Aggressive Treatment Measures Research Articles

Unveiling the Interplay of Klotho Protein, Chemotherapy-Induced Klotho Protein Deficiency and the Pivotal Role of GLP-1 Agonists like Ozempic in Cancer Survivorship Patient Survival Rate after Chemotherapy Treatment

Cancer, a pervasive health challenge globally, prompts aggressive treatment measures, with chemotherapy as a primary approach targeting uncontrolled cell growth. While effective against tumors, chemotherapeutic agents, especially alkylating agents, antimetabolites, and other classes, introduce collateral damage to healthy tissues, notably the kidneys. This article explores the intricate impact of chemotherapy on renal proteins and enzymes, particularly the Klotho protein, a key player in aging and longevity. Alkylating agents induce renal toxicity through oxidative stress, affecting Klotho synthesis and antioxidant defenses. Antimetabolites disrupt DNA synthesis, potentially impairing renal function. Antitumor antibiotics, topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, and hormone therapies each contribute to nephrotoxicity. As Klotho deficiency emerges as a critical factor in the shortened lifespan of cancer patients, the potential role of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic in stimulating Klotho production is discussed. This dual-action approach could mitigate chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity, offering a novel strategy for enhancing the well-being and lifespan of cancer patients.

Relationship of computed tomography quantified visceral adiposity with the severity and complications of acute pancreatitis: a systematic review.

Whilst obesity and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) have been reported to be associated with an increased risk of severe AP, the established predictive scoring systems have not yet encompassed the impact of obesity or visceral adiposity. In the acute setting, computed tomography (CT) is often performed to assess AP severity and associated complications. With the added benefit of quantifying body fat distribution, it can be opportunistically used to quantify visceral adiposity and assess its relationship with the course of AP. This systematic review identified fifteen studies evaluating the relationship between visceral adiposity measured on CT and the severity of presentations of acute pancreatitis from January 2000 to November 2022. The primary outcome was to assess the relationship between CT quantified VAT and AP severity. The secondary outcomes were to assess the impact of VAT on patients developing local and systemic complications associated with AP. Whilst ten studies showed there was a significant correlation between an increased VAT and AP severity, five studies found otherwise. The majority of current literature demonstrate a positive correlation between increased VAT and AP severity. CT quantification VAT is a promising prognostic indicator with the potential to guide initial management, prompt more aggressive treatment measures or earlier re-evaluation and to aid disease prognostication in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Effectiveness of perampanel in the treatment of pediatric patients with focal epilepsy and ESES: A single-center retrospective study.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect and influencing factors of perampanel (PER) on electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of pediatric patients with focal epilepsy and ESES who were treated at the Epilepsy Center of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 2016 and March 2022. Changes in the spike wave index (SWI) after 24 weeks of PER add-on treatment were compared. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis, the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed. Results: A total of 54 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria, including 33 males and 21 females. The mean age at the diagnosis of epilepsy was 6.41 ± 2.14 years and at ESES diagnosis was 7.58 ± 2.40 years. The mean ESES duration before add-on PER was 25.31 ± 15.12 months. The mean age of the patients at add-on PER initiation was 9.69 ± 2.12 years. The ESES resolved in 29 children after 6 months of PER add-on treatment, and the response rate was 53.7%. Univariate analysis with the log-rank test showed that the therapeutic effect of PER differed according to the age at ESES diagnosis and ESES duration before add-on PER treatment. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only ESES duration before PER administration was a risk factor for PER treatment failure, and the other factors had no effect on the therapeutic effect. Conclusion: PER add-on treatment has a good therapeutic effect on ESES and can be used as an alternative to corticosteroid and benzodiazepines. The therapeutic effect of PER add-on treatment was not related to the dose. A longer ESES duration results in a worse therapeutic effect. Therefore, more aggressive treatment measures should be implemented for ESES.

Abstract TP124: Early Neurological Improvement Can Reduce Intensive Care Unit Length Of Stay In Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction: Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH) is often accompanied by an extended length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU), at tremendous cost to both the hospital system and the patient. We sought to determine predictors for ICU LOS in these patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of a cohort of consecutive patients with aSAH admitted to an academic referral center from 2016 to 2021. Multiple linear regression was performed in survivors to identify predictors for ICU LOS among factors present on admission and those related to hospital course. Results: In a cohort of 306 patients with confirmed aSAH, mean age was 57 years (SD 13.7), 61% were female and 70% were white. ICU LOS was longer for survivors (median 19 days, IQR 14-25) than for non-survivors (median 5 days, IQR 2-8; p<0.001). For survivors (n=210), admission-related factors including Hunt and Hess grades 4 or 5 (4 additional days, 95% CI 0.5-7.5; p=0.027), hydrocephalus with external ventricular drain (EVD) requirement (9.2 additional days, 95% CI 5.7-12.8; p<0.001), and coagulopathy (3.2 additional days, 95% CI 0.9-6.2; p=0.03) were associated with longer ICU LOS; however, early neurological improvement (defined as decrease in Hunt and Hess grades within first 3 days of admission) was associated with shorter ICU LOS (5.4 fewer days, 95% CI 2.7-8.5; p=0.001). Among hospital-related factors, symptomatic vasospasm (3.2 additional days, 95% CI 1.9-6.5; p=0.016), pneumonia (5.7 additional days, 95% CI 3.5-9.4; p= 0.001), and laryngeal edema requiring intubation or reintubation (4.3 additional days, 95% CI 0.7-7.8; p<0.001) were associated with prolonged ICU LOS. Laboratory values from the emergency department and past medical history were not predictive for ICU LOS. Conclusion: Admission-related factors and in-hospital complications were more predictive for prolonged ICU LOS than past medical history or any laboratory values on admission. Early neurological improvement was associated with shorter ICU LOS which underscores the importance of early aggressive treatment measures in patients with aSAH.

Study of Disease Severity and Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately affects individuals with various comorbidities. Among these, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been shown to be strongly associated with the progression to severe disease. This study aimed to assess the severity and disease outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection and CKD.Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital from July 2021 to September 2021. The case records of patients with CKD and COVID-19 were studied. They were compared with age and gender-matched controls equally. The presenting symptoms, clinical course, severity of illness, laboratory markers, need for ventilator support, and mortality outcomes were studied.Results: In total, 40 CKD and 40 non-CKD patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. It was also observed that among the patients with CKD, more patients had fever, breathlessness, and diarrhea. The requirement for noninvasive ventilation, ventilator, and inotropes was on the higher average for patients with CKD. Overall mortality was 27.5% in the CKD group and 2.5% in the non-CKD group, which was statistically significant (p = 0.002).Conclusions: COVID-19 patients with CKD had more severe illnesses with a requirement of ventilator support and had higher mortality than the patients without CKD. Patients with CKD are a key subset of patients with COVID-19 for whom more aggressive early treatment and stricter preventive measures may be beneficial.

A Novel Homozygous Mutation ABCA3gene: Presented as Sever Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Term Neonate

Congenital surfactant deficiency is a rare condition diagnosed in newborns who present with respiratory distress at birth. We report a case of a term Omani neonate with fatal surfactant protein deficiency who was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)of the Royal Hospital with respiratory distress syndrome with persistent interstitial infiltrates on serial chest x-ray responsive to intermittent surfactant administration. He underwent a lung biopsy, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of congenital surfactant protein deficiency. However, despite aggressive treatment and supportive measures, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and he succumbed after two months of admission. This case report will highlight and review surfactant deficiency differential diagnoses, management, and complications.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation recipients: an observational cohort study

BackgroundHaematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are considered at high risk of poor outcomes after COVID-19 on the basis of their immunosuppressed status, but data from large studies in HSCT recipients are lacking. This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of HSCT recipients after developing COVID-19.MethodsIn response to the pandemic, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) implemented a special form for COVID-19-related data capture on March 27, 2020. All patients—irrespective of age, diagnosis, donor type, graft source, or conditioning regimens—were included in the analysis with data cutoff of Aug 12, 2020. The main outcome was overall survival 30 days after a COVID-19 diagnosis. Overall survival probabilities were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimator. Factors associated with mortality after COVID-19 diagnosis were examined using Cox proportional hazard models.Findings318 HSCT recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 were reported to the CIBMTR. The median time from HSCT to COVID-19 diagnosis was 17 months (IQR 8–46) for allogeneic HSCT recipients and 23 months (8–51) for autologous HSCT recipients. The median follow-up of survivors was 21 days (IQR 8–41) for allogeneic HSCT recipients and 25 days (12–35) for autologous HSCT recipients. 34 (18%) of 184 allogeneic HSCT recipients were receiving immunosuppression within 6 months of COVID-19 diagnosis. Disease severity was mild in 155 (49%) of 318 patients, while severe disease requiring mechanical ventilation occurred in 45 (14%) of 318 patients—ie, 28 (15%) of 184 allogeneic HSCT recipients and 17 (13%) of 134 autologous HSCT recipients. At 30 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19, overall survival was 68% (95% CI 58–77) for recipients of allogeneic HSCT and 67% (55–78) for recipients of autologous HSCT. Age 50 years or older (hazard ratio 2·53, 95% CI 1·16–5·52; p=0·020); male sex (3·53; 1·44–8·67; p=0·006), and development of COVID-19 within 12 months of transplantation (2·67, 1·33–5·36; p=0·005) were associated with a higher risk of mortality among allogeneic HSCT recipients, and a disease indication of lymphoma was associated with a higher risk of mortality compared with plasma cell disorder or myeloma (2·41, [1·08–5·38]; p=0·033) in autologous HSCT recipients.InterpretationRecipients of autologous and allogeneic HSCT who develop COVID-19 have poor overall survival. These data emphasise the need for stringent surveillance and aggressive treatment measures in HSCT recipients who develop COVID-19.FundingAmerican Society of Hematology; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; National Cancer Institute; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Institutes of Health; National Cancer Institute; Health Resources and Services Administration; Office of Naval Research.

A rationale to prioritise vaccination of HSCT patients against COVID-19

A rationale to prioritise vaccination of HSCT patients against COVID-19

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children with acute fulminant myocarditis.

Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) occurs as an inflammatory response to an initial myocardial insult. Its rapid and deadly progression calls for prompt diagnosis with aggressive treatment measures. The demonstration of its excellent recovery potential has led to increasing use of mechanical circulatory support, especially extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Arrhythmias, organ failure, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and decreased ventricular function at presentation predict requirement for ECMO. In these patients, ECMO should be considered earlier as the clinical course of AFM can be unpredictable and can lead to rapid haemodynamic collapse. Key uncertainties that clinicians face when managing children with AFM such as timing of initiation of ECMO and left ventricular decompression need further investigation.

Caring for older adults with multiple myeloma during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspective from the International Forum for Optimizing Care of Older Adults with Myeloma

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) was first identified in the province of Wuhan, China in December 2019 [1], following the emergence of new cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology. Since then, the manifestations of COVID-19 infections have ranged from asymptomatic to severe respiratory infections, with increased morbidity in older adults including those with co-morbidities and cancer [2,3]. Presently, global mortality is reported at 4.7%, but this varies widely by location, from 0.7% in Germany to 10.8% in Italy [4]. As of April 13, 2020, the number of infections continues to rise well beyond the 1.9 million cases, and approximately 120,000 COVID-19-related deaths that have already occurred globally [5]. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell dyscrasia which predominantly affects older and often frail adults. Although tremendous gains have been made for older adults with MM, infections, including respiratory infections, significantly impact the rate of early mortality in these patients [6,7]. Furthermore, older adults with MM have age-associated vulnerabilities leading to heterogeneity in outcomes [8]. The complexity of caring for older patients have increased substantially during this pandemic, due to concern about their risk of severe morbidity of COVID19 infection. Optimal strategies for these patients will involve staging the malignancy/aging, while simultaneously considering the local prevalence of COVID-19 infection. Herein, we discuss strategies for the risk reduction of COVID-19 transmission, treatment stratification of anti-myeloma therapy and discussion regarding goals of care for older adults with MM during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Redefining Hemorrhage in Diverticulitis: Complicated Diverticulitis or Exacerbation of Diverticular Bleeding?

Aim: Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a patient presenting with diverticulitis shifts the diagnosis from uncomplicated to complicated diverticulitis leading to more aggressive treatment measures. This study sought to determine the demographic characteristics of patients hospitalized with diverticular bleeding and diverticulitis with a focus on identifying factors that predispose to hemorrhage. We aim to use demographic information to elucidate whether hemorrhage in the setting of diverticulitis is more similar mechanistically to diverticular bleeding or diverticulitis. Materials and Methods: Inpatient data collected by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council was used to analyze 29,479 hospitalizations spanning from 2002 to 2018 at Philadelphia healthcare institutions where the primary diagnosis for admission was diverticulitis or diverticular bleeding. Age, race, and gender were collected for patients hospitalized with diverticular bleeding, diverticulitis, and diverticulitis complications. Demographic data from the 2010 US Census was used for comparison. Results: Diverticulitis (n=20,260) disproportionately affects White individuals (p<0.0001) while diverticular bleeding (n=9,219) disproportionately affects Black individuals (p<0.0001). Of all diverticulitis complications, hemorrhage (n=1,429) had the highest proportion of Black individuals. Patients admitted for diverticular bleeding tend to be older (75.0 ± 12.1) than patients admitted for diverticulitis (60.2 ± 15.9; p<0.00001). Among those with complicated diverticulitis, patients with hemorrhage are the oldest (70.2 ± 14.7). Conclusion: Patients admitted with diverticulitis complicated by hemorrhage were more similar demographically to patients admitted with diverticular bleeding than those admitted with other forms of diverticulitis. Reframing diverticulitis complicated by hemorrhage as uncomplicated diverticulitis with diverticular bleeding could prompt more appropriate treatment with avoidance of potentially unnecessary antibiotics and imaging.

The Predictive Role of Biochemical Plasma Factors in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) represent a high impact public health problem due to a high rate of death , long term disability and occurrence especially in young adults. Despite several promising animal studies, several parameters were proposed as biological markers and were assessed for this aim. Our study proposes the study of the early biochemical changes in association to hematological parameters for severe TBI patients prognosis. 43 patients with acute TBI were included in study based on clinical, laboratory and imagistic findings. The severity of the TBI was established by Glasgow Coma Scale GCS 3-8. In all patients were evaluated hematologic parameters (Red blood cell count - RBC, Hematocrit, blood Hemoglobin, White blood cell - WBC, Platelet count and biochemical parameters (glucose, urea, creatinine, electrolytes). Outcome was expressed as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), between 1-5. Values were compared to control group -15 cases. Significant early differences in body temperature, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were observed in TBI group versus control (p[0.05). After correlation, laboratory findings significantly associated to severe outcome - GOS = 1, 2 - (p[0.05) were plasma Na decrease and significant glucose increase. An early increase of temperature and decrease of Na may predict a severe outcome in patients with acute TBI; association with shifts in heart rate and blood pressure, imposes aggressive treatment measures.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Series.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is an uncommon condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Data on treatment interventions are limited. In this case series, we sought to describe all NMS cases requiring ECT from a large academic institution over a nearly 2-decade period. We retrospectively identified all patients with NMS who were treated with ECT over a 17-year period. Patients were included in the study based on chart review using the International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for NMS. Data were collected related to clinical findings, treatment course, and response to ECT. We identified 15 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Most patients had neurocognitive or schizophrenia spectrum disorders and developed NMS after exposure to multiple antipsychotic drugs. All patients received bitemporal ECT after failed pharmacotherapy for NMS. Electroconvulsive therapy was well tolerated and resulted in a remission rate of 73.3% (n = 11). Patients showed early initial response to ECT (mean of 4.2 treatments), but an average of 17.7 treatments was necessary to minimize recurrence of catatonic signs. One patient died after interruption of the index course of ECT because of severe infection, and another was discharged to hospice care after limited response. These cases highlight the lethality of NMS and its complications despite aggressive treatment measures. Bitemporal ECT was well tolerated and effective in treating NMS refractory to pharmacotherapy. We suggest that ECT be considered early in cases of NMS that are refractory to pharmacological interventions, especially if the underlying condition is also responsive to ECT.

Advance care planning: challenges at the emergency department of a cancer care center

IntroductionCode status discussions form an important part of advance care planning (ACP) as it enables physicians to respect the patient’s wishes for end-of-life care. However, in some cases, code status discussions can be challenging causing the physician to go against the patient’s wishes and the code of medical ethics. This is especially true in an emergency setting. In this paper, we will discuss three cases of advanced cancer patients, where code status discussions posed challenges to healthcare providers.Case reportsIn the first case, the patient was a 26-year-old male diagnosed with advanced osteosarcoma. Code status was discussed with him, while he was still functional, wherein he agreed to a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. However, at the time of end-of-life care, despite of previous code status agreement, the patient’s mother insisted on full code. As a result, the DNR order was reverted and the patient was intubated. The second case discusses an 83-year-old female patient with metastatic gastric cancer. Code status was extensively discussed with the patient and her son who agreed to sign a DNR order. This case posed a challenge because when the patient’s condition deteriorated, her son demanded cardioversion and other aggressive treatment measures without any chest compressions or intubation. In the third case, the patient was a 40-year-old woman with advanced metastatic adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine features of the parotid. On admission to the ED, as per the patient’s wishes expressed by her husband, a DNR/DNI order was placed. However, this order had to be reverted when the patient’s aunt and sister opposed vehemently to the DNR/DNI order.ConclusionThe three cases demonstrate the challenges that can arise in the implementation of code status order in the ED as it pertains for end-of-life care. In any scenario, respecting the patient’s wishes and adherence to the code of medical ethics take precedence over any familial objections arising difficulties with coping.

Designing Effective Interactions for Concordance around End-of-Life Care Decisions: Lessons from Hospice Admission Nurses.

Near the end of life, hospice care reduces symptom-related distress and hospitalizations while improving caregiving outcomes. However, it takes time for a person to gain a sufficient understanding of hospice and decide to enroll. This decision is influenced by knowledge of hospice and its services, emotion and fear, cultural and religious beliefs, and an individual’s acceptance of diagnosis. Hospice admission interactions, a key influence in shaping decisions regarding hospice care, happen particularly late in the illness trajectory and are often complex, unpredictable, and highly variable. One goal of these interactions is ensuring patients and families have accurate and clear information about hospice care to facilitate informed decisions. So inconsistent are practices across hospices in consenting patients that a 2016 report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) entitled “Hospices should improve their election statements and certifications of terminal illness” called for complete and accurate election statements to ensure that hospice patients and their caregivers can make informed decisions and understand the costs and benefits of choosing hospice care. Whether complete and accurate information at initial admission visits improves interactions and outcomes is unknown. Our recent qualitative work investigating interactions between patients, caregivers, and hospice nurses has uncovered diverse and often diverging stakeholder-specific expectations and perceptions which if not addressed can create discordance and inhibit decision-making. This paper focuses on better understanding the communication dynamics and practices involved in hospice admission interactions in order to design more effective interactions and support the mandate from the OIG to provide hospice patients and their caregivers with accurate and complete information. This clarity is particularly important when discussing the non-curative nature of hospice care, and the choice patients make to forego aggressive treatment measures when they enroll in hospice. In a literal sense, to enroll in hospice means to bring in support for end-of-life care. It means to identify the need for expertise around symptom management at end-of-life, and agree to having a care team come and manage someone’s physical, psychosocial, and/or spiritual needs. As with all care, hospice can be stopped if it is no longer considered appropriate. To uncover the communication tensions undergirding a hospice admission interaction, we use Street’s ecological theory of patient-centered communication to analyze a case exemplar of a hospice admission interaction. This analysis reveals diverse points of struggle within hospice decision-making processes around hospice care and the need for communication techniques that promote trust and acceptance of end-of-life care. Lessons learned from talking about hospice care can inform other quality initiatives around communication and informed decision-making in the context of advance care planning, palliative care, and end-of-life care.

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Medicina Interna

IntroductionMany of the patients admitted to a general medical ward have a compromised quality of life, or short life expectancy, so they are potential candidates for withhold/withdraw (WH/WD) treatment. The first objectif was to describe which measures were WH/WD among patients who died during their admission in a general medical ward from a tertiary hospital in Madrid. Secondly, to define the clinical characteristics of this population. Material and methodsA cross-sectional descriptive study during 6 months from 2011 and 2012 of all the patients dead while their admission in the Internal Medicine Department. Results2007 patients were admitted, 211 died (10.5%). 121 (57%) were female, with 85±9 years of mean age. 103 (48.8%) came from a residential facility and 105 fulfilled terminality criteria (49.8%). One decision to WH/WD treatment was made in 182 patients (86.3%, CI 95%: 81.4-91.1), two in 99 cases (46.9%, CI 95%: 39.9-53.9) and 3 or more in 31 subjects (14.7%, CI 95%: 9.6-19.7). The most frequent decisions involved do-not-resuscitate orders (154, 73.0%), rejection of «aggressive treatment measures» (80, 38.0%), use of antibiotics (19, 9.0%), admission in ICU (18, 8.5%), and/or surgical treatment (11, 5.2%). ConclusionsWH/WD treatment is very frequent among patients who died in a general medical ward. The most frequent involved do-not-resuscitate orders and rejection of «aggressive treatment measures». WH/WD decisions are adopted in an elderly population, with extensive comorbidity and an elevated prevalence of advanced dementia and/or terminal disease.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Associated with Systemic Glucocorticoids in the Treatment of Type 2 Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis

ABSTRACT Objective: We report a patient with type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) treated with high-dose glucocorticoids who subsequently had Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). Methods: Current guidelines recommend high doses of glucocorticoids for restoring euthyroidism in patients with type 2 AIT. In this case study, we discuss a potential life-threatening pitfall of high-dose glucocorticoid use in these patients. Results: A 63-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation previously treated with oral amiodarone was seen for weight loss, tremors, and fatigue. He was biochemically hyperthyroid (suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone, elevated free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine). Oral dexamethasone was started for type 2 AIT, with dramatic improvement over 2 months. He later developed progressive shortness of breath and hypoxic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Infectious workup revealed PJP. Despite aggressive treatment measures, he suffered numero...

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland

PurposeThis is a retrospective analysis of the 50-year University of Florida experience treating adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland with radiation therapy. Materials and methodsBetween 1965 and 2015, 8 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland received radiation therapy with curative intent. Four patients received postoperative radiation therapy and 4 received definitive radiation therapy alone. The median follow-up was 3.3years (range, 0.3 to 11.2years). ResultsAll 4 patients who received postoperative radiation therapy received 74.4Gy. The 4 patients who received radiation therapy alone received a median dose of 72.3Gy (range, 70.0 to 74.4Gy). The overall survival rates at 5 and 10years were 25% and 13%, respectively. The cause-specific survival rates at 5 and 10years were 29% and 14%, respectively. The local control and freedom from metastases rates at 5 and 10years were both 43%. Local recurrences occurred in 50% of patients, and distant metastatic disease occurred in 38% of patients. No patients experienced acute complications of treatment that warranted a treatment break. Two patients experienced bone exposure as late complications of treatment. ConclusionsThe results of this study illustrate the propensity for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland to recur both locally and with distant metastases despite aggressive local treatment measures. This study also demonstrates the relatively poor outcomes for individuals with this type of tumor.

BK virus-induced severe hemorrhagic cystitis in non-transplant oncology patients: A case series

Hemorrhagic cystitis is often a serious condition in cancer patients and can be life threatening despite aggressive treatment measures. The condition may be secondary to infections, radiation or chemotherapy. Oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents, such as cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, are the most frequent causes of chemotherapy-induced HC in cancer patients. Only a few cases of BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in non-transplant cancer patients have been reported worldwide. Here, we report two cases of BK-induced HC in non-transplant oncology patients; one patient died due to multi-system failure of unknown etiology, and the other patient was treated successfully with low-dose cidofovir.

Predicting functional outcome and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a glimpse into the crystal ball?

When encountering a patient with ischemic stroke, a stroke physician needs to make an outcome prediction for several reasons. First, a prediction may help patients and families have more realistic expectations about the patient’s future and plan their long-term living arrangements.1 Second, outcome prediction may be useful in making treatment decisions: for example, avoidance or de-escalation of aggressive treatment measures in patients who would achieve an excellent outcome regardless of such therapy or in those who would experience a poor and unacceptable outcome despite that treatment. Third, outcome prediction could aid in stroke research to control for case-mix variation in nonrandomized studies and to refine selection criteria in randomized, controlled acute stroke trials. An ideal stroke prognostic score system should include a limited number of readily available and relevant parameters, be easily and quickly applicable in the clinical setting (eg, without the need of complex mathematical formulas or nonconventional time-consuming additional investigations), be accurate with low intra- and inter-rater disagreement, be validated externally in large independent and preferably multiple populations, and be proven reliably useful in guiding treatment decisions. Extensive research has been performed during the recent years on prognostic scores for the prediction of stroke outcome and risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH).2–4 This review summarizes current prognostic scores, discusses the scientific background behind the scores’ main components, acknowledges their strengths and limitations, and highlights the areas which warrant further research. Because of the space limitations, scores which were initially developed for one outcome (eg, functional outcome) and were later validated also for other outcomes (eg, post-thrombolytic sICH) will be discussed only for the initially validated outcome. Furthermore, scores for strictly selected populations and scores for patients treated with endovascular procedures are not included in this review. Several prognostic scores (Table 1; Figure 1 …