Enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB; Sanfilippo B syndrome) has been hindered by inadequate mannose 6-phosphorylation and cellular uptake of recombinantly produced human α-N-acetyl-glucosamindase (rhNAGLU). We expressed and characterized a modified, recombinant human NAGLU fused to the receptor binding motif of insulin-like growth factor-II (rhNAGLU-IGF-II) to enhance its ability to enter cells using the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, which is also the receptor for IGF-II (at a different binding site). RhNAGLU-IGF-II was stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, secreted and purified to apparent homogeneity. The Km and pH optimum of the fusion enzyme was similar to those reported for rhNAGLU. Both intracellular uptake and confocal microscopy suggested MPS IIIB fibroblasts readily take up the fusion enzyme via receptor-mediated endocytosis that was significantly inhibited (p<0.001) by monomeric IGF-II peptide. Glycosaminoglycan storage was reduced by 60% (p<0.001) to near background levels in MPS IIIB cells after treatment with rhNAGLU-IGF-II, with half-maximal correction at concentrations of 3–12 pM. Similar cellular uptake mechanism via the IGF-II receptor was also demonstrated in two different brain tumor-derived cell lines. Fusion of NAGLU to IGF-II enhanced its cellular uptake while maintaining enzymatic activity, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for MPS IIIB.

The FLEE tests are considered clinically important for assessing lower extremity function by sports medicine personnel but are underused. The FLEE also is a reliable assessment tool. Future studies are required to determine if use of the FLEE to make return-to-play decisions may reduce reinjury rates.

Objective Patients with cancers frequently experience sleep and circadian dysfunction. To date, only a few studies have used both a questionnaire and actigraphy for concomitant evaluation of sleep and circadian function in patients with cancer. We sought to evaluate objective sleep and circadian parameters in metastatic colon cancer (MCC) patients and their associations with symptoms and quality of life (QOL). Methods Patients reported subjective sleep problems on the EORTC QLQ-C30. Sleep and circadian parameters were calculated using a wrist-actigraph that patients wore for 72 hours. Results 237 Patients with MCC (age: 60.4 years; range: 20.7–77.6; Male/Female ratio: 1.66) participated in this cross-sectional study. Subjective sleep problems were reported by 63.4% of patients (S+). No differences in any sleep parameters (sleep efficiency, sleep latency, total sleep time, total time in bed, wake after sleep onset, activity bathyphase) were observed between S+ and S- patients. However, S+ patients displayed a significantly worse circadian function than S-patients (96.4% versus 98.1%; p=.005). Presence of poor subjective sleep and objective circadian dysfunction negatively affected symptoms and QOL domains (p=.038). Conclusions Subjective report of sleep problems was not associated with worse objectively-measured sleep parameters in patients with MCC although it was associated with disrupted circadian rest-activity rhythm and poorer QOL. These findings coincide with prior research in cancer patients in that an inconsistent relationship exists between subjective and objective sleep measurements on some sleep domains. This study supports the value of coupled evaluation of self-reported and objective measures of sleep and circadian function in cancer patients.

No abstract

Han et al. (this issue) describe a novel mechanism by which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may suppress atopic dermatitis symptoms in mice. They find that DHA induces FoxP3 T regulatory cells in vivo, M2 macrophages drive transforming growth factor-β and IL-10 conversion of CD4 T cells to CD4 FoxP3 T regulatory cells in vitro, and DHA-treated M2 macrophages suppress atopic dermatitis in mice.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract