Cost-effective methylome sequencing of cell-free DNA for accurately detecting and locating cancer.

Early cancer detection by cell-free DNA faces multiple challenges: low fraction of tumor cell-free DNA, molecular heterogeneity of cancer, and sample sizes that are not sufficient to reflect diverse patient populations. Here, we develop a cancer detection approach to address these challenges. It consists of an assay, cfMethyl-Seq, for cost-effective sequencing of the cell-free DNA methylome (with > 12-fold enrichment over whole genome bisulfite sequencing in CpG islands), and a computational method to extract methylation information and diagnose patients. Applying our approach to 408 colon, liver, lung, and stomach cancer patients and controls, at 97.9% specificity we achieve 80.7% and 74.5% sensitivity in detecting all-stage and early-stage cancer, and 89.1% and 85.0% accuracy for locating tissue-of-origin of all-stage and early-stage cancer, respectively. Our approach cost-effectively retains methylome profiles of cancer abnormalities, allowing us to learn new features and expand to other cancer types as training cohorts grow.

Sleep deprivation and divergent toll-like receptor-4 activation of cellular inflammation in aging.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbance and aging are associated with increases in inflammation, as well as increased risk of infectious disease. However, there is limited understanding of the role of sleep loss on age-related differences in immune responses. This study examines the effects of sleep deprivation on toll-like receptor activation of monocytic inflammation in younger compared to older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults (n = 70) who were categorized as younger (25-39 y old, n = 21) and older (60-84 y old, n = 49) participants, underwent a sleep laboratory-based experimental partial sleep deprivation (PSD) protocol including adaptation, an uninterrupted night of sleep, sleep deprivation (sleep restricted to 03:00-07:00), and recovery. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS: Blood samples were obtained each morning to measure toll-like receptor-4 activation of monocyte intracellular production of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Partial sleep deprivation induced a significant increase in the production of IL-6 and/or TNF-α that persisted after a night of recovery sleep (F(2,121.2) = 3.8, P < 0.05). Age moderated the effects of sleep loss, such that younger adults had an increase in inflammatory cytokine production that was not present in older adults (F(2,121.2) = 4.0, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Older adults exhibit reduced toll-like receptor 4 stimulated cellular inflammation that, unlike in younger adults, is not activated after a night of partial sleep loss. Whereas sleep loss increases cellular inflammation in younger adults and may contribute to inflammatory disorders, blunted toll-like receptor activation in older adults may increase the risk of infectious disease seen with aging.

Cognitive behavioral therapy vs. Tai Chi for late life insomnia and inflammatory risk: a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the comparative efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Tai Chi Chih (TCC), and sleep seminar education control (SS) on the primary outcome of insomnia diagnosis, and secondary outcomes of sleep quality, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and inflammation in older adults with insomnia. DESIGN: Randomized controlled, comparative efficacy trial. SETTING: Los Angeles community. PATIENTS: 123 older adults with chronic and primary insomnia. INTERVENTIONS: Random assignment to CBT, TCC, or SS for 2-hour group sessions weekly over 4 months with follow-up at 7 and 16 months. MEASUREMENTS: Insomnia diagnosis, patient-reported outcomes, polysomnography (PSG), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. RESULTS: CBT performed better than TCC and SS in remission of clinical insomnia as ascertained by a clinician (P < 0.01), and also showed greater and more sustained improvement in sleep quality, sleep parameters, fatigue, and depressive symptoms than TCC and SS (all P values < 0.01). As compared to SS, CBT was associated with a reduced risk of high CRP levels (> 3.0 mg/L) at 16 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.26 [95% CI, 0.07-0.97] P < 0.05). Remission of insomnia was associated with lower levels of CRP (P < 0.05) at 16 months. TCC was associated with improvements in sleep quality, fatigue, and depressive symptoms as compared to SS (all P's < 0.05), but not insomnia remission. PSG measures did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of late-life insomnia is better achieved and sustained by cognitive behavioral therapies. Insomnia treatment and remission reduces a marker of inflammatory risk, which has implications for cardiovascular morbidity and diabetes observed with sleep disturbance in epidemiologic surveys.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria for insomnia related impairment in daytime functioning: polysomnographic correlates in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of insomnia disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV, and as proposed by the DSM-V, includes criteria for impairment in occupational- or social functioning due to sleep complaints. This study evaluated the clinical and polysomnographic correlates of impairment in daytime functioning in older adults with insomnia. METHODS: In older adults with DSM-IV chronic insomnia (n=68), clinical and demographic information, and measures of health functioning, medical co-morbidity, and polysomnographic sleep were obtained. Four questions that evaluated difficulties or distress in occupational- or social functioning related to sleep complaints were used to code DSM threshold criteria for impairment in daytime functioning. Stepwise regression was used to identify predictors of impairment in daytime functioning. RESULTS: Impairment in daytime functioning was significantly associated with younger age (p<0.05), and the amount of wake time after sleep onset as assessed by polysomnography (p<0.001), controlling for health functioning and minority racial status. CONCLUSIONS: Amount of wake time after sleep onset uniquely contributes to criteria symptoms of impairment in daytime functioning among older adults with insomnia. Treatments that target sleep maintenance have the potential to improve social and occupational functioning in older adults with sleep complaints.