Focused ultrasound therapy as a strategy for improving glioma treatment.

The infiltrative and diffuse nature of gliomas makes complete resection unfeasible. Unfortunately, regions of brain parenchyma with residual, infiltrative tumor are protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), making systemic chemotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies of limited efficacy. Low-frequency focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with intravascular microbubbles can be used to disrupt the BBB transiently and selectively within the tumor and peritumoral region.

Exploring Patient-Related Contextual Factors and Personal Reflections About the Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) Intervention for Adults With Advanced Cancer in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Southern Alberta: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The evidence-based Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) psychotherapeutic intervention was designed to address the complex needs of those with advanced cancer. Ample evidence supports the efficacy of CALM therapy; less is known about the patient-specific factors that influence initiation and continuation of CALM sessions.

Aims: To gain understanding of patient-specific factors and referral routes that influence initiation and continuation of CALM.

Psychosocial Correlates of Death Anxiety in Advanced Cancer: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: Individuals living with advanced cancer commonly experience death anxiety, which refers to the distressing thoughts or feelings associated with awareness of one's mortality. Deriving an overview of existing literature on the psychological and social factors linked to death anxiety may inform conceptual models, clinical screening, and intervention strategies in oncology and palliative care. Therefore, the present scoping review was conducted to summarize the current literature on the psychosocial correlates of death anxiety among individuals with advanced cancer.

Deep learning on CT scans to predict checkpoint inhibitor treatment outcomes in advanced melanoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment has proven successful for advanced melanoma, but is associated with potentially severe toxicity and high costs. Accurate biomarkers for response are lacking. The present work is the first to investigate the value of deep learning on CT imaging of metastatic lesions for predicting ICI treatment outcomes in advanced melanoma.

Perspectives of the medical oncologist regarding adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: An international expert survey and case vignette study.

Introduction: Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The decision to initiate chemotherapy involves both patient and physician factors, decision-specific criteria, and contextual considerations. This study aimed to assess medical oncologists' views on adjuvant chemotherapy following pancreatic resection for PDAC.

The composition of commercially available human embryo culture media.

Study Question: What is the composition of currently available commercial human embryo culture media provided by seven suppliers, for each stage of human preimplantation embryo development?

Summary Answer: While common trends existed across brands, distinct differences in composition underlined the absence of a clear standard for human embryo culture medium formulation.

What Is Known Already: The reluctance of manufacturers to fully disclose the composition of their human embryo culture media generates uncertainty regarding the culture conditions that are used for human preimplantation embryo culture. The critical role of the embryo culture environment is well-recognized, with proven effects on IVF success rates and child outcomes, such as birth weight.

Factors affecting the feasibility of post-authorisation RCTs for conditionally authorised anticancer medicines: a multistakeholder perspective from a qualitative focus group study.

Objective: The collection of comprehensive data from post-authorisation trials for conditionally authorised anticancer medicines is frequently delayed. This raises questions about the feasibility of post-authorisation randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that aim to address remaining uncertainties. Therefore, this study explored factors that facilitate or impede the feasibility of post-authorisation RCTs from the perspective of stakeholders directly involved in the design, medical-ethical approval, and conduct of these RCTs.

Successful ACL repair by dynamic intraligamentary stabilisation is non-inferior in functional performance and worse in proprioception compared to healthy controls in a case-matched study.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to assess non-inferiority in functional performance of the knee after dynamic intraligamentary stabilisation (DIS) surgery at a minimal follow-up of 1 year compared to healthy controls, based on limb symmetry index (LSI) of the single leg hop test (SLH). Additionally, functional performance based on the single leg triple hop test (SLTH) and side hop test (SH), proprioception and subjective outcome were evaluated.

Methods: A total of 45 DIS patients were 1-to-1 matched to a healthy control.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in patients with malignant glioma-From neuroimmunology to clinical trial design considerations.

Clinical trials evaluating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in patients with malignant gliomas have shown some early promise in pediatric and adult patients. However, the long-term benefits and safety for patients remain to be established. The ultimate success of CAR T-cell therapy for malignant glioma will require the integration of an in-depth understanding of the immunology of the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma with strategies to overcome the paucity and heterogeneous expression of glioma-specific antigens.

Adjuvant immunotherapy in older patients with stage III and resected stage IV melanoma: Toxicity and recurrence-free survival outcomes from the Dutch melanoma treatment registry.

Background: Adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy improves relapse free survival in stage III melanoma, but also leads to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Older patients are of particular interest due to comorbidities and frailty, which may impact their ability to tolerate irAEs and benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy. This study aimed to explore associations between clinical parameters and the occurrence of grade ≥ 3 irAEs and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in older patients with radically resected stage III/IV cutaneous melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy.

Prescription and switching patterns of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The patterns of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) selection and switching to a different oral anticoagulant (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are unknown.

Objectives: To describe temporal patterns in first DOAC prescriptions, estimate the incidence, and identify predictors of switching to a different OAC within 1 year in OAC-naive AF patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, using a near-nationwide prescription registry (IQVIA, the Netherlands), we determined the number of patients per month initiated on each DOAC and identified predictors of switching within 1 year with robust Poisson regression.

Updates for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma: a review of recent clinical trials.

Purpose Of Review: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and devastating primary malignant brain tumor. We summarize recent advances in radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy approaches for the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. We also introduce ongoing clinical trials.