A 2 × 2 factorial, randomised, open-label trial to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of hypertonic saline (HTS 6%) and carbocisteine for airway clearance versus usual care over 52 weeks in adults with bronchiectasis:a protocol for the CLEAR clinical trial

Background: Current guidelines for the management of bronchiectasis (BE) highlight the lack of evidence to recommend mucoactive agents, such as hypertonic saline (HTS) and carbocisteine, to aid sputum removal as part of standard care. We hypothesise that mucoactive agents (HTS or carbocisteine, or a combination) are effective in reducing exacerbations over a 52-week period, compared to usual care. Methods: This is a 52-week, 2 × 2 factorial, randomized, open-label trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of HTS 6% and carbocisteine for airway clearance versus usual care-the Clinical and cost-effectiveness of hypertonic saline (HTS 6%) and carbocisteine for airway clearance versus usual care (CLEAR) trial. Patients will be randomised to (1) standard care and twice-daily nebulised HTS (6%), (2) standard care and carbocisteine (750 mg three times per day until visit 3, reducing to 750 mg twice per day), (3) standard care and combination of twice-daily nebulised HTS and carbocisteine, or (4) standard care. The primary outcome is the mean number of exacerbations over 52 weeks. Key inclusion criteria are as follows: Adults with a diagnosis of BE on computed tomography, BE as the primary respiratory diagnosis, and two or more pulmonary exacerbations in the last year requiring antibiotics and production of daily sputum. Discussion: This trial's pragmatic research design avoids the significant costs associated with double-blind trials whilst optimising rigour in other areas of trial delivery. The CLEAR trial will provide evidence as to whether HTS, carbocisteine or both are effective and cost effective for patients with BE. Trial registration: EudraCT number: 2017-000664-14 (first entered in the database on 20 October 2017). ISRCTN.com, ISRCTN89040295. Registered on 6 July/2018. Funder: National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment Programme (15/100/01). Sponsor: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Ethics Reference Number: 17/NE/0339. Protocol version: V3.0 Final_14052018

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2–4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Studies of the auditory steady-state responses

Scalp-recorded auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) to multiple stimuli may be useful in objectively estimating hearing thresholds of individuals who are unable to reliably respond behaviourally, such as infants. Primary objectives of the present thesis are: (1) to identify the anatomical location of neurons responsible for generating ASSRs; (2) to determine cochlear place specificity of the multiple-ASSR method; (3) to evaluate the benefit of using the multiple- ASSR method in estimating hearing thresholds, as compared to single-stimulus methods; and (4) to determine the accuracy of using multiple-ASSRs to estimate hearing thresholds in subjects with normal or impaired hearing. Results show that the entire auditory system contributes to the generation of ASSRs to modulated stimuli. Cortical neurons are more responsive at lower modulation frequencies (e.g., <40 Hz), whereas brainstem structures primarily generate ASSRs to higher modulation frequencies (e.g., 80 Hz). ASSRs to multiple amplitude-modulated tones (modulated between 77-105 Hz) reflect activation of approximately 1-octave-wide cochlear regions around each carrier frequency. This is similar to results reported for the auditory brainstem response method. As compared to presenting stimuli separately, simultaneously presenting multiple (i.e., at least 4 per ear) amplitude-modulated tones to evoke the ASSR can considerably reduce the time needed to estimate hearing thresholds for octave frequencies between 500 and 4000 Hz. Furthermore, multiple-ASSR thresholds are not different than thresholds for ASSRs to stimuli presented separately. For individuals with normal or impaired hearing, multiple-ASSR thresholds are approximately 5-15 decibels higher than behavioural thresholds, on average. Furthermore, multiple-ASSRs can accurately estimate the behavioural audiogram configurations (threshold by frequency) in subjects with various types of hearing impairments. Collectively, results from the present thesis indicate that the multiple-ASSR method is useful for evaluating hearing thresholds and provides advantages over the conventional objective audiometric methods.Medicine, Faculty ofAudiology and Speech Sciences, School ofGraduat

Inversion and contrast-reversal effects on face processing assessed by MEG.

The processing of upright, inverted and contrast-reversed faces was investigated using MEG. Peak and global field power analyses revealed that the M100, M170 and M220 components were delayed for inverted and contrast-reversed compared to normal upright faces but no amplitude modulations were found. Source analyses using an event-related SAM beamformer technique revealed bilateral occipital sources for the M100 and M220 components. For the M170, two distinct sources simultaneously active were found, a bilateral and posterior source (M170A) and a right lateralized ventral and more anterior source (M170B) around the fusiform gyrus. None of the sources varied in location or intensity between face types. However, although different from the M100, the location of the M170A was not significantly different from that of the M220, suggesting the latter could be a reactivation of the former. Confirming previous ERP results on the processing of inverted faces, the present study extends the findings to contrast-reversed face stimuli and suggests that deviations from the standard upright face format do not activate extra areas but simply result in the delayed activation of the sources generating the M100, M170 and M220 components. The data confirm the sensitivity of the M100 to face manipulations and further suggest that the M170 is generated by two distinct sources, one of which situated in occipital extrastriate areas (M170A) could be reactivated around 220 ms to generate the M220 component

Region-specific slowing of alpha oscillations associated with visual-perceptual abilities in children born very preterm

Children born very preterm (≤32 weeks GA) without major intellectual or neurological impairments often express selective deficits in visual-perceptual abilities. The alterations in neurophysiological development underlying these problems, however, remain poorly understood. Recent research has indicated that spontaneous alpha oscillations are slowed in children born very preterm, and that atypical alpha-mediated functional network connectivity may underlie selective developmental difficulties in visual-perceptual ability in this group. The present study provides the first source-resolved analysis of slowing of spontaneous alpha oscillations in very preterm children, indicating alterations in a distributed set of brain regions concentrated in areas of posterior parietal and inferior temporal regions associated with visual-perception, as well as prefrontal cortical regions and thalamus. We also uniquely demonstrate that slowing of alpha oscillations is associated with selective difficulties in visual-perceptual ability in very preterm children. These results indicate that region-specific slowing of alpha oscillations contribute to selective developmental difficulties prevalent in this population