Pharmaceutical and biotech industry perspectives on optimizing patient experience and treatment adherence through subcutaneous drug delivery design.

Subcutaneous (SC) drug delivery can be a safe, effective alternative to the traditional intravenous route of administration, potentially offering notable advantages for both patients and healthcare providers. The SC Drug Development & Delivery Consortium convened in 2018 to raise awareness of industry challenges to advance the development of patient-centric SC drug delivery strategies. The SC Consortium identified better understanding of patient preferences and perspectives as necessary to optimize SC product design attributes and help guide design decisions during SC product development.

Impacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem.

Uncontrolled fires place considerable burdens on forest ecosystems, compromising our ability to meet conservation and restoration goals. A poor understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystems and their biodiversity exacerbates this challenge, particularly in tropical regions where few studies have applied consistent analytical techniques to examine a broad range of ecological impacts over multiyear time frames. We compiled 16 y of data on ecosystem properties (17 variables) and biodiversity (21 variables) from a tropical peatland in Indonesia to assess fire impacts and infer the potential for recovery.

Survival-Larval Density Relationships in the Field and Their Implications for Control of Container-Dwelling Mosquitoes.

Population density can affect survival, growth, development time, and adult size and fecundity, which are collectively known as density-dependent effects. Container larvae often attain high densities in nature, and those densities may be reduced when larval control is applied. We tested the hypothesis that density-dependent effects on survival are common and strong in nature and could result in maximal adult production at intermediate densities for , , and .

Racial and Ethnic Disparities among Participants in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Clinical Studies Evaluating Transarterial Therapies.

Purpose: To evaluate the racial and ethnic representation of transarterial therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical trials in the United States.

Materials And Methods: The ClinicalTrials.gov database was examined to identify all completed studies with transarterial therapies for the management of HCC in the United States and extract information about the observed number of participants for each racial and ethnic group (based on the Office of Management and Budget definitions).

Association Between Gut Hormones and Weight Change After Bariatric Arterial Embolization: Results from the BEAT Obesity Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate associations of ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and peptide YY 3-36 (PYY3-36) with weight change after bariatric arterial embolization (BAE).

Materials And Methods: Subgroup analysis of data collected during the BEAT Obesity Trial involving 7 participants with BMI > 40 who were embolized with 300- to 500-μm Embosphere Microspheres. Three participants were characterized as "responders" (top tertile of weight loss at each visit) and 4 as "non-responders" (bottom tertile of weight loss at each visit).

Angiographic Revascularization after Bariatric Embolization in a Swine Model.

This study evaluated fundal arteriole angiographic revascularization after embolization with embolic microspheres of 3 different diameters in a swine model (16 swine, 31 arterioles). In the 50-μm group, 7 of 11 (64%) arterioles recanalized completely, 3 of 11 (27%) arterioles recanalized partially, and 1 of 11 (9%) arterioles had collateralization (no recanalization). In the 100- to 300-μm group, 7 of 10 (70%) arterioles recanalized completely and 3 of 10 (30%) arterioles) recanalized partially.

Compassionate Use of REGEN-COV® in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Immunodeficiency-Associated Antibody Disorders.

Background: Patients with immunodeficiency-associated antibody disorders are at a higher risk of prolonged/persistent COVID-19 infection, having no viable treatment options.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with primary and/or secondary immunodeficiency-associated antibody disorders who received casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV®) under emergency compassionate use. Objective were to describe safety and response to REGEN-COV, focusing on the subset of patients who had COVID-19 duration ≥21 days before treatment.

Does Intraprocedural CT Improve the Success Rate of Adrenal Venous Sampling? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Data from 809 Patients.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the technical success rate of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) with and without intraprocedural computed tomography (CT).

Methods: A systematic search of the Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for comparative studies using intraprocedural CT was undertaken. More than 1,000 records were screened using titles and abstracts.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Arterial Aneurysms in Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: 17-Year Retrospective Series of 418 Patients.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of and identify characteristics associated with the presence of aneurysms in a cohort of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Materials And Methods: In the study institution's HHT database, 418 patients with a definite HHT diagnosis were identified based on the clinical Curaçao criteria and/or an HHT-associated genetic mutation. Regression modeling was used to evaluate the association between arterial aneurysms and older age, male sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, genetic mutations, the presence of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) unrelated to the aneurysms, and HHT-related genetic mutations.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Percutaneous Biliary Interventions in the United States.

Objective: To explore baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical diagnoses in the prediction of outcomes for inpatient percutaneous biliary interventions in the United States.

Methods: Hospitalizations for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and percutaneous biliary drainage were studied using the National Inpatient Sample 2012 to 2015. Associations between baseline characteristics, comorbidities, clinical diagnoses, and outcomes were analyzed using multivariable regression modeling.

Bowel Penetration by Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Feasibility and Safety of Percutaneous Retrieval.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and technical feasibility of inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) removal when filter elements penetrate adjacent bowel. A multicenter retrospective review of IVCF retrievals between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Adult patients with either CT or endoscopic evidence of filter elements penetrating bowel before retrieval were included.

Bariatric Embolization of Arteries for the Treatment of Obesity (BEAT Obesity) Trial: Results at 1 Year.

Background Bariatric embolization is a new endovascular procedure to treat patients with obesity. However, the safety and efficacy of bariatric embolization are unknown. Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bariatric embolization in severely obese adults at up to 12 months after the procedure.

Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Why, Who, and for How Long?

Vena cava filters are implantable devices that are placed to trap thrombus originating in the lower extremities and prevent it from migrating to the lungs. In general, inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are indicated for patients who cannot receive anticoagulation. Other indications for IVC filtration are less clear, and guidelines vary.

Vena Cava Filter Retrieval with Aorto-Iliac Arterial Strut Penetration.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and technical success of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval in the setting of aorto-iliac arterial strut penetration.

Materials And Methods: IVC filter registries from six large United States IVC filter retrieval practices were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent IVC filter retrieval in the setting of filter strut penetration into the adjacent aorta or iliac artery. Patient demographics, implant duration, indication for placement, IVC filter type, retrieval technique and technical success, adverse events, and post procedural clinical outcomes were identified.

Preoperative Epoxy Embolization Facilitates the Safe and Effective Resection of Venous Malformations in the Hand and Forearm.

Background: The standard of care for treatment of low-flow venous malformations (VMs) is percutaneous sclerotherapy. These lesions are seldom surgically resected, especially if the malformation is in an anatomically difficult location. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is safe and effective.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality with mortality rates as high as 14%. This document addresses the indications for imaging UGIB that is nonvariceal and unrelated to portal hypertension. The four variants are derived with respect to upper endoscopy.

Clinical Safety of Bariatric Arterial Embolization: Preliminary Results of the BEAT Obesity Trial.

Purpose To conduct a pilot prospective clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term efficacy of bariatric embolization, a recently developed endovascular procedure for the treatment of obesity, in patients with severe obesity. Materials and Methods This is an institutional review board- and U.S.

Percutaneous Retrieval of Permanent Inferior Vena Cava Filters.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, risks, and techniques of percutaneous removal of permanent TrapEase and Simon Nitinol IVC filters.

Materials And Methods: Between August 2011 and August 2015, 12 patients (5 women, 7 men; age range, 26-75 years) underwent an attempt at percutaneous removal of permanent TrapEase (10) and Simon Nitinol (2) IVC filters due to a history of IVC filter complications or need for lifelong anticoagulation due to the filter. Medical records were reviewed for filter dwell time, presence of iliocaval deep venous thrombosis, procedural technique, and complications.

Diagnosis and management of hemorrhagic complications of interventional radiology procedures.

Image-guided interventions have allowed for minimally invasive treatment of many common diseases, obviating the need for open surgery. While percutaneous interventions usually represent a safer approach than traditional surgical alternatives, complications do arise nonetheless. Inadvertent injury to blood vessels represents one of the most common types of complications, and its affect can range from inconsequential to catastrophic.

Diagnosis and management of iliac vein thrombosis in pregnancy resulting from May-Thurner Syndrome.

One of the least recognized risks for the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is iliac vein compression or the May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), in which most often, the right common iliac artery compresses the subjacent left common iliac vein. We present three patients with MTS complicated by massive left lower extremity DVT managed with percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy during pregnancy. Although often not considered in obstetrics, percutaneous therapies to resolve extensive thrombosis should be considered in pregnant women, as they have the potential to improve symptoms and mitigate the risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome.

Transient induction of ING4 by Myc drives prostate epithelial cell differentiation and its disruption drives prostate tumorigenesis.

The mechanisms by which Myc overexpression or Pten loss promotes prostate cancer development are poorly understood. We identified the chromatin remodeling protein, ING4, as a crucial switch downstream of Myc and Pten that is required for human prostate epithelial differentiation. Myc-induced transient expression of ING4 is required for the differentiation of basal epithelial cells into luminal cells, while sustained ING4 expression induces apoptosis.

Multidetector CT of blunt traumatic venous injuries in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

Venous injuries as a result of blunt trauma are rare. Even though current protocols for multidetector computed tomography (CT) of patients with trauma are designed to evaluate primarily the solid organs and arteries, blunt venous injuries may nevertheless be identified, or at least suspected, on the basis of the multidetector CT findings. Venous injuries are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.