AimsAnxiety disorders associated with pain are a common health problem. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of paraventricular nucleus (PVN)‐central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) oxytocinergic projections in anxiety‐like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.MethodsAfter inflammatory pain induction by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), mice underwent elevated plus maze, light–dark transition test, and marble burying test to examine the anxiety‐like behaviors. Chemogenetic, optogenetic, and fiber photometry recordings were used to modulate and record the activity of the oxytocinergic projections of the PVN‐CeA.ResultsThe key results are as follows: inflammatory pain‐induced anxiety‐like behaviors in mice accompanied by decreased activity of PVN oxytocin neurons. Chemogenetic activation of PVN oxytocin neurons prevented pain‐related anxiety‐like behaviors, whereas inhibition of PVN oxytocin neurons induced anxiety‐like behaviors in naïve mice. PVN oxytocin neurons projected directly to the CeA, and microinjection of oxytocin into the CeA blocked anxiety‐like behaviors. Inflammatory pain also decreased the activity of CeA neurons, and optogenetic activation of PVNoxytocin‐CeA circuit prevented anxiety‐like behavior in response to inflammatory pain.ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that oxytocin has anti‐anxiety effects and provide novel insights into the role of PVNoxytocin‐CeA projections in the regulation of anxiety‐like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

To evaluate the relationship between factors of metastatic intraparotid lymph node (IPLN) and distant metastasis in parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Patients with surgically treated parotid ACC were retrospectively enrolled, and primary outcome variable was distant metastasis free survival (DMFS). The effect of factors of metastatic IPLN on DMFS was evaluated using Cox model. In total, 232 patients were included. Extranodal extension of IPLN and cervical lymph nodes did not impact the DMFS, and the 7th but not 8th AJCC N stage was associated with DMFS. Groups of 0 and 1 metastatic IPLN had comparable DMFS, but presence of 2+ positive IPLN was related to increased worse DMFS (p = 0.034, HR 2.09). A new N stage (0 vs 1–2 vs 3+) based on total positive lymph node number exhibited better C-index than traditional N stage. IPLN metastasis increased the risk of distant metastasis, and the impact was mainly determined by the number of metastatic IPLN. Our proposed N stage provided better DMFS prediction than the 8th AJCC N classification.

Background Total inhibition of IL-6 or its receptor represents a potent anti-inflammatory therapy with considerable side effects. Selective targeting IL-6 trans-signalling may have safety advantages that differentiates it from current pan-IL-6 inhibitors. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of olamkicept, a soluble gp130-Fc fusion protein that binds to the IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor complex, as induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods This multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial (NCT03235752) enrolled patients with active UC (full Mayo score ≥5, rectal bleeding (RB) score ≥1, endoscopy score (ES) ≥2) with an inadequate response to at least conventional therapy, in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either placebo, olamkicept 300 mg or 600 mg biweekly for 12 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoint was clinical response (decrease in Mayo score from baseline ≥3 and ≥30%, including RB ≤1 or RB decrease ≥1) at week 12. Secondary endpoints were mucosal healing (ES 0 or 1) and clinical remission (Mayo score ≤2, with no subscore >1 and RB=0). The efficacy endpoints were analysed by logistic regression. All p-values were 2-sided without adjustment for multiplicity. Results Of 91 treated patients (30 in placebo, 31 in olamkicept 300 mg group and 30 in 600 mg group), 88 patients (29:30:29) were evaluable for efficacy. Baseline disease and demographic characteristics were similar among the groups (Table 1). Most patients (94.5%) were bio-naïve. The percentage of patients achieving clinical response at week 12 was significantly greater for olamkicept 600 mg than placebo (58.6% vs 34.5%, P=0.032). Clinical remission at week 12 occurred in 0% (placebo), 6.7% (olamkicept 300 mg) and 20.7% (olamkicept 600 mg, P<0.001) of patients. Mucosal healing at week 12 occurred in 3.4%, 10% and 34.5% (P<0.001) of patients, respectively (Figure 1). Incidence of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar across the groups. The most common TEAEs included upper respiratory tract infection, increased AST levels, and increased urine bilirubin levels, which were mild to moderate and mostly transient. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 6.7%, 3.2% and 3.3% of patients, respectively. There were no deaths, or other severe AEs associated with current IL-6 inhibitors, such as perforations, severe infections, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. Conclusion Biweekly 600 mg olamkicept induction therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy with respect to achieving clinical response, clinical remission and mucosal healing in patients with active UC. Olamkicept was well tolerated with a favourable safety profile. The positive results of this phase 2 study support further development of olamkicept in IBD.