Variation in the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) moderates the influence of maternal sensitivity on child attachment

The endogenous opioid system is thought to play an important role in mother-infant attachment. In infant rhesus macaques, variation in the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) is related to differences in attachment behavior that emerges following repeated separation from the mother; specifically, infants carrying at least one copy of the minor G allele of the OPRM1 C77G polymorphism show heightened and more persistent separation distress, as well as a pattern of increased contact-seeking behavior directed towards the mother during reunions (at the expense of affiliation with other group members). Research in adult humans has also linked the minor G allele of the analogous OPRM1 A118G polymorphism with greater interpersonal sensitivity. Adopting an interactionist approach, we examined whether OPRM1 A118G genotype and maternal (in)sensitivity are associated with child attachment style, predicting that children carrying the G allele may be more likely to develop an ambivalent attachment pattern in response to less sensitive maternal care. The sample consisted of 191 mothers participating with their children (n = 223) in the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) project, a community-based, birth cohort study of Canadian mothers and their children assessed longitudinally across the child's development. Maternal sensitivity was coded from at-home mother-child interactions videotaped when the child was 18 months of age. Child attachment was assessed at 36 months using the Strange Situation paradigm. As predicted, G allele carriers, but not AA homozygotes, showed increasing odds of being classified as ambivalently attached with decreasing levels of maternal sensitivity. Paralleling earlier non-human animal research, this work provides support for the theory that endogenous opioids contribute to the expression of attachment behaviors in humans.

Mapping Plague Risk Using Super Species Distribution Models and Forecasts for Rodents in the Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan

One of the most extensive natural plague centers, or foci, is located in Central Asia, in particular, the Zhambyl region in Southern Kazakhstan. Here, we conducted plague surveillance from 2000 to 2020 in the Zhambyl region in Kazakhstan and confirmed 3,072 cases of infected wild animals. We used Species Distribution Modeling by employing MaxEnt, and identified that the natural plague foci are primarily located in the Moiynqum, Betpaqdala, and Tauqum Deserts. The Zhambyl region's central part, including the Moiynqum and Sarysu districts, has a high potential risk of plague outbreak for the rural towns and villages. Since the phenomenon of climate change has been identified as a determinant that affects the rodent populations, thereby elevating the likelihood of an outbreak of plague, we investigated the potential dissemination routes of the disease under the changing climate conditions, thus creating Species Distribution Forecasts for the rodent species in southern part of Kazakhstan for the year 2100. By 2100, in case of increasing temperatures, the range of host species is likely to expand, leading to a higher risk of plague outbreaks. The highest risk of disease transmission can be expected at the outer limits of the modeled total distribution range, where infection rates are high, but antibody presence is low, making many species susceptible to the pathogen. To mitigate the risk of a potential plague outbreak, it is necessary to implement appropriate sanitary-epidemiological measures and climate mitigation policies.

Clinical characteristics with inflammation profiling of long COVID and association with 1-year recovery following hospitalisation in the UK: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

No effective pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions exist for patients with long COVID. We aimed to describe recovery 1 year after hospital discharge for COVID-19, identify factors associated with patient-perceived recovery, and identify potential therapeutic targets by describing the underlying inflammatory profiles of the previously described recovery clusters at 5 months after hospital discharge.

METHODS

The Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study recruiting adults (aged ≥18 years) discharged from hospital with COVID-19 across the UK. Recovery was assessed using patient-reported outcome measures, physical performance, and organ function at 5 months and 1 year after hospital discharge, and stratified by both patient-perceived recovery and recovery cluster. Hierarchical logistic regression modelling was performed for patient-perceived recovery at 1 year. Cluster analysis was done using the clustering large applications k-medoids approach using clinical outcomes at 5 months. Inflammatory protein profiling was analysed from plasma at the 5-month visit. This study is registered on the ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN10980107, and recruitment is ongoing.

FINDINGS

2320 participants discharged from hospital between March 7, 2020, and April 18, 2021, were assessed at 5 months after discharge and 807 (32·7%) participants completed both the 5-month and 1-year visits. 279 (35·6%) of these 807 patients were women and 505 (64·4%) were men, with a mean age of 58·7 (SD 12·5) years, and 224 (27·8%) had received invasive mechanical ventilation (WHO class 7-9). The proportion of patients reporting full recovery was unchanged between 5 months (501 [25·5%] of 1965) and 1 year (232 [28·9%] of 804). Factors associated with being less likely to report full recovery at 1 year were female sex (odds ratio 0·68 [95% CI 0·46-0·99]), obesity (0·50 [0·34-0·74]) and invasive mechanical ventilation (0·42 [0·23-0·76]). Cluster analysis (n=1636) corroborated the previously reported four clusters: very severe, severe, moderate with cognitive impairment, and mild, relating to the severity of physical health, mental health, and cognitive impairment at 5 months. We found increased inflammatory mediators of tissue damage and repair in both the very severe and the moderate with cognitive impairment clusters compared with the mild cluster, including IL-6 concentration, which was increased in both comparisons (n=626 participants). We found a substantial deficit in median EQ-5D-5L utility index from before COVID-19 (retrospective assessment; 0·88 [IQR 0·74-1·00]), at 5 months (0·74 [0·64-0·88]) to 1 year (0·75 [0·62-0·88]), with minimal improvements across all outcome measures at 1 year after discharge in the whole cohort and within each of the four clusters.

INTERPRETATION

The sequelae of a hospital admission with COVID-19 were substantial 1 year after discharge across a range of health domains, with the minority in our cohort feeling fully recovered. Patient-perceived health-related quality of life was reduced at 1 year compared with before hospital admission. Systematic inflammation and obesity are potential treatable traits that warrant further investigation in clinical trials.

FUNDING

UK Research and Innovation and National Institute for Health Research.

The Risk of Severe Infections Following Rituximab Administration in Patients With Autoimmune Kidney Diseases: Austrian ABCDE Registry Analysis

Objective

To characterize the incidence, type, and risk factors of severe infections (SI) in patients with autoimmune kidney diseases treated with rituximab (RTX).

Methods

We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of adult patients with immune-related kidney diseases treated with at least one course of RTX between 2015 and 2019. As a part of the ABCDE Registry, detailed data on RTX application and SI were collected. SI were defined by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 as infectious complications grade 3 and above. Patients were dichotomized between “nephrotic” and “nephritic” indications. The primary outcome was the incidence of SI within 12 months after the first RTX application.

Results

A total of 144 patients were included. Twenty-five patients (17.4%) presented with SI, mostly within the first 3 months after RTX administration. Most patients in the nephritic group had ANCA-associated vasculitis, while membranous nephropathy was the leading entity in the nephrotic group. Respiratory infections were the leading SI (n= 10, 40%), followed by urinary tract (n=3, 12%) and gastrointestinal infections (n=2, 8%). On multivariable analysis, body mass index (BMI, 24.6 kg/m²versus 26.9 kg/m², HR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.79-0.99; p=0.039) and baseline creatinine (HR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.04-1.49; p=0.017) were significantly associated with SI. All patients in the nephritic group (n=19; 100%) who experienced a SI received oral glucocorticoid (GC) treatment at the time of infection. Hypogammaglobulinemia was frequent (58.5%) but not associated with SI.

Conclusions

After RTX administration, impaired kidney function and lower BMI are independent risk factors for SI. Patients with nephritic glomerular diseases having concomitant GC treatment might be at higher risk of developing SI.

Clonal evolution in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with central nervous system recurrence

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) is poor and despite massive advances in understanding the mutational landscape of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the genetic comparison to SCNSL is still lacking. We therefore collected paired samples from six patients with DLBCL with available biopsies from a lymph node (LN) at primary diagnosis and the central nervous system (CNS) at recurrence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A targeted, massively parallel sequencing approach was used to analyze 216 genes recurrently mutated in DLBCL. Healthy tissue from each patient was also sequenced in order to exclude germline mutations. The results of the primary biopsies were compared with those of the CNS recurrences to depict the genetic background of SCNSL and evaluate clonal evolution.

RESULTS

Sequencing was successful in five patients, all of whom had at least one discordant mutation that was not detected in one of their samples. Four patients had mutations that were found in the CNS but not in the primary LN. Discordant mutations were found in genes known to be important in lymphoma biology such as MYC, CARD11, EP300 and CCND3. Two patients had a Jaccard similarity coefficient below 0.5 indicating substantial genetic differences between the primary LN and the CNS recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis gives an insight into the genetic landscape of SCNSL and confirms the results of our previous study on patients with systemic recurrence of DLBCL with evidence of substantial clonal diversification at relapse in some patients, which might be one of the mechanisms of treatment resistance.

Reproducibility of manual choroidal thickness measurements using optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is the most useful tool to measure choroidal thickness (CT). CT may be increased in ocular and systemic diseases. However, there are concerns relating reproducibility and external validity of OCT. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-observer and intra-observer variability of manual OCT measurements.

METHODS

CT was manually measured in the central choroid of 40 eyes from 21 subjects (11 healthy and 10 with ankylosing spondylitis) using RTVue-100 OCT (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, EE.UU.). Measurements were performed by 9 independent ophthalmologists from 6 different centers. To assess the inter-observer variability, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) method was calculated. Also, intra-observer variability was assessed in 2 of the ophthalmologists.

RESULTS

The mean subfoveal CT was 364.9±85.1μm (range, 170 to 572). The inter-observer ICC was 0.823 (CI 95%, 0.749 to 0.888, p<0.001). The intra-observer ICCs were 0.885 (CI 95%, 0.783 to 0.939, p<0.001) and 0.925 (CI 95%, 0.859 to 0.960. p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, manual measurements of CT with OCT showed a good concordance. These results suggest that manual OCT is a valid tool for multicenter studies.

AB0726 CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IS A BIOMARKER AND CAN PREDICT THE RESPONSE TO TREATMENT IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Background:

Choroidal thickness (CT) has been proposed and evaluated as a potential marker of systemic inflammation associated with inflammatory diseases as Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Patients with active AS have a thicker choroid than healthy subjects, regardless of eye inflammation. The evolution of choroid after treatment is poorly known.

Objectives:

This study evaluates the CT of patients with severe AS disease activity before and after six months of biological therapy.

Methods:

This prospective multicenter study evaluates the CT in 44 patients with high AS disease activity, naïve for biological treatment, and no history of eye inflammation before and after six months of biological therapy, aged from 18 to 65 years. The correlations between the CT and C-reactive protein (CRP) with the disease activity indices and scales as Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), night pain and Patient Global Assessment (PGA) were calculated at baseline and after six months of biological therapy. The concordance between the CT and CRP was determined. Finally, we assessed potential predictors of response to treatment. Clinically important improvement was defined as a decrease in ASDAS score ≥ 1.1 points.

Results:

Globally, 44 eyes of 44 patients aged between 18-65 years were included in the study, 12 (27%) women. The biological treatments prescribed were: Adalimumab 13 (29.5%), Certolizumab 9 (20.5%), Secukinumab 10 (20%), Etanercept 8 (18%), Infliximab 3 (6.8%), and Golimumab 1 (2.2%).

Mean CT values were significantly higher at baseline than after six months of treatment (baseline 355.28±80.46 µm; 6 months, 341.26±81.06 µm) (p<0.001).

CT decreased both in patients on biological treatment without effect in eye (Secukinumab and Etanecept; p=0.024) and in patients on treatment with effect in eye (other; p=0.005). Also, CRP, BASDAI, night pain and PGA decreased after six months of treatment ((p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). We found a 95% concordance between CT and CRP at baseline and 6 months.

Multivariable analysis showed that clinically important improvement was associated with higher CT and age as independent factors (OR 0.97, CI95% 0.91-0.93; p=0.009, and OR 0.81, CI95% 0.7-0.95; p=0.005). Clinically important improvement was associated with basal CT >374 µm (sensitivity 78 %, [CI 95% 60-90], specificity 78% [CI 95% 52-92], area under the curve of ROC, 0.70, likelihood ratio 3.6).

Conclusion:

CT decreased significantly after six months of biological treatment. CT and CPR had a 95% concordance. A high CT is associated with risk of failure to biological treatment. CT can be considered as a useful biomarker of inflammation and predictor of response to treatment in AS.

References:

[1]Karkucak M, Kalkisim A, Kola M, et al. SAT0408 anti Tnf-α therapy provides beneficial effects on choroidal thickness increase in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: a possible mechanism of infliximab effectiveness in suppressing uveitis attacks.Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75:817.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Mapping biogeochemically active zones in landfills with induced polarization imaging: The Heferlbach landfill

In this study, we investigate the applicability of the Induced Polarization (IP) imaging method to discriminate between biogeochemically active and inactive areas of a landfill. The elevated amount of degradable organic carbon in landfills results in the development of biogeochemical hot-spots associated with high rates of microbial activity and the generation of landfill gas and leachate as metabolic products. Our results demonstrate that the electrical conductivity is mainly sensitive to the increase in the fluid conductivity associated to leachate production and migration. Whereas images of the polarization effect, expressed in terms of the imaginary component (σ″) or the phase of the complex conductivity (ϕ), reveal the potential to characterize variations in the architecture and biogeochemical activity of the landfill. Correspondingly, biogeochemically active zones (leachable TOC contents above 1500 mg/kg dry waste) are related to high polarization values (σ″ > 10 mS/m, ϕ > 40 mrads), whereas low leachable TOC contents (<300 mg/kg dry waste) in the inactive areas are characterized by low polarization values (σ″ < 1 mS/m, 10 < ϕ < 25). Additionally, landfill sections corresponding to construction and demolition waste (CDW), associated to negligible TOC content, exhibit the lowest polarization response (σ″ < 0.1 mS/m, ϕ < 15). We prove that IP imaging is a well-suited method for landfill investigations that permits an improved characterization of landfill geometry, variation in waste composition, and the discrimination between biogeochemically active and inactive zones.

Once and Again: Intergenerational Transmission of Parenting

Introduction

Animal and human studies suggest that individual differences in maternal parenting behaviour are transmitted from one generation to the next.

Objective

This study aimed to examine potential psychosocial mechanisms underlying an intergenerational transmission of conceptualization of parenting, including affect, cognition, and parental support.

Methods

In a subsample of 201 first-time mothers participating in the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) project, we assessed maternal childhood rearing experiences, using the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. At 6 months postpartum, mothers completed questionnaires on parenting stress, symptoms of depression, internalization of maternal care regulation and current relationship with mother and father.

Results

We found significant direct associations of maltreatment and rearing by the grandmother with parenting stress at 6 months. These associations were mediated through distinct psychosocial pathways: the association of maltreatment on higher parenting stress was fully mediated through more maternal symptoms of depression (z = 2.297; P = 022). The association between sub-optimal rearing provided by the mother and higher parenting stress was mediated through lower internalization of maternal care regulation (z = -2.155; P = 031) and to a lesser degree through more symptoms of depression (z = -1.842; P = 065). Finally, higher quality rearing by the grandfather was indirectly related to lower parenting stress through positive current relationship with the father (z = -2.617; P = 009).

Conclusions

There are distinct pathways by which early experiences manifest in parenting stress. By understanding the structure of dysregulated parenting, clinicians will have practical information to specifically target maternal motivation, social supports, and depressed mood to disrupt maladaptive parenting cognitions and practices.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Ethnic variations in falls and road traffic injuries resulting in hospitalisation or death in Scotland: the Scottish Health and Ethnicity Linkage Study

Objectives

To investigate ethnic differences in falls and road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Scotland.

Study design

A retrospective cohort of 4.62 million people, linking the Scottish Census 2001, with self-reported ethnicity, to hospitalisation and death records for 2001–2013.

Methods

We selected cases with International Classification of Diseases–10 diagnostic codes for falls and RTIs. Using Poisson regression, age-adjusted risk ratios (RRs, multiplied by 100 as percentages) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by sex for 10 ethnic groups with the White Scottish as reference. We further adjusted for country of birth and socio-economic status (SES).

Results

During about 49 million person-years, there were 275,995 hospitalisations or deaths from fall-related injuries and 43,875 from RTIs. Compared with the White Scottish, RRs for falls were higher in most White and Mixed groups, e.g., White Irish males (RR: 131; 95% CI: 122–140) and Mixed females (126; 112–143), but lower in Pakistani males (72; 64–81) and females (72; 63–82) and African females (79; 63–99). For RTIs, RRs were higher in other White British males (161; 147–176) and females (156; 138–176) and other White males (119; 104–137) and females (143; 121–169) and lower in Pakistani females (74; 57–98). The ethnic variations differed by road user type, with few cases among non-White motorcyclists and non-White female cyclists. The RRs were minimally altered by adjustment for country of birth or SES.

Conclusion

We found important ethnic variations in injuries owing to falls and RTIs, with generally lower risks in non-White groups. Culturally related differences in behaviour offer the most plausible explanation, including variations in alcohol use. The findings do not point to the need for new interventions in Scotland at present. However, as the ethnic mix of each country is unique, other countries could benefit from similar data linkage-based research.

•

Ethnic inequalities in injuries are demonstrated in Scotland based on a large sample size and a fine ethnic granularity.

•

White minority ethnic groups had the highest risks of fall-related injuries in Scotland.

•

Fall-related injuries were the least likely in the Pakistani population.

•

Ethnic differences in road traffic injuries varied by the type of road user.

•

Ethnic differences in injuries were not explained by socio-economic status or country of birth.

Energy yield analysis of textured perovskite silicon tandem solar cells and modules

Perovskite silicon tandem solar cells combine potentially low production costs with the ability to surpass the efficiency limit of silicon single junction solar cells. Optical modeling and optimization are crucial to achieve this ambitious goal in the near future. The optimization should seek to maximize the energy yield based on realistic environmental conditions. This work analyzes the energy yield of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells and modules based on realistic experimental data, with a special focus on the investigation of surface textures at the front and rear side of the solar cell and its implication for reflection as well as parasitic absorption properties. The investigation reveals a 7.3%_rel higher energy yield for an encapsulated tandem cell with a textured front side compared with an encapsulated high efficiency single junction solar cell with 24.3% harvesting efficiency for irradiance data of the year 2014 in Freiburg/Germany.

Abstract P3-10-07: A 3-gene DNA methylation signature fails to predict response to bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer patients treated within the TANIA phase III trial

Background: Biomarkers predicting response to bevacizumab containing therapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are of urgent need. In a retrospective single-institution analysis we have previously shown that a 3-gene methylation signature (MLH1,POLKand TMBIM6) could discriminate between responders and non-responders to a bevacizumab-based therapy in two independent cohorts of patients with MBC with an AUC of 0.94 and 0.86, respectively (Gampenrieder SP et al. Theranostics. 2018. 8(8):2278-2288). Here, we present the validation of these findings within the prospective phase III trial TANIA (Vrdoljak E et al. Ann Oncol. 2016. 27(11):2046-52) randomizing 494 patients with HER2-negative MBC to chemotherapy plus bevacizumab or chemotherapy alone for two consecutive treatment lines (second- and third-line). All patients had already received bevacizumab-containing therapy in the first-line setting.

Patients and methods: DNA isolated from archival FFPE tumor samples was available from 200 patients consenting to optional translational research within the TANIA trial. Out of these, 176 samples were collected prior to first-line bevacizumab therapy and were analyzed retrospectively. Sufficient DNA for methylation analysis was available from 124 patients: 64 treated with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab and 60 treated with chemotherapy alone. All samples were isolated from the primary tumor. Quantitative methylation analysis was performed by pyrosequencing on the PyroMark Q24 Advanced System (Qiagen). PFS and OS analyses were performed in both study arms comparing “predicted responders” (PRED_R) versus “predicted non-responders” (PRED_NR) based either on median dichotomization or according to the cutoffs for individual CpG and the combined 3-CpG methylation logistic regression model.

Results:Out of the 124 evaluable patients, 32 (25.8%) were classified as PRED_R and 92 as RED_NR by the 3-gene methylation signature. PRED_R did not have a significantly different second-line PFS (HR 0.95, 95%CI 0.57-1.57; P = 0.84) or OS (HR 0.91, 95%CI 0.51-1.60; P = 0.73) when treated in the bevacizumab-containing study arm compared to PRED_NR. In addition, PRED_R did not show a longer PFS when treated with bevacizumab compared to PRED_R treated with chemotherapy alone (HR 0.95, 95%CI 0.59-1.54; P = 0.83). Furthermore, there was no difference in third-line PFS and the combination of second- and third-line PFS between PRED_R and PRED-NR in the bevacizumab arm. In the control arm, PRED_NR showed a statistically significant shorter PFS compared to PRED_R (HR 0.50, 95%CI 0.22-0.77; P = 0.006), but not OS (HR 0.95, 95%CI 0.51-1.77; P = 0.86).

Conclusion: Our 3-gene methylation signature was not confirmed as predictive biomarker for bevacizumab efficacy in metastatic breast cancer.

(This research project was partially supported by ROCHE Austria GmbH)

Citation Format: Gampenrieder SP, Angela R, Rinnerthaler G, Hackl H, Steiner M, Pulverer W, Weinhaeusel A, Klinglmayr E, Karl T, Ilic S, Hufnagl C, Hauser-Kronberger C, Egle A, Greil R. A 3-gene DNA methylation signature fails to predict response to bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer patients treated within the TANIA phase III trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-10-07.

Effect of Alpha-Tocopherol Administration on Platelet Function in Man

The effect of vitamin E administration on platelet function was evaluated in a group of normal, healthy volunteers. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and epinephrine and platelet adhesion to collagen were measured at weekly intervals in 20 men and 27 women divided into 3 experimental groups of 12 individuals each and one control group of 5 men and 6 women. One experimental group was on a 6-week regimen of vitamin E in increasing dosages (4001.U.-1.2001.U.), the second group received aspirin, 300 mg every other day, and the third group was on a combination of vitamin E and aspirin. In the control group, platelet function was measured at weekly intervals. In women, vitamin E by itself produced a small but significant reduction of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. A similar trend was seen in men. However, the reduction never reached statistical significance. Adhesiveness to collagen was not affected by aspirin ingestion but showed a highly significant reduction in vitamin E and vitamin E + aspirin treated individuals. These results suggest that vitamin E administration could have a beneficial effect in patients suffering from arterial thromboembolic diseases.

Dynamics of Platelet Tubulin in Response to Changes in Free Sulfhydryl Groups

Pools of polymerized and total tubulin were measured in human platelets as a function of free sulfhydryl groups both in acid-soluble and acid-precipitable cell fractions. Changes in free thiols were produced either by storage of platelets at room temperature or by addition of the potent oxidizing agent diazene dicarboxylic acid (diamide) and were correlated with shifts in the dynamic equilibrium between assembled and disassembled microtubules and platelet aggregation. Diamide at concentrations of 0.5 to 5 mM depleted acid soluble SH groups and reduced protein thiols while causing a progressive decrease in polymerized tubulin. Similar changes, although not as severe, were initiated by storage of platelets at room temperature. Platelet aggregation especially that induced by collagen showed a positive correlation with the pool of polymerized tubulin. Our results indicate that the state of oxidation of sulfhydryl groups especially in the acid- precipitable fraction plays an important role in determining the position of equilibrium between polymerized and depolymerized tubulin.

Inhibition of Thrombin-Neutralizing Activity of Antithrombin III by Steroid Hormones

Estrogens in high doses have been shown to inhibit, in vitro, the thrombin-neutralizing action of antithrombin III (AT III). In this study we investigate the effect of estrogens on AT III in greater detail. To increase the sensitivity of measurement of AT III activity in the absence of heparin, we have developed an assay system utilizing human platelets, AT III and thrombin. The two proteins derived from human plasma were prepared in high purity. Platelet aggregation was induced by approximately 0.02 NIH U of thrombin. AT III was added in amounts that suppressed 95% of the aggregation-inducing effect of thrombin. Estrogens blocked the thrombin-neutralizing effect of AT III in dose-dependent manner. This effect was shown to be specific for AT III. Neither aggregability of platelets nor aggregating effect of thrombin were affected by the steroid hormone. Evidence for binding of estrogen to AT III was obtained from changes in intrinsic fluorescence of AT III. Activity of AT III was also reduced in increasing order of effectiveness by cholesterol, cortisone, testosterone and progesterone. Our studies suggest a direct effect of estrogens and other steroids on AT III, altering its specific neutralization of thrombin.

Physiological Effects of Nonimmune Platelet Associated Immunoglobulin G

The function of nonimmune IgG associated with platelets is unknown. In a series of experiments we have investigated this problem, relating amount of platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) to platelet volume, serotonin release, adherence of platelets to monocytes and platelet senescence. Most of these studies were performed with human platelets. Platelets freed of preexisting PAIgG by incubation at 22° C were incubated with IgG in a series of concentrations ranging from 0.4 — 27.0 X10-6 M. The IgG preparations used were demonstrably free of aggregated forms of the protein. The amount of PAIgG bound to platelets was determined by the use of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated anti-IgG antibody (F-anti-IgG antibody) which was quantified in a fluorospectrophotometer. Newly bound IgG was assayed similarly by the use of F-IgG. A dose-dependent increase in platelet volume was associated with the binding of nonimmune IgG by platelets. The process which leveled off at an IgG concentration of 1.2 —1.5 X10-5 M was almost fully reversible and was not due to platelet shape change or aggregation. Release of serotonin from IgG-treated platelets was relatively small but to the extent that it occurred was positively related to the IgG concentration to which platelets were exposed. Adherence to autologous monocytes studied quantitatively by the use of formaldehyde-fixed cells was also positively related to the amount of IgG on the platelets. Normal or IgG-defident serum had a potent inhibitory (noncompetitive) action on the binding of F-IgG and F-anti-human IgG antibody to human platelets. Cohorts of platelets prepared in rabbits during the recovery phase of immunological thrombocytopenia induced by injection of heterologous antiserum, showed an age-dependent increase of PAIgG and of IgG binding. These results suggest that PAIgG plays a role in the clearance of senescent platelets.

Effect of Thrombin on Phosphorylation of Platelet Membrane Proteins

The effect of thrombin on the phosphorylating activity of platelet membranes was compared to that of trypsin. Preincubation of non-32P phosphorylated platelet membranes with or without either of these two enzymes resulted in a considerable loss of membrane protein kinase activity which was most severe when trypsin was used. Protein kinase activity and endogenous protein acceptors decreased in parallel. 32P-phosphorylated membranes showed a slow but progressive loss of label which was accelerated by trypsin. Thrombin under these conditions prevented the loss of 32P-phosphate. These results are interpreted to indicate a thrombin-induced destruction of a phosphoprotein phosphatase. The protein kinase activity of phosphorylated platelet membranes using endogenous or exogenous protein substrates showed a significant reduction compared to non-phosphorylated membranes suggesting a deactivation of protein kinase by phosphorylation of platelet membranes. Neither thrombin nor trypsin caused a qualitative change in the membrane polypeptides accepting 32P-phosphate but resulted in quantitative alterations of their ability to become phosphorylated.

Association of intracortical myelin and cognitive function in bipolar I disorder

OBJECTIVE

Although cognitive dysfunction persists through affective and euthymic states in bipolar disorder (BD), its neurobiological correlates remain undetermined. We explore whole-cortex intracortical myelin (ICM) and cognition in BD-I and controls.

METHODS

T₁ -weighted images (3T) optimized for ICM measurement were analyzed using a surface-based approach. MRI signal was sampled at cortical mid-depth. Cognitive performance was measured via standardized computerized battery and paper-and-pencil Trails B.

RESULTS

ICM was associated with verbal memory (VM) in BD throughout a cortical network identified with pertinence to VM function, with strongest effects in left caudal middle temporal cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (P_corrected  < 0.05). Subanalyses revealed specific association with correct word recognition, without delay. Processing speed, executive function, and reaction time were also predicted by ICM in BD, but not controls, although this did not survive Bonferroni correction.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to show VM association with ICM in BD. ICM has been implicated in the integrity of neural connections and neural synchrony. VM dysfunction is one of the most replicated cognitive abnormalities in BD. Therefore, these results provide a novel mechanism for understanding cognitive dysfunction in BD, which can aid in the development of targeted therapeutics to improve cognitive outcomes in BD.

Consolidation Radiation Therapy following Cytoreductive Surgery, Chemotherapy and Second-Look Laparotomy for Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma: Long-Term Follow-Up

Background

From 1979-1987, 139 stage IC-IV ovarian cancer patients who had undergone cytoreductive surgery received 6-11 cycles of cisplatin and adriamycin.

Study design

Eighty-four clinically complete responders underwent second-look laparotomy, and 60 of them received consolidation abdominal irradiation. The patients were then followed for a median follow-up of 39 months.

Results

Five- and 10-year actuarial survival for all patients was 43% and 24%, for no residuum at primary surgery, 80% and 35%, for residual tumor <2 cm, 45% and 35%, and for residual tumor >2 cm, 20% and 4%. Median survival for stage III-IV patients negative at second-look laparotomy was 72 months in irradiated compared to 25 months in non-irradiated patients (P = 0.14) and 77 months in irradiated patients with microscopic disease at second-look laparotomy. Median survival in patients with macroscopic disease at second-look laparotomy was 23.5 months if irradiated compared to 18 months if not (P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Consolidation whole abdominal irradiation in advanced stages of ovarian cancer may be of value in patients with negative or microscopic disease at second-look laparotomy. Unfortunately, despite the initial survival advantage observed in irradiated patients, owing to late recurrences there was no significant difference in their long-term survival probability.

Abstract P1-07-14: Real-life analysis evaluating &gt;1000 N0/N1mi estrogen receptor (ER)+ breast cancer patients for whom treatment decisions incorporated the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) result: Clinical outcomes with median follow up of &gt; 9 years

Background: The 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) Assay (Oncotype DX®) is a validated prognosticator and predictive of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in patients with hormone receptor (HR)+ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. In Israel, the RS assay has been reimbursed by Clalit Health Services (CHS, the largest HMO in Israel) since 2006, and the assay is widely used in eligible estrogen receptor (ER)+ patients. Notably, ER+ breast cancer patients have a protracted risk of recurrence with approximately half of all distant recurrences occurring after 5 years from diagnosis. The goal of the current ongoing analysis was to investigate early (≤5 years) and late (&gt;5 years) distant recurrence in N0/N1mi ER+ HER2-negative breast cancer patients who were RS-tested through CHS.

Methods: This analysis of the CHS registry included breast cancer patients with ER+ HER2-negative N0/N1mi disease who underwent RS testing from 1/2006 (CHS approval of the assay) through 1/2009. Data sources included CHS claims arms (for patient/tumor characteristics), Teva Pharmaceuticals (for tumor characteristics, RS result), and medical records (for treatment/recurrence/survival). The study was approved by the institutional review boards of the CHS Community Division and was granted a waiver for obtaining patient consent.

Results: The analysis included 1026 patients with median (interquartile range) follow up of 9.3 (8.8-10.2) years. Most patients were females (99%). Median (range) age was 59 (25-84) years; 92% had N0 and 8% had N1mi disease; 14%, 52%, and 16% had grade 1, 2, and 3 tumors, respectively (grade information was not available for 18% of patients); median (range) tumor size was 1.5 (0.3-6.5) cm. The majority of patients (78%) had invasive ductal carcinoma and 12% had invasive lobular carcinoma. Overall, 489 patients (48%) had RS&lt;18, 434 (42%) had RS 18-30, and 103 (10%) had RS≥31. The use of adjuvant CT was consistent with the RS result: 3%, 27%, and 90% of RS&lt;18, RS 18-30, and RS≥31 patients, respectively. Overall, 25 distant recurrences were reported within 5 years of RS testing: 5 (1.0%) in RS&lt;18 patients, 9 (2.1%) in RS 18-30 patients, and 11 (10.6%) in RS≥31 patients. In the first 5 years, breast cancer-specific death was reported in 8 patients including 3 (0.7%) with RS 18-30 and 5 (4.9%) with RS≥31 results. Among N0 patients with RS 11-25 who did not receive adjuvant CT (n = 540), 5 (0.9%) distant recurrences and one (0.2%) breast cancer death were reported within 5 years of RS testing. Analysis of 'late' recurrences and breast cancer-specific death (from 5 to 9.3 years of follow-up) is ongoing.

Conclusions: These will be the first late recurrence data from over 1000 patients for whom the RS result was used in real-life clinical decision making. Consistent with previous analyses of the CHS registry, CT use was appropriately based on the RS result, and the recurrence/survival outcomes (for the first 5 years) demonstrated the prognostic performance of the RS. Distant recurrence and breast cancer death data beyond 5 years will be presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Stemmer SM, Rizel S, Steiner M, Geffen DB, Soussan-Gutman L, Bareket-Samish A, McCullough D, Svedman C, Nisenbaum B, Ryvo L, Peretz T, Fried G, Rosengarten O, Liebermann N, Ben Baruch N. Real-life analysis evaluating &gt;1000 N0/N1mi estrogen receptor (ER)+ breast cancer patients for whom treatment decisions incorporated the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) result: Clinical outcomes with median follow up of &gt; 9 years [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-14.

Amb a 1 isoforms: Unequal siblings with distinct immunological features

Background

Ragweed pollen represents a major allergy risk factor. Ragweed extracts contain five different isoforms of the major allergen Amb a 1. However, the immunological characteristics of Amb a 1 isoforms are not fully investigated. Here, we compared the physicochemical and immunological properties of three most important Amb a 1 isoforms.

Methods

After purification, the isoforms were physicochemically characterized, tested for antibody binding and induction of human T‐cell proliferative responses. Their immunological properties were further evaluated in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model.

Results

Amb a 1 isoforms exhibited distinct patterns of IgE binding and immunogenicity. Compared to Amb a 1.02 or 03 isoforms, Amb a 1.01 showed higher IgE‐binding activity. Isoforms 01 and 03 were the most potent stimulators of patients’ T cells. In a mouse model of immunization, Amb a 1.01 induced higher levels of IgG and IgE antibodies when compared to isoforms 02 and 03. Interestingly, ragweed‐sensitized patients also displayed an IgG response to Amb a 1 isoforms. However, unlike therapy‐induced antibodies, sensitization‐induced IgG did not show IgE‐blocking activity.

Conclusion

The present study showed that naturally occurring isoforms of Amb a 1 possess different immunogenic and sensitizing properties. These findings should be considered when selecting sequences for molecule‐based diagnosis and therapy for ragweed allergy. Due to its high IgE‐binding activity, isoform Amb a 1.01 should be included in diagnostic tests. In contrast, due to their limited B‐ and T‐cell cross‐reactivity patterns, a combination of different isoforms might be a more attractive strategy for ragweed immunotherapy.

Approaches to modelling radioactive contaminations in forests - Overview and guidance

Modelling the radionuclide cycle in forests is important in case of contamination due to acute or chronic releases to the atmosphere and from underground waste repositories. This article describes the most important aspects to consider in forest model development. It intends to give an overview of the modelling approaches available and to provide guidance on how to address the quantification of radionuclide transport in forests. Furthermore, the most important gaps in modelling the radionuclide cycle in forests are discussed and suggestions are presented to address the variability of forest sites.

Is plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 a physiological bottleneck bridging major depressive disorder and cardiovascular disease?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is estimated to affect one in twenty people worldwide. MDD is highly comorbid with cardiovascular disease (CVD), itself one of the single largest causes of mortality worldwide. A number of pathological changes observed in MDD are believed to contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, although no single mechanism has been identified. There are also no biological markers capable of predicting the future risk of developing heart disease in depressed individuals. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a prothrombotic plasma protein secreted by endothelial tissue and has long been implicated in CVD. An expanding body of literature has recently implicated it in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder as well. In this study, we review candidate pathways implicating MDD in CVD and consider how PAI-1 might act as a mediator by which MDD induces CVD development: chiefly through sleep disruption, adiposity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) metabolism, systemic inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis dysregulation. As both MDD and CVD are more prevalent in women than in men, and incidence of either condition is dramatically increased during reproductive milestones, we also explore hormonal and sex-specific associations between MDD, PAI-1 and CVD. Of special interest is the role PAI-1 plays in perinatal depression and in cardiovascular complications of pregnancy. Finally, we propose a theoretical model whereby PAI-1 might serve as a useful biomarker for CVD risk in those with depression, and as a potential target for future treatments.

Intergenerational Transmission of Well Being–Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms

Introduction

Maternal mental well being influences offspring development. Research suggests that an interplay between genetic and environmental factors underlies this familial transmission of mental disorders.

Objectives

To explore an interaction between genetic and environmental factors to predict trajectories of maternal mental well being, and to examine whether these trajectories are associated with epigenetic modifications in mothers and their offspring.

Method

We assessed maternal childhood trauma and rearing experiences, prenatal and postnatal symptoms of depression and stress experience from 6 to 72 months postpartum, and genetic and epigenetic variation in a longitudinal birth-cohort study (n = 262) (Maternal adversity, vulnerability and neurodevelopment project). We used latent class modeling to describe trajectories in maternal depressive symptoms, parenting stress, marital stress and general stress, taking polygenetic risk for major depressive disorder (MDD), a composite score for maternal early life adversities, and prenatal depressive symptoms into account.

Results

Genetic risk for MDD associated with trajectories of maternal well being in the postpartum, conditional on the experience of early life adversities and prenatal symptoms of depression. We will explore whether these trajectories are also linked to DNA methylation patterns in mothers and their offspring. Preliminary analyses suggest that maternal early life adversities associate with offspring DNA methylation age estimates, which is mediated through maternal mental well being and maternal DNA methylation age estimates.

Conclusion

We found relevant gene-environment interactions associated with trajectories of maternal well being. Our findings inform research on mechanisms underlying familial transmission of vulnerability for psychopathology and might thus be relevant to prevention and early intervention programs.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Thinking and doing: the effects of dopamine and oxytocin genes and executive function on mothering behaviours

Animal and human studies suggest that initial expression of maternal behaviour depends on oxytocin and dopamine systems. However, the mechanism by which these systems affect parenting behaviours and the timing of these effects are not well understood. This article explores the role of mothers' executive function in mediating the relation between oxytocin and dopamine gene variants and maternal responsiveness at 48 months post-partum. Participants (n = 157) were mothers recruited in the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment Study, which assesses longitudinally two cohorts of mothers and children in Canada. We examined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to the dopamine and oxytocin systems (DRD1 rs686, DRD1 rs265976, OXTR rs237885 and OXTR rs2254298), assessed mothers' decision-making at 48 months using the Cambridge Neurological Automated Testing Battery (CANTAB) and evaluated maternal responsiveness from videotaped interactions during the Etch-A-Sketch co-operation task. Mediation analyses showed that OXTR rs2254298 A-carriers had an indirect effect on positive parenting which was mediated by mothers' performance on decision-making task (estimate = 0.115, P < 0.005), while OXTR rs2254298 A-carriers had both direct and indirect effects on physically controlling parenting, also mediated through enhanced performance on decision-making (estimate = -0.059, P < 0.005). Dopamine SNPs were not associated with any measure of executive function or parenting (all P > 0.05). While oxytocin has previously been associated with only the early onset of maternal behaviour, we show that an OXTR polymorphism is involved in maternal behaviour at 48 months post-partum through mothers' executive function. This research highlights the importance of the oxytocin system to maternal parenting beyond infancy.

Variations in all Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality by Country of Birth in Scotland, 1997-2003

Background and Aims

Country of birth provides a proxy for ethnic group for recent migrants. Major differences in mortality by country of birth have been demonstrated in England and Wales, but similar published data for Scotland are lacking. We aimed to examine variations in mortality by country of birth for Scottish residents.

Methods

We calculated standardised mortality ratios by country of birth for Scottish residents aged 25 years and over between January 1997 and March 2003.

Results and Conclusion

Comparisons with England and Wales showed high allcause, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality among Scottish residents born in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, India and Hong Kong. However, most country of birth groups had similar or lower mortality than the Scottish born. These are the first data on mortality by country of birth in Scotland and they demonstrate major variations. Comparisons within the Scottish population might be interpreted as reassuring, since they do not show the excesses in CHD mortality by country of birth reported in England and Wales. However, the use of England and Wales as a comparison group shows a substantial excess of CHD risk among South Asians in Scotland, comparable to that reported in England and Wales.

Venostasin Retard in the Management of Venous Problems during Pregnancy

A placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study of Venostasin retard was carried out in 52 pregnant women with oedema due to venous insufficiency. There was a statistically significant reduction of the oedema in the Venostasin treated group, who also showed greater resistance to oedema provocation. During Venostasin treatment patients also recorded less severe symptoms of pain, fatigue, swelling and itching.

Standardization of allergen products: 2. Detailed characterization of GMP-produced recombinant Phl p 5.0109 as European Pharmacopoeia reference standard

BACKGROUND

The Biological Standardization Programme of the European Directorate for Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) aims at the establishment of well-characterized reference standards based on recombinant allergens and validated assays for the quantification of major allergen content. The objective of this study was to examine the detailed physicochemical and immunological characterization of recombinant Phl p 5.0109, the second available allergen reference standard.

METHODS

Recombinant Phl p 5.0109 PP5ar06007 was produced under GMP conditions and analyzed by an array of physicochemical and immunological methods for identity, quantity, homogeneity, and folding stability in bulk solution, as well as thermal denaturation, aggregation state, and biological activity when formulated for long-time storage.

RESULTS

PP5ar06007 revealed as a highly homogeneous, monomeric, well-folded preparation of rPhl p 5.0109, as documented by mass spectrometry, SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, size-exclusion chromatography with light scattering, circular dichroism, and infrared spectroscopy. Upon storage at +4°C, PP5ar06007 retained the monomeric state for at least 2 months. A protein quantity of 1.56 ± 0.03 mg/ml was determined by amino acid analysis in PP5ar06007, and its biological activity was shown to be comparable to natural Phl p 5 in terms of basophil activation and T-cell reactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Recombinant Phl p 5.0109 PP5ar06007 was characterized extensively at the physicochemical and immunological level. It revealed to be a highly stable, monomeric, and immunologically equivalent of its natural counterpart. PP5ar06007 is now available as European Pharmacopoeia allergen reference standard for grass pollen products.

[Accidents and injuries in the EU. Results of the EuroSafe Reports]

BACKGROUND

Accidents and injuries are a relevant although largely preventable public health problem. Information on the causes of accidents is the basis for accident prevention and product safety. The current report "Injuries in the European Union", edited by EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, is a summary of key statistics on accidents and injuries at the EU level. In addition to international data on cause of death, the data of the European Injury Data Base (IDB) in particular are presented.

METHODS

The IDB is a unique data source for the EU based on an internationally standardized dataset of external causes and circumstances of injuries, which is collected in the emergency department of hospitals. Thus, the IDB covers the entire spectrum of accidents and injuries in sufficient detail as is necessary for the derivation of preventive measures and the knowledge of involved products. The currently available IDB data are collected by the participating Member States (2012: Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden) in self-interest (i.e., without legal obligation) with the support of the EU health programs. The central database for the IDB is run by the European Commission and provides public access to the aggregated data of the participating countries. Currently, over 100 IDB hospitals in the EU upload around 300,000 cases per year into the EU database. The IDB contains information on all accident sectors (transport, workplace, school etc.) with a focus on leisure and sports accidents. Depending on the accident sector, up to 25 variables (activities, products involved, means of transport etc.) and often also short narratives are recorded for each case.

RESULTS

The report shows that 40 million people are treated in a hospital annually in the EU after accidents and violence, and that about 233,000 people die as a consequence of injury. There are large differences between countries in the rates of fatal and nonfatal injuries; these differences can be interpreted as a measure of the potential for prevention and as an indication of targeted measures in the countries with higher accident rates. The report also includes snapshots of the eight priority themes for injury prevention, as defined in the Recommendation of the European Council on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in 2007: children, adolescents and older people, vulnerable road users, sports, the use of products and services, violence, and self-injury.

DISCUSSION

The implementation of the IDB has proven to be feasible and useful for the participating countries, especially for data-based accident prevention in the important areas of home, leisure, and sports accidents. In the framework of the EU project JAMIE (2011-2014, Joint Action for Injury Monitoring in Europe), the IDB partners are currently working on further improving the IDB standards and quality criteria as well as the recruitment of further IDB countries. The medium-term goal is to integrate the EU IDB in the Eurostat Statistical System and to put the collection of IDB data on a statutory footing.