Childhood atopic dermatitis is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood-A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have indicated that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data are conflicting. Furthermore, the longitudinal effect of childhood AD on cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood is less investigated. OBJECTIVES: To assess associations between AD in childhood and CVD risk factors in young adulthood. METHODS: The study encompasses longitudinal data from a population-based birth cohort. Participants with data up to age 24 years were included (n = 2270). The primary outcomes were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat per cent (BF%) and blood pressure (BP) at 24 years. The secondary outcome was blood lipids. Severe AD was defined as AD in combination with sleep disturbance due to itching. RESULTS: In total, 18.6% (n = 420) had AD at 24 years. Males with AD had higher BMI (ßAdj. 0.81, 95% CI 0.15-1.47), BF% (ßAdj. 1.19, 95% CI 0.09-2.29), systolic BP (ßAdj. 1.92, 95% CI 0.02-3.82), total cholesterol (ßAdj. 0.14, 95% CI 0.00-0.28) and LDL cholesterol (ßAdj. 0.15, 95% CI 0.02-0.27) compared with males without AD. No associations were seen in females. Current AD with prepubertal onset was associated with increased BMI in both males (ßAdj. 0.89, 95% CI 0.11-1.67) and females (ßAdj. 0.72, 95% CI 0.11-1.33). At 24 years, 23.1% (n = 97) of all with AD, had severe disease, which was significantly associated with overweight in both sexes, with BMI (ßAdj. 1.83, 95% CI 0.72-2.94), WC (ßAdj. 4.03, 95% CI 1.54-6.52) and BF% (ßAdj. 2.49, 95% CI 0.60-4.39) in females and with BF% (ßAdj. 2.96, 95% CI 0.23-5.69) in males, compared with peers with mild to moderate AD. CONCLUSION: AD in males appears to be associated with CVD risk factors in young adulthood. The duration and severity of AD seem to be of importance in both sexes.

Exploring preferences of at-risk individuals for preventive treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Some immunomodulatory drugs have been shown to delay the onset of, or lower the risk of developing, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), if given to individuals at risk. Several trials are ongoing in this area; however, little evidence is currently available about the views of those at risk of RA regarding preventive treatment. METHOD: Three focus groups and three interviews explored factors that are relevant to first degree relatives (FDRs) of RA patients and members of the general public when considering taking preventive treatment for RA. The semi-structured qualitative interview prompts explored participant responses to hypothetical attributes of preventive RA medicines. Transcripts of focus group/interview proceedings were inductively coded and analysed using a framework approach. RESULTS: Twenty-one individuals (five FDRs, 16 members of the general public) took part in the study. Ten broad themes were identified describing factors that participants felt would influence their decisions about whether to take preventive treatment if they were at increased risk of RA. These related either directly to features of the specific treatment or to other factors, including personal characteristics, attitude towards taking medication, and an individual's actual risk of developing RA. CONCLUSION: This research highlights the importance of non-treatment factors in the decision-making process around preventive treatments, and will inform recruitment to clinical trials as well as information to support shared decision making by those considering preventive treatment. Studies of treatment preferences in individuals with a confirmed high risk of RA would further inform clinical trial design.

Systemic treatment of children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis aged ≥2 years: a Delphi consensus project mapping expert opinion in Northern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) can be burdensome, affecting mental health and impairing quality of life for children and caregivers. Comprehensive guidelines exist for managing paediatric AD, but practical guidance on using systemic therapy is limited, particularly for new therapies including biologics and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, recently approved for various ages in this indication. OBJECTIVES: This expert consensus aimed to provide practical recommendations within this advancing field to enhance clinical decision-making on the use of these and other systemics for children and adolescents aged ≥2 years with moderate-to-severe AD. METHODS: Nineteen physicians from Northern Europe were selected for their expertise in managing childhood AD. Using a two-round Delphi process, they reached full or partial consensus on 37 statements. RESULTS: Systemic therapy is recommended for children aged ≥2 years with a clear clinical diagnosis of severe AD and persistent disease uncontrolled after optimizing non-systemic therapy. Systemic therapy should achieve long-term disease control and reduce short-term interventions. Recommended are cyclosporine A for short-term use (all ages) and dupilumab or methotrexate for long-term use (ages ≥6 years). Consensus was not reached on the best long-term systemics for children aged 2-6 years, although new systemic therapies will likely become favourable: New biologics and JAK inhibitors will soon be approved for this age group, and more trial and real-world data will become available. CONCLUSIONS: This article makes practical recommendations on the use of systemic AD treatments for children and adolescents, to supplement international and regional guidelines. It considers the systemic medication that was available for children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD at the time this consensus project was done: azathioprine, cyclosporine A, dupilumab, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil and oral glucocorticosteroids. We focus on the geographically similar Northern European countries, whose healthcare systems, local preferences for AD management and reimbursement structures nonetheless differ significantly.

Quantitative analysis of redox proteome reveals oxidation-sensitive protein thiols acting in fundamental processes of developmental hematopoiesis.

Fetal and adult hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are characterized by distinct redox homeostasis that may influence their differential cellular behavior in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. In this work, we have applied a quantitative mass spectrometry-based redox proteomic approach to comprehensively describe reversible cysteine modifications in primary mouse fetal and adult HSPCs. We defined the redox state of 4,438 cysteines in fetal and adult HSPCs and demonstrated a higher susceptibility to oxidation of protein thiols in fetal HSPCs. Our data identified ontogenic changes to oxidation state of thiols in proteins with a pronounced role in metabolism and protein homeostasis. Additional redox proteomic analysis identified oxidation changes to thiols acting in mitochondrial respiration as well as protein homeostasis to be triggered during onset of MLL-ENL leukemogenesis in fetal HSPCs. Our data has demonstrated that redox signaling contributes to the regulation of fundamental processes of developmental hematopoiesis and has pinpointed potential targetable redox-sensitive proteins in in utero-initiated MLL-rearranged leukemia.

Modeling the migration of chemicals from food contact materials to food: The MERLIN-expo/VERMEER toolbox.

Evaluating the migration of chemicals from food contact materials (FCM) into food is a key step in the safety assessment of such materials. In this paper, a simple mechanistic model describing the migration of chemicals from FCM to food was combined with quantitative property-property relationships (QPPRs) for the prediction of diffusion coefficients and FCM-Food partition coefficients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of these operational models in the prediction of a chemical's concentration in food in contact with a plastic monolayer FCM. A comparison to experimental migration values reported in literature was conducted. Deterministic simulations showed a good match between predicted and experimental values. The tested models can be used to provide insights in the amount and the type of toxicological data that are needed for the safety evaluation of the FCM substance. Uncertainty in QPPRs used for describing the processes of both diffusion in FCM and partition at the FCM-Food interface was included in the analysis. Combining uncertainty in QPPR predictions, it was shown that the third quartile (75th percentile) derived from probabilistic calculations can be used as a conservative value in the prediction of chemical concentration in food, with reasonable safety factors.

Prevalence and characteristics of atopic dermatitis among young adult females and males-report from the Swedish population-based study BAMSE.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge regarding prevalence and characteristics of atopic dermatitis (AD) among young adults in the general population. OBJECTIVES: To study AD among young adults in a Swedish population-based birth cohort, with a particular focus on prevalence, sex differences including risk for AD at different ages, disease course and characteristics of AD at 24 years. METHODS: The BAMSE cohort includes 4089 individuals who have been followed regularly from birth to age 24 years regarding AD and atopic diseases. For this study 3055 individuals who answered questions regarding AD at the 24-year follow-up were included. All were invited to a clinical examination including skin examination, evaluation by William's criteria and collection of blood for analysis of specific IgE, and 2264 individuals chose to participate. RESULTS: At 24 years, the 12-month prevalence of AD was 17.8% and more females than males had AD (20.5% vs. 14.8%), P < 0.0001. The point prevalence of ongoing AD at clinical examination was 8.0%. AD severity as assessed by Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) did not differ between sexes. The proportion of adult onset of AD was 16.9% (92 of 543), females 17.3% vs. males 16.4%. More females than males with AD at 24 years reported disturbed sleep due to itch (26.1% vs. 15.5%, P < 0.003). IgE sensitization was less common among females with AD than males with AD (61.3% vs. 79.6%, P < 0.0001). In addition, male sex (female sex being the reference) was associated with increased odds for AD the first year of life (OR: 1.31, 95% CI; 1.10-1.56), and decreased odds of AD in adolescence and young adulthood (OR: 0.66, 95% CI; 0.55-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Atopic dermatitis is a common disease among young adults, and even though more females than males have AD at 24 years, adult onset of AD seems to be equally prevalent among both sexes in young adulthood.

Intervention versus surveillance in patients with common bile duct stones detected by intraoperative cholangiography: a population-based registry study.

BACKGROUND: Each year 13 000 patients undergo cholecystectomy in Sweden, and routine intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is recommended to minimize bile duct injuries. The risk of requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) following cholecystectomy for common bile duct (CBD) stones where IOC is omitted and in patients with CBD stones left in situ is not well known. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the population-based Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery and ERCP between 1 January 2009 and 10 December 2019. Primary outcome was risk for postoperative ERCP for retained CBD stones. RESULTS: A total of 134 419 patients that underwent cholecystectomy were included and 2691 (2.0 per cent) subsequently underwent ERCP for retained CBD stones. When adjusting for emergency or planned cholecystectomy, preoperative symptoms suggestive of CBD stones, sex and age, there was an increased risk for ERCP when IOC was not performed (hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, 95 per cent c.i. 1.3 to 1.6). The adjusted risk for ERCP was also increased if CBD stones identified by IOC were managed with surveillance (HR 5.5, 95 per cent c.i. 4.8 to 6.4). Even for asymptomatic small stones (less than 4 mm), the adjusted risk for ERCP was increased in the surveillance group compared with the intervention group (HR 3.5, 95 per cent c.i. 2.4 to 5.1). CONCLUSION: IOC plus an intervention to remove CBD stones identified during cholecystectomy was associated with reduced risk for retained stones and unplanned ERCP, even for the smallest asymptomatic CBD stones.

This population-based registry study shows that when common bile duct (CBD) stones are identified by intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) and not removed, there is a risk for retained stones requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. For asymptomatic stones less than 4 mm diameter, 10.7 per cent in the surveillance group had a retained stone following surgery. These findings imply that even the smallest CBD stones identified by IOC should be removed.

Diagnosing Carotid Near-Occlusion with Phase-Contrast MRI.

Carotid near-occlusion is a frequently overlooked diagnosis when CTA examinations are assessed in routine practice. To evaluate the potential value of phase-contrast MR imaging in identifying near-occlusion, we examined 9 carotid near-occlusions and 20 cases of conventional ≥50% carotid stenosis (mean stenosis degree, 65%) with phase-contrast MR imaging. Mean ICA flow was lower in near-occlusions (52 mL/min) than in conventional ≥50% stenosis (198 mL/min, P < .001). ICA flow of ≤110 mL/min was 100% sensitive and specific for near-occlusion. Phase-contrast MR imaging is a promising tool for diagnosing carotid near-occlusion.

Nanotechnology for catalysis and solar energy conversion.

This roadmap on Nanotechnology for Catalysis and Solar Energy Conversion focuses on the application of nanotechnology in addressing the current challenges of energy conversion: 'high efficiency, stability, safety, and the potential for low-cost/scalable manufacturing' to quote from the contributed article by Nathan Lewis. This roadmap focuses on solar-to-fuel conversion, solar water splitting, solar photovoltaics and bio-catalysis. It includes dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells, and organic photovoltaics. Smart engineering of colloidal quantum materials and nanostructured electrodes will improve solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency, as described in the articles by Waiskopf and Banin and Meyer. Semiconductor nanoparticles will also improve solar energy conversion efficiency, as discussed by Boschloo et al in their article on DSSCs. Perovskite solar cells have advanced rapidly in recent years, including new ideas on 2D and 3D hybrid halide perovskites, as described by Spanopoulos et al 'Next generation' solar cells using multiple exciton generation (MEG) from hot carriers, described in the article by Nozik and Beard, could lead to remarkable improvement in photovoltaic efficiency by using quantization effects in semiconductor nanostructures (quantum dots, wires or wells). These challenges will not be met without simultaneous improvement in nanoscale characterization methods. Terahertz spectroscopy, discussed in the article by Milot et al is one example of a method that is overcoming the difficulties associated with nanoscale materials characterization by avoiding electrical contacts to nanoparticles, allowing characterization during device operation, and enabling characterization of a single nanoparticle. Besides experimental advances, computational science is also meeting the challenges of nanomaterials synthesis. The article by Kohlstedt and Schatz discusses the computational frameworks being used to predict structure-property relationships in materials and devices, including machine learning methods, with an emphasis on organic photovoltaics. The contribution by Megarity and Armstrong presents the 'electrochemical leaf' for improvements in electrochemistry and beyond. In addition, biohybrid approaches can take advantage of efficient and specific enzyme catalysts. These articles present the nanoscience and technology at the forefront of renewable energy development that will have significant benefits to society.

Association between atopic dermatitis and autoimmune diseases: a population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin disorder and is well known to be associated with other atopic conditions. There is increasing evidence for an association also with nonatopic conditions, including autoimmune diseases, but data are limited about several autoimmune diagnoses. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between AD and autoimmune diseases. METHODS: This case-control study used Swedish national healthcare registers. The source population comprised the entire Swedish population aged ≥ 15 years from 1968 to 2016. Cases, including all those with an inpatient diagnosis of AD (from 1968) and/or a specialist outpatient diagnosis of AD (from 2001), were matched by sex and age to healthy controls (104 832 cases of AD, 1 022 435 controls). RESULTS: AD was significantly associated with one or more autoimmune diseases compared with controls - adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1·97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·93-2·01 - and this association was significantly stronger in the presence of multiple autoimmune diseases compared with only one. The association was strongest for autoimmune disorders involving the skin (aOR 3·10, 95% CI 3·02-3·18), the gastrointestinal tract (aOR 1·75, 95% CI 1·69-1·82) or connective tissue (aOR 1·50, 95% CI 1·42-1·58). In the overall analysis, men with AD had a stronger association with rheumatoid arthritis and coeliac disease than did women with AD. In subanalyses, the findings remained stable in multivariable analyses after adjustment for smoking and parental autoimmune disease. CONCLUSIONS: This large population-based study indicates significant autoimmune comorbidity of adults with AD, especially between AD and autoimmune dermatological, gastrointestinal and rheumatological diseases. Having multiple autoimmune diseases resulted in a stronger association with AD than having only one autoimmune disease.

Human endogenous retroviral protein triggers deficit in glutamate synapse maturation and behaviors associated with psychosis.

Mobile genetic elements, such as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), produce proteins that regulate brain cell functions and synaptic transmission and have been implicated in the etiology of neurological and neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms by which these proteins of retroviral origin alter brain cell communication remain poorly understood. Here, we combined single-molecule tracking, calcium imaging, and behavioral approaches to demonstrate that the envelope protein (Env) of HERV type W, which is normally silenced but expressed in patients with neuropsychiatric conditions, alters the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated synaptic organization and plasticity through glia- and cytokine-dependent changes. Env expression in the developing hippocampus was sufficient to induce behavioral impairments at the adult stage that were prevented by Env neutralization or tuning of NMDAR trafficking. Thus, we show that a HERV gene product alters glutamate synapse maturation and generates behavioral deficits, further supporting the possible etiological interplay between genetic, immune, and synaptic factors in psychosis.

Validation of automated whole-body analysis of metabolic and morphological parameters from an integrated FDG-PET/MRI acquisition.

Automated quantification of tissue morphology and tracer uptake in PET/MR images could streamline the analysis compared to traditional manual methods. To validate a single atlas image segmentation approach for automated assessment of tissue volume, fat content (FF) and glucose uptake (GU) from whole-body [18F]FDG-PET/MR images. Twelve subjects underwent whole-body [18F]FDG-PET/MRI during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Automated analysis of tissue volumes, FF and GU were achieved using image registration to a single atlas image with reference segmentations of 18 volume of interests (VOIs). Manual segmentations by an experienced radiologist were used as reference. Quantification accuracy was assessed with Dice scores, group comparisons and correlations. VOI Dice scores ranged from 0.93 to 0.32. Muscles, brain, VAT and liver showed the highest scores. Pancreas, large and small intestines demonstrated lower segmentation accuracy and poor correlations. Estimated tissue volumes differed significantly in 8 cases. Tissue FFs were often slightly but significantly overestimated. Satisfactory agreements were observed in most tissue GUs. Automated tissue identification and characterization using a single atlas segmentation performs well compared to manual segmentation in most tissues and will be valuable in future studies. In certain tissues, alternative quantification methods or improvements to the current approach is needed.

Double and Triple Ionisation of Isocyanic Acid.

Double and triple ionisation spectra of the reactive molecule isocyanic acid (HNCO) have been measured using multi-electron and ion coincidence techniques combined with synchrotron radiation and compared with high-level theoretical calculations. Vertical double ionisation at an energy of 32.8 ± 0.3 eV forms the 3A" ground state in which the HNCO2+ ion is long lived. The vertical triple ionisation energy is determined as 65 ± 1 eV. The core-valence double ionisation spectra resemble the valence photoelectron spectrum in form, and their main features can be understood on the basis of a simple and rather widely applicable Coulomb model based on the characteristics of the molecular orbitals from which electrons are removed. Characteristics of the most important dissociation channels are examined and discussed.

Self-reported health versus biomarkers: does unemployment lead to worse health?

OBJECTIVES: This paper examines the relationship between unemployment and health using both subjective and biometric information on health status. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal panel data. METHODS: We compare the results of regressions of unemployment on self-reported health with those of regressions of unemployment on health as measured with biomarkers (hypertension and levels of blood glucose and C-reactive protein). Using the panel structure of our data, we account for selection bias with respect to unemployment by controlling for health before exposure to unemployment. RESULTS: We observe a striking pattern. Using self-reported health as the outcome variable, we find a link between unemployment and worse health. By contrast, we are unable to establish the same link using biometric information on health. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results indicate a substantial discrepancy between self-reported health and health as measured by biomarkers.

Anti-Inflammatory Substances in Wheat Malt Inducing Antisecretory Factor.

Extensively malted cereals counteract enterotoxic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases. This effect depends on a protein called antisecretory factor (AF), which is secreted into the blood as a larger complex known as the compleasome. In this study, we identified anti-inflammatory substances in malt and assayed their capacity to induce AF. Guaiacol and quercetin inhibited inflammation in a mouse footpad model, while catechin, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, and quercetin inhibited nitric oxide formation in RAW 264.7 cells. The proteasome activity in these cells was inhibited by vanillic acid and quercetin but not by the other tested phenols. As the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) might be involved in AF induction, the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine was tested and shown to inhibit inflammation in mouse paw and nitric oxide formation. Catechin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid induced AF in rat blood, and these substances were all increased in malt compared to control wheat. These phenols might therefore be of particular importance for the beneficial effect of malted cereals on inflammatory diseases. Our results further suggest that TRPV1 might play a role in the anti-inflammatory activity of phenols via the induction of AF.

SPCG-15: a prospective randomized study comparing primary radical prostatectomy and primary radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy for locally advanced prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To describe study design and procedures for a prospective randomized trial investigating whether radical prostatectomy (RP) ± radiation improves cause-specific survival in comparison with primary radiation treatment (RT) and androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: SPCG-15 is a prospective, multi-centre, open randomized phase III trial. Patients are randomized to either standard (RT + ADT) or experimental (RP with extended pelvic lymph-node dissection and with addition of adjuvant or salvage RT and/or ADT if deemed necessary) treatment. Each centre follows guidelines regarding the timing and dosing of postoperative RT and adjuvant treatment such as ADT The primary endpoint is cause-specific survival. Secondary endpoints include metastasis-free and overall survival, quality-of-life, functional outcomes and health-services requirements. Each subject will be followed up for a minimum of 10 years. RESULTS: Twenty-three centres in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, well established in performing RP and RT for prostate cancer participated. Each country's sites were coordinated by national coordinating investigators and sub-investigators for urology and oncology. Almost 400 men have been randomized of the stipulated 1200, with an increasing rate of accrual. CONCLUSIONS: The SPCG-15 trial aims to compare the two curatively intended techniques supplying new knowledge to support future decisions in treatment strategies for patients with LAPC The Scandinavian healthcare context is well suited for performing multi-centre long-term prospective randomized clinical trials. Similar care protocols and a history of entirely tax-funded healthcare facilitate joint trials.

Omega-3 fatty acids does not affect physical activity and body weight in primary school children - a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

It was hypothesized that supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids could increase physical activity (PA) levels, where traditional interventions often fail. The aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trail was to evaluate the effects of 15-week administration of omega-3 fatty acids on objectively measured PA and relative body weight in 8-9 year-old children. The children were randomly assigned to supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids or placebo. Primary outcome was change in PA counts per minute (cpm), and secondly change in body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS). Covariance models were applied adjusting for age, gender, weight status, PA and intervention season. Compliance was controlled for by analyzing fatty acid composition in plasma. The intention to treat population consisted of 362 children (omega-3 n = 177, placebo n = 185). No significant effects of omega-3 fatty acids on PA or relative body weight were observed. In covariance models no effects were observed by gender, weight status or change in PA (all p > 0.05), but inactive children increased their PA more than children classified as active at baseline (p < 0.05).

Pathogenicity of Antibodies against NMDA Receptor: Molecular Insights into Autoimmune Psychosis.

Recent years have seen a flourishing literature on detection of circulating autoantibodies against neurotransmitter receptors in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. These studies have generated hope for a better understanding of the underlying molecular dysfunctions and for appropriate therapeutic strategies. However, the detection of these autoantibodies in healthy subjects, and the lack of mechanistic insights have fostered debate about the pathogenic role of such autoantibodies. Here, we specifically discuss the biological evidence linking autoantibodies directed against the glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR-Abs) and psychosis, emphasising recent single-molecule imaging investigations that unveiled the impaired surface trafficking of NMDAR in the presence of NMDAR-Abs from psychotic patients. Although still in its infancy, the hypothesis that NMDAR-Abs from patients with psychosis play a pathogenic role is thus gaining support, opening avenues of fundamental and translational investigations.