Access Barriers to Anti-CD19+ CART-Cell Therapy for NHL Across a Community Transplant and Cellular Therapy Network.

We analyzed access barriers to anti-CD19+ chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CART) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) within a community-based transplant and cell therapy network registry. 357 intended recipients of FDA-approved anti-CD19+ CART were identified in the study period (2018 to 2022). Results showed that the median age at referral was 61 years, referral year was 2018 (4%), 2019 (14%), 2020 (18%), 2021 (26%), and 2022 (38%).

Determinants of Outcomes for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated in a Community-Based Specialized Versus Non-Specialized Hospital Setting.

The treatment setting influences acute myeloid leukemia (AML) outcomes. Most cancer patients receive care in the community, yet few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of clinical programs outside of academic or National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers. This was a multi-level, case-controlled study of real-world outcomes for initial AML treatment in a community-based network for 1,391 patients with AML between 2011 and 2018.

Appendicitis mimicry of dolichocolon.

Dolichocolon is an under-reported, under-diagnosed etiology of chronic constipation that is often overlooked as being a primary diagnosis. We present a case of an undiagnosed dolichocolon in a young adult female whose initial presentation was concerning of appendicitis. Eventually, the patient underwent a subtotal colectomy as a definitive treatment for chronic constipation.

Data-Driven Blood Transfusion Thresholds for Severely Injured Patients During Blood Shortages.

Introduction: Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic create blood product shortages. Patients requiring transfusions are placed at risk and institutions may need to judiciously administer blood during massive blood transfusions protocols (MTP). The purpose of this study is to provide data-driven guidance for the modification of MTP when the blood supply is severely limited.

Management of blood pressure in pregnancy: new perspectives from the CHAP trial.

Purpose Of Review: Chronic hypertension affects up to 10% of pregnancies in the United States and the incidence of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy has more than doubled in the past decade, affecting minority women at disproportionate rates. Recent data show potential benefit by lowering the threshold of blood pressure treatment for pregnant women to >140/90 mmHg.

Recent Findings: In April 2022, the results of the Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy (CHAP) trial was published and demonstrated that lower thresholds (>140/90 vs.

Dual targeting of CD19 and CD22 with bicistronic CAR-T cells in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

Relapse after CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is commonly ascribed to antigen loss or CAR-T exhaustion. Multiantigen targeting and programmed cell death protein-1 blockade are rational approaches to prevent relapse. Here, we test CD19/22 dual-targeting CAR-T (AUTO3) plus pembrolizumab in relapsed/refractory LBCL (NCT03289455).

Allogeneic BCMA-targeting CAR T cells in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: phase 1 UNIVERSAL trial interim results.

ALLO-715 is a first-in-class, allogeneic, anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy engineered to abrogate graft-versus-host disease and minimize CAR T rejection. We evaluated escalating doses of ALLO-715 after lymphodepletion with an anti-CD52 antibody (ALLO-647)-containing regimen in 43 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma as part A of the ongoing first-in-human phase 1 UNIVERSAL trial. Primary objectives included determination of the safety and tolerability of ALLO-715 and the safety profile of the ALLO-647-containing lymphodepletion regimen.

Improved hospital discharge and cost savings with esophageal cooling during left atrial ablation.

Background: Left atrial ablation to obtain pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a technologically intensive procedure utilizing innovative and continually improving technology. Changes in the technology utilized for PVI can in turn lead to changes in procedure costs. Because of the proximity of the esophagus to the posterior wall of the left atrium, various technologies have been utilized to protect against thermal injury during ablation.

Active esophageal cooling during radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium: data review and update.

Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the left atrium of the heart is increasingly used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Unfortunately, inadvertent thermal injury to the esophagus can occur during this procedure, potentially creating an atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) which is 80% fatal. The ensoETM (Attune Medical, Chicago, IL), is an esophageal cooling device that has been shown to reduce thermal injury to the esophagus during RF ablation.

N -acetylcysteine is associated with reduction of postconcussive symptoms in elderly patients: A pilot study.

Introduction: N -acetylcysteine (NAC) may be neuroprotective by minimizing postconcussion symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), but limited data exist. This study evaluated the effects of NAC on postconcussion symptoms in elderly patients diagnosed with mild TBI.

Methods: This prospective, quasirandomized, controlled trial enrolled patients 60 years or older who suffered mild TBI.

Extracellular matrix dysfunction in Sorsby patient-derived retinal pigment epithelium.

Sorsby Fundus Dystrophy (SFD) is a rare form of macular degeneration that is clinically similar to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and a histologic hallmark of SFD is a thick layer of extracellular deposits beneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Previous studies of SFD patient-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived RPE differ as to whether these cultures recapitulate this key clinical feature by forming increased drusenoid deposits. The primary purpose of this study is to examine whether SFD patient-derived iPSC-RPE form basal deposits similar to what is found in affected family member SFD globes and to determine whether SFD iPSC RPE may be more oxidatively stressed.

Impact of Active Esophageal Cooling on Fluoroscopy Usage During Left Atrial Ablation.

Risks to collateral structures exist with radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the left atrium to obtain pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Passive luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring is commonly utilized, but increasing data suggest limited benefits with LET monitoring. In contrast, active cooling of the esophagus has been shown to significantly reduce esophageal injury.

Belumosudil for chronic graft-versus-host disease after 2 or more prior lines of therapy: the ROCKstar Study.

Belumosudil, an investigational oral selective inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), reduces type 17 and follicular T helper cells via downregulation of STAT3 and enhances regulatory T cells via upregulation of STAT5. Belumosudil may effectively treat patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a major cause of morbidity and late nonrelapse mortality after an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. This phase 2 randomized multicenter registration study evaluated belumosudil 200 mg daily (n = 66) and 200 mg twice daily (n = 66) in subjects with cGVHD who had received 2 to 5 prior lines of therapy.

Therapeutic cardiac arrest as an adjunct to resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: Bridging the gap from fatal hemorrhage to definitive surgical control in swine.

Background: Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially survivable combat casualty mortality, with 86.5% of cases resulting from noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a minimally invasive technique used to stabilize patients with noncompressible torso hemorrhage; however, its application can take an average of 8 minutes to place.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta for thoracic trauma in the setting of platelet dysfunction: A translational swine study.

Background: In patients with noncompressible torso hemorrhage, antiplatelet medications may lead to worse outcomes. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) may potentially stabilize these patients, but currently, major thoracic bleeding is a contraindication. The goal of this study was to determine if REBOA use for shock with major thoracic bleeding has worse outcomes in the setting of platelet dysfunction (PD).

Cooling or Warming the Esophagus to Reduce Esophageal Injury During Left Atrial Ablation in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Ablation of the left atrium using either radiofrequency (RF) or cryothermal energy is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is the most frequent type of cardiac ablation procedure performed. Although generally safe, collateral injury to surrounding structures, particularly the esophagus, remains a concern. Cooling or warming the esophagus to counteract the heat from RF ablation, or the cold from cryoablation, is a method that is used to reduce thermal esophageal injury, and there are increasing data to support this approach.

Impact of the implementation of a rapid meningitis/encephalitis multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel on IV acyclovir duration: multicenter, retrospective cohort of adult and pediatric patients.

The standard for diagnosing meningoencephalitis includes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Approval of the FilmArray® BioFire® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel has reduced time to detection of several pathogens and improved diagnostic sensitivity. The objective of this study was to determine the impact on intravenous (IV) acyclovir duration of the ME panel compared to previously utilized CSF studies within a large health system with a central laboratory.

Oral Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection in Infants Younger Than 60 Days.

Data on the outcome of infants younger than 60 days treated with a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics for urinary tract infection are limited. This study examined susceptibility and successful outcomes of treatment with narrow-spectrum oral antibiotics. In addition, we describe the effects of antimicrobial stewardship education intervention on prescribing practices.

A key genomic subtype associated with lymphovascular invasion in invasive breast cancer.

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is associated with the development of metastasis in invasive breast cancer (BC). However, the complex molecular mechanisms of LVI, which overlap with other oncogenic pathways, remain unclear. This study, using available large transcriptomic datasets, aims to identify genes associated with LVI in early-stage BC patients.

The effect of emergency department crowding on lung-protective ventilation utilization for critically ill patients.

Objective: To measure effects of ED crowding on lung-protective ventilation (LPV) utilization in critically ill ED patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult mechanically ventilated ED patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU), over a 3.5-year period at a single academic tertiary care hospital.