Search

ObjectiveTo evaluate changes in bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving glucocorticoids, after discontinuation of denosumab for 12 months.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study of RA patients. Patients received placebo, denosumab 60 mg, or denosumab 180 mg every 6 months for 12 months and were followed up for an additional 12 months after discontinuation, during which no bone loss prevention therapy was instituted. Changes from baseline in serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), and lumbar spine and total hip BMD were evaluated.ResultsIn this post hoc analysis of patients treated with glucocorticoids at study baseline (n = 82), levels of CTX and PINP decreased significantly from baseline in both denosumab groups. Following denosumab discontinuation, CTX returned to baseline and was not significantly different from the placebo group 6 and 12 months after discontinuation. Median percentage changes from baseline PINP in those treated with denosumab 60 mg were -0.16% and 15.3% at 6 and 12 months, respectively, after discontinuation (P = 0.062 and P = 0.017, versus placebo); corresponding changes with denosumab 180 mg were 9.0% and 75.8%, respectively (P = 0.018 and P = 0.002 versus placebo). Compared to placebo, lumbar spine and total hip BMD increased in patients receiving denosumab and returned to baseline 12 months after discontinuation. No osteoporotic fractures were reported during treatment or in the off-treatment period.ConclusionIn this analysis of short-term denosumab use in RA patients receiving glucocorticoids, denosumab discontinuation resulted in a gradual increase in bone turnover, which was associated with a return to baseline lumbar spine and total hip BMD.

Ileal strictures are the major indication for resective surgery in Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to define ileal gene programs present at diagnosis linked with future stricturing behavior during five year follow-up, and to identify potential small molecules to reverse these gene signatures. Antimicrobial serologies and pre-treatment ileal gene expression were assessed in a representative subset of 249 CD patients within the RISK multicenter pediatric CD inception cohort study, including 113 that are unique to this report. These data were used to define genes associated with stricturing behavior and for model testing to predict stricturing behavior. A bioinformatics approach to define small molecules which may reverse the stricturing gene signature was applied. 19 of the 249 patients developed isolated B2 stricturing behavior during follow-up, while 218 remained B1 inflammatory. Using deeper RNA sequencing than in our prior report, we have now defined an inflammatory gene signature including an oncostatin M co-expression signature, tightly associated with extra-cellular matrix (ECM) gene expression in those who developed stricturing complications. We further computationally prioritize small molecules targeting macrophage and fibroblast activation and angiogenesis which may reverse the stricturing gene signature. A model containing ASCA and CBir1 serologies and a refined eight ECM gene set was significantly associated with stricturing development by year five after diagnosis (AUC (95th CI) = 0.82 (0.7-0.94)). An ileal gene program for macrophage and fibroblast activation is linked to stricturing complications in treatment naïve pediatric CD, and may inform novel small molecule therapeutic approaches.

Age-of-diagnosis associated variation in disease location and antimicrobial sero-reactivity has suggested fundamental differences in pediatric Crohn Disease (CD) pathogenesis. This variation may be related to pubertal peak incidence of ileal involvement and Peyer's patches maturation, represented by IFNγ-expressing Th1 cells. However, direct mucosal evidence is lacking. We characterize the global pattern of ileal gene expression and microbial communities in 525 treatment-naive pediatric CD patients and controls (Ctl), stratifying samples by their age-of-diagnosis. We show a robust ileal gene signature notable for higher expression of specific immune genes including GM-CSF and INFγ, and reduced expression of antimicrobial Paneth cell α-defensins, in older compared to younger patients. Reduced α-defensin expression in older patients was associated with higher IFNγ expression. By comparison, the CD-associated ileal dysbiosis, characterized by expansion of Enterobacteriaceae and contraction of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, was already established within the younger group and did not vary systematically with increasing age-of-diagnosis. Multivariate analysis considering individual taxa, however did demonstrate negative associations between Lachnospiraceae and IFNγ, and positive associations between Bacteroides and α-defensin expression. These data provide evidence for maturation of mucosal Th1 immune responses and loss of epithelial antimicrobial α-defensins which are associated with specific taxa with increasing age-of-diagnosis in pediatric CD.

BackgroundLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) are key regulators of gene transcription and many show tissue-specific expression. We previously defined a novel inflammatory and metabolic ileal gene signature in treatment-naive pediatric Crohn disease (CD). We now extend our analyses to include potential regulatory lncRNA.MethodsUsing RNAseq, we systematically profiled lncRNAs and protein-coding gene expression in 177 ileal biopsies. Co-expression analysis was used to identify functions and tissue-specific expression. RNA in situ hybridization was used to validate expression. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to test lncRNA regulation by IL-1β in Caco-2 enterocytes.ResultsWe characterize widespread dysregulation of 459 lncRNAs in the ileum of CD patients. Using only the lncRNA in discovery and independent validation cohorts showed patient classification as accurate as the protein-coding genes, linking lncRNA to CD pathogenesis. Co-expression and functional annotation enrichment analyses across several tissues and cell types 1showed that the upregulated LINC01272 is associated with a myeloid pro-inflammatory signature, whereas the downregulated HNF4A-AS1 exhibits association with an epithelial metabolic signature. We confirmed tissue-specific expression in biopsies using in situ hybridization, and validated regulation of prioritized lncRNA upon IL-1β exposure in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Finally, we identified significant correlations between LINC01272 and HNF4A-AS1 expression and more severe mucosal injury.ConclusionsWe systematically define differentially expressed lncRNA in the ileum of newly diagnosed pediatric CD. We show lncRNA utility to correctly classify disease or healthy states and demonstrate their regulation in response to an inflammatory signal. These lncRNAs, after mechanistic exploration, may serve as potential new tissue-specific targets for RNA-based interventions.

The 2018 Association of Pathology Chairs annual meeting included a panel discussion of Association of Pathology Chairs senior fellows (former chairs of academic departments of pathology who have remained active in Association of Pathology Chairs) about the type of advice that current (sitting) pathology chairs ask them. To inform the panel discussion, information was obtained from the senior fellows by e-mail and subsequent conference call. Of the 33 respondents, 24 (73%) had provided consultation advice (9, 20). Most (>75%) of the consultations were provided face-to-face and outside the framework of Association of Pathology Chairs, with 70% of those seeking advice being well known by the consultant(s). Of the senior fellows providing advice, 71% had themselves sought consultation from former pathology chairs and 75% from nonpathology chairs. Modest correlation was found between the number of consultations senior fellows sought when they were chairs and the number of consultations they subsequently provided. The most frequent topics of consultation were strategic planning, balancing the missions, setting department priorities, recruitment of faculty and staff, conflict management, issues specific to new chairs, and resource (money/space) issues. Those who had provided such advice the longest and to the most people indicated that there was no significant change in the type of questions asked over time. Former department chairs can be a valuable source of counseling for current chairs, and organizations of department chairs should consider formalizing the use of these individuals as consultants to sitting chairs.

The 2018 Association of Pathology Chairs annual meeting included a panel discussion of Association of Pathology Chairs senior fellows (former chairs of academic departments of pathology who have remained active in Association of Pathology Chairs) about the type of advice that current (sitting) pathology chairs ask them. To inform the panel discussion, information was obtained from the senior fellows by e-mail and subsequent conference call. Of the 33 respondents, 24 (73%) had provided consultation advice (9, 20). Most (>75%) of the consultations were provided face-to-face and outside the framework of Association of Pathology Chairs, with 70% of those seeking advice being well known by the consultant(s). Of the senior fellows providing advice, 71% had themselves sought consultation from former pathology chairs and 75% from nonpathology chairs. Modest correlation was found between the number of consultations senior fellows sought when they were chairs and the number of consultations they subsequently provided. The most frequent topics of consultation were strategic planning, balancing the missions, setting department priorities, recruitment of faculty and staff, conflict management, issues specific to new chairs, and resource (money/space) issues. Those who had provided such advice the longest and to the most people indicated that there was no significant change in the type of questions asked over time. Former department chairs can be a valuable source of counseling for current chairs, and organizations of department chairs should consider formalizing the use of these individuals as consultants to sitting chairs.

BackgroundStricturing and penetrating complications account for substantial morbidity and health-care costs in paediatric and adult onset Crohn's disease. Validated models to predict risk for complications are not available, and the effect of treatment on risk is unknown.MethodsWe did a prospective inception cohort study of paediatric patients with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease at 28 sites in the USA and Canada. Genotypes, antimicrobial serologies, ileal gene expression, and ileal, rectal, and faecal microbiota were assessed. A competing-risk model for disease complications was derived and validated in independent groups. Propensity-score matching tested the effect of anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) therapy exposure within 90 days of diagnosis on complication risk.FindingsBetween Nov 1, 2008, and June 30, 2012, we enrolled 913 patients, 78 (9%) of whom experienced Crohn's disease complications. The validated competing-risk model included age, race, disease location, and antimicrobial serologies and provided a sensitivity of 66% (95% CI 51-82) and specificity of 63% (55-71), with a negative predictive value of 95% (94-97). Patients who received early anti-TNFα therapy were less likely to have penetrating complications (hazard ratio [HR] 0·30, 95% CI 0·10-0·89; p=0·0296) but not stricturing complication (1·13, 0·51-2·51; 0·76) than were those who did not receive early anti-TNFα therapy. Ruminococcus was implicated in stricturing complications and Veillonella in penetrating complications. Ileal genes controlling extracellular matrix production were upregulated at diagnosis, and this gene signature was associated with stricturing in the risk model (HR 1·70, 95% CI 1·12-2·57; p=0·0120). When this gene signature was included, the model's specificity improved to 71%.InterpretationOur findings support the usefulness of risk stratification of paediatric patients with Crohn's disease at diagnosis, and selection of anti-TNFα therapy.FundingCrohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation Digestive Health Center.

The relationship between the host and its microbiota is challenging to understand because both microbial communities and their environments are highly variable. We have developed a set of techniques based on population dynamics and information theory to address this challenge. These methods identify additional bacterial taxa associated with pediatric Crohn disease and can detect significant changes in microbial communities with fewer samples than previous statistical approaches required. We have also substantially improved the accuracy of the diagnosis based on the microbiota from stool samples, and we found that the ecological niche of a microbe predicts its role in Crohn disease. Bacteria typically residing in the lumen of healthy individuals decrease in disease, whereas bacteria typically residing on the mucosa of healthy individuals increase in disease. Our results also show that the associations with Crohn disease are evolutionarily conserved and provide a mutual information-based method to depict dysbiosis.

Objective: Preliminary evidence suggests that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may have some benefit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, prior studies have been small and/or uncontrolled; this study aimed to address that gap. Methods: This randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled trial enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years with active RA who had failed conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and were naïve to biologic and/or targeted synthetic DMARDs. All patients received an auricular vagus nerve stimulator and were randomized 1:1 to active stimulation or sham. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving 20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) at week 12. Secondary endpoints included mean changes in disease activity score of 28 joints with C‐reactive protein (DAS28‐CRP) and Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index (HAQ‐DI). Results: A total of 113 patients (mean age 54 years; 82% female) enrolled, and 101 patients (89.4%) completed week 12. ACR20 response at week 12 was 25.0% for active stimulation versus 26.9% for sham (difference vs. sham, −1.9; 95% CI, −18.8, 14.9, P = 0.823). The least square mean ± SE change in DAS28‐CRP was −0.95 ± 0.16 for active stimulation and −0.66 ± 0.16 for sham (P = 0.201); in HAQ‐DI it was −0.19 ± 0.06 for active stimulation and −0.02 ± 0.06 for sham (P = 0.044). Adverse events occurred in 17 patients (15%); all were mild or moderate. Conclusion: Auricular VNS did not meaningfully improve RA disease activity. If VNS with other modalities is pursued in the future for the treatment of RA, larger, controlled studies will be needed to understand its utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesFew clinical predictors are associated with definitive proctocolectomy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC). The purpose of the present study was to identify clinical predictors associated with surgery in children with UC using a disease-specific database.MethodsChildren diagnosed with UC at age