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The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic represents a growing challenge for the health care system and for case management models applied to persons with AIDS. The experience of San Francisco highlights some of the issues involved in developing a case management system appropriate to the needs of persons with AIDS, as well as providers, and payers. Dramatic growth in the size and complexity of the AIDS caseload and the involvement of public, health maintenance organization, and community providers has required the increasing formalization and centralization of case management roles. Persistent questions about the definition and goals of case management complicate development of these services.

Background Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in four women and negatively impacts quality of life. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is an effective long-term treatment but is discontinued by many due to unpredictable bleeding, or adverse effects. The selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate is used to treat symptomatic fibroids but long-term efficacy for the symptom of heavy menstrual bleeding, irrespective of presence of fibroids, is unknown. Objectives To determine whether ulipristal acetate is more effective at reducing the burden of heavy menstrual bleeding than levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system after 12 months of treatment in women with and without fibroids. We investigated mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate in a subset of 20 women. Design Randomised, open-label, parallel group, multicentre trial with embedded mechanistic study. Setting Ten UK hospitals. Participants Women with heavy menstrual bleeding aged 18 and over with no contraindications to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or ulipristal acetate. Interventions Three 12-week treatment cycles of 5 mg ulipristal acetate daily, separated by 4-week treatment-free intervals, or continuous levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system following allocation in a 1 : 1 ratio using a web-based minimisation procedure. Main trial outcome measures Primary outcome was quality-of-life measured by menorrhagia multi-attribute scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included menstrual bleeding and patient satisfaction. Impact on fibroid size, endometrial appearance and liver function was also collected. Mechanistic study outcome Cellular markers for endometrial cell structure and function, determined from endometrial biopsies; volume of uterus and fibroids and microcirculation parameters were determined from magnetic resonance images. Results Sample size was increased from 220 to 302 as a result of temporary halt to recruitment due to concerns of ulipristal acetate hepatoxicity. Subsequent withdrawal of ulipristal acetate and the COVID-19 pandemic led to a premature closure of recruitment, with 118 women randomised to each treatment and 103 women completing 12-month menorrhagia multi-attribute scale scores prior to this point. Primary outcome scores substantially improved in both arms, but at 12 months there was no evidence of a difference between those receiving three cycles of ulipristal acetate [median score category: 76–99, interquartile range (51–75 to 100), n = 53] and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system [median score category: 76–99, interquartile range (51–75 to 100), n = 50; adjusted odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 1.17; p = 0.12]. Rates of amenorrhoea were much higher in those allocated ulipristal acetate compared with the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (12 months: 64% vs. 25%, adjusted odds ratio 7.12, 95% confidence interval 2.29 to 22.2). There was no evidence of a difference in other participant-reported outcomes. There were no cases of endometrial malignancy and no hepatotoxicity due to ulipristal acetate use. Mechanistic study results Ulipristal acetate produced a reversible reduction in endometrial cell proliferation, as well as reversible alteration of other endometrial cellular markers. Ulipristal acetate did not produce a reduction in the volume of the uterus irrespective of coexisting fibroids, nor an effect on uterine microvascular blood flow. Limitations The urgent safety measures and premature closure of recruitment impacted final sample size. Conclusions We found no evidence of a difference in quality of life between the two treatments, but ulipristal acetate was superior to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system at inducing amenorrhoea. Ulipristal acetate currently has restricted availability due to concerns regarding hepatotoxicity. Future work There is a need to develop new, safe, effective and fertility-sparing medical treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. The observed acceptability and effectiveness of ulipristal acetate warrants further research into the selective progesterone receptor modulator class of pharmacological agents. Study registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN 20426843. Plain language summary What is the problem? Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common condition that affects the lives of many women. A hormone-releasing coil, fitted inside the womb, is effective in making periods lighter but can make them less regular. A medicine called ulipristal acetate or UPA, taken as a pill, has been shown to reduce rapidly menstrual bleeding in women with large, non-cancerous tumours in the womb, known as fibroids. It was not known whether UPA is effective in women who have heavy periods but do not have fibroids of any significant size. What did we plan to do? To find out which treatment was better at controlling heavy periods, 236 women were enrolled in a clinical trial where they received either the hormone coil or UPA. The choice of treatment was made at random by a computer rather than the wishes of researchers or patients, to ensure a fair comparison. Participants completed questionnaires about their symptoms and life quality at intervals up to 1 year. Twice during the trial, medicines regulatory authorities raised safety concerns about UPA causing liver problems. This resulted in the introduction of regular blood tests. The second time, recruitment to the trial stopped early. What did we find? Both treatments improved the symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding in the majority of women. We found no evidence that UPA was better overall after 1 year of treatment, compared with the hormone coil, although fewer women on UPA continued to have periods. Laboratory studies on samples taken from the lining of the womb showed temporary changes due to UPA, which disappeared after treatment stopped. What does this mean? Both treatments improve the symptoms of menstrual bleeding and general wellbeing. Because of safety concerns UPA is not available for all women with heavy menstrual bleeding and new, safer medical treatments are needed. Scientific summary Background Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is the most common gynaecological problem in women of reproductive age, affecting one in four women, and has adverse profound impact on health-related quality of life. Common causes of HMB include structural abnormalities such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis and dysfunction of the endometrium. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is a proven, effective long-term treatment but about one-third of women cease use by two years due to unpredictable bleeding, hormonal adverse effects or lack of effectiveness. Furthermore, fibroids can make the LNG-IUS less effective. Alternative medical options for HMB exist, but are either less effective or associated with unacceptable adverse effects. Surgical interventions are effective at inducing bleeding control and improving quality of life but are typically incompatible with future fertility. Effective long-term medical treatments for women with HMB are needed. A class of drugs called selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) have potential to provide an effective oral treatment for HMB. SPRMs bind with progesterone receptors, resulting in tissue-specific effects in both myometrial and overlying endometrial tissue as well as shrinking uterine fibroids. The SPRM ulipristal acetate (UPA) has been successfully used to treat fibroids, but we do not know how effective UPA is for the treatment of women with HMB who do not have fibroids. Furthermore, there are uncertainties regarding the mechanism and location of action of UPA, as well as its longer-term safety. SPRMs induce distinctive, non-physiological endometrial changes, which can be confused with endometrial hyperplasia. More recently there has been concern regarding the potential for UPA to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Post marketing surveillance reports resulted in a temporary halt in UPA use in 2018 and 2020. Use of UPA has since been reinstated since January 2021, albeit in a restricted context, reflecting the paucity of existing alternatives for HMB. Given these uncertainties, we designed the UCON trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of UPA on HMB and to understand its mechanism of action. Clinical objectives Primary objective: to determine whether UPA is more effective at reducing the burden of HMB symptoms than LNG-IUS after 12 months of treatment. Secondary objectives: Ascertain whether UPA use beyond 3 months’ and up to 12 months’ duration is associated with histological changes to the endometrium and, if so, whether this compromises safety. Ascertain whether UPA is more effective than LNG-IUS in relation to menstrual blood loss, sexual activity, generic quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, patient-reported adverse events, and compliance at 3, 6 and 12 months. Determine the response to UPA and LNG-IUS treatment difference in the presence of uterine fibroids in terms of (1) alleviation of HMB and (2) change in uterine/fibroid volume. Collect data on liver function in women taking UPA, once safety concerns were raised. Mechanism of action study objectives To understand how UPA causes a reduction in menstrual bleeding and uterine/fibroid volume in women with HMB, we determined whether UPA administration: Alters endometrial cell function (e.g., and not limited to, proliferation, apoptosis, expression of steroid receptors, tumour suppressors and inflammatory mediators). Reduces blood plasma flow in the endometrium, uterine myometrium and fibroid tissue. Alters the volume fraction of the extracellular matrix in these tissues. Reduces uterine and fibroid volume. Design This was a randomised, open-label, parallel group, multicentre trial with embedded mechanistic study. Methods Setting The trial recruited participants in 10 sites in NHS hospital settings across the UK between 2015 and 2020. The mechanism of action study was conducted solely at the Edinburgh site. Participants For the main trial, informed consent was sought from premenopausal women (aged 18–50 years) with self-reported HMB, no contraindications to LNG-IUS or UPA. Those with uterine size greater than equivalent 14-week size or with submucosal fibroids >2cm were excluded. Other exclusion criteria relating to use of other treatments and current health status were applied, including history of severe hepatic impairment. Screening and randomisation Participants were recruited in gynaecology clinics by research nurses who screened patient referral letters. Following consent, haemoglobin and circulating estradiol levels were assessed, clinical history elicited and transvaginal and/or abdominal ultrasound and endometrial biopsy were obtained if not previously performed. Following this, and confirmation of eligibility, randomisation was via a web-based central service based at Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit to allocate women in a 1 : 1 ratio using a minimisation algorithm. Screened patients in Edinburgh were offered the opportunity to participate in the mechanistic study. Interventions and follow-up Those allocated to UPA received three courses of treatment, each course comprising a daily 5-mg oral dose for 12 weeks followed by a four-week break. Those allocated to the LNG-IUS had it fitted in hospital or primary care. Participants allocated to UPA returned to hospital to collect their repeat prescription at 3 and 6 months, and may have been seen by a member of the care team if required. They were then seen in clinic at 12 months for ultrasound scan (USS) and haemoglobin/serum estradiol measurement. Those allocated to the LNG-IUS group attended USS at 12 months. Follow-up at interim time points was conducted by postal questionnaire. Those partaking in the mechanism of action study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following randomisation and at the end of treatment cycles two and three. An additional endometrial biopsy was obtained at the end of treatment cycle two. Outcome measures Primary Condition-specific quality of life score as measured by the menorrhagia multi-attribute scale (MMAS) questionnaire at 12 months. Summary scores range from 0 (worst affected) to 100 (not affected). Secondary Condition-specific quality of life score as measured by MMAS at 3 and 6 months Menstrual bleeding (pictorial blood loss assessment chart)* Cycle regularity (ordinal four-point scale)* Duration of period (ordinal three option scale)* Pelvic pain during periods, intercourse and at other times (visual analogue scales; 0 = best outcome, 10 = worse outcome)* Uterine fibroid symptom and quality of life instrument (only given to women diagnosed with fibroids)* Sexual function (sexual activity questionnaire)* Generic quality of life (EQ-5D-5L)* Satisfaction with treatment outcome (five-point Likert scale) Participant rating of effect of treatment on HMB over 12 months (four-point Likert scale) Whether participant is willing to recommend the treatment to a friend (yes/no) Surgical intervention Adherence to trial treatments and reasons for changing treatment, as reported by the participant Serious adverse events and reactions Uterine volume, evidence of adenomyosis, presence of fibroids, largest fibroid volume, endometrial thickness, endometrial appearance, evidence of ovarian cysts at 12 months (USS) Endometrial biopsy at 12 months (UPA group only) Liver function tests, from 20 March 2018 every four weeks (UPA group only) Haemoglobin and serum estradiol at 12 months * assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months Mechanism of action A: Effects on cellular markers of endometrial steroid receptors and metabolising enzymes (governing local endometrial steroid [ligand] availability), cell proliferation, cell survival (apoptosis); detection of genes implicated in control of proliferation in endometrium; B: Effects on uterine/fibroid structure addressed by obtaining volume measurements for the whole uterus, and for the total volume of fibroids when present, by using high resolution structural MRI and stereology; and C: Uterine vascularity using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Urgent safety measures In November 2017, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued an urgent drug alert for UPA due to a small number of reports of serious liver injury. A detailed investigation by the regulatory authorities was undertaken and it was found that eight reports of serious liver injury were reported in Europe from an estimated 740,000 women using UPA for uterine fibroids. Restrictions on prescribing UPA were subsequently issued and the trial sponsor implemented an urgent safety measure (USM) in February 2018, which halted recruitment. Those allocated UPA were allowed to complete their current course of UPA treatment but not commence any further outstanding courses. In addition, they commenced monthly assessment of LFTs (as well as a post treatment test approximately 2 weeks after the last course of UPA). In August 2018, the halt on UPA prescribing was lifted and recruitment to UCON resumed in October 2018 with additional safety measures in place, including exclusion of those with any history of liver disease [defined as levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of more than two times the upper limit of normal] and LFT monitoring as described above. UPA was stopped if women had an ALT or AST more than three times the upper limit of normal and a hepatology opinion was sought. In March 2020, the EMA temporarily suspended use of UPA a second time due to ongoing concerns regarding hepatotoxicity and a further USM was issued. All treatment courses of UPA were immediately stopped. In view of the second USM, the investigators, in discussion with the funder, chose premature closure of recruitment to the study but planned follow-up actions continued as per protocol. Statistical considerations The study was powered to detect a clinically useful difference in MMAS score (13 points) between the two groups at twelve months. To detect a difference of this size [0.5 standard deviations (SDs)] with 90% power (p = 0.05) would require 86 women in each group (172 in total). To allow for a 20% loss to follow-up or pregnancy, the sample size was inflated to 220 women. Following the initial USM, this figure was inflated to 302 women to ensure that there were adequate responses in the primary analysis population (defined below) to detect the same size of difference. The original planned primary analysis population comprised all participants, regardless of adherence to treatment, employing suitable regression models to estimate difference between groups. The enforced non-compliance as a result of the withdrawal of UPA had substantial implications for the validity of the data reported by participants. It was therefore necessary to redefine analysis populations, considering the restrictions that prevented women taking their courses of UPA might influence their responses and any other new potential biases that may be apparent in either group due to, for example, knowledge of the safety concerns around UPA. The primary analysis population would now comprise participants with questionnaire responses received prior to the first USM (12 February 2018), along with questionnaire responses from participants recruited following the study restart (18 October 2018) provided that the responses were returned before the second USM (17 March 2020). Results Main trial A total of 4471 women were approached for the study, with 236 consented and randomised, of whom 181 (77%) returned primary outcome data at 12 months (103 within the primary analysis population). Baseline data were comparable between groups; 92% were white, 34% had fibroids and 8% adenomyosis. In the primary analysis population, MMAS scores substantially improved in both arms, but at 12 months there was no evidence of a difference between the UPA [median score category: 76–99, IQR (51–75 to 100), n = 53] and LNG-IUS [median score category: 76–99, IQR (51–75 to 100), n = 50] groups (adjusted OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.17; p = 0.12). Rates of amenorrhoea where much higher in those allocated UPA compared with LNG-IUS at each time point (3 months: 56% vs. 5%, adjusted OR 29.3, 95% CI 7.37 to 116; 6 months 53% vs. 10%, adjusted OR 11.7 95% CI 3.78 to 36.0; 12 months: 64% vs. 25%, adjusted OR 7.12, 95% CI 2.29 to 22.2). There was no evidence of a difference in the other patient-reported outcomes although there was considerable uncertainty. In those with uterine fibroids, there were no changes in fibroid or uterine volume in either treatment group at 12 months. On endometrial biopsy, seven participants (8%) had evidence of progesterone receptor modulator associated endometrial changes (PAEC) at 12 months, although none was observed at a further 6 months post treatment; there were no cases of endometrial malignancy. Rates of serious adverse events were low, and no patients required admission to hospital for management of deranged liver function tests due to UPA use. Mechanism of action study Effects of UPA administration on the uterus: UPA produced a reduction in cell proliferation in the endometrium, as well as alteration of other local endometrial cellular markers (steroid receptor and steroid metabolising enzyme expression) creating a local endometrial oestrogenic environment. The effects on endometrial cellular markers were reversed upon withdrawal of UPA treatment. Stereological analysis in 19 patients showed that UPA did not produce a reduction in the volume of the uterus, irrespective of coexisting fibroids or adenomyosis. DCE-MRI in 15 patients showed that UPA appears not to have an effect on uterine blood flow. If adenomyosis was present in the uterus, there was a significant increase in plasma volume in the endometrium. However, one of the five women with adenomyosis also had fibroids. Effects of UPA administration on uterine fibroids: DCE-MRI studies showed that UPA produced an average reduction in plasma volume in 11 fibroids, which may be interpreted as being due to a reduction in extracellular matrix components. This finding was not supported by stereological analysis, which failed to show a reduction in the total volume of fibroids in eight patients. However, it should be noted that the number of subjects studied is small. Conclusions Both UPA and LNG-IUS alleviated the adverse impact of heavy menstrual bleeding on quality of life but we found no evidence of a difference between groups over 12 months. UPA was evidently superior to LNG-IUS in terms of inducing amenorrhoea. We observed no difference in reduction in the volume of the uterus, whether or not fibroids were present and no difference in change in the volume of fibroids was observed. Analysis of selected markers of endometrial cellular function demonstrated UPA modulation of the progesterone receptor, resulting in molecular and cellular alteration in steroid receptors within the endometrium, consistent with the development of a local (endometrial) oestrogenic microenvironment. Despite this, there is no evidence of pathological endometrial changes. We demonstrated that alteration in the endometrial microenvironment reverses on cessation of UPA treatment, a key factor for a medical treatment of HMB, particularly for those who wish to preserve fertility. UPA now has restricted availability due to concerns regarding hepatotoxicity. Findings from this study may offer insights into mechanism of action of other SPRM class members. New, effective and acceptable oral medical treatment options are needed to address an important unmet clinical need. Recommendations for research Further studies of medical treatments for HMB Developing other SPRMs, not associated with DILI Other hormonal/non-hormonal medical treatments for HMB Patient populations that encompass both the symptoms of HMB and underlying aetiologies, including structurally normal uterus, adenomyosis and small fibroids Study design with outcome measures impact on menstrual bleeding pattern, pelvic pain and impact on haemoglobin and iron-deficiency, as well as quality of life Qualitative studies to determine what are the most important outcomes to women who suffer HMB Study registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN 20426843. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme and will be published in full in Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Vol. 10, No. 8. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Summary: Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in four women and negatively impacts quality of life. Ulipristal acetate is prescribed to treat symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. We compared the effectiveness of ulipristal acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system at reducing the burden of heavy menstrual bleeding, irrespective of the presence of fibroids. Methods: This randomised, open-label, parallel group phase III trial enrolled women over 18 years with heavy menstrual bleeding from 10 UK hospitals. Participants were centrally randomised, in a 1:1 ratio, to either three, 12-week treatment cycles of 5 mg ulipristal acetate daily, separated by 4-week treatment-free intervals, or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. The primary outcome, analysed by intention-to-treat, was quality of life measured by the Menorrhagia Multi-Attribute Scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included menstrual bleeding and liver function. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 20426843. Findings: Between June 5th, 2015 and February 26th, 2020, 236 women were randomised, either side of a recruitment suspension due to concerns of ulipristal acetate hepatoxicity. Subsequent withdrawal of ulipristal acetate led to early cessation of recruitment but the trial continued in follow-up. The primary outcome substantially improved in both groups, and was 89, (interquartile range [IQR] 65 to 100, n = 53) and 94, (IQR 70 to 100, n = 50; adjusted odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26–1.17; p = 0.12) in the ulipristal and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system groups. Rates of amenorrhoea at 12 months were higher in those allocated ulipristal acetate compared to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (64% versus 25%, adjusted odds ratio 7.12, 95% CI 2.29–22.2). Other outcomes were similar between the two groups and there were no cases of endometrial malignancy or hepatotoxicity due to ulipristal acetate use. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that both treatments improved quality of life. Ulipristal was more effective at inducing amenorrhoea. Ulipristal has been demonstrated to be an effective medical therapeutic option but currently its use has restrictions and requires liver function monitoring. Funding: UK Medical Research Council and National Institute of Health Research EME Programme (12/206/52).

Abstract Introduction Test evaluation trials present different challenges for trial managers compared to intervention trials. There has been very little research on the management of test evaluation trials and how this impacts on trial success, in comparison with intervention trials. Evaluations of medical tests present specific challenges, because they are a pivot point bridging the complexities of pathways prompting testing with treatment decision-making. We systematically explored key differences in the trial design and management of test evaluation trials compared to intervention trials at the different stages of study design and delivery. We identified challenges in test evaluation trials that were more pronounced than in intervention trials, based on experience from 10 test evaluation trials. Methods We formed a focus group of 7 trial managers and a statistician who had been involved in the day-to-day management of both test evaluation trials and intervention trials. We used discussion and content analysis to group challenges from 10 trials into a structured thematic format. The trials covered a range of medical conditions, diagnostic tests, clinical pathways and conditions including chronic kidney disease, chronic pelvic pain, colitis, detrusor over-activity, group B streptococcal colonisation, tuberculosis and colorectal, lung, ovarian and thyroid cancers. Results We identified 10 common themes underlying challenges that are more pronounced in test evaluation compared to intervention trials. We illustrate these themes with examples from 10 trials, including with 31 specific challenges we experienced. The themes were ethics/governance; accessing patient populations; recruitment; patient preference; test processes, clinical pathways and samples storage; uncertainty of diagnostic results; verifying diagnosis (reference standard); follow-up; adverse effects; and diagnostic impact. Conclusion We present 10 common themes, including 31 challenges, in test evaluation trials that will be helpful to others designing and managing future test evaluation trials. Proactive identification of potential challenges at the design and planning stages of test evaluation trials will enable strategies to improve trial design and management that may be different from standard strategies used for intervention trials. Future work could extend this topic to include challenges for other trial stakeholders including participants, clinicians, statisticians and funders. Trial registration All trials reviewed in this project were registered and are provided in Table 1.

Objectives: To establish the reference range of intracranial translucency (IT) in the Korean population, and to evaluate whether Volume IT™ is a reliable technique for measuring IT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the IT of 93 singleton fetuses at 10.5 to 12.6 weeks of gestation using previously obtained three-dimensional volume data. The IT was measured manually and automatically using Volume IT™ in each fetus by one experienced and one beginner operator. We measured the IT values according to the crown-rump length and evaluated whether Volume IT™ can successfully measure the IT. Inter-observer agreement and intra-observer reproducibility were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and the IT measurements obtained by the experienced operator using the manual and automated methods were then compared using the Bland-Altman plot and ICC. Results: Among 93 cases, 2 were lost to follow-up after the first trimester scan and were excluded from further evaluation. Both operators identified the fourth ventricle in all 91 cases using Volume IT™. The experienced and beginner operators were able to measure the IT in 89 (98%) fetuses, with 4 and 13, respectively, requiring adjustments. The IT values increased with gestational age (correlation coefficient, r=0.491, P <0.0001). Inter-operator agreement was moderate (ICC=0.580 for automated and 0.546 for manual measurements), and intra-operator reproducibility was highest for automated measurements by the experienced operator (ICC=0.944). Agreement of the IT values between the manual and automated methods was high (ICC=0.950). Conclusions: Our results provide the reference range of IT in the Korean population. The Volume IT™ may be a reliable technique for measuring IT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Switzerland, recent changes in legislation have reformed special needs education; more children with special needs are now integrated into mainstream schools. Health professionals such as occupational therapists are not embedded in the Swiss education system, but pediatric occupational therapists are starting to work at schools, with the aim of enabling children’s full participation as school students. This is bringing a change to the practice of pediatric occupational therapists. Cultural, political, and social factors differ in many ways from those of other countries where most of the current research on pediatric occupational therapists in mainstream education has been conducted. The need for school-based research that is situated within the political, structural, and cultural context of a country has been stressed in different studies. This qualitative study employed narrative analysis to explore the practice experiences and clinical reasoning of Swiss pediatric occupational therapists when working with children with special needs in the school context. Three main themes were identified in the narratives: “bringing in an occupational therapy perspective,” “focusing on school-related occupations,” and “collaborating with different inclusion players.” These represent three different aspects of the therapists’ emerging practice. The participants highlight different approaches for children with special needs to enable their participation in everyday life at school through learning, playing, and being with their peers. The findings are discussed in relation to current international research and with respect to European countries with a similar political and structural context, thus complementing approaches to school-based occupational therapy.

We introduce a novel methodology for anomaly detection in time-series data. The method uses persistence diagrams and bottleneck distances to identify anomalies. Specifically, we generate multiple predictors by randomly bagging the data (reference bags), then for each data point replacing the data point for a randomly chosen point in each bag (modified bags). The predictors then are the set of bottleneck distances for the reference/modified bag pairs. We prove the stability of the predictors as the number of bags increases. We apply our methodology to traffic data and measure the performance for identifying known incidents.

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) symptoms in women are variable and non-specific; establishing a differential diagnosis can be hard. A diagnostic laparoscopy is often performed, although a prior magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may beneficial. Objectives: To estimate the accuracy and added value of MRI in making diagnoses of (1) idiopathic CPP and (2) the main gynaecological causes of CPP. To quantify the impact MRI can have on decision-making with respect to triaging for therapeutic laparoscopy and to conduct an economic evaluation. Design: Comparative test-accuracy study with cost-effectiveness modelling. Setting: Twenty-six UK-based hospitals. Participants: A total of 291 women with CPP. Methods: Pre-index information concerning the patient’s medical history, previous pelvic examinations and ultrasound scans was collected. Women reported symptoms and quality of life at baseline and 6 months. MRI scans and diagnostic laparoscopy (undertaken and interpreted blind to each other) were the index tests. For each potential cause of CPP, gynaecologists indicated their level of certainty that the condition was causing the pelvic pain. The analysis considered both diagnostic laparoscopy as a reference standard for observing structural gynaecological causes and consensus from a two-stage expert independent panel for ascertaining the cause of CPP. The stage 1 consensus was based on pre-index, laparoscopy and follow-up data; for stage 2, the MRI scan report was also provided. The primary analysis involved calculations of sensitivity and specificity for the presence or absence of each structural gynaecological cause of pain. A decision-analytic model was developed, with a 6-month time horizon. Two strategies, laparoscopy or MRI, were considered and populated with study data. Results: Using reference standards of laparoscopic and expert panel diagnoses, MRI scans had high specificity but poor sensitivity for observing deep-infiltrating endometriosis, endometrioma, adhesions and ovarian cysts. MRI scans correctly identified 56% [95% confidence interval (CI) 48% to 64%] of women judged to have idiopathic CPP, but missed 46% (95% CI 37% to 55%) of those considered to have a gynaecological structural cause of CPP. MRI added significant value, over and above the pre-index information, in identifying deep-infiltrating endometriosis (p = 0.006) and endometrioma (p = 0.02) as the cause of pain, but not for other gynaecological structural causes or for identifying idiopathic CPP (p = 0.08). Laparoscopy was significantly more accurate than MRI in diagnosing idiopathic CPP (p

We applied the peak-end paradigm that was first introduced in the pain literature to examine the experience of effort and discomfort during a cognitively demanding working memory task. A total of 401 participants were asked to rate their effort and discomfort during and after the administration of a working memory task, which systematically varied task difficulty within participants and task duration between participants. Over the course of the task, participants reported a decrease in reported effort and an increase in reported discomfort. Peak and end real-time ratings were significant predictors of retrospective ratings for effort and discomfort; average and initial ratings predicted a small amount of additional variance. The regression analyses with effort and discomfort were largely consistent, with some exceptions. End discomfort significantly predicted willingness to do the task again, but not end effort. These findings highlight the ways in which the experience of effort and discomfort are integrally related, yet importantly separate, during a cognitively demanding task.

Background: Risk factors for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) associated with sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators are not as well-characterized as for natalizumab. We characterized S1PR modulator-associated PML cases and risk factors for PML using spontaneous adverse event reports., Methods: We reviewed case reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database and the medical literature., Results: We identified 57 PML cases encompassing all marketed S1PR modulators approved for multiple sclerosis, the majority (n = 53) associated with fingolimod. Ten cases reported a fatal outcome. Length of S1PR modulator exposure (≥18 months) appears to be a robust risk factor for PML. Patient age ≥50 years was identified as a potential risk factor, although this may be the result of several biases. We propose that prior immunosuppressant exposure should be considered as a potential risk factor for further validation. No conclusions could be drawn regarding JC virus serology and lymphopenia severity., Conclusions: Spontaneous adverse event reports support the observation that extended S1PR modulator exposure appears to be a robust PML risk factor. As a result, the U.S. Prescribing Information for each product in the S1PR modulator class was updated. Validation of other potential risk factors would support efforts to stratify and mitigate the risk of S1PR modulator-associated PML., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: This investigation addresses Piezo1's expression and mechanistic role in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and delineates its participation in mechanical and inflammatory pain modulation., Methods: We analyzed Piezo1's expression patterns in DRG neurons and utilized Piezo1-specific shRNA to modulate its activity. Electrophysiological assessments of mechanically activated (MA) currents in DRG neurons and behavioral analyses in mouse models of inflammatory pain were conducted to elucidate Piezo1's functional implications. Additionally, we investigated the excitability of TRPV1-expressing DRG neurons, particularly under inflammatory conditions., Results: Piezo1 was preferentially expressed in DRG neurons co-expressing the TRPV1 nociceptor marker. Knockdown of Piezo1 attenuated intermediately adapting MA currents and lessened tactile pain hypersensitivity in models of inflammatory pain. Additionally, silencing Piezo1 modified the excitability of TRPV1-expressing neurons under inflammatory stress., Conclusion: Piezo1 emerges as a key mediator in the transmission of mechanical and inflammatory pain, indicating its potential as a novel target for pain management therapies. Our finding not only advances the understanding of nociceptive signaling but also emphasizes the therapeutic potential of modulating Piezo1 in the treatment of pain., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Physiologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Physiological Society.)

Oncolytic adenoviruses have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for cancer therapy. However, systemic delivery of the viruses to metastatic tumors remains a major challenge. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess tumor tropism property and can be used as cellular vehicles for delivering oncolytic adenoviruses to tumor sites. Since telomerase activity is found in ~90% of human carcinomas, but undetected in normal adult cells, the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) promoter can be exploited for regulating the replication of oncolytic adenoviruses. Here, we evaluated the antitumor effects of syngeneic murine MSCs loaded with the luciferase-expressing, telomerase-dependent oncolytic adenovirus Ad.GS2 (MSC-Ad.GS2) and Ad.GS2 alone on metastatic MBT-2 bladder tumors. MSCs supported a low degree of Ad.GS2 replication, which could be augmented by coculture with MBT-2 cells or tumor-conditioned medium (TCM), suggesting that viral replication is increased when MSC-Ad.GS2 migrates to tumor sites. MBT-2 cells and TCM enhanced viral replication in Ad.GS2-infected MSCs. SDF-1 is a stem cell homing factor. Our results suggest that the SDF-1/STAT3/TERT signaling axis in MSCs in response to the tumor microenvironment may contribute to the enhanced replication of Ad.GS2 carried by MSCs. Notably, we demonstrate the potent therapeutic efficacy of systemically delivered MSC-Ad.GS2 in pleural disseminated tumor and experimental metastasis models using intrapleural and tail vein injection of MBT-2 cells, respectively. Treatment with MSC-Ad.GS2 significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged the survival of mice bearing metastatic bladder tumors. Since telomerase is expressed in a broad spectrum of cancers, this therapeutic strategy may be broadly applicable., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Recurrent miscarriage is used to refer to more than three pregnancy failures before 20 weeks of gestation. Defective trophoblast cell growth and invasion are frequently observed in recurrent miscarriage. Several microRNAs (miRs), including miR‑155‑5p, are aberrantly upregulated in recurrent miscarriage; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The centrosome orchestrates microtubule networks and coordinates cell cycle progression. In addition, it is a base for primary cilia, which are antenna‑like organelles that coordinate signaling during development and growth. Thus, deficiencies in centrosomal functions can lead to several disease, such as breast cancer and microcephaly. In the present study, the signaling cascades were analyzed by western blotting, and the centrosome and primary cilia were observed and analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that overexpression of miR‑155‑5p induced centrosome amplification and blocked primary cilia formation in trophoblast cells. Notably, centrosome amplification inhibited trophoblast cell growth by upregulating apoptotic cleaved‑caspase 3 and cleaved‑poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase in miR‑155‑5p‑overexpressing trophoblast cells. In addition, overexpression of miR‑155‑5p inhibited primary cilia formation, thereby inhibiting epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and trophoblast cell invasion. All phenotypes could be rescued when cells were co‑transfected with the miR‑155‑5p inhibitor, thus supporting the role of miR‑155‑5p in centrosomal functions. It was also found that miR‑155‑5p activated autophagy, whereas disruption of autophagy via the depletion of autophagy‑related 16‑like 1 alleviated miR‑155‑5p‑induced apoptosis and restored trophoblast cell invasion. In conclusion, the present study indicated a novel role of miR‑55‑5p in mediating centrosomal function in recurrent miscarriage.

Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Significance Statement: Neurofibromas, derived from perineural cells, are usually benign in the nervous system. Although neurofibromas are common in the head and neck, they rarely affect the external auditory canal (EAC), and few cases have been reported. We describe a case of a solitary EAC neurofibroma with otoscopy, radiological imaging, a surgical approach, and an uneventful outcome., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Malformation during cortical development can disrupt the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neural circuits, contributing to various psychiatric and developmental disorders. One of the critical factors of cortical neural networks is the fine regulation of neurogenesis through mechanical cues, such as shear stress and substrate stiffness. Piezo1, a mechanically-activated channel, serves as a transducer for these mechanical cues, regulating embryogenesis. However, specific cell-type expression patterns of this channel during cortical development have not yet been characterized. In the present study, we conducted an RNAscope experiment to visualize the location of Piezo1 transcripts with embryonic neuronal/glial lineage cell markers. Our analysis covered coronal sections of the mouse forebrain on embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5), E14.5, E16.5, and E18.5. In addition, applying Yoda1, a specific Piezo1 agonist, evoked distinct calcium elevation in piriform cortices of E16.5 and E18.5 embryonic slices. Furthermore, pharmacological activation or inhibition of this channel significantly modulated the migration of neurosphere-derived cells in vitro. These findings contribute valuable insights to the field of mechanobiology and provide an understanding of the intricate processes underlying embryonic brain development., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to brain and muscle health through inflammation or fat infiltration in the muscle, both of which are associated with cognitive function and mobility. We aimed to examine the association between skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and cognitive and mobility outcomes and tested the mediation effect of inflammation or fat infiltration., Methods: We analysed data from 596 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants who had concurrent data on skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and cognitive and mobility measures of interest (mean age: 66.1, 55% women, 24% Black). Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity was assessed as post-exercise recovery rate (kPCr) via P31 MR spectroscopy. Fat infiltration was measured as intermuscular fat (IMF) via CT scan and was available for 541 participants. Inflammation markers [IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or albumin] were available in 594 participants. We examined the association of kPCr and cognitive and mobility measures using linear regression and tested the mediation effect of IMF or inflammation using the mediation package in R. Models were adjusted for demographics and PCr depletion., Results: kPCr and IMF were both significantly associated with specific cognitive domains (DSST, TMA-A, and pegboard dominant hand performance) and mobility (usual gait speed, HABCPPB, 400 m walk time) (all P < 0.05). IMF significantly mediated the relationship between kPCr and these cognitive and mobility measures (all P < 0.05, proportion mediated 13.1% to 27%). Total WBC, neutrophil count, and ESR, but not IL-6 or CRP, also mediated at least one of the cognitive and mobility outcomes (all P < 0.05, proportion mediated 9.4% to 15.3%)., Conclusions: Skeletal muscle mitochondrial function is associated with cognitive performance involving psychomotor speed. Muscle fat infiltration and specific inflammation markers mediate the relationship between muscle mitochondrial function and cognitive and mobility outcomes. Future studies are needed to confirm these associations longitudinally and to understand their mechanistic underpinnings., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Physical impairments following cancer treatment have been linked with the toxic effects of these treatments on muscle mass and strength, through their deleterious effects on skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Accordingly, we designed the present study to explore relationships of skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity with physical performance and perceived cancer-related psychosocial experiences of cancer survivors. We assessed skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity using in vivo phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 31 P MRS), measuring the postexercise phosphocreatine resynthesis time constant, τPCr, in 11 post-chemotherapy participants aged 34-70 years. During the MRS procedure, participants performed rapid ballistic knee extension exercise to deplete phosphocreatine (PCr); hence, measuring the primary study outcome, which was the recovery rate of PCr (τPCr). Patient-reported outcomes of psychosocial symptoms and well-being were assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and the 36-Item Short Form health survey (SF-36). Rapid bioenergetic recovery, reflected through a smaller value of τPCr was associated with worse depression (rho ρ = - 0.69, p = 0.018, and Cohen's d = - 1.104), anxiety (ρ = - 0.61, p = .046, d = - 0.677), and overall mental health (ρ = 0.74, p = 0.010, d = 2.198) scores, but better resilience (ρ = 0.65, p = 0.029), and coping-self efficacy (ρ = 0.63, p = 0.04) scores. This is the first study to link skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity with subjective reports of cancer-related behavioral toxicities. Further investigations are warranted to confirm these findings probing into the role of disease status and personal attributes in these preliminary results., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Purpose: The NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) aims to provide diagnoses to patients who have previously received exhaustive evaluations yet remain undiagnosed. Patients undergo procedural anesthesia for deep phenotyping for analysis with genomic testing., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to determine the safety and benefit of procedural anesthesia in pediatric patients in the UDP. Adverse perioperative events were classified as anesthesia-related complications or peri-procedural complications. The contribution of procedures performed under anesthesia to arriving at a diagnosis was also determined., Results: From 2008 to 2020, 249 pediatric patients in the UDP underwent anesthesia for diagnostic procedures. The majority had a severe systemic disease (American Society for Anesthesiology status III, 79%) and/or a neurologic condition (91%). Perioperative events occurred in 45 patients; six of these were attributed to anesthesia. All patients recovered fully without sequelae. Nearly half of the 249 patients (49%) received a diagnosis, and almost all these diagnoses (88%) took advantage of information gleaned from procedures performed under anesthesia., Conclusions: The benefits of anesthesia involving multiple diagnostic procedures in a well-coordinated, multidisciplinary, research setting, such as in the pediatric UDP, outweigh the risks., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Excessive bone resorption activity of osteoclasts is a common characteristic of osteolytic conditions such as osteoporosis and inflammatory bone diseases. Natural compounds with antiosteoclastogenic function seem to be beneficial for the treatment of osteolytic diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP), a phenolic compound in Ganoderma bambusicola, on osteoclastogenesis induced in vitro by the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). DHAP inhibited the differentiation, actin ring formation, and bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. In particular, DHAP inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) during osteoclastogenesis. This inhibition resulted in reduced expression levels of cathepsin k (Ctsk), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (Trap), and NFATc1 (Nfatc1), thereby reducing the differentiation of osteoclasts. However, DHAP did not affect reactive oxygen species production or activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. Our findings suggest that DHAP inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the NFATc1 signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Dental primary afferent (DPA) neurons and proprioceptive mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN) neurons, located in the trigeminal ganglion and the brainstem, respectively, are essential for controlling masticatory functions. Despite extensive transcriptomic studies on various somatosensory neurons, there is still a lack of knowledge about the molecular identities of these populations due to technical challenges in their circuit-validated isolation. Here, we employed high-depth single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in combination with retrograde tracing in mice to identify intrinsic transcriptional features of DPA and MTN neurons. Our transcriptome analysis revealed five major types of DPA neurons with cell type-specific gene enrichment, some of which exhibit unique mechano-nociceptive properties capable of transmitting nociception in response to innocuous mechanical stimuli in the teeth. Furthermore, we discovered cellular heterogeneity within MTN neurons that potentially contribute to their responsiveness to mechanical stretch in the masseter muscle spindles. Additionally, DPA and MTN neurons represented sensory compartments with distinct molecular profiles characterized by various ion channels, receptors, neuropeptides, and mechanoreceptors. Together, our study provides new biological insights regarding the highly specialized mechanosensory functions of DPA and MTN neurons in pain and proprioception., (© 2023. West China School of Stomatology Sichuan University.)

Background: An association between certain immunomodulatory therapies (rituximab, ipilimumab, and other immune checkpoint inhibitors) and inflammatory (non-ischemic and non-infectious) colitis in oncologic and non-oncologic patient populations is well documented in the medical literature., Objective: The purpose of this case series is to describe adverse event reports of new onset, inflammatory colitis in association with ocrelizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis submitted to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or published in the medical literature., Methods: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and medical literature were searched., Results: A review of postmarketing cases from FAERS and published medical literature identified 38 cases consistent with inflammatory, non-ischemic, and non-infectious colitis in association with ocrelizumab. The median time-to-onset was 8 months. Cases were reported using the following diagnostic terms: Crohn's disease (13), unspecified colitis (11), microscopic colitis (5), ulcerative colitis (5), medication-induced colitis (3), and autoimmune colitis (2)., Conclusions: This case series highlights ocrelizumab induced immune-mediated colitis that can be clinically severe and potentially life-threatening. Based on the findings of this review, the ocrelizumab Prescribing Information was amended to include immune-mediated colitis in the Warnings and Precautions section.

Objective: To investigate the causes of reoperation consultation, and the actual percentage and procedures of reoperation after previous orthognathic surgery., Methods: The samples consisted of 30 patients who visited our clinic for reoperation consultation from October 2015 to September 2021 (6 males and 24 females; mean age at reoperation consultation, 28.4 y). Patient's causes of reoperation consultation were divided into "esthetic dissatisfaction," "airway changes," "temporomandibular disorders," "uncomfortable occlusion," and "other complications". In terms of esthetic dissatisfaction, the more detailed esthetic problem was evaluated by the clinical chart, facial photographs, and radiographs. In patients who actually underwent reoperation, the actual percentage and procedures of reoperation were investigated., Results: The most prevalent causes for reoperation consultation were "esthetic dissatisfaction" (n = 21, 70.0%), followed by "airway changes" (n = 11, 36.7%), "uncomfortable occlusion" (n = 8, 26.7%), "other complications" (n = 5, 16.7%), and "temporomandibular disorder" (n = 4, 13.3%). Less than half of patients actually underwent reoperation (n = 13, 43.3%). Actual reoperation procedures included minor revision surgery, reconstruction surgery, or complete reoperation according to the patient's need. In case of complete reoperation, more accurate and predictable results were obtained by using virtual surgical planning, customized surgical guides, titanium surgical plates made with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technique, and a 3-dimensional printing method., Conclusion: It is important to communicate with patients about expectations for facial esthetic improvement by orthognathic surgery for obtaining the patient's postoperative satisfaction., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Based on recent studies from our group and others, we hypothesize that mitochondrial dysfunction during aging may be the root cause of mobility decline through deficits in the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. Mitochondrial dysfunction could be a therapeutic target to prevent mobility decline in aging., (Copyright © 2023 by the American College of Sports Medicine.)

This study investigated the gelling mechanisms of plant-based eggs modified with corn starch (CS), glutinous rice starch (GS), or potato starch (PS) at soy protein isolate (SPI)/starch ratios of 10:4, 8:6, and 6:8 (w/w). A plant-based omelet with SPI/PS 8:6 matched the texture (especially cohesiveness (0.75 vs 0.79)) and specific volume (1.28 vs 1.32 cm 3 /g) of an egg omelet best. This was attributed to greater protein-starch interactions (H-bonding, ionic bonding) that supported its strong structure. SPI/CS 8:6, SPI/GS 8:6, SPI/PS 10:4, and SPI/PS 6:8 demonstrated more ruptured granules and formed weaker gels. These proposed models were verified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics, where the stronger SPI/PS 8:6 gel released less metabolites after in vitro digestion. Through understanding different roles of starch in plant-based egg systems, this study suggests more potential applications of starch in modifying food properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Testes control the development of male reproductive system. The testicular interstitial Leydig cells (Leydig cells) synthesize testosterone for promoting spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characteristics. Type A platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA) is one of the most important growth factors in regulating Leydig cell growth and function. Knockout of PDGF-AA or its congenital receptor PDGFR-α leads to poor testicular development caused by reducing Leydig cell numbers, supporting PDGF-AA/PDGFR-α signaling regulates Leydig cell development. Primary cilium is a cellular antenna that functions as an integrative platform to transduce extracellular signaling for proper development and differentiation. Several receptors including PDGFR-α are observed on primary cilia for initiating signaling cascades in distinct cell types. Here we showed that PDGF-AA/PDGFR-α signaling promoted Leydig cells growth, migration, and invasion via primary cilia. Upon PDGF-AA treatment, AKT and ERK signaling were activated to regulate these cellular events. Interestingly, active AKT and ERK were detected around the base of primary cilia. Depletion of ciliary genes (IFT88 and CEP164) alleviated PDGF-AA-activated AKT and ERK, thus reducing Leydig cell growth, migration, and invasion. Thus, our study not only reveals the function of PDGF-AA/PDGFR-α signaling in maintaining testicular physiology but also uncovers the role of primary cilium and downstream signaling in regulating Leydig cell development., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers because of its late diagnosis and chemoresistance. Primary cilia, the cellular antennae, are observed in most human cells to maintain development and differentiation. Primary cilia are gradually lost during the progression of pancreatic cancer and are eventually absent in PDAC. Here, we showed that cisplatin-resistant PDAC regrew primary cilia. Additionally, genetic or pharmacological disruption of primary cilia sensitized PDAC to cisplatin treatment. Mechanistically, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and RAD3-related (ATR), tumor suppressors that initiate DNA damage responses, promoted the excessive formation of centriolar satellites (EFoCS) and autophagy activation. Disruption of EFoCS and autophagy inhibited primary ciliogenesis, sensitizing PDAC cells to cisplatin treatment. Collectively, our findings revealed an unexpected interplay among the DNA damage response, primary cilia, and chemoresistance in PDAC and deciphered the molecular mechanism by which ATM/ATR-mediated EFoCS and autophagy cooperatively regulate primary ciliogenesis., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) that are overproduced by mitochondrial dysfunction are linked to pathological conditions including sensory abnormalities. Here, we explored whether mROS overproduction induces itch through transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3), which is sensitive to ROS. Intradermal injection of antimycin A (AA), a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III for mROS overproduction, produced robust scratching behavior in naïve mice, which was suppressed by MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-selective ROS scavenger, and Pyr10, a TRPC3-specific blocker, but not by blockers of TRPA1 or TRPV1. AA activated subsets of trigeminal ganglion neurons and also induced inward currents, which were blocked by MitoTEMPO and Pyr10. Besides, dry skin-induced chronic scratching was relieved by MitoTEMPO and Pyr10, and also by resveratrol, an antioxidant. Taken together, our results suggest that mROS elicit itch through TRPC3, which may underlie chronic itch, representing a potential therapeutic target for chronic itch., (© 2022. Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Introduction: Quantitative morphometric measurements of living human upper airway remain challenging. This study aimed to introduce a special laser projection device that can facilitate computer-assisted, digitalized analysis and provide important information on airway mucosa change, before and after endotracheal intubation for palatoplasty., Materials and Methods: The laryngeal images were captured before and after surgery. Image processing techniques were used to quantize the post-operative laryngeal variation, with its distinct color space and texture features. Meanwhile, the maximum length of the vocal fold, vocal width at the midpoint, maximum cross-sectional area of the glottic space, maximum cross-sectional area of the oropharyngeal inlet (CSAOI) and the depth of the retropalatal space were determined and calculated. These parameters were analyzed and compared before and after surgery., Results: A total of 39 subjects were enrolled in this study. The color space and texture analysis all show trends toward higher measures in post-operative images than in pre-operative images, especially in the interarytenoid region. Furthermore, the glottic area showed a significant decrease of 31.2%, while the vocal width showed a significant increase after intubation. The post-operative retropalatal depth and CSAOI were significantly deeper and larger than the baseline, reaching their peak in the 4th week after the surgery, and then slightly reduced in the 12th week., Conclusion: For the first time we present a series of changes in upper airway after surgery, by using a laser module with quantitative measurement. Our equipment and processing can measure subtle mucosal changes that would allow a clinician to diagnose post-operative airway inflammation in a simpler and less invasive way. Here additional information collected by different imaging modalities would help to solve multiple current unmet needs in post-operative airway inflammation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lee, Kuo and Liu.)

Background: Skeletal muscle atrophy is a severe condition that involves loss of muscle mass and quality. Drug intake can also cause muscle atrophy. Biguanide metformin is the first-line and most widely prescribed anti-diabetic drug for patients with type 2 diabetes. The molecular mechanism of metformin in muscle is unclear., Methods: Myostatin expression was investigated at the protein and transcript levels after metformin administration. To investigate the pathways associated with myostatin signalling, we used real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, luciferase assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, primary culture, and confocal microscopy. Serum analysis, physical performance, and immunohistochemistry were performed using our in vivo model., Results: Metformin induced the expression of myostatin, a key molecule that regulates muscle volume and triggers the phosphorylation of AMPK. AMPK alpha2 knockdown in the background of metformin treatment reduced the myostatin expression of C2C12 myotubes (-49.86 ± 12.03%, P < 0.01) and resulted in increased myotube diameter compared with metformin (+46.62 ± 0.88%, P < 0.001). Metformin induced the interaction between AMPK and FoxO3a, a key transcription factor of myostatin. Metformin also altered the histone deacetylase activity in muscle cells (>3.12-fold ± 0.13, P < 0.001). The interaction between HDAC6 and FoxO3a induced after metformin treatment. Confocal microscopy revealed that metformin increased the nuclear localization of FoxO3a (>3.3-fold, P < 0.001). Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that metformin induced the binding of FoxO3a to the myostatin promoter. The transcript-level expression of myostatin was higher in the gastrocnemius (GC) muscles of metformin-treated wild-type (WT) (+68.9 ± 10.01%, P < 0.001) and db/db mice (+55.84 ± 6.62%, P < 0.001) than that in the GC of controls (n = 4 per group). Average fibre cross-sectional area data also showed that the metformin-treated C57BL/6J (WT) (-31.74 ± 0.75%, P < 0.001) and C57BLKS/J-db/db (-18.11 ± 0.94%, P < 0.001) mice had decreased fibre size of GC compared to the controls. The serum myoglobin level was significantly decreased in metformin-treated WT mice (-66.6 ± 9.03%, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that metformin treatment impairs muscle function through the regulation of myostatin in skeletal muscle cells via AMPK-FoxO3a-HDAC6 axis. The muscle-wasting effect of metformin is more evident in WT than in db/db mice, indicating that more complicated mechanisms may be involved in metformin-mediated muscular dysfunction., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders.)

Microtubules are formed from heterodimers of alpha- and beta-tubulin, each of which has multiple isoforms encoded by separate genes. Pathogenic missense variants in multiple different tubulin isoforms cause brain malformations. Missense mutations in TUBB3, which encodes the neuron-specific beta-tubulin isotype, can cause congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 3 (CFEOM3) and/or malformations of cortical development, with distinct genotype-phenotype correlations. Here, we report fourteen individuals from thirteen unrelated families, each of whom harbors the identical NM&#95;006086.4 (TUBB3):c.785G>A (p.Arg262His) variant resulting in a phenotype we refer to as the TUBB3 R262H syndrome. The affected individuals present at birth with ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, exotropia, facial weakness, facial dysmorphisms, and, in most cases, distal congenital joint contractures, and subsequently develop intellectual disabilities, gait disorders with proximal joint contractures, Kallmann syndrome (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia), and a progressive peripheral neuropathy during the first decade of life. Subsets may also have vocal cord paralysis, auditory dysfunction, cyclic vomiting, and/or tachycardia at rest. All fourteen subjects share a recognizable set of brain malformations, including hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and anterior commissure, basal ganglia malformations, absent olfactory bulbs and sulci, and subtle cerebellar malformations. While similar, individuals with the TUBB3 R262H syndrome can be distinguished from individuals with the TUBB3 E410K syndrome by the presence of congenital and acquired joint contractures, an earlier onset peripheral neuropathy, impaired gait, and basal ganglia malformations., (© 2021. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Meat processing generates significant amounts of by-products such as trimmings that require further valorization. In this study, pork trimmings were transformed with proteases to protein hydrolysates that may find applications as nutritional and/or flavouring ingredients. Four microbial proteases-Flavourzyme, Protamex, Alcalase, and Neutrase were explored to hydrolyze pork trimmings. Flavourzyme, which showed the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH), was selected to optimize the key hydrolytic parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design. The optimal conditions were found to be 6: 100 (enzyme/substrate ratio), 50 °C, and pH 6 for a maximum DH at 48% after 6 h of hydrolysis. The protein hydrolysate was high in free amino acids (17 g/100 g dry weight), of which essential and taste-active amino acids accounted for 42% and 20%, respectively. The obtained hydrolysate may be considered suitable as a nutritional and/or flavouring ingredient., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2021.)

Background Performance of existing atrial fibrillation (AF) risk prediction models in poststroke populations is unclear. We evaluated predictive utility of an AF risk model in patients with acute stroke and assessed performance of a fully refitted model. Methods and Results Within an academic hospital, we included patients aged 46 to 94 years discharged for acute ischemic stroke between 2003 and 2018. We estimated 5-year predicted probabilities of AF using the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology for Atrial Fibrillation (CHARGE-AF) model, by recalibrating CHARGE-AF to the baseline risk of the sample, and by fully refitting a Cox proportional hazards model to the stroke sample (Re-CHARGE-AF) model. We compared discrimination and calibration between models and used 200 bootstrap samples for optimism-adjusted measures. Among 551 patients with acute stroke, there were 70 incident AF events over 5 years (cumulative incidence, 15.2%; 95% CI, 10.6%-19.5%). Median predicted 5-year risk from CHARGE-AF was 4.8% (quartile 1-quartile 3, 2.0-12.6) and from Re-CHARGE-AF was 16.1% (quartile 1-quartile 3, 8.0-26.2). For CHARGE-AF, discrimination was moderate (C statistic, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.57-0.70) and calibration was poor, underestimating AF risk (Greenwood-Nam D'Agostino chi-square, P <0.001). Calibration with recalibrated baseline risk was also poor (Greenwood-Nam D'Agostino chi-square, P <0.001). Re-CHARGE-AF improved discrimination ( P =0.001) compared with CHARGE-AF (C statistic, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.68-0.79]; optimism-adjusted, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.65-0.75]) and was well calibrated (Greenwood-Nam D'Agostino chi-square, P =0.97). Conclusions Covariates from an established AF risk model enable accurate estimation of AF risk in a poststroke population after recalibration. A fully refitted model was required to account for varying baseline AF hazard and strength of associations between covariates and incident AF.

Introduction: Although patients are able to easily record electrocardiograms using consumer devices, these are typically not shared with their clinicians. This article discusses the development and acceptability of a mobile application (app) that integrates with the electronic health record to facilitate screening for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: After app development and implementation, we compared workflows with and without the mobile app. Seven older adults used it during a prospective twice-daily 2-week home-based AF screening protocol and completed an acceptability survey with Likert scale responses. Results: Compliance with the screening protocol was 82%. Acceptability and usability was favorable. Patients reported confidence in the connection between the app and their medical record. Discussion: The availability of apps to capture data and facilitate a connection with health systems is critical. The app developed is a feasible solution for older patients with AF to self-monitor and report results to their health provider.

Pulpitis (toothache) is a painful inflammation of the dental pulp and is a prevalent problem throughout the world. This pulpal inflammation occurs in the cells inside the dental pulp, which have host defense mechanisms to combat oral microorganisms invading the pulp space of exposed teeth. This innate immunity has been well studied, with a focus on Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The function of TLR4, activated by Gram-negative bacteria, has been demonstrated in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons for dental pain. Although Gram-positive bacteria predominate in the teeth of patients with caries and pulpitis, the role of TLR2, which is activated by Gram-positive bacteria, is poorly understood in dental primary afferent (DPA) neurons that densely innervate the dental pulp. Using Fura-2 based Ca 2+ imaging, we observed reproducible intracellular Ca 2+ responses induced by Pam 3 CSK 4 and Pam 2 CSK 4 (TLR2-specific agonists) in TG neurons of adult wild-type (WT) mice. The response was completely abolished in TLR2 knock-out (KO) mice. Single-cell RT-PCR detected Tlr2 mRNA in DPA neurons labeled with fluorescent retrograde tracers from the upper molars. Using the mouse pulpitis model, real-time RT-PCR revealed that Tlr2 and inflammatory-related molecules were upregulated in injured TG, compared to non-injured TG, from WT mice, but not from TLR2 KO mice. TLR2 protein expression was also upregulated in injured DPA neurons, and the change was corresponded with a significant increase in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression. Our results provide a better molecular understanding of pulpitis by revealing the potential contribution of TLR2 to pulpal inflammatory pain.

The function of the nervous system in conveying and processing information necessary to interact with the environment confers unique aspects on how the expression of genes in neurons is regulated. Three salient factors are that (1) neurons are the largest and among the most morphologically complex of all cells, with strict polarity, subcellular compartmentation, and long-distant transport of gene products, signaling molecules, and other materials; (2) information is coded in the temporal firing pattern of membrane depolarization; and (3) neurons must maintain a stable homeostatic level of activation to function so stimuli do not normally drive intracellular signaling to steady state. Each of these factors can require special methods of analysis differing from approaches used in non-neuronal cells. This review considers these three aspects of neuronal gene expression and the current approaches being used to analyze these special features of how the neuronal transcriptome is modulated by action potential firing.

Background: Only progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is currently described in the dimethyl fumarate (DMF) prescribing information., Objectives: To describe opportunistic infections (OIs), other than PML, reported in association with DMF., Methods: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and medical literature were searched., Results: We retrieved 34 cases of serious OIs with a causal association with DMF, including 11 central nervous system (CNS) infections and 23 extra-CNS infections. Six OIs occurred with normal circulating absolute lymphocyte counts. The median latency from DMF initiation was 13 months and was variable., Conclusion: DMF is associated with the development of OIs that require invasive diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures. Patients should be monitored for OIs when treated with DMF regardless of circulating absolute lymphocyte counts.

The DNA-PK maintains cell survival when DNA damage occurs. In addition, aberrant activation of the DNA-PK induces centrosome amplification, suggesting additional roles for this kinase. Here, we showed that the DNA-PK-p53 cascade induced primary cilia formation (ciliogenesis), thus maintaining the DNA damage response under genotoxic stress. Treatment with genotoxic drugs (etoposide, neocarzinostatin, hydroxyurea, or cisplatin) led to ciliogenesis in human retina (RPE1), trophoblast (HTR8), lung (A459), and mouse Leydig progenitor (TM3) cell lines. Upon genotoxic stress, several DNA damage signaling were activated, but only the DNA-PK-p53 cascade contributed to ciliogenesis, as pharmacological inhibition or genetic depletion of this pathway decreased genotoxic stress-induced ciliogenesis. Interestingly, in addition to localizing to the nucleus, activated DNA-PK localized to the base of the primary cilium (mother centriole) and daughter centriole. Genotoxic stress also induced autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy initiation or lysosomal degradation or depletion of ATG7 decreased genotoxic stress-induced ciliogenesis. Besides, inhibition of ciliogenesis by depletion of IFT88 or CEP164 attenuated the genotoxic stress-induced DNA damage response. Thus, our study uncovered the interplay among genotoxic stress, the primary cilium, and the DNA damage response.

We characterized monitor utilization in stroke survivors and assessed associations with underlying clinical atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke 10/2018-6/2019 without prevalent AF and assessed the 6-month incidence of monitor utilization (Holter/ECG, event/patch, implantable loop recorder [ILR]) using Fine-Gray models accounting for the competing risk of death. We assessed for predictors of monitor utilization using cause-specific hazards regression adjusted for the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology AF (CHARGE-AF) score, stroke subtype, and discharge disposition. Of 493 patients with acute ischemic stroke (age 65±16; 47% women), the 6-month incidence of monitor utilization was 36.5% (95% CI 31.7, 41.3), and 6-month mortality was 13.6% (10.4, 16.8). Monitoring was performed with Holter/event (n = 107; 72.3%), ILR (n = 34; 23.0%) or both (n = 7; 4.7%). Monitoring was more likely after cryptogenic (hazard ratio [HR] 4.53 [3.22, 6.39]; 6-month monitor incidence 70.6%) and cardioembolic (HR 2.43 [1.28, 4.62]; incidence 47.7%) stroke, versus other/undocumented (incidence 22.7%). Among patients with cryptogenic stroke, the 6-month incidence of ILR was 27.5% [18.5, 36.5]. Monitoring was more likely after discharge home (HR 1.80 [1.29, 2.52]; incidence 46.1%) versus facility (incidence 24.9%). Monitoring was not associated with CHARGE-AF score (HR 1.08 per 1-SD increase [0.91, 1.27]), even though CHARGE-AF was associated with incident AF (HR 1.56 [1.03, 2.35]). In conclusion, rhythm monitors are utilized after one-third of ischemic strokes. Monitoring is more frequent after cryptogenic strokes, though ILR use is low. Monitor utilization is not associated with AF risk., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To report our experience with management of fetuses with congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS)., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of fetuses who were prenatally diagnosed and postnatally confirmed with CHAOS between 2010 and 2019 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea., Results: Of 13 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with CHAOS, 7 were lost to follow-up and 6 were postnatally confirmed as having CHAOS. All fetuses, except one were delivered via cesarean section with an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure. Two patients had coexisting congenital heart diseases requiring several cardiac surgeries following birth. Both of these patients demonstrated developmental delay; however, the remaining 4 had a normal development except for expressive language. Two infants died of respiratory complications, and the remaining 4 were alive at the end of the follow-up period. All 4 live patients underwent tracheostomy with planned reconstruction surgery. Three children are now able to phonate, and 1 can maintain a conservation., Conclusion: The proper management of CHAOS using the EXIT procedure results in high survival and low hypoxemia-induced complication rates. Therefore, an accurate prenatal diagnosis is necessary for an appropriate perinatal management.