Characterization of PRAME immunohistochemistry reveals lower expression in pediatric melanoma compared to adult melanoma

Pediatric melanomas are rare tumors that have clinical and histological differences from adult melanomas. In adult melanoma, the immunohistochemical marker PRAME is increasingly employed as a diagnostic adjunct. PRAME is also under investigation as a target structure for next-generation immunotherapies including T-cell engagers. Little is known about the characteristics of PRAME expression in pediatric melanoma. In this retrospective study, samples from 25 pediatric melanomas were compared with control groups of melanomas in young adults (18-30 years; n = 32), adult melanoma (>30 years, n = 30), and benign melanocytic nevi in children (0-18 years; n = 30) with regard to the immunohistochemical expression of PRAME (diffuse PRAME expression >75%/absolute expression). Pediatric melanomas show lower diffuse PRAME expression (4%) and lower absolute PRAME expression (25%) compared to young adult melanomas (15.6%/46.8%) and adult melanomas (50%/70%). A significant age-dependent expression could be observed. An analysis of event-free survival shows no prognostic role for PRAME in pediatric melanoma and young adult melanoma, but a significant association with diffuse PRAME expression in adulthood. The age dependency of PRAME expression poses a potential pitfall in the diagnostic application of melanocytic tumors in young patients and may limit therapeutic options within this age group. The immunohistochemical expression of the tumor-associated antigen PRAME is an increasingly important diagnostic marker for melanocytic tumors and is gaining attention as a possible immunotherapeutic target in melanoma. As the available data primarily stem from adult melanoma, and given the clinical and histological distinctions in pediatric melanomas, our understanding of PRAME expression in this specific patient group remains limited. The age-dependent low PRAME expression shown here constrains the use of this marker in pediatric melanoma and may also limit the use of immunotherapeutic strategies against PRAME in young patients.

Early and recurrent cerebral vasospasms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: The impact of age

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral vasospasms remain a strong predictor of poor outcome after aneurysmal SAH. The aim of this study was to describe the time course of relevant vasospasms after aneurysmal SAH and to determine the variables associated with early-onset or prolonged and recurrent vasospasms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of consecutive adult patients with aneurysmal SAH admitted between 2016 and 2022 at our tertiary stroke center. Relevant vasospasms, defined as vessel narrowing detected in DSA in combination with clinical deterioration or new perfusion deficit, were detected according to our in-house algorithm and eventually treated endovascularly. The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of relevant vasospasms. As secondary endpoints, the time from hemorrhage to the onset of vasospasms and the time from the first to the last endovascular intervention were measured.

RESULTS

Of 368 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 135 (41.0%) developed relevant vasospasms. The median time between ictus and detection of vasospasms was 8 days (IQR: 6-10). Patients with early-onset vasospasms were significantly younger (mean 52.7 ± 11.2 years vs 58.7 ± 11.5 years, p = 0.003) and presented more frequently vasospasm-related infarctions at discharge (58.8% vs 38.7%, p = 0.03). In 74 patients (54.8%), recurrent relevant vasospasms were observed despite endovascular treatment. Younger age and early onset were significantly associated with longer duration of relevant vasospasms (both p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Younger age was associated with early-onset and longer duration of relevant vasospasms in this study. More frequent clinical and diagnostic follow-up should be considered in this subgroup of patients that are at risk for poor outcomes.

Radiation-Induced Brain Injury: Age Dependency of Neurocognitive Dysfunction Following Radiotherapy

Cranial radiotherapy is a known risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in cancer survivors. Although radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction is observed in patients of all ages, children seem to be more vulnerable than adults to suffering age-related deficits in neurocognitive skills. So far, the underlying mechanisms by which IR negatively influences brain functions as well as the reasons for the profound age dependency are still insufficiently known. We performed a comprehensive Pubmed-based literature search to identify original research articles that reported on age dependency of neurocognitive dysfunction following cranial IR exposure. Numerous clinical trials in childhood cancer survivors indicate that the severity of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction is clearly dependent on age at IR exposure. These clinical findings were related to the current state of experimental research providing important insights into the age dependency of radiation-induced brain injury and the development of neurocognitive impairment. Research in pre-clinical rodent models demonstrates age-dependent effects of IR exposure on hippocampal neurogenesis, radiation-induced neurovascular damage and neuroinflammation.

Multiscale network analysis identifies potential receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and reveals their tissue-specific and age-dependent expression

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected tens of millions of individuals and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Here, we present a comprehensive, multiscale network analysis of the transcriptional response to the virus. In particular, we focused on key regulators, cell receptors, and host processes that were hijacked by the virus for its advantage. ACE2-controlled processes involved CD300e (a TYROBP receptor) as a key regulator and the activation of IL-2 pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. We further investigated the age dependency of such receptors in different tissues. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the gene regulatory organization during the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the tissue-specific, age-dependent expression of the cell receptors involved in COVID-19.

Factors Influencing Vertical Transmission of Psittacine Bornavirus in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

The transmission of parrot bornavirus is still not fully understood. Although horizontal transmission through wounds can be one route, vertical transmission is still discussed. PaBV RNA and PaBV antigen were detected in psittacine embryos, but isolation of the virus failed, raising doubts about this route. In this study, cockatiels were infected either as adults (adult group) or during the first 6 days after hatching (juvenile group) and raised until sexual maturity to breed and lay eggs. A total of 92 eggs (adult group: 49, juvenile group: 43) were laid and incubated until day 17. The embryos and yolk samples were examined by RT-PCR for PaBV RNA and by infectivity assay for infectious virus. In the adult group, 14/31 embryos (45.2%) and 20/39 (51%) of the yolk samples demonstrated PaBV RNA in the PCR. Isolation of PaBV was not possible in any embryo of this group, but it was achieved in six yolk samples from one female. Anti-PaBV antibodies were detected in the yolk samples after seroconversion of all female parents. In the juvenile group, 22/29 embryos (74.9%) were positive for PaBV RNA. In 9/21 embryos (42.9%), PaBV isolation was possible. PaBV RNA was detected in 100% and infectious virus in 41% of the yolk samples. Anti-PaBV antibodies were detected in all yolk samples. For the first time, successful vertical transmission of PaBV was proven, but it seems to depend on the age when the parent birds are infected. Therefore, the age of the bird at time of infection may be an important factor in the occurrence of vertical transmission.

Variations in the pathophysiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection depend on the age at onset

BACKGROUND

Lower respiratory tract infections due to respiratory syncytial virus are associated with morbidity and mortality in infants and children. Thus precise elucidation of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection pathophysiology is important.

METHODS

Medical records of hospitalized patients were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I: patients who improved without oxygen supply. Group II: patients who received oxygen supply, but not nasal high-flow cannula therapy. Group III: patients who received nasal high-flow cannula. Patients were also divided by age group into the <6 months and ≥6 months groups. Parameters for differentiating the severity among groups were then evaluated. Further, serum concentration of high-mobility group box-1 and several cytokines (Inerleukin-6, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1/2, Interleukin-18, Interferon-gamma responsive protein-100) were evaluated.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-nine were enrolled. An analysis of variance for those <6 months showed overall differences including younger age, lower pH, and increased partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and base excess at the time of admission. On the other hand, analysis of variance for ≥6 months revealed that, in addition to a lower pH and increased pCO2, patients showed differences including decreased serum total protein and albumin, and increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanin aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Further, evaluation of serum cytokines showed that IL-6, s tumor necrotizing factor receptor-1/2, and high-mobility group box-1 were higher in Group II/III among the ≥6 months age group, but not for those in the <6 months group.

CONCLUSIONS

The pathophysiology of severe respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection varies according to the age at onset. In late infancy and childhood, a certain proportion of patients show a hyperinflammatory status.

Sex Differences in Clinical Course and Intensive Care Unit Admission in a National Cohort of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Males have a higher risk for an adverse outcome of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to analyze sex differences in the clinical course with focus on patients who received intensive care. Research was conducted as an observational retrospective cohort study. A group of 23,235 patients from 83 hospitals with PCR-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 between 4 February 2020 and 22 March 2021 were included. Data on symptoms were retrieved from a separate registry, which served as a routine infection control system. Males accounted for 51.4% of all included patients. Males received more intensive care (ratio OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.51-1.71) and mechanical ventilation (invasive or noninvasive, OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.73-2.01). A model for the prediction of mortality showed that until the age 60 y, mortality increased with age with no substantial difference between sexes. After 60 y, the risk of death increased more in males than in females. At 90 y, females had a predicted mortality risk of 31%, corresponding to males of 84 y. In the intensive care unit (ICU) cohort, females of 90 y had a mortality risk of 46%, equivalent to males of 72 y. Seventy-five percent of males over 90 died, but only 46% of females of the same age. In conclusion, the sex gap was most evident among the oldest in the ICU. Understanding sex-determined differences in COVID-19 can be useful to facilitate individualized treatments.

Age dependency of the diabetes effects on the iris recognition systems performance evaluation results

In this paper, we attempt to answer the questions whether iris recognition task under the influence of diabetes would be more difficult and whether the effects of diabetes and individuals' age are uncorrelated. We hypothesized that the health condition of volunteers plays an important role in the performance of the iris recognition system. To confirm the obtained results, we reported the distribution of usable area in each subgroup to have a more comprehensive analysis of diabetes effects. There is no conducted study to investigate for which age group (young or old) the diabetes effect is more acute on the biometric results. For this purpose, we created a new database containing 1,906 samples from 509 eyes. We applied the weighted adaptive Hough ellipsopolar transform technique and contrast-adjusted Hough transform for segmentation of iris texture, along with three different encoding algorithms. To test the hypothesis related to physiological aging effect, Welches's t-test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test have been used to study the age-dependency of diabetes mellitus influence on the reliability of our chosen iris recognition system. Our results give some general hints related to age effect on performance of biometric systems for people with diabetes.

Differential expression of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit in the brain of neonatal mice and young adult mice

It is generally thought that younger people are more susceptible to cancer development after exposure to ionizing radiation in reference to epidemiological studies and animal experiments. However, little is known about the age-dependent alteration in DNA repair ability. In the present study, we examined the expression levels of proteins involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), i.e., DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), X-ray repair cross-complementing 4 (XRCC4) and XRCC4-like factor (XLF). We found that the expression of DNA-PKcs in brain tissues was higher in neonatal mice (1 week after birth) than in young adult mice (7 weeks after birth). In association with this, DNA double-strand breaks were repaired more rapidly in the brain tissues of neonatal mice than in those of young adult mice. The current results suggested a possible role for DNA-PKcs protecting developing brain tissues from DNA double-strand breaks.

Frequency-dependent current perception threshold in healthy Japanese adults

The purpose of the study involves measuring the threshold for electric currents (i.e., current perception threshold or CPT) under several stimulating current frequencies. Specifically, current perception threshold (CPT) was measured in 53 healthy volunteers between the ages of 21 and 67. The stimulation currents were applied on the right index finger with stimulus frequencies in the range of 50 Hz - 300 kHz. The method of limits and method of constant stimuli were combined to measure the CPT. In a manner consistent with the findings obtained by previous studies, the results indicated that CPT was higher in men than in women and in older individuals than in young subjects. Bioelectromagnetics. 9999:XX-XX, 2019. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Host, agent and environment interactions affecting Nervous necrosis virus infection in Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata

Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata were challenged by immersion with nervous necrosis virus (NNV) at different ages and under controlled conditions to investigate factors affecting disease expression. Fish challenged at 3 weeks of age with 10³ TCID₅₀ /ml and higher doses developed clinical disease; a lower dose of 10² TCID₅₀ /ml resulted in incidence below 100% and 10¹ TCID₅₀ /ml was insufficient to cause infection. Additionally, fish were challenged at 5, 6 and 13 weeks of age at 17 and 21°C to assess the role of the age of the host and water temperature on disease expression. Although Australian bass challenged at all ages had evidence of replication of NNV, only those challenged at 3 weeks of age (20 and 24 days post-hatch [dph]) developed clinical disease. Higher water temperature had an additive effect on disease expression in larvae challenged at 24 dph, but it did not affect the disease outcome in older fish. Finally, isolates of NNV derived from fish with clinical or subclinical disease presentations caused similar cumulative mortality and clinical signs when larvae at 24 dph were challenged, suggesting that agent variation was not responsible for variation in clinical presentation in these field outbreaks of NNV infection.

Automated scoring of dicentric chromosomes differentiates increased radiation sensitivity of young children after low dose CT exposure in vitro

PURPOSE

Automated detection of dicentric chromosomes from a large number of cells was applied to study age-dependent radiosensitivity after in vitro CT exposure of blood from healthy donors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood samples from newborns, children (2-5 years) and adults (20-50 years) were exposed in vitro to 0 mGy, 41 mGy and 978 mGy using a CT equipment. In this study, automated scoring based on 13,000-31,000 cells/dose point/age group was performed. Results for control and low dose points were validated by manually counting about 26,000 cells/dose point/age group.

RESULTS

For all age groups, the high number of analyzed cells enabled the detection of a significant increase in the frequency of radiation induced dicentric chromosomes in cells exposed to 41 mGy as compared to control cells. Moreover, differences between the age groups could be resolved for the low dose: young donors showed significantly increased risk for induced dicentrics at 41 mGy compared to adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The results very clearly demonstrate that the automated dicentric scoring method is capable of discerning radiation induced biomarkers in the low dose range (<100 mGy) and thus may open possibilities for large-scale molecular epidemiology studies in radiation protection.

Dose-Response Models for Eastern US, Western US and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viruses in Mice - Part II: Quantification of the Effects of Host Age on the Dose Response

Many infectious disease hazards demonstrate higher susceptibility with regards to younger host ages. This trend of increased susceptibility with decreasing host age can also lead to an increased likelihood of mortality, and prolonged/chronic health effects. For quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) modeling, the ability to quantify the effect of host age in the dose response model can allow modelers to account for these effects mechanistically. Additionally, QMRA modelers using age-dependent dose response models can model entire populations within the dose-response itself rather than modeling age ranges using susceptibility factors. This research developed host-age dependent exponential and beta Poisson dose response models for Eastern, Western and Venezuelan encephalitis viruses (EEV, WEV and VEV respectively) for two routes - intracranial and intraperitoneal. Improvement in fit was statistically tested as a means of assessing the benefit of including age dependency into the dose response models. EEV demonstrated improvement in fit using host-age dependency only for the exponential model except for intracranial exposure. EEV demonstrated an improvement in fit when using age dependency in the beta Poisson dose response model for both exposure routes. VEV demonstrated an improvement in fit using age dependency for both exposure routes. WEV demonstrated an improvement in fit for intracranial exposure, but neither of the age dependent dose-response models provided a good fit for WEV intraperitoneal exposure.

Non-invasive model of neuropathogenic Escherichia coli infection in the neonatal rat

Investigation of the interactions between animal host and bacterial pathogen is only meaningful if the infection model employed replicates the principal features of the natural infection. This protocol describes procedures for the establishment and evaluation of systemic infection due to neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1 in the neonatal rat. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract leads to dissemination of the pathogen along the gut-lymph-blood-brain course of infection and the model displays strong age dependency. A strain of E. coli O18:K1 with enhanced virulence for the neonatal rat produces exceptionally high rates of colonization, translocation to the blood compartment and invasion of the meninges following transit through the choroid plexus. As in the human host, penetration of the central nervous system is accompanied by local inflammation and an invariably lethal outcome. The model is of proven utility for studies of the mechanism of pathogenesis, for evaluation of therapeutic interventions and for assessment of bacterial virulence.

In vivo MRI analysis of depth-dependent ultrastructure in human knee cartilage at 7 T

Signal intensities of T2-weighted magnetic resonance images depend on the local fiber arrangement in hyaline cartilage. The aims of this study were to determine whether angle-sensitive MRI at 7 T can be used to quantify the cartilage ultrastructure of the knee in vivo and to assess potential differences with age. Ten younger (21-30) and ten older (55-76 years old) healthy volunteers were imaged with a T2-weighted spin-echo sequence in a 7 T whole-body MRI. A "fascicle" model was assumed to describe the depth-dependent fiber arrangement of cartilage. The R/T boundary positions between radial and transitional zones were assessed from intensity profiles in small regions of interest in the femur and tibia, and normalized to cartilage thickness using logistic curve fits. The quality of our highly resolved (0.3 × 0.3 × 1.0 mm(3)) MR cartilage images were high enough for quantitative analysis (goodness of fit R(2) = 0.91 ± 0.09). Between younger and older subjects, normalized positions of the R/T boundary, with value 0 at the bone-cartilage interface and 1 at the cartilage surface, were significantly (p < 0.05) different in femoral (0.51 ± 0.12 versus 0.41 ± 0.10), but not in tibial cartilage (0.65 ± 0.11 versus 0.57 ± 0.09, p = 0.119). Within both age groups, differences between femoral and tibial R/T boundaries were significant. Using a fascicle model and angle-sensitive MRI, the depth-dependent anisotropic fiber arrangement of knee cartilage could be assessed in vivo from a single 7 T MR image. The derived quantitative parameter, thickness of the radial zone, may serve as an indicator of the structural integrity of cartilage. This method may potentially be suitable to detect and monitor early osteoarthritis because the progressive disintegration of the anisotropic network is also indicative of arthritic changes in cartilage.

Impact of technology on cytology outcome in cervical cancer screening of young and older women

Little is known about age-dependent variation in outcomes of cervical cytology with modern technologies. This population-based study evaluated age-dependent changes after routine implementation of ThinPrep and SurePath technology in two independent laboratories, and controlled for time trends in a third laboratory using manually read conventional cytology continually. Data were collected from the Danish National Health Care Registers. For each laboratory, we compared proportions of abnormal cytology defined as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse (ASCUS+) by age and technology phase. The study included 489,960 cytological samples with no recent abnormality from women aged 23-59 years, routinely screened between 1998 and 2007. Implementation of SurePath liquid-based cytology (LBC) was followed by an increase in abnormal cytology in women aged 23-29 years from 4.6 to 6.1%, relative proportion (RP): 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.61], and a decrease in women aged 45-59 years from 2.9 to 2.0%, RP: 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60-0.83). Implementation of ThinPrep LBC was followed by a decrease in abnormal cytology both in women aged 23-29 years from 7.7 to 6.8%, RP: 0.89 (95% CI: 0.78-1.02) and in women aged 45-59 years from 3.4 to 1.0%, RP: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.24-0.37). With implementation of imaging-assisted reading, regardless of the brand of technology, the proportion of abnormality increased by around 30% in all age groups (range from 19 to 41%). In the laboratory with unchanged technology no trends in abnormality proportions were observed. The impact of LBC implementation on cytological abnormality proportions varied considerably across age groups.