Centralized intestinal organoid generation is a feasible and safe approach for personalized medicine as demonstrated in the HIT-CF Europe Organoid Study

BACKGROUND

Patient-derived intestinal organoids (PDIOs) show great potential as in vitro drug testing platform for personalised medicine in Cystic Fibrosis and oncology. PDIOs can be generated by culturing adult stem cells obtained through rectal forceps biopsy or suction biopsy, but the safety of these procedures and the success rates of generating organoids after shipment to a centralized lab using these procedures has not been studied in this context. We here report the safety and success rates of both biopsy procedures and the subsequent generation of PDIOs in the international multicentre HIT-CF Organoid Study.

METHODS

502 biopsy procedures were conducted, on 489 adult people with Cystic Fibrosis from 33 different hospitals across 12 countries. Depending on the preference of the hospital, either rectal forceps biopsies or suction biopsies were obtained and internationally shipped to a central laboratory for organoid generation.

RESULTS

No adverse events were reported for 280 forceps biopsy procedures, while 222 rectal suction biopsy procedures resulted in 2 adverse events, namely continued bleeding and a probably nonrelated gastroenteritis. The success rate of organoid generation from all biopsies was 95%, and the main reason for failure was insufficient sample viability (3.2%).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that both rectal suction biopsy and forceps biopsy procedures are safe procedures. The high success rates of PDIO generation from the obtained tissue samples demonstrate the feasibility of the organoid technology for personalised in vitro testing in an international setting.

Exploring intrinsic variability between cultured nasal and bronchial epithelia in cystic fibrosis

The nasal and bronchial epithelium are unified parts of the respiratory tract that are affected in the monogenic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). Recent studies have uncovered that nasal and bronchial tissues exhibit intrinsic variability, including differences in mucociliary cell composition and expression of unique transcriptional regulatory proteins which relate to germ layer origin. In the present study, we explored whether intrinsic differences between nasal and bronchial epithelial cells persist in cell cultures and affect epithelial cell functioning in CF. Comparison of air-liquid interface (ALI) differentiated epithelial cells from subjects with CF revealed distinct mucociliary differentiation states of nasal and bronchial cultures. Moreover, using RNA sequencing we identified cell type-specific signature transcription factors in differentiated nasal and bronchial epithelial cells, some of which were already poised for expression in basal progenitor cells as evidenced by ATAC sequencing. Analysis of differentiated nasal and bronchial epithelial 3D organoids revealed distinct capacities for fluid secretion, which was linked to differences in ciliated cell differentiation. In conclusion, we show that unique phenotypical and functional features of nasal and bronchial epithelial cells persist in cell culture models, which can be further used to investigate the effects of tissue-specific features on upper and lower respiratory disease development in CF.

Impact of ERAS in breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi flap, compared to conventional management

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are associated with improved management, reduced hospital stays, and lower complication rates.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of ERAS on mean length of stay (LOS) and postoperative morbidity in breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap (LDF) compared with conventional recovery program.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

All patients operated by LDF between December 2014 and October 2020: those managed before April 2018, when the ERAS protocol was introduced, were included in the "no ERAS" group, and beyond in the "ERAS" group.

RESULTS

Out of 193 patients, 129 were included in the "ERAS" group and 64 in the "no ERAS" group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in LOS (4.2 ± 1.5 days in the "ERAS" group vs. 5.4 ± 1.9 days in the "no ERAS" group; p < 0.001), high-grade complications at 30 days (9.3% in the "ERAS" group vs. 25% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.01), reintervention rate (13.9% vs. 26.6%, respectively; p = 0.02), and 30-day rehospitalization rate (6.2% in the "ERAS" group vs. 15.6% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

The ERAS protocol has a positive impact on breast reconstruction with LDF without generating additional adverse effects. These results support the democratization of these programs for breast reconstruction surgery.

Vibrational-mechanical properties of the highly-mismatched Cd1-xBexTe semiconductor alloy: experiment and ab initio calculations

The emerging CdTe-BeTe semiconductor alloy that exhibits a dramatic mismatch in bond covalency and bond stiffness clarifying its vibrational-mechanical properties is used as a benchmark to test the limits of the percolation model (PM) worked out to explain the complex Raman spectra of the related but less contrasted Zn1-xBex-chalcogenides. The test is done by way of experiment ([Formula: see text]), combining Raman scattering with X-ray diffraction at high pressure, and ab initio calculations ([Formula: see text] ~ 0-0.5; [Formula: see text]~1). The (macroscopic) bulk modulus [Formula: see text] drops below the CdTe value on minor Be incorporation, at variance with a linear [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text] increase predicted ab initio, thus hinting at large anharmonic effects in the real crystal. Yet, no anomaly occurs at the (microscopic) bond scale as the regular bimodal PM-type Raman signal predicted ab initio for Be-Te in minority ([Formula: see text]~0, 0.5) is barely detected experimentally. At large Be content ([Formula: see text]~1), the same bimodal signal relaxes all the way down to inversion, an unprecedented case. However, specific pressure dependencies of the regular ([Formula: see text]~0, 0.5) and inverted ([Formula: see text]~1) Be-Te Raman doublets are in line with the predictions of the PM. Hence, the PM applies as such to Cd1-xBexTe without further refinement, albeit in a "relaxed" form. This enhances the model's validity as a generic descriptor of phonons in alloys.

[Adverse effects of licorice consumed as food: An update]

The word "licorice" refers to the plant, its root, and its aromatic extract. From a commercial point of view, Glycyrrhiza glabra is the most important species with a wide range of uses (herbal medicine, tobacco industry, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical). Glycyrrhizin is one of the main constituents of licorice. Glycyrrhizin is hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen by bacterial β-glucuronidases to 3β-monoglucuronyl-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which are metabolized in the liver. Plasma clearance is slow due to enterohepatic cycling. 3MGA and GA can bind to mineralocorticoid receptors with very low affinity, and 3MGA induces apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome through dose-dependent inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in renal tissue. The cases of apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome reported in the literature are numerous and sometimes severe, even fatal, most often in cases of chronic high dose consumption. Glycyrrhizin poisonings are characterized by hypertension, fluid retention, and hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis and increased kaliuresis. Toxicity depends on the dose, the type of product consumed, the mode of consumption (acute or chronic) and a very large inter-individual variability. The diagnosis of glycyrrhizin-induced apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome is based on the history, clinical examination, and biochemical analysis. Management is primarily based on symptomatic care and stopping licorice consumption.

Alternative scoring methods of fusarium head blight resistance for genomic assisted breeding

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum.L) that causes yield losses and produces mycotoxins which could easily exceed the limits of the EU regulations. Resistance to FHB has a complex genetic architecture and accurate evaluation in breeding programs is key to selecting resistant varieties. The Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) is one of the commonly metric used as a standard methodology to score FHB. Although efficient, AUDPC requires significant costs in phenotyping to cover the entire disease development pattern. Here, we show that there are more efficient alternatives to AUDPC (angle, growing degree days to reach 50% FHB severity, and FHB maximum variance) that reduce the number of field assessments required and allow for fair comparisons between unbalanced evaluations across trials. Furthermore, we found that the evaluation method that captures the maximum variance in FHB severity across plots is the most optimal approach for scoring FHB. In addition, results obtained on experimental data were validated on a simulated experiment where the disease progress curve was modeled as a sigmoid curve with known parameters and assessment protocols were fully controlled. Results show that alternative metrics tested in this study captured key components of quantitative plant resistance. Moreover, the new metrics could be a starting point for more accurate methods for measuring FHB in the field. For example, the optimal interval for FHB evaluation could be predicted using prior knowledge from historical weather data and FHB scores from previous trials. Finally, the evaluation methods presented in this study can reduce the FHB phenotyping burden in plant breeding with minimal losses on signal detection, resulting in a response variable available to use in data-driven analysis such as genome-wide association studies or genomic selection.

Measuring cystic fibrosis drug responses in organoids derived from 2D differentiated nasal epithelia

Cystic fibrosis is caused by genetic defects that impair the CFTR channel in airway epithelial cells. These defects may be overcome by specific CFTR modulating drugs, for which the efficacy can be predicted in a personalized manner using 3D nasal-brushing-derived airway organoids in a forskolin-induced swelling assay. Despite of this, previously described CFTR function assays in 3D airway organoids were not fully optimal, because of inefficient organoid differentiation and limited scalability. In this report, we therefore describe an alternative method of culturing nasal-brushing-derived airway organoids, which are created from an equally differentiated airway epithelial monolayer of a 2D air-liquid interface culture. In addition, we have defined organoid culture conditions, with the growth factor/cytokine combination neuregulin-1<i>β</i> and interleukin-1<i>β</i>, which enabled consistent detection of CFTR modulator responses in nasal-airway organoid cultures from subjects with cystic fibrosis.

The aging brain: sleep, the circadian clock and exercise

Aging is a multifactorial process likely stemming from damage accumulation and/or a decline in maintenance and repair mechanisms in the organisms that eventually determine their lifespan. In our review, we focus on the morphological and functional alterations that the aging brain undergoes affecting sleep and the circadian clock in both human and rodent models. Although both species share mammalian features, differences have been identified on several experimental levels, which we outline in this review. Additionally, we delineate some challenges on the preferred analysis and we suggest that a uniform route is followed so that findings can be smoothly compared. We conclude by discussing potential interventions and highlight the influence of physical exercise as a beneficial lifestyle intervention, and its effect on healthy aging and longevity. We emphasize that even moderate age-matched exercise is able to ameliorate several aging characteristics as far as sleep and circadian rhythms are concerned, independent of the species studied.

Evaluation of the combination of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in pathologic human pulmonary arteries in an ex-vivo organ bath model

PURPOSE

Medical combination therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may alleviate the drawbacks of monotherapy by avoiding drug tolerance and by increasing effectiveness, as shown by the combination of ambrisentan and tadalafil (AMBITION trial). The present ex-vivo study evaluated the combination of the endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) macitentan and bosentan with the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor vardenafil in pulmonary arteries from patients suffering from terminal lung disease as a model of PAH.

METHODS

Segments of the pulmonary vessels were excised from resected lungs of patients requiring lung transplantation (LTX). Contraction of pulmonary arteries (PA) was elicited by consecutive dose-response curves of endothelin-1 (ET-1) followed by norepinephrine (NE) to allow inhibition by different pathways. Forces were measured isometrically in an organ bath in the presence and absence of ERA and PDE-5 inhibitors and their combination.

RESULTS

PA of 38 patients were examined between October 2016 and November 2019. Bosentan (1E-7 M) and macitentan (1E-8 M, 3E-8 M, 1E-7 M) inhibited ET-1 induced contractions, whereas vardenafil (1E-6 M, 3E-6 M, 1E-5 M) inhibited only the NE induced part of the contractions. Vardenafil enhanced bosentan-induced inhibition of vasoconstriction in a dose-dependent fashion. Combination effects exceeded single bosentan at 3E-6 M and 1E-5 M vardenafil, and they exceeded single vardenafil at the lower vardenafil concentrations. Macitentan showed a more pronounced inhibition than bosentan regardless of the lower concentrations. Accordingly, combination effects with vardenafil resembled those of macitentan alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Macitentan and bosentan were potent antagonists of vasoconstriction in PA of LTX patients. The benefit of drug combinations was demonstrated at selected concentrations only owing to a narrow therapeutic range of vardenafil in this ex-vivo model. These results suggest the utility of drug combinations other than the established pair of ambrisentan and tadalafil in PAH treatment but also make a case for a further assessment of vasodilator properties of drugs complementing ERA.

Long-term effects of an intensive prevention program (IPP) after acute myocardial infarction – the IPP Follow-up and Prevention Boost Trial

Background

The effects of an intensive prevention program (IPP) for 12 months following 3-week rehabilitation after myocardial infarction (MI) have been proven by the randomized IPP trial. The present study investigates if the effects of IPP persist one year after termination of the program and if a reintervention after &gt;24 months (“prevention boost”) is effective.

Methods

In the IPP trial patients were recruited during hospitalization for acute MI and randomly assigned to IPP versus usual care (UC) one month after discharge (after 3-week rehabilitation). IPP was coordinated by non-physician prevention assistants and included intensive group education sessions, telephone calls, telemetric and clinical control of risk factors. Primary study endpoint was the IPP Prevention Score, a sum score evaluating six major risk factors. The score ranges from 0 to 15 points, with a score of 15 points indicating best risk factor control.

In the present study the effects of IPP were investigated after 24 months – one year after termination of the program. Thereafter, patients of the IPP study arm with at least one insufficiently controlled risk factor were randomly assigned to a 2-months reintervention (“prevention boost”) vs. no reintervention.

Results

At long-term follow-up after 24 months, 129 patients of the IPP study arm were compared to 136 patients of the UC study arm. IPP was associated with a significantly better risk factor control compared to UC at 24 months (IPP Prevention Score 10.9±2.3 points in the IPP group vs. 9.4±2.3 points in the UC group, p&lt;0.01). However, in the IPP group a decrease of risk factor control was observed at the 24-months visit compared to the 12-months visit at the end of the prevention program (IPP Prevention Score 10.9±2.3 points at 24 months vs. 11.6±2.2 points at 12 months, p&lt;0.05, Figure 1).

A 2-months reintervention (“prevention boost”) was effective to improve risk factor control during long-term course: IPP Prevention Score increased from 10.5±2.1 points to 10.7±1.9 points in the reintervention group, while it decreased from 10.5±2.1 points to 9.7±2.1 points in the group without reintervention (p&lt;0.05 between the groups, Figure 1).

Conclusions

IPP was associated with a better risk factor control compared to UC during 24 months; however, a deterioration of risk factors after termination of IPP suggests that even a 12-months prevention program is not long enough. The effects of a short reintervention after &gt;24 months (“prevention boost”) indicate the need for prevention concepts that are based on repetitive personal contacts during long-term course after coronary events.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Stiftung Bremer Herzen (Bremen Heart Foundation)

The predictable chaos of slow earthquakes

Slow earthquakes, like regular earthquakes, result from unstable frictional slip. They produce little slip and can therefore repeat frequently. We assess their predictability using the slip history of the Cascadia subduction between 2007 and 2017, during which slow earthquakes have repeatedly ruptured multiple segments. We characterize the system dynamics using embedding theory and extreme value theory. The analysis reveals a low-dimensional (<5) nonlinear chaotic system rather than a stochastic system. We calculate properties of the underlying attractor like its correlation and instantaneous dimension, instantaneous persistence, and metric entropy. We infer that the system has a predictability horizon of the order of days weeks. For the better resolved segments, the onset of large slip events can be correctly forecasted by high values of the instantaneous dimension. Longer-term deterministic prediction seems intrinsically impossible. Regular earthquakes might similarly be predictable but with a limited predictable horizon of the order of their durations.

Females with cystic fibrosis have a larger decrease in sweat chloride in response to lumacaftor/ivacaftor compared to males

AIM

To explore which patient-related factors influence sweat test response to CFTR modulators, as well as examining the correlation between the sweat chloride response and ppFEV₁ or BMI response, using systematically collected real-life clinical data.

METHODS

160 CF patients were identified who had used lumacaftor/ivacaftor for at least six months. Of these patients, age, sweat chloride levels, ppFEV₁ weight and BMI at the start of treatment and after 6 months were collected retrospectively. Pearson and Spearman tests were performed to assess correlations.

RESULTS

Females compared to males in this group showed a larger response in sweat chloride (mean difference 10.6 mmol/l, 95% CI: 5.7-15.4) and BMI (mean difference 0.27 kg/m², 95% CI: 0.01-0.54). A modest but significant correlation was found between patient weight and sweat chloride response (Pearson R = 0.244, p = 0.001), which diminished upon correction for the other factors. The correlation between sex and sweat chloride response remained; R = 0.253, p = 0.001. Sweat chloride response did not correlate with ppFEV₁ change or BMI change at 6 months after start of therapy.

CONCLUSION

Sweat chloride response is larger in females compared to males, which also explains the negative correlation of weight with the response in sweat chloride concentration after start of lumacaftor/ivacaftor. Sweat chloride response does not correlate with the responses in ppFEV₁ and BMI. This information may help the interpretation of sweat test results acquired for the follow up and evaluation of CFTR modulating treatments, and warrants further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of sex differences in response to CFTR modulators.

CRISPR-Based Adenine Editors Correct Nonsense Mutations in a Cystic Fibrosis Organoid Biobank

Adenine base editing (ABE) enables enzymatic conversion from A-T into G-C base pairs. ABE holds promise for clinical application, as it does not depend on the introduction of double-strand breaks, contrary to conventional CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering. Here, we describe a cystic fibrosis (CF) intestinal organoid biobank, representing 664 patients, of which ~20% can theoretically be repaired by ABE. We apply SpCas9-ABE (PAM recognition sequence: NGG) and xCas9-ABE (PAM recognition sequence: NGN) on four selected CF organoid samples. Genetic and functional repair was obtained in all four cases, while whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of corrected lines of two patients did not detect off-target mutations. These observations exemplify the value of large, patient-derived organoid biobanks representing hereditary disease and indicate that ABE may be safely applied in human cells.

P6214How to improve long-term prevention in young patients after myocardial infarction - the IPP-Y study

Background

Patients who experienced myocardial infarction (MI) at a young age are of special medical and socioeconomic interest; cardiovascular risk factor control to prevent recurrent events is crucial in this specific cohort.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to evaluate long-term risk factor control in young MI-patients in clinical practice and investigate the effects of a modern intensive prevention program in a prospective randomized trial. In a genetic substudy it was analyzed if prevention effects were depending on individual genetic risk.

Methods

Patients who had MI at age of ≤45 years were revisited after a mean period of 5.7±4.0 years to evaluate long-term risk factor control. Furthermore a 12-months intensive prevention program in young MI-patients (IPP-Y), coordinated by non-physician prevention assistants and including personal teachings, telephone contacts, clinical and telemetric control of risk factors, was compared to usual care in a randomized trial. Primary endpoint of the randomized trial was prevention success, defined as improvement of one of the risk factors smoking, LDL cholesterol or physical inactivity without deterioration of the others. As the opposite prevention failure was defined as deterioration of one of the risk factors without improvement of the others. Genetic risk was assessed by polygenetic risk scores, based on 163 SNPs.

Results

Only a minority of the 277 young patients after MI achieved guideline-recommended risk factor targets at long-term follow-up visits: mean body mass index was 29.9±5.1 kg/m2, just 14.8% had a body mass index <25 kg/m2. More than one third (38.3%) were persistent or recurrent smokers. Mean LDL cholesterol level was 94±38 mg/dl, only 27.1% of the patients achieved LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl.

However, the long-term prevention program IPP-Y led to a higher rate of the primary endpoint prevention success (IPP-Y: 49% vs. UC: 27%, p<0.05) and a lower rate of prevention failure (IPP-Y: 15% vs. UC: 38%, p<0.05) compared to usual care after 12 months (see figure). Telemetric control of risk factors as part of the prevention program was used by 71.4% of the patients.

In the genetic subanalysis prevention effects were found in both, patients with high genetic risk as well as patients with low genetic risk assessed by polygenetic risk scores (p=0.79 high vs. low genetic risk).

Effects of IPP-Y during 12 months

Conclusions

To our knowledge this is the first study on young patients with MI that demonstrates insufficient long-term risk factor control in clinical practice and significant effects of an intensive prevention program. Prevention effects were independent from individual genetic risk.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported by the Stiftung Bremer Herzen, Bremen, Germany and the Stiftung Bremer Wertpapierbörse, Bremen, Germany

P2660Definition of clinically relevant thresholds of acute kidney injury in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarctions undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions

Background

Although the clinical importance of deteriorating kidney function in patients with ST-elevation-myocardial infarctions (STEMI) on overall prognosis is generally accepted, there is conflicting evidence on the importance of small changes in renal function. Aim of the present study was to calculate clincially relevant thresholds for deterioration of renal function after STEMI.

Methods

From a large registry of patients with STEMI renal function was estimated calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR in ml/min/1.73 m2) with the CKD-EPI-equation. To assess acute kidney injury the ratio GFR (at peak creatinine))/ GFR (at admission) was calculated for each patient (with 1 representing no change). Patients were graded by GFR-reduction and assigned to 11 groups (G1 to G11) each representing 5% intervals.

Results

Of 6583 patients admitted with STEMI between 2006–2017 3518 (53%) had no change or a change <5% during hospital stay (G1) while 161 (3%) showed a decrease in GFR of ≥50% (G11). The rest of the patients could be attributed to G2- G10 (table). There was a pronounced correlation between extent of GFR-reduction and peak creatine kinase (indicating size of STEMI, r2=0.785; G1: 1521±1684 U/l vs. G11: 2885±2943 U/l, p<0.01) as well as left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r2=0.79; G1: 50.9±9% vs. G11: 41.4±10%, p<0.01). However, no such correlation could be detected between GFR-reduction and amount of contrast media (CM) applied (r2=0.05, G1: 141±60 ml vs. G11: 139±61 ml, p=0.5). Analysis of outcome-data (1-year-mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE: death, stroke, re-infarction)) revealed, that beneath a threshold of 25% deterioration of renal function did not significantly impact prognosis, while higher degrees of deterioration led to a 7-fold increase in mortality and a 5-fold increase in MACCE-rates (table).

Impact of GFR-reduction on outcome Group G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 GFR-reduction (in %) 0–4 5 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 ≥50 Patients, n (%) 3518 (53) 881 (13) 717 (11) 492 (7) 327 (5) 196 (3) 119 (2) 88 (1) 48 (1) 36 (1) 161 (3) 1 year mortality (%) 7 4 5 8 7 15 20 22 39 43 50 1-year-MACCE (%) 12 8 8 12 10 19 27 27 49 49 52

Conclusions

These data from a large STEMI-registry show that small changes (less than 25%) in GFR did not significantly impact long-term outcome, while the impact was pronounced for all patients beyond that threshold. The degree of renal deterioration furthermore correlated with size of STEMI as well as reduction of LV-function after STEMI while no correlation to amount of contrast media could be found.

465Benefit of modern P2Y12-inhibitors on long-term prognosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction with and without advanced chronic kidney disease

Background

Current guidelines on the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) recommend the preferred use of the modern P2Y12-inhibitors ticagrelor or prasugrel regardless of the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), although patients with advanced stages of CKD were excluded from randomized trials. Aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the potential benefit of modern P2Y12-inhibitors in patients with and without advanced renal disease at admission.

Methods

All patients admitted with STEMI between 2006–2017 from a large german heart center treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) entered analysis. Initial CKD was estimated with the initial glomerular filtration rate (GFR), calculated with the CKD-EPI-equation, assigning them to the groups G1-G5.

Results

Of 7227 patients with STEMI and primary PCI 2669 (37%) showed no relevant reduction in GFR at admission (≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2, G1), 2976 pts. (41%), a slight reduction (GFR 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m2, G2), 880 pts. (12%) a moderate reduction (GFR 45–59 ml/min/1.73 m2, G3a) and 702 pts. (10%) a moderate to severe reduction (GFR<45 ml/min 1.73 m2, G3b-G5). Pts. with more advanced stages of CKD were on average older (G1: 55±11 years, G2: 66±12 years, G3a: 72±12 years, G3b-G5: 75±11 years, p<0.01) and more likely to be female (G1: 19%, G2: 26%, G3a: 40%, G3b-G5: 48%, p<0.01). Prasugrel/ticagrelor were less often given instead of clopidogrel in patients with advanced CKD (G1: 70%, G2: 45%, G3a: 31%, G3b-G5: 32%, p<0.01). The use of ticagrelor/prasugrel was associated with a reduction in 1-year-MACCE (major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events)-rates in patients with no/low-grade-CKD (G1-G2), while no significant reduction in MACCE could be observed for patients with moderate to severe CKD (table). Furthermore, CKD was associated with an elevation in severe bleeding events within 1 year (G1: 1%, G2: 3%, G3a: 5%, G3b-G5: 6%, p<0.01).

Impact of CKD-stage on outcome CKD-stage G1 CKD-stage G2 CKD-stage G3a CKD-stage G3b-G5 1-year-MACCE-rate (%) Ticagrelor/prasugrel 4.5 11.0 27.4 47.3 Clopidogrel 9.9 15.6 26.6 50.4 Significance <0.01 <0.01 0.6 0.7

Conclusions

These data from a large STEMI-registry demonstrate, that modern P2Y12-inhibitors were less often used in patients with CKD and their benefit regarding MACCE disappeared in advanced stages of CKD while bleeding rates increased. These results underline the special role of patients with advanced stage-CKD in STEMI and the necessity of specialized randomized trials for these patients.

Design and implementation of a low temperature, inductance based high frequency alternating current susceptometer

We report on the implementation of an induction based, low temperature, high frequency ac susceptometer capable of measuring at frequencies up to 3.5 MHz and at temperatures between 2 K and 300 K. Careful balancing of the detection coils and calibration allow a sample magnetic moment resolution of 5 × 10^-10 Am² at 1 MHz. We discuss the design and characterization of the susceptometer and explain the calibration process. We also include some example measurements on the spin ice material CdEr₂S₄ and iron oxide based nanoparticles to illustrate functionality.

Chloride cotransporter KCC2 is essential for GABAergic inhibition in the SCN

One of the principal neurotransmitters of the central nervous system is GABA. In the adult brain, GABA is predominantly inhibitory, but there is growing evidence indicating that GABA can shift to excitatory action depending on environmental conditions. In the mammalian central circadian clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) GABAergic activity shifts from inhibition to excitation when animals are exposed to long day photoperiod. The polarity of the GABAergic response (inhibitory versus excitatory) depends on the GABA equilibrium potential determined by the intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i). Chloride homeostasis can be regulated by Cl- cotransporters like NKCC1 and KCC2 in the membrane, but the mechanisms for maintaining [Cl-]i are still under debate. This study investigates the role of KCC2 on GABA-induced Ca2+ transients in SCN neurons from mice exposed to different photoperiods. We show for the first time that blocking KCC2 with the newly developed blocker ML077 can cause a shift in the polarity of the GABAergic response. This will increase the amount of excitatory responses in SCN neurons and thus cause a shift in excitatory/inhibitory ratio. These results indicate that KCC2 is an essential component in regulating [Cl-]i and the equilibrium potential of Cl- and thereby determining the sign of the GABAergic response. Moreover, our data suggest a role for the Cl- cotransporters in the switch from inhibition to excitation observed under long day photoperiod.

Making Graphene Nanoribbons Photoluminescent

We demonstrate the alignment-preserving transfer of parallel graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) onto insulating substrates. The photophysics of such samples is characterized by polarized Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The Raman scattered light and the PL are polarized along the GNR axis. The Raman cross section as a function of excitation energy has distinct excitonic peaks associated with transitions between the one-dimensional parabolic subbands. We find that the PL of GNRs is intrinsically low but can be strongly enhanced by blue laser irradiation in ambient conditions or hydrogenation in ultrahigh vacuum. These functionalization routes cause the formation of sp³ defects in GNRs. We demonstrate the laser writing of luminescent patterns in GNR films for maskless lithography by the controlled generation of defects. Our findings set the stage for further exploration of the optical properties of GNRs on insulating substrates and in device geometries.

Behaviour of the extractant Me-TODGA upon gamma irradiation: quantification of degradation compounds and individual influences on complexation and extraction

Understanding of ligand–metal interactions is crucial to develop new processes for nuclear waste treatment.