Real-world safety and efficacy of teclistamab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: results from a multicenter, retrospective study and descriptive meta-analysis.

Patients participating in clinical trials are highly selected and may not represent the general population. The pivotal study of teclistamab (MajesTEC-1), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)xCD3 bispecific antibody, demonstrated impressive response rates and progression free survival in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) with acceptable toxicity. We performed a retrospective study of 58 patients treated as standard of care at four US academic centers to determine how these results translated to the real-world.

Effect of Finerenone in Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) management is well-defined for reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but less so for mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of Finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in these patient populations.

Methods: A systematic search in PubMed and Embase identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Finerenone's cardiovascular and renal effects.

A Qualitative Inquiry of Patients Using Virtual Reality to Mitigate Cancer Pain.

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly evolving technology that has been shown to improve pain severity in different disease states, including cancer. To date, VR pain studies have used off-the-shelf products for pain distraction. What are user preferences for VR content to mitigate cancer pain?.

Roles of sensory receptors in non-sensory organs: the kidney and beyond.

Olfactory receptors (ORs), taste receptors and opsins are well-known for their pivotal roles in mediating the senses of smell, taste and sight, respectively. However, in the past two decades, research has shown that these sensory receptors also regulate physiological processes in a variety of non-sensory tissues. Although ORs, taste receptors and opsins have all been shown to have physiological roles beyond their traditional locations, most work in the kidney has focused on ORs.

Phase II Parallel Arm Study of Sacituzumab Govitecan-Hziy in Patients With Advanced Thymoma or Thymic Carcinoma.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), including thymoma and thymic carcinoma, are rare thoracic tumors of the anterior mediastinum. For those with advanced disease, platinum-based chemotherapy is used as first-line treatment. However, there is no standard regimen established for TET at progression after initial therapy, and treatment options for advanced/recurrent TETs are limited.

Development of a Preliminary Patient Safety Classification System for Generative AI.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery but require classification and monitoring of patient safety risks. To address this need, we developed and evaluated a preliminary classification system for categorising generative AI patient safety errors. Our classification system is organised around two AI system stages (input and output) with specific error types by stage.

Incidence of Adjacent Synchronous Ipsilateral Infiltrating Carcinoma and/or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in Patients Diagnosed with Flat Epithelial Atypia by Core Needle Biopsy (TBCRC 034).

Background: Flat epithelial atypia (FEA), a rare breast proliferative lesion, is often diagnosed following core biopsy (CB) of mammographic microcalcifications. In the prospective multi-institution TBCRC 034 trial, we investigate the upgrade rate to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive cancer following excision for patients diagnosed with FEA on CB.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) ≤ 4 imaging abnormality and a concordant CB diagnosis of FEA were identified for excision.

Retrospective chart review of venous thromboembolism incidence and management in rural patients undergoing varicose vein treatment.

Purpose: Determine the rate of incidence, risk factors, and management for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) for varicose veins.

Methods: All charts of patients undergoing venous ablation from 2016 to 2023 were reviewed at a rural vein treatment clinic. The incidence of VTE was noted and a chart review was completed to identify risk factors for VTE, EHIT score, EFIT score, and management.

Variables influencing telemedicine utilization via telephone appointments among rural patients.

Objective: To evaluate patient preferences when utilizing telemedicine.

Methods: A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was completed by 153 patients at a rural clinic via a convenience sampling method. The survey contained 21 statements encompassing provider confidence, patient-physician rapport, and accessibility variables.

Reduction of pain and functional disability over time in patients treated with zavegepant: a post-hoc analysis of the BHV3500-301 phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

Background: Migraine is a disabling disorder that impacts 40 million people in the US. Zavegepant is the first calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist nasal-spray approved for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients in various pain and functional disability states over 48-h, for patients treated with zavegepant 10 mg nasal-spray versus placebo.

An evaluation framework for clinical use of large language models in patient interaction tasks.

The integration of large language models (LLMs) into clinical diagnostics has the potential to transform doctor-patient interactions. However, the readiness of these models for real-world clinical application remains inadequately tested. This paper introduces the Conversational Reasoning Assessment Framework for Testing in Medicine (CRAFT-MD) approach for evaluating clinical LLMs.

Cigarette Smoking and Symptom Burden: Baseline Results From Nine ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Clinical Trials.

Context: Approximately 11% of cancer survivors smoke postdiagnosis.

Objectives: Understanding the relationship between smoking and perceived cancer-related symptoms may inform tobacco treatment interventions for this population.

Methods: From 2017 to 2021, 740 adults in 9 ECOG-ACRIN trials provided baseline data.

Molecular xenomonitoring of Schistosoma mansoni infections in Biomphalaria choanomphala at Lake Victoria, East Africa: Assessing roles of abiotic and biotic factors.

Lake Victoria is a well-known hot spot for intestinal schistosomiasis, caused by infection with the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The snail intermediate hosts of this parasite are Biomphalaria snails, with Biomphalaria choanomphala being the predominant intermediate host within Lake Victoria. The prevalence of S.

Molecular Sensing of Chiral Carboxylic Acid Enantiomers Using CD Inductions in the Visible Light Region.

The reaction between a chiral carboxylic acid molecule and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium dichloride in the presence of a mild base generates a chiroptically active metal complex displaying strong circular dichroism (CD) signals in the visible light region, a highly sought-after goal in the optical sensing realm. The molecular recognition process is complete within a few minutes and can be used for fast chiroptical determination of the enantiomeric composition and concentration of carboxylic acid samples. This method is operationally simple and broadly applicable to a large variety of structures including important drugs, natural products, amino acids, and hydroxy acids.

Health care systems and policies for older adults in Nepal: new challenges for a low-middle income country.

Background: Nepal, like other low- and middle-income countries, is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older adults and the rate of aging in the population. This has increased the number of older adults with age-associated chronic illnesses, which in turn will escalate the demand for specialized healthcare and long-term care in Nepal. However, very little is known regarding the current healthcare system and health policies for older adults in Nepal.

Atorvastatin-Induced Liver Injury With Concurrent Rhabdomyolysis After a Positive Rechallenge.

Statin-induced liver injury has been widely described. However, cases of clinically significant liver injury are rare. We present a 56-year-old woman who developed atorvastatin-induced grade III acute liver injury with concurrent rhabdomyolysis that worsened after rechallenging, which highlighted the need for pharmacovigilance with statins.

Gallstone Ileus as an Occult Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction and Subsequent Large Bowel Obstruction: A Report of a Rare Case.

Gallstone ileus, a rare cause of mechanical bowel obstruction, occurs due to the formation of a cholecystenteric fistula allowing gallstones to migrate into the gastrointestinal tract. The condition occurs mostly in elderly patients, particularly women, and carries a significant mortality risk due to delayed diagnosis. This case report discusses a 77-year-old female patient with a history of chronic medical conditions, who self-presented with periumbilical pain, nausea, and reduced bowel movements.

Studies of methylated CpG ODN from subsp. in a murine model: Implications for treatment of human allergic disease.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is currently the most effective immunologic form of treatment for patients with atopic allergic diseases commonly used by allergist/immunologists to reduce allergic symptoms by gradually desensitizing the immune system to specific allergens. Currently, the primary mechanism of AIT emphasizes the crucial role of immune regulation, which involves a shift from a T-helper type 2 (Th2) cell response, which promotes allergy, to a T-regulatory (Treg) cell population, which inhibits the allergic inflammatory response through the production of immunosuppressive cytokines interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor β, which play pivotal roles in suppressing the allergic reaction. In a series of previous in vitro and in vivo experiments, we have demonstrated the capacity of synthetic methylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) moieties as well as methylated genomic DNA ODN motifs from Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis to activate Treg cell differentiation in contrast to the unmethylated ODN moiety, which promotes proinflammatory responses driven by Th17-mediated responses.

The Perceived Impact of Global Surgery Engagement on Career Advancement among US Medical Students.

Introduction: There is growing interest among medical institutions to formalize global surgery training. Understanding medical students' perceptions of how global surgery engagement can enhance career advancement is essential for providing appropriate guidance and support for individuals with aspirations in academic global surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of US-based medical students from 38 participating schools was performed.

Comprehensive characterization of MCL-1 in patients with colorectal cancer: Expression, molecular profiles, and outcomes.

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) is a member of the B-cell lymphoma 2 protein family and has anti-apoptotic functions. Deregulation of MCL-1 has been reported in several cancers, including lung and breast cancer. In the present study, the association of MCL-1 expression with molecular features in colorectal cancer (CRC) has been highlighted.