ITK degradation to block T cell receptor signaling and overcome therapeutic resistance in T cell lymphomas.

Interleukin (IL)-2-inducible T cell kinase (ITK) is essential for T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and plays an integral role in T cell proliferation and differentiation. Unlike the ITK homolog BTK, no inhibitors of ITK are currently US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. In addition, recent studies have identified mutations within BTK that confer resistance to both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors. Here, as an alternative strategy, we report the development of BSJ-05-037, a potent and selective heterobifunctional degrader of ITK. BSJ-05-037 displayed enhanced anti-proliferative effects relative to its parent inhibitor BMS-509744, blocked the activation of NF-kB/GATA-3 signaling, and increased the sensitivity of T cell lymphoma cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, targeted degradation of ITK is a novel approach to modulate TCR signal strength that could have broad application for the investigation and treatment of T cell-mediated diseases.

Postnatal diuretics, weight gain and home oxygen requirement in extremely preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES: Diuretics are often given to infants with evolving/established bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with the hope of improving their pulmonary outcomes. We aimed to determine if diuretic use in preterm infants was associated with improved pulmonary outcomes, but poorer weight gain. METHODS: An observational study over a 5 year period was undertaken of all infants born at less than 29 weeks of gestation and alive at discharge in all neonatal units in England who received consecutive diuretic use for at least 7 days. Postnatal weight gain and home supplementary oxygen requirement were the outcomes. A literature review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and crossover studies was undertaken to determine if diuretic usage was associated with changes in lung mechanics and oxygenation, duration of supplementary oxygen and requirement for home supplementary oxygen. RESULTS: In the observational study, 9,457 infants survived to discharge, 44.6% received diuretics for at least 7 days. Diuretic use was associated with an increased probability of supplementary home oxygen of 0.14 and an increase in weight gain of 2.5 g/week. In the review, seven of the 10 studies reported improvements only in short term lung mechanics. There was conflicting evidence regarding whether diuretics resulted in short term improvements in oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: Diuretic use was not associated with a reduction in requirement for supplemental oxygen on discharge. The literature review highlighted a lack of RCTs assessing meaningful long-term clinical outcomes. Randomised trials are needed to determine the long-term risk benefit ratio of chronic diuretic use.

Overcoming IMiD resistance in T-cell lymphomas through potent degradation of ZFP91 and IKZF1.

Immunomodulatory (IMiD) agents like lenalidomide and pomalidomide induce the recruitment of IKZF1 and other targets to the CRL4CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase, resulting in their ubiquitination and degradation. These agents are highly active in B-cell lymphomas and a subset of myeloid diseases but have compromised effects in T-cell lymphomas (TCLs). Here, we show that 2 factors determine resistance to IMiDs among TCLs. First, limited CRBN expression reduces IMiD activity in TCLs but can be overcome by newer-generation degrader CC-92480. Using mass spectrometry, we show that CC-92480 selectively degrades IKZF1 and ZFP91 in TCL cells with greater potency than pomalidomide. As a result, CC-92480 is highly active against multiple TCL subtypes and showed greater efficacy than pomalidomide across 4 in vivo TCL models. Second, we demonstrate that ZFP91 functions as a bona fide transcription factor that coregulates cell survival with IKZF1 in IMiD-resistant TCLs. By activating keynote genes from WNT, NF-kB, and MAP kinase signaling, ZFP91 directly promotes resistance to IKZF1 loss. Moreover, lenalidomide-sensitive TCLs can acquire stable resistance via ZFP91 rewiring, which involves casein kinase 2-mediated c-Jun inactivation. Overall, these findings identify a critical transcription factor network within TCLs and provide clinical proof of concept for the novel therapy using next-generation degraders.

A Versatile Hermetically Sealed Microelectronic Implant for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Applications.

This article presents a versatile neurostimulation platform featuring a fully implantable multi-channel neural stimulator for chronic experimental studies with freely moving large animal models involving peripheral nerves. The implant is hermetically sealed in a ceramic enclosure and encapsulated in medical grade silicone rubber, and then underwent active tests at accelerated aging conditions at 100°C for 15 consecutive days. The stimulator microelectronics are implemented in a 0.6-µm CMOS technology, with a crosstalk reduction scheme to minimize cross-channel interference, and high-speed power and data telemetry for battery-less operation. A wearable transmitter equipped with a Bluetooth Low Energy radio link, and a custom graphical user interface provide real-time, remotely controlled stimulation. Three parallel stimulators provide independent stimulation on three channels, where each stimulator supports six stimulating sites and two return sites through multiplexing, hence the implant can facilitate stimulation at up to 36 different electrode pairs. The design of the electronics, method of hermetic packaging and electrical performance as well as in vitro testing with electrodes in saline are presented.

Effect of Recombinant Human Parathyroid Hormone (1-84) on Resolution of Active Charcot Neuro-osteoarthropathy in Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Fractures in Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (CN) often fail to heal despite prolonged immobilization with below-knee casting. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (PTH) in reducing time to resolution of CN and healing of fractures. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: People with diabetes and acute (active) Charcot foot were randomized (double-blind) to either full-length PTH (1-84) or placebo therapy, both in addition to below-knee casting and calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. The primary outcome was resolution of CN, defined as a skin foot temperature difference >2°C at two consecutive monthly visits. RESULTS: Median time to resolution was 5 months (95% CI 4, 12) in intervention and 6 months (95% CI 2, 9) in control. On univariate mixed Cox and logistic regression, there was no significant difference in time to resolution between the groups (P = 0.64) or in the likelihood of resolution (P = 0.66). The hazard ratio of resolution was 0.84 (95% CI 0.41, 1.74; P = 0.64), and the odds ratio of resolution by 12 months was 0.80 (95% CI 0.3, 2.13; P = 0.66) (intervention vs. control). On linear regression analysis, there were no significant differences in the effect of treatment on fracture scores quantitated on MRI scans (coefficient 0.13 [95% CI -0.62, 0.88]; P = 0.73) and on foot and ankle X-rays (coefficient 0.30 [95% CI -0.03, 0.63]; P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This double-blind placebo-controlled trial did not reduce time to resolution or enhance fracture healing of CN. There was no added benefit of daily intervention with PTH (1-84) to below-knee casting in achieving earlier resolution of CN.

A Comparison of FES and SCS for Neuroplastic Recovery After SCI: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions.

There is increasing evidence that neuroplastic changes can occur even years after spinal cord injury, leading to reduced disability and better health which should reduce the cost of healthcare. In motor-incomplete spinal cord injury, recovery of leg function may occur if repetitive training causes afferent input to the lumbar spinal cord. The afferent input may be due to activity-based therapy without electrical stimulation but we present evidence that it is faster with electrical stimulation. This may be spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation. Recovery is faster if the stimulation is phasic and that the patient is trying to use their legs during the training. All the published studies are small, so all conclusions are provisional, but it appears that patients with more disability (AIS A and B) may need to continue using stimulation and for them, an implanted stimulator is likely to be convenient. Patients with less disability (AIS C and D) may make useful recovery and improve their quality of life from a course of therapy. This might be locomotion therapy but we argue that cycling with electrical stimulation, which uses biofeedback to encourage descending drive, causes rapid recovery and might be used with little supervision at home, making it much less expensive. Such an electrical therapy followed by conventional physiotherapy might be affordable for the many people living with chronic SCI. To put this in perspective, we present some information about what treatments are funded in the UK and the US.

Genomic landscape of young ATLL patients identifies frequent targetable CD28 fusions.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in Japan presents at a median age of 70 years and only 5% of patients are <50 years of age. We conducted RNA and targeted DNA sequencing of 8 ATLLs from Japanese patients <50 years of age and identified 3 (37.5%) with both CTLA4-CD28 and inducible costimulator (ICOS)-CD28 fusions. Mutations of PLCG1, PRKCB, and STAT3, which were frequent in other ATLL-sequencing studies, were not identified. Differential expression analysis identified the negative checkpoint molecule LAG3 as the most downregulated gene among cases with the fusions. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated expression of CD80 and CD86, the ligands for CTLA4 and CD28, on ATLL cells and tumor-associated macrophages, respectively. Expression of CTLA4-CD28 in Ba/F3 cells conferred cytokine-independent growth when cocultured with Raji cells that express CD80 and CD86. Growth was associated with recruitment of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to CTLA4-CD28 and phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. A CTLA4-blocking antibody reduced cytokine-independent growth in a dose-dependent manner. Together, these results suggest that young Japanese ATLL cases have a unique biology dependent on cell-nonautonomous interactions that drive CD28 signaling. Assessment for CD28 fusions and treatment with CTLA4 blockade should be considered in younger patients with relapsed/refractory ATLL.

How families prepare their children for tooth extraction under general anaesthesia: Family and clinical predictors of non-compliance with a 'serious game'.

OBJECTIVE: To explore family and clinical factors for usage of an online serious game designed to prepare children with ECC for dental treatment under general anaesthesia. DESIGN: Observational study. Secondary data of 60 children, aged 5-to-7, randomised to the intervention group in a phase-III randomised controlled trial [NIHR Portfolio 10006, ISRCTN: 18265148] testing the efficacy of the serious game http://www.scottga.org (available online). Usage was captured automatically, with each click, in real time. The total number of replays and total number of missing slides per game-run performed by the child, were recorded and used to monitor usage. Compliance outcomes were: total time running the game and number of completely missed slides. RESULTS: 57/60 played the game. Median age of parent/carer was 32. For 74% of the families, fathers resided at home and for 65% the parent/carer had A-levels-to-university education. At recruitment, 70% of the children were reported as anxious/highly-fearful and 37% as "significantly psychologically disturbed". CONCLUSIONS: Factors for non-compliance were absence of a father at home (P = 0.01) and higher child-anxiety (P = 0.01) and, to a lesser extent, a low parent/carer education level (P = 0.09). Interactive cartoons featuring dental assessment, oral health messages and modelling featured in the more popular slides.

A microchannel neuroprosthesis for bladder control after spinal cord injury in rat.

A severe complication of spinal cord injury is loss of bladder function (neurogenic bladder), which is characterized by loss of bladder sensation and voluntary control of micturition (urination), and spontaneous hyperreflexive voiding against a closed sphincter (detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia). A sacral anterior root stimulator at low frequency can drive volitional bladder voiding, but surgical rhizotomy of the lumbosacral dorsal roots is needed to prevent spontaneous voiding and dyssynergia. However, rhizotomy is irreversible and eliminates sexual function, and the stimulator gives no information on bladder fullness. We designed a closed-loop neuroprosthetic interface that measures bladder fullness and prevents spontaneous voiding episodes without the need for dorsal rhizotomy in a rat model. To obtain bladder sensory information, we implanted teased dorsal roots (rootlets) within the rat vertebral column into microchannel electrodes, which provided signal amplification and noise suppression. As long as they were attached to the spinal cord, these rootlets survived for up to 3 months and contained axons and blood vessels. Electrophysiological recordings showed that half of the rootlets propagated action potentials, with firing frequency correlated to bladder fullness. When the bladder became full enough to initiate spontaneous voiding, high-frequency/amplitude sensory activity was detected. Voiding was abolished using a high-frequency depolarizing block to the ventral roots. A ventral root stimulator initiated bladder emptying at low frequency and prevented unwanted contraction at high frequency. These data suggest that sensory information from the dorsal root together with a ventral root stimulator could form the basis for a closed-loop bladder neuroprosthetic.

3D whole body scanning to determine mass properties of legs.

We describe a novel method of measuring the mass properties of the limbs, specifically legs. We use the method to obtain the mass and centre of mass of the legs which enables us to calculate the leg joint moments from measurements of ground reaction forces using force plates. The data are obtained by using a 3D whole body scanner to obtain a data set representing the surface of both legs. The bones are significantly denser than the soft tissue so their mass is calculated. Textbook values for the densities of bone and soft tissue are used. The actual bones are approximated by stretching appropriate bone shapes to fit the X-ray of the subject. Numerical integration is then used to obtain the mass and centre of mass of the limb. The system is fast and reliable and allows an individual's mass properties to be measured rather than relying upon population surveys which may be biased, particularly, when the subject is atypical by being disabled. Paraplegics can be measured in the scanner using a modified Oswestry standing frame. When compared with a water displacement method, for 10 legs the errors in the total leg volume using this method are less than 1% and in the location of the centre of mass are less than 4%.