Publications by authors named "Tochukwu Okwuosa"

Primary cardiac angiosarcomas are rare malignant tumors that can cause chest pain and heart failure symptoms. They can be diagnosed using multimodality imaging, primarily echocardiogram, with formal diagnosis requiring biopsy. A 56-year-old man with history of hypertension and dyslipidemia presented with acute crushing chest pain and shortness of breath.

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Background: Both cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are the leading causes of death worldwide. Although our previous study detected a relationship between CVD and cancer incidence, limited evidence is available regarding the relationship between CVD, cardiovascular risk factors, and cancer mortality.

Methods And Results: A prospective cohort study using data from the continuous NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2016) merged with Medicare and National Death Index mortality data, through December 31, 2018.

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Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have uncommon associations with cardiotoxicity, yet these cardiotoxic effects are associated with high mortality. An accurate assessment of risk for cardiotoxicity is essential for clinical decision-making, but data from randomized controlled trials often differ from real-world observational studies.

Methods And Results: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus was performed, including phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OSs) reporting myocarditis or pericardial disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke with an immunotherapy.

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Teverelix drug product (DP) is a parenteral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist that has been successfully tested in phase 2 trials for hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer (APC) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In previous APC trials, teverelix DP was administered as intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) injections, using a loading dose and (in a single trial) a maintenance dose. Our objective was to derive an optimal dosing regimen for phase 3 clinical development, using a pharmacometrics modeling approach.

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Androgen deprivation therapy is the cornerstone of systemic management for prostate cancer but is associated with multiple adverse effects that must be considered during treatment. These effects occur because of the profound hypogonadism that is induced from lack of testosterone or due to the medications used in the treatment or in combination with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors. This article critically reviews the associations between androgen deprivation therapy, androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, and cardiovascular complications such as prolonged QT interval, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

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  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can effectively treat various illnesses, but it carries specific cardiovascular risks, particularly for older patients or those with pre-existing heart conditions.
  • The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of thorough cardiovascular evaluations throughout the four phases of transplantation to manage potential complications, which can include arrhythmias and heart failure.
  • The pretransplantation assessment involves identifying risk, ruling out serious heart disease, evaluating cardiac function, and improving heart health to better prepare patients for the procedure and its aftermath.
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  • A study examined the relationship between soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and heart health in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug.
  • Researchers monitored a group of 37 women over one year, measuring heart function and various cardiac biomarkers, finding that none developed significant heart problems.
  • Ultimately, results showed no significant relationship between suPAR levels and heart toxicity markers, suggesting doxorubicin presents a low risk for heart damage in this patient population.
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  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can lead to various cardiovascular complications, and this study aimed to assess the occurrence and risk factors of these events in patients post-transplant.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 3,354 adult patients who underwent HSCT from 2008 to 2019, tracking cardiovascular outcomes within 100 days and beyond, with a focus on incidents like heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
  • Results showed a low short-term incidence of cardiovascular events (4.1%) but a higher long-term incidence (13.9%), particularly among allogeneic transplant recipients and individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
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  • A study aimed to create a risk score for assessing cardiovascular risks in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to limited existing guidelines.
  • Using data from the CARE-BMT study, researchers analyzed various predictive factors related to cardiovascular events in over 2,400 HSCT patients, leading to the development of a point-based risk score.
  • This score categorizes patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups for cardiovascular issues post-transplant, potentially aiding in specialist referrals and long-term monitoring of high-risk individuals.
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  • Global collaboration is essential in cardio-oncology to study cardiovascular toxicity from cancer treatments across various demographics and settings, as socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities affect care access and outcomes.
  • The Global Cardio-Oncology Registry was created with input from cardiologists and oncologists from both academic and community practices, utilizing an online platform to gather data from international sites.
  • The registry received responses from 119 sites, predominantly led by cardiologists and located in university settings, focusing on key cancer priorities such as breast cancer and patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments, with a pilot phase for enrollment already underway.
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Aims: There are no comprehensive machine learning (ML) tools used by oncologists to assist with risk identification and referrals to cardio-oncology. This study applies ML algorithms to identify oncology patients at risk for cardiovascular disease for referrals to cardio-oncology and to generate risk scores to support quality of care.

Methods And Results: De-identified patient data were obtained from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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Improvements in early detection and treatment of gynecologic malignancies have led to an increasing number of survivors who are at risk of long-term cardiac complications from cancer treatment. Multimodality therapies for gynecologic malignancies, including conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapeutics, and hormonal agents, place patients at risk of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity during and following treatment. Although the cardiotoxicity associated with some female predominant cancers (eg, breast cancer) have been well recognized, there has been less recognition of the potential adverse cardiovascular effects of anticancer therapies used to treat gynecologic malignancies.

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• The CCCR represents a collaborative educational platform. • The forum can be reproduced to foster the exchange of practical and scientific knowledge/experience. • The created environment enhances clinical knowledge applied to the care of cardio-oncology patients.

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Unlabelled: In light chain amyloidosis, a reduction in dFLC to below 40 mg/l is a prerequisite for organ recovery as nearly half of the patients who achieve very good partial haematological responses have improvement in the function of the involved organ. We describe a patient who developed new-onset cardiac amyloidosis despite a post-treatment reduction in dFLC to <10 mg/l.

Learning Points: Patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis may develop new cardiac involvement despite achieving haematological remission.

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We present the case of a patient with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with the programmed death ligand inhibitor, pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor. She subsequently developed vasovagal-type autonomic dysfunction thought to be secondary to the pembrolizumab. The patient's vasovagal symptoms resolved with the initiation of oral glucocorticoids.

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Unlabelled: Ofatumumab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of recurrent and progressive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and was recently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We describe the case of a 68-year-old man who presented with complaints of irregular pulse readings while undergoing ofatumumab treatment for recurrent CLL. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) demonstrated premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) which eventually caused cardiomyopathy and failed to resolve despite ablative therapy.

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The rapid emergence of cardio-oncology has resulted in a rapid growth of cardio-oncology programs, dedicated professional societies sections and committees, and multiple collaborative networks that emerged to amplify the access to care in this new subspecialty. However, most existing data, position statements and guidelines are limited by the lack of availability of large clinical trials to support these recommendations. Furthermore, there are significant challenges regarding proper access to cardio-oncology care and treatment, particularly in marginalized and minority populations.

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The potential of the mucoadhesive film technology is hard to ignore, owing to perceived superior patient acceptability versus buccal tablets, and significant therapeutic opportunities compared to conventional oral drug delivery systems, especially for those who suffer from dysphagia. In spite of this, current translation from published literature into the commercial marketplace is virtually non-existent, with no authorised mucoadhesive buccal films available in the UK and very few available in the USA. This review seeks to provide an overview of the mucoadhesive buccal film technology and identify key areas upon which to focus scientific efforts to facilitate the wider adoption of this patient-centric dosage form.

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The field of cardio-oncology was born from the necessity for recognition and management of cardiovascular diseases among patients with cancer. This need for this specialty continues to grow as patients with cancer live longer as a result of lifesaving targeted and immunologic cancer therapies beyond the usual chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Often, potentially cardiotoxic anticancer treatment is necessary in patients with baseline cardiovascular disease.

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Breast cancer and heart failure share several known clinical cardiovascular risk factors, including age, obesity, glucose dysregulation, cholesterol dysregulation, hypertension, atrial fibrillation and inflammation. However, to fully comprehend the complex interplay between risk of breast cancer and heart failure, factors attributed to both biological and social determinants of health must be explored in risk-assessment. There are several social factors that impede implementation of prevention strategies and treatment for breast cancer and heart failure prevention, including socioeconomic status, neighborhood disadvantage, food insecurity, access to healthcare, and social isolation.

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Background: Plasma cardiac biomarkers have emerged as a cost-effective diagnostic tool aimed at early identification of cardiotoxicity. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a bone marrow cell derived signaling molecule that is associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Objectives: We investigated associations between suPAR and global longitudinal strain (GLS) as a marker of early myocardial impairment in lung cancer patients.

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