Feasibility of targeted therapies in the adjuvant setting of early breast cancer in men: real-world data from a population-based registry

BACKGROUND

Following the positive iDFS and OS results of the phase III clinical trials monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA, new oral anticancer agents (the CDK4/6 inhibitors abemaciclib, ribociclib as well as the PARP inhibitor olaparib) have recently been introduced into the treatment of high-risk early breast cancer (eBC). However, only few male patients were included in these trials (0.4%, 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively). The objective of this real-world analysis was to determine the proportion of male patients with eBC fulfilling the clinical high-risk criteria of above-mentioned trials.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a data inquiry and analysis with the Cancer Registry of Baden-Württemberg of men with breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021. Men with eBC were identified and the number of patients at clinical high-risk according to the inclusion criteria of monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA was assessed.

RESULTS

Of 397 men with eBC, 354 (89.1%) had a HR + /Her2- and 4 (1.0%) a triple-negative subtype. 84 patients (21.2%) met the clinical high-risk criteria according to the monarchE, 189 (47.6%) those according to the NATALEE and 50 (12.6%) those according to the OlympiA trial.

CONCLUSION

In a large real-world sample, more men with eBC are at clinical high risk according to the inclusion criteria of monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA than would be expected in women. This is most likely due to more advanced stages at initial diagnosis in men. To evaluate whether CDK4/6 and PARP inhibitors improve prognosis also in men should be the topic of future real- world analyses.

A Pilot Study Protocol: Glycemic Patterns in Obese Pregnancies Without Diabetes – Identifying Susceptible Periods for Intervention

Objectives

Blood glucose concentrations, fasting, postprandial and in response to exercise, reflect a dynamic balance between β-cell function and tissue insulin sensitivity. Both are implicated to affect metabolic health in mother and fetus, with increased risk for new-onset hyperglycemia throughout gestation in mothers with obesity. Longitudinal data of glycemic patterns during obese pregnancies without diabetes could help: 1) identify specific periods when metabolic function shifts to meet gestational energy demands, 2) define more nuanced approaches to intervention timing. Yet, such data are lacking in the literature. To collect longitudinal data via continuous glucose monitoring technology in obese singleton pregnancies without diabetes during either a physical activity intervention or normal standard of care.

Methods

Ancillary to a randomized parallel-arm physical activity intervention study conducted at Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center (ACNC), we will conduct additional measures in 24 sedentary women with BMI ≥ 30 kg·m⁻², ≥18 years of age, recruited within weeks 11–13 of gestation; with obtained health care provider clearance to participate. Consented participants will have a CGM sensor (FreeStyle Libre Pro^®, Abbot Diabetes Care, Inc., Alameda, CA) applied and initialized, and will wear this monitor for the first 14 days into the study; allowing for CGM data of 7-day baseline and 7-day onset of physical activity in the intervention or continued sedentary lifestyle in the control group to incur. Additional CGM periods will be set for 2 weeks within the 2^nd and 3^rd trimester, respectively. CGM data will be collected in a single-blind manner to prevent participant reactivity and bias. Slopes for fasting and postprandial glucose values will be compared across randomization groups to test the immediate effect of PA onset. Fitted B-splines of temporal mean glucose values will model changes in glucose levels over time for each participant. Multivariable regression of modeled changes will assess the relationship between maternal glucose levels in intervention versus control at the 2^nd and 3^rd trimester.

Results

N/A

Conclusions

Data from this pilot study will help identify gestational periods susceptible to intervention. Optimally timed prevention efforts will protect offspring health in the future.

Funding Sources

UAMS.

How to Integrate Patient-Centered Measures in Routine Care: Lessons from Belgian Experiences

BACKGROUND Against the treatment gap and the long delays in seeking treatment for mental health problems, primary care psychology (PCP) was added to reimbursed outpatient mental health services in the Belgian healthcare system. PURPOSE Within the Evaluation of Primary Care Psychology study (EPCAP), which provides evaluation of the measure of reimbursement of PCP, the objectives were: (1) To describe the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) of patients treated with PCP and (2) formulate guidelines to integrate patient-related findings and experiences within community mental health services. METHOD 428 patients participated in an online survey at the start of their PCP treatment in Belgium and after 3 and 6 months. Besides sociodemographic characteristics, DSM-5 mental disorders, suicidality, and service use, they were questioned about their findings (PROMs) and experiences (PREMs). RESULTS Almost 90% met the criteria of a lifetime as a 12-month DSM-5 mental disorder or STB at the start of PCP treatment. Both subjective well-being and the proportion of patients who had positive experiences regarding their PCP treatment increased with 46% resp. 23.2% after 3 months and remained stable after 6 months. CONCLUSION Although PCP in Belgium serves a clinical patient population with high proportions of lifetime and 12-month mental disorders and suicidality, their subjective well-being increased after 3 months and remained stable after 6 months. Despite differences between groups of patients, PCP seems to have a positive effect on subjective well-being of these patient in short term. Integration of PROMs and PREMs into PCP were recommended.

[Primary care psychology in Belgium: clinical characteristics and service use]

BACKGROUND

Against the treatment gap and the long delays in seeking treatment for mental health problems, primary care psychology (PCP) was added to reimbursed outpatient mental health services in the Belgian healthcare system.

AIM

To describe the characteristics of patients treated within the measure of reimbursement of PCP.

METHOD

A total of 350 patients participated in an online survey at the start of their PCP treatment within one of the 31 mental healthcare networks in Belgium. Besides sociodemographic characteristics, they were questioned about their mental disorders, suicidality, service use, and delays in seeking treatment.

RESULTS

Almost 90% of all patients screened positive for a lifetime and 12-month DSM-5 mental disorder, mostly anxiety and depressive disorders. Over 1/3 were experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors (STB) in the last 12 months. For 49.1% of patients, PCP was the first treatment ever. The median delay in seeking treatment was 6 years.

CONCLUSION

PCP in Belgium serves mostly a clinical population with high proportions of lifetime and 12-month mental disorders and STB, and many of them have been in mental health treatment before. These findings raise the question whether PCP fits the needs for the patients that are treated.

School performance and behavioral functioning in children after intrauterine transfusions for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn

AIM

To investigate the school performance and behavioral difficulties in children with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) treated with intrauterine transfusion (IUT) compared to Dutch norm data.

STUDY DESIGN

Cros-sectional cohort study.

SUBJECTS

Children who received one or multiple IUTs for severe Rh- or K (Kell)-mediated HDFN between January 2008 and January 2015 at the LUMC.

OUTCOME MEASURES

School performance reports were assessed as well as behavioral difficulties as assessed with the Dutch child behavioral checklist (CBCL) by parents and caregivers and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) completed by teachers.

RESULTS

A response rate of 56% (70 children, aged 5-12 years) was obtained. Grade repetition occurred in 13 cases (19%), 16 children (23%) received some form of additional help, most often support by a speech therapist (n = 8), but also support for dyslexia (n = 4), physical therapy (n = 2) and social-emotional support (n = 2). None of the children in our study group attended special-needs education. School performance levels for reading comprehension, spelling and mathematics according to the Dutch National Pupil Monitoring System were similar for the study population and Dutch norm data. The incidence of behavioral problems as reported by parents was similar to the Dutch norm data, teachers reported less behavioral difficulties in the study group.

CONCLUSION

This study shows favorable and reassuring school development in children treated with IUT in an experienced fetal-therapy center. A normal distribution in school and behavioral development is to be expected for children with HDFN treated with IUTs.

A retrospective analysis of the diagnostic performance of 11C-choline PET/CT for detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands after prior negative or discordant imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism

Background

Identifying the correct location of a parathyroid adenoma in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is crucial as it can guide surgical treatment. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of ¹¹C-choline PET/CT in patients with pHPT as a next in-line scan after primary negative or discordant first-line imaging.

Methods

This was a retrospective single-center cohort study. All patients with pHPT that were scanned utilizing ¹¹C-choline PET/CT, after prior negative or discordant imaging, between 2015 and 2019 and who subsequently underwent parathyroid surgery were included. The results of the ¹¹C-choline PET/CT were evaluated lesion-based, with surgical exploration and histopathological examination as the gold standard.

Results

In total, 36 patients were included of which three patients were known to have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) syndrome. In these 36 patients, 40 lesions were identified on ¹¹C-choline PET/CT and 37 parathyroid lesions were surgically removed. In 34/36 (94%) patients a focused parathyroidectomy was performed, in one patient a cervical exploration due to an ectopically identified adenoma, and in one patient a bilateral exploration was performed because of a double adenoma. Overall, per-lesion sensitivity of ¹¹C-choline PET/CT was 97%, the positive predictive value was 95% and the accuracy was 94% for all parathyroid lesions.

Conclusions

In patients with pHPT and prior negative or discordant first-line imaging results, pathological parathyroid glands can be localized by ¹¹C-choline PET/CT with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Metabolic flux analysis of branched-chain amino and keto acids (BCAA, BCKA) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid across multiple organs in the pig

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their metabolites the branched-chain keto acids (BCKA) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) are involved in the regulation of key signaling pathways in the anabolic response to a meal. However, their (inter)organ kinetics remain unclear. Therefore, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) [leucine (Leu), valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile)], BCKA [α-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid (KMV), 2-oxoisovalerate (KIV)], and HMB across organ net fluxes were measured. In multi-catheterized pigs (n = 12, ±25 kg), net fluxes across liver, portal drained viscera (PDV), kidney, and hindquarter (HQ, muscle compartment) were measured before and 4 h after bolus feeding of a complete meal (30% daily intake) in conscious state. Arterial and venous plasma were collected and concentrations were measured by LC- or GC-MS/MS. Data are expressed as mean [95% CI] and significance (P < 0.05) from zero by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. In the postabsorptive state (in nmol/kg body wt/min), the kidney takes up HMB (3.2[1.3,5.0]) . BCKA is taken up by PDV (144[13,216]) but no release by other organs. In the postprandial state, the total net fluxes over 4 h (in µmol/kg body wt/4 h) showed a release of all BCKA by HQ (46.2[34.2,58.2]), KIC by the PDV (12.3[7.0,17.6]), and KIV by the kidney (10.0[2.3,178]). HMB was released by the liver (0.76[0.49,1.0]). All BCKA were taken up by the liver (200[133,268]). Substantial differences are present in (inter)organ metabolism and transport among the BCAA and its metabolites BCKA and HMB. The presented data in a translation animal model are relevant for the future development of optimized clinical nutrition.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their metabolites the branched-chain keto acids (BCKA) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) are involved in the regulation of key signaling pathways in the anabolic response to a meal. Substantial differences are present in (inter)organ metabolism and transport among the BCAA and its metabolites BCKA and HMB. The presented data in a translation animal model are relevant for the future development of optimized clinical nutrition.

Plain Water Intake Is Positively Associated with Physical Activity and Ambient Temperature in Free-Living Adults

Objectives

Water loss via sweating increases during exercise especially in the heat, however, the evidence is limited as to whether moderate physical activity (PA) and ambient temperature (Ta) influence water intake in daily life. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of PA and Ta on water intake and hydration state in free-living individuals.

Methods

Ninety-five healthy, but non-athletic (&lt; 4 h of exercise per week), adults (52 females) participated in the study. PA was assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and scored/stratified into PAhigh, PAmoderate, and PAlow. Fluid consumption was assessed by a validated 7-day fluid diary and was used to assess water intake from liquids (WI-L), plain water intake (PWI) and water intake from other beverages (WI-B). Food consumption was also recorded for 7 days and analyzed with the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software and was used to calculate water from foods (WI-F). All sources of water were pooled to calculate total water intake (TWI). Hydration was assessed with blood and a 24-h urine sample.

Results

People with PAhigh had higher TWI (4.0 ± 1.4 L·d−1 vs. 2.8 ± 0.7 L·d−1; P = 0.010) and WI-L (3.2 ± 1.4 L·d−1 vs. 2.1 ± 0.5 L·d−1; P = 0.009), compared to PAlow. PWI was also higher in PAhigh group (2.20 ± 1.20 L·d-1) compared to PAlow (1.10 ± 0.72 L·d−1, P = 0.003), but there was no significant difference in WI-B and WI-F (P ≥ 0.05). PWI showed a significant association with Ta (R2 = 0.08; P = 0.008), while WI-B did not (P ≥ 0.05). Positive associations between PWI and Ta only remained in the PAhigh group when stratified by different PA levels (R2 = 0.40; P = 0.028). However, the hydration state was not affected by PA nor Ta (P ≥ 0.05).

Conclusions

Higher PA and Ta were associated with higher TWI, and this appeared to be driven by PWI, and not by other beverages nor water from food. Hydration state was similar across levels of PA, likely because of the higher TWI in the PAhigh group.

Funding Sources

This study was funded by Danone Research.

A214 GENETIC VARIATION IN THE FARNESOID X RECEPTOR PREDICTS CROHN’S DISEASE SEVERITY IN FEMALE PATIENTS

Background

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease defined by episodes of intestinal inflammation. There is now an increasing appreciation of the bile acid-sensing nuclear receptor, FXR, as an important regulator of intestinal inflammation, intestinal permeability and response to bacterial overgrowth. Many of these processes are dysregulated in CD. It is unclear how genetic variation in FXR impacts on CD severity. FXR deficiency is rare. Loss of function mutations in FXR as contributors to CD are unlikely; however, partial loss of function of FXR may contribute to CD progression or severity. Our group demonstrated that FXR-1G&gt;T, a SNV adjacent to the ATG start codon, is linked to reduced transactivation of FXR gene targets. We hypothesized that changes in the intestinal barrier as a result of reduced FXR expression among those who harbor the FXR-1T allele are more likely to exhibit a severe CD phenotype compared to G (reference) allele carriers, and thereby experience a more rapid progression to surgery. Alterations in FXR activity may in part be secondary to genetic variation in the FXR gene.

Aims

To evaluate FXR-1G&gt;T as a genomic biomarker of severity in CD and propose a plausible molecular mechanism.

Methods

A retrospective study (n=542) was conducted in a Canadian cohort of CD patients. Blood samples were obtained for genotypic analysis (FXR-1G&gt;T), as well as determination of the FXR downstream product, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19. Primary outcomes included risk and time to first CD-related surgery. To better elucidate a potential molecular basis for the observed effect of FXR-1G&gt;T genotype on CD prognosis (more frequent and early surgery) in female CD patients, we explored a connection between the estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated pathway and genetic variation in FXR using a cell-based model. .

Results

The FXR-1GT genotype was associated with the risk of (odds ratio, OR=3.34, 95%CI=1.58–7.05, p=0.002) and early progression to surgery (hazard ratio, HR=3.00, 95%CI=1.86–4.83, p&lt;0.0001) in CD. Female carriers of the FXR-1GT genotype had the greatest risk of surgery (OR=14.87 95%CI=4.22–52.38, p&lt;0.0001) and early progression to surgery (HR=6.28, 95%CI=3.62–10.90, p&lt;0.0001). Furthermore, women carriers of FXR-1GT polymorphism had a nearly three-fold lower FGF19 plasma concentration compared to women with wildtype FXR-1GG genotype (p&lt;0.0001). In HepG2 cells cotransfected with estrogen receptors (ERα and β) and FXR, presence of estradiol further attenuated variant FXR activity.

Conclusions

FXR-1GT is deleterious to women with CD through ER-mediated attenuation of FXR activation. Female CD FXR-1GT carriers should be considered for more aggressive medical management.

Funding Agencies

CAG, CCC, CIHR

Measuring outcomes on a Medical Psychiatric Unit: HoNOS,, CANSAS and costs

OBJECTIVE

To study the course of the functional status and healthcare needs of patients on a Medical Psychiatric Unit (MPU).

METHODS

In a single-centre observational prospective design the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) and Camberwell Assessment of Needs Short Appraisal Schedule (CANSAS) instruments were administered at admission and discharge. Functional status and healthcare needs were assessed utilizing the HoNOS and CANSAS respectively. The total costs of healthcare claims related to the admission were calculated based on claims data.

RESULTS

In total 50 patients were included with a mean improvement of 4.6 on the HoNOS and an effect size of 0.6.The total number of unmet needs fell from 208 to 115. The median costs per decreased HoNOS point were €2.842 and €6.880 per unmet need.

DISCUSSION

Many patients improved, but due to a large standard deviation at baseline and a low Cronbach's alpha, only 4 patients showed a reliable improvement on functional status. That substantial remission was achieved was shown by the decrease in unmet needs of 93 (44.7%) for the whole group. These observations support the implementation of MPUs, although more research is warranted to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Incident depression and mortality among people with different types of dementia: results from a longitudinal cohort study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and combined association of incident depression and dementia with mortality and to explore whether the magnitude of the association varies according to different types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

METHODS AND DESIGN

The study was based on a population-based longitudinal cohort consisting of 9940 participants at baseline and followed for over 14 years. The sample used for the analyses included 6114 participants with available information on diagnosis of incident dementia and depression. For survival analyses, Cox regression models with incident dementia (n = 293; 5%) and incident depression (n = 746; 12%) as time-dependent variables were used.

RESULTS

Cox models adjusted for relevant confounders indicated that comorbidity of incident vascular dementia and incident depression was associated with a much higher mortality risk (HR 6.99; 95% CI 3.84-12.75) than vascular dementia in the absence of depression (HR 2.80; 95% CI 1.92-4.08). In contrast, estimates for comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease and depression were slightly lower than those for Alzheimer in absence of depression (HR 3.56; 95% CI 1.83-6.92 and HR 4.19; 95% CI 2.97-5.90, respectively). Incident depression in the absence of incident dementia was only weakly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that depression and vascular dementia might have synergistic effects on mortality. The results have relevant public health implications for prevention, routine screening for and early treatment of depression among older people, especially those at risk of vascular dementia.

Validation and Reliability of a Water Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Daily Water Intake in Adults (P13-006-19)

Objectives

Investigators sought to: 1) evaluate the validity of a water frequency questionnaire (WFQ) to estimate mean daily water intake (WI) in adults through comparison to the gold standard, deuterium oxide (D2O) disappearance, and 2) evaluate reliability of WFQ to estimate WI.

Methods

Data collection occurred over three weeks, with validity of WFQ (vs. D2O) assessed during week one (W1) and reliability assessed between W1 and week three (W3). Healthy, free-living adults (n = 103; 51% female; 41 ± 14 y; BMI, 26.5 ± 5.5 kg·m−2) consumed D2O (0.1 g·kg−1 lean mass) at the start of W1 and provided urine samples immediately before ingestion, the following day, and at the end of the week to calculate total body water turnover (WTO). Seven day beverage consumption during W1 and W3 was retrospectively estimated using the WFQ. The WFQ included 17 beverage types with specified volumes (e.g., water (8 oz); soft drink (12 oz)) and nine frequency options ranging from ‘Never or less than 1 per week’ to ‘7+ per day’. Investigators converted beverage volumes to mL and calculated WI for each week. Food frequency questionnaires were also completed at the end of both weeks. Diets were analyzed with Nutritional Data System for Research software to estimate water intake from solid foods and metabolic water production by macronutrient oxidation. Water from food and macronutrient oxidation were subtracted from WTO to estimate WI via D2O. WFQ reliability was assessed via intraclass correlation (ICC) and Cronbach α, and validity was assessed via Bland-Altman plots.

Results

The mean difference in WI between D2O (2902 ± 1321 mL·day−1) and WFQ (2589 ± 1560 mL·day−1) was −308 ± 166 mL (P = 0.065). No systematic bias was observed between methods (R2 = 0.032, P = 0.071) as 3% of WI variance was explained by differences between methods. WFQ WI was not different between W1 (2589 ± 1560 mL·day−1) and W3 (2441 ± 1334 mL·day−1, P = 0.135). Cronbach α = 0.8415 demonstrated high internal consistency in WI estimation. The ICC was 0.834 (95% CI: 0.754, 0.887), demonstrating good test-retest reliability of WFQ.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the WFQ produced reliable WI estimates that were comparable to the gold standard of D2O assessment. This questionnaire may be a practical and easy method for assessing water intake in adults.

Funding Sources

The study was funded by Danone Research.

Osmotic Stimulation of Thirst in Men and Women (P15-017-19)

Objectives

Examine potential sex differences in osmotically stimulated thirst.

Methods

60 healthy adults (30 female - measured in early follicular phase, age: 39 ± 8 y, weight: 78.2 ± 15.2 kg, body mass index: 26.9 ± 4.0 kg·m−2) were infused intravenously with 3% (HYPER) or 0.9% (ISO) NaCl for 120 min (0.1 ml·kg−1·min−1) in a counterbalanced, cross-over design. The same volume of saline was infused in both trials. Blood samples and thirst responses were collected prior to infusion and every 30 minutes. Plasma osmolality (POsm) and sodium (PNa) were measured. Thirst was assessed via a 180-mm visual analog scale consisting of a line with an anchor on the left side (0 mm, “not at all”) and a second anchor on the 125-mm mark with the label “extremely”.

Results

From 0 min to 120 min in the HYPER trial, PNa increased from 136 ± 2 mmol ·L−1 to 146.5 ± 3 mmol ·l−1 (P < 0.001). Similarly, POsm and thirst increased significantly from 286 ± 3 mmol·kg−1 to 305 ± 4 mmol·kg−1 (P < 0.001) and from 38 ± 29 mm to 88 ± 35 mm (P < 0.001), respectively. During the ISO trial, PNa (0 min: 135.9 ± 1.9; 120 min: 137.6 ± 1.6 mmol·L−1), POsm (0 min: 285 ± 4 mmol·kg−1; 120 min: 287 ± 3 mmol·kg−1), and thirst (0 min: 30 ± 27 mm; 120 min: 44 ± 32 mm) remained unchanged (P > 0.05). POsm at the end of the infusion did not differ between men and women for the HYPER (men: 306 ± 5 mmol·kg−1; women: 305 ± 3 mmol·kg−1) or ISO (men: 288 ± 3 mmol·kg−1; women: 288 ± 3 mmol·kg−1) trials. When thirst responses were split by sex women exhibited greater thirst (98 ± 27 mm) than men (77 ± 38 mm) at the end of the HYPER trial (P < 0.0001), but not at the end of the ISO trial (women: 43 ± 32 mm, men 44 ± 31 mm; P > 0.05).

Conclusions

These data suggest that similar hypertonic stimulus may lead to greater thirst stimulation in women.

Funding Sources

This study was funded by Danone Research.

Hypertonic Saline Infusion Acutely Degrades Mood in Healthy Volunteers (P23-014-19)

Objectives

Mild and moderate dehydration adversely affect mood and cognitive function. During dehydration, hypertonic hypovolemia activates both osmo- and baro-receptors but it is not known which physiological pathway is associated with degraded mood state. This study examined the acute effect of osmoreceptor stimulation on mood.

Methods

Sixty healthy adults (50% females, 30 ± 1 y; BMI: 26.9 ± 4.0 kg·m−2) were infused intravenously with 3.0% (HYPER) or 0.9% (ISO) NaCl for 2 h (0.1 ml·kg−1·min−1) using a counterbalanced, crossover design. Blood samples were collected every 30 minutes to measure plasma osmolality (POsm), copeptin (a surrogate marker of vasopressin), and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) hormones. Mood was assessed with the short version of Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire before and after the infusion.

Results

POsm and copeptin increased from 286 ± 3 mmol·kg−1 to 305 ± 4 mmol·kg−1 and from 4.5 ± 3.7 pmol·L−1 to 20.4 ± 12.8 pmol·L−1, respectively in HYPER (P < 0.05), and were unchanged in ISO (P > 0.05). No hormonal differences were observed between trials for RAAS hormones (P > 0.05). During HYPER copeptin, following the 2-h infusion, was greater in females than in males (female: 23.4 ± 13.9 pmol·L−1, male: 17.4 ± 10.9 pmol·L−1; P < 0.05). The POMS total mood disturbance (TMD) score increased from 10.5 ± 0.9 to 16.5 ± 1.6 in HYPER (P < 0.05), but not in ISO (P > 0.05). Among POMS subscales, depression-dejection and fatigue-inertia increased in HYPER compared to ISO (P < 0.05). When TMD responses in the HYPER trial were analyzed with sex as a between-subjects factor, the increase was significant in females (pre: 10.2 ± 1.0, post: 18.6 ± 2.3; P < 0.001) but not in males (pre: 10.8 ± 1.4, post: 14.0 ± 2.0; P > 0.05). The confusion-bewilderment subscales and fatigue-inertia of the POMS were also elevated post HYPER in females (P < 0.05), but not in ISO (P > 0.05) in either sex.

Conclusions

Hypertonic saline infusion acutely degrades mood state, and women appear to have a more pronounced response. The underlying mechanisms remain to be determined but may be related to higher copeptin levels in women.

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02761434.

Funding Sources

Danone Research.

Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

The Effect of Smoking and Body Mass Index on The Complication Rate of Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking and body mass index on the occurrence of complications after alloplastic breast reconstruction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of 56 patients treated with immediate or delayed alloplastic breast reconstruction, including six cases combined with latissimus dorsi flap, at three hospitals between 2012 and 2018 were included. Complications were scored and defined according to Clavien-Dindo. To evaluate the impact of smoking, body mass index, and other potential risk factors on the occurrence of any and severe complications, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

In 56 patients, 22 patients had a complication. As much as 46% of smokers had severe complications compared to 18% of non-smokers. Of patients with body mass index ⩾ 25, 40% had severe complications compared to 10% with body mass index < 25. Smokers had eight times more chance of developing severe complications than non-smokers (OR_adjusted = 8.0, p = 0.02). Patients with body mass index ⩾ 25 had almost 10 times more severe complications compared to patients with body mass index ⩽ 25 (OR_adjusted = 9.9, p = 0.009). No other risk factors were significant.

CONCLUSION

Smoking and body mass index ⩾ 25 both increased the complication rate to such an extent that patients should be informed about their increased risk for complications following alloplastic breast reconstruction and on these grounds surgeons may delay alloplastic breast reconstruction. It is an ethical dilemma whether one should deny overweight and obese patients and those who smoke an immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction. For both life style interventions, adequate guidance should be made available.

HBsAg loss after peginterferon-nucleotide combination treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients: 5 years of follow-up

Combining peginterferon-alfa-2a (pegIFN) with a nucleotide analogue can result in higher rates of HBsAg loss than either therapy given alone. Here, we investigated the durability of the response to combination therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after 5 years of follow-up. In the initial study, 92 CHB patients (44 HBeAg-positive, 48 HBeAg-negative) with HBV DNA >100 000 c/mL (~20 000 IU/mL) and active hepatitis were treated for 48 weeks with pegIFN 180 μg/week and 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil daily. For the long-term follow-up (LTFU) study, patients were followed up for 5 years after the end of treatment. At year 5, 70 (32 HBeAg-positive, 38 HBeAg-negative) patients remained in the study. At year 5, 19% (6/32) of HBeAg-positive patients and 16% (6/38) of HBeAg-negative patients lost HBsAg, and no HBsAg seroreversion was observed. The 5-year cumulative Kaplan-Meier estimate for HBsAg loss was 17.2% for HBeAg-positive patients and 19.3% for HBeAg-negative patients. Fourteen of sixteen patients who lost HBsAg at any time point during follow-up developed anti-HBs antibodies (>10 IU/L). At year 5, in total 63% (20/32) of HBeAg-positive and 71% (27/38) of HBeAg-negative patients were retreated with nucleos(t)ide analogues during follow-up. The cumulative Kaplan-Meier estimate for retreatment was 60% of patients at year 5. At year 5 of follow-up, 18% of CHB patients treated with pegIFN/nucleotide analogue combination therapy had durable HBsAg loss and 88% of these had developed anti-HBs antibodies.

Abstract P4-01-01: Phase II in-human dose escalation study of the optical molecular imaging tracer bevacizumab-800cw for molecular fluorescence guided surgery in primary breast cancer patients

Introduction

Molecular Fluorescence Guided Surgery (MFGS) might be used for intraoperative detection of positive resection margins in breast conserving surgery (BCS) for the treatment of breast cancer. Currently, the presence of tumor positive resection margins can only be assessed ex vivo by histopathological analysis of the excised tissue, which takes up to 5 working days. The current study defined the optimal dose of the near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging tracer bevacizumab-800CW to enable intraoperative detection and image-guided pathology of tumor positive resection margins in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Molecular Fluorescence Guided Surgery during BCS was performed in subjects treated for primary breast cancer. The NIR optical imaging tracer bevacizumab-800CW targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A was administered intravenously three days prior to surgery in four escalating dose groups (4.5mg, 10mg, 25mg and 50mg). NIR fluorescent signals were detected real-time using an intraoperative fluorescence camera system (SurgVision BV). Standardized ex vivo analyses of tumor-to-normal ratios (TNR) were performed to define the optimal tracer dose using a BlackBox imaging system (SurgVision BV) for imaging fresh bread loaf slices, a NIR fluorescence flatbed scanner (Odyssey, Li-Cor) for imaging 10µm slices of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks, NIR Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE, Mauna Kea Technologies) and multi-diameter single fiber reflectance and single fiber fluorescence (MDSFR/SFF) spectroscopy quantification to enable correction for the influence of tissue optical properties on fluorescence in tumor and normal breast tissue.

Results

Currently, 12 subjects have been included and analyzed in four dosing groups. All tumors showed specific tracer uptake at macroscopic and microscopic level during ex vivo analyses, confirmed by histopathology. Quantification of NIR fluorescent signals showed higher TNRs by increasing doses up to 25mg. No further increase in TNR was seen in the 50mg dose group. CLE showed the feasibility of visualization of the tracer accumulation in tumor tissue compared to normal tissue at a microscopic level. MDSFR/SFF spectroscopy objectively confirmed the dose dependency up to 25mg.

Conclusion and future perspective

Intravenous administration of bevacizumab-800CW in doses up to 50mg is safe and highly tumor specific, showing a plateau of TNR at 25mg and 50mg. Further expansion of the dosing cohorts of 10mg and 25mg with additional seven patients per group will be performed to establish the optimal dose for MFGS during BCS for an upcoming phase III multicenter randomized controlled trial. By enabling MFGS during BCS the surgical treatment of primary breast cancer patients might be optimized by a reduced need for re-excision surgery and thereby reducing the risk of co-morbidity, psychological burden, poor cosmesis and healthcare costs.

Citation Format: van Dam GM, Koller M, Qiu SQ, Linssen MD, de Vries J, Jansen L, Kelder W, de Jong JS, Jorritsma-Smit A, van der Vegt B, Robinson DJ, Nagengast WB. Phase II in-human dose escalation study of the optical molecular imaging tracer bevacizumab-800cw for molecular fluorescence guided surgery in primary breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-01-01.

HLA-C and KIR combined genotype as new response marker for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated with interferon-based combination therapy

Current treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) consists of interferon-based therapy. However, for unknown reasons, a large proportion of patients with CHB do not respond to this treatment. Hence, there is a pressing need to establish response markers to select patients who will benefit from therapy and to spare potential nonresponders from unnecessary side effects of antiviral therapy. Here, we assessed whether HLA-C and KIR genotypes were associated with treatment outcome for CHB. Twelve SNPs in or near the HLA-C gene were genotyped in 86 CHB patients (41 HBeAg positive; 45 HBeAg negative) treated with peginterferon alfa-2a + adefovir. Genotyping of killer immunoglobin-like receptors (KIRs) was performed by SSP-PCR. One SNP in HLA-C (rs2308557) was significantly associated with combined response in HBeAg-positive CHB patients (P = 0.003). This SNP is linked to the HLA-C group C1 or C2 classification, which controls KIR binding. The combination of KIR2DL1 with its ligand HLA-C2 was observed significantly more often in HBeAg-positive patients with a combined response (13/14) than in nonresponders (11/27, P = 0.001). Patients with the KIR2DL1/C2 genotype had significantly higher baseline ALT levels (136 vs 50 U/L, P = 0.002) than patients without this combination. Furthermore, KIR2DL1-C2 predicted response independent of HBV genotype and ALT at baseline. HLA-C and KIR genotype is strongly associated with response in HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with interferon-based therapy. In combination with other known response markers, HLA-C/KIR genotype could enable the selection of patients more likely to respond to interferon-based therapy.

Intrahepatic IP-10 mRNA and plasma IP-10 levels as response marker for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon and adefovir

INTRODUCTION

Interferon-y-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), also called CXCL10, is produced by different types of cells such as monocytes, neutrophils and hepatocytes. IP-10 functions as an inflammatory cytokine, which after binding to its receptor CXCR3, expressed on T-lymphocytes, leads to immune activation. We aimed to establish if IP-10 expression in liver tissue and in plasma of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients correlated with each other and further to investigate if IP-10 levels before and during therapy with peginterferon and adefovir could predict treatment outcome in CHB patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 86 CHB patients (41 HBeAg-positive and 45 HBeAg-negative) received combination therapy of peginterferon and adefovir for 48 weeks. Combined Response (CR) (HBeAg-negativity, HBV-DNA ≤ 2000 IU/mL, ALT normalization) and non-response (NR) were assessed at Week 72. Plasma IP-10 levels were measured at baseline and during treatment at Day 3 (D3) and Week 1 (W1). Pre-treatment liver biopsies from 40 of 86 patients were obtained and stored in liquid nitrogen for the analysis of intrahepatic IP-10 mRNA expression.

RESULTS

CR was achieved in 14/41 HBeAg-positive and 17/45 HBeAg-negative patients. Mean baseline plasma IP-10 levels were significantly higher in HBeAg-positive patients with CR than NR (3.20 vs 3.00 log pg/mL p = 0.03); but not in HBeAg-negative patients. Baseline IP-10 levels correlated with ALT-levels in HBeAg-positive and -negative patients (both p < 0.001), and with a decline of HBsAg-levels of ≥0.5 log IU/mL at Week 12 in HBeAg-positive patients (p = 0.001). Plasma IP-10 levels were associated with intrahepatic IP-10 mRNA expression, however, more strongly in HBeAg-positive (R = 0.79, p < 0.001) than in HBeAg-negative patients (R = 0.53, p = 0.011). IP-10 levels only correlated with HAI-scores in HBeAg-positive patients (R = 0.40 p = 0.025). Mean plasma IP-10 levels of both HBeAg-positive and -negative patients increased significantly at D3 compared to baseline (+0.30 log pg/mL p = 0.003), to then decline subsequently at W1 to a level still significantly higher than baseline (+0.14 log pg/mL p < 0.001). The increase of IP-10 was significantly higher in HBeAg-positive patients with NR than in those with CR (+0.35 versus +0.11 log pg/mL p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline plasma IP-10 levels and IP-10 mRNA expression in the liver are correlated with each other, suggesting that plasma IP-10 reflects intrahepatic immune activation. Higher IP-10 levels at baseline seem to be associated with CR in HBeAg-positive patients treated with peginterferon and adefovir, but not in HBeAg-negative patients.

Hepatitis B Virus Pregenomic RNA Is Present in Virions in Plasma and Is Associated With a Response to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a and Nucleos(t)ide Analogues

BACKGROUND

Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA production but does not affect the synthesis of the RNA pregenome or HBV messenger RNA. Whether HBV RNA-containing particles continue to be secreted into the bloodstream remains controversial.

METHODS

We developed a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to quantify the HBV RNA load in a supernatant of NA-treated HepG2-2.2.15 cells and in plasma specimens from 20 patients with CHB who were receiving NA therapy and 86 patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa (Peg-IFN) and adefovir.

RESULTS

Treatment of HepG2-2.2.15 cells with NAs for 9 days reduced HBV DNA levels (by 1.98 log10 copies/mL), whereas HBV RNA levels increased (by 0.47 log10 copies/mL; P < .05). During long-term NA treatment of patients with CHB, HBV RNA levels remained higher than HBV DNA levels. Peg-IFN-based treatment induced a stronger decrease in the HBV RNA load than NA monotherapy, and this decline was more pronounced in responders than in nonresponders. In HBV e antigen-negative patients, a lower baseline plasma HBV RNA level was independently associated with response to Peg-IFN and adefovir (odds ratio, 0.44; P = .019). Immunoprecipitation with HBV core antigen-specific antibodies after removal of the HBV surface antigen envelope demonstrated the association of plasma HBV RNA with virions.

CONCLUSIONS

HBV RNA is present in virions in plasma specimens from patients with CHB. HBV RNA levels vary significantly from those of established viral markers during antiviral treatment, which highlights its potential as an independent marker in the evaluation of patients with CHB.

Impact of primary local treatment on the development of distant metastases or death through locoregional recurrence in young breast cancer patients

In this study, we tested the hypothesis whether breast conserving therapy (BCT) compared with mastectomy is associated with a negative outcome in terms of distant metastases or death (DMD) and investigated the relation between locoregional recurrence (LRR) and DMD in young breast cancer (BC) patients. This study included a consecutive series of 536 patients ≤40 years of age at diagnosis with pathological T1N0-3M0 BC, treated between 1989 and 2005. A multistate survival model was used to evaluate the influences of local treatment and LRR on DMD, adjusted for potential prognostic factors. Patients were treated with mastectomy (N = 213) or BCT (N = 323). Median age at diagnosis was 36.3 years, with a median follow-up of 9.0 years. The 10-year actuarial cumulative incidence of DMD was 30.6 % after mastectomy and 26.3 % after BCT (P = 0.04). In total, 81 (15 %) LRRs were observed. After BCT, patients had a threefold higher risk of LRR than after mastectomy (HR 2.9; 95 % CI 1.6-5.3). Patients with LRR had a higher risk of DMD compared with patients without LRR (HR 5.5; 95 % CI 2.1-14.5). However, BCT was not negatively associated with DMD-after-LRR (HR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.2-1.1, BCT vs mastectomy). In conclusion, although LRR significantly affected DMD, the increased risk of LRR after BCT compared with mastectomy did not lead to a worse DMD outcome in BC patients ≤40 years of age.

Formal Ontologies in Biomedical Knowledge Representation

Objectives: Medical decision support and other intelligent applications in the life sciences depend on increasing amounts of digital information. Knowledge bases as well as formal ontologies are being used to organize biomedical knowledge and data. However, these two kinds of artefacts are not always clearly distinguished. Whereas the popular RDF(S) standard provides an intuitive triple-based representation, it is semantically weak. Description logics based ontology languages like OWL-DL carry a clear-cut semantics, but they are computationally expensive, and they are often misinterpreted to encode all kinds of statements, including those which are not ontological.

Method: We distinguish four kinds of statements needed to comprehensively represent domain knowledge: universal statements, terminological statements, statements about particulars and contingent statements. We argue that the task of formal ontologies is solely to represent universal statements, while the non-ontological kinds of statements can nevertheless be connected with ontological representations. To illustrate these four types of representations, we use a running example from parasitology.

Results: We finally formulate recommendations for semantically adequate ontologies that can efficiently be used as a stable framework for more context-dependent biomedical knowledge representation and reasoning applications like clinical decision support systems.