Lithium response in bipolar disorder is associated with focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt networks: a multi-omics replication study

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024.Lithium is the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). However, its mechanism of action is incompletely understood, and prediction of treatment outcomes is limited. In our previous multi-omics study of the Pharmacogenomics of Bipolar Disorder (PGBD) sample combining transcriptomic and genomic data, we found that focal adhesion, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and PI3K-Akt signaling networks were associated with response to lithium. In this study, we replicated the results of our previous study using network propagation methods in a genome-wide association study of an independent sample of 2039 patients from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) study. We identified functional enrichment in focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt pathways, but we did not find an association with the ECM pathway. Our results suggest that deficits in the neuronal growth cone and PI3K-Akt signaling, but not in ECM proteins, may influence response to lithium in BD

Acute respiratory distress syndrome sub-phenotypes according to histological findings

The objective is to demonstrate that among patients with the clinical diagnosis of ARDS, the presence of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) at histological examination, as compared to its absence, defines a clinical sub-phenotype. We studied patients that died in our ICU from 2000 to 2012 with the diagnosis of ARDS according to the Berlin definition and had autopsy. We excluded patients dying [14 days after the diagnosis of ARDS. The diagnosis of DAD required the presence of hyaline membranes plus at least one of the following: intra-alveolar edema, alveolar type I cell necrosis, alveolar type II cell proliferation, interstitial proliferation of fibroblasts or organizing interstitial fibrosis.7.214 JCR (2014) Q1, 3/27 Critical care medicineUE

Identification and validation of a mirna as a diagnostic biomarker of diffuse alveolar damage in an animal model of acute lung injury and adult respiratory distress syndrome in mechanically ventilated patients

The objective is to discover a miRNA with diagnostic characteristics for diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) in an animal of acute lung injury (ALI) and in patients with the ARDS. Male rats (325-372 gr) underwent mechanical ventilation for 2.5 h with VT=9 ml/kg + PEEP=5 cm H2O (low VT, LV, n=10); or VT=25 ml/kg + PEEP=0 cm H2O (high VT, HV, n=19) (11 of 19 developed DAD at histological examination). Whole miRNA expression (RNA-seq-Single Read, 72 cycles, Illumina GaIIx) was analyzed in lung parenchyma. miRNA expression in LV vs. HV and in HV-DAD vs. HV-no-DAD was compared. We used a data mining strategy to prioritize the most relevant miRNA within the miRNAs differentially expressed. Prioritized miRNAs were validated in (1) serum from the same group of rats (RT-PCR); (2) human lung tissue (preserved at -80º after sampling) from autopsies of patients with ARDS (RT-PCR and in situ hybridization) (n=20); (3) human serum from mechanically ventilated patients obtained during the first 24 hours of ICU admission (n=66, 14 nonsurvivors). A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results are median (IQR), and odds ratio (OR [95% confidence interval]). RT-PCR results were expressed x10-4. Categorical and continuous variables were compared with χ2 and Mann-Whitney, respectively. Predictive multivariate logistic analysis was used to identify independent risk factors. The area under ROC curve (AUROC, mean±SEM) was used to assess the discriminatory capacity. Multiple-comparison was adjusted by FDR. The local Ethics Committee approved this study.7.214 JCR (2014) Q1, 3/27 Critical care medicineUE

A critical analysis of 57 cases of Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS). A report by the HSS International Study Group (HSSISG)

Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a systemic disease characterized by widespread vascular thrombosis and pulmonary vasculitis with serious morbidity and mortality. The HSS International Study Group is a multidisciplinary taskforce aiming to study HSS, in order to generate consensus recommendations regarding diagnosis and treatment. We included 57 published cases of HSS (43 males) and collected data regarding: clinical presentation, associated complications, hemoptysis severity, laboratory and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) findings, treatment modalities and cause of death. At initial presentation, DVT was observed in 29(33.3 %), thrombophlebitis in 3(5.3%), hemoptysis in 24(42.1%), and diplopia and seizures in 1 patient each. During the course of disease, DVT occurred in 48(84.2%) patients, and superficial thrombophlebitis was observed in 29(50.9%). Hemoptysis occurred in 53(93.0%) patients and was fatal in 12(21.1%). Pulmonary artery (PA) aneurysms (PAAs) were bilateral in 53(93%) patients. PAA were located within the main PA in 11(19.3%), lobar in 50(87.7%), interlobar in 13(22.8%) and segmental in 42(73.7%). Fatal outcomes were more common in patients with inferior vena cava thrombosis (p = 0.039) and ruptured PAAs (p < 0.001). Death was less common in patients treated with corticosteroids (p < 0.001), cyclophosphamide (p < 0.008), azathioprine (p < 0.008), combined immune modulators (p < 0.001). No patients had uveitis; 6(10.5%) had genital ulcers and 11(19.3%) had oral ulcers. HSS may lead to serious morbidity and mortality if left untreated. PAAs, adherent in-situ thrombosis and aneurysmal wall enhancement are characteristic CTPA signs of HSS pulmonary vasculitis. Combined immune modulators contribute to favorable outcomes

Pulmonary vasculitis in Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS): a reference atlas and computed tomography pulmonary angiography guide - a report by the HSS International Study Group

Introduction: Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by widespread venous/arterial thrombosis and pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs), which is associated with serious morbidity and mortality. All fatalities reported in HSS resulted from unpredictable fatal suffocating hemoptysis. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize pulmonary complications at an early stage of the disease. Objectives: The aims of this study are to develop a reference atlas of images depicting the characteristic features of HSS by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). To make a guide for physicians by developing a classification of PAAs according to the severity and risk of complications associated with each distinct lesion type. Methods: The Members of the HSS International Study Group (HSSISG) collected 42 cases, with high-quality CTPA images in one radiology station and made reconstructions from the source images. These detailed CTPA studies were reviewed for final image selection and approved by HSSISG board members. We classified these findings according to the clinical course of the patients. Results: This atlas describes the CTPA images that best define the wide spectrum of pulmonary vasculitis observed in HSS. Pulmonary aneurysms were classified into six radiographic patterns: from true stable PAA with adherent in-situ thrombosis to unstable leaking PAA, BAA and/or PAP with loss of aneurysmal wall definition (most prone to rupture), also CTPA images demonstrating right ventricular strain and intracardiac thrombosis. Conclusion: The HSSISG reference atlas is a guide for physicians regarding the CTPA radiological findings, essential for early diagnosis and management of HSS-related pulmonary vasculitis.Key Points• The Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by extensive vascular thrombosis and pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.• All fatalities reported in HSS were related to unpredictable massive hemoptysis; therefore, it is critical to recognize pulmonary complications at an early stage of the disease.• The HSS International Study Group reference atlas classifies pulmonary vasculitis in HSS at 6 different stages of the disease process and defines the different radiological patterns of pulmonary vasculitis notably pulmonary artery aneurysms, as detected by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).• The main aim of the classification is to make a guide for physicians about this rare syndrome. Such a scheme has never been reached before since the first description of the syndrome by Hughes and Stovin since 1959. This classification will form the basis for future recommendations regarding diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome