Metabolic liver cancer: associations of rare and common germline variants in one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation genes.

Animal studies implicate one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in the setting of metabolic perturbations. Using human samples, we investigated the associations between common and rare variants in these closely related biochemical pathways and risk for metabolic HCC development in a multicenter international study. We performed targeted exome sequencing of 64 genes among 556 metabolic HCC cases and 643 cancer-free controls with metabolic conditions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for multiple comparisons. Gene-burden tests were used for rare variant associations. Analyses were performed in the overall sample and among non-Hispanic whites. The results show that among non-Hispanic whites, presence of rare functional variants in ABCC2 was associated with 7-fold higher risk of metabolic HCC (OR = 6.92, 95% CI: 2.38-20.15, P = 0.0004), and this association remained significant when analyses were restricted to functional rare variants observed in ≥2 participants (cases 3.2% versus controls 0.0%, P = 1.02 × 10-5). In the overall multiethnic sample, presence of rare functional variants in ABCC2 was nominally associated with metabolic HCC (OR = 3.60, 95% CI: 1.52-8.58, P = 0.004), with similar nominal association when analyses were restricted to functional rare variants observed in ≥2 participants (cases 2.9% versus controls 0.2%, P = 0.006). A common variant in PNPLA3 (rs738409[G]) was associated with higher HCC risk in the overall sample (P = 6.36 × 10-6) and in non-Hispanic whites (P = 0.0002). Our findings indicate that rare functional variants in ABCC2 are associated with susceptibility to metabolic HCC in non-Hispanic whites. PNPLA3-rs738409 is also associated with metabolic HCC risk.

APOE2 Exacerbates TDP-43 Related Toxicity in the Absence of Alzheimer Pathology.

OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence supports a link between increased TDP-43 burden and the presence of an APOE4 gene allele in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, it is difficult to conclude the direct effect of APOE on TDP-43 pathology due to the presence of mixed AD pathologies. The goal of this study is to address how APOE isoforms impact TDP-43 pathology and related neurodegeneration in the absence of typical AD pathologies. METHODS: We overexpressed human TDP-43 via viral transduction in humanized APOE2, APOE3, APOE4 mice, and murine Apoe-knockout (Apoe-KO) mice. Behavior tests were performed across ages. Animals were harvested at 11 months of age and TDP-43 overexpression-related neurodegeneration and gliosis were assessed. To further address the human relevance, we analyzed the association of APOE with TDP-43 pathology in 160 postmortem brains from autopsy-confirmed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease (FTLD-MND) in the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank. RESULTS: We found that TDP-43 overexpression induced motor function deficits, neuronal loss, and gliosis in the motor cortex, especially in APOE2 mice, with much milder or absent effects in APOE3, APOE4, or Apoe-KO mice. In the motor cortex of the ALS and FTLD-MND postmortem human brains, we found that the APOE2 allele was associated with more severe TDP-43-positive dystrophic neurites. INTERPRETATION: Our data suggest a genotype-specific effect of APOE on TDP-43 proteinopathy and neurodegeneration in the absence of AD pathology, with the strongest association seen with APOE2. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:830-843.

Role of GBA variants in Lewy body disease neuropathology.

Rare and common GBA variants are risk factors for both Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, the degree to which GBA variants are associated with neuropathological features in Lewy body disease (LBD) is unknown. Herein, we assessed 943 LBD cases and examined associations of 15 different neuropathological outcomes with common and rare GBA variants. Neuropathological outcomes included LBD subtype, presence of a high likelihood of clinical DLB (per consensus guidelines), LB counts in five cortical regions, tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the dorsolateral and ventromedial putamen, ventrolateral substantia nigra neuronal loss, Braak neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) stage, Thal amyloid phase, phospho-ubiquitin (pS65-Ub) level, TDP-43 pathology, and vascular disease. Sequencing of GBA exons revealed a total of 42 different variants (4 common [MAF > 0.5%], 38 rare [MAF < 0.5%]) in our series, and 165 cases (17.5%) had a copy of the minor allele for ≥ 1 variant. In analysis of common variants, p.L483P was associated with a lower Braak NFT stage (OR = 0.10, P < 0.001). In gene-burden analysis, presence of the minor allele for any GBA variant was associated with increased odds of a high likelihood of DLB (OR = 2.00, P < 0.001), a lower Braak NFT stage (OR = 0.48, P < 0.001), a lower Thal amyloid phase (OR = 0.55, P < 0.001), and a lower pS65-Ub level (ß: -0.37, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that GBA variants were most common in LBD cases with a combination of transitional/diffuse LBD and Braak NFT stage 0-II or Thal amyloid phase 0-1, and correspondingly that the aforementioned associations of GBA gene-burden with a decreased Braak NFT stage and Thal amyloid phase were observed only in transitional or diffuse LBD cases. Our results indicate that in LBD, GBA variants occur most frequently in cases with greater LB pathology and low AD pathology, further informing disease-risk associations of GBA in PD, PD dementia, and DLB.

Lysosomal polygenic risk is associated with the severity of neuropathology in Lewy body disease.

Intraneuronal accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, often co-occurring with variable degrees of Alzheimer's disease related neuropathology. Genetic association studies have successfully identified common variants associated with disease risk and phenotypic traits in Lewy body disease, yet little is known about the genetic contribution to neuropathological heterogeneity. Using summary statistics from Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease genome-wide association studies, we calculated polygenic risk scores and investigated the relationship with Lewy, amyloid-ß and tau pathology. Associations were nominated in neuropathologically defined samples with Lewy body disease from the Netherlands Brain Bank (n = 217) and followed up in an independent sample series from the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank (n = 394). We also generated stratified polygenic risk scores based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms annotated to eight functional pathways or cell types previously implicated in Parkinson's disease and assessed for association with Lewy pathology in subgroups with and without significant Alzheimer's disease co-pathology. In an ordinal logistic regression model, the Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk score was associated with concomitant amyloid-ß and tau pathology in both cohorts. Moreover, both cohorts showed a significant association between lysosomal pathway polygenic risk and Lewy pathology, which was more consistent than the association with a general Parkinson's disease risk score and specific to the subset of samples without significant concomitant Alzheimer's disease related neuropathology. Our findings provide proof of principle that the specific risk alleles a patient carries for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease also influence key aspects of the underlying neuropathology in Lewy body disease. The interrelations between genetic architecture and neuropathology are complex, as our results implicate lysosomal risk loci specifically in the subset of samples without Alzheimer's disease co-pathology. Our findings hold promise that genetic profiling may help predict the vulnerability to specific neuropathologies in Lewy body disease, with potential relevance for the further development of precision medicine in these disorders.

A clinical review of congenital hepatic fibrosis diagnosed in adulthood: presentation, complications, and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is a rare condition characterized by biliary tract changes and a geographic pattern of liver fibrosis. Liver biopsy is essential to confirm its diagnosis. The absence of specific clinical indicators in adults often leads to delays in diagnosis and management, while the natural history has not been well described. We sought to define the presentation and outcomes of adults with biopsy-proven CHF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients diagnosed with CHF by liver biopsy. Continuous variables were summarized with the sample median and range. Categorical variables were summarized with number and percentage of patients. RESULTS: We identified 24 patients evaluated over a 20-year period, with a median age of 51 years (range 22-72 years) at initial presentation; 14 were male. The most common imaging findings were renal cysts (91.3%), splenomegaly (69.6%), and a cirrhotic-appearing liver (60.9%). The most commonly treated liver-related complications were cholangitis (45.8%), varices (45.8%), and hepatic encephalopathy (25%). Two patients died with a median length of follow-up of 2.9 years (range: 0.0-20.0 years). Two patients underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement to manage bleeding esophageal varices. Eight patients underwent liver transplantation (LT), the most common indication being decompensated disease (50%). CONCLUSIONS: CHF should be considered when patients present with cholangitis and/or complications of portal hypertension and have a cirrhotic appearing liver and renal cysts on imaging. Depending upon the disease severity, interventions such as TIPS or LT may be required.

Vascular Postoperative Changes After Facial Flap Repairs: An Opportunity for Early Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Flap repair provides unique advantages in facial reconstruction but still carries the potential for undesirable postoperative cosmetic changes. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to describe postoperative vascular outcomes of patients undergoing flap repairs after Mohs micrographic surgery on facial tumors and to assess associations of baseline characteristics with outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 7 dermatologists and 1 physician assistant in dermatology assessed preoperative and postoperative photographs of 57 patients who underwent facial Mohs micrographic surgery, evaluating vascular and pigment outcomes and number of telangiectasias. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in number of telangiectasias according to body location (p = .002), where the number of telangiectasias was highest for nose surgery. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that nasal flap repairs are associated with increased postoperative vascular changes. This highlights an opportunity for improved preoperative patient counseling and possible early laser treatment after nasal Mohs micrographic surgery.

Protective Effect of Glucocorticoids against Symptomatic Disease in CSF1R Variant Carriers.

BACKGROUND: There is an unmet need for the treatment of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of glucocorticoids (GCs) with disease onset and progression in CSF1R variant carriers. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study on CSF1R variants carriers (n = 41) whose medical records were collected at Mayo Clinic Florida from 2003 to 2023. We retrieved information on sex, ethnicity, family history, medications, disease onset, course and duration, neuroimaging features, and activities of daily living (ADL). RESULTS: Risk of developing symptoms was significantly lower for individuals who used GCs (n = 8) compared to individuals who did not (n = 33) (12.5% vs. 81.8%, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.10, P = 0.036). The risk of becoming dependent in ADL was markedly lower for the GCs group (0.0% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.006). White matter lesions and corpus callosum involvement were less common in the GCs group (62.5% vs. 96.6%, P = 0.026; 37.5% vs. 84.6%, P = 0.017; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found a protective association of GCs in CSF1R variant carriers against developing CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. We call for further studies to validate our findings and investigate the potential application of GCs in CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Clinical Characteristics and Computed Tomography Findings in Adult Patients With an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence and possible features associated with symptoms in adult patients diagnosed with an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, 386 adult patients were diagnosed with ARSA on chest CT scans performed between June 2016 and April 2021. Patients were grouped by the presence of symptoms, which included dysphagia, shortness of breath, cough, and upper airway wheezing. Four cardiothoracic radiologists reviewed the chest CT scans to assess features of ARSA. Agreement and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine interobserver variability and features associated with the presence of symptoms, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of ARSA was 1.02% and 81.3% of patients were asymptomatic. Shortness of breath (74.6%) was the most common symptom. Interobserver agreement was acceptable with most variables having an interclass correlation coefficient or κ >0.80. A patient's height > 158 cm (OR: 2.50, P = 0.03), cross-sectional area > 60 mm 2 of ARSA at the level of the esophagus (OR: 2.39, P = 0.046), and angle >108 degrees formed with the aortic arch (OR: 1.99, P = 0.03) were associated with the presence of symptoms on multivariable logistic regression. A distance increase per 1 mm between ARSA and trachea (OR: 0.85, P = 0.02) was associated with decreased odds of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant right subclavian artery is an incidental finding in most adult patients. The cross-sectional area at the level of the esophagus, angle formed with the medial wall of the aortic arch, distance between the ARSA and the trachea, and a patient's height were features associated with the presence of symptoms.

A Parathyroid Hormone-Guided Calcium and Calcitriol Supplementation Protocol Reduces Hypocalcemia-Related Readmissions Following Total Thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a 4-hour postoperative serum parathyroid hormone (PTH)-guided calcium (Ca) and calcitriol supplementation protocol on the incidence of hypocalcemia and hospital readmissions in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. METHODS: This was a single-institution, retrospective chart review of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy; 148 and 389 of the patients underwent surgery prior to and after the protocol implementation, respectively. The risk of hypocalcemia was stratified as low (PTH level of >30 pg/mL), medium (15-30 pg/mL), and high (<15 pg/mL), using serum PTH values obtained 4 hours postoperatively. Hypocalcemia was defined as a total serum Ca level of <8 mg/dL. Baseline demographic and operative characteristics and postoperative outcome were recorded for both groups. The Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the characteristics of the 2 groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to account for potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: Postoperative hypocalcemia occurred significantly less frequently in the protocol group compared with that in the preprotocol group (10.3% vs 20.9%, P = .002). The reduction in hypocalcemia in the protocol group was observed in both patients with (16.3% vs 25.6%) and without (8.4% vs 19.3%) cervical lymph node dissection. The protocol group had a significantly lower incidence of hospital readmission events than the preprotocol group (1.0% vs 4.7%, P = .013). CONCLUSION: Compared with a historical cohort, a PTH-guided protocol for Ca and calcitriol supplementation significantly reduces the postoperative hypocalcemia and hospital readmission rates in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Skin Cancer in Non-White Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Mayo Clinic Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have an increased risk of skin cancer development, but limited data exist on the development pattern of cutaneous malignancies in non-White SOTRs. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of non-White patients who developed skin cancer following solid organ transplantation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of non-White SOTRs at the Mayo Clinic who underwent transplantation between November 1987 and April 2020 and subsequently developed skin cancer. RESULTS: We identified 32 non-White SOTRs who developed skin cancer in the posttransplant period. Among these, 46.9% were Hispanic/Latinx, 25% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 21.9% were Asian, and 6.3% were Black/African American. Four patients had a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer pretransplant. In regard to skin cancer type, 21 (65.6%) patients developed squamous cell carcinoma, 15 (46.9%) developed basal cell carcinoma, 5 (15.6%) developed melanoma, and 2 (6.3%) developed sebaceous carcinoma. The median time from transplant to first posttransplant skin cancer was 7.8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides further characterization of the development of skin cancer in non-White SOTRs following transplant and identifies a variety of relevant pre- and posttransplant factors. Despite a long follow-up period, the number of patients identified remained low, which is consistent with the literature, indicating a low incidence of skin cancer development in non-White SOTRs. Continued investigation may allow for a more precise identification of risk factors and their degree of significance.

Dermatology Residency Applicant Self-Reported Stressors and Coping Mechanisms by Sex, Race, and Geographic Region during the 2020-2021 Application Cycle.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to identify self-reported stressors and coping mechanisms during the 2020-2021 application cycle by dermatology residency applicants. We hypothesized that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would be the most reported stressor. METHODS: During the 2020-2021 application season, the Mayo Clinic Florida Dermatology residency program sent a supplemental application to each applicant requesting that they describe a challenging life situation and how they handled it. Comparisons of self-reported stressors and self-expressed coping mechanisms according to sex, race, and geographic region were performed. RESULTS: The most common stressors reported were academic (18.4%), family crisis (17.7%), and COVID-19 (10.5%). The most frequent coping mechanisms expressed were perseverance (22.3%), seeking community (13.7%), and resilience (11.5%). The coping mechanism of diligence was observed more often in females than in males (2.8% vs 0.0%, P = 0.045). First in medicine was more often observed in Black or African American students (12.5% vs 0%, P = 0.001), immigrant experience was more often observed in Black or African American and Hispanic students (16.7% and 11.8% vs 3.1%, P = 0.021), and natural disaster was reported more often in Hispanic students (26.5% vs 0.5%, P < 0.001) as compared with White applicants. By geography, applicants in the northeastern United States were more likely to report the COVID-19 pandemic as a stressor (19.5%, P = 0.049), and the natural disaster stressor was more often reported by applicants from outside the continental United States (45.5%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stressors reported by dermatology applicants in the 2020-2021 cycle included academic, family crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The type of stressor reported varied by race/ethnicity and geographic location of the applicant.

Towards defining morphologic parameters of normal parous and nulliparous breast tissues by artificial intelligence.

BACKGROUND: Breast terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs), the source of most breast cancer (BC) precursors, are shaped by age-related involution, a gradual process, and postpartum involution (PPI), a dramatic inflammatory process that restores baseline microanatomy after weaning. Dysregulated PPI is implicated in the pathogenesis of postpartum BCs. We propose that assessment of TDLUs in the postpartum period may have value in risk estimation, but characteristics of these tissues in relation to epidemiological factors are incompletely described. METHODS: Using validated Artificial Intelligence and morphometric methods, we analyzed digitized images of tissue sections of normal breast tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin from donors ≤ 45 years from the Komen Tissue Bank (180 parous and 545 nulliparous). Metrics assessed by AI, included: TDLU count; adipose tissue fraction; mean acini count/TDLU; mean dilated acini; mean average acini area; mean "capillary" area; mean epithelial area; mean ratio of epithelial area versus intralobular stroma; mean mononuclear cell count (surrogate of immune cells); mean fat area proximate to TDLUs and TDLU area. We compared epidemiologic characteristics collected via questionnaire by parity status and race, using a Wilcoxon rank sum test or Fisher's exact test. Histologic features were compared between nulliparous and parous women (overall and by time between last birth and donation [recent birth: ≤ 5 years versus remote birth: > 5 years]) using multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Normal breast tissues of parous women contained significantly higher TDLU counts and acini counts, more frequent dilated acini, higher mononuclear cell counts in TDLUs and smaller acini area per TDLU than nulliparas (all multivariable analyses p < 0.001). Differences in TDLU counts and average acini size persisted for > 5 years postpartum, whereas increases in immune cells were most marked ≤ 5 years of a birth. Relationships were suggestively modified by several other factors, including demographic and reproductive characteristics, ethanol consumption and breastfeeding duration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified sustained expansion of TDLU numbers and reduced average acini area among parous versus nulliparous women and notable increases in immune responses within five years following childbirth. Further, we show that quantitative characteristics of normal breast samples vary with demographic features and BC risk factors.

Comparative study of therapy-related and de novo adult b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

We report a comparative analysis of patients with therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (tr-ALL) vs de novo ALL. We identified 331 patients with B-ALL; 69 (21%) were classified as tr-ALL. The most common prior malignancies were breast (23·2%) and plasma cell disorders (20·3%). Patients with tr-ALL were older (median 63·2 vs. 46·2 years, P < 0.001), more often female (66·7% vs. 43·5%, P < 0·001), and more likely to have hypodiploid cytogenetics (18·8% vs. 5·0%, P < 0·001). In multivariable analysis, patients with tr-ALL were less likely to achieve complete remission [odds ratio (OR) = 0·16, P < 0·001] and more likely to be minimal residual disease-positive (OR = 4·86, P = 0·01) but had similar OS after diagnosis and allo-haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Optimized Surveillance Intervals Following Endoscopic Eradication of Dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus: An International Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recommended surveillance intervals after complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) after endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) are largely not evidence-based. Using recurrence rates in a multicenter international Barrett's esophagus (BE) CE-IM cohort, we aimed to generate optimal intervals for surveillance. METHODS: Patients with dysplastic BE undergoing EET and achieving CE-IM from prospectively maintained databases at 5 tertiary-care centers in the United States and the United Kingdom were included. The cumulative incidence of recurrence was estimated, accounting for the unknown date of actual recurrence that lies between the dates of current and previous endoscopy. This cumulative incidence of recurrence subsequently was used to estimate the proportion of patients with undetected recurrence for various surveillance intervals over 5 years. Intervals were selected that minimized recurrences remaining undetected for more than 6 months. Actual patterns of post-CE-IM follow-up evaluation are described. RESULTS: A total of 498 patients (with baseline low-grade dysplasia, 115 patients; high-grade dysplasia [HGD], 288 patients; and intramucosal adenocarcinoma [IMCa], 95 patients) were included. Any recurrence occurred in 27.1% and dysplastic recurrence occurred in 8.4% over a median of 2.6 years of follow-up evaluation. For pre-ablation HGD/IMCa, intervals of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, and then annually, resulted in no patients with dysplastic recurrence undetected for more than 6 months, comparable with current guideline recommendations despite a 33% reduction in the number of surveillance endoscopies. For pre-ablation low-grade dysplasia, intervals of 1, 2, and 4 years balanced endoscopic burden and undetected recurrence risk. CONCLUSIONS: Lengthening post-CE-IM surveillance intervals would reduce the endoscopic burden after CE-IM with comparable rates of recurrent HGD/IMCa. Future guidelines should consider reduced surveillance frequency.

Serum hormone levels and normal breast histology among premenopausal women.

PURPOSE: Breast terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the main source of breast cancer (BC) precursors. Higher serum concentrations of hormones and growth factors have been linked to increased TDLU numbers and to elevated BC risk, with variable effects by menopausal status. We assessed associations of circulating factors with breast histology among premenopausal women using artificial intelligence (AI) and preliminarily tested whether parity modifies associations. METHODS: Pathology AI analysis was performed on 316 digital images of H&E-stained sections of normal breast tissues from Komen Tissue Bank donors ages ≤ 45 years to assess 11 quantitative metrics. Associations of circulating factors with AI metrics were assessed using regression analyses, with inclusion of interaction terms to assess effect modification. RESULTS: Higher prolactin levels were related to larger TDLU area (p < 0.001) and increased presence of adipose tissue proximate to TDLUs (p < 0.001), with less significant positive associations for acini counts (p = 0.012), dilated acini (p = 0.043), capillary area (p = 0.014), epithelial area (p = 0.007), and mononuclear cell counts (p = 0.017). Testosterone levels were associated with increased TDLU counts (p < 0.001), irrespective of parity, but associations differed by adipose tissue content. AI data for TDLU counts generally agreed with prior visual assessments. CONCLUSION: Among premenopausal women, serum hormone levels linked to BC risk were also associated with quantitative features of normal breast tissue. These relationships were suggestively modified by parity status and tissue composition. We conclude that the microanatomic features of normal breast tissue may represent a marker of BC risk.

APOE4 exacerbates α-synuclein seeding activity and contributes to neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease with Lewy body pathology.

Approximately half of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains have concomitant Lewy pathology at autopsy, suggesting that α-synuclein (α-SYN) aggregation is a regulated event in the pathogenesis of AD. Genome-wide association studies revealed that the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE4) gene, the strongest genetic risk factor for AD, is also the most replicated genetic risk factor for Lewy body dementia (LBD), signifying an important role of APOE4 in both amyloid-ß (Aß) and α-SYN pathogenesis. How APOE4 modulates α-SYN aggregation in AD is unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine how α-SYN is associated with AD-related pathology and how APOE4 impacts α-SYN seeding and toxicity. We measured α-SYN levels and their association with other established AD-related markers in brain samples from autopsy-confirmed AD patients (N = 469), where 54% had concomitant LB pathology (AD + LB). We found significant correlations between the levels of α-SYN and those of Aß40, Aß42, tau and APOE, particularly in insoluble fractions of AD + LB. Using a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay, we measured the seeding activity of soluble α-SYN and found that α-SYN seeding was exacerbated by APOE4 in the AD cohort, as well as a small cohort of autopsy-confirmed LBD brains with minimal Alzheimer type pathology. We further fractionated the soluble AD brain lysates by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) ran on fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and identified the α-SYN species (~ 96 kDa) that showed the strongest seeding activity. Finally, using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons, we showed that amplified α-SYN aggregates from AD + LB brain of patients with APOE4 were highly toxic to neurons, whereas the same amount of α-SYN monomer was not toxic. Our findings suggest that the presence of LB pathology correlates with AD-related pathologies and that APOE4 exacerbates α-SYN seeding activity and neurotoxicity, providing mechanistic insight into how APOE4 affects α-SYN pathogenesis in AD.

Tau polygenic risk scoring: a cost-effective aid for prognostic counseling in Alzheimer's disease.

Tau deposition is one of two hallmark features of biologically defined Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is more closely related to cognitive decline than amyloidosis. Further, not all amyloid-positive individuals develop tauopathy, resulting in wide heterogeneity in clinical outcomes across the population with AD. We hypothesized that a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on tau PET (tau PRS) would capture the aggregate inherited susceptibility/resistance architecture influencing tau accumulation, beyond solely the measurement of amyloid-ß burden. Leveraging rich multimodal data from a population-based sample of older adults, we found that this novel tau PRS was a strong surrogate of tau PET deposition and captured a significant proportion of the variance in tau PET levels as compared with amyloid PET burden, APOE (apolipoprotein E) ε4 (the most common risk allele for AD), and a non-APOE PRS of clinical case-control AD risk variants. In independent validation samples, the tau PRS was associated with cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated tau levels in one cohort and with postmortem Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage in another. We also observed an association of the tau PRS with longitudinal cognitive trajectories, including a statistical interaction of the tau PRS with amyloid burden on cognitive decline. Although additional study is warranted, these findings demonstrate the potential utility of a tau PRS for capturing the collective genetic background influencing tau deposition in the general population. In the future, a tau PRS could be leveraged for cost-effective screening and risk stratification to guide trial enrollment and clinical interventions in AD.

Secukinumab for the treatment of adult-onset pityriasis rubra pilaris: a single-arm clinical trial with transcriptomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is not completely understood, but interleukin (IL)-17 has been shown to play a critical role. There are no reliable immunomodulatory agents to treat PRP. We conducted an open-label, single-arm clinical trial of secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-17A, for the treatment of PRP. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of secukinumab and define the transcriptomic landscape of PRP and its response to IL-17A blockade. METHODS: Twelve patients with PRP were recruited for an open-label trial of secukinumab. Patients received a 24-week course of secukinumab. The primary endpoint was a ≥ 75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) from baseline to week 28. Secondary endpoints included PASI 90, change in Physician's Global Assessment (PGA), and change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). RNA sequencing was performed on lesional and nonlesional skin biopsies obtained at baseline and week 2. Sample groups were compared to identify differential gene expression and pathway enrichment. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: 'Cosentyx (secukinumab) for the treatment of adult onset pityriasis rubra pilaris' - NCT03342573. RESULTS: At week 28, six of 11 patients (55%) achieved PASI 75, and three patients (27%) achieved PASI 90. PGA (P = 0.008) and DLQI scores (P = 0.010) showed significant improvement with treatment. No serious treatment-related adverse events were encountered. Treatment with secukinumab normalized transcriptional differences between lesional and nonlesional skin. Transcriptomic data from nonresponsive patients suggest that overactivity of innate immune pathways may be driving resistance to secukinumab. CONCLUSIONS: Secukinumab appears to be an effective treatment for PRP and warrants further investigation. PRP is a transcriptionally heterogeneous disease, reflecting its variable response to therapy. Agents targeting other IL-17 isoforms and innate immune mediators should be considered for future clinical trials. What is already known about this topic? The pathogenesis of pityriasis rubra pilaris is incompletely understood. Successful treatment has been reported with a variety of immunomodulatory agents, but disease is often refractory to therapy. Interleukin (IL)-17 is thought to drive keratinocyte proliferation and vascular dysfunction in this disease. A previous trial demonstrated efficacy of the anti-IL-17A drug ixekizumab for pityriasis rubra pilaris. What does this study add? Herein we describe the findings of a clinical trial of secukinumab, an anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of pityriasis rubra pilaris. Secukinumab was effective in treating pityriasis rubra pilaris. Our transcriptomic data give new insight into the expressional changes that occur in response to secukinumab and suggest mechanisms of treatment resistance.

Dynamic stabilization home exercise program for treatment of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A prospective randomized control trial.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized control trial. INTRODUCTION: Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of hand pain and disability. Standard conservative therapy (SCT) for thumb CMC OA includes an orthosis and instruction in joint protection, adaptive equipment, and pain relieving modalities. The dynamic stability home exercise (HE) program is complementary conservative therapy designed to strengthen the stabilizing muscles of the thumb CMC. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To investigate whether the addition of HE to SCT (SCT+HE) was more effective at reducing pain and disability in thumb CMC OA compared to SCT alone. METHODS: The study compared 2 groups: SCT and SCT+HE. The SCT group received SCT with in-home pain management instructions, joint protection strategies with adaptive equipment, and a hand-based thumb-spica orthosis. The SCT+HE group received HE program instructions for adductor stretching and opponens and first dorsal interosseous strengthening in addition to SCT. Our primary outcome measure was the numerical rating scale (NRS) with secondary outcome measures of QuickDASH (shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire), range of motion, grip strength, and pinch strength. Outcome measurements were assessed at first visit, 6 weeks, and 6 months. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for NRS and QuickDASH at 6 weeks (P = .28 and P = .36, respectively) or 6 months (P = .52 and P = .97, respectively). However, there was a statistically significant decrease in NRS and QuickDASH scores at 6 weeks and 6 months within both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both SCT and SCT+HE are effective at reducing pain and disability in OA of the thumb CMC joint. Neither therapy program was superior to the other at improving NRS or QuickDASH scores at 6-week or 6-month follow-up.

Parkinson-Associated SNCA Enhancer Variants Revealed by Open Chromatin in Mouse Dopamine Neurons.

The progressive loss of midbrain (MB) dopaminergic (DA) neurons defines the motor features of Parkinson disease (PD), and modulation of risk by common variants in PD has been well established through genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We acquired open chromatin signatures of purified embryonic mouse MB DA neurons because we anticipated that a fraction of PD-associated genetic variation might mediate the variants' effects within this neuronal population. Correlation with >2,300 putative enhancers assayed in mice revealed enrichment for MB cis-regulatory elements (CREs), and these data were reinforced by transgenic analyses of six additional sequences in zebrafish and mice. One CRE, within intron 4 of the familial PD gene SNCA, directed reporter expression in catecholaminergic neurons from transgenic mice and zebrafish. Sequencing of this CRE in 986 individuals with PD and 992 controls revealed two common variants associated with elevated PD risk. To assess potential mechanisms of action, we screened >16,000 proteins for DNA binding capacity and identified a subset whose binding is impacted by these enhancer variants. Additional genotyping across the SNCA locus identified a single PD-associated haplotype, containing the minor alleles of both of the aforementioned PD-risk variants. Our work posits a model for how common variation at SNCA might modulate PD risk and highlights the value of cell-context-dependent guided searches for functional non-coding variation.