P4998Novel GATA4 binding proteins, RbAp48/46, regulate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with depending on the phosphorylate State of GATA4

Introduction

Cardiac hypertrophy is being recognized as a critical event during the development of heart failure. A zinc finger protein GATA4 associates with an intrinsic histone acetyltransferase p300 and regulates myocardial transcriptional activities in response to hypertrophic stimuli. Here, we show that Retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-associated protein 48 and 46 (RbAp48, RbAp46) are novel components of p300/GATA4 complex. Both RbAp48 and 46 form a repressor complex with HDACs and has been implicated in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional repression. However, the precise functional relationships among p300, GATA4, RbAp48, and RbAp46 remain unknown.

Hypothesis

We assessed the hypothesis that RbAp48/46 form a functional complex with p300/GATA4 and regulated hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes.

Methods and results

IP-WB using nuclear extract from rat heart demonstrated that GATA4 formed a complex with RbAp48, RbAp46, HDAC1, and HDAC2. GST pull down assay using recombinant proteins showed that GATA4 physically interacted with both RbAp48 and RbAp46 but not HDAC1 and HDAC2. Deletion mutant assay revealed that N-terminal domain of GATA4 interacted with RbAp48/46. In HEK293T cell, overexpression of RbAp48/46 recruited HDAC1/2 to GATA4, inhibited p300-induced GATA4 acetylation and suppressed p300/GATA4-dependent ANF and ET-1 promoter activations. Conversely, the knockdown of RbAp48/46 reversed these changes. Although overexpression of HDAC1/2 did not change p300/GATA4-induced these promoter activities, co-expression of HDAC1 or HDAC2 with RbAp48/46 enhanced RbAp48/46-mediated inhibitory actions. In cardiomyocytes, overexpression of RbAp48/46 significantly inhibited phenylephrine (PE)-induced GATA4 acetylation, activation of ANF and ET-1 promoters, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The knockdown of RbAp48/46 reversed these changes. Moreover, the knockdown of HDAC1/2 deteriorated PE-induced hypertrophy-responsive events and did not exhibit RbAp48/46-induced inhibitory actions. Finally, MEK1/ERK-mediated S105 phosphorylation of GATA4 by PE stimulus induced the dissociation of RbAp48/46 with GATA4, the increase of p300-induced GATA4-acetylation, the synergistic activation of ANF and ET-1 promoters with p300/GATA4, and the decrease of RbAp48/46 recruitments onto the GATA element of the ANF promoter. Conversely, PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, treatment inhibited GATA4-phosphorylation and these changes.

Conclusion

In this study, we demonstrate that RbAp48/46 mediate the binding between GATA4 and HDAC1/2 and regulate p300/GATA4 axis. The phosphorylation of S105 GATA4 has a critical role on the dissociation of GATA4/RbAp48/46/HDAC repressor complex, the formation of 300/GATA4 activator complex, and the increase of GATA4 acetylation and hypertrophic responses. These findings suggest that RbAp48/46 may regulate hypertrophic responses involved in modulating the posttranslational modification crosstalk of GATA4.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant.

P2527Accumulative impact of poor nutrition and frailty on 1-year mortality among acute decompensated heart failure patients

Background

Several studies have proved that both poor nutrition (PN) and Frail are associated with poor prognosis among heart failure patients. However, it has not been fully revealed whether PN and frail could have impact on prognosis accumulatively.

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of nutritional and Frailty status on 1-year mortality among hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods

Study subjects comprised of 315 hospitalized patients with ADHF. To evaluate the nutritional and Frailty status, we calculated the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) index at hospital admission. PN and Frailty were defined as the CONUT score ≥5 and SOF index ≥2, respectively.

Results

z Sixty-nine subjects (21.9%) were died within 1-year. PN and Frailty were observed in 33.3% and 55.6% of study subjects, respectively. Both PN and Frailty were similarly related to the 1-year mortality by univariate cox regression analysis (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–3.91, p=0.0003: HR 3.13, 95% CI 1.83–5.66, p<0.0001, respectively).

Study subjects were classified into 4 groups according to the nutritional and frailty status: control (normal nutrition without Frailty, n=110), PN alone (PN without Frailty, n=30), Frailty alone (Frailty without PN, n=100), and PN + Frailty (PN with Frailty, n=75). The Kaplan-Meier event curves for 1-year all-cause mortality illustrated that subjects with PN + Frailty had a significantly higher mortality than in subjects with control, PN alone and Frailty alone (log rank p=0.0001, 0.0180, 0.0070, respectively).

As well as, cox regression analysis revealed that PN + Frailty showed significantly higher mortality than control, PN alone and Frailty alone. (HR 5.33, 95% CI 2.75–11.1, p<0.0001: HR 2.99, 95% CI 1.26–8.78, p=0.011: HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.21–3.61, p=0.008, respectively). Moreover, multivariate cox regression analysis also revealed that PN with Frailty was independently associated with 1-year mortality even after adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease. (HR 3.40, 95% CI 1.69–7.32, adjusted p<0.001)

Kaplan-Meier curve for 1year mortality

Conclusions

The combination assessment consisted with nutrition and frailty could identify poor prognosis patients with ADHF.

P1607Epigenetic modifications via histone acetylation by p300 are changed during the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure

Background

An intrinsic histone acetyltransferase (HAT), p300, is required for acetylation and the transcriptional activity of GATA4, as well as pathological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and the development of heart failure (HF) in vivo. Recently, studies of histone modification have been performed within the flexible tails, such as H3K9 and H3K14. Although most previously studied histone modifications are within the flexible tails of histones, H3K122 is reportedly a novel site of the histone globular domain acetylated by p300, and its acetylation activates gene transcriptions by destabilizing histone-DNA binding and increasing the accessibility of transactional factors to DNA. However, little is known about the extent histone modifications directly affect LVH and HF.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that p300 could induce epigenetic changes by acetylation of the globular domain as well as tail domain of histone during the development of LVH and HF.

Methods

First, to investigate whether the acetylation of H3K122 in the globular domain of histones as well as those of H3K9 and H3K14 in the tail domain of histones increased in cardiomyocytes hypertrophy, western blotting and chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed using neonatal rat cultured cardiomyocytes with phenylephrine (PE) stimulus. Second, neonatal rat cultured cardiomyocytes were treated with p300 knockdown by siRNA or curcumin, a p300-specific HAT inhibitor. Third, to investigate the role of p300 HAT activity in histone acetylation in vivo, we utilized mice overexpressing p300 in the heart, which induced LVH. Final, to investigate whether these acetylation changes during the development of LVH and HF, in vivo ChIP assay was performed using hypertensive heart disease model of Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Results

Western blotting indicated that treatment with PE increased the acetylation of H3K122 as well as those of H3K9 and H3K14 in cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. ChIP assay demonstrated that PE increased the recruitment of acetylated H3K122 and H3K9 onto ANF and BNP promoters containing the GATA element and peaks of acetylation of these domains were 4 hours after PE stimulation. Next, these acetylations were significantly inhibited by p300 knockdown by siRNA or treatment with curcumin. Conversely, in vivo ChIP assays in mice overexpressing p300 indicated that p300 overexpression increased recruitment of acetylated H3K122 and H3K9 onto ANF and BNP promoters containing the GATA element. Next, in hypertensive heart disease model of Dahl salt-sensitive rats, in vivo ChIP assays reviled that acetylation of H3K9 was increased around ANF and BNP promoters containing the GATA element at the LVH stage but that of H3K122 was increased at the HF stage.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that acetylation of H3K122 in globular domain of histones by p300 is the key event of the transition from LVH to HF.

P2528Responsiveness to nutritional intervention would impact on future cardiovascular prognosis in poor fitness patients

Purpose

Nutritional improvement has been proposed for long-term cardiovascular prognosis as well as fitness recovery. We aimed to examine whether “responsiveness” to nutritional and exercise interventions would impact patients' cardiovascular prognosis even patients in low baseline fitness level.

Methods

We included 254 consecutive patients who participated in the phase II comprehensive cardiovascular rehabilitation (CCR) for at least three months. All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) at the initial and completion phases of CCR. Nutritional guidance was periodically performed individually during CCR. Peak oxygen uptake (PVO2) was measured through CPX to evaluate the fitness level, whereas nutritional status was evaluated using the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Patients were divided into “low fitness” and “normal fitness” groups based on the median of baseline PVO2. Each group was further classified into four categories according to the changes in VO2 and GNRI during CCR: “Both NOT improved”, “Only GNRI improved”, “Only PVO2 improved”, and “Both improved”.

Results

Cox proportional regression analysis showed that the category of “both NOT improved” was an independent predictor for cardiovascular risk among the baseline low fitness group (Hazard ratio: 4.5, p=0.007); whereas no significant difference among the normal fitness group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the event-free survival rate was significantly lower in the “both NOT improved” category (log rank p=0.002) among the baseline low fitness group (figure); whereas no significant difference among the normal fitness group.

GNRI/PVO2 improvement vs. prognosis

Conclusion

Responsiveness to nutritional and exercise intervention could be a predictive factor of cardiovascular prognosis even in low fitness patients.

P2434Digital zoom decreases radiation exposure dose up to 30% in percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Interventional cardiology is gaining greater popularity worldwide with each passing year. Reduction of exposure dose is a very imminent and an important issue in cardiology procedure. Although a newer radiation reduction technique, device and procedure are very valuable and expected, we should consider about therapy technique, radiation technique, devices, and the way to protection. Digital zoom digitally enlarges images in real time by up to 2.5-fold at lower doses than those used with traditional field of view changes. In our phantom examination the average dose reduction of digital zoom was 27%.

Methods and results

This study is designated as single-center, retrospective, not-randomized, observation study. 2101 eligible cases were collected. We assigned the cases of PCI without the use of Digital zoom to the Conventional group and those involving the use of Digital zoom to the Digital zoom group. There were 806 patients in the Conventional group and 1195 in the Digital zoom group. Because we had begun using Digital zoom from January 2015 onwards, all patients in the Conventional group had undergone PCI from January 2013 to December 2014 and all patients in the Digital zoom group had undergone PCI from January 2015 to December 2016. In addition, we calculated the RAK/minute and DAP/minute for an accurate assessment. To minimize the difference of characteristics between two groups, propensity score including all baseline variables was performed. Furthermore, Predictors of radiation exposure were investigated using multivariable least square methods. Inter group differences were observed in DAP, RAK, DAP/min, and RAK/min (Digital zoom group vs conventional group: DAP, 16000 cGy cm2 [from 1st quartile to 3rd quartile; 10300–24400] vs 20700 [13400–29500], p<0.001; DAP/min, 557 cGy cm2/min [392–737] vs 782 [571–1010], p<0.01; RAK, 1590 Gy [990–2410] vs 1850 [1220–2720], p<0.01; RAK/min, 54.7 Gy/min [38.5–73.2] vs 71.2 [51.5–93.0], p<0.01). Even after propensity score matching, intergroup differences in DAP (810 cases), DAP/min (811 cases), RAK (746 cases), and RAK/min (744 cases) persisted. Furthermore, the least squares method showed that Digital zoom is an important predictor of DAP (β=0.17, p<0.01) and RAK (β=0.12, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Digital zoom is an old and cost-free technique, but one of most powerful reduction of exposure method. Propensity score adjustment and least square methods show that digital zoom is one of independent effective method.

P6243Impact of coronary flow reserve as an important predictor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event in hemodialysis patients even in patients without myocardial perfusion abnormality

Background

In the clinical setting, ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major problem not only in general patients but also in regular hemodialysis (HD) patients. 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography (13NH3PET) is an established and excellent diagnostic test for IHD. We have reported about the predictability of coronary flow reserve (CFR) in poor prognosis in HD population. Some prior studies show that low CFR predicts poor prognosis for not only cardiovascular event but also all-cause mortality. Although it is well-known that CFR is an important predictor, there are limited data about CFR of patients without myocardial perfusion (MP) abnormality. We investigated the prognostic predictability of adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) in HD patients without MP abnormality.

Methods

A total 438 of HD patients who underwent 13NH3PET for suspected IHD were enrolled. All patients were underwent 13NH3PET at our facility. After we excluded patients whose summed stress score (SSS) >3, we identified 182 eligible patients. Patients were divided into two group according to the median value of CFR; low CFR group (≤2.405) and high CFR group (>2.405). We followed up them up to 4.2 years (median 2.4 years) and collected their data. We evaluated their major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular event. We performed Kaplan-Meyer analysis and multivariable cox regression models. Furthermore, we evaluated the incremental value with C-index, net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) when CFR added into a model with established risk factors.

Results

There were intergroup difference in baseline characteristics: age, gender, prior CVD and diabetes. Kaplan-Meyer analysis shows statistically intergroup difference [log rank p=0.04, hazard ratio (HR) 0.54, 95% confidential interval (CI) 0.30–0.97]. Multivariable cox regression model for MACCE shows CFR is an independent risk factor (p=0.04, HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30–0.97). As regarding model discrimination, all of C-index (0.82 vs 0.80, p=0.23), NRI (0.51, p<0.01) and IDI (0.03, p=0.03) were greatest in a predicting model with established risk factors plus CFR.

Conclusions

The low CFR group had poor prognosis in MACCE comparing to the high CFR group. CFR would be an independent risk factor for MACCE. Adding CFR on conventional risk factors could more accurately predict MACCE in HD patients, even in patients without MP abnormality.

Erratum: Structural and Valence Changes of Europium Hydride Induced by Application of High-Pressure H_{2} [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 025501 (2011)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.025501.

Abstract P2-14-09: A novel nipple aleolar complex involvement predictive index (NACPI) for indicating nipple sparing mastectomy in breast cancer patients

Background: While Preservation of NAC is concerned to increase the risk of local recurrences in the retroareolar glandular tissue, nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) is increasing in patients with breast cancer and has been shown to result in better cosmetic outcome and the benefit for quality-of-life. It is necessary to predict accurately NAC involvement in order to select which patients may be candidates to NSM. The distance from the nipple to the tumor (DNT) is proposed as one of the best criteria to select the patient. The purpose of this study is to identify the predictors of NAC involvement retrospectively and to develop a clinical predictive model to select the patients who can be offered preservation of NAC.Methods: A total of 168 patients with primary operable breast cancer who received subcutaneous mastectomy for breast reconstruction at Saitama Medical Center during July 2013 to December 2017 were selected from the hospital's surgical database. NAC involvement was defined by the presence of invasive carcinoma and/or ductal carcinoma in situ at the subareolar margin.

Results: Of the 148 patients who were preserved NAC, 89.9% (133/148) were NAC involvement negative and 10.1% (15/148) were positive in permanent pathological specimens. Of the 20 patients who were resected NAC, NAC involvement positivity was only 50.0% (10/20). This revealed that NAC involvement with a sensitivity (SN) of 40.0%, a specificity (SP) of 93.0%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 50.0% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 89.9% (AUC=0.665, 95%CI: 0.5345-0.796). In 140 patients who were performed intraoperative sub-nipple frozen section biopsy, the findings was significantly associated with NAC involvement (P&lt;0.001), and which predict the NAC involvement with a SN of 93.3%, a SP of 89.6%, a PPV of 51.9%, and a NPV of 99.1% (AUC=0.915, 95%CI: 0.835-0.994). In the concordance rate between frozen section findings and definitive pathologic results, DCIS was 53% (9/17), atypical cell was 50% (2/4) and invasive ductal carcinoma was 100% (3/3). Correlation between NAC involvement and clinicopathological factors, tumor size ≥4cm (P&lt;0.001), DNT &lt;1cm by MMG (P=0.002), DNT &lt;1cm by MRI (P&lt;0.001), nipple contrast findings by MRI (P&lt;0.001), tumor in central portion (P&lt;0.001), multicentirc/focal lesion (P&lt;0.001), c(N) positive (P=0.014) were significant relation with NAC involvement. Each predictors were scored 0 or 1, and the total score of 0-3 points was defined as low risk, 4 points as intermediate risk, and 5-7 points as high risk. Depending on this categorized classification, the NAC involvement rate was 3.5% (5/142) in low risk, 68.7% (11/16) in intermediate risk, 90.0% (9/10) in high risk and there was a significant correlation between the risk group and NAC involvement (P &lt;0.001). Notably, assuming that NAC is preserved for low risk patients and is resected for intermediate and high risk patients, NACPI contributes to improve the accuracy of selecting the surgical procedures (SN 80.0%, SP 95.8%, PPV 76.9%, NPV 96.5% (AUC=0.879, 95%CI: 0.784-0.974)).Conclusion: This study suggests that NACPI can help us indicating subcutaneous mastectomy for the breast cancer patients who request preserve NAC with more oncological safety.

Citation Format: Seki H, Sakurai T, Shimizu K, Mizuno S, Tokuda T, Kaburagi T, Seki M, Karahashi T, Nakajima K. A novel nipple aleolar complex involvement predictive index (NACPI) for indicating nipple sparing mastectomy in breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-14-09.

Correlation Between Splenectomy and Portal Vein Complications in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVES

In adults undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the transplanted livers are partial grafts, and the portal venous pressure is higher than that observed with whole liver grafts. In patients undergoing LDLT concomitant with splenomegaly, portal venous flow is often diverted to collateral vessels, leading to a high risk of portal vein thrombosis. In such cases, occlusion of the collateral veins is important; however, complete occlusion of all collaterals without blocking the blood flow through the splenic artery causes portal hypertension and liver failure. We aimed to examine the effect of performing a splenectomy concomitant with LDLT to reduce portal vein complications.

METHODS

Between 1991 and 2017, we performed 170 LDLT operations, including 83 in adults. For this cohort study, adult cases were divided into 2 groups. Group I was those who underwent LDLT without splenectomy (n = 60); Group II was those who underwent LDLT with splenectomy for the reduction of portal hypertension (n = 23). We investigated the incident rates of complications, including blood loss, lethal portal vein thrombosis (intrahepatic thrombosis), acute rejection, and so on. We also investigated the survival rates in both groups.

RESULTS

The incident rate of lethal portal vein thrombosis in Group II was significantly lower than that observed in Group I (4.4% vs 21.7%, respectively, P = .0363). There were no statistically significant differences observed between the groups with respect to blood loss, survival rates, and other such parameters.

CONCLUSION

LDLT concomitant with splenectomy might effectively reduce the occurrence of portal vein complications in adults.

Effect of Middle Hepatic Vein Tributaries Preserving Technique Until Just Before Graft Retrieval on Donors' Surgical Outcomes in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

The technique of preserving the major tributaries of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) (V5 and V8) until just before graft retrieval is beneficial to minimize congestion time of the graft. However, it remains unclear whether this technique exerts a burden on donors in terms of operative time, blood loss, and postoperative hepatic dysfunction. In this study we investigated adverse effects of the MHV tributaries preserving technique until immediately before graft retrieval on donors' surgical outcomes.

METHODS

Data from 71 donors who underwent right hepatectomy without MHV for a liver transplantation at our hospital from January 2002 to August 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Donors were divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 (n = 12), no MHV tributary reconstruction; group 2 (n = 33), single MHV tributary reconstruction; group 3 (n = 26), 2 or 3 MHV tributaries reconstruction. Donor operation time, blood loss, proportion of the remnant liver, maximum postoperative total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, minimum platelets, prothrombin time, albumin level, number of days in hospital from surgery to discharge, and surgical complications were compared.

RESULTS

Compared with groups 2 and 3, group 1 exhibited shorter average operational time and less average blood loss, but the difference was not significant. Comparisons of all other factors indicated no significant differences.

CONCLUSION

The technique of preserving the major tributaries of the MHV until just immediately before graft retrieval does not appear to impose an apparent burden on donors.

Effect of Addition of Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene and the Type of Mica on the Mechanical Properties of Mica-Filled Polyethylene/Polypropylene Blends

The mechanical properties of polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (PP)/styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS)/mica composites were investigated as a model composition. Four types of mica with different particle sizes and different aspect ratios were used. These composites were extruded by a twin-screw extruder and subsequently injection molded, and their mechanical properties, including their tensile, bending, and impact properties were evaluated. The addition of mica to PE/PP/SEBS effectively improved its mechanical properties; the addition of SEBS as a compatibilizer likewise enhanced the mechanical properties compared with those of PE/PP composites without SEBS. The use of larger average particle size and higher aspect ratio mica, such as M-35, M-27, and P-33, effectively increased the tensile and bending properties of the PE/PP/SEBS/mica composites. The morphologies of the composites with an added mica as observed by scanning electron microscopy, showed good dispersion between the matrix polymer and the mica.

Abstract 2513: FGFRL1 deficiency reduces motility and tumor growth of cells derived from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 (FGFRL1) belongs to the FGFR protein family. We previously reported that FGFRL1 is highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with lymph node metastasis and with the depth of ESCCs. Furthermore, transient inhibition of FGFRL1 expression induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of ESCC cells. However, the intracellular domain of FGFRL1 lacks the tyrosine kinase domain. Thus the mechanisms of which FGFRL1 contributes to the development of ESCC are unclear. Two cell lines (Clone 15 and 21) deficient for FGFRL1 expression were established from an ESCC cell line (KYSE520) using the CRISPR-Cas9 method. We evaluated the characteristics of these two cell lines in vitro and in vivo. In these FGFRL1-deficient KYSE520 cells, actin filaments around the nucleus were observed sparsely, whereas the filaments along the plasma membranes were observed as strong as those in the parent KYSE520 cells. Depleting FGFRL1 reduced cell motility in vitro and, decelerated tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Microarray analysis of mRNA expression revealed that FGFRL1-depletion resulted in reduced expression of MMP-1 and FGFBP1. In conclusions, FGFRL1-deficiency reduced both cell motility and tumor growth of KYSE520 cells. This is consistent with that high expression of FGFRL1 coincident with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. These results demonstrate that FGFRL1 expressed in ESCC cells has a role in aggressiveness of ESCCs.

Citation Format: Yoshinori Takei, Takafumi Matsumura, Kazuaki Watanabe, Hirokazu Nakamine, Tetsuo Sudo, Kazuharu Shimizu, Yutaka Shimada. FGFRL1 deficiency reduces motility and tumor growth of cells derived from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2513.

Prospective predictors of exacerbation status in severe asthma over a 3-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

A predisposition to exacerbations is being recognized as a distinct phenotype with "previous exacerbations" representing the strongest clinical factor associated with future exacerbation. Thus, to identify additional novel biomarkers associated with asthma exacerbations, "past exacerbation status" must be included as a confounding factor.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize the clinical and biomarker features associated with asthma exacerbations in severe asthma.

METHODS

We evaluated clinical parameters from 105 severe asthmatics yearly for 3 years, as well as their exacerbation status. We classified the subjects into 3 groups: (i) consistent non-exacerbators (CNE, subjects who did not experience any exacerbation over the 3-year period); (ii) consistent frequent exacerbators (CFE, subjects with frequent exacerbation, defined as those who had 2 or more exacerbations within 1 year, throughout the 3-year period); and (iii) intermittent exacerbators (IE). We conducted multivariate analysis for comparisons among the groups for multiple factors, including several Th2-related biomarkers, in addition to the "past exacerbation status."

RESULTS

Thirty-nine subjects were classified as CNE, 15 as CFE, and 51 as IE. Frequent exacerbations in the previous year predicted exacerbations for the following year (P < .001). Among the several Th2-related biomarkers, only FeNO was associated with exacerbation status. When we analysed the data after the second visit, the impact of FeNO on predicting future exacerbation remained significant, even after considering the exacerbation status during the first year (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Measurement of FeNO has a significant potential to predict future asthma exacerbation, which is independent of the "past exacerbation history."

Screening for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus among febrile Indonesian Hajj pilgrims: A study on 28,197 returning pilgrims

There were 211,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims going to Mecca through 11 main airports in 2015 who were at risk of contracting the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We aimed to find out whether there was any occurrence of MERS-CoV by performing screening on 28,197 returning pilgrims. Those with a body temperature of > 38 °C and respiratory symptoms were sent to the airport clinic to have an oropharyngeal swab and a bacterial culture. Fifteen pilgrims had fever (> 38 °C) accompanied by respiratory symptoms; of these, 12 patients were diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory tract infections and three patients with pneumonia. However, none of them were found to be infected with MERS-CoV. The bacterial cultures showed evidence of normal flora growth.

FGFRL1 deficiency reduces motility and tumorigenic potential of cells derived from oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive cancer that resulted in ~400,000 mortalities worldwide in 2012. It was reported previously that fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 (FGFRL1) is highly expressed in ESCC patients with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis accordingly. FGFRL1 is an FGFR that lacks tyrosine kinase activity, whereas the activity is critical for other FGFRs to activate intracellular signalling. The mechanism by which FGFRL1 promotes the aggressiveness of ESCCs is unknown. In the present study, two independent FGFRL1-deficient cell lines were generated from human ESCC KYSE520 cells, in order to investigate the relationship of FGFRL1 with the aggressiveness of ESCCs. FGFRL1-deficiency did not affect proliferation of KYSE520 cells in vitro. However, a xenograft mouse model demonstrated that FGFRL1-deficiency decelerated tumour growth in vivo. The haematoxylin-eosin staining identified that FGFRL1-deficient cells formed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, whereas wild-type cells formed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Microarray analysis of mRNA expression revealed that FGFRL1-depletion resulted in decreased expression of proteins associated with motility and invasion of tumour cells, matrix metalloproteinase-1 and fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1. The wound-healing assay indicated that depleting FGFRL1 reduced cell motility. Furthermore, the invasiveness of FGFRL1-deficient cells was lesser than that of wild-type KYSE520 cells. In the FGFRL1-deficient KYSE520 cells, actin filaments around the nucleus were observed sparsely, whereas the filaments along the plasma membranes were observed as frequently as those in the parent KYSE520 cells. These results demonstrate that FGFRL1 may be involved in regulation of protein expression, actin filament assembly and tumorigenic potential of ESCC cells.