Carfilzomib or bortezomib in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (ENDEAVOR): an interim overall survival analysis of an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: The phase 3 ENDEAVOR trial was a head-to-head comparison of two proteasome inhibitors in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Progression-free survival was previously reported to be significantly longer with carfilzomib administered in combination with dexamethasone than with bortezomib and dexamethasone in an interim analysis. The aim of this second interim analysis was to compare overall survival between the two treatment groups.

New method to induce mild traumatic brain injury in rodents produces differential outcomes in female and male Sprague Dawley rats.

Background: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are an increasing health concern due to persistent behavioral and neurological effects. To better understand these effects, researchers frequently rely on animal injury models. Existing models, however, may not adequately reproduce the mechanism of injury as it occurs in humans.

Noonan syndrome in diverse populations.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a common genetic syndrome associated with gain of function variants in genes in the Ras/MAPK pathway. The phenotype of NS has been well characterized in populations of European descent with less attention given to other groups. In this study, individuals from diverse populations with NS were evaluated clinically and by facial analysis technology.

Secukinumab improves scalp pain, itching, scaling and quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis.

Introduction: Scalp psoriasis adversely affects patients' lives and is often resistant to treatment; however, it has not been a major focus of a clinical study. This analysis assessed the effect of secukinumab on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) of scalp psoriasis.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study was conducted in 102 adult patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis.

The Histone Methyltransferase MLL1 Directs Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in Wound Healing and Is Altered in a Murine Model of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Macrophages are critical for the initiation and resolution of the inflammatory phase of wound repair. In diabetes, macrophages display a prolonged inflammatory phenotype in late wound healing. Mixed-lineage leukemia-1 (MLL1) has been shown to direct gene expression by regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory gene transcription.

Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in Normal and Diabetic Wound Healing.

The healing of cutaneous wounds is dependent on the progression through distinct, yet overlapping phases of wound healing, including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and resolution/remodeling. The failure of these phases to occur in a timely, progressive fashion promotes pathologic wound healing. The macrophage (MΦ) has been demonstrated to play a critical role in the inflammatory phase of tissue repair, where its dynamic plasticity allows this cell to mediate both tissue-destructive and -reparative functions.

Notch Regulates Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in Diabetic Wound Healing.

Macrophages are essential immune cells necessary for regulated inflammation during wound healing. Recent studies have identified that Notch plays a role in macrophage-mediated inflammation. Thus, we investigated the role of Notch signaling on wound macrophage phenotype and function during normal and diabetic wound healing.

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of patient-reported outcome questionnaires to evaluate the symptoms and impact of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Background: Two patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires, the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Symptom Assessment (HSSA) and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Impact Assessment (HSIA), were developed to measure signs, symptoms and impacts of HS in treatment efficacy studies.

Methods: In accordance with FDA guidelines and published best practices, four stages of research were conducted to create the questionnaires: concept elicitation, questionnaire construction, content evaluation and psychometric evaluation.

Results: Subjects (N = 20) who participated in the concept elicitation stage reported 15 unique HS-related signs and symptoms and 51 impacts.

Tildrakizumab versus placebo or etanercept for chronic plaque psoriasis (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2): results from two randomised controlled, phase 3 trials.

Background: Tildrakizumab is a high-affinity, humanised, IgG1 κ antibody targeting interleukin 23 p19 that represents an evolving treatment strategy in chronic plaque psoriasis. Previous research suggested clinical improvement with inhibition of interleukin 23 p19. We did two phase 3 trials to investigate whether tildrakizumab is superior to placebo and etanercept in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.

A Multicenter, Open-Label, Phase 1b Study of Carfilzomib, Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients (CHAMPION-2).

Introduction: This phase 1b study evaluated the safety and efficacy of 3 dose levels of carfilzomib when provided with fixed dose oral cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (KCyd) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).

Patients And Methods: CHAMPION-2 was a multicenter single-arm study. Patients with newly diagnosed secretory MM were enrolled and received KCyd treatment for up to 8 cycles.

Immunotherapy of Recurrent Herpes Labialis With Squaric Acid.

This randomized placebo-controlled study examines the results of squaric acid dibutyl ester for the treatment of herpes labialis in adults.

Comorbidities of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disorder with many associated comorbidities, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, smoking, depression, arthritis, autoinflammatory syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, and genetic syndromes. In addition, HS patients can suffer from a variety of diseases related to the chronic inflammatory nature of their HS such as cardiovascular disease and anemia. An understanding of these comorbidities and associations is essential for the management of HS, and routine screening for these entities should be considered in all HS patients.

Pediatric Psoriasis Comorbidity Screening Guidelines.

Importance: Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory skin condition associated with serious medical comorbidities in adults, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, psoriatic arthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. Because psoriasis begins in childhood in almost one-third of patients, early identification of risk may be critical to minimizing effects on future health.

Objective: To develop the first set of guidelines for comorbidity screening for patients with pediatric psoriasis based on current evidence.

Update on biologic safety for patients with psoriasis during pregnancy.

Biologic agents have become more common to treat patients with psoriasis, but concerns about their effect on pregnancy and lactation often preclude this treatment during these time periods. During the past decade, we have gained a much better understanding of the course of psoriasis during pregnancy and the safety of the use of biologic agents during pregnancy and lactation. Under certain circumstances, biologic agents can be considered appropriate treatment options for patients who are pregnant or lactating.

Managing the dose escalation of biologics in an era of cost containment: the need for a rational strategy.

Although biologic medications have demonstrated great efficacy for the treatment of psoriasis, a subset of patients fails to respond and others lose response later in the course. In treating a patient who has failed to respond to biologic therapy, clinicians must decide between dose escalation, switching biologics, and adding or switching to a non-biologic systemic drug or phototherapy. Although dose escalation is perhaps the simplest strategy and generally well-tolerated, it confers a tremendous cost burden because doubling the dosage is likely to double the wholesale price.

Understanding the cost of dermatologic care: A survey study of dermatology providers, residents, and patients.

Background: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends dermatologists understand the costs of dermatologic care.

Objective: This study sought to measure dermatology providers' understanding of the cost of dermatologic care and how those costs are communicated to patients. We also aimed to understand the perspectives of patients and dermatological trainees on how cost information enters into the care they receive or provide.

The Impact of Administrative Burden on Academic Physicians: Results of a Hospital-Wide Physician Survey.

Purpose: To determine the characteristics of clinically active academic physicians most affected by administrative burden; the correlation between administrative burden, burnout, and career satisfaction among academic physicians; and the relative value and burden of specific administrative tasks.

Method: The authors analyzed data from the 2014 Massachusetts General Physicians Organization Survey. Respondents reported the percentage of time they spent on patient-related administrative duties and rated the value and burden associated with specific administrative tasks.

A phase 1 study of bortezomib and romidepsin in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, indolent B-cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

A phase 1 study was conducted to determine the dose-limiting toxicities and maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) for bortezomib followed by romidepsin on days 1, 8, and 15 in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL or B- or T-cell lymphoma. Eighteen treated patients were evaluable for response. The MTD was 1.

Prevalence and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. In small studies, inflammatory bowel disease has been associated with the increased prevalence of HS, but the data on the concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with HS are limited. We therefore investigated the prevalence and risk of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with HS compared with the general population.

Efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an anti-interleukin-23 monoclonal antibody, compared with adalimumab for the continuous treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: Results from the phase III, double-blinded, placebo- and active comparator-controlled VOYAGE 1 trial.

Background: Guselkumab, an interleukin-23 blocker, was superior to adalimumab in treating moderate to severe psoriasis in a phase II trial.

Objectives: We sought to compare efficacy and safety of guselkumab with adalimumab and placebo in patients with psoriasis treated for 1 year.

Methods: Patients were randomized to guselkumab 100 mg (weeks 0 and 4, then every 8 weeks; n = 329); placebo→guselkumab (weeks 0, 4, and 12 then guselkumab at weeks 16 and 20, then every 8 weeks; n = 174); or adalimumab (80 mg week 0, 40 mg week 1, then 40 mg every 2 weeks through week 47; n = 334).