Dynamic Spatial-Selective Metasurface with Multiple-Beam Interference.

The emergence of the metasurface has provided a versatile platform for the manipulation of light at the nanoscale. Recent research in metasurfaces has explored a plethora of dynamic control and switching of multifunctionalities, paving the way for innovative applications in fields such as imaging, sensing, and communication. However, current dynamic multifunctional metasurfaces face challenges in terms of functional scalability and selective activation. In this work, we introduce and experimentally demonstrate a strategy that utilizes multiple plane waves to create arbitrary periodic patterns on the metasurface, thus enabling the dynamic and arbitrary spatial-selective activation of its embedded multiplexed functionalities. Furthermore, our strategy facilitates dynamic light control through mechanical translation, as demonstrated by a high-speed, dynamically switchable beam deflection scenario. Our method effectively overcomes the limitations associated with traditional spatially multiplexing techniques, offering greater flexibility and selectivity for dynamic control in multifunctional metasurfaces.

Light-Emitting Microfibers from Lotus Root for Eco-Friendly Optical Waveguides and Biosensing.

Optical biosensors based on micro/nanofibers are highly valuable for probing and monitoring liquid environments and bioactivity. Most current optical biosensors, however, are still based on glass, semiconductors, or metallic materials, which might not be fully suitable for biologically relevant environments. Here, we introduce biocompatible and flexible microfibers from lotus silk as microenvironmental monitors that exhibit waveguiding of intrinsic fluorescence as well as of coupled light. These features make single-filament monitors excellent building blocks for a variety of sensing functions, including pH probing and detection of bacterial activity. These results pave the way for the development of new and entirely eco-friendly, potentially multiplexed biosensing platforms.

Cost-Effectiveness of Carbidopa-Levodopa Enteral Suspension for Advanced Parkinson's Disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension (CLES) is indicated for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (aPD) with severe motor fluctuations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and cost-effectiveness of CLES compared to the standard-of-care (SoC) for aPD patients in the United States (US), using real-world data. METHODS: A published Markov model, comprising of 25 health states and a death state, (defined by a combination of the Hoehn and Yahr scale and waking time spent in OFF-time) was adapted to estimate the benefits for CLES versus oral SoC over a patient's lifetime in the US healthcare setting. Clinical inputs were based on a clinical trial and a registry study; utility inputs were sourced from the Adelphi-Disease Specific Programmes. RESULTS: CLES compared to SoC was associated with incremental costs ($1,031,791 vs. $1,025,180) and QALY gain (4.61 vs. 3.76), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7711/QALY. CONCLUSION: CLES is a cost-effective treatment for aPD patients with medication resistant motor fluctuations. © 2023 AbbVie, Inc and The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Point-Source Geometric Metasurface Holography.

Geometric metasurfaces have shown great potential in holography due to their straightforward geometric nature of phase control. The incident angles, spins, and wavelengths of the light provide various degrees of freedom to multiplex metasurface holographic images, which, however, are usually interrelated and hence challenging to be fully decoupled. Here, we report a synergetic recipe to break such seemingly inevitable interrelation by incorporating an effective point source (a pinhole), with which the spin, wavelength, and coordinate of the point source can be fully decoupled in meta-holograms. We experimentally demonstrate spin-decoupled, full-colored metasurface holography and dynamic holography controlled with the position of the point source. The significance of this work is not merely to offer an alternative approach to break the interrelation limitations of the geometric metasurface, but more importantly, it provides a promising route for point sources in reality to realize advanced functionalities with meta-optics, such as single-photon holography, fluorescence holography, etc.

Burden of Parkinson's Disease by Severity: Health Care Costs in the U.S. Medicare Population.

BACKGROUND: Current understanding of the health care costs of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the incremental burden of advanced disease is incomplete. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the direct economic burden associated with advanced versus mild/moderate PD in a prevalent national sample of elderly U.S. Medicare beneficiaries with a PD diagnosis. METHODS: Analyzing 100% fee-for-service Medicare claims from 2013, we defined advanced PD with a medication-based algorithm and calculated all-cause and PD-related costs for the overall sample and by disease severity. We measured primary PD-related costs (based on claims with a primary diagnosis of PD) and any PD-related costs (based on claims with PD in any diagnostic field). Generalized linear models were used to estimate risk-adjusted mean cost differences between the advanced and mild/moderate PD groups for the calendar year. RESULTS: The final sample (N = 144,703) had mean observed all-cause, primary PD-related, and any PD-related costs of $23,041 (SD, $34,045), $3429 (SD, $7431), and $9924 (SD, $22,140), respectively. Twenty percent of patients were classified as advanced PD. Costs varied substantially; any PD-related mean costs were $483 for the lowest patient decile (which included 1% of the advanced group) and $48,145 for the highest decile (which included 15% of the advanced group). Incremental risk-adjusted costs of advanced PD were $5818 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $5411-$6225) for all-cause costs, $3644 (95% CI: $3484-$3806) for primary PD-related costs, and $6088 (95% CI: $5779-$6398) for any PD-related costs. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly Medicare beneficiaries with PD had substantial variation in PD-related costs. Advanced PD was associated with a larger economic burden than mild/moderate PD. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Progress towards hepatitis C virus elimination in high-income countries: An updated analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Elimination of HCV by 2030, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is attainable with the availability of highly efficacious therapies. This study reports progress made in the timing of HCV elimination in 45 high-income countries between 2017 and 2019. METHODS: Disease progression models of HCV infection for each country were updated with latest data on chronic HCV prevalence, and annual diagnosis and treatment levels, assumed to remain constant in the future. Modelled outcomes were analysed to determine the year in which each country would meet the WHO 2030 elimination targets. RESULTS: Of the 45 countries studied, 11 (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom) are on track to meet WHO's elimination targets by 2030; five (Austria, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Korea) by 2040; and two (Saudi Arabia and Taiwan) by 2050. The remaining 27 countries are not expected to achieve elimination before 2050. Compared to progress in 2017, South Korea is no longer on track to eliminate HCV by 2030, three (Canada, Germany, and Sweden) are now on track, and most countries (30) saw no change. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming high-income countries will maintain current levels of diagnosis and treatment, only 24% are on track to eliminate HCV by 2030, and 60% are off track by at least 20 years. If current levels of diagnosis and treatment continue falling, achieving WHO's 2030 targets will be more challenging. With less than ten years remaining, screening and treatment expansion is crucial to meet WHO's HCV elimination targets.

Effect of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir + dasabuvir regimen on health-related quality of life for patients with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study analyses health-related quality of life data from 8 randomized clinical trials using ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir ± ribavirin to investigate: (i) the impact of the treatment vs placebo during treatment on health-related quality of life; (ii) the sustainability of such treatment effect after 12-week treatment period; and (iii) if results from (i) and (ii) differ in subgenotypes 1a vs 1b. METHODS: Six registration trials and 2 post-approval trials were pooled and analysed using longitudinal mixed models to estimate the effect of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir ± ribavirin on health-related quality of life outcomes adjusting for baseline scores, as well as patient demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Patients treated with ribavirin-free ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir regimen reported statistically significant increase in health-related quality of life outcomes as compared to placebo patients. While ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir + ribavirin treatment saw statistically significant decline in health-related quality of life outcomes during treatment vs baseline and placebo, effect on health-related quality of life outcomes associated with ribavirin did not persist in the post-treatment period for ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir patients followed for up to 52 weeks. The analysis also found Genotype 1b patients reported greater improvements in health-related quality of life as compared to genotype 1a patients. CONCLUSIONS: During the active treatment period, small but statistically significant decrements in health-related quality of life outcomes were observed potentially driven by ribavirin, which were not sustained during the post-treatment follow-up period. Differences were observed by patient subgenotype, where health-related quality of life improvements were consistently higher for genotype 1b patients as compared to genotype 1a patients.

Comparison of Adalimumab and Etanercept for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: An Indirect Comparison Using Individual Patient Data from Randomized Trials.

OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes between adalimumab and etanercept in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. METHODS: Study groups included patients randomized to adalimumab or placebo (REVEAL and CHAMPION trials) and those randomized to etanercept or placebo (M10-114 and M10-315 trials). Week 12 outcomes were compared between patients receiving adalimumab and those receiving etanercept after adjusting for cross-trial differences in patient characteristics using propensity score weighting and after subtracting effects of placebo. Outcomes included proportion of patients achieving 75% or more, 90% or more, and 100% reductions from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75, PASI90, PASI100, respectively), symptom resolution (pruritus = 0; psoriatic pain = 0), lesion resolution (minimal scores for plaque signs erythema, desquamation, and induration, and by body regions head, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs), absence of skin-related quality-of-life impact (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] = 0), "complete disease control" (patient's global assessment [PtGA] = 0), and adverse events. RESULTS: After adjustment, baseline characteristics were balanced among study groups (adalimumab = 875 vs. placebo = 427; etanercept = 260 vs. placebo = 130). Compared with etanercept, adalimumab was associated with significantly better placebo-adjusted outcomes (PASI75: 62.3% vs. 42.6%; PASI90: 35.9% vs. 12.1%; PASI100: 13.1% vs. 4.9%; pruritus: 24.7% vs. 13.0%; psoriatic pain: 27.4% vs. 8.7%; DLQI: 27.7% vs. 11.7%; and PtGA: 16.4% vs. 10.6%; all P < 0.05), except for similar rates of adverse events and head-specific lesion resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with etanercept, adalimumab treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis was associated with greater PASI reduction, higher rates of resolution of skin signs and symptoms, and greater improvements in dermatological life quality.

Premature ovarian senescence and a high miscarriage rate impair fertility in women with HCV.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Premenopausal women who are HCV positive (HCV+) have failing ovarian function, which is likely to impact their fertility. Thus, we investigated the reproductive history, risk of infertility, and pregnancy outcomes in women of childbearing age who were HCV+. METHODS: Three different groups were studied: (1) Clinical cohort: 100 women who were HCV+ and also had chronic liver disease (CLD), age matched with 50 women who were HBV+ with CLD and with 100 healthy women; all women were consecutively observed in three gastroenterology units in hospitals in Italy; (2) 1,998 women who were HCV+ and enrolled in the Italian Platform for the Study of Viral Hepatitis Therapies (PITER); (3) 6,085 women, who were mono-infected with HCV, and 20,415 women, who were HCV-, from a large de-identified insurance database from the USA. MEASUREMENTS: total fertility rate (TFR) defined as the average number of children that a woman would bear during her lifetime. To define the reproductive stage of each participant, levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and 17ß-estradiol were measured. RESULTS: Clinical cohort: women who were either HCV+ or HBV+ had similar CLD severity and age at first pregnancy. Based on a multivariate analysis, women who were HCV+ had a higher risk of miscarriage than those who were HBV+ (odds ratio [OR] 6,905; 95% CI 1.771-26.926). Among women who were HCV+, incidence of miscarriage was correlated with median AMH level (1.0 ng/ml). Achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) after antiviral treatment reduced the risk of miscarriage (OR 0.255; 95% CI 0.090-0.723). In the PITER-HCV cohort, miscarriage occurred in 42.0% of women (44.6% had multiple miscarriages). TFR for women who were HCV+ and between 15 and 49 years of age was 0.7 vs. 1.37 of Italian population of the same age range. In the US cohort: compared with women who were HCV-, women who were HCV+ positive were significantly more likely to have infertility (OR 2.439; 95% CI 2.130-2.794), premature birth (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.060-1.690), gestational diabetes (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.020-1.510), and pre-eclampsia (OR 1.206; 95% CI 0.935-1.556), and were less likely to have a live birth (OR 0.754; 95% CI 0.622-0.913). CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian senescence in women of childbearing age who are HCV+ is associated with a lower chance of live birth, greater risk of infertility, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and miscarriage. Such risks could be positively influenced by successful HCV cure. LAY SUMMARY: Most new cases of HCV infection are among people who inject drugs, many of whom are young women in their childbearing years. Women of reproductive age who are HCV+ display markers of ovarian senescence. This is associated with an increased burden in terms of infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, miscarriage, fewer live births, and gestational diabetes. Early viral suppression with therapy is likely to mitigate these risks.

Corticosteroid-Related Adverse Events Systematically Increase with Corticosteroid Dose in Noninfectious Intermediate, Posterior, or Panuveitis: Post Hoc Analyses from the VISUAL-1 and VISUAL-2 Trials.

PURPOSE: Chronic use of corticosteroids for the treatment of uveitis has been linked with drug-associated toxicity and adverse events (AEs). This study examines the association between corticosteroid dosage and incidence rates of corticosteroid-related AEs. DESIGN: A post hoc analysis of the VISUAL-1 and VISUAL-2 placebo-controlled clinical trials. PARTICIPANTS: The clinical trials consisted of adults with active (VISUAL-1) and inactive (VISUAL-2) noninfectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis. Patients were randomized to receive adalimumab or placebo and underwent a protocol-defined mandatory taper to discontinue their oral corticosteroids. METHODS: Adverse event data were collected at each visit and included an assessment of the corticosteroid relationship by the investigator. A longitudinal Poisson regression model was estimated controlling for time-dependent corticosteroid dose, age, sex, prior oral corticosteroid dose, prior topical corticosteroid use, and concomitant immunosuppressive drug use. Only patients randomized to placebo were considered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the frequency of AEs. RESULTS: The incidence rates of corticosteroid-related AEs among placebo patients during the prednisone treatment period in VISUAL-1 was statistically higher than after discontinuation (454.2 per 100 patient-years [PY] vs. 36.1 per 100 PY, incident rate ratio = 12.6, P < 0.001). Incidence rate ratios among VISUAL-2 patients were similarly high (317.5 per 100 PY vs. 41.1 per 100 PY, incident rate ratio = 7.7, P < 0.001). Based on the Poisson multivariate longitudinal Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model, each 10 mg increase in prednisone dose is associated with a 1.5- and 2.6-fold increase (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) in the rate of corticosteroid-related AEs in VISUAL-1 and VISUAL-2, respectively. This implies in turn that a patient with active uveitis taking 60 mg/day of prednisone will experience, on average, an additional 10.1 (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.3-14.5; P < 0.001) corticosteroid-related AEs per year compared with a patient taking 10 mg/day, whereas a patient with inactive uveitis taking 35 mg/day of prednisone will experience, on average, an additional 23.5 (95% CI, 7.6-52.7; P = 0.05) corticosteroid-related AEs per year compared with a patient taking 10 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from VISUAL-1 and VISUAL-2 suggests that the incidence rates of corticosteroid-related AEs increase systematically with corticosteroid dose.

ASAS40 and ASDAS clinical responses in the ABILITY-1 clinical trial translate to meaningful improvements in physical function, health-related quality of life and work productivity in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of achieving Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society 40% (ASAS40) response or an Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score inactive disease (ASDAS-ID) state on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among patients with non-radiographic axial SpA (nr-axSpA). METHODS: Data are from ABILITY-1, a phase 3 trial of adalimumab vs placebo in nr-axSpA patients. PROs included the HAQ for Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S), 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) score and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire. Patients were grouped by clinical response using ASAS40 response and ASDAS disease states at week 12. Changes in PROs from baseline to week 12 were compared between groups using analysis of covariance with adjustment for baseline scores. RESULTS: At week 12, 47 of 179 patients were ASAS40 responders and 26 of 176 patients achieved ASDAS-ID (ASDAS <1.3). Compared with non-responders (n = 132), ASAS40 responders (n = 47) had a significantly greater improvement in mean HAQ-S (-0.65 vs -0.05, P < 0.0001), SF-36 PCS (12.4 vs 0.7, P < 0.0001), presenteeism (-24.7 vs -2.2, P < 0.0001), overall work impairment (-23.9 vs -2.5, P < 0.0001) and activity impairment (-33.5 vs -0.9, P < 0.0001) at week 12. Similarly, ASDAS-ID, ASDAS clinically important improvement (ASDAS-CII; improvement >1.1) and major improvement (ASDAS-MI; improvement >2.0) were associated with significantly greater improvements from baseline in the majority of the PROs. CONCLUSION: Among nr-axSpA patients, ASAS40, ASDAS-CII and ASDAS-MI response and achievement of ASDAS-ID were associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in physical function, health-related quality of life and work productivity in a higher percentage of patients.

Effect of adalimumab on the work-related outcomes scores in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis receiving methotrexate.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of adalimumab plus MTX (ADA + MTX) vs MTX monotherapy on work-related outcomes in early RA patients with elevated risk of employment loss. METHODS: A post hoc analysis at weeks 26 and 24 from the Optimal Protocol for Treatment Initiation with Methotrexate and Adalimumab (OPTIMA) and PRevention Of Work Disability (PROWD) trials, respectively, was conducted in MTX-naïve RA patients randomized to ADA + MTX or placebo (PBO) + MTX. Work instability was assessed using the RA-Work Instability Scale (RA-WIS) and work productivity was measured with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire. Employed patients with a baseline RA-WIS score ⩾10, indicating medium to high risk for job loss, were included (OPTIMA, n = 320; PROWD, n = 124). RESULTS: Patients receiving ADA + MTX in OPTIMA had significantly greater improvements in RA-WIS compared with PBO + MTX (mean change -7.22 vs -5.23, respectively). Significantly higher percentages of patients in the ADA + MTX group experienced improvements in one or more risk category (58 vs 47%) and ⩾5 (55 vs 43%), ⩾7 (47 vs 35%) and ⩾9 (42% vs 26%) points in their RA-WIS score. These trends were seen in PROWD but were not significant. In OPTIMA, patients receiving ADA + MTX showed significant changes in percentage points from baseline vs PBO + MTX in activity impairment, presenteeism and overall work impairment (-32.0 vs -23.7, -24.6 vs -17.1, -27.3 vs -18.3, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among early RA patients with elevated risk of employment loss, ADA + MTX therapy was associated with a significant reduction in work instability vs PBO + MTX. Significantly greater percentages of patients receiving ADA + MTX therapy achieved clinically meaningful improvements in their RA-WIS scores.

Magnetic plasmonic Fano resonance at optical frequency.

Plasmonic Fano resonances are typically understood and investigated assuming electrical mode hybridization. Here we demonstrate that a purely magnetic plasmon Fano resonance can be realized at optical frequency with Au split ring hexamer nanostructure excited by an azimuthally polarized incident light. Collective magnetic plasmon modes induced by the circular electric field within the hexamer and each of the split ring can be controlled and effectively hybridized by designing the size and orientation of each ring unit. With simulated results reproducing the experiment, our suggested configuration with narrow line-shape magnetic Fano resonance has significant potential applications in low-loss sensing and may serves as suitable elementary building blocks for optical metamaterials.

Comprehensive disease control (CDC): what does achieving CDC mean for patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the impact of simultaneous achievement of clinical, functional and structural efficacy, herein referred to as comprehensive disease control (CDC), on short-term and long-term work-related outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain and fatigue. METHODS: Data were pooled from three randomised trials of adalimumab plus methotrexate for treatment of early-stage or late-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CDC was defined as 28-joint Disease Activity Score using C reactive protein <2.6, Health Assessment Questionnaire <0.5 and change from baseline in modified Total Sharp Score ≤0.5. Changes in scores at weeks 26 and 52 for work-related outcomes, Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical (PCS) and mental component scores (MCS), a Visual Analogue Scale measuring pain (VAS-Pain) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) were compared between patient groups defined by achievement of CDC at week 26 using linear regression with adjustment for baseline scores. RESULTS: Patients with RA who achieved CDC at week 26 (n=200) had significantly greater improvements in VAS-Pain (46.9 vs 26.9; p<0.0001), FACIT-F (13.3 vs 7.5; p<0.0001), SF-36 PCS (19.7 vs 8.9; p<0.0001) and SF-36 MCS (8.1 vs 5.0; p=0.0004) than those who did not (n=1267). Results were consistent at week 52 and among methotrexate-naive patients with early RA, methotrexate-experienced patients with late-stage RA and patients with inadequate response to methotrexate. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RA who achieved CDC at week 26 had improved short-term and long-term HRQoL, pain, fatigue and work-related outcomes compared with patients who do not. These results demonstrate that the joint achievement of all CDC components provides meaningful benefits to patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: DE019: NCT00195702, PREMIER: NCT00195702, OPTIMA: NCT00195702.

Levothyroxine Treatment Adequacy and Formulation Changes in Patients with Hypothyroidism: A Retrospective Study of Real-World Data from the United States.

Background: The prevalence of hypothyroidism (HT) has increased over time. To assess the effectiveness of treatment, we (1) studied thyrotropin (TSH) levels among patients receiving levothyroxine (LT4) and (2) determined the percentages of patients switching among LT4 formulations. Methods: Data on patients with HT receiving LT4 from the Optum™ Clinical and Claims Database were analyzed from March 2013 through February 2020. Eligible adult patients had ≥1 medical claim with an HT diagnosis and all patients were observed for ≥12 months. Patients included in Objective 1 were indexed on a randomly selected TSH result and had ≥2 results for TSH 1-15 months apart. Patients included in Objective 2 were indexed on a randomly selected LT4 pharmacy claim and had ≥2 LT4 claims ≥1 month apart and ≥1 claim during follow-up. Outcomes were the proportion of patients with low, normal, or high (<0.45, 0.45-4.5, or >4.5 mIU/L, respectively) TSH levels and the proportion of patients switching LT4 formulations, respectively. Data were stratified by age group, sex, and insurance type. All data reported were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of patients who were in the indexed TSH group, 81.1% [confidence intervals: 80.4-81.8; n/N = 9130/11,259] achieved normal TSH values. When stratified by age group, sex, and insurance type, ≥70% of patients in each of these subgroups exhibited normal mean TSH values at follow-up. For Objective 2 (N = 25,076), 24.9% (N = 6238) of the LT4-indexed group had ≥1 formulation switch in 12 months, of which 67.3% only switched once, and 41.4% (N = 10,370) had ≥1 formulation switch in up to 24 months. A significantly higher proportion of Medicare vs. commercially insured patients had switched formulations (26.2% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Most LT4-treated patients maintain normal TSH levels, which is an improvement vs. previous reports. Continued physician engagement and patient education are advised to further reduce the number of patients who maintain off-target TSH levels. Contrary to clinical recommendations, about 25% of patients receiving LT4 switched formulations within 1 year, with >40% switching within 2 years; among patients who switched, most only switched once.

Long-term results of carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension across the day in advanced Parkinson's disease: Post-hoc analyses from a large 54-week trial.

Introduction: Carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension (CLES) previously demonstrated reduction in total daily OFF from baseline by over 4 hours in advanced Parkinson's disease patients across 54 weeks. Evidence on CLES's long-term effectiveness on patterns of motor-symptom control throughout the day remains limited. Methods: We present post-hoc analyses of a large, open-label study of CLES monotherapy (N = 289). Diary data recorded patients' motor states at 30-minute intervals over 3 days at baseline and weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, and 54. Adjusted generalized linear mixed models assessed changes from baseline at each timepoint for four outcome measures: time to ON without troublesome dyskinesia (ON-woTD) after waking, motor-symptom control as measured by motor states' durations throughout the day, number of motor-state transitions, and presence of extreme fluctuations (OFF to ON with TD). Results: Patients demonstrated short-term (wk4) and sustained (wk54) improvement in all outcomes compared to baseline. At weeks 4 and 54, patients were more likely to reach ON-woTD over the course of their day (HR: 1.86 and 2.51, both P < 0.0001). Across 4-hour intervals throughout the day, patients also experienced increases in ON-woTD (wk4: 58-65 min; wk54: 60-78 min; all P < 0.0001) and reductions in OFF (wk4: 50-61 min; wk54: 56-68 min; all P < 0.0001). At weeks 4 and 54, patients' motor-state transitions were reduced by about half (IRR: 0.53 and 0.49, both P < 0.0001), and fewer patients experienced extreme fluctuations (OR: 0.22 and 0.15, both P < 0.0001). Conclusion: CLES monotherapy was associated with significant long-term reductions in motor-state fluctuations, faster time to ON-woTD upon awakening, and increased symptom control throughout the day.

Polychromatic full-polarization control in mid-infrared light.

Objects with different shapes, materials and temperatures can emit distinct polarizations and spectral information in mid-infrared band, which provides a unique signature in the transparent window for object identification. However, the crosstalk among various polarization and wavelength channels prevents from accurate mid-infrared detections at high signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we report full-polarization metasurfaces to break the inherent eigen-polarization constraint over the wavelengths in mid-infrared. This recipe enables to select arbitrary orthogonal polarization basis at individual wavelength independently, therefore alleviating the crosstalk and efficiency degradation. A six-channel all-silicon metasurface is specifically presented to project focused mid-infrared light to distinct positions at three wavelengths, each with a pair of arbitrarily chosen orthogonal polarizations. An isolation ratio of 117 between neighboring polarization channels is experimentally recorded, exhibiting detection sensitivity one order of magnitude higher than existing infrared detectors. Remarkably, the high aspect ratio ~30 of our meta-structures manufactured by deep silicon etching technology at temperature -150 °C guarantees the large and precise phase dispersion control over a broadband from 3 to 4.5 µm. We believe our results would benefit the noise-immune mid-infrared detections in remote sensing and space-to-ground communications.

The effects of adalimumab treatment and psoriasis severity on self-reported work productivity and activity impairment for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis significantly impairs work productivity and daily activities. OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the effects of adalimumab on psoriasis-related work productivity and activity impairment and associations between the impairment and psoriasis severity in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. METHODS: Data were from the first 16 weeks of the Randomized controlled EValuation of adalimumab Every other week dosing in moderate to severe psoriasis TriAL (REVEAL). Outcomes as measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for Psoriasis (WPAI-Psoriasis) included employment status, total work productivity impairment, and total activity impairment. Logistic regression and analyses of covariance were used to assess the effects of adalimumab and treatment response (≥ 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index responders) on WPAI-Psoriasis outcomes. Longitudinal generalized estimating equations and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess associations between WPAI outcomes and psoriasis severity. RESULTS: Greater improvements in total work productivity impairment and total activity impairment were observed with adalimumab treatment versus placebo (15.5 and 11.1 percentage points, respectively; P < .001). Unemployment rate, total work productivity impairment, and total activity impairment were significantly associated with greater baseline psoriasis severity. Changes in WPAI outcomes were significantly correlated with greater psoriasis severity. The Dermatology Life Quality Index had stronger associations with changes in WPAI outcomes compared with clinical severity measures (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Physician Global Assessment). LIMITATIONS: REVEAL only included WPAI data for 16 weeks. Therefore, long-term impact of adalimumab treatment on productivity outcomes could not be assessed. In addition, information on occupational job title or industry was not collected and data were not adjusted for psoriatic arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab reduced psoriasis-related work productivity and activity impairment in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Risks of developing psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of psoriasis can be embarrassing and distressing, and may increase risk of developing psychiatric disorders in young people. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare incidences of psychiatric disorders between pediatric patients with psoriasis and psoriasis-free control subjects. METHODS: Patients (<18 years) with continuous health plan enrollment 6 months before and after first psoriasis diagnosis (index date) were selected (Thomson Reuters MarketScan database, 2000-2006 [Thomson Reuters, New York, NY]). Patients with psoriasis (N = 7404) were matched 1:5 on age and sex to psoriasis-free control subjects (N = 37,020). Patients were followed from index date to first diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder (ie, alcohol/drug abuse, depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, eating disorder), end of data availability, or disenrollment. Patients with psychiatric diagnoses or psychotropic medication use before the index date were excluded. Cox proportional hazard models controlling for age, sex, and comorbidities were used to estimate the effect of psoriasis on risks of developing psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis were significantly more at risk of developing psychiatric disorders versus control subjects (5.13% vs 4.07%; P = .0001; hazard ratio = 1.25; P = .0001), especially depression (3.01% vs 2.42%; P = .0036; hazard ratio = 1.25; P = .0053) and anxiety (1.81% vs 1.35%; P = .0048; hazard ratio = 1.32; P = .0045). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, observational studies of medical claims data are typically limited by overall quality and completeness of data and accuracy of coding for diagnoses and procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with psoriasis had an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, compared with psoriasis-free control subjects.