Tisagenlecleucel immunogenicity in relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Tisagenlecleucel is indicated for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and adult patients with r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The tisagenlecleucel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) contains a murine single-chain variable fragment domain; we examined the effects of humoral and cellular immune responses to tisagenlecleucel on clinical outcomes using 2 validated assays. Data were pooled from the ELIANA (registered at www.

Impact of COVID-19 on the imaging diagnosis of cardiac disease in Europe.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe.

Methods: The online survey organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency Division of Human Health collected information on changes in cardiac imaging procedural volumes between March 2019 and March/April 2020. Data were collected from 909 centres in 108 countries.

Delayed ileostomy closure increases the odds of Clostridium difficile infection.

Aim: A diverting ileostomy is typically performed to divert intestinal contents in high-risk colorectal anastomoses. Ileostomy closure is associated with high rates of postoperative Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Risk factors for the development of CDI are unclear; however, a correlation has been observed with delayed closure.

Acalabrutinib Versus Ibrutinib in Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results of the First Randomized Phase III Trial.

Purpose: Among Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors, acalabrutinib has greater selectivity than ibrutinib, which we hypothesized would improve continuous therapy tolerability. We conducted an open-label, randomized, noninferiority, phase III trial comparing acalabrutinib and ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Methods: Patients with previously treated CLL with centrally confirmed del(17)(p13.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with surgically treated epilepsy.

Objective: To ascertain whether epileptic seizure control during pregnancy differed between Australian women with previously surgically treated epilepsy, and those with only medically treated epilepsy.

Materials/methods: Analysis of data for 74 pregnancies of women with surgically treated focal epilepsy, compared with that from 1013 pregnancies in women with medically treated focal epilepsy, both groups drawn from the Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy between 1999 and 2020.

Results: Seizures of all types, and also convulsive seizures, were less well controlled during pregnancy in the previously surgically treated cases, the difference for seizures of all types (68.

Response to Mepolizumab Treatment in Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma and Atopic Phenotypes.

Purpose: Improved understanding of characteristics that may influence treatment response across phenotypes may help guide treatment decisions.

Patients And Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of MENSA, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT01691521). Patients aged ≥12 years with severe eosinophilic asthma received mepolizumab (75 mg intravenously or 100 mg subcutaneously) or placebo, plus standard of care, every 4 weeks for 32 weeks.

Expected Values of Esophageal Transit and Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy Post-uncomplicated Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Purpose: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) results in significant anatomical and physiological alterations of the esophagus and stomach, including food tolerance. Currently, there is no consensus on the parameters of abnormal esophageal transit and gastric emptying in this population. We describe standardized esophageal transit and gastric emptying protocols, and define expected values following an uncomplicated SG.

Predicting Infarct Core From Computed Tomography Perfusion in Acute Ischemia With Machine Learning: Lessons From the ISLES Challenge.

Background And Purpose: The ISLES challenge (Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation) enables globally diverse teams to compete to develop advanced tools for stroke lesion analysis with machine learning. Detection of irreversibly damaged tissue on computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is often necessary to determine eligibility for late-time-window thrombectomy. Therefore, the aim of ISLES-2018 was to segment infarcted tissue on CTP based on diffusion-weighted imaging as a reference standard.

The contribution of non-drug factors to fetal malformation in anti-seizure-medication-treated pregnancy.

Purpose: To assess the possible contribution of factors in additional to intrauterine anti-seizure medication (ASM) exposure in the occurrence of fetal malformation in women with ASM-treated epilepsy.

Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age over 31 years, family histories of fetal malformation, and conception after assisted fertility treatment, and also dosage of valproate, carbamazepine, and topiramate, made statistically significant (P<0.05) contributions to the fetal malformation rate in 2223 pregnancies in Australian women with epilepsy.

Atrial Fibrillation and Obesity: Reverse Remodeling of Atrial Substrate With Weight Reduction.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effect of weight loss on the atrial substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: Whether weight loss can reverse the atrial substrate of obesity is not known.

Methods: Thirty sheep had sustained obesity induced by ad libitum calorie-dense diet over 72 weeks.

Acute Stroke Biomarkers: Are We There Yet?

Distinguishing between stroke subtypes and knowing the time of stroke onset are critical in clinical practice. Thrombolysis and thrombectomy are very effective treatments in selected patients with acute ischemic stroke. Neuroimaging helps decide who should be treated and how they should be treated but is expensive, not always available and can have contraindications.

Diagnostic Criteria for Gastro-esophageal Reflux Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) post-sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a controversial issue and diagnostic dilemma. Strong heterogeneity exists in the assessment of reflux post-SG, and better diagnostic tools are needed to characterize symptomatic reflux. We aimed to determine the discriminant factors of symptomatic reflux and establish diagnostic thresholds for GERD following SG.

Worldwide Variation in the Use of Nuclear Cardiology Camera Technology, Reconstruction Software, and Imaging Protocols.

Objectives: This study sought to describe worldwide variations in the use of myocardial perfusion imaging hardware, software, and imaging protocols and their impact on radiation effective dose (ED).

Background: Concerns about long-term effects of ionizing radiation have prompted efforts to identify strategies for dose optimization in myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Studies have increasingly shown opportunities for dose reduction using newer technologies and optimized protocols.

Antiepileptic drugs and depression during pregnancy in women with epilepsy.

Objectives: To assess the possibility that the occurrence of seizures or the use of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy might have influenced the rate of occurrence of volunteered histories of patient-recognized depression during pregnancy in women with epilepsy.

Materials And Methods: Analysis of data from 2039 pregnancies in the Raoul Wallenberg Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy (APR) followed during pregnancy and to the end of the year after its end.

Results: Patient-recognized depression occurrence rates during pregnancy were a little lower rather than higher in seizure-affected than in seizure-free pregnancies (5.

Systematic quantification of histologic ventricular fibrosis in isolated mitral valve prolapse and sudden cardiac death.

Background: Cardiac fibrosis in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is implicated in the development of sudden cardiac death (SCD); however, the pattern remains poorly characterized.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically quantify left and right ventricular fibrosis in individuals with isolated MVP and SCD (iMVP-SCD), whereby other potential causes of death are excluded, compared to a control cohort.

Methods: Individuals with iMVP-SCD were identified from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Australia, and matched for age, sex, and body mass index to control cases with noncardiac death.

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Gastro-esophageal Reflux After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the mechanisms associated with reflux events after sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Summary Background Data: Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) post-SG is a critical issue due to symptom severity, impact on quality of life, requirement for reoperation, and potential for Barrett esophagus. The pathophysiology is incompletely delineated.

Twin pregnancy in women with epilepsy.

Objective: We report data from the Raoul Wallenberg Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy (APR) to see if there are significant differences in relation to the courses and outcomes of the twin pregnancies contained in the register, as compared with the singleton ones.

Methods: The APR has been under the oversight of Melbourne institutional Human Ethics Research Committees; all women enrolled in the APR have provided written informed consent. Data from the APR were transferred to a spreadsheet and then analyzed using simple statistical techniques including logistic regression.

Mechanisms of Esophageal and Gastric Transit Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Purpose: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients have substantially altered anatomy. The mechanism of rapid gastric emptying and the role of esophageal contractile function in esophago-gastric transit has not been defined. We aimed to determine the mechanisms of esophago-gastric transit and role of esophageal function following sleeve gastrectomy.

Acute Routine Leukocyte and Neutrophil Counts Are Predictive of Poststroke Recovery at 3 and 12 Months Poststroke: An Exploratory Study.

. White blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts (NC) are common markers of inflammation and neurological stroke damage and could be expected to predict poststroke outcomes. .

Second International Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

Description: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disease with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 5000 that is characterized by the presence of vascular malformations (VMs). These result in chronic bleeding, acute hemorrhage, and complications from shunting through VMs. The goal of the Second International HHT Guidelines process was to develop evidence-based consensus guidelines for the management and prevention of HHT-related symptoms and complications.