NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities, Version 2.2024.

The NCCN Guidelines for the Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities are intended to provide oncology practitioners with guidance on how to manage the wide-ranging and potentially fatal toxicities that may occur with cancer immunotherapy. The guidelines address immune-related adverse events related to immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapies, and lymphocyte engagers (which include T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies). These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight recent guideline updates pertaining to the management of emerging toxicities related to cancer immunotherapy.

Effects of light and noise pollution on avian communities of European cities are correlated with the species' diet.

Urbanization affects avian community composition in European cities, increasing biotic homogenization. Anthropic pollution (such as light at night and noise) is among the most important drivers shaping bird use in urban areas, where bird species are mainly attracted by urban greenery. In this study, we collected data on 127 breeding bird species at 1349 point counts distributed along a gradient of urbanization in fourteen different European cities.

Shorter versus longer corticosteroid duration and recurrent immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated AKI.

Background: Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated acute kidney injury (ICPi-AKI), but the optimal duration of therapy has not been established. Prolonged use of corticosteroids can cause numerous adverse effects and may decrease progression-free survival among patients treated with ICPis. We sought to determine whether a shorter duration of corticosteroids was equally efficacious and safe as compared with a longer duration.

Global application of an unoccupied aerial vehicle photogrammetry protocol for predicting aboveground biomass in non-forest ecosystems.

Non-forest ecosystems, dominated by shrubs, grasses and herbaceous plants, provide ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and forage for grazing, and are highly sensitive to climatic changes. Yet these ecosystems are poorly represented in remotely sensed biomass products and are undersampled by in situ monitoring. Current global change threats emphasize the need for new tools to capture biomass change in non-forest ecosystems at appropriate scales.

Kidney toxicity of the BRAF-kinase inhibitor vemurafenib is driven by off-target ferrochelatase inhibition.

A multitude of disease and therapy related factors drive the frequent development of kidney disorders in cancer patients. Along with chemotherapy, the newer targeted therapeutics can also cause kidney dysfunction through on and off-target mechanisms. Interestingly, among the small molecule inhibitors approved for the treatment of cancers that harbor BRAF-kinase activating mutations, vemurafenib can trigger tubular damage and acute kidney injury.

Effects of urbanization on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic avian diversity in Europe.

Europe is an urbanized continent characterized by a long history of human-wildlife interactions. This study aimed to assess the effects of specific elements of urbanization and urban pollution on complementary avian diversity metrics, to provide new insights on the conservation of urban birds. Our study recorded 133 bird species at 1624 point counts uniformly distributed in seventeen different European cities.

AL Amyloidosis: The Effect of Maintenance Therapy on Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Outcomes.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains an effective treatment option for many patients with systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis. While maintenance post ASCT in multiple myeloma is now standard, the decision to utilize maintenance in AL amyloidosis remains largely unexplored. The present study aims to determine the prognostic significance of utilizing maintenance therapy following ASCT and assess the impact of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) abnormalities, bone marrow plasma cell burden (BMPC), and degree of organ involvement on this decision.

Revisiting medullary tophi: a link between uric acid and progressive chronic kidney disease?

Background: It is well-established from autopsy studies that gouty tophi can form in the kidney, particularly in the renal medulla. Recently hyperuricemia has been identified as a risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because each collecting duct serves more than 2,000 nephrons, we postulated that obstruction or disruption of collecting ducts by medullary tophi may explain, at least in part, the association between hyperuricemia and progressive CKD.

Staphylococcus-related glomerulonephritis and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: why defining "post" is important in understanding and treating infection-related glomerulonephritis.

A spate of recent publications describes a newly recognized form of glomerulonephritis associated with active staphylococcal infection. The key kidney biopsy findings, glomerular immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits dominant or codominant with IgG deposits, resemble those of IgA nephritis. Many authors describe this condition as "postinfectious" and have termed it "poststaphylococcal glomerulonephritis.

Differential diagnosis of glomerular disease: a systematic and inclusive approach.

Background: Glomerular disease is a complex and evolving topic. In evaluating a specific case it is not unusual for the clinician to ask: 'Am I missing something? Should I biopsy? When? Should I treat first, then biopsy?' This work, which is both evidence and experience based, is intended to address each of these concerns and many other issues relevant to the differential diagnosis of glomerular disease.

Summary: The central approach is the use of diagnostic algorithms that are based on quantitative measures routinely obtained early in the course of the diagnostic evaluation.

Cardiorenal syndrome and the role of ultrafiltration in heart failure.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) with associated volume overload is the most common cause of hospitalization in heart failure patients. When accompanied by worsening renal function, it is described as a cardiorenal syndrome and is a therapeutic challenge. Initial treatment commonly encompasses intravenous diuretics however, suboptimal results and high rehospitalization rates have led experts to search for alternative therapeutic strategies.

A composite urine biomarker reflects interstitial inflammation in lupus nephritis kidney biopsies.

The initial treatment of lupus nephritis is usually based on a renal biopsy. Subsequent disease flares, however, are often treated without the benefit of kidney pathology because repeat biopsies are infrequent. A noninvasive, real-time method to assess renal pathology would be useful to adjust treatment and improve outcome.

[Detection of aflatoxin B1 in tissues of free-living game animals (Lepus europaeus, Phasianus colchicus, Capreolus capreolus, Anas platyrhynchos)].

This contribution states concentrations of products of toxogenic mould fungus Aspergillus in livers, kidneys and testes of specific game animals. In hares (Lepus europaeus), there was determined an average concentration in livers of 0.407 microgram.

The occurrence of aflatoxins in peanuts imported into Czechoslovakia for human consumption.

Results of 492 analyses for aflatoxin in raw shelled peanuts imported into Czechoslovakia during 1982-1984 are presented. Most samples (55.3%) had aflatoxin content less than the detection limit of the radioimmunochemical screening method (0.