogeneous enhancement after contrast administration. The angiography revealed mild enhancement as well as indirect signs of mass effect, and a tumoral embolization was performed. Surgery and outcome. The tumor was partially removed through a left pterional approach, leaving an intraselar remnant. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, and did not present new neurological deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The haemangioma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus tumours. This entity represents a neurosurgical challenge, due to the complexity of this anatomical region and the trend of the tumour to bleed during its dissection.

Trastornos respiratorios del sueño en pediatría: avances en tiempos pandémicos / Sleep-disordered breathing in pediatrics: advances in pandemic times

Los avances en medicina del sueño son de gran relevancia para enfrentar adecuadamente los trastornos del sueño en niños y adolescentes, procurando mitigar sus efectos multisistémicos y llevando a la práctica conductas de un mejor estándar. Este artículo de revisión se enfoca en mostrar los principales avances sobre trastornos respiratorios del sueño, refiriéndonos a las experiencias publicadas durante estos años de pandemia sobre avances epidemiológicos, consecuencias cardiovasculares, lectura de estudios de sueño y estudios domiciliarios; finalmente aspectos sobre tratamiento quirúrgico versus conservador, soporte ventilatorio y dispositivos autorregularles ambulatorios para titulación.

Advances in sleep medicine are of great relevance to adequately address sleep disorders in children and adolescents, seeking to reduce their multisystem effects and implementing better standard behaviors. This review article focuses on showing the main advances on sleep-disordered breathing, referring to the experiences published during these pandemic years on epidemiological advances, cardiovascular consequences, reading sleep studies and home studies; finally, aspects of surgical versus conservative treatment, ventilatory support and ambulatory self-regulating devices for titration.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 has prognostic relevance and is a druggable target in multiple myeloma.

Arginine methyltransferases critically regulate cellular homeostasis by modulating the functional outcome of their substrates. The protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is an enzyme involved in growth and survival pathways promoting tumorigenesis. However, little is known about the biologic function of PRMT5 and its therapeutic potential in multiple myeloma (MM). In the present study, we identified and validated PRMT5 as a new therapeutic target in MM. PRMT5 is overexpressed in patient MM cells and associated with decreased progression-free survival and overall survival. Either genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of PRMT5 with the inhibitor EPZ015666 significantly inhibited growth of both cell lines and patient MM cells. Furthermore, PRMT5 inhibition abrogated NF-κB signaling. Interestingly, mass spectrometry identified a tripartite motif-containing protein 21 TRIM21 as a new PRMT5-partner, and we delineated a TRIM21-dependent mechanism of NF-κB inhibition. Importantly, oral administration of EPZ015666 significantly decreased MM growth in a humanized murine model of MM. These data both demonstrate the oncogenic role and prognostic relevance of PRMT5 in MM pathogenesis, and provide the rationale for novel therapies targeting PRMT5 to improve patient outcome.

Haploinsufficiency of the mSds3 chromatin regulator promotes chromosomal instability and cancer only upon complete neutralization of p53.

The mSin3 corepressor complex has been linked to diverse cancer signaling pathways through its capacity to regulate target gene expression via chromatin modification. mSds3, a cell essential gene, is a key component of the mSin3 complex serving to maintain its inherent histone deacetylase activity. mSds3 also serves an essential role in the establishment of pericentric heterochromatin, and genetic ablation of mSds3 results in chromosome missegregation. In contrast, mSin3A nullizygous cells show normal chromosome dynamics and cytogenetic profiles. The integral role of mSds3 in controlling chromosome segregation and mSin3-regulated transcriptional networks prompted efforts to determine the neoplastic impact of loss of one copy of mSds3 or mSin3A. In particular, we assessed whether loss of one copy of mSds3, alone or in combination with p53 mutation, results in aneuploidy and promotes a cancer-prone condition in the mouse. We observe that, in a p53 null background, loss of one mSds3 allele results in accelerated tumor onset and increased tumor burden. Notably, these mSds3(+/-) p53(-/-) tumors exhibit a more complex cytogenetic profile characterized by marked aneuploidy and centromeric associations. The presence of even one copy of p53 is sufficient to suppress the accelerated tumorigenesis in mSds3(+/-) mice, consistent with a key role for p53 in monitoring mitotic fidelity. These observations with Sds3 mutant mice contrast with mSin3A(+/-) p53(-/-) mice, which do not show an accelerated or increased tumor incidence relative to mSin3A(+/+)p53(-/-) controls, correlating with the absence of aneuploidy detected upon mSin3A genetic inactivation. This genetic study establishes that the capacity of mSds3 to cooperate with p53 deficiency in cancer predisposition relates to its specific role in chromosome segregation, rather than its central role in maintaining a functional mSin3A complex.

[Hydrocephalus due to hyperplasia of the choroid plexuses in a patient with trisomy 9 mosaicism. A real diagnostic and therapeutic challenge]. / Hidrocefalia por hiperplasia de plexos coroideos en un paciente con mosaicismo de trisomia 9. Un verdadero reto diagnostico y terapeutico.

INTRODUCTION: Trisomy 9 is an unusual chromosome abnormality in live-born patients, which is frequently accompanied by functional and structural anomalies of the central nervous system. Among many other alterations, several studies have been published in the English-speaking literature that show an association between chromosome 9 abnormality and pathologies affecting the choroid plexuses. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 4-month-old male with trisomy 9 mosaicism associated to hydrocephalus secondary to choroid plexus hyperplasia, who was referred due to a clinical picture of intracranial hypertension. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage procedure that was initially chosen caused massive ascites due to an excessive production of CSF, and led to a cascade of multiple surgical interventions, which included endoscopic and drainage procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This is another example of an association between choroid plexus pathologies and chromosome 9 abnormality. Due to its scarce incidence, diagnosis of hydrocephalus secondary to plexus hyperplasia is difficult, as is selecting its most suitable treatment. In this type of hydrocephalus there is a double pathophysiological mechanism, which involves an increase in CSF production and a decrease in its reabsorption. Despite taking these considerations into account, the treatment of hydrocephalus secondary to plexus hyperplasia is a real challenge that usually leads to multiple surgical interventions ranging from plexectomy or coagulation of the choroid plexuses to the implantation of CSF drainage devices.

TITLE: Hidrocefalia por hiperplasia de plexos coroideos en un paciente con mosaicismo de trisomia 9. Un verdadero reto diagnostico y terapeutico.Introduccion. La trisomia 9 es una cromosomopatia inusual en pacientes nacidos vivos, que frecuentemente se acompaña de anomalias funcionales y estructurales del sistema nervioso central. Entre otras muchas alteraciones, varios trabajos en la bibliografia anglosajona demuestran una asociacion entre cromosomopatia 9 y patologia de los plexos coroideos. Caso clinico. Varon de 4 meses de vida con mosaicismo de trisomia 9 asociado a hidrocefalia secundaria a hiperplasia de los plexos coroideos, que fue remitido por clinica de hipertension intracraneal. El procedimiento derivativo de liquido cefalorraquideo por el que optamos inicialmente provoco una ascitis masiva debida a la produccion desmesurada de liquido cefalorraquideo, y desemboco en una cascada de multiples intervenciones quirurgicas, entre las que se incluyeron procedimientos endoscopicos y derivativos. Conclusiones. Se trata de un ejemplo mas de asociacion entre patologia de los plexos coroideos y cromosomopatia 9. Debido a su escasa incidencia, es dificil establecer el diagnostico de hidrocefalia secundaria a hiperplasia de los plexos y, por tanto, el tratamiento mas adecuado. En este tipo de hidrocefalia existe un doble mecanismo fisiopatologico, que implica un aumento de produccion de liquido cefalorraquideo y una disminucion de su reabsorcion. A pesar de tener en cuenta dicha consideracion, el tratamiento de la hidrocefalia secundaria a hiperplasia de los plexos supone un verdadero reto que habitualmente pasa por multiples procedimientos quirurgicos, desde la plexectomia o coagulacion de los plexos coroideos hasta la implantacion de dispositivos de derivacion de liquido cefalorraquideo.

[Detection of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: A study on patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care]. / Detección del déficit de alfa-1 antitripsina: estudio en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica diagnosticados en atención primaria.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Spain is 10.2%. Although tobacco is the main aetiological factor, biomass smoke exposure and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have also been related to its development. AATD is a genetic condition which could be causing 2-3% of COPD cases. The aim of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to exclude the existence of AATD in a population of COPD patients from CS Culleredo, A Coruña. The thick blood drop test on blotting paper, as well as the analysis of the mutations PI*S and PI*Z of the gene SERPINA 1 by the analysis of denaturing gradients after simultaneous amplification related to PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The study population included 80 patients between 40-80 years old, of whom 30% were carriers of a deficient allele (heterozygous), and 80% of them were the allele PiS. Only one PiSZ (1.25%) individual and no PiZZ was detected. This represents an allelic frequency of 3.1% (PiZ), and 13.1% (PiS). The detected allelic frequencies are higher than previously reported in the Spanish population. Severe AATD has been excluded in 98.75% of the study population. The Pi*SZ patient has been diagnosed in an early stage of the disease. We have also achieved one of the quality indicators recommended by GesEPOC. Our area has shown a high PiS and PiZ frequency, thus our study could be used as a reference for further research in the Galician population.

Blockade of deubiquitylating enzyme Rpn11 triggers apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells and overcomes bortezomib resistance.

Proteasome inhibition is an effective therapy for multiple myeloma (MM) patients; however, the emergence of drug resistance is common. Novel therapeutic strategies to overcome proteasome inhibitor resistance are needed. In this study, we examined whether targeting deubiquitylating (DUB) enzymes upstream of 20S proteasome overcomes proteasome inhibitor resistance. Gene expression analysis, immunohistochemical studies of MM patient bone marrow, reverse transcription-PCR and protein analysis show that Rpn11/POH1, a DUB enzyme upstream of 20S proteasome, is more highly expressed in patient MM cells than in normal plasma cells. Importantly, Rpn11 expression directly correlates with poor patient survival. Loss-of-function studies show that Rpn11-siRNA knockdown decreases MM cell viability. Pharmacological inhibition of Rpn11 with O-phenanthroline (OPA) blocks cellular proteasome function, induces apoptosis in MM cells and overcomes resistance to proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. Mechanistically, Rpn11 inhibition in MM cells activates caspase cascade and endoplasmic stress response signaling. Human MM xenograft model studies demonstrate that OPA treatment reduces progression of tumor growth and prolongs survival in mice. Finally, blockade of Rpn11 increases the cytotoxic activity of anti-MM agents lenalidomide, pomalidomide or dexamethasone. Overall, our preclinical data provide the rationale for targeting DUB enzyme Rpn11 upstream of 20S proteasome to enhance cytotoxicity and overcome proteasome inhibitor resistance in MM.

Biologic therapies for refractory juvenile dermatomyositis: five years of experience of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance in North America.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) has improved remarkably since the 1960's with the use of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. Yet there remain a minority of children who have refractory disease. Since 2003 the sporadic use of biologics (genetically-engineered proteins that usually are derived from human genes) for inflammatory myositis has been reported. In 2011-2016 we investigated our collective experience of biologics in JDM through the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). METHODS: The JDM biologic study group developed a survey on the CARRA member experience using biologics for Juvenile DM utilizing Delphi consensus methods in 2011-2012. The survey was completed online by the CARRA members interested in JDM in 2012. A second survey was similarly developed that provided more opportunity to describe their experiences with biologics in JDM in detail and was completed by CARRA members in Feb 2013. During three CARRA meetings in 2013-2015, nominal group techniques were used for achieving consensus on the current choices of biologic drugs. A final survey was performed at the 2016 CARRA meeting. RESULTS: One hundred and five of a potential 231 pediatric rheumatologists (42%) responded to the first survey in 2012. Thirty-five of 90 had never used a biologic for Juvenile DM at that time. Fifty-five of 91 (denominators vary) had used biologics for JDM in their practice with 32%, 5%, and 4% using rituximab, etanercept, and infliximab, respectively, and 17% having used more than one of the three drugs. Ten percent used a biologic as monotherapy, 19% a biologic in combination with methotrexate (mtx), 52% a biologic in combination with mtx and corticosteroids, 42% a combination of a biologic, mtx, corticosteroids (steroids), and an immunosuppressive drug, and 43% a combination of a biologic, IVIG and mtx. The results of the second survey supported these findings in considerably more detail with multiple combinations of drugs used with biologics and supported the use of rituximab, abatacept, anti-TNFα drugs, and tocilizumab in that order. One hundred percent recommended that CARRA continue studying biologics for JDM. The CARRA meeting survey in 2016 again supported the study and use of these four biologic drug groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our CARRA JDM biologic work group developed and performed three surveys demonstrating that pediatric rheumatologists in North America have been using multiple biologics for refractory JDM in numerous scenarios from 2011 to 2016. These survey results and our consensus meetings determined our choice of four biologic therapies (rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab and anti-TNFα drugs) to consider for refractory JDM treatment when indicated and to evaluate for comparative effectiveness and safety in the future. Significance and Innovations This is the first report that provides a substantial clinical experience of a large group of pediatric rheumatologists with biologics for refractory JDM over five years. This experience with biologic therapies for refractory JDM may aid pediatric rheumatologists in the current treatment of these children and form a basis for further clinical research into the comparative effectiveness and safety of biologics for refractory JDM.