Sub-chronic lung inflammation after airway exposures to Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides in mice

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess possible health effects of airway exposures to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticides in mice. Endpoints were lung inflammation evaluated by presence of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), clearance of bacteria from the lung lumen and histological alterations of the lungs. Hazard identifications of the biopesticides were carried out using intratracheal (i.t.) instillation, followed by an inhalation study. The two commercial biopesticides used were based on the Bt. subspecies kurstaki and israelensis, respectively. Groups of BALB/c mice were i.t instilled with one bolus (3.5 × 10(5 )or 3.4 × 10(6 )colony forming units (CFU) per mouse) of either biopesticide. Control mice were instilled with sterile water. BALFs were collected and the inflammatory cells were counted and differentiated. The BALFs were also subjected to CFU counts. RESULTS: BALF cytology showed an acute inflammatory response dominated by neutrophils 24 hours after instillation of biopesticide. Four days after instillation, the neutrophil number was normalised and inflammation was dominated by lymphocytes and eosinophils, whereas 70 days after instillation, the inflammation was interstitially located with few inflammatory cells present in the lung lumen. Half of the instilled mice had remaining CFU recovered from BALF 70 days after exposure. To gain further knowledge with relevance for risk assessment, mice were exposed to aerosols of biopesticide one hour per day for 2 × 5 days. Each mouse received 1.9 × 10(4 )CFU Bt israelensis or 2.3 × 10(3 )CFU Bt kurstaki per exposure. Seventy days after end of the aerosol exposures, 3 out of 17 mice had interstitial lung inflammation. CFU could be recovered from 1 out of 10 mice 70 days after exposure to aerosolised Bt kurstaki. Plethysmography showed that inhalation of Bt aerosol did not induce airway irritation. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated low dose aerosol exposures to commercial Bt based biopesticides can induce sub-chronic lung inflammation in mice, which may be the first step in the development of chronic lung diseases. Inhalation of Bt aerosols does not induce airway irritation, which could explain why workers may be less inclined to use a filter mask during the application process, and are thereby less protected from exposure to Bt spores

Effect of Precision Error on T-scores and the Diagnostic Classification of Bone Status

We quantified confidence intervals (CIs) for T-scores for the lumbar spine and hip and determined the practical effect (impact on diagnosis) of variability around the T-score cutpoint of -2.5. Using precision data from the literature for GE Lunar Prodigy dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems, the 95% CI for the T-score was ±0.23 at the lumbar spine (L1-L4), ± 0.20 at the total hip, and ±0.41 at the femoral neck. Thus, T-score variations of ±0.23 or less at the spine, ±0.20 at the total hip, and ±0.41 at the femoral neck are not statistically significant. When diagnosing osteoporosis, T-scores in the interval -2.3 to -2.7 for spine or total hip (after rounding to conform to guidelines from the International Society for Clinical Densitometry) and -2.1 to -2.9 for femoral neck are not statistically different from -2.5. Better precision values resulted in smaller 95% CIs. This concept was applied to actual clinical data using Hologic DXA systems. The study cohort comprised 2388 white women with either normal or osteopenic spines in whom the densitometric diagnosis of osteoporosis would be determined by hip T-scores. When evaluating actual patient T-scores in the range -2.5 ± 95% CI, we found that the diagnosis was indeterminate in approximately 12% of women when T-scores for femoral neck were used and in 4% of women when T-scores for total hip were used, with uncertainty as to whether the classification was osteopenia or osteoporosis. We conclude that precision influences the variability around T-scores and that this variability affects the reliability of diagnostic classification

Depth of Response and Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Background: For multiple myeloma (MM) patients, depth of response after induction therapy and after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) has been shown to be important for progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in some studies. Furthermore, the impact of minimal residual disease (MRD) on outcomes and treatment decisions has been widely discussed. We aimed to evaluate outcomes by depth of response after induction and AHCT. Methods: MM patients who received their first AHCT within 1 year of starting induction were identified from the institutional registry. MRD was assessed by non-10 color flow cytometry. Response was defined by the International Myeloma Working Group criteria. Summary statistics were used to describe the population. Kaplan-Meier methodology estimated PFS and OS by response status pre-AHCT and at post-AHCT restaging. Results: Between 2012 - 2014, 182 MM patients met our inclusion criteria, with 83% alive at last follow-up. The median age at AHCT was 60 years (range 29-76) with 57% male. By the International Staging System (ISS), 50% were stage I, 26% stage II, and 24% stage III. High risk cytogenetics were detected in 24%. Isotype was IgG in 55%, IgA 21%, Kappa Free Light Chain (KFLC) 11%, and lambda FLC (LFCL) 9%. First induction therapy included bortezomib in 90% and lenalidomide in 79%. Median time to AHCT was 5.5 months (range 2.8-11.7). The median follow-up from AHCT was 3.7 years (range 0.22 - 4.6 years), with 84% of patients receiving lenalidomide maintenance, and 9% receiving an additional autologous or allogenic transplant at relapse. Response prior to the initial AHCT was a complete remission (CR) in 13.7% (MRD negative 6.6%, positive 4.4%, unknown 2.7%), very good partial remission (VGPR) 38%, partial remission (PR) 40%, stable disease (SD) 5%, and progressive disease (PD) 4%. At post-AHCT restaging, responses had improved to 42% CR (MRD negative 23%, positive 6%, unknown 13%), 35% VGPR, 19% PR, 2% SD, and 3% PD. Median PFS from AHCT for the entire cohort was 3.2 years (95% CI 2.4 - 4 years) with 1-year and 3-year PFS 85% and 52%, respectively. Median OS was not reached (NR) (95% CI 4.4 years - NR) with 1-year and 3-year OS 97% and 88%, respectively (Figure 1). PFS from AHCT was significantly longer in patients with an MRD negative CR prior to AHCT with median PFS not reached (95% CI 1.7 - NR) compared to MRD positive/unknown CR, VGPR, and ≤ PR [3.64 years (95% CI 1.09-3.64), 3.46 years (95% CI 2.4 - NR), and 2.44 years (1.68-3.56 years), respectively, p=0.048] (Figure 2A). From post-AHCT restaging, PFS was also significantly longer in patients with an MRD negative CR prior to AHCT with median PFS not reached compared to MRD positive/unknown CR, VGPR, and ≤ PR [3.49 years (95% CI 0.86-3.49), 3.56 years (95% CI 2.5 - NR), and 2.4 years (1.6-3.33 years), respectively, p=0.026] (Figure 2B). However, there was no difference in PFS based on the post-AHCT restaging with median PFS in MRD negative CR, MRD positive/unknown CR, VGPR, and ≤ PR of 3.49 years (95% CI 2-NR), not reached (95% CI 1.4-NR), 2.96 years (95% CI 1.7-NR), and 2.86 years (95% CI 1.7 - NR) (p=0.78, Figure 2C), respectively. OS from AHCT was not significantly different by pre-AHCT response, and the median was not reached in any group (p=0.33, Figure 3A). Finally, the median OS from post-AHCT restaging by pre-AHCT response or by post-AHCT response was also not reached in any group (p=0.32 and 0.31, respectively; Figure 3B & C). Conclusion: For MM patients, AHCT deepened responses and increased the CR rate. We were unable to show a significant difference in outcomes at post AHCT restaging, which may be due to the effect of maintenance therapy, the small numbers of MRD negative patients, or the sensitivity of the MRD assay available during this time period, though potentially show that MRD positive patients do as well as MRD negative patients after AHCT. We plan to add additional patients treated in the more recent years who were assessed by more sensitive methods. Disclosures Shah: Janssen: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Korde:Amgen: Research Funding. Lesokhin:Janssen: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Serametrix, inc.: Patents & Royalties: Royalties; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Mailankody:Janssen: Research Funding; Physician Education Resource: Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding. Smith:Celgene: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties: CAR T cell therapies for MM, Research Funding. Landgren:Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding

Revaccination after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Is Safe and Effective in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Receiving Lenalidomide Maintenance

•Inactivated vaccines are safe on lenalidomide maintenance after autologous transplant.•Response rates are similar to previously reported after transplant.•Additional study is needed for live vaccines in this setting. Guidelines recommend vaccination starting 12 months after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHCT), but there is varying practice for patients on maintenance therapy, with some centers not immunizing at all. Because of decreased vaccine rates among the general population causing loss of herd immunity, we aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of revaccinating multiple myeloma patients on lenalidomide maintenance (LM). Of the 122 patients who were vaccinated after aHCT between 2010 and 2014 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 91 (75%) were on LM. Vaccine responses were defined by increases between pre- and postvaccination titers. Reponses varied by vaccine type with 76% responding to pertussis, 70% diphtheria, 60% tetanus, 71% Haemophilus influenzae, and 58% pneumococcal. All patients retained minimal levels of polio immunity, but 27% responded with increased titers. Fewer patients received hepatitis A and B, but of those who did, 30% responded to hepatitis A and 40% to hepatitis B. No differences were seen in rates of response for those on LM at time of vaccination compared with those who were not. There were no vaccine-related adverse effects. Reimmunization with inactivated vaccines in patients on LM is therefore both safe and effective, offering this population immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases