Purpose:The aims were to analyze the temporal evolution of neutrophil apoptosis, to determine the differences in neutrophil apoptosis among 28-day survivors and nonsurvivors, and to evaluate the use of neutrophil apoptosis as a predictor of mortality in patients with septic shock. Materials and Methods: Prospective multicenter observational study carried out between July 2006 and June 2009. The staining solution study included 80 patients with septic shock and 25 healthy volunteers. Neutrophil apoptosis was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated annexin V and aminoactinomycin D staining. Results: The percentage of neutrophil apoptosis was significantly decreased at 24 hours, 5 days, and 12 days after the diagnosis of septic shock (14.8% ± 13.4%, 13.4% ± 8.4%, and 15.4% ± 12.8%, respectively; P b .0001) compared with the control group (37.6% ± 12.8%). The difference in apoptosis between 28-day surviving and nonsurviving patients was nonsignificant (P N .05). The mortality rate at 28 days was 53.7%. Journal of Critical Care (2012) 27, 415.e1-415.e11 The crude hazard ratio for mortality in patients with septic shock did not differ according to the percentage of apoptosis (hazard ratio, 1.006; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.03; P = .60). Conclusions: During the first 12 days of septic shock development, the level of neutrophil apoptosis decreases and does not recover normal values. No differences were observed between surviving and nonsurviving patients.

Etranacogene dezaparvovec (AMT-061) is a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5) vector containing a codon-optimized Padua variant human factor IX (FIX) transgene with a liver-specific promoter. Here we report 3-year outcomes from a Phase 2b, open-label, single-dose, single-arm, multi-center trial (NCT03489291) conducted in adults with severe or moderately severe hemophilia B (FIX ≤2%). All participants (n=3) received a single intravenous dose (2×1013 gene copies/kg) and will be followed for 5 years. The primary endpoint of FIX activity ≥5% at 6 weeks was met (mean 30.6% [min-max, 23.9%-37.8%]). Secondary endpoints included bleed frequency, FIX concentrate use, joint health, and adverse events (AEs). All participants required routine FIX prophylaxis and had neutralizing antibodies to AAV5 (mean titer at screening=39) prior to etranacogene dezaparvovec treatment. Post administration, FIX activity rose to a mean of 40.8% (min-max, 31.3%-50.2%) at year 1, sustained at year 3 (mean 36.9% [min-max, 32.3%-41.5%]). All participants discontinued FIX prophylaxis. Complete elimination of bleeds occurred in 2/3 participants. One participant required on-demand FIX replacement therapy post treatment per protocol due to elective surgeries, for 2 reported bleeding episodes, and twice for a single self-administered infusion due to an unreported reason. One participant experienced 2 mild, self-limiting AEs shortly after dosing. During the 3-year study period, there were no clinically significant elevations in liver enzymes, no requirement for steroids, no FIX inhibitor development, and no late emergent safety events in any participant. Etranacogene dezaparvovec was safe and effective in adults with hemophilia B through 3 years post-administration. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03489291.

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BACKGROUND Iron overload is the primary cause of morbidity in transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Increase in iron causes mitochondrial dysfunction under experimental conditions, but the occurrence and significance of mitochondrial damage is not understood in patients with thalassemia. METHODS Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to nuclear DNA copy number (Mt/N) and frequency of the common 4977-bp mitochondrial deletion (ΔmtDNA4977) were quantified using a quantitative PCR assay on whole blood samples from 38 subjects with thalassemia who were receiving regular transfusions. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, Mt/N and ΔmtDNA4977 frequency were elevated in thalassemia (P = 0.038 and P < 0.001, respectively). ΔmtDNA4977 was increased in the presence of either liver iron concentration > 15 mg/g dry-weight or splenectomy, with the highest levels observed in subjects who had both risk factors (P = 0.003). Myocardial iron (MRI T2* < 20 ms) was present in 0%, 22%, and 46% of subjects with ΔmtDNA4977 frequency < 20, 20–40, and > 40/1 × 107 mtDNA, respectively (P = 0.025). Subjects with Mt/N values below the group median had significantly lower Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (5.76 ± 0.53) compared with the high Mt/N group (9.11 ± 0.95, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION Individuals with transfusion-dependent thalassemia demonstrate age-related increase in mtDNA damage in leukocytes. These changes are markedly amplified by splenectomy and are associated with extrahepatic iron deposition. Elevated mtDNA damage in blood cells may predict the risk of iron-associated organ damage in thalassemia.