Perceptions of Familial Risk in those Seeking a Genetic Risk Assessment for Alzheimer’s Disease

Perceived risk is a complex concept that influences the genetic counseling process and can affect client coping and behavior. Although the association between family history and risk perception is well recognized in the literature, no studies have explored this relationship specifically in those seeking genetic susceptibility testing for a common chronic condition. REVEAL is a randomized trial assessing the impact of APOE disclosure and genetic risk assessment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using baseline REVEAL data, we hypothesized that there would be a significant association between the degree of AD family history and risk perception of AD, and that this relationship would be stronger in those who believed that genetics is a very important AD risk factor. In our sample of 293 participants, we found that a higher self‐perceived risk of AD was associated with strength of family history of AD (p < 0.001), belief in genetics as an important AD risk factor (p < 0.001), being female (p < 0.001) and being Caucasian (p = 0.02). These results are the first to demonstrate the association between family history and risk perception in persons volunteering for genetic susceptibility testing for a common complex disease.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147109/1/jgc40130.pd

Willingness to Pay for Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease: A Measure of Personal Utility

Background: The increased availability of genetic tests for common, complex diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), raises questions about what people are willing to pay for these services. Methods: We studied willingness-to-pay for genetic testing in a study of AD risk assessment that included APOE genotype disclosure among 276 first-degree relatives of persons with AD. Results: Seventy-one percent reported that they would ask for such testing from their doctor if it were covered by health insurance, and 60% would ask for it even if it required self-pay. Forty-one percent were willing to pay more than $100 for testing, and more than half would have been willing to pay for the test out of pocket. Participants who learned that they were APOE -4 positive and those who had higher education were less likely to want testing if covered by insurance, possibly to avoid discrimination. Conclusion: This is the first report to examine willingness to pay for susceptibility genetic testing in a sample of participants who had actually undergone such testing. These findings reveal that some participants find valuable personal utility in genetic risk information even when such information does not have proven clinical utility.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90504/1/gtmb-2E2011-2E0028.pd

An Instrument to Measure Skeletal Burden and Predict Functional Outcome in Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone

Abstract An instrument to measure skeletal burden in fibrous dysplasia was developed. Biological and clinical relevance was shown by correlating skeletal burden scores with bone markers, quality of life, and ambulatory status. Childhood scores predict adult ambulatory status, and scores were unaffected when bone markers decreased with bisphosphonate treatment or aging. Introduction: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a skeletal disease with a broad clinical expression. There is no objective method to assess the extent of skeletal involvement or predict outcome. We developed an instrument to measure skeletal burden that correlates with physical function, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and ambulatory status. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine patients with FD underwent bone scintigraphy. The skeletal burden score was derived from a weighted score based on the regional measurement using bone scintigraphy to estimate the amount of FD in anatomical segments. Six readers scored 20 scans twice to determine the inter- and intrareader agreement. To assess biological significance, scores were correlated with bone markers. To assess functional outcome, scores on the SF-36 (adults) or CHQ-PF50 (children) were correlated with skeletal burden scores. In a group of patients who had bone scans as children and adults (n = 6), the ability to predict ambulatory status was tested. Skeletal burden scores were assessed in patients before and after treatment with pamidronate (n = 5). Results: The inter- and intrareader agreement of burden scores were r = 0.96, and 0.98, respectively (p &lt; 0.001 for both). The scores correlated with markers of bone metabolism and HRQL (Spearman rho, 0.54-0.67 p &lt; 0.001 and −0.43, p = 0.001, respectively). The mean score of patients who ambulated unassisted was significantly lower than those requiring assistance (p &lt; 0.001 unassisted versus crutch and/or wheelchair). In unassisted ambulators, younger patients had higher scores, suggesting high childhood scores may predict adulthood impairment. In six patients with childhood and adulthood scans, childhood scores &gt;30 predicted assisted ambulation in adulthood. There was a negative correlation between bone markers and age (Spearman rho, −0.42 to −0.70; p &lt; 0.001), but not age and skeletal burden score. Pamidronate treatment decreased serum alkaline phosphatase but had no effect on the skeletal burden score. Conclusions: This is a validated and reliable instrument for the measurement of skeletal burden of FD and is able to predict functional outcome

Prevotella copri and microbiota members mediate the beneficial effects of a therapeutic food for malnutrition

Microbiota-directed complementary food (MDCF) formulations have been designed to repair the gut communities of malnourished children. A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that one formulation, MDCF-2, improved weight gain in malnourished Bangladeshi children compared to a more calorically dense standard nutritional intervention. Metagenome-assembled genomes from study participants revealed a correlation between ponderal growth and expression of MDCF-2 glycan utilization pathways by Prevotella copri strains. To test this correlation, here we use gnotobiotic mice colonized with defined consortia of age- and ponderal growth-associated gut bacterial strains, with or without P. copri isolates closely matching the metagenome-assembled genomes. Combining gut metagenomics and metatranscriptomics with host single-nucleus RNA sequencing and gut metabolomic analyses, we identify a key role of P. copri in metabolizing MDCF-2 glycans and uncover its interactions with other microbes including Bifidobacterium infantis. P. copri-containing consortia mediated weight gain and modulated energy metabolism within intestinal epithelial cells. Our results reveal structure-function relationships between MDCF-2 and members of the gut microbiota of malnourished children with potential implications for future therapies

Samarium-153-EDTMP (Quadramet®) With or Without Vaccine in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Phase 2 Trial

PSA-TRICOM is a therapeutic vaccine in late stage clinical testing in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Samarium-153-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate (Sm-153-EDTMP; Quadramet®), a radiopharmaceutical, binds osteoblastic bone lesions and emits beta particles causing local tumor cell destruction. Preclinically, Sm-153-EDTMP alters tumor cell phenotype facilitating immune-mediated killing. This phase 2 multi-center trial randomized patients to Sm-153-EDTMP alone or with PSA-TRICOM vaccine. Eligibility required mCRPC, bone metastases, prior docetaxel and no visceral disease. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients without radiographic disease progression at 4 months. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune responses. Forty-four patients enrolled. Eighteen and 21 patients were evaluable for the primary endpoint in Sm-153-EDTMP alone and combination arms, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the primary endpoint, with two of 18 (11.1%) and five of 21 (23.8%) in Sm-153-EDTMP alone and combination arms, respectively, having stable disease at approximately the 4-month evaluation time point (P = 0.27). Median PFS was 1.7 vs. 3.7 months in the Sm-153-EDTMP alone and combination arms (P = 0.041, HR = 0.51, P = 0.046). No patient in the Sm-153-EDTMP alone arm achieved prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline \u3e 30% compared with four patients (of 21) in the combination arm, including three with PSA decline \u3e 50%. Toxicities were similar between arms and related to number of Sm-153-EDTMP doses administered. These results provide the rationale for clinical evaluation of new radiopharmaceuticals, such as Ra-223, in combination with PSA-TRICOM

Body composition and body fat distribution are related to cardiac autonomic control in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Heart rate recovery (HRR), a cardiac autonomic control marker, was shown to be related to body composition (BC), yet this was not tested in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. The aim of this study was to determine if, and to what extent, markers of BC and body fat (BF) distribution are related to cardiac autonomic control in NAFLD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: BC was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 28 NAFLD patients (19 men, 51±13 years, and 9 women, 47±13 years). BF depots ratios were calculated to assess BF distribution. Subjects’ HRR was recorded 1 (HRR1) and 2 min (HRR2) immediately after a maximum graded exercise test. RESULTS: BC and BF distribution were related to HRR; particularly weight, trunk BF and trunk BF-to-appendicular BF ratio showed a negative relation with HRR1 (r 1⁄4 0.613, r 1⁄4 0.597 and r 1⁄4 0.547, respectively, Po0.01) and HRR2 (r 1⁄4 0.484, r 1⁄4 0.446, Po0.05, and r 1⁄4 0.590, Po0.01, respectively). Age seems to be related to both HRR1 and HRR2 except when controlled for BF distribution. The preferred model in multiple regression should include trunk BF-to-appendicular BF ratio and BF to predict HRR1 (r2 1⁄4 0.549; Po0.05), and trunk BF-to-appendicular BF ratio alone to predict HRR2 (r2 1⁄4 0.430; Po0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BC and BF distribution were related to HRR in NAFLD patients. Trunk BF-to-appendicular BF ratio was the best independent predictor of HRR and therefore may be best related to cardiovascular increased risk, and possibly act as a mediator in age-related cardiac autonomic control variation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of 177Lu-iPSMA-RGD as a new heterobivalent radiopharmaceutical

This study aimed to synthesize a new 177Lu-iPSMA-RGD heterobivalent radiopharmaceutical, as well as to assess the in vitro radiopharmaceutical potential to target cancer cells overexpressing PSMA and a(v) b(3) integrins. The radiotracer prepared with a radiochemical purity of 98.8 ± 1.0% showed stability in human serum, specific recognition with suitable affinity to PSMA and a(v)b(3) integrins, and capability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and VEGF signaling (antiangiogenic effect). Results warrant further preclinical studies to establish the 177Lu-iPSMA-RGD potential as a dual therapeutic radiopharmaceutical.CONACyT-CB-2016-01-28152

Ozonated autohemotherapy: protection of kidneys from ischemia in rats subjected to unilateral nephrectomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ozonated autohemotherapy (OA) has been previously successfully used in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral occlusive arterial disease. OA consists of an intrafemoral reinfusion of autologous blood previously exposed to a mixture of oxygen/ozone (O₂/O₃). This study analyzes the effects of OA in protecting rat kidney from ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed OA 30 min before the induction of 60 min renal ischemia or at the induction of 60 min postischemic reperfusion in rats subjected to unilateral nephrectomy. In addition, to evidence the possible protection induced by O₂/O₃on endothelial functions, the present study analyzes the in vitro effects of O₂/O₃on oxygen consumption by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>1) OA preserves rat kidney functions and architecture, as demonstrated by the improved levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and by histology; 2) such protection does not correlate with the increase of plasmatic nitric oxide, but is compatible with a focal renal increase of renal βNADPH-diaphorase; 3) treatment of HUVEC with O₂/O₃significantly increases both the rate of oxygen consumption and the mitochondrial activity assessed by confocal microscopy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The preservation of the mitochondrial activity of endothelium could in vivo limit the endothelial dysfunction provoked by the Isc or Isc/R processes.</p