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Objectives 1) To confirm the correlation of GnRH receptor (GnRHR) activating autoantibody (AAb) activity with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis in large well defined cohorts; and 2) to evaluate suppression of AAb activity with GnRH antagonist medication in transfected GnRHR cells exposed to serum of PCOS patients. Design Cross-sectional matched case-control study. Setting University-based research facility. Patient(s) Sera from 200 patients with PCOS from the Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome II (PPCOS II) trial and from 200 race, parity-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)–matched ovulatory unexplained infertile control patients from the Assessment of Multiple Intrauterine Gestations from Ovarian Stimulation (AMIGOS) trial were obtained and used for this study. Intervention(s) GnRHR AAb activity was determined with the use of the GeneBlazer cell-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay with and without cetrorelix, a GnRH antagonist. Main Outcome Measure(s) 1) GnRHR AAb activity in PCOS patients compared with control subjects; and 2) effectiveness of GnRH antagonist in suppressing GnRHR AAb activity. Result(s) GnRHR AAb activity levels in the PCOS group were significantly higher than in the control group. With cetrorelix, GnRHR AAb activity was largely suppressed in the PCOS group but not in the control group. These differences remained significant after adjusting for within-pair differences in age, BMI, and antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels. Conclusion(s) We confirmed higher GnRHR AAb activity levels in the sera of a large cohort of PCOS patients compared with unexplained infertile control subjects. Addition of cetrorelix resulted in significant suppression of AAb activity levels in PCOS patients as a group whereas control subjects were unaffected. GnRHR AAb, along with patient age and AMH level, may provide a promising future diagnostic test for PCOS.

* Abbreviations: COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 PD — : program director Pediatric residency programs must ensure residents achieve competence, despite disruptions from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.1,2 We conducted a national survey of pediatric program directors (PDs) to determine the extent of disruptions in pediatric resident training and frequency of resident redeployment and COVID-19 illness. We performed a national cross-sectional, electronic survey of pediatric PDs from May to July 2020. We received Institutional Review Board approval from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. We developed our survey after literature review, cognitive interviews, and pilot testing. In our survey, we included questions about program characteristics, pandemic emergency stage, impact on patient care, and resident illness and exposure. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education established 3 pandemic emergency stages, in which some … Address correspondence to Monique M. Naifeh, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1200 N Children’s Ave, Suite 12300, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. E-mail: Monique-naifeh{at}ouhsc.edu

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia has emerged as a critical coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor. Rare loss-of function (LoF) variants in apolipoprotein C-III have been reported to reduce triglycerides (TG) and are cardioprotective in American Indians and Europeans. However, there is a lack of data in other Europeans and non-Europeans. Also, whether genetically increased plasma TG due to ApoC-III is causally associated with increased CAD risk is still unclear and inconsistent. The objectives of this study were to verify the cardioprotective role of earlier reported six LoF variants of APOC3 in South Asians and other multi-ethnic cohorts and to evaluate the causal association of TG raising common variants for increasing CAD risk. Methods: We performed gene-centric and Mendelian randomization analyses and evaluated the role of genetic variation encompassing APOC3 for affecting circulating TG and the risk for developing CAD. Results: One rare LoF variant (rs138326449) with a 37% reduction in TG was associated with lowered risk for CAD in Europeans (p = 0.007), but we could not confirm this association in Asian Indians (p = 0.641). Our data could not validate the cardioprotective role of other five LoF variants analysed. A common variant rs5128 in the APOC3 was strongly associated with elevated TG levels showing a p-value 2.8 × 10− 424. Measures of plasma ApoC-III in a small subset of Sikhs revealed a 37% increase in ApoC-III concentrations among homozygous mutant carriers than the wild-type carriers of rs5128. A genetically instrumented per 1SD increment of plasma TG level of 15 mg/dL would cause a mild increase (3%) in the risk for CAD (p = 0.042). Conclusions: Our results highlight the challenges of inclusion of rare variant information in clinical risk assessment and the generalizability of implementation of ApoC-III inhibition for treating atherosclerotic disease. More studies would be needed to confirm whether genetically raised TG and ApoC-III concentrations would increase CAD risk. Ministry of Health (MOH) National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Published version AIDHS/SDS: The Sikh Diabetes Study/ Asian Indian Diabetic Heart Study was supported by NIH grants-R01DK082766; R01DK118427 (NIDDK) and NOT-HG11-009 (NHGRI) and grants from Presbyterian Health Foundation and Harald Hamm Diabetes Center of Oklahoma. Sequencing services were provided through the RS&G Service by the Northwest Genomics Center at the University of Washington, Department of Genome Sciences, under US Federal Government contract number HHSN268201100037C from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH. LOLIPOP: The LOLIPOP study is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre Imperial College Healthcare NHS. Trust, the British Heart Foundation (S.P./04/002), the Medical Research Council (G0601966, G0700931), the Wellcome Trust (084723/Z/08/Z, 090532 & 098381) the NIHR (RP-PG-0407-10371), the NIHR Official Development Assistance (ODA, award 16/136/68), the European Union FP7 (EpiMigrant, 279143) and H2020 programs (iHealth-T2D, 643774). We acknowledge the support of the MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, and the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Health Impact of Environmental Hazards. The work was carried out in part at the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS. Trust, the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health. We thank the participants and research staff who made the study possible. JC is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Singapore Translational Research Investigator (STaR) Award (NMRC/ STaR/0028/2017). SAMAFS: SAMAFS is supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants P01 HL045522, R01 DK047482, DK053889, R01 HL113323, R37 MH059490, and T2D-GENES Consortium grants (U01 DK085524, U01 DK085584, U01 DK085501, U01 DK085526, and U01 DK085545). We thank the participants of the San Antonio Family Heart Study and the San Antonio Family Diabetes/Gallbladder Study for their continued cooperation and participation in our research programs. MISS-OLIVER: The OLIVER and MISS are partly supported by NIH grants -R01DK082766 funded by the National Institute of Health (NIDDK), Presbyterian Health Foundation Grants, the College of Medicine Alumni Association grant, and Leinbach Seed Grant from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The authors thank all the participants of MISS-OLIVER participants and are grateful for their contribution to this study. UKBB: YT is supported by a Funai Overseas Scholarship from the Funai Foundation for Information Technology and the Stanford University School of Medicine. MAR is partially supported by Stanford University and a National Institute of Health center for Multi-and Trans-ethnic Mapping of Mendelian and Complex Diseases grant (5 U01 HG009080) and partially supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award R01HG010140.

Summary Introduction Differences of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions in which there is atypical chromosomal, gonadal and/or phenotypic sex. A phenotype of severe genital atypia in patients raised as male is a relatively rare occurrence and standards for management are lacking. Decision making for early surgical planning in these rare cases includes, but is not limited to, degree of atypia, location of testes, and presence of Mϋllerian remnants. In this study we describe surgical approaches and short-term outcomes for masculinizing genitoplasty in moderate to severe genital atypia in young patients raised male, for whom parents opted for early surgery. Methods This NIH-sponsored study is an ongoing, observational, multicenter investigation assessing medical, surgical and psychological outcomes in children and their parents affected by atypical genitalia due to DSD. Participants were prospectively enrolled from 12 children's hospitals across the United States that specialize in DSD care. Criteria for child enrollment were a Quigley score of 3–6 in those with a 46, XY or 45,X/46, XY chromosome complement, age Results Of the 31 participants, 30 underwent hypospadias repair and 1 patient did not undergo a genitoplasty procedure. The majority of participants (22) received a staged hypospadias repair. Seventeen complications were identified in 12 of the 31 children (41%) at 12 months of follow up. Glans dehiscence and urethrocutaneous fistula were the most common complications. Orchiopexy was performed in 14 (44%) and streak gonads were removed in 4 (13%) participants. Both parents and surgeons reported improved cosmesis after surgery when compared to baseline. Conclusion Genitoplasty was chosen by parents for the majority of children eligible for study. No single surgical approach for masculinizing moderate to severe genital ambiguity in young patients with 46, XY or 45,X/46, XY DSD was adopted by all surgeons. Complications occurred in 41% of those who underwent genitoplasty for severe hypospadias. Overall, appearance of the genitals, as determined by parents and surgeons, improved following genitoplasty. Outcomes of early genitoplasty are needed to guide families when making decisions about such procedures for their young children. Download : Download high-res image (286KB) Download : Download full-size image Summary Figure . River plot comparing Likert cosmesis score over time for mothers, fathers, and surgeons. Panel A includes all patients in the cohort.

Objective A subset of parents of children with disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) including ambiguous genitalia experience clinically elevated levels of anxious and depressive symptoms. Research indicates that uncertainty about their child’s DSD is associated with parent psychosocial distress; however, previous studies have been cross-sectional or correlational in nature. The current study is the first to examine the longitudinal trajectory of the relationship between caregiver-perceived uncertainty about their child’s DSD and caregiver anxious and depressive symptoms across the first 12 months following genital surgery in young children, or if surgery was not performed, the first 12 months following study entry. Methods One hundred and thirteen caregivers (Mage = 32.12; 57.5% mothers; 72.6% Caucasian) of children (N = 70; Mage = 9.81 months; 65.7% female) with DSD were recruited from 12 DSD specialty clinics in the United States. Caregivers completed psychosocial measures at baseline, 6 and 12 months following genitoplasty, or study entry if parents elected not to have surgery for their child. Results Caregiver illness uncertainty and both anxious and depressive symptoms were highest at baseline and decreased over time (ps < .05). Caregiver illness uncertainty predicted symptoms of anxious and depressive symptoms across all time points (ps < .05). Conclusions Caregivers’ perceptions of uncertainty about their child’s DSD are highest soon after diagnosis, and uncertainty continues to predict both anxious and depressive symptoms across time. Thus, the initial diagnostic period is a critical time for psychological assessment and intervention, with parent illness uncertainty being an important clinical target.

The risk for preeclampsia (PE) is enhanced ~4-fold by the presence of maternal type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Vitamin D is essential for healthy pregnancy. We assessed the total, bioavailable, and free concentrations of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) at ~12, ~22, and ~32 weeks&rsquo, gestation (&ldquo, Visits&rdquo, (V) 1, 2, and 3, respectively) in 23 T1DM women who developed PE, 24 who remained normotensive, and 19 non-diabetic, normotensive women (reference controls). 25(OH)D deficiency was more frequent in diabetic than non-diabetic women (69% vs. 22%, p &lt, 0.05), but no measure of 25(OH)D predicted PE. By contrast, higher 1,25(OH)2D concentrations at V2 (total, bioavailable, and free: p &lt, 0.01) and V3 (bioavailable: p &lt, 0.05, free: p &lt, 0.01), lower concentrations of VDBP at V3 (p &lt, 0.05), and elevated ratios of 1,25(OH)2D/VDBP (V2, V3: p &lt, 0.01) and 1,25(OH)2D/25(OH)D (V3, p &lt, 0.05) were all associated with PE, and significance persisted in multivariate analyses. In summary, in women with T1DM, concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D were higher, and VDBP lower, in the second and third trimesters in women who later developed PE than in those who did not. 1,25(OH)2D may serve as a new marker for PE risk and could be implicated in pathogenesis.

Objective Is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) associated with activating autoantibodies (AAb) to the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR)? Design and Methods We retrospectively screened sera from 40 patients with PCOS and 14 normal controls (NCs) with regular menses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of GnRHR-ECL2-AAb. We obtained similar data from 40 non-PCOS ovulatory but infertile patients as a control group (OIC) of interest. We analyzed GnRHR-ECL2-AAb activity in purified immunoglobulin (Ig)G using a cell-based GnRHR bioassay. Results The mean ELISA value in the PCOS group was markedly higher than the NC (P = .000036) and the OIC (P = .0028) groups. IgG from a sample of 5 PCOS subjects, in contrast to a sample of 5 OIC subjects, demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in GnRHR-stimulating activity qualitatively similar to the acute action of the natural ligand GnRH and the synthetic agonist leuprolide. The GnRHR antagonist cetrorelix significantly suppressed (P Conclusions GnRHR-ECL2-AAb are significantly elevated in patients with PCOS compared with NCs. Their presence raises important etiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications.

Purpose Little is known about the phenotypes, diagnoses, and sex of rearing of infants with atypical genital development in the United States. As part of a multicenter study of these infants, we have provided a baseline report from US difference/disorder of sex development clinics describing the diagnoses, anatomic features, and sex of rearing. We also determined whether consensus guidelines are followed for sex designation in the United States. Methods Eligible participants had moderate-to-severe genital atypia, were aged

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is an irreversible, lethal kidney disease that occurs in regions of the Balkans where residents drink untreated well water. A key factor contributing to the development of BEN may be consumption of dissolved organic matter leached from low-rank coal called lignite. This hypothesis—known as lignite-water hypothesis—was first posed for areas of the Balkans. It is possible that a BEN-like condition exists in the United States (US) Gulf Coast region in parts of the Mississippi Embayment and the Texas Coastal Uplands aquifers —Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, for instance—that rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers that contain lignite. This study utilizes a geographic information system (GIS) to map the distributions of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in relation to water from lignite-containing aquifers in the tri-state region. Regional patterns emerged from geospatial analysis, suggesting that counties that relied on lignite-containing aquifers for their main water source had higher rates of ESRD in comparison to other populations in the region that rely on other water sources, including surface water and groundwater from aquifers not associated with lignite seams. Statewide rates of ESRD and diabetes associated ESRD (ESRD-DM) showed strong correlations to the percent of families at or below poverty level and the percentage of African Americans. These confounding factors somewhat mitigate the association seen between ESRD and lignite-containing regions at the state level. However, at the larger tri-state view, there is a significant (p = 0.002) increase in incidence rates where groundwater is connected to lignite-containing aquifers when considering both race and poverty. Additionally, no relationship was observed between the rate of public water supply withdrawal from lignite-bearing aquifers and rates of ESRD or ESRD-DM at the state or tri-state regions, supporting the observation that the risk associated with water from lignite-containing aquifers is limited to water from untreated domestic supply.

OBJECTIVE To describe and compare differences in perception of independence, urinary continence, and quality of life in an adult spina bifida (SB) population. METHODS We collected data on adult neurogenic bladder patients which included demographics, relevant procedures, and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. QoL and functional outcomes were assessed using spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) and SF-8 health questionnaire. International consultation of incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ) was used to assess incontinence. Comparisons were drawn between patients who underwent surgical reconstruction and those who did not. Student t-tests were used for comparisons and a P-value

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine the utility of tubular (urinary/plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL] and urinary kidney injury molecule 1 [KIM-1]) and glomerular (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) biomarkers in predicting preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at the first trimester. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a prospective study of T1DM pregnancy. Maternal urinary and plasma NGAL, urinary KIM-1 (ELISA of frozen samples), and eGFR (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) were determined at three study visits (V1: 12.4 ± 1.8; V2: 21.7 ± 1.4; V3: 31.4 ± 1.5 weeks’ gestation [mean ± SD]) in 23 women with T1DM with subsequent PE (DM+PE+), 24 who remained normotensive (DM+PE−), and, for reference, in 19 normotensive pregnant women without diabetes (DM−). The groups with diabetes were matched for age, diabetes duration, and parity. All subjects were normotensive and free of microalbuminuria or albuminuria at V1. All study visits preceded the onset of PE. RESULTS Urinary creatinine-corrected NGAL (uNGALcc, ng/mg) was significantly elevated at V1 in DM+PE+ vs. DM+PE− women (P = 0.01); this remained significant after exclusion of leukocyte-positive samples (5 DM+PE+ and 2 DM+PE−) (P = 0.02). Accounting for BMI, HbA1c, and total daily insulin dose, a doubling of uNGALcc at V1 conferred a sevenfold increase in risk for PE (P = 0.026). In contrast, neither plasma NGAL nor urinary KIM-1 predicted PE. Also at V1, eGFR was elevated in DM+PE+ vs. DM+PE− (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Early tubular and glomerular dysfunction may predict PE in first trimester women with T1DM, even if free of microalbuminuria. These data suggest that subclinical renal tubular and glomerular injury, if present early in pregnancy, may predispose women with T1DM to PE.

To assess the outcomes of "watering can" ureterocele puncture (WCP), a technique previously associated with decreased incidence of de novo vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), as a durable option for management of ureteroceles and to determine the need for subsequent surgery for VUR following watering can puncture.We retrospectively reviewed records of 55 consecutive endoscopic ureterocele procedures performed at our institution from 1999 to 2015. The WCP was performed using a holmium laser fiber to make 10-20 puncture holes through the ureterocele. Follow-up data were collected on infection, de novo VUR in the affected renal moiety and the need for further treatment and surgery.Of 55 patients who underwent endoscopic ureterocele management, 34 underwent WCP and 21 patients underwent either incision or puncture. Median follow-up was 3.4 and 2.8 years in the incision and puncture groups, respectively. Both groups had similar rates of ureterocele decompression (88% vs 90%; P .05) and improvement in hydronephrosis (82% vs 81%; P .05). The WCP group had a significantly decreased rate of de novo VUR (32% vs 67%; P .05) and of subsequent surgery due to de novo VUR (38% vs 71%; P .05). The average grade of de novo VUR was lower in the WCP group (1.4 vs 2.8; P .05).Our study shows that the endoscopic WCP successfully decompresses the obstructing ureterocele and results in a decreased incidence of de novo VUR and ultimately in fewer invasive procedures for the patient. This update demonstrates the durable outcomes of this novel technique.

The aim of this article was to determine whether cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c-tDCS) to unaffected primary motor cortex (PMC) plus conventional occupational therapy (OT) improves functional motor recovery of the affected arm hand in patients after an acute ischemic stroke compared with sham transcranial direct current stimulation plus conventional OT.In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial of 16 severe, acute ischemic stroke patients with severe arm-hand weakness were randomly assigned to either experimental (c-tDCS plus OT; n = 8) or control (sham transcranial direct current stimulation plus OT; n = 8) groups. All patients received a standard 3-hr in-patient rehabilitation therapy, plus an additional ten 30-min sessions of tDCS. During each session, 1 mA of cathodal stimulation to the unaffected PMC is performed followed by the patient's scheduled OT. The primary outcome measure was change in Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) total and subscores on discharge.Application of c-tDCS to unaffected PMC resulted in a clinically relevant 10-point improvement in the affected arm-hand function based on ARAT total score compared with a 2-point improvement in the control group.Application of 30-min of c-tDCS to the unaffected PMC showed a 10-point improvement in the ARAT score. This corresponds to a large effect size in improvement of affected arm-hand function in patients with severe, acute ischemic stroke. Although not statistically significant, this suggests that larger studies, enrolling at least 25 patients in each group, and with a longer follow-up are warranted.

Augmentation enterocystoplasty remains the gold standard surgical bladder reconstruction procedure to increase the capacity and compliance of dysfunctional bladders. Since the use of the patient's intestine has severe risks of complications, alternative biodegradable matrices have been explored. Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has gained immense interests in bladder reconstruction due to its favorable properties. However, trials have shown inconsistent regeneration with SIS, attributed to the heterogeneity in microstructures and mechanical properties. We hypothesize that uneven SIS permeability to urine is a factor responsible for the inconsistency. We measured permeability to urine in situ using a contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and evaluated urothelium regeneration using immunohistochemical staining of urothelial cell markers in SIS-augmented rat bladders. Results showed significant differences in permeability among SIS-augmented rat bladders. Commercial SIS scaffolds were then categorized into nonleaky and leaky groups based on MRI results. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed higher numbers of inflammatory cells in leaky SIS on day 14 relative to nonleaky SIS. In addition, trichrome staining showed major changes in the distribution of collagen on day 28 between SIS-augmented bladder groups. Furthermore, expressions of urothelium-associated markers (cytokeratins AE1/AE3, claudin 4, and uroplakin III) were completed in bladders augmented with nonleaky SIS, whereas limited urothelial differentiation was noticed in leaky SIS-augmented bladders at post-augmentative day 14. These results show that scaffold permeability to urine may be responsible for variations in regenerative capacity of porcine SIS. Applications of MRI technique will be helpful to understand a relationship between biomaterial property and regenerative capacity. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1778-1787, 2018.

Aims/hypothesis: The incidence of pre-eclampsia, a multisystem disorder of pregnancy, is fourfold higher in type 1 diabetic than non-diabetic women; it is also increased in women with features of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. In a prospective study of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, we measured plasma levels of adipokines known to be associated with insulin resistance: leptin, fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), adiponectin (total and high molecular weight [HMW]; also known as high molecular mass), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and resistin and evaluated associations with the subsequent development of pre-eclampsia. Methods: From an established prospective cohort of pregnant type 1 diabetic women, we studied 23 who developed pre-eclampsia and 24 who remained normotensive; for reference values we included 19 healthy non-diabetic normotensive pregnant women. Plasma adipokines were measured (by ELISA) in stored samples from three study visits (Visit 1– Visit 3) at different gestational ages (mean ± SD): Visit 1, 12.4 ± 1.8 weeks; Visit 2, 21.7 ± 1.4 weeks; and Visit 3, 31.4 ± 1.5 weeks. All the women were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at enrolment. All study visits preceded the clinical onset of pre-eclampsia. Results: In all groups, leptin, the ratio of leptin to total or HMW adiponectin, FABP4 concentration, ratio of FABP4 to total or HMW adiponectin and resistin level increased, while total and HMW adiponectin decreased, with gestational age. At Visit 1: (1) in diabetic women with vs without subsequent pre-eclampsia, leptin, ratio of leptin to total or HMW adiponectin, and ratio of FABP4 to total or HMW adiponectin, were increased (p 1c, insulin kg−1 day−1 and gestational age), the best predictive models for pre-eclampsia were as follows: Visit 1, doubling of leptin, OR 9.0 (p

CME/CNE Information Activity Available Online: To access the article, post-test, and evaluation online, go to http://www.cmscscholar.org. Target Audience: The target audience for this activity is physicians, physician assistants, nursing professionals, and other health-care providers involved in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Learning Objectives: Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), Nurse Practitioner Alternatives (NPA), and Delaware Media Group. The CMSC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The CMSC designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Nurse Practitioner Alternatives (NPA) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. NPA designates this enduring material for 1.0 Continuing Nursing Education credit [none in the area of pharmacology]. Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP, has served as Nurse Planner for this activity. She has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Disclosures: , Editor in Chief of the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC), has served as Physician Planner for this activity. He has received royalties from Springer Publishing; consulting fees from Acorda Therapeutics, Merz Pharma, and Ipsen; and research support from Biogen, Acorda Therapeutics, and Adamas Pharmaceuticals.Francois Bethoux, MD , has served as Nurse Planner for this activity. She has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP , has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Meheroz H. Rabadi, MD, MRCPI, FAAN, FANA , has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Christopher E. Aston, PhD The anonymous peer reviewer for the IJMSC has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. The staff at the IJMSC, CMSC, NPA, and Delaware Media Group who are in a position to influence content have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Method of Participation: Release Date: October 1, 2017 Valid for Credit Through: October 1, 2018 In order to receive CME/CNE credit, participants must: Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the post-test with a passing score of >70% and the evaluation. There is no fee to participate in this activity. Disclosure of Unlabeled Use: This CME/CNE activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the FDA. CMSC, NPA, and Delaware Media Group do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of CMSC, NPA, or Delaware Media Group. Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any medications, diagnostic procedures, or treatments discussed in this publication should not be used by clinicians or other health-care professionals without first evaluating their patients' conditions, considering possible contraindications or risks, reviewing any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparing any therapeutic approach with the recommendations of other authorities.

The Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) is defined as aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) with transverse terminal limb defects (TTLD). Frequencies of associated anomalies are not well characterized. Six causative genes have been identified: ARHGAP31, DOCK6, EOGT, RBPJ, NOTCH1, and DLL4. We review 385 previously described individuals (139 non-familial and 246 familial probands and family members) and add clinical data on 13 previously unreported individuals with AOS. In addition to ACC and TTLD, the most commonly associated anomalies included a wide variety of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies and congenital heart defects each seen in 23%. CNS anomalies included structural anomalies, microcephaly, vascular defects, and vascular sequelae. CNS migration defects were common. Cutis marmorata telangiectasia congenita (CMTC) was found in 19% of the study population and other vascular anomalies were seen in 14%. Hemorrhage was listed as the cause of death for five of 25 deaths reported. A relatively large number of non-familial probands were reported to have hepatoportal sclerosis with portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Non-familial probands were more likely to have additional anomalies than were familial probands. The data reported herein provide a basis for refining the diagnostic features of AOS and suggest management recommendations for probands newly diagnosed with AOS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used as therapies for venous thromboembolism and other cardiovascular diseases. However, routine coagulation monitoring is not required, but may be clinically indicated in high risk populations including obese patients. Objectives The aims of this study were two fold; to validate a chromogenic assay for anti-factor Xa measurement in patients taking apixaban, and correlate it with PT/INR and PTT, and to measure anti-factor Xa levels in patients who weighed >120 kg. Patients/methods Patients who were taking apixaban had 3 blood samples drawn over a 4 h period. Apixaban levels were determined using an anti-factor Xa activity assay (STA-Liquid Anti-Xa) using STA-Apixaban Calibrator and STA-Apixaban Controls. The PT/INR was determined using standard methodology. Apix MS, using manufacturer provided apixaban standard, was performed on plasma. Results and conclusions 18 normal weight patients, 39 obese patients and 14 controls were enrolled. There was a strong correlation between apixaban anti-factor Xa activity compared to plasma Apix MS (r = 0.95). In patients >120 kg, there was a statistically significant decreased rate of change in anti-factor Xa levels after ingestion. Further, the area under the curve for apixaban anti-factor Xa levels was significantly lower in patients over 120 kg. While INR correlated with apixaban MS and apixaban anti-factor Xa activity in both normal weight and obese patients, the association was not sufficiently strong to clinically manage patients, normal weight or obese. Given these findings, research is necessary to investigate the clinical utility of apixaban anti-factor Xa activity measurement in selected populations.

The risk for preeclampsia (PE) is increased 4-fold in women with type 1 diabetes (T1D), in whom we previously demonstrated that elevated cholesterol-rich lipoproteins confer risk at the 1st trimester. Sphingolipids, including ceramides (Cer) and glycosphingolipids (hexosyl- (HexCer) and lactosyl-ceramides (LacCer)), are lipoprotein constituents that regulate cell signaling. We propose that these bio-active lipids could be modulators of PE risk. In a prospective T1D pregnancy cohort (studied at 12, 22, 32 weeks’ gestation), we used liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry to determine plasma levels of 12 species of Cer, HexCer, and LacCer in 23 women with T1DM who did vs. 24 who did not develop PE, and in 19 normotensive nondiabetic pregnant women. All were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at enrolment; all visits preceded clinical PE onset. Results: Plasma levels of C22-Cer (1st and 3rd study visits); C26:1-Cer (1st and 2nd visits); C26-Cer (1st visit); C18-Cer and C18:1-Cer (2nd visit) were significantly higher in women with T1DM who did vs. did not develop PE. C22-Cer and C26-Cer were significantly lower in T1DM vs. non-T1DM (1st visit). There were no overall PE- or diabetes-related differences in any HexCer- or LacCer species. Longitudinally, most Cer and HexCer species increased throughout pregnancy in all groups (except C14- and C18-Cer; and C14 and C26-HexCer). C16-LacCer increased, while C22:1-, C26-, and C26:1-LacCer decreased as pregnancy advanced, independent of PE status. Independent of LDL-C, total Cer increased throughout pregnancy in all groups. Conclusions: Maternal Cer species may serve as early biomarkers for PE in women with T1DM. T1DM was associated with lower levels of two Cer species. Like cholesterol-rich lipoproteins, Cer, HexCer and some LacCer species increase as pregnancy advances in all groups, but other LacCer species decrease: the significance of these findings requires further study. Disclosure C.B. Kelly: None. S.M. Hammad: None. R.L. Klein: None. M.F. Lopes-Virella: None. M.J. Leyva: None. J. Yu: None. A.J. Jenkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Australian Diabetes Society, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, GlySens Incorporated, Medtronic, Mylan. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc. A.J. Nankervis: None. K.F. Hanssen: None. S.K. Garg: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Pharma, Sanofi-Aventis, Zealand Pharma A/S. Research Support; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, WebMD. J.A. Scardo: None. C.E. Aston: None. T. Lyons: None. Funding JDRF; Novo Nordisk; National Institutes of Health

Preeclampsia (PE) occurs four times more frequently in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) than in nondiabetic women. We hypothesized that elevated plasma advanced glycoxidation products (AGEs) predict PE in T1D women. In a prospective T1D pregnancy cohort (study visits at 12, 22, 32 weeks' gestation), we used liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, with internal stable heavy isotope substituted standards, to determine plasma levels of nine AGE and oxidation products (carboxymethyl-lysine [CML], carboxyethyl-lysine [CEL], methylglyoxal-hydroimidazolone [MGHI], 3-deoxyglucosone hydroimidazolones [3DGH], methionine sulfoxide [MetSO], glyoxal hydroimidazolone [GHI], 3-nitrotyrosine [3NT], dityrosine [DT], 2-aminoadipic acid [2AAA]) in 23 women with T1DM who developed PE vs. 24 who did not, and in 19 nondiabetic normotensive pregnant women. These products have been associated with CVD and renal failure in non-pregnant cohorts. All women were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at enrolment, and all visits preceded clinical PE onset. GFR was estimated (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation). Results: Plasma CML, CEL, MGHI, 3DGH, MetSO, GHI, and 2AAA did not differ between the three groups at any study visit, and thus did not predict preeclampsia in T1D. In T1D women who later developed PE, eGFR was inversely associated at V3 with CML (p=0.008), CEL (p=0.03), MGH1 (p=0.03), 3DGH (p=0.03), GHI (p Conclusions: Plasma AGEs did not predict PE in well-controlled, previously healthy T1D women, and levels did not differ from healthy nondiabetic controls. Uniquely, in T1D women who developed PE, plasma AGEs were associated with renal function, consistent with the notion that subclinical alterations in renal function precede PE. Disclosure H. Karanchi: None. C.B. Kelly: None. S.M. Hammad: None. R.L. Klein: None. M.F. Lopes-Virella: None. M.J. Leyva: None. J. Yu: None. A.J. Jenkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Australian Diabetes Society, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, GlySens Incorporated, Medtronic, Mylan. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc. A.J. Nankervis: None. K.F. Hanssen: None. C.E. Aston: None. S. Howell: Employee; Self; PreventAGE Health Care, LLC. P.J. Beisswenger: Other Relationship; Self; PreventAGE Health Care, LLC. T. Lyons: None.

Statin therapy reduces cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), partly by improving dyslipidemia, and partly through ‘pleiotropic’ effects. Sphingolipids, including ceramides, are amphiphilic components of lipoprotein surface monolayers. Sphingolipids regulate lipoprotein surface fluidity, and include key signaling molecules: ceramides are specifically associated with apoptosis and risk for premature coronary heart disease. Effects of statins on the sphingolipid content of lipoproteins are poorly defined. Using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, we determined fasting plasma concentrations of individual ceramides (Cer), sphingomyelins (SM), and glycosphingolipids (hexosyl- and lactosyl-Cer) in plasma from 19 men and 21 women with T2DM, before and after treatment with rosuvastatin (10 mg/day, 6 weeks). Exclusion criteria were use of ‘statins’ in the preceding 6 months, and any current use of lipid-modifying agents. Using existing lipoprotein compositional data, we calculated effects of rosuvastatin therapy on non-HDL sphingolipid content. Results: Rosuvastatin reduced total cholesterol (C) (by 33%), triglycerides (20%), LDL-C (49%), and non-HDL particle number (34%); HDL-C was unaffected. It decreased total SM (15%), Cer (29%), and hexosyl- (30%) and lactosyl- (34%) Cer, independent of gender. Assuming HDL composition was unaffected, rosuvastatin reduced non-HDL SM by 42% and Cer by 61%: these reductions remained significant after correction for non-HDL-C and/or non-HDL lipoprotein surface area. Conclusions: In T2DM, rosuvastatin lowers not only the number of non-HDL particles, but also the sphingolipid, and especially the Cer, content of each particle. This effect is independent of gender, potentially anti-atherogenic, and may represent a new pleiotropic effect of statins. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in isolated lipoprotein classes, and to determine mechanism(s). Disclosure C.B. Kelly: None. S.M. Hammad: None. R.L. Klein: None. M.F. Lopes-Virella: None. A. Gosmanova: None. M.J. Leyva: None. C.E. Aston: None. T. Lyons: None.

Preeclampsia (PE), a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide, has significantly higher incidence in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) than in nondiabetic populations (∼20% vs. 5%, respectively). Sphingolipids are key signaling molecules, and have many roles in the structure and regulation of cellular functions. Sphingomyelin (SM) is the most abundant sphingolipid in plasma lipoproteins. There is evidence that altered SM metabolism may contribute to cardiovascular and renal complications in diabetes. We aimed to determine whether plasma concentrations of 12 SM species were associated with PE in T1DM in a prospective study of pregnancy of 23 T1DM women who developed PE and 24 T1DM who remained normotensive. Additionally, 19 normotensive nondiabetic pregnant women were included for reference. All subjects were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at enrolment, and all visits (12, 22, 32 weeks’ gestation) preceded clinical PE onset. Results: There were no cross-sectional differences in total SM, or in any individual SM species, between diabetic women with and without PE, or between normotensive women with and without diabetes at any stage of gestation. With advancing gestation in all groups, C18-SM, C18:1-SM, C20-SM, C20:1-SM, C22-SM, C22:1-SM, C24-SM, and C24:1-SM increased (all p Conclusions: With advancing gestation, plasma concentrations of most SM species increased, as did LDL and VLDL; however, two long-chain and two very long-chain SM species decreased. Although there were no differences in SM according to diabetes or PE status at any time point, further studies should address the significance of differential changes of SM species during pregnancy. Disclosure C.B. Kelly: None. S.M. Hammad: None. R.L. Klein: None. M.F. Lopes-Virella: None. M.J. Leyva: None. J. Yu: None. A.J. Jenkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Australian Diabetes Society, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, GlySens Incorporated, Medtronic, Mylan. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc. A.J. Nankervis: None. K.F. Hanssen: None. S.K. Garg: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Pharma, Sanofi-Aventis, Zealand Pharma A/S. Research Support; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, WebMD. J.A. Scardo: None. C.E. Aston: None. T. Lyons: None. Funding JDRF; Novo Nordisk; National Institutes of Health

BACKGROUND The goal of this observational study was to examine the effect of common chronic medical conditions (CMCs) on long-term disability (activity limitation) in veterans already diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the electronic charts of 124 veterans with MS who have been regularly followed in our MS clinic for 10 or more years. General linear model analysis examined whether MS-related severity as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the presence of CMCs affected long-term disability as measured by the total score on the Functional Independence Measure (TFIM). RESULTS Commonly encountered CMCs were increased BMI (61%), hyperlipidemia (78%), hypertension (65%), current smokers (47%), and arthritis/arthralgia (24%). Results suggest that the number of CMCs was not predictive of final TFIM scores; of the variables examined, only initial EDSS score was predictive of final TFIM scores. CONCLUSIONS The presence of CMCs did not affect the long-term disability in veterans diagnosed with MS, this was due mainly to CMCs being closely monitored and co-treated with other medical specialties.

Objective To assess the effect of contrast height during the voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). The VCUG is the gold standard diagnostic test for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Variation in parameters may affect detection and grade of reflux. Materials and Methods In a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized, observational study, patients undergoing VCUG were selected. VCUG was performed per study protocol except for a change in contrast height. The initial fill was performed at 50 cm and the second at 100 cm. Data collected included presence and grade of VUR and volume filled. The actual bladder volume filled was normalized to the estimated bladder capacity (EBC) as a percentage. A Cohen's kappa coefficient of agreement was used to test for difference in the incidence of reflux and grade between contrast heights. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for differences in the percent EBC filled between heights. Results From May 2012 to November 2013, 184 patients were enrolled. Seventy-one patients (39%) exhibited VUR at 50 cm and 80 patients (43%) at 100 cm. The kappa coefficient of agreement between 50 cm and 100 cm showed substantial agreement, with no significant difference in VUR grade. The percent of EBC filled at each height was significantly different: %EBC filled at 50 cm: 101 ± 46 (range 9.2-228.3), and %EBC filled at 100 cm: 130 ± 56 (range 37.8-280.6) ( P Conclusion No significant difference was noted in the detection of VUR with different contrast heights. A significantly larger bladder volume was instilled at 100 cm.

Purpose: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a bladder pain disorder associated with voiding symptomatology and other systemic chronic pain disorders. Currently diagnosing interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is complicated as patients present with a wide range of symptoms, physical examination findings and clinical test responses. One hypothesis is that interstitial cystitis symptoms arise from increased bladder permeability to urine solutes. This study establishes the feasibility of using contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to quantify bladder permeability in patients with interstitial cystitis.Materials and Methods: Permeability alterations in bladder urothelium were assessed by intravesical administration of the magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent Gd-DTPA (Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) in a small cohort of patients. Magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity in patient and control bladders was compared regionally and for entire bladders.Results: Quantitative ...

Preeclampsia (PE) occurs more frequently in pregnant diabetic than nondiabetic women (∼20% vs. ∼5%). Early identification of high risk women is needed. Dyslipidemia is implicated: we previously showed that early in pregnancy, increased cholesterol-rich lipoproteins are associated with subsequent PE in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein that binds free hemoglobin, and has two allelic forms, Hp-1, Hp-2, hence three phenotypes. Among people with diabetes, Hp 2-2 phenotype (present in ≈50%) has been associated with oxidative stress, cardiovascular risk and renal decline. We investigated whether maternal Hp phenotype is associated with PE in T1D, and/or modulates lipoprotein-related risks for PE. A prospective study of pregnancy included 23 T1DM women (cases) who developed PE, and 24 T1DM (controls) who remained normotensive. All were free of microalbuminuria and hypertension at enrolment. Hp phenotype was determined by ELISA (Savyon Diagnostics Ltd.). Lipid profiles were measured at three study visits (V1-V3), all preceding PE onset: (mean ± SD) 12.4 ± 1.8, 21.7 ± 1.4, and 31.3 ± 1.4 weeks gestation. Results: Hp phenotype did not differ between women with and without PE, and lipid profiles did not differ by Hp phenotype. In PE cases vs. controls, by univariate analysis, HDL-C was lower at V1 (1.9±0.4 vs. 2.2±0.5 mmol/l (mean ± SD)), while LDL-C was higher at V2 (3.1± 1.0 vs. 2.6± 0.8 mmol/l), as were triacylglycerols (1.6± 0.4 vs. 1.3± 0.4 mmol/l) (p Conclusion: In T1D women, lipoprotein-related risks for PE may be limited to those with Hp 2-2 phenotype. The data provide further evidence of a role for Hp phenotype as a modulator of vascular risk in diabetes. Disclosure C.B. Kelly: None. J. Yu: None. A. Jenkins: Research Support; Self; Medtronic, Mylan, Sanofi-Aventis. A.J. Nankervis: None. K.F. Hanssen: None. S.K. Garg: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi US. Advisory Panel; Self; Sanofi US. Research Support; Self; MannKind Corporation, Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Labstyle Innovations, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medtronic. Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. C.E. Aston: None. T. Lyons: None.

We thank Foussard et al. (1) for their interest in our study (2). We agree that caution is required when identifying predictive markers of clinical interest in pregnant women with diabetes with regard to preeclampsia (PE). Accurate estimation of renal function is critical for the care of pregnant patients. Alper et al. (3) highlighted the limitations of currently available formulas for accurately predicting the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with PE. Our study focused on markers of renal function early in pregnancy prior to the clinical onset of PE. We studied a population with type 1 diabetes, thus at high risk of …

Background Both the adrenergic and renin‐angiotensin systems contribute to orthostatic circulatory homeostasis, which is impaired in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome ( POTS ). Activating autoantibodies to the α1‐adrenergic and β1/2‐adrenergic receptors have previously been found in sera from patients with POTS. We hypothesized that patients with POTS might also harbor activating autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor ( AT 1R) independently of antiadrenergic autoimmunity. This study examines a possible pathophysiological role for AT 1R autoantibodies in POTS . Methods and Results Serum immunoglobulin G from 17 patients with POTS , 6 patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope, and 10 normal controls was analyzed for the ability to activate AT 1R and alter AT 1R ligand responsiveness in transfected cells in vitro. Of 17 subjects with POTS, 12 demonstrated significant AT 1R antibody activity in immunoglobulin G purified from their serum. No significant AT 1R antibody activity was found in the subjects with vasovagal syncope or healthy subjects. AT 1R activation by POTS immunoglobulin G was specifically blocked by the AT 1R blocker losartan. Moreover, POTS immunoglobulin G significantly shifted the angiotensin II dosage response curve to the right, consistent with an inhibitory effect. All subjects with POTS were positive for one or both autoantibodies to the AT 1R and α1‐adrenergic receptor. Conclusions Most patients with POTS harbor AT 1R antibody activity. This supports the concept that AT 1R autoantibodies and antiadrenergic autoantibodies, acting separately or together, may exert a significant impact on the cardiovascular pathophysiological characteristics in POTS .

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with bladder and cloacal exstrophy are at increased risk for kidney disease, renal failure, and bladder complications. Given the social implications and sensitive nature of the disease, these patients are also at risk for psychosocial problems. Lack of regular medical follow-up visits may pose serious risks to their long-term health status. The aim of this study is determine what factors place an affected individual at risk for limited long term follow up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all patients with bladder or cloacal exstrophy seen by the pediatric urology department at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) between January 1996 and August 2016. Patient data included demographics, insurance coverage, distance from patient’s home to the clinic, medical and surgical history, and the date of their last clinic visit. Two groups for comparison were (1) those that had been seen within the last 2 years, and (2) those that were counted as failing to maintain follow-up because 2 or more years had passed since their last clinic visit. These groups were compared using the Student t-test, the chisquare test, or the Fisher exact test and p < 0.05 was treated as significant for the purposes of discussion. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Ninety-one patients with bladder or cloacal exstrophy were seen by the pediatric urology department between January 1996 and August 2016. Of the 91 patients, 24 left the clinic for known reasons thus leaving 67 patients that were considered for analyses: 51 had been seen within the last 2 years while 16 were counted as lost to follow-up. These two groups (active and lost to follow-up) did not differ significantly for age at last clinic visit, distance between family’s home and clinic, history of bladder reconstruction, sex, or insurance status. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the medical complexity of their condition. The group active in urological care had more patients with cloacal exstrophy and additional anomalies than the group lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy are less likely to maintain annual follow-up visits with their urologist if they have a simpler diagnosis requiring fewer surgical interventions. For patients with exstrophy, regular clinic visits prioritizing education and psychosocial support may prevent hospitalizations, emergency interventions, and poor overall health outcomes. To maintain contact with the medical team and promote optimal health outcomes, a social worker or care coordinator/educator may play an integral part in addressing the unique needs of this population.

Previous studies demonstrated that burst pacing and subthreshold infusion of acetylcholine in β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR)-immunized rabbits induced sustained sinus tachycardia. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-arrhythmogenic effect of a newly designed retro-inverso (RI) peptidomimetic inhibitor that specifically targets the β1AR antibodies in the rabbit. Six New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with a β1AR second extracellular loop peptide to produce sympathomimetic β1AR antibodies. A catheter-based electrophysiological study was performed on anesthetized rabbits before and after immunization and subsequent treatment with the RI peptide inhibitor. Each rabbit served as its own control. No sustained arrhythmias were induced at preimmune baseline. At 6 weeks after immunization, there was a marked increase in induced sustained tachyarrhythmias, predominantly sinus tachycardia, which was largely suppressed by the RI peptide. The atrial effective refractory period was shortened significantly in immunized rabbits compared to their preimmune state. The RI peptide reversed and prolonged this shortening. β1AR antibody levels were negatively correlated with the atrial effective refractory period. Postimmune sera-induced β1AR activation in transfected cells in vitro was also blocked by the RI peptide. β1AR-activating autoantibodies are associated with reduction of the atrial effective refractory period and facilitate arrhythmia induction in this model. The RI peptide reversal may have important therapeutic implications in subjects who harbor these autoantibodies.

Background: Dietary cocoa is an important source of flavonoids and is associated with favorable cardiovascular disease effects, such as improvements in vascular function and lipid profiles, in nondiabetic adults. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with adverse effects on postprandial serum glucose, lipids, inflammation, and vascular function. Objective: We examined the hypothesis that cocoa reduces metabolic stress in obese T2D adults after a high-fat fast-food–style meal. Methods: Adults with T2D [n = 18; age (mean ± SE): 56 ± 3 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 35.3 ± 2.0; 14 women; 4 men] were randomly assigned to receive cocoa beverage (960 mg total polyphenols; 480 mg flavanols) or flavanol-free placebo (110 mg total polyphenols

Objective: This observational study: (a) compared serum creatinine (estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR)) to renal isotope 99mTc-DTPA (GFR) determined glomerular filtration rate, and evaluated whether either method (b) better determined the state of renal function, and (c) predict urinary tract infection (UTI), renal and urological structural lesions or mortality in veterans with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurogenic bladder (NGB).Design: Observational study.Setting: VA Medical Center affiliated with Oklahoma University.Participants: Veterans with SCI and regularly followed in SCI clinic. Demographic and clinical data, as well as, EGFR, GFR, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels, and presence of UTI, renal and urinary bladder lesions on renal nuclear scan, renal ultrasound, and cystoscopy studies were recorded.Interventions: None.Main Outcome measures: Urological lesions, UTI, and Mortality.Results: For 161 patients with SCI and NGB the mean ± SD for EGFR was 104 ± 36 an...

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with oxidative stress. Oxidative damage of high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL) leads to a dysfunctional molecule, potentially a mediator and/or marker of cardiometabolic disease. We tested the hypothesis that circulating concentration of oxHDL is higher in obese (Ob) or T2DM adolescents compared to normal-weight (NW) peers. METHODS: In 37 NW, 38 Ob, and 42 T2DM adolescents, ages 11–18 y, fasting concentrations of HDL and LDL cholesterol, oxHDL, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. RESULTS: Compared to the NW group, oxHDL in the Ob group was not different, but was 65% higher (p < 0.01) in the T2DM group. Within the T2DM group oxHDL was higher in boys than in girls but this sex difference was not evident in NW or Ob groups. OxLDL was 23% higher in Ob (p =0.02), and 56% higher in T2DM (p < 0.01) versus NW and did not differ between boys and girls. MPO was not different between NW and Ob but was 88% (p < 0.02) higher in T2DM compared to NW. Contrary to our hypothesis MPO and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were not correlated with oxHDL. OxHDL was positively associated with oxLDL and lean body mass while oxLDL was positively associated with apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, HOMA-IR and trunk fat. CONCLUSIONS: The higher concentrations of oxHDL and oxLDL, along with higher MPO in children with T2DM reflect higher oxidative stress compared with obesity alone and potentially increased cardiovascular disease risk in youth with T2DM.

SUMMARY: Information regarding the prevalence and risk of osteoporosis among American Indian (AI) women is limited. This study showed that with increasing AI blood quantum, the prevalence of osteoporosis at the hip based on BMD T-scores decreased and this appeared to be independent of other risk factors. INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to investigate the effects of AI blood quantum (BQ) on osteoporosis prevalence and risk in a cohort of AI women in Oklahoma. METHODS: Women (n = 301), aged 50 years and older, were recruited to participate in the Oklahoma American Indian Women’s Osteoporosis Study. Baseline bone density, fracture history, bone biochemical markers, and potential risk factors were assessed. Participants were stratified by AI BQ into BQ1 ≤ 25%, BQ2 = 25–49%, BQ3 = 50–74%, and BQ4 = 75–100%. The effects of BQ on the prevalence and risk of osteoporosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Based on T-scores, one in approximately eight women in the study was osteoporotic at one or more sites. The prevalence of osteoporosis decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing BQ, especially at the hip, trochanteric, and intertrochanter regions. No differences in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and C-telopeptide were observed across BQ that could account for the differences in bone density. 25-OH vitamin D decreased with increasing BQ, but mean for each BQ1–4 was > 40 ng/mL. Fracture history did not differ across BQ, and though 52% of the population consumed less than the RDA for calcium, no effect of BQ was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of women who identified as AI, greater Indian BQ was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: Malone antegrade continence enema has been a successful and widely used procedure for achieving fecal continence in children. We present data on the previously uninvestigated issue of patient and caregiver regret following surgery for intractable constipation and fecal incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all patients undergoing antegrade continence enema or cecostomy creation at a single institution between 2006 and 2016. Patients and caregivers were assessed for decisional regret using the Decisional Regret Scale. Results were correlated with demographics, surgical outcomes and complications. RESULTS: A total of 81 responses (49 caregivers and 32 patients) were obtained. Mean followup was 49 months. Decisional regret was noted in 43 subjects (53%), including mild regret in 38 (47%) and moderate to severe regret in 5 (6%). No statistical difference in regret was noted based on gender, complications or performance of concomitant procedures. On regression analysis incontinence was strongly associated with decisional regret (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.1–18.1, p

Summary Introduction Prior studies of outcomes following genitoplasty have reported high rates of surgical complications among children with atypical genitalia. Few studies have prospectively assessed outcomes after contemporary surgical approaches. Objective The current study reported the occurrence of early postoperative complications and of cosmetic outcomes (as rated by surgeons and parents) at 12 months following contemporary genitoplasty procedures in children born with atypical genitalia. Study design This 11-site, prospective study included children aged ≤2 years, with Prader 3–5 or Quigley 3–6 external genitalia, with no prior genitoplasty and non-urogenital malformations at the time of enrollment. Genital appearance was rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Paired t-tests evaluated differences in cosmesis ratings. Results Out of 27 children, 10 were 46,XY patients with the following diagnoses: gonadal dysgenesis, PAIS or testosterone biosynthetic defect, severe hypospadias and microphallus, who were reared male. Sixteen 46,XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia patients were reared female and one child with sex chromosome mosaicism was reared male. Eleven children had masculinizing genitoplasty for penoscrotal or perineal hypospadias (one-stage, three; two-stage, eight). Among one-stage surgeries, one child had meatal stenosis (minor) and one developed both urinary retention (minor) and urethrocutaneous fistula (major) ( Summary Figure ). Among two-stage surgeries, three children developed a major complication: penoscrotal fistula, glans dehiscence or urethral dehiscence. Among 16 children who had feminizing genitoplasty, vaginoplasty was performed in all, clitoroplasty in nine, external genitoplasty in 13, urethroplasty in four, perineoplasty in five, and total urogenital sinus mobilization in two. Two children had minor complications: one had a UTI, and one had both a mucosal skin tag and vaginal mucosal polyp. Two additional children developed a major complication: vaginal stenosis. Cosmesis scores revealed sustained improvements from 6 months post-genitoplasty, as previously reported, with all scores reported as good or satisfied. Discussion In these preliminary data from a multi-site, observational study, parents and surgeons were equally satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes 12 months after genitoplasty. A small number of patients had major complications in both feminizing and masculinizing surgeries; two-stage hypospadias repair had the most major complications. Long-term follow-up of patients at post-puberty will provide a better assessment of outcomes in this population. Conclusion In this cohort of children with moderate to severe atypical genitalia, preliminary data on both surgical and cosmetic outcomes were presented. Findings from this study, and from following these children in long-term studies, will help guide practitioners in their discussions with families about surgical management. Download : Download high-res image (236KB) Download : Download full-size image Summary Figure . Surgical complications at 12-month postoperative follow-up, n = 27. *Among the six complications in the masculinizing surgery group, one patient developed both urinary retention (minor) and urethrocutaneous fistula (major). ǂAmong the five complications in the feminizing surgery group, one patient had both a mucosal skin tag (minor) and vaginal mucosal polyp (minor).

Abnormal placental function in maternal diabetes affects fetal health and can predispose offspring to metabolic diseases in later life. There are fetal sex-specific differences in placenta structure and gene expression, which may affect placental responses to maternal diabetes. The present study examined the effects of maternal diabetes on indices of mitochondrial biogenesis in placentae from male and female offspring. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and expression of key regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis were assessed in placentae from 19 diabetic and 23 non-diabetic women. The abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondria transcription factor A (TFAM) were lower in female placentae compared to males, but not mtDNA content. In male offspring, maternal diabetes was associated with decreased placental PGC-1α and TFAM, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content. Male placental TFAM levels were highly correlated with PGC-1α and mtDNA content. However, despite decreased PGC-1α, concomitant changes in TFAM and mtDNA content by diabetes were not observed in females. In addition, TFAM abundance in female placentae was not correlated with PGC-1α or mtDNA content. In summary, placental PGC-1α/TFAM/mitochondrial biogenesis pathway is affected by maternal diabetes and offspring sex. Decreased PGC-1α in response to maternal diabetes plausibly contributes to impaired mitochondrial biogenesis in placentae of male offspring, which may affect long-term health and explain some of enhanced risk of future metabolic diseases in males.

Both otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) are sexually dimorphic, and both are believed to be influenced by prenatal androgen exposure. OAEs and AEPs were collected from people affected by 1 of 3 categories of disorders of sex development (DSD) – (1) women with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS); (2) women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH); and (3) individuals with 46, XY DSD including prenatal androgen exposure who developed a male gender despite initial rearing as females (men with DSD). Gender identity (GI) and role (GR) were measured both retrospectively and at the time of study participation, using standardized questionnaires. The main objective of this study was to determine if patterns of OAEs and AEPs correlate with gender in people affected by DSD and in controls. A second objective was to assess if OAE and AEP patterns differed according to degrees of prenatal androgen exposure across groups. Control males, men with DSD, and women with CAH produced fewer spontaneous OAEs (SOAEs) – the male-typical pattern – than control females and women with CAIS. Additionally, the number of SOAEs produced correlated with gender development across all groups tested. Although some sex differences in AEPs were observed between control males and females, AEP measures did not correlate with gender development, nor did they vary according to degrees of prenatal androgen exposure, among people with DSD. Thus, OAEs, but not AEPs, may prove useful as bioassays for assessing early brain exposure to androgens and predicting gender development in people with DSD.

Wound healing, angiogenesis, and hair follicle maintenance are often impaired in the skin of diabetic patients, but the pathogenesis has not been well understood. Here, we report that circulation levels of kallistatin, a member of the serine proteinase inhibitor (SERPIN) superfamily with antiangiogenic activities, were elevated in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic vascular complications. To test the hypothesis that elevated kallistatin levels could contribute to a wound-healing deficiency via the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, we generated kallistatin-transgenic (KS-TG) mice. KS-TG mice had reduced cutaneous hair-follicle density, microvascular density, and panniculus adiposus layer thickness, as well as altered skin microvascular hemodynamics and delayed cutaneous wound healing. Using Wnt reporter mice, our results showed that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is suppressed in the dermal endothelium and hair follicles in KS-TG mice. Lithium, a known activator of β-catenin via inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, reversed the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by kallistatin and rescued the wound-healing deficiency in KS-TG mice. These observations suggest that elevated circulating antiangiogenic serpins in diabetic patients may contribute to impaired wound healing through inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, at a level downstream of Wnt receptors, may ameliorate the wound-healing deficiency in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been associated with the immunobiology of preeclampsia (PE), a significant cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The prevalence of PE is elevated several fold in the presence of maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although cross-sectional studies of pregnancies among women without diabetes have shown altered inflammatory markers in the presence of PE, longitudinal studies of diabetic women are lacking. In maternal serum samples, we examined the temporal associations of markers of inflammation with the subsequent development of PE in women with T1DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted longitudinal analyses of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), adhesion molecules, and cytokines during the first (mean ± SD, 12.2 ± 1.9 weeks), second (21.6 ± 1.5 weeks), and third (31.5 ± 1.7 weeks) trimesters of pregnancy (visits 1–3, respectively). All study visits took place before the onset of PE. Covariates were BMI, HbA1c, age of onset, duration of diabetes, and mean arterial pressure. RESULTS In women with T1DM who developed PE versus those who remained normotensive, CRP tended to be higher at visits 1 (P = 0.07) and 2 (P = 0.06) and was significantly higher at visit 3 (P < 0.05); soluble E-selectin and interferon-γ–inducible protein-10 (IP-10) were significantly higher at visit 3; interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and eotaxin were higher and lower, respectively, at visit 2 (all P < 0.05). These conclusions persisted following adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS In pregnant women with T1DM, elevated CRP, soluble E-selectin, IL-1ra, and IP-10 and lower eotaxin were associated with subsequent PE. The role of inflammatory factors as markers and potential mechanisms of the high prevalence of PE in T1DM merits further investigation.

Interindividual variability in patients' responses to medicines, including the likelihood of toxicity, is commonly due to differences in their genetics.1 Both problems present adverse care and resource issues, with non-response rates as high as 30–60%.2 Resource issues include the cost of adverse reactions which increase the number of emergency hospital admission at an estimated cost of GB£2 billion per annum.3 Such resource issues are an increasing concern among health authorities with pharmaceutical expenditure growing faster than other components of ambulatory care, driven by ageing populations, rising patient expectations and the continued launch of new expensive drugs.4 New premium-priced medicines are being launched at over US$300,000 per year, often with only limited health gain versus current standards.4,5 Targeting valuable resources through personalization is empirically an attractive proposition for health authorities or health insurers as it reduces the numbers needed to treat (NNT) and increases the numbers needed to harm (NNH), thereby improving the health gain for patients within available resources. It claims to deliver the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.6 However, there are barriers that need to be addressed before personalized medicine becomes a reality. This article aims to stimulate this ongoing debate and provide guidance for the future. Personalized medicine is not new. For instance, GPs in the UK do not prescribe non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients with asthma as a matter of course. The guidelines for antihypertensives are predicated on knowledge of a patient's race, age and co-morbidities. When there are a few examples, physicians can memorize and integrate these into routine practice. However, as we dissect diseases beyond such phenotypic stratification, we find increasing examples of genetic differences in therapeutic responses, some of which are already being exploited.1,7–9 This is resulting in a more heterogeneous spectrum of disease referred to by the recently coined ‘precision medicine’.6 Ultimately, full personalization of medicines will require a better understanding of the systems of genetic pathways rather than just single gene association, as demonstrated by the disappointing predictive yield of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). New technologies for whole genome sequencing and new approaches for combining information from a panel of biological variables will have a profound impact on the way in which drugs and diagnostic tests are being and will be developed, as well as the way physicians will practise medicine in the future.2 As this field of systems biology evolves with greater clinical utility in personalizing therapy, the funding and policy environment must also evolve to facilitate the expediency with such therapies that are introduced, used and evaluated in routine care.2 Currently, there are only relatively few clinical examples of personalized medicine being integrated into routine care, a phenomenon that has not been helped by the current controversies surrounding the testing of patients prescribed clopidogrel or warfarin.7–9 However, this is changing with recent research suggesting that 50% of the variability in the dosing of anticoagulant therapy can be explained by genetic factors.10 Overall, greater integration of personalized medicine into routine care will require new clinical trial structures, and innovative funding strategies that make it easier to fund new diagnostic drugs and any additional facilities along with potentially ‘valued’ drug therapy. Patient education will also be needed as the range of therapeutic options increases and becomes more complicated to navigate.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic found in India and also worldwide. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes among Indians, there is a paucity of data showing the relationship between vitamin D status and cardiometabolic disparities. In this study, we have examined the relationship between vitamin D and cardiometabolic traits in a population from India. Methods: Circulating 25(OH)D levels were measured in 3,879 participants from the Asian Indian Diabetic Heart Study using ELISA kits. Results: Vitamin D levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in both men and women with obesity. However, compared to women, serum vitamin D was consistently lower in men (p < 0.02), irrespective of the presence of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Multivariate regression revealed strong interaction of vitamin D with body mass index that resulted in increased fasting glucose (p = 0.001) and reduced homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B; p = 0.01) in normoglycemic individuals. However, in gender-stratified analysis, this association was restricted to men for both fasting glucose (p = 2.4 × 10-4) and HOMA-B (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may significantly enhance the risk of cardiometabolic disease among Asian Indians. Future randomized trials and genetic studies are expected to clarify the underlying mechanisms for gender differences in vitamin D deficiency, and whether vitamin D-driven improvement in testosterone may contribute to beneficial cardiometabolic outcomes in men.

Objective: Musculoskeletal pain commonly occurs in the elderly, many of whom are also prone to suffer from strokes. We studied whether short-term use (≤ 4 weeks) of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors for musculoskeletal pain in stroke patients helped them to participate in their therapies and was safe and efficacious. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and three patients admitted consecutively with first ischemic stroke were studied. Two cohorts were defined, based on whether patients with acute stroke had sufficient musculoskeletal pain that warranted oral COX-2 inhibitors (COX-2 group) or not (case-matched controls). Primary efficacy measures were change in Fugl-Meyer (F-M) pain score and change in total functional independence measure (TFIM) scores on discharge from hospital. Safety was judged by the incidence of vascular episodes during the study period. Results: From the original 303 patients, 64 patients in the COX-2 group were matched with 64 patients in the non-COX-2 group. The groups were matched for age (±5 years), gender, and admission TFIM score (± 5 points). Baseline characteristics between the 2 groups were similar. The primary and secondary outcome measures were similar between the 2 groups, except for ambulation endurance, which favored the non-COX-2 group (P < 0.03). Greater change in the pain score (less pain) was found in the COX-2 group; this effect was strongest in patients who were independent prior to their stroke (on post hoc analysis). There were too few adverse events in either group of any significance. Conclusions: The short-term use of COX-2 inhibitors reduced musculoskeletal pain in acute stroke patients, improved functional motor outcome, and were found to be safe.