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To determine the frequency of detection and the age and sex associations of autoimmune/paraneoplastic encephalitis antibody biomarkers (AE-Abs).There were 42,032 patients tested in the Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology Laboratory between January 2018 and December 2019 for AE-Abs in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), including NMDA-R-IgG, AMPA-R-IgG, GABAAdult serum analysis (22,472 patients; 56% female) revealed that 814 (3.6%) were positive: NMDA-R-IgG (24.6%)GAD65-IgG (21.5%)LGI1-IgG (20.5%)others. Of children (5649; 50% female), 251 (4.4%) were positive: NMDA-R-IgG (53.1%)MOG-IgG1 (32%)GAD65-IgG (7.1%)others. Adult CSF analysis (18,745 patients; 54% female) revealed that 796 (4.2%) were positive: NMDA-R-IgG (39.7%)GAD65-IgG (28.5%)LGI1-IgG (11.4%)others. Of children (5136; 50% female), 282 (5.5%) were positive: NMDA-R-IgG (88.1%)GAD65-IgG (8.7%)others. Age younger than 20 years was associated with NMDA-R-IgG and MOG-IgG1 (odds ratio [OR], 8.11 and 7.84, respectively; P.001). Age older than 65 years was associated with GABAThe most frequent AE-Abs detected were NMDA-R-IgG, GAD65-IgG, LGI1-IgG, and MOG-IgG1. Age and sex associations may suggest paraneoplastic, or aging influences on neurologic autoimmunity.

To verify the analytical performance of a new mass spectrometry-based method, termed MASS-FIX, when screening for plasma cell disorders in a routine clinical laboratory.Results from 19,523 unique patients tested for an M-protein between July 24, 2018, and March 6, 2020, by a combination serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and MASS-FIX were examined for consistency with pretest implementation performance. MASS-FIX's ability to verify abnormal results from SPEP and free light chain measurements was then compared with that of immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) using a separate cohort of 52,586 patients tested by SPEP/IFE during the same period.Overall, 62.4% of our cohort was negative for an M-protein. Importantly, 7.3% of all specimens had an M spike on SPEP (0.1 to 8.5 g/dL) and MASS-FIX detected an M-protein in all these samples. Of all samples, 30.3% had M-proteins that were detected by MASS-FIX but the SPEP finding was too small for quantification. Of the positive samples, 5.7% contained a therapeutic monoclonal antibody. Of the positive samples, 4.1% had an N-glycosylated light chain (biomarker of high-risk plasma cell disorders). MASS-FIX confirmed a higher percentage of SPEP abnormalities than IFE. MASS-FIX was slightly more sensitive than IFE when confirming an M-protein in samples with an abnormal free light chain ratio. MASS-FIX had a very low sample repeat rate (1.5%). MASS-FIX was highly automatable resulting in a higher number of samples/technologist/day than IFE (∼30% more).Overall, MASS-FIX was successful in maintaining validation characteristics. MASS-FIX was more sensitive in confirming SPEP abnormalities when compared with IFE. Ability to detect therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and glycosylated light chains was distinctly advantageous.

This study was undertaken to report clinical presentations and outcomes of CASPR2-IgG-associated seizures.Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology database was queried to identify CASPR2-IgG-seropositive (CASPR2-IgG+) patients evaluated at our institution (2009-2019).Of the 53 CASPR2-IgG+ patients (titer ≥ 1:10), 20 had seizures (38%). All seizure patients were male, with median onset age of 68 years. Eighteen (90%) had seizures at initial presentation. One patient was found to have malignancy (colon adenocarcinoma). Two patients had coexisting LGI1-IgG. Twelve patients had archived sera, which on titration had CASPR2-IgG titers ≥ 1:100. Fifteen patients (75%) met criteria for autoimmune encephalitis. Patients most commonly presented with focal onset, nonmotor seizures with impaired awareness (n = 14, 70%). Eleven patients also had focal motor and/or sensory seizures as one of the seizure semiologies. The majority of patients (n = 11, 55%) developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures during their disease course. Seizure clusters occurred in 12 patients. In addition to seizures, patients developed cognitive disturbance (n = 16, 80%), episodic emotional lability (n = 13, 65%), paroxysmal dizziness (n = 9, 45%), episodic ataxia (n = 6, 30%), and chronic ataxia (n = 9, 45%). Only three patients (15%) had coexisting peripheral nervous system involvement. Frontotemporal or temporal ictal and/or interictal electroencephalographic abnormalities were present among nine patients, and three had multifocal epileptiform abnormalities. Eight patients (40%) had medial temporal T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein and/or lymphocytic pleocytosis was present in most cases (13/14, 93%). Thirteen patients reached seizure freedom following initiation of antiseizure medication (ASM; n = 4) or a combination of immunotherapy and ASM (n = 9). Median duration of follow-up was 25 months (range = 2-136 months).CASPR2-IgG evaluation should be considered among older male patients with new onset focal seizures and impaired awareness often occurring in clusters with/without features of encephalitis. Coexisting neurological manifestations, including episodic emotional lability, ataxia, and paroxysmal dizziness, also aid in the diagnosis.

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The Myc/Max/Mad family of transcription factors and the eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) complex play fundamental roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and oncogenic transformation. eIF4F is involved in the recruitment of ribosomes to mRNAs and is thought to generally be the rate-limiting phase of translation. Here, we show that c-Myc directly activates transcription of the three subunits of eIF4F (eIF4E, eIF4AI, and eIF4GI). These transcriptional effects are mediated through canonical E-boxes (5′CACGTG3′) present in the promoters of these genes. In addition, the c-Myc antagonist Mad1 down-regulates the expression of eIF4F subunits. We also show that MycER activation stimulates protein synthesis at the level of translation initiation. Increased eIF4F levels result in stimulation of c-Myc mRNA translation specifically, as assessed by quantitative reverse transcription–PCR. We use a murine model of lymphomagenesis to show the expression of eIF4F subunits is also up-regulated by c-Myc in vivo. Our results suggest the presence of a feedforward loop involving c-Myc and eIF4F that serves to link transcription and translation and that could contribute to the effects of c-Myc on cell proliferation and neoplastic growth. [Cancer Res 2008;68(13):5326–34]

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IMPORTANCEMany hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have been treated with convalescent plasma. However, it is uncertain whether this therapy lowers mortality and if so, if the mortality benefit is larger among specific subgroups, such as recipients of plasma with high antibody content and patients treated early in the disease course.OBJECTIVETo examine the association of COVID-19 convalescent plasma transfusion with mortality and the differences between subgroups in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.DATA SOURCESOn October 26, 2022, a systematic search was performed for clinical studies of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in the literature.STUDY SELECTIONRandomized clinical trials and matched cohort studies investigating COVID-19 convalescent plasma transfusion compared with standard of care treatment or placebo among hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included. The electronic search yielded 3,841 unique records, of which 744 were considered for full-text screening. The selection process was performed independently by a panel of five reviewers.DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESISThe study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were extracted by 5 independent reviewers in duplicate and pooled using inverse-variance random-effects model.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESPrespecified end point was all-cause mortality during hospitalization.RESULTSThirty-nine randomized clinical trials enrolling 21,529 participants and 70 matched cohort studies enrolling 50,160 participants were included in the systematic review. Separate meta-analyses demonstrated that transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma was associated with a significant decrease in mortality compared with the control cohort for both randomized clinical trials (odds ratio (OR), 0.87 [95% CI, 0.76-1.00]) and matched cohort studies (OR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.64-0.94]). Meta-analysis of subgroups revealed two important findings. First, treatment with convalescent plasma containing high antibody levels was associated with a decrease in mortality compared to convalescent plasma containing low antibody levels (OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.73 to 0.99]). Second, earlier treatment with COVID-19 convalescent plasma was associated with a significant decrease in mortality compared with the later treatment cohort (OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.82]).CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCECOVID-19 convalescent plasma use was associated with a 13% reduced risk in mortality, implying a mortality benefit for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, particularly those treated with convalescent plasma containing high antibody levels treated earlier in the disease course.Key PointsQuestionWhat is the evidence regarding the potential mortality benefit associated with transfusion of convalescent plasma in hospitalized patients with COVID-19?FindingsIn this meta-analysis of 39 randomized clinical trials enrolling 21,529 participants and 70 matched cohort studies enrolling 50,160 participants, transfusion of convalescent plasma was associated with a 13% mortality benefit. Subgroup analyses revealed that patients treated with plasma containing higher levels of antibodies and patients treated earlier in the course of the disease had a greater mortality benefit associated with COVID-19 convalescent plasma transfusion.MeaningThese findings suggest that transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma is associated with a mortality benefit for hospitalized patients, particularly those treated earlier in the disease course.

ObjectivesTo report the expanded neurological presentations and oncological associations of tripartite motif-containing protein 46 (TRIM46)-IgG seropositive patients.MethodsArchived sera/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated by tissue-based immunofluorescence assay to identify patients with identical axon initial segment (AIS)-specific staining pattern. Phage immunoprecipitation sequencing (PhIP-Seq) was used to identify the putative autoantigen.ResultsIgG in serum (17) and/or CSF (16) from 25 patients yielded unique AIS-specific staining on murine central nervous system (CNS) tissue. An autoantibody specific for TRIM46 was identified by PhIP-Seq, and autoantigen specificity was confirmed by transfected COS7 cell-based assay. Clinical information was available for 22 TRIM46-IgG seropositive patients. Fifteen were female (68%). Median age was 67 years (range 25–87). Fifteen (68%) patients presented with subacute cerebellar syndrome (six isolated; nine with CNS accompaniments: encephalopathy (three), brainstem signs (two), myelopathy (two), parkinsonism (one)). Other phenotypes included limbic encephalitis (three), encephalopathy with/without seizures (two), myelopathy (two). Eighteen (82%) had cancer: neuroendocrine carcinomas (9; pancreatic (3), small-cell lung (4), oesophagus (1), endometrium (1)), adenocarcinomas (6; lung (2), ovarian (2), endometrial (1), breast (1)), sarcoma (2) and gastrointestinal tumour (1). Neurological symptoms in three followed immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) administration.ConclusionsThis study supports TRIM46-IgG being a biomarker of paraneoplastic CNS disorders and expands the neurological phenotypes, oncological and ICI-related adverse event associations.

Immune-mediated rippling muscle disease (iRMD) is a rare myopathy characterized by wavelike muscle contractions (rippling) and percussion- or stretch-induced muscle mounding. A serological biomarker of this disease is lacking.To describe a novel autoantibody biomarker of iRMD and report associated clinicopathological characteristics.This retrospective cohort study evaluated archived sera from 10 adult patients at tertiary care centers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and BrighamWomen's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, who were diagnosed with iRMD by neuromuscular specialists in 2000 and 2021, based on the presence of electrically silent percussion- or stretch-induced muscle rippling and percussion-induced rapid muscle contraction with or without muscle mounding and an autoimmune basis. Sera were evaluated for a common biomarker using phage immunoprecipitation sequencing. Myopathology consistent with iRMD was documented in most patients. The median (range) follow-up was 18 (1-30) months.Diagnosis of iRMD.Detection of a common autoantibody in serum of patients sharing similar clinical and myopathological features.Seven male individuals and 3 female individuals with iRMD were identified (median [range] age at onset, 60 [18-76] years). An IgG autoantibody specific for caveolae-associated protein 4 (cavin-4) was identified in serum of patients with iRMD using human proteome phage immunoprecipitation sequencing. Immunoassays using recombinant cavin-4 confirmed cavin-4 IgG seropositivity in 8 of 10 patients with iRMD. Results for healthy and disease-control individuals (n = 241, including myasthenia gravis and immune-mediated myopathies) were cavin-4 IgG seronegative. Six of the 8 individuals with cavin-4 IgG were male, and the median (range) age was 60 (18-76) years. Initial symptoms included rippling of lower limb muscles in 5 of 8 individuals or all limb muscles in 2 of 8 sparing bulbar muscles, fatigue in 9 of 10, mild proximal weakness in 3 of 8, and isolated myalgia in 1 of 8, followed by development of diffuse rippling. All patients had percussion-induced muscle rippling and half had percussion- or stretch-induced muscle mounding. Four of the 10 patients had proximal weakness. Plasma creatine kinase was elevated in all but 1 patient. Six of the 10 patients underwent malignancy screening; cancer was detected prospectively in only 1. Muscle biopsy was performed in 7 of the 8 patients with cavin-4 IgG; 6 of 6 specimens analyzed immunohistochemically revealed a mosaic pattern of sarcolemmal cavin-4 immunoreactivity. Three of 6 patients whose results were seropositive and who received immunotherapy had complete resolution of symptoms, 1 had mild improvement, and 2 had no change.The findings indicate that cavin-4 IgG may be the first specific serological autoantibody biomarker identified in iRMD. Depletion of cavin-4 expression in muscle biopsies of patients with iRMD suggests the potential role of this autoantigen in disease pathogenesis.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is considered a rare subtype of the immune-mediated myopathies, but its incidence and prevalence are unknown. In this study we aimed to determine the incidence and prevalence of IMNM among adults in Olmsted County, Minnesota.We identified adult patients with IMNM, as defined by the 2016 European Neuromuscular Centre diagnostic criteria, among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota over a 20-year period.Seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Six patients were tested for IMNM antibodies: four were anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) positive, one was anti-signal recognition particle positive, and one was seronegative. The incidence of IMNM during 2010-2019 was 8.3 per million person-years. The prevalence of IMNM in 2010 was 1.85 per 100 000 people at least 50 years of age. Median age at symptom onset was 64 (range, 52-86) years and median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 3 (range,1 to 156) months. Statin use among anti-HMGCR IMNM patients, but not the entire IMNM cohort, was higher than in controls (P = .024). Two IMNM patients developed cancers. The incidence of malignancy in IMNM was not higher than that of the general population. Treatment outcome was favorable in all patients except for one patient with delayed treatment and another with insufficient therapy. Among three deceased patients, one died of cancer and another died of IMNM-related cardiorespiratory complications.IMNM is a rare disease. Its prevalence is one tenth that of inclusion-body myositis in Olmsted County, Minnesota. IMNM patients in our cohort were not at higher risk for developing cancer.

Objectives To investigate immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) association with cancer and its clinical implications. Methods IMNM cases were identified 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2020 matching sex and age controls (4:1). Results A total of 152 patients with IMNM were identified and among serologically tested, 60% (83/140) were HMGCR-IgG+, 14% (20/140) were SRP-IgG+ and 26% (37/140) were seronegative. Cancer rates were not significantly different between serological subgroups; 18.1% (15/83) HMGCR-IgG+, 25% (5/20) SRP-IgG+ and 30% (11/37) seronegative (P = 0.34). Cancer screening was performed within 12 months from IMNM diagnosis in 88% (134/152) (whole-body CT plus FDG-PET CT in 53, CT alone in 72 and FDG-PET alone in 9). FDG-PET/CT was positive in 73% (25/34) of cancers. Increasing age was the only risk associated with cancer (P = 0.02). The odds of developing cancer at ±3 or ±5 years from IMNM diagnosis was not higher than controls (OR = 0.49; CI: 0.325–0.76). Lifetime IMNM diagnosis of cancer was less compared with controls (OR = 0.5 CI: 0.33–0.78, P = 0.002). Most patients responded to treatment (137/147, P Conclusions Greater cancer risk is not observed in IMNM vs controls. Cancer screening in IMNM should be individualized based on age-personal and family history, including consideration of FDG-PET/CT. Immune-treatment response did not differ with cancer.

A 62-year-old man with a history of migraine came to the emergency department with sudden onset of horizontal diplopia and, subsequently, bilateral ptosis. He noted feeling unsteady when walking. He reported that the diplopia worsened throughout the day. He had a history of hepatitis C infection. He had some vision loss in his left eye, which was thought to relate to a retinopathy. He disclosed that he had a history of cold feet and had notably high arches. He had a pacemaker because of syncope attributed to sick sinus syndrome. Computed tomography angiography of the head and neck were ruled negative for intracranial stenosis, occlusions, or aneurysms. Computed tomography of the head indicated a tiny lacunar infarct in the right caudate head. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain identified a tiny, periaqueductal, enhancing abnormality in the right midbrain that was thought to be likely ischemic, but there was some concern for a demyelinating or inflammatory lesion. Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation indicated an increased protein concentration. Serologic evaluation for myasthenia gravis striational antibodies were positive at a titer of 1:240. Serum protein studies indicated the presence of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Myasthenia gravis was effectively ruled out. Given the hyperacute time course, the patient’s clinical disorder was most probably explained by an ischemic stroke that affected the oculomotor nuclei regions causing ptosis and ophthalmoparesis. On follow-up, the patient was discovered to have a patent foramen ovale. Whether the patent foramen ovale was a contributing factor to the stroke is uncertain. The recurrence rate in this setting is thought to be low relative to other causes of stroke. Ultimately it was decided to not close the patent foramen ovale and to maintain the patient on clopidogrel and adult low-dose aspirin. The onset of diplopia is typically sudden, but this occurs exclusively with vascular pathologic processes. Diplopia that appears intermittently with diurnal variation suggests the possibility of a neuromuscular junction disease such as myasthenia gravis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate neuropathy phenotypes and clinical outcomes associated with trisulfated heparin disaccharide (TS-HDS) autoantibodies.BackgroundTS-HDS autoantibody has been reported as a biomarker of immune-mediated neuropathy. However, studies evaluating the clinical associations of this autoantibody are limited.Design/MethodsElectronic medical records were reviewed to identify TS-HDS autoantibody seropositive patients and characterize their clinical and electrodiagnostic findings.ResultsSeventy-seven TS-HDS-IgM seropositive (titer range 9000-350,000) patients were identified (50 females; median age of onset was 48 years (range 9-83 years). Eleven patients were also positive for FGFR3-IgG (titer range 4000-19,000). 70% (54/77) had clinical/paraclinical evidence of neuropathy (54/77, 70% of TS-HDS-IgM alone; 10/11, 91% of TS-HDS-IgM with coexisting FGFR3-IgG). The managing physician characterized an immune-mediated neuropathy in 30% (23/77) and 54% (6/11) of the TS-HDS-IgM only and TS-HDS-IgM with coexisting FGFR3-IgG seropositive patients, respectively. Small fiber neuropathy presented in 58% (45/77) and 63% (7/11) of TS-HDS-IgM only, and both antibodies seropositive patients, respectively. Length-dependent neuropathy was the most common neuropathy phenotype amongst TS-HDS IgM (43/54, 80%) and dual seropositive cases (7/11, 63%). Forty-one (53%) patients received immunotherapy, predominantly: IVIG (n = 37), IV solumedrol (n = 7), oral prednisone (n = 14), and mycophenolate mofetil (n = 12). Among these, 43% (15/35) with TS-HDS-IgM seropositivity alone had improvement in inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) disability score or modified Rankin Scale (mRS), while 33% (2/6) of patients with dual seropositivity had INCAT and mRS improvement. TS-HDS-IgM titers had low discriminative ability to identify immunotherapy response with an AUC of 0.621.ConclusionsNeuropathy associations and clinical phenotypes amongst TS-HDS-IgM seropositive cases are variable. Furthermore, only a minority of cases are immunotherapy responsive, limiting the value of this biomarker in identifying immune-mediated neuropathies.

ObjectiveTo define the clinicopathologic features of amphiphysin-immunoglobulin G (IgG)–mediated neuropathy.MethodsPatients examined at our institution from January 1, 1995, to September 30, 2018, with amphiphysin-IgG by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot, were reviewed. Their phenotypes were compared to cases of coexisting collapsin response-mediator protein-5 (CRMP5)–IgG or anti-neuronal nuclear antibody type 1 (ANNA1-IgG) and CRMP5-IgG autoimmunity. Improvement in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (≥1) on follow-up was considered a favorable outcome. Amphiphysin RNA expression was assessed in healthy nerves.ResultsFifty-three amphiphysin-IgG–positive cases were identified. Of 33 (60%) patients with neuropathy, 21 had amphiphysin-IgG alone, and 12 had coexisting autoantibodies (ANNA1-IgG, n = 8; CRMP5-IgG, n = 2; ANNA1-IgG and CRMP5-IgG, n = 2). The neuropathies in isolated amphiphysin-IgG autoimmunity included polyradiculoneuropathy (62%), diffuse sensory neuronopathy (35%), and facial neuropathy with gastroparesis (3%). Among these, pain (80%), breast cancer (63%), and CNS (57%) involvements commonly coexisted, and neuropathy frequently prompted breast cancer diagnosis (76%). Stiff-person spectrum disorder was the most common CNS accompaniment (45%). Nerve biopsies showed axonal loss (n = 6/6), subperineurial edema (n = 4/6), and CD4 predominant inflammation (n = 2/6). Median mRS score at last follow-up was 3.5; 58% of patients were immunotherapy-responsive. Patients with amphiphysin-IgG alone had more favorable immunotherapy response than patients with CRMP5-IgG polyneuropathy (n = 45) (44% vs 16%, p = 0.028, odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 15.5). Only 1/9 (11%) patients with amphiphysin-IgG with coexisting CRMP5-IgG or ANNA1-IgG had immunotherapy response. RNA amphiphysin expression occurred at low levels in nerve.ConclusionAmphiphysin-IgG autoimmune neuropathy has a recognizable phenotype, is frequently immune responsive, and can prompt early diagnosis of breast cancer.

LRP4 is a post-synaptic membrane protein that promotes acetylcholine (AChR) clustering on the crest of post-synaptic neuromuscular folds. Autoantibodies against LRP4 are suggested to account for myasthenia gravis (MG) patients negative for antibodies to AChR.To report a clinical experience with service-line LRP4-IgG cell-based testing in electrodiagnostically confirmed MG patients and controls.We identified all Mayo patients undergoing MG evaluations with send out LRP4-IgG antibody testing by cell-based assay, having clinical-electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing. To be included, muscle acetylcholine receptor binding (AChR-Bi) and muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies had to be absent prior to LRP4-IgG testing. Follow-up AChR-Bi antibody testing was reviewed. Also tested for LRP4-IgGs were 119 healthy subjects.Identified were 25 generalized MG, 24 ocular MG, and 55 patients initially considered to have MG prior to negative EDX testing. No seronegative patients with EDX confirmed MG had LRP4-IgG positivity but five non-MG patients did: Guillain-Barre syndrome with fatigue (N = 1); multiple cranial neuropathies (N = 1); functional neurologic disorders (N = 3). Of healthy subjects, 4% (5/119) were LRP4-IgG positive (N = 5) or had a borderline result (N = 1). Of MG patients with repeat AChR-Bi testing, 40% (10/25) seroconverted (5 with ocular MG and 5 with generalized MG) (median AChR IgG value: 0.34 nmol/L, range 0.2-20.9 nmol/L, median followup 26 months, range 2-72 months).Clinical review of LRP4-IgG commercial cell-based testing suggests lack of diagnostic utility in seronegative EDX-confirmed MG. The clinical utility of LRP4-IgG testing is not substantiated in service line testing. In contrast, repeat testing for AChR-Bi antibodies is shown clinically useful.

Longitudinal studies assessing durability of the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) humoral immune response have generated conflicting results. This has been proposed to be due to differences in patient populations, the lack of standardized methodologies, and the use of assays that measure distinct aspects of the humoral response. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were serially measured in sera from a cohort of 44 well-characterized convalescent plasma donors over 120 days post-COVID-19 symptom onset, utilizing eight assays, which varied according to antigen source, the detected antibody isotype, and the activity measured (i.e., binding, blocking, or neutralizing). While the majority of assays demonstrated a gradual decline in antibody titers over the course of 120 days, the two electrochemiluminescence immunoassay Roche assays (Roche Diagnostics Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 [qualitative, nucleocapsid based] and Roche Diagnostics Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S [semiquantitative, spike based]), which utilize dual-antigen binding for antibody detection, demonstrated stable and/or increasing antibody titers over the study period. This study is among the first to assess longitudinal, rather than cross-sectional, SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiles among convalescent COVID-19 patients, primarily using commercially available serologic assays with Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization. We show that SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection is dependent on the serologic method used, which has implications for future assay utilization and clinical value.

This report provides detailed protocols for urban tree monitoring data collection. Specifically, we discuss the core variables necessary for field-based monitoring projects, including field crew identification, field crew experience level, tree record identifier, location, site type, land use, species, mortality status, crown vigor, and trunk diameter. The intent of this Field Guide is to serve urban forest managers and researchers who collect longitudinal field data on urban trees, as well as interns and citizen scientists. This report is a companion document to Urban Tree Monitoring: A Resource Guide.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can occur at any age, the presence of diabetes related autoantibodies predicts increased risk of disease and supports an autoimmune etiology for T1DM. Since 2017, Mayo Clinic Laboratories has been offering a comprehensive type 1 diabetes autoantibody evaluation (DM1Eval) which includes testing for 4 autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD), protein tyrosine phosphatase-like islet antigen 2 (IA-2), insulin (IAA), and zinc transporter 8 protein (ZnT8). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of individual antibodies and antibody clusters (2, 3 or 4) stratified into 4 ages groups (children 0-17, young adult 18-35, middle aged 36-55 and older >55 years). Over a 30 month period (June 2017-Nov 2019) the DM1Eval was performed on 6,446 samples. At least 1 autoantibody was found in 3596 (56%) of all samples: 68% of children, 49% of young adults, 40% of middle aged and 41% of older adults. In patients with at least 1 antibody positive, GAD 65 antibodies were the most common in all age groups followed by ZnT8 in those Autoantibody clusters of 3 or 4 antibodies were more frequently encountered in younger patients (41% of pediatric and 27% of young adult patients in contrast to just 12% in middle and older age groups). Disclosure A.R. Dahl: None. S. Pittock: None. A. McKeon: None. J. Foster: None. J. Mills: None.

The guidelines proposed in Urban Tree Monitoring: A Resource Guide (hereafter referred to as the Resource Guide) were developed and refined over many years to address the need for standardized urban tree monitoring protocols. The Resource Guide provides in-depth guidance for urban forest managers and researchers who want to design and implement a tree monitoring project. This Resource Guide is a companion to Urban Tree Monitoring: A Field Guide; however, the Resource Guide can also be used on its own. The Resource Guide is divided into three parts. In Part I, we discuss (1) the varied goals of monitoring projects and how to match data collection to those goals, (2) the development of these urban tree monitoring standards, (3) types of monitoring projects, and (4) connections to other protocols for urban tree data collection. We offer guidance on methods for recording tree location, developing tree record identifiers, organizing spreadsheets and databases, choosing data collection systems, fostering research-practice partnerships, training crews, and managing fieldwork. In Part II, we present five monitoring data sets: Minimum Data Set, Tree Data Set, Site Data Set, Young Tree Management Data Set, and Community Data Set. We list study goals that could be addressed with each data set and descriptions of relevant variables. We also provide guidance regarding which variables are best suited for beginner and advanced crews. Lastly, in Part III we include appendices with additional resources for designing and implementing tree monitoring projects.

SUMMARY Targeting translation initiation is an emerging anti-neoplastic strategy that capitalizes on de-regulated upstream MAPK and PI3K-mTOR signaling pathways in cancers. A key regulator of translation that controls ribosome recruitment flux is eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F, a hetero-trimeric complex composed of the cap binding protein eIF4E, the scaffolding protein eIF4G, and the RNA helicase eIF4A. Small molecule inhibitors targeting eIF4F display promising anti-neoplastic activity in preclinical settings. Among these are some rocaglate family members that are well tolerated in vivo, deplete eIF4F of its eIF4A helicase subunit, have shown activity as single agents in several xenograft models, and can reverse acquired resistance to MAPK and PI3K-mTOR targeted therapies. Herein, we highlight the power of using genetic complementation approaches and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing for drug-target validation ex vivo and in vivo, linking the anti-tumor properties of rocaglates to eIF4A inhibition., Graphical abstract

Research has shown there is a positive relationship between urban greenness and the well-being of city residents. But greenness is often unevenly distributed across a city, raising environmental justice issues. In 2011 and 2012 the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program installed ground plots in the urbanized areas of Oregon and Washington. We analyze these data for the urban areas west of the Cascade Mountains, linking it with demographic data from the U.S. Census to examine the relationship between greenness and socioeconomic status at a sub-regional scale. To explore some relations between urban forest measures and socioeconomic conditions and measures we developed four models: presence of tree canopy cover with a logistic mixed model, and on a subset of the data, percent tree canopy cover with a linear mixed model and tree count and tree species count with Poisson mixed models. We found that median household income, house value, land use, and years in the Tree City USA program contributed to explaining measures of greenness, such as canopy cover presence, percent canopy cover, tree counts, and tree species counts. This agrees with other studies, but does so at a broad scale covering the most densely populated areas in the Pacific Northwest.

PTP1B and TC-PTP are highly related protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) that regulate the JAK/STAT signaling cascade essential for cytokine-receptor activation in immune cells. Here, we describe a novel immunotherapy approach whereby monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC) function is enhanced by modulating the enzymatic activities of PTP1B and TC-PTP. To downregulate or delete the activity/expression of these PTPs, we generated mice with PTP-specific deletions in the dendritic cell compartment or used PTP1B and TC-PTP specific inhibitor. While total ablation of PTP1B or TC-PTP expression leads to tolerogenic DCs via STAT3 hyperactivation, downregulation of either phosphatase remarkably shifts the balance toward an immunogenic DC phenotype due to hyperactivation of STAT4, STAT1 and Src kinase. The resulting increase in IL-12 and IFNγ production subsequently amplifies the IL-12/STAT4/IFNγ/STAT1/IL-12 positive autocrine loop and enhances the therapeutic potential of mature moDCs in tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of both PTPs improves the maturation of defective moDCs derived from pancreatic cancer (PaC) patients. Our study provides a new advance in the use of DC-based cancer immunotherapy that is complementary to current cancer therapeutics.

The detection and quantification of monoclonal-proteins (M-proteins) are necessary for the diagnosis and evaluation of response in plasma cell dyscrasias. Immunoglobulin enrichment-coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (MASS-FIX) is a simple and inexpensive method to identify M-proteins, but its clinical generalizability has not yet been elucidated. We compared MASS-FIX to protein electrophoresis (PEL), serum/urine immunofixation-electrophoresis (IFE), and quantitative serum free-light chain (FLC) for the identification of M-proteins in different clinical diagnoses. Paired serum and urine samples from 257 patients were tested. There were six patients for whom s-IFE and FLC ratio were positive and serum MASS-FIX was negative, but when serum and urine MASS-FIX results were combined, only one patient with light chain-MGUS was missed. Serum/urine-MASS-FIX detected M-proteins in 18 patients with negative serum/urine-PEL/IFE and serum-FLC, 10 of whom had multiple myeloma or AL amyloidosis, who were mistakenly thought to have complete hematologic response by serum/urine-PEL/IFE and serum-FLC. Nearly half of the AL amyloidosis patients had atypical spectra, which may prove to be a clue to the diagnosis and pathogenesis of the disease. In conclusion, MASS-FIX has a comparable sensitivity with PEL/IFE/FLC methods and can help inform the clinical diagnosis.