Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

Superiority of BNCT Treatment Planning Metrics Achieved Using Novel vs. Reference (BPA-F) Pharmaceuticals in Head and Neck Locations

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Several novel boron delivery compounds currently under investigation by our group have demonstrated formulation, biodistribution, and dose response benefits in small animal models [1]. In this study we analyze the potential clinical impact of these compounds for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in human patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Pharmacokinetic models were used to estimate the tumor and normal tissue boron concentrations after continuous infusion of the novel compounds and BPA-F. Patient model segmentation, material assignment, and alignment of one or more treatment beams were exported from a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) to a novel dose calculation tool. This information was used to generate a voxelized model that incorporated the source, beam shaping assembly, collimator, and patient materials so that the full albedo effect was included in each dose calculation. Physical dose from 10B(n,α), 14N(n,p), 1H(n,n') interactions plus gamma rays from 1H(n,γ) and other reactions within the patient and treatment equipment were calculated by Monte Carlo transport of particles originating in a pre-generated phase space at the cover surface. RBE and CBE weighting factors are applied to combine these four physical dose volumes into an equivalent dose volume, and these five dose volumes were passed back to the TPS for evaluation.

RESULTS

Tumor dose was increased by up to 2.6x for the novel compounds while normal tissue doses were constant or slightly reduced in comparison to BPA-F plans. Alternatively, for identical tumor dose the normal tissue doses and treatment time were reduced by up to 2.6x. In addition, in some cases it was possible to generate a single beam treatment plan using the new compounds that delivered higher tumor dose and lower normal tissues doses than a multiple beam plan using BPA-F.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates both dosimetric and practical benefits of the new compounds in comparison to BPA-F, including the potential to deliver treatment using fewer beam directions and correspondingly easier treatment setups and higher patient throughput. The potential of these compounds to extend the range of clinical indications for BNCT is also discussed. These results motivate upcoming experimental testing of the key assumptions involved in their calculation.

Handling injectable medications in anaesthesia: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists

Peri-operative medication safety is complex. Avoidance of medication errors is both system- and practitioner-based, and many departments within the hospital contribute to safe and effective systems. For the individual anaesthetist, drawing up, labelling and then the correct administration of medications are key components in a patient's peri-operative journey. These guidelines aim to provide pragmatic safety steps for the practitioner and other individuals within the operative environment, as well as short- to long-term goals for development of a collaborative approach to reducing errors. The aim is that they will be used as a basis for instilling good practice.

A vanguard randomised feasibility trial comparing three regimens of peri-operative oxygen therapy on recovery after major surgery

International recommendations encourage liberal administration of oxygen to patients having surgery under general anaesthesia, ostensibly to reduce surgical site infection. However, the optimal oxygen regimen to minimise postoperative complications and enhance recovery from surgery remains uncertain. The hospital operating theatre randomised oxygen (HOT-ROX) trial is a multicentre, patient- and assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomised clinical trial designed to assess the effect of a restricted, standard care, or liberal peri-operative oxygen therapy regimen on days alive and at home after surgery in adults undergoing prolonged non-cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia. Here, we report the findings of the internal vanguard feasibility phase of the trial undertaken in four large metropolitan hospitals in Australia and New Zealand that included the first 210 patients of a planned overall 2640 trial sample, with eight pre-specified endpoints evaluating protocol implementation and safety. We screened a total of 956 participants between 1 September 2019 and 26 January 2021, with data from 210 participants included in the analysis. Median (IQR [range]) time-weighted average intra-operative Fi O2 was 0.30 (0.26-0.35 [0.20-0.59]) and 0.47 (0.44-0.51 [0.37-0.68]) for restricted and standard care, respectively (mean difference (95%CI) 0.17 (0.14-0.20), p < 0.001). Median time-weighted average intra-operative Fi O2 was 0.83 (0.80-0.85 [0.70-0.91]) for liberal oxygen therapy (mean difference (95%CI) compared with standard care 0.36 (0.33-0.39), p < 0.001). All feasibility endpoints were met. There were no significant patient adverse events. These data support the feasibility of proceeding with the HOT-ROX trial without major protocol modifications.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

A preliminary study of patient-specific differences in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes following hypoxia-induced injury

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Courtois Cardiovascular Signature Program

The increasing rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes to a worsening morbidity in the general population and a socioeconomic burden on the healthcare system. Newly approved therapies present unforeseen side effects and occasionally entail adverse cardiovascular responses in patients - this issue significantly stalls efficacious pharmacological development. Indeed, modern cardiovascular treatments do not account for the variability of individual patient reactions, due to a lack of a representative in vitro cardiac model. While the use of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) has gained traction as a superior model for drug screening when compared to cardiac biopsies and immortalized cell lines, cardiovascular patient-specific differences remain poorly understood and understudied.

We hypothesized that 1) cardiomyopathic patient-derived iPSC-CMs have differing baselines of beating rate, contractility, viability, metabolic activity and protein expression, when compared to healthy controls, and that 2) cell lines have patient-specific responses to hypoxia-induced injury. As such, the purpose of this preliminary study was two-fold: 1) to perform a characterization of patient iPSC-CM function, and 2) to study patient-specific cellular responses to hypoxia.

First, we generated iPSC-CMs from the peripheral blood of donors (n=6 patients with cardiomyopathies, n=2 healthy donors). We then confirmed the expression of prominent cardiac markers connexin 43 (CXN43), sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a), GATA4 and cardiac Troponin T, as well as a lack of pluripotency markers Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), Nanog, Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) and TRA-1-60 in the iPSC-CM lines, via immunocytochemistry. Preliminary assessment of iPSC-CMs (days 1-30 post-differentiation) revealed significant baseline differences in beating rate (p&lt;0.01) and contractility amplitude (p&lt;0.01) between iPSC-CMs derived from cardiomyopathic patients and healthy donors.

We then subjected iPSC-CM lines to hypoxic conditions (24 hours), to mimic ischaemic injury. Diseased patient-derived lines had significantly decreased viability and metabolic activity when compared to the controls, under normoxic (p&lt;0.01) and hypoxic conditions (p&lt;0.001). Immunoblotting revealed differential expression of cardiac markers and factors implicated in cardiac function, cardioprotection and pathology. Taken together, these results suggest that the detected differences at the cellular level after hypoxia-induced injury might be translatable to the inter-individual variability currently observed in the CVD patient population. The data gathered will prove to be instrumental in future studies of iPSC-CM responses to treatment. With this preliminary study, we hope to shift the focus towards these patient-specific differences at the cellular level, in the search for tailored therapies and a higher standard of care for CVD patients.

Schlafstörungen und Erschöpfungssyndrom bei Long-COVID-Syndrom: Fallbasierte Erfahrungen aus der neurologischen/schlafmedizinischen Rehabilitation

Schlafstörungen und ein klinisch signifikantes Erschöpfungssyndrom werden für das Long-COVID-Syndrom regelhaft beschrieben. Die pathophysiologischen Zusammenhänge sind weitergehend unbekannt. Die klinische Präsentation ist unterschiedlich und muss individuell betrachtet werden. Anhand von vier Fallbeispielen wird dargestellt, welche Symptome ein Long-COVID-Syndrom ausmachen und welche Therapieoptionen zur Verfügung stehen. Eine multimodale individualisierte Rehabilitation scheint geeignet, Betroffene wieder an die prämorbide Leistungsfähigkeit heranzuführen und eine erhebliche Reduktion von insomnischen Beschwerden zu erreichen.

Implementing advance care plans in the peri-operative period, including plans for cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Association of Anaesthetists clinical practice guideline

Contemporary guidance takes a patient-centred approach and recommends discussing and planning treatments that should be considered, not just those that should be withheld. Although some organisations and communities still use specific DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) forms to recommend that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not attempted, this approach has been shown to have disadvantages and is no longer regarded as best practice. The following guidelines have been produced in response to this change. They are designed to help anaesthetists, as part of the wider healthcare team, to implement and respond to advance care planning documents before and during procedures. The guidelines apply to all procedures, however minor and low risk they are considered to be, and the same ethical and legal principles apply to procedures carried out under local or regional anaesthesia and/or conscious sedation, as well as to those under general anaesthesia.

POS1020 EFFICACY OF TOFACITINIB ON DACTYLITIS IN INDIVIDUAL DIGITS IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Dactylitis, a hallmark of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), is a uniformly diffuse and sometimes painful swelling of the fingers and/or toes.1 Up to 50% of patients (pts) with PsA may experience dactylitis;1,2 as such, dactylitis is an accepted domain of PsA that should be considered in treatment decisions.3 In PsA, dactylitis typically involves feet more than hands; dactylitic joints more frequently have erosive damage, compared with non-dactylitic joints.2 There remains a need for effective therapies to treat dactylitis in pts with PsA. Improvements in dactylitis have been associated with tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA.4,5

Objectives:

To assess the effect of tofacitinib on dactylitis by location (hands/feet) and individual digit involvement in pts with PsA.

Methods:

These post hoc analyses used data pooled from two Phase 3 studies (12-month OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668];5 6-month OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439]4) in pts with active PsA treated with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID; approved dose; to Month [M] 6), tofacitinib 10 mg BID (to M6) or placebo (PBO; to M3); pts were treated continuously with a single conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Pts were categorised by the presence of dactylitis at baseline (BL) in the hands and/or feet. Endpoints included change from BL in Dactylitis Severity Score (DSS),6 the number of dactylitic digits and the proportion of pts with dactylitis in individual digits at M1, M3 and M6. Descriptive statistics were generated by visit and treatment arm.

Results:

Data were pooled from 373 pts with DSS >0 at BL. BL characteristics, including gender, age, race, body mass index, PsA duration, BL DSS and dactylitic digits count were similar across dactylitis groups and treatment groups, except for pts with dactylitis in both the hands and feet, who had higher DSS compared to those with dactylitis in the hands or feet only, likely due to having more dactylitic digits (data not shown). Regardless of location, pts treated with tofacitinib had cumulative improvements from BL to M6 in DSS (Figure 1a) and in the number of dactylitic digits (Figure 1b); improvements in DSS were greater at M1 and M3, compared with PBO. Pts treated with tofacitinib 10 mg BID typically had numerically greater improvements in DSS, compared with pts treated with tofacitinib 5 mg BID (Figure 1a). Most pts treated with tofacitinib experienced improvement of dactylitis across all fingers and toes (Figure 1c–f); mean dactylitis presence was ≤15% at M6 in pts treated with tofacitinib for all digits. Generally, at M1 and M3, fewer pts treated with tofacitinib had dactylitis in any digit, compared with PBO (Figure 1c–f).

Conclusion:

Among pts with pre-existing dactylitis, treatment with tofacitinib resulted in improvements in dactylitis in hands, feet, or both, and in all digits as early as M1, and up to M6.

References:

[1]Kaeley et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2018; 48: 263-273.

[2]Brockbank et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2005; 64: 188-190.

[3]Coates et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2016; 68: 1060-1071.

[4]Gladman et al. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 1525-1536.

[5]Mease et al. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 1537-1550.

[6]Helliwell et al. J Rheumatol 2005; 32: 1745-1750.

Acknowledgements:

Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Eric Comeau, CMC Connect, and funded by Pfizer Inc.

Disclosure of Interests:

Ana-Maria Orbai Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Horizon, Janssen, Novartis, Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun, UCB, Philip Helliwell Paid instructor for: Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Oliver FitzGerald Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Consultant of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer Inc, Mohammed Bdewi Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer Inc, Dona Fleishaker Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Rajiv Mundayat Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Pamela Young Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc.

AB0521 EARLY REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE OF TOFACITINIB FOR PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: DATA FROM A UNITED STATES HEALTHCARE CLAIMS DATABASE

Background:

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It was approved in the United States (US) in December 2017 for use in combination with non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Objectives:

This analysis of real-world data assessed demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, as well as treatment persistence/adherence, in patients (pts) with PsA who had newly initiated tofacitinib treatment.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study included pts aged ≥18 years in the Truven MarketScan™ US Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Claims and Encounters database with ≥1 tofacitinib claim (first = index) between 14 December 2017–30 April 2019, and PsA diagnoses (≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient [30–365 days apart]) on or within 12 months pre-index. Pts were continuously enrolled for 12 months pre-index and 6 months post-index, with no pre-index claims for tofacitinib. Pt demographic and clinical characteristics on the day of index, history of advanced therapy treatment (≥1 claim for biologic DMARDs or apremilast within 12 months pre-index) and tofacitinib treatment regimen (monotherapy or combination therapy [≥1 claim for conventional synthetic DMARDs or apremilast on or within 90 days post-index]) were recorded. Outcomes at 6 months post-index included tofacitinib persistence (<60-day gap without tofacitinib treatment) and adherence (proportion of days covered ≥80% and medication possession ratio [data not shown]). A sensitivity check was performed by analysing a sub-cohort that excluded pts with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on or within 12 months pre-index and within 6 months post-index.

Results:

Of 17 321 pts receiving tofacitinib, 440 pts met the inclusion criteria for the overall cohort, with 315 pts included in the sub-cohort. In the overall cohort, pts were mostly female, with a mean age of 52.3 years and a mean PsA duration of 738 days (data not shown). Most pts were exposed to ≥1 advanced therapy within 12 months pre-index (mean = 1.1; range = 0–4); most commonly secukinumab (Table 1). Overall, 60.7% of pts received monotherapy and 39.3% of pts received tofacitinib combination therapy post-index; most commonly methotrexate (data not shown). At 6 months post-index, persistence was similar in pts receiving tofacitinib monotherapy vs combination therapy; adherence was slightly lower in pts receiving tofacitinib monotherapy vs combination therapy (Figure 1). Results were similar in the sub-cohort (Table 1, Figure 1).

Table 1.

History of advanced therapy on or within 12 months pre-index in pts with PsA

All pts(N=440)Pts with no RAa(N=315)Pts exposed to advanced therapy, n (%)b Any advanced therapyc336 (76.4)241 (76.5) Secukinumab113 (25.7)91 (28.9) Adalimumab93 (21.1)58 (18.4) Apremilast81 (18.4)59 (18.7) Etanercept70 (15.9)47 (14.9)Unique advanced therapy prescriptions Mean (SD)1.1 (0.8)1.1 (0.8) Median (IQR)1 (1–2)1 (1–2) Range0–40–4Number of unique advanced therapies, n (%) 0104 (23.6)74 (23.5) 1214 (48.6)153 (48.6) 2100 (22.7)73 (23.2) ≥322 (5.0)15 (4.8)

aExcludes pts with a diagnosis of RA on or within 12 months pre-index and within 6 months post-index; bPts with ≥1 claim for biologic DMARDs or apremilast within 12 months pre-index; cOther advanced therapies reported in <10% of all pts were abatacept, certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, ixekizumab and ustekinumab

IQR, interquartile range; N, number of pts per cohort; n, number of pts per category; SD, standard deviation

Figure 1

Conclusion:

This analysis of US-based claims data indicated that pts newly initiated tofacitinib treatment an average of 2 years after PsA diagnosis, with the majority (>60%) of pts receiving tofacitinib as monotherapy. High levels of persistence and adherence to tofacitinib were observed 6 months after treatment initiation. Findings were similar when pts with PsA who also had a diagnosis of RA were excluded. Data were limited in that claims data cannot confirm that pts took the medication for which they filed a claim.

Acknowledgements:

Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Gemma Turner, CMC Connect, and funded by Pfizer Inc.

Disclosure of Interests:

Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun, UCB, Pamela Young Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, David C Gruben Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Lara Fallon Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Rebecca Germino Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Arthur Kavanaugh Grant/research support from: Pfizer Inc.

Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery 2021: Guideline from the Association of Anaesthetists

This guideline updates and replaces the 5th edition of the Standards of Monitoring published in 2015. The aim of this document is to provide guidance on the minimum standards for monitoring of any patient undergoing anaesthesia or sedation under the care of an anaesthetist. The recommendations are primarily aimed at anaesthetists practising in the UK and Ireland, but it is recognised that these guidelines may also be of use in other areas of the world. Minimum standards for monitoring patients during anaesthesia and in the recovery phase are included. There is also guidance on monitoring patients undergoing sedation and during transfer. There are new sections specifically discussing capnography, sedation and regional anaesthesia. In addition, the indications for processed electroencephalogram and neuromuscular monitoring have been updated.

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595-828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality; human health; terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles; and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.

Utilization of cardiac MRI for the assessment of suspected rejection with negative biopsy in heart transplant recipients

Background

Heart transplant (HTx) patients can develop graft dysfunction (GD) without biopsy evidence of cell or antibody mediated rejection. Cardiac MRI (CMR) can detect inflammatory or infiltrative causes of cardiomyopathy however CMR findings in HTx recipients with GD have not been previously described.

Purpose

We sought to identify CMR characteristics of HTx patients with GD, and evaluate its additive value in its diagnosis and prognosis.

Methods

CMR has been performed routinely to evaluate GD at our institutions. There were 37 HTx recipients who presented with acute decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of &lt;50% and &gt;10% from baseline, with no biopsy evidence of rejection between 2007 and 2018. Coronary angiogram with IVUS was done to rule out allograft vasculopathy. Treatment of GD was per discretion of the treating clinician. Responders were defined as those with LVEF improvement &gt;10% at 180 days or greater post-presentation. LV and RV indices, the presence and pattern of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were determined by CMR.

Results

There were 34% females and mean age at transplant was 49±13 years. Median time from HTx to GD was 1.2 years. Presenting symptoms were heart failure (n=25), cardiogenic shock (n=1) and 11 patients were asymptomatic. Mean LVEF at presentation was 37±12% and donor specific antibodies were detected in 38% patients. Most patients were treated with steroid bolus (n=29), and/or plasmapheresis (n=23). There were no major changes made in immunosuppression in 6 patients. Delayed enhancement MRI was performed with standard inversion-recovery (IR) gradient echo sequences, between 5 and 20 minutes after institutional-standard protocol administration of IV gadolinium contrast. Biventricular LGE was present in 18/37 (49%) patients with GD and was more prevalent in responders (57%, 13 of 23) than non-responders (35%, 5 of 14), although not statistically significant (p=0.21). There were two patterns of LGE noted: 1) Diffuse epicardial (10 patients out which 9 were responders) and 2) Patchy pattern with non-specific distribution (8 patients out of which 4 were responders). Myocardial edema by triple IR sequencing was seen in 6 patients, all having diffuse epicardial pattern of enhancement matching the delayed enhancement pattern. When comparing different treatment groups, among those treated for GD (n=31), 12 of 21 (57%) responders had LGE and 4 of 10 (40%) non-responders had LGE (p=0.37), a pattern similar to the broader population. Among those not treated for GD (n=6), 1 of 2 responders had LGE and 1 of 4 non-responders had LGE (p=0.5).

Conclusion

CMR identified inflammation as a potential cause of GD in approximately 50% of HTx patients. There are 2 distinct patterns of LGE observed in GD, diffuse epicardial (56%) and patchy (44%). Although the presence of LGE in itself is not associated with myocardial recovery, 90% of patients with a diffuse epicardial pattern have recovery of GD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

SAS CARE 2 - a randomized study of CPAP in patients with obstructive sleep disordered breathing following ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack

Objective/background

The benefit of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment following ischemic stroke in patients with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is unclear. We set out to investigate this open question in a randomized controlled trial as part of the SAS-CARE study.

Patients/methods.

Non-sleepy patients (ESS < 10) with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and obstructive SDB (AHI ≥ 20) 3 months post-stroke were randomized 1:1 to CPAP treatment (CPAP+) or standard care. Primary outcome was the occurrence of vascular events (TIA/stroke, myocardial infarction/revascularization, hospitalization for heart failure or unstable angina) or death within 24 months post-stroke. Secondary outcomes included Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Barthel Index.

Results

Among 238 SAS-CARE patients 41 (17%) non-sleepy obstructive SDB patients were randomized to CPAP (n = 19) or standard care (n = 22). Most patients (80%) had stroke and were males (78%), mean age was 64 ± 7 years and mean NIHSS score 0.6 ± 1.0 (range: 0–5). The primary endpoint was met by one patient in the standard care arm (a new stroke). In an intent-to treat analysis disregarding adherence, this corresponds to an absolute risk difference of 4.5% or an NNT = 22. mRS and Barthel Index were stable and similar between arms. CPAP adherence was sufficient in 60% of evaluable patients at month 24.

Conclusion

No benefit of CPAP started three months post-stroke was found in terms of new cardio- and cerebrovascular events over 2 years. This may be related to the small size of this study, the mild stoke severity, the exclusion of sleepy patients, the delayed start of treatment, and the overall low event rate.

•

No benefit of CPAP started 3 months post-stroke was found.

•

A sufficient CPAP compliance was observed over 2 years in 60% of patients.

•

Studies of CPAP in mild stroke need to be large and include long-term outcomes.

Effectiveness of an mHealth application to improve hypertension health literacy in India

AIM

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a mobile health or mHealth application to improve hypertension health literacy among vulnerable populations in India. Additionally, we sought to estimate relationships between participant knowledge on hypertension and sociodemographic variables.

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization advocates for the use of mobile technology to improve public health outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of hypertension is on the rise in India, and effective and sustainable interventions are needed.

METHODS

A quantitative single arm pre-test post-test interventional and correlational design was used to test the hypertension mHealth application among participants in a limited resource setting. A paired t-test was performed to compare pre- and post-test results after participant use of the mHealth application. A regression model was used to estimate relationships between participant hypertension health literacy and sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

A statistically significant improvement in test scores among participants after use of the mHealth app was found. Sociodemographic characteristics such as living in an urban environment, married, increased number of people living in household and alcohol use were determined to have a statistically significant effect on improvement of test score.

DISCUSSION

Results indicated the application was effective among participants with varied literacy and health literacy levels. These findings contribute to the potential widespread scalability of the app among populations with varied demographics.

CONCLUSION

This application provides an effective and valuable culturally tailored educational resource for nurses and other health providers to use to improve hypertension health literacy among vulnerable populations in India.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY

This study contributes to nursing and health policy by answering a call from the World Health Organization to implement and research mHealth interventions to improve health outcomes, particularly in a low and middle income country where preventive health access is limited.

Tofacitinib in psoriatic arthritis patients: skin signs and symptoms and health-related quality of life from two randomized phase 3 studies

Background

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, systemic immune‐mediated inflammatory musculoskeletal disease. The onset of dermatologic symptoms often precedes rheumatic manifestations. Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA that has been shown to improve dermatologic symptoms in patients with PsA.

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of tofacitinib in improving dermatologic endpoints in adult patients with active PsA.

Methods

This analysis included data from two placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, phase 3 studies in patients with active PsA and an inadequate response (IR) to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) who were tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)‐naïve (OPAL Broaden; NCT01877668) or an IR to ≥1 TNFi (OPAL Beyond; NCT01882439). Patients had active plaque psoriasis at screening and received a stable dose of one csDMARD during the study. Patients were randomized to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID), 10 mg BID, adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneous injection once every 2 weeks (OPAL Broaden only) or placebo (to Month 3). Dermatologic endpoints: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) total score; PASI90 overall; PASI75 and PASI90 by baseline PASI severity; Physician’s Global Assessment of Psoriasis; Nail Psoriasis Severity Index; Dermatology Life Quality Index total and sub‐dimension scores; Itch Severity Item; and Patient’s Global Joint and Skin Assessment‐Visual Analog Scale‐Psoriasis question.

Results

In patients with active PsA, including those stratified by mild or moderate/severe dermatologic symptoms, greater improvements from baseline and percentage of responders were observed in tofacitinib‐treated patients vs. placebo for the majority of analyzed dermatologic endpoints at Months 1 and 3, and improvements were maintained to Month 12 in OPAL Broaden and Month 6 in OPAL Beyond. Similar effects were observed in adalimumab‐treated patients vs. placebo in OPAL Broaden across dermatologic endpoints.

Conclusions

Tofacitinib provides a treatment option for patients with active PsA, including the burdensome dermatologic symptoms of PsA.

AB0811 DEMOGRAPHIC, TREATMENT AND DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS RECEIVING TOFACITINIB IN THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, SPAIN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

Background:

Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The efficacy and safety of tofacitinib for PsA have been demonstrated in Phase 3 trials of up to 12 months’ (mos) duration.1,2

Objectives:

To describe demographic, treatment and disease characteristics of a sample of patients (pts) at initiation of tofacitinib for PsA in the United States (US), France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (European Union Five; EU5).

Methods:

An online, retrospective medical chart review of de-identified pts treated with tofacitinib for PsA from the US and the EU5 was conducted by Ipsos Rheumatology Monitor between Sept and Dec 2019, after product approval for PsA (US, 5 mg twice daily [BID] and 11 mg once daily [QD]: Dec 2017; EU, 5 mg BID: June 2018). Rheumatology healthcare professionals (HCPs), recruited from a large panel, selected a sample of charts of pts ≥18 years of age who had a HCP-reported diagnosis of PsA and were prescribed tofacitinib. Extracted data included pt demographics, treatment characteristics (including treatments prior to tofacitinib) and disease characteristics at tofacitinib initiation (including HCP-reported disease severity).

Results:

Of 1564 pts (US n=436; EU5 n=1128, respectively) sampled by 391 HCPs, the majority were White (75%; 91%), female (both 52%) and 45–64 years of age (53%; 57%). At time of chart review, US pts had received tofacitinib for median (interquartile range [IQR]) 9 (7–11) mos, and EU5 pts for 7 (6–9) mos; 52% of US pts received 11 mg QD, and 84% of EU5 pts received 5 mg BID. Median (IQR) time from PsA diagnosis to tofacitinib initiation was 34 (12–68) mos for all pts with data available (n=1237), and was shorter for US (11 [3–33] mos) vs EU5 (40 [19–79] mos) pts. Most pts had received ≥1 prior targeted therapy (59%; biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) for median (IQR) 12 (7–22) mos. The most common HCP-reported reason for switching from prior targeted therapy was efficacy failure (US and EU5 both 59%); either initial failure (US 28%; EU5 13%) or long-term failure (US 34%; EU5 48%) (Figure 1A). Mechanism of action and mode of administration were the most common HCP-reported reasons for switching to tofacitinib in both the US and EU5 (Figure 1B). HCP-reported disease severity at tofacitinib initiation was higher in the EU5 than US (Figure 2).

Conclusion:

Characteristics of pts treated with tofacitinib for PsA were generally similar in the US and EU5. However, time from PsA diagnosis to tofacitinib initiation was shorter in the US vs EU5. It was of clinical interest to note that switching to tofacitinib appeared to be more commonly influenced by mechanism of action and mode of administration vs pt preference and access, as reported by HCPs. A key limitation of this study was the retrospective chart review design, which may introduce recall bias.

References:

[1]Mease et al. NEJM 2017;377:1537-50.

[2]Gladman et al. NEJM 2017;377:1525-36.

Acknowledgments:

Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Dominic Singson of CMC Connect and funded by Pfizer Inc. Pt chart data were provided by Ipsos Rheumatology Monitor © Ipsos 2020, all rights reserved.

Disclosure of Interests:

Alexis Ogdie Shareholder of: Amgen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Corrona, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Luke Schmerold Consultant of: Astellas, Helsinn Therapeutics, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Employee of: SmartAnalyst Inc, William Tillett Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, MSD, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Rebecca Germino Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Joseph C Cappelleri Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Pamela Young Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc

AB0827 IMPACT OF BASELINE BODY MASS INDEX ON THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOFACITINIB IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Obesity is highly prevalent in PsA (~45%)1and is associated with a reduced response to TNF inhibitors.2Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA.

Objectives:

This post hoc analysis assessed tofacitinib efficacy and safety in patients (pts) with PsA by baseline (BL) body mass index (BMI) category.

Methods:

Data were pooled from two placebo (PBO)-controlled, double-blind, Phase 3 studies in pts with active PsA and an inadequate response to ≥1 conventional synthetic DMARD (OPAL Broaden [12 months;NCT01877668]) or to ≥1 TNF inhibitor (OPAL Beyond [6 months;NCT01882439]).3,4This analysis included pts randomised to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID), tofacitinib 10 mg BID or PBO, stratified by BL BMI: <25 kg/m2, ≥25–<30 kg/m2, ≥30–<35 kg/m2, or ≥35 kg/m2. Efficacy and safety were reported to Month (M)3. M3 efficacy outcomes included ACR20/50/70 and HAQ-DI responses, dactylitis and enthesitis resolution rates and changes from BL in HAQ-DI, Short Form-36 Version 2 (SF-36v2) Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scores. Safety outcomes included adverse events (AEs), such as cardiovascular (CV) events and changes in lipid levels and liver function tests (LFTs).

Results:

This analysis included 710 pts; 43.8% were obese (BMI ≥30). At BL, 161 (22.7%) pts had a BMI <25, 238 (33.5%) had a BMI ≥25–<30, 186 (26.2%) had a BMI ≥30–<35 and 125 (17.6%) had a BMI ≥35. Most pts were white (92.5–96.8%), middle-aged (mean: 44.5–51.2 yrs) and female (49.5–65.6%). Greater proportions of obese pts were from Russia/Eastern Europe (35.0%) and USA/Canada (31.8%), vs the rest of world. At BL, higher BMI correlated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (4.3% in BMI <25 to 76.0% in BMI ≥35) and CRP levels >2.87 mg/L (49.1% in BMI <25 to 84.0% in BMI ≥35). Higher proportions of pts (42.5–47.9%) in BL BMI categories <35 reported no prior biologic DMARD use, vs pts with a BL BMI ≥35 (33.6%). At M3, efficacy improvements were greater in tofacitinib-treated pts vs PBO-treated pts (Figure 1). In pts with a BL BMI ≥35, a trend towards fewer pts responding was observed (Figure 1) and mean changes from baseline in SF-36v2 PCS and MCS and FACIT-F generally appeared lower (Figure 2) vs pts in lower BL BMI categories. Up to M3, the proportions of pts with AEs, and percentage change from BL in lipid levels and LFTs, were generally similar across all BL BMI categories. Three CV events were reported: non-fatal cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack (both tofacitinib 5 mg BID, BMI ≥30–<35) and coronary artery revascularisation (PBO; BMI ≥35). Limitations include the 3-month observation time, particularly for safety findings, thus longer observation times are warranted.

Conclusion:

Regardless of BL BMI, tofacitinib demonstrated greater efficacy than PBO at M3 in pts with PsA. Similar to other advanced therapies,2reduced efficacy was generally observed in tofacitinib and PBO pts with a BL BMI ≥35. Tofacitinib safety appeared consistent across all BL BMI categories.

References:

[1]Labitigan et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2014;66:600-07.

[2]Singh et al. PLoS One 2018;13:e0195123.

[3]Mease et al. NEJM 2017;377:1537-50.

[4]Gladman et al. NEJM 2017;377:1525-36.

Acknowledgments:

Medical writing support was provided by Mark Bennett of CMC Connect, McCann Health Medical Communications, and funded by Pfizer Inc.

Disclosure of Interests:

Christopher T. Ritchlin Grant/research support from: UCB Pharma, AbbVie, Amgen, Consultant of: UCB Pharma, Amgen, AbbVie, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Gilead, Janssen, Alexis Ogdie Shareholder of: Amgen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Corrona, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Jon T Giles Grant/research support from: Pfizer Inc, Juan Jesus Gomez-Reino Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche, UCB, Consultant of: Pfizer Inc, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer Inc, Roche, UCB, Philip Helliwell: None declared, Lori Stockert Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Pamela Young Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Wael Joseph Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Rajiv Mundayat Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Daniela Graham Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, John Woolcott Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ana Belen Romero Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc

AB0837 ITCH AS THE MAJOR MEDIATOR OF THE EFFECT OF TOFACITINIB ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PsA: A MEDIATION ANALYSIS

Background:

PsA is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease with signs and symptoms across multiple domains, including cutaneous manifestations, which can impact health-related quality of life (HQoL). Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA. In two Phase 3 randomised studies, patients (pts) with active PsA treated with tofacitinib experienced greater improvements in various dermatologic endpoints, compared with placebo. As pruritus is a bothersome symptom of skin disease in pts with PsA, we sought to determine how tofacitinib affects HQoL via clinical improvements in skin symptoms including itch.

Objectives:

To determine the relationships between tofacitinib treatment, dermatologic symptoms and pt-reported HQoL related to skin disease in PsA.

Methods:

Analyses used data (mean scores from Months 1 and 3) from two Phase 3 studies (OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668]; OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439]) of pts with active PsA treated with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily or placebo; pts were tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)-naïve or had previous inadequate response (IR) to ≥1 TNFi. All pts were treated continuously with a single conventional synthetic DMARD. Mediation modelling, a statistical method used to assess mechanisms underlying observed relationships between different variables via other explanatory variables (mediators), was applied. The mediation model included: treatment, as the independent (explanatory) binary variable (tofacitinib 5 mg BID vs placebo); HQoL, measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), as the dependent (outcome) variable; and two mediators, pt-reported Itch Severity Index (ISI) and Physician’s Global Assessment of Psoriasis (PGA-PsO) (a latent variable represented by erythema, induration and scaling). The initial model designated the treatment effect on DLQI mediated via ISI and PGA-PsO as an indirect effect, and treatment effects not attributable to ISI or PGA-PsO as a direct effect (Figure 1).

Results:

Data were collected from 468 pts, pooled from both studies. In the initial model (pooled data), the effect of tofacitinib treatment on DLQI was largely mediated by itch (measured by ISI) and PGA-PsO (indirect effect) (p<0.0001); the effect of treatment attributable to factors other than ISI and PGA-PsO (direct effect) was not statistically significant (p=0.66). Results were consistent for pooled and individual study data. Because the direct effect was small and not statistically significant, the model was re-specified to exclude the direct effect of tofacitinib treatment on DLQI. In the revised model (pooled data), 17.7% of the indirect effect was attributable to PGA-PsO (p=0.0006) and 82.3% was attributable to itch (assessed by ISI) (p<0.0001) (Figure 2). Analyses of individual studies using the revised model gave results generally consistent with pooled data.

Conclusion:

Dermatology-focused mediation modelling showed that a majority of the effect (~80%) of tofacitinib treatment on DLQI is mediated by improvements in itch, with ~20% mediated via improvements in PGA-PsO.

Acknowledgments:

Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Eric Comeau of CMC Connect and funded by Pfizer Inc.

Disclosure of Interests:

Peter C. Taylor Grant/research support from: Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos, and Gilead, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, Eli Lilly and Company, Fresenius, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche, and UCB, Andrew G Bushmakin Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Joseph C Cappelleri Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Pamela Young Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Rebecca Germino Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Joseph F. Merola Consultant of: Merck, AbbVie, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, UCB Pharma, Celgene, Sanofi, Regeneron, Arena, Sun Pharma, Biogen, Pfizer, EMD Sorono, Avotres and LEO Pharma, Gil Yosipovitch Grant/research support from: Galderma, Kiniksa, Leo, Menlo, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Regeneron, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Galderma, Kiniksa, Leo, Menlo Therapeutics, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi Regeneron, Trevi, Sienna

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019

This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595-828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.

An integrative correlation of myopathology, phenotype and genotype in late onset Pompe disease

AIMS

Pompe disease is caused by pathogenic mutations in the alpha 1,4-glucosidase (GAA) gene and in patients with late onset Pome disease (LOPD), genotype-phenotype correlations are unpredictable. Skeletal muscle pathology includes glycogen accumulation and altered autophagy of various degrees. A correlation of the muscle morphology with clinical features and the genetic background in GAA may contribute to the understanding of the phenotypic variability.

METHODS

Muscle biopsies taken before enzyme replacement therapy were analysed from 53 patients with LOPD. On resin sections, glycogen accumulation, fibrosis, autophagic vacuoles and the degree of muscle damage (morphology-score) were analysed and the results were compared with clinical findings. Additional autophagy markers microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3, p62 and Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 were analysed on cryosections from 22 LOPD biopsies.

RESULTS

The myopathology showed a high variability with, in most patients, a moderate glycogen accumulation and a low morphology-score. High morphology-scores were associated with increased fibrosis and autophagy highlighting the role of autophagy in severe stages of skeletal muscle damage. The morphology-score did not correlate with the patient's age at biopsy, disease duration, nor with the residual GAA enzyme activity or creatine-kinase levels. In 37 patients with LOPD, genetic analysis identified the most frequent mutation, c.-32-13T>G, in 95%, most commonly in combination with c.525delT (19%). No significant correlation was found between the different GAA genotypes and muscle morphology type.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle morphology in LOPD patients shows a high variability with, in most cases, moderate pathology. Increased pathology is associated with more fibrosis and autophagy.

Ozone-climate interactions and effects on solar ultraviolet radiation

This report assesses the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and anticipated ozone recovery on the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth's surface. Interactions between changes in ozone and changes in climate, as well as their effects on UV radiation, are also considered. These evaluations focus mainly on new knowledge gained from research conducted during the last four years. Furthermore, drivers of changes in UV radiation other than ozone are discussed and their relative importance is assessed. The most important of these factors, namely clouds, aerosols and surface reflectivity, are related to changes in climate, and some of their effects on short- and long-term variations of UV radiation have already been identified from measurements. Finally, projected future developments in stratospheric ozone, climate, and other factors affecting UV radiation have been used to estimate changes in solar UV radiation from the present to the end of the 21^st century. New instruments and methods have been assessed with respect to their ability to provide useful and accurate information for monitoring solar UV radiation at the Earth's surface and for determining relevant exposures of humans. Evidence since the last assessment reconfirms that systematic and accurate long-term measurements of UV radiation and stratospheric ozone are essential for assessing the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. Finally, we have assessed aspects of UV radiation related to biological effects and human health, as well as implications for UV radiation from possible solar radiation management (geoengineering) methods to mitigate climate change.

Effect of Anabolic Steroids on Plasma Antithrombin III

The effect of seven different anabolic steroids (Ethyloestrenol, Methenolone acetate, Norethandrolone, Methylandrostenediol, Oxymetholone, Methandienone, and Stanozolol) on three α-globulin antiprotease inhibitors of thrombin and plasmin was studied in men with ischaemic heart disease. In distinct contrast to the oral contraceptives, five of the six 17-α-alkylated anabolic steroids studied produced increased plasma Antithrombin III levels and five produced decreased levels of plasma α2-macroglobulin. The effect on plasma α1antitrypsin levels was less clear-cut but three of the steroids examined produced significantly elevated levels. The increased plasma fibrinolytic activity which the 17-α-alkylated anabolic steroids induce is therefore unlikely to be secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Plasma Fibrinolytic Activity Following Oral Anabolic Steroid Therapy

Six anabolic steroids were assessed for their ability to enhance plasma fibrinolytic activity in males with ischaemic heart disease. Five 17α-alkylated steroids (Ethyloestrenol, Norethandrolone, Methandienone, Methylandrostenediol and Oxymetholone) were examined and all produced a significant increase in plasma plasminogen activator as measured by the euglobulin lysis time. The only non-17α-alkylated steroid studied (Methenolone acetate) failed to enhance fibrinolysis. The 17α-alkylated steroids studied all deserve more detailed evaluation of their long term effects on plasma fibrinolytic activity.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Activity and 4G/5G Polymorphism in Hemodialysis

Introduction

Chronic insufficiency alters homeostasis, in part due to endothelial inflammation. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is increased in renal disease, contributing to vascular damage. We assessed PAI-1 activity and PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism in hemodialysis (HD) subjects and any association between thrombotic vascular access (VA) events and PAI-1 polymorphism.

Methods

Prospective, observational study in 36 HD patients: mean age: 66.6 ± 12.5 yr, males n=26 (72%), time on HD: 28.71 ± 22.45 months. Vascular accesses: 10 polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (PTFEG), 22 arteriovenous fistulae (AVF), four dual lumen catheters (CAT). Control group (CG): 40 subjects; mean age: 60.0 ± 15 yrs, males n=30 (75%). Group A (GA): thrombotic events (n=12), and group B (GB): No events (n=24). Groups were no different according to age (69.2 ± 9.12 vs. 65.3 ± 14.5 yrs), gender (males: 7; 58.3% vs. 18; 81.8%), time on HD (26.1 ± 14.7 vs. 30.1 ± 38.7 months), causes of renal failure. Time to follow-up for access thrombosis: 12 months.

Results

PAI-1 levels in HD: 7.21 ± 2.13 vs. CG: 0.42 ± 0.27 U/ml (p<0.0001). PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphic variant distribution in HD: 5G/5G: 6 (17%), 4G/5G: 23 (64%); 4G/4G: 7 (19%) and in CG: 5G/5G: 14 (35%); 4G/5G: 18 (45%); 4G/4G: 8 (20%). C-reactive protein (CRP) in HD: 24.5 ± 15.2 mg/L vs. in CG 2.3 ± 0.2 mg/L (p<0.0001). PAI-1 4G/5G variants: GA: 5G/5G: 3; 4G/5G: 8; 4G/4G: 1; GB: 5G/5G: 3; 4G/5G: 15; 4G/4G: 6. Thrombosis occurred in 8/10 patients (80%) with PTFEG, 3/22 (9%) in AVF, and 1/4 (25%) in CAT. Among the eight PTFEG patients with thrombosis, seven were PAI 4G/5G.

Conclusions

PAI-1 levels were elevated in HD patients, independent of their polymorphic variants, 4G/5G being the most prevalent variant. Our data suggest that in patients with PTFEG the 4G/5G variant might be associated with an increased thrombosis risk.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen

Die Gruppe der hereditären Neuropathien (Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen, CMT) ist eine klinisch und genetisch heterogene Gruppe von peripheren Neuropathien. Die Prävalenz beträgt 1:2 500, womit die CMT zu den seltenen Erkrankungen zählen. In der klinischen Neurologie stellen sie die häufigste neurogenetische Erkrankung dar. Die CMTFormen mit sensiblen und motorischen Symptomen sind am häufigsten. Neben diesen Formen gibt es rein sensible Formen, mit oder ohne autonome Symptome (HSAN), rein motorische Neuropathien (dHMN) und die besondere Form der hereditären Neuropathie mit Neigung zu Druckparesen (HNPP). Die molekulargenetische Diagnostik wurde zunehmend weiterentwickelt. Die Gendiagnostik ist integraler Bestandteil der Diagnostik für Patienten mit dem klinischen Verdacht auf das Vorliegen einer hereditären Neuropathie. Die klinische und genetische Zuordnung ist durch die große Heterogenität des Phänotyps bei über 80 potenziell krankheitsverursachenden Genen oft sehr erschwert. Trotzdem werden über 90% aller genetisch gesicherten CMT durch Mutationen in vier Genen (PMP22, Cx32, MPZ und MFN2) geklärt. Diese stellen die klinisch relevanten Kandidatengene im klinischen Alltag dar.