Selected Group Of Patients Research Articles

Outcomes for non-operatively managed fracture neck of femur patients: A single-institution study

BackgroundThe majority of neck of femur (NOF) fractures are treated operatively in the United Kingdom. The literature reports the advantages of operative management for these patients. However, whilst a subset is treated non-operatively, there is currently no clear guidance for the selection and subsequent management of these patients. This study aims to explore the incidence, demographics, inpatient stay, use of imaging and outcomes of patients who have non-operatively managed NOF fractures. MethodsA 6-year retrospective review (2013–2019) of all non-operatively managed NOF fractures at a tertiary teaching hospital and major trauma centre was conducted. Electronic patient records, radiographs and National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) data were used to obtain information. We noted demographic details, fracture classification, rationale for non-operative management, mortality, clinical frailty score (CFS), use of imaging and analgesia requirements. Patients who were repatriated or transferred to other sites for specialist surgery were excluded. Results3.2% (99/3132) of NOF fractures were managed non-operatively. The two commonest reasons for non-operative management were either ‘comfortable mobilisation’ (n = 44) or ‘patient frailty/medically unwell’ (n = 50). 74% (37/50) of the patients in whom operative risk was thought to outweigh benefit died within the 30 days of admission and 1-year mortality for this group was 92% (46/50).Of the “comfortable mobilisation” subgroup only 18% (8/44) of this patient subgroup subsequently required surgical intervention for failed non-operative management. The 30-day mortality for this cohort was 6.8% with a 1-year mortality rate of 25% (11/44). ConclusionFor a select group of patients whose fractures are stable enough to allow them to mobilise comfortably, non-operative management resulted in a 25% 1-year mortality rate and average length of stay of 10.1 days. This is comparable to statistics for overall NOF fracture management in the literature according to the NHFD January 2021 report. 82% of this group of patients were successfully managed without an operation indicating that there is a place for the consideration of non-operative management in a small select subgroup of hip fracture patients with minimally displaced, stable fractures. Further analysis is necessary to assess the functional outcomes of this subgroup, as well as the potential cost implications.

Features of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in diabetic patients with resistant hypertension

BACKGROUND: It is expected that a steady increase in the incidence of diabetes and resistant hypertension (RHTN), along with an increase in life expectancy, will lead to a noticeable increase in the proportion of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). At the same time, data on the frequency of HFpEF in a selective group of patients with RHTN in combination with diabetes are still lacking, and the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of its formation have not been yet studied sufficiently.AIM: To assess the features of the development HFpEF in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with RHTN, as well as to determine the factors associated with HFpEF.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study were included 36 patients with RHTN and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (mean age 61.4 ± 6.4 years, 14 men) and 33 patients with RHTN without diabetes, matched by sex, age and level of systolic blood pressure (BP). All patients underwent baseline office and 24-hour BP measurement, echocardiography with assess diastolic function, lab tests (basal glycemia, HbA1c, creatinine, aldosterone, TNF-alpha, hsCRP, brain naturetic peptide, metalloproteinases of types 2, 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of MMP type 1 (TIMP-1)). HFpEF was diagnosed according to the 2019 AHA/ESC guidelines.RESULTS: The frequency of HFpEF was significantly higher in patients with RHTN with DM than those without DM (89% and 70%, respectively, p=0.045). This difference was due to a higher frequency of such major functional criterion of HFpEF as E/e’≥15 (p=0.042), as well as a tendency towards a higher frequency of an increase in left atrial volumes (p=0.081) and an increase in BNP (p=0.110). Despite the comparable frequency of diastolic dysfunction in patients with and without diabetes (100% and 97%, respectively), disturbance of the transmitral blood flow in patients with DM were more pronounced than in those without diabetes. Deterioration of transmitral blood flow and pseudo-normalization of diastolic function in diabetic patients with RHTN have relationship not only with signs of carbohydrate metabolism disturbance, but also with level of pulse blood pressure, TNF-alfa, TIMP-1 and TIMP-1 / MMP-2 ratio, which, along with the incidence of atherosclerosis, were higher in patients with DM than in those without diabetes.CONCLUSIONS: Thus, HFpEF occurs in the majority of diabetic patients with RHTN. The frequency of HFpEF in patients with DN is significantly higher than in patients without it, which is associated with more pronounced impairments of diastolic function. The progressive development of diastolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus is associated not only with metabolic disorders, but also with increased activity of chronic subclinical inflammation, profibrotic state and high severity of vascular changes.

Internal lumbar disc derangement with instability catch from monosegmental discopathy. The forgotten mechanical and kinetic surgical back pain syndrome

Study designThis is a retrospective cohort experience reported with concurrent survey PROM outcomes. ObjectiveTo describe the results of open PLIF reconstruction for a select group of mechanical back pain patients who have mono- or bi-segmental discopathy on MRI imaging, a clinical history of repeated severe and disabling acute mechanical back pain symptoms, and the irregular lumbar motion pattern in returning erect from the flexed position known as the “instability catch”. Summary of background dataThe literature of fusion surgery for back pain relief in “mechanical” back pain reveals inconsistent results and in the majority presents only a vague description of these syndromes. Internal Lumbar Disc Degeneration with Instability catch “ILDDIC” may be one subset of these patients who are uniquely benefitted from spine stabilization. MethodsThe senior author (DAB) in midsummer 2015 began to offer smaller fusion procedures to selected patients on an overnight-stay basis using a standard perioperative care protocol. For practice audit, in December 2020 a mailed survey questionnaire requesting VAS pain scores and SF-36 physical function scores was sent out to all 111 patients who had been treated this way, which group included 30 cases of ILDDIC. We report here on the success of open PLIF reconstruction in achieving back pain relief for these patients. ResultsSome 24 of 30 patients returned the mailed survey questionnaire, and the remaining six could not be reached. All 24 responders reported significant relief of back pain and improved physical function, at a mean of 30 months from surgery. Review of the available clinical records (LFU < 1 year) from the six nonresponders also recorded positive early benefit. ConclusionThe diagnosis of ILDDIC requires both imaging and clinical correlates and may define a subgroup of the mechanical back pain population uniquely suited to achieve pain relief through lumbar fusion.

RADT-19. CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF RADIATION THERAPY FOR BRAIN STEM GLIOMA

Abstract PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES Brain stem gliomas are up to 20% of all brain tumor in children and unusual in adults. Radiotherapy is mainstay of treatment. Surgery for brain stem glioma is difficult because of anatomical location. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy in brain stem glioma. METHODS Retrospective analysis of brain stem glioma patients treated with radiation therapy (54Gy/30 fractions of IMRT/ 3D CRT) with or without surgery or chemotherapy or other agents. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (median age 11.8 years) were treated between 2016 and 2020. Male to female ratio was 2:3. Surgical approach (biopsy and partial removal) was done in 16 patients. Histology revealed that anaplastic ependymoma in 2 patients, low grade astrocytoma in 2 patients, anaplastic astrocytoma in 8 patients, glioblastoma in 4 patients and remaining 8 patients had no histologic diagnosis. Radiotherapy (dose- 54Gy/ 30 fractions) was given with the technique of IMRT or 3D CRT. At the time of follow up, 8 patients had local recurrence, 10 patients died of due to disease and recurrence, 14 patients were alive. Among alive patients, 2 patients were treated with chemotherapy and 12 patients with temozolomide for 12 cycles. Patients who received temozolomide got improvement in performance status and reduced clinical symptoms; among them, 6 patients had more than 50% objective tumor response in radiological findings for follow-up 3-6 months after radiotherapy. The 2-years overall survival (OS) rate was 58.3% and 2-years Event-free Survival (EFS) rate was 50%. The median survival time was 14 months. There is no grade 3 or greater acute and late toxicities. CONCLUSION As the LMIC country with limited resources, our results of radiotherapy followed by temozolomide in brain stem glioma have optimal outcomes. However, prospective studies of this select group of patients with larger number and longer follow up is required.

Topical antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical wound infections in clean and clean-contaminated surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundTopical antibiotics are widely prescribed as prophylaxis for surgical site infection (SSI). Despite giving high drug concentrations at local wound sites, their efficacy remains controversial. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to compare the efficacy and safety of topical antibiotics with non-antibiotic agents in preventing SSI.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing topical antibiotics in patients with clean and clean-contaminated postsurgical wounds were included. Relevant trials published before 30 September 2020, were searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, without language restrictions. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSIs, presented as the event rate. The secondary outcome was the incidence of contact dermatitis (safety outcome). Data were synthesized using the random-effects model, with the results expressed as risk ratio (RR) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.).ResultsThirteen RCTs were included. The incidence of SSIs and contact dermatitis showed no significant difference between topical antibiotics and non-antibiotic agents (RR 0.89, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.32 (P = 0.56, I2 = 48 per cent); and RR 2.79, 95 per cent c.i. 0.51 to 15.19 (P = 0.24, I2 = 0 per cent), respectively). In the subgroup analyses, a reduction in SSIs was also not observed in dermatological (RR 0.77, 95 per cent c.i. 0.39 to 1.55; P = 0.46, I2 = 65 per cent), ocular (RR 0.08, 95 per cent c.i. 0.00 to 1.52; P = 0.09), spinal (RR 1.34, 95 per cent c.i. 0.65 to 2.77; P = 0.43, I2 = 0 per cent), orthopaedic (RR 0.69, 95 per cent c.i. 0.37 to 1.29; P = 0.25, I2 = 0 per cent), or cardiothoracic surgeries (RR 1.60, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 3.25; P = 0.19).ConclusionGiven the current evidence, the routine application of topical antibiotics to surgical wounds did not reduce the incidence of SSI. Further trials are needed to assess their effectiveness in high-risk surgeries or in selected patient groups.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in 2021: An Exhaustive Update.

Primary liver cancer is a challenging global health concern with an estimated more than a million persons to be affected annually by the year 2025. The commonest type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has been increasing in incidence the world over, mostly due to chronic viral hepatitis B infection. In the last decade, paradigm changes in the etiology, understanding of molecular biology, and pathogenesis, including the role of gut microbiota; medical and surgical treatments, and outcome trends are notable. The application of omics-based technology has helped us unlock the molecular and immune landscape of HCC, through which novel targets for drug treatment such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors have been identified. Novel tools for the surveillance and diagnosis of HCC include protein-, genomics-, and composite algorithm-based clinical/biomarker panels. Magnetic resonance imaging-based novel techniques have improved HCC diagnosis through ancillary features that enhance classical criteria while positron emission tomography has shown value in prognostication. Identification of the role of gut microbiota in the causation and progression of HCC has opened areas for novel therapeutic research. A select group of patients still benefit from modified surgical and early interventional radiology treatments. Improvements in radiotherapy protocols, identification of parameters of futility among radiological interventions, and the emergence of novel first-line systemic therapies that include a combination of antiangiogenic and immune-checkpoint inhibitors have seen a paradigm change in progression-free and overall survival. The current review is aimed at providing exhaustive updates on the etiology, molecular biology, biomarker diagnosis, imaging, and recommended treatment options in patients with HCC.

The Evolution of Children's Oncology Group Hodgkin Lymphoma Trials: Predicted Impact on Late Cardiac Toxicity

Introduction: Sequential Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) trials of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) have tested treatment strategies intended to reduce late toxicity while maintaining high rates of cure. However, the long latency of the relevant late effects makes it impossible to observe in a timely way the degree to which modifications to protocol-directed treatment will achieve this goal. The purpose of this study was to estimate late cardiac disease risk associated with sequential COG trial protocols using established risk models.Methods: We estimated the late severe or fatal cardiac toxicity associated with three consecutive completed COG trials enrolling intermediate- and high-risk classical HL patients: AHOD0031 (2002-2009), AHOD0831 (2009-2012), and AHOD1331 (2015-2019). Patients were less than 22 years old at the time of trial enrollment. In addition, we applied the model to the ongoing S1826 trial protocol for patients ≥12 to <22 years of age. Eligible disease stages were IB, IAE, IIB, IIAE, IIIA, IVA with or without bulk disease and IA or IIA with bulk disease for AHOD0031; IIIB and IVB for AHOD0831; IIB with bulk, IIB, IVA and IVB for AHOD1331; and III and IV for S1826. When radiotherapy (RT) was indicated, prescribed RT was 21Gy involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) in AHOD0031, 21Gy IFRT in AHOD0831, 21-30Gy involved-site radiotherapy (ISRT) in AHOD1331, and 30-36Gy ISRT in S1826. Cardiac toxicity included coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular disease, pericardial disease and arrhythmias. Statistical models quantifying the association between age, sex, doxorubicin dose, alkylating agent exposure and cardiac radiation dose and late cardiac risk were derived from HL survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) (Bates 2019 J Clin Oncol 1;37(13):1090-1101 & Shrestha 2021 Radiother Oncol, in press). These demographic and dose-risk relationships were then applied to the delivered COG trial protocol exposures to predict the 30-year cumulative incidence (CI) of cardiac disease for trial patients. To estimate the average cardiac risk, we accounted for the chance of receiving mediastinal RT, mean cardiac radiation dose among those receiving mediastinal RT, and cumulative doxorubicin dose, according to respective trial data.Results: Based on the median age of enrolled patients, results are reported for modeled age 15 years at treatment. The cumulative planned doxorubicin dose was 200mg/m 2 on AHOD0031 and AHOD0831, and increased to 250mg/m 2 on AHOD1331 to improve progression-free survival compared to the prior trials for select groups of higher risk patients. Doxorubicin dose was 300mg/m 2 on S1826 to limit RT use to selected patients with persistent disease on positron emission tomography (PET) at the end of systemic therapy. Mediastinal RT was given to 62% of patients on AHOD0031 (mean heart dose 13.2Gy), 58% on AHOD0831 (mean heart dose 13.6Gy), and 53% on AHOD1331 (mean heart dose 10Gy). For S1826, we assumed a 5% rate of mediastinal RT use, mean heart dose of 10Gy, and no long term cardiac risk associated with nivolumab or brentuximab. For the average 15-year old patient, the predicted 30-year cumulative incidence of any cardiac disease was 8.8% in AHOD0031, 8.7% in AHOD0831, and 8.5% in AHOD1331 (Figure 1). Despite the increase in doxorubicin dose, the anticipated reduction in the utilization of mediastinal RT in S1826 is predicted to reduce the 30-year risk of cardiac disease to 7.8%. The predicted 30-year cumulative incidence of any cardiac disease, for the average 12-, 15-, and 18-year old males and females are shown in Table 1.Conclusions: From 2002 - 2019, reductions in the proportion of patients receiving mediastinal RT and smaller target volumes with ISRT produce lower cardiac radiation dose, which is predicted to offset increase in doxorubicin dose and produce a small reduction in late cardiac disease. Limiting RT use based on end of chemotherapy PET on S1826 is predicted to further reduce late cardiac disease among children with HL risk despite higher doxorubicin dose in this protocol. Increasing use of dexrazoxane may further mitigate risk for cardiac toxicity in more contemporary cohorts. Clarification of the impact of nivolumab, brentuximab and relapse therapy would allow for a more complete prediction of cardiac disease risk. [Display omitted] DisclosuresHerrera: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Research Funding; Tubulis: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seagen: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy. Friedberg: Acerta: Other: DSMC ; Bayer: Other: DSMC ; Novartis: Other: DSMC .

Clinical and Immunological Effects of p53-Targeting Vaccines.

Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, is one of the most promising approaches to treat cancer. Vaccines have been effective in preventing cancers like liver cancer and cervical cancer with a viral etiology. Instead of preventing disease, therapeutic cancer vaccines mobilize the immune system to attack existing cancer. p53 is dysregulated in the majority of human cancers and is a highly promising target for cancer vaccines. Over twenty clinical trials have targeted p53 in malignant diseases using vaccines. In this work, we review the progress of vaccinations with p53 or its peptides as the antigens and summarize the clinical and immunological effects of p53-targeting vaccines from clinical trials. The delivery platforms include p53 peptides, viral vectors, and dendritic cells pulsed with short peptides or transduced by p53-encoding viruses. These studies shed light on the feasibility, safety, and clinical benefit of p53 vaccination in select groups of patients, implicating that p53-targeting vaccines warrant further investigations in experimental animals and human studies.

Femoral Head and Liner Exchange in Patients with Atraumatic Dislocation. Results of a Retrospective Study with 6 Years Follow-Up.

Background and Objectives: Femoral head and liner exchange is an established treatment for polyethylene wear but has had a more limited role in the treatment of other conditions including dislocation, because of concerns about an increased postoperative dislocation rate. Some authors have considered dislocation associated with polyethylene wear to be a contraindication for this procedure. Materials and Methods: Our retrospective review evaluated the outcome of head and liner exchange in a small consecutively operated heterogeneous cohort of 20 patients who presented with dislocation unrelated to trauma, component malposition or component loosening. Of this group, 12 had prior primary total hip arthroplasty, and 8 had prior revision total hip arthroplasty, and included 4 patients with prior revision for dislocation. Mean follow-up was 6 ± 3.5 years (range 1–145 months). Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed a revision-free implant survival from any cause of 80% (confidence interval 95%:64.3–99.6%) at 5 years after head and liner exchange (index surgery). At final follow-up, 83.3% of patients (n = 10) with prior primary total hip arthroplasty and 62.5% of patients (n = 5) with prior revision total hip arthroplasty, had not required subsequent revision for any cause. None (0%) of the primary total hip arthroplasty group and 3 (38%) of the revision arthroplasty group had required revision for further dislocation. Of the eight revision arthroplasty patients, four had a prior revision for dislocation and three of these four patients required further revision for dislocation after index surgery. The fourth patient had no dislocation after index surgery. One additional patient who had prior revision surgery for femoral component fracture suffered dislocation after index surgery, but was successfully treated with closed reduction. Conclusions: In our study population, femoral head and liner exchange was an effective treatment option for patients with prior primary total hip arthroplasty and also for a highly select group of revision total arthroplasty patients with no prior history of dislocation. Femoral head and liner exchange does not appear to be a viable treatment option for patients who have had revision total arthroplasty after prior dislocations.

An Update on Narrowband Ultraviolet B Therapy for the Treatment of Skin Diseases.

The objective of this review is to provide an update on narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) as a treatment for various skin conditions. NB-UVB works by suppressing the cutaneous cell-mediated immune response and has been shown to be an efficacious and clinically tolerable treatment for a range of inflammatory dermatoses. A literature search was conducted by advanced searches of PubMed for NB-UVB treatment of dermatologic skin diseases with a focus on reports from 2010 to 2021, including both office-based and home-based phototherapy (HBPT). Data were prioritized based on studies with a high level of evidence using the Oxford Evidence-Based Medicine guidance.We found that NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective form of therapy for several cutaneous conditions, including vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, and other inflammatory dermatoses. The recent introduction of Janus kinase inhibitors in combination with NB-UVB suggests future promise in the treatment of vitiligo. Despite its rise in popularity, a decline was seen in office-based NB-UVB treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Options are available to deliver NB-UVB at home with comparable efficacy to office-based treatments. In conclusion, for a select group of patients and conditions, NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective treatment modality with minimal side effects, with HBPT serving as an option to improve patient compliance.

Role of Pelvic Radiation in Management of Non-Metastatic Pathological Node-Positive Prostate Cancer: A Single Institution Experience

Pathological T2-4 N1 M0 prostate cancer (Pca) has a heterogeneous natural history. So far, only one randomized control trial has established the current standard of care of immediate androgen deprivation (ADT) after prostatectomy and lymph node dissection. The role of pelvic radiation (RT) for this cohort of patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to perform a retrospective review of our institutional experience to provide much-needed information that may improve the outcome of these very high-risk patients.We identified patients with pT2-4 N1 M0 disease treated in our institution from 2006 to 2016. We reviewed ADT and RT records in addition to patient and disease characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analyses were utilized to evaluate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS, defined as either biochemical or clinical evidence of disease recurrence).We identified a total of 94 patients with pT2-4N1M0 Pca with patient demographic and disease characteristics shown in the table. A total of 72 patients had postoperative RT with a median follow-up of 85.9 months (range 15 to 175 months). Among patients receiving RT, 54/72 (75%) received ADT concurrently (median duration of 24 months, range 4 -36 months). The median time from prostatectomy to RT initiation was 6 months (range 3-90 months). RT of 7 patients was initiated after PSA progression. For patients without RT, 15/22 (68%) received ADT (median duration of 24 months, range 3 to 96 months); the median follow-up was 91 months (range 9 to 164 months). The estimated 5-year OS for patients with RT and without RT were 100% and 85.7%, respectively (P = 0.04). The estimated 5-year PFS for patients with RT and without RT were 80.9% and 62.8%, respectively (P = 0.19). Among patients who received ADT, the estimated 5-year PFS was 82.3% with RT and 63.8% without RT, respectively (P = 0.26).For a select group of patients with pT2-4N1M0 Pca, postoperative pelvic RT in combination with ADT appeared to have prolonged OS. Further investigation to stratify this group of patients, and ultimately prospective clinical trials to establish the effectiveness of combined pelvic RT and systemic treatment is needed for this cohort of high-risk patients.

Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels as Determinants of Arterial Stiffening in Hypertension.

Previous studies have shown that plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) plays an important role in the development of hypertensive organ damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of Lp(a) with markers of arterial stiffening in hypertension. In 138 essential hypertensive patients free of diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular complications, we measured plasma lipids and assessed vascular stiffness through the use of pulse wave analysis and calculation of the brachial augmentation index (AIx), and measured the pulse wave velocity (PWV). Plasma Lp(a) levels were significantly and directly related to both AIx (r = 0.490; p < 0.001) and PWV (r = 0.212; p = 0.013). Multiple regression analysis showed that AIx was independently correlated with age, C-reactive protein, and plasma Lp(a) (beta 0.326; p < 0.001), while PWV was independently and directly correlated with age, and inversely with HDL, but not with plasma Lp(a). Logistic regression indicated that plasma Lp(a) could predict an AIx value above the median for the distribution (p = 0.026). Thus, in a highly selective group of patients with hypertension, plasma Lp(a) levels were significantly and directly related to markers of vascular stiffening. Because of the relevance of vascular stiffening to cardiovascular risk, the reduction of Lp(a) levels might be beneficial for cardiovascular protection in patients with hypertension.

HIF-1 mediated activation of antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in type 2 diabetic patients

Infections are common in patients with diabetes, but increasing antibiotic resistance hampers successful bacterial clearance and calls for alternative treatment strategies. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is known to influence the innate immune defense and could therefore serve as a possible target. However, the impact of high glucose on HIF-1 has received little attention and merits closer investigation. Here, we show that higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines and CAMP, encoding for the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin, LL-37, correlate with HIF-1 in type 2 diabetic patients. Chemical activation of HIF-1 further enhanced LL-37, IL-1β, and IL-8 in human uroepithelial cells exposed to high glucose. Moreover, HIF-1 activation of transurethrally infected diabetic mice resulted in lower bacterial load. Drugs activating HIF-1 could therefore in the future potentially have a therapeutic role in clearing bacteria in diabetic patients with infections where antibiotic treatment failed.Key messages• Mohanty et al. “HIF-1 mediated activation of antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in type 2 diabetic patients.”• Our study highlights induction of the antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, and strengthening of the innate immunity through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in diabetes.• Our key observations are:1. HIF-1 activation increased LL-37 expression in human urothelial cells treated with high glucose. In line with that, we demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes living at high altitude had increased levels of the LL-37.2. HIF-1 activation increased IL-1β and IL-8 in human uroepithelial cells treated with high glucose concentration.3. Pharmacological activation of HIF-1 decreased bacterial load in the urinary bladder of mice with hereditary diabetes.• We conclude that enhancing HIF-1 may along with antibiotics in the future contribute to the treatment in selected patient groups where traditional therapy is not possible.

1242 A Surfacing Staghorn: Spontaneous Expulsion of a Large Renal Calculus from A Nephrocutaneous Fistula

Abstract An 83-year-old lady presented to the urology department with right flank pain in the context of a previously known right renal staghorn calculus. On examination, she was found to have a visible discharging sinus in her right flank, and the renal calculus had become visible at the skin surface. Non-contrast CT imaging confirmed that her staghorn calculus had eroded through the skin via a nephrocutaneous fistula. The stone was manually extracted percutaneously on the ward, and she was treated with intravenous antibiotics. She subsequently passed a further stone through the tract and made a good recovery. This is a highly unusual presentation of nephrolithiasis in a developed country in the 21st century. Review of the literature suggests that surgical management is almost always indicated in patients with staghorn calculi. However surgical management options are not without risk and conservative management of staghorn disease may be appropriate in select patient groups: those with multiple co-morbidities at high risk for GA, in cases of patient refusal of surgery, or in patients with aberrant anatomical factors Our case highlights a potential complication of conservatively managed staghorn stone disease. To our knowledge our case is the first of spontaneous expulsion of renal stone of this size to be reported in the developed world.

ANGPTL3 as therapeutic target.

Purpose of reviewElevated LDL-C and triglycerides are important risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although effective therapies for lipid lowering exist, many people do not reach their treatment targets. In the last two decades, ANGPTL3 has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for lowering plasma LDL-C and triglycerides. Here, an overview of the recent literature on ANGPTL3 is provided, focusing on the therapeutic benefits of inactivation of ANGPTL3 via monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, and other more nascent approaches. In addition, the potential mechanisms by which ANGPTL3 inactivation lowers plasma LDL-C are discussed.Recent findingsANGPTL3 is a factor secreted by the liver that inhibits lipoprotein lipase and other lipases via the formation of a complex with the related protein ANGPTL8. Large-scale genetic studies in humans have shown that carriers of loss-of-function variants in ANGPTL3 have lower plasma LDL-C and triglyceride levels, and are at reduced risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Clinical studies in patients with different forms of dyslipidemia have demonstrated that inactivation of ANGPTL3 using monoclonal antibodies or antisense oligonucleotides markedly lowers plasma LDL-C and triglyceride levels.SummaryAnti-ANGPTL3 therapies hold considerable promise for reducing plasma LDL-C and triglycerides in selected patient groups.

Treatment-Free Remission: the New Goal in CML Therapy.

Purpose of ReviewTreatment-free remission (TFR) is considered one of the main goals of therapy in patients with CML. Our goal in this paper is to review the current data on TFR, and discuss future directions.Recent FindingsMultiple studies have demonstrated that attempting a treatment-free remission is safe and effective in a select group of patients. More recent data suggested that undetectable BCR-ABL1 by digital PCR prior to discontinuation is highly predictive of successful TFR. However, some patients have a successful TFR with no evidence of clinical disease despite persistent detectable BCR-ABL1. Some recent studies have shed some more light on possible mechanisms for this phenomena. Some possible mechanisms include immune mechanism, BCR-ABL1 detected in the lymphoid component only, or stem cell exhaustion.SummaryTFR should be discussed with patients with CML. Patients who achieve a sustained deep molecular response may be eligible to attempt TFR, however, setting expectations that overall only 20% of patients with newly diagnosed CML will achieve a successful TFR. The importance of compliance to treatment early on cannot be overemphasized. Further studies using other drugs to get patients to a deeper remission in order to be eligible for TFR attempt, or attempting a second TFR in patients who had disease recurrence after first TFR attempt, are currently underway.

Aortic distensibility in Marfan syndrome: a potential predictor of aortic events?

ObjectivesPatients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are prone to develop aortic aneurysms due to fragmentation of elastic fibres, resulting in reduced distensibility of the aorta. Reduced distensibility was previously shown to...

OA04.02 Diaphragm and Phrenic Nerve Preservation During Lung-Sparing Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: The Impact on Patient Outcomes

Lung-sparing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with a difficult and prolonged recovery due to the extensive nature of the procedure. For a select group of patients, prolonged survival rates have been reported. A clear understanding of which patients will benefit from lung-sparing surgery is currently unknown. Despite having favorable tumor histologies, limited tumor burden and being deemed physically fit for surgery, some patients will still experience increased morbidity and/or mortality.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Nasal Obstruction and Associations with Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Nasal obstruction is a common problem, with significant impact on quality of life. Accurate diagnosis may be challenging because of the complex and dynamic nature of the involved anatomy. Computational fluid dynamics modeling has the ability to identify specific anatomical defects, allowing for a targeted surgical approach. The goal of the current study is to better understand nasal obstruction as it pertains to disease-specific quality of life by way of a novel computational fluid dynamics model of nasal airflow. Fifty-three patients with nasal obstruction underwent computational fluid dynamics modeling based on computed tomographic imaging. Nasal resistance was compared to demographic data and baseline subjective nasal patency based on Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation scores. Mean Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation score among all patients was 72.6. Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation score demonstrated a significant association with nasal resistance in patients with static obstruction (p = 0.03). There was a positive correlation between Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation score and nasal resistance in patients with static bilateral nasal obstruction (R2 = 0.32) and poor correlation in patients with dynamic bilateral obstruction caused by nasal valve collapse (R2 = 0.02). Patients with moderate and severe bilateral symptoms had significantly higher nasal resistance compared to those with unilateral symptoms (p = 0.048). Nasal obstruction is a multifactorial condition in most patients. This study shows correlation between simulated nasal resistance and Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation score in a select group of patients. There is currently no standardized diagnostic algorithm or gold standard objective measure of nasal airflow; however, computational fluid dynamics may better inform treatment planning and surgical techniques on an individual basis. Risk, V.

Combination Immunotherapy Use and Withdrawal in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease-A Review of the Evidence.

Evidence-based guidelines have been developed outlining the concomitant use of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) agents and immunomodulators including azathioprine (AZA) and methotrexate (MTX) in both adult and pediatric populations. However, there exists a paucity of data guiding evidence-based strategies for their withdrawal in pediatric patients in sustained remission. This narrative review focuses on the available pediatric evidence on this question in the context of what is known from the larger body of evidence available from adult studies. The objective is to provide clarity and practical guidance around who, what, when, and how to step down pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from combination immunotherapy. Outcomes following withdrawal of either of the two most commonly used anti-TNF therapies [infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab (ADA)], or immunomodulator therapies, from a combination regimen are examined. Essentially, a judicious approach must be taken to identify a significant minority of patients who would benefit from treatment rationalization. We conclude that step-down to anti-TNF (rather than immunomodulator) monotherapy after at least 6 months of sustained clinical remission is a viable option for a select group of pediatric patients. This group includes those with good indicators of mucosal healing, low or undetectable anti-TNF trough levels, lack of predictors for severe disease, and no prior escalation of anti-TNF therapy. Transmural healing and specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing are some of the emerging targets and tools that may help facilitate improved outcomes in this process. We also propose a simplified evidence-based schema that may assist in this decision-making process. Further pediatric clinical studies are required to develop the evidence base for decision-making in this area.