Citations

Male and female glioblastomas are biologically distinct, and improving outcomes may require sex-specific approaches to treatment.

TPS543 Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is treated with CIS and GEM (CISGEM), but prognosis is poor. Hyaluronan (HA) accumulation in solid tumors may impede drug and immune cell access. PEGPH20 targets tumors that accumulate HA (HA-high). This study (NCT03267940) plans to enroll 70 subjects to evaluate the safety and activity of PEGPH20 + programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agent atezolizumab, (PEGCISGEMATEZO), & PEGPH20 + CISGEM (PEGCISGEM) in HA-high subjects with CCA and gallbladder cancer. Study will comprise initial run-in and expansion portions. Primary endpoints include incidence of AEs and other laboratory/safety parameters and ORR (RECIST v1.1). Secondary endpoints include PK parameters; DOR, DCR, PFS, and ORR (RECIST v1.1 and immune-modified RECIST); and OS and OS by PD-L1 expression. Methods: ~6 HA-high subjects will be enrolled in PEGCISGEM arm run-in portion and undergo at ≥1 cycle; subsequently, 6 HA-high subjects will enter the PEGCISGEMATEZO arm. Treatment period will be 21-day cycles. In the expansion portion, ~50 HA-high subjects will be enrolled and randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio into PEGCISGEMATEZO, PEGCISGEM, and CISGEM arms. PEGPH20 is planned to be administered at 3.0 μg/kg on Days 1, 8 and 15 of all cycles in both portions. ATEZO will be administered at 1200 mg 1–3 hours after PEGPH20 on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle in the PEGCISGEMATEZO arm in both portions. In the PEGCISGEM & PEGCISGEMATEZO arms, dosing schedule for CISGEM is the same during both portions, with administration of 25 mg/m2 CIS and 1000 mg/m2 GEM on Days 2 and 9 of each cycle. In CISGEM control arm (expansion only), dosing schedule will be on Days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Treatment will continue until death, withdrawal of consent, disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity. Tumor response will be evaluated using RECIST v1.1. AEs will be graded per NCI CTCAE v4.03. Tumor samples will be tested retrospectively for PD-L1 expression. Safety data will be periodically monitored by an independent data monitoring committee. Clinical trial information: NCT03267940.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reduces quality of life and burdens healthcare systems. This study identified factors associated with frequent use of IBS diagnostic tests and procedures. Methods: Using a United States claims database (2001–2012), tests and procedures in IBS patients occurring in the 2-year study period (12 months before/following the first IBS diagnosis) were analyzed: endoscopy, GI transit testing, anorectal procedures, and radiologic imaging. Patients were classified based on test/procedure frequency (3+, 1–2, or 0). Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with more frequent tests/procedures. Results: Among 201,322 IBS patients, 41.7% had 3+ tests/procedures, 35.1% had 1–2, and 23.3% had 0. Patients with more tests/procedures were older [mean age 50.6 (3+ group), more likely to be female and had more comorbidities, including anxiety, depressive disorders, and somatization. Dyspepsia [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.80 (1.72–1.87)], interstitial cystitis [1.60 (1.45–1.77)], gastroesophageal reflux disease [1.59 (1.55–1.63)], constipation [1.50 (1.45–1.54)], and dyspareunia [1.38 (1.25–1.52)] were significantly associated with more tests/procedures (3+ versus 1–2), while anxiety, depressive disorders, and somatization were not. Patients with more frequent specialist visits [emergency department (ED; 1.10 (1.09–1.11)) and gastroenterologists (1.26 (1.26–1.27))] or at least one GI-related ED visit or inpatient admission [1.95 (1.86–2.04) and 3.67 (3.48–3.87), respectively] were more likely to have more tests/procedures (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Test frequency in patients with IBS is strongly associated with demographic and clinical characteristics, especially comorbid conditions related to IBS. Presence of common overlapping comorbid conditions should increase clinicians’ confidence in making the diagnosis of IBS, thus curtailing redundant testing and reducing healthcare costs.

Among medical students, neurosceince is considered a notoriously difficult subject. This challenges faculty to teach preclinical neurology in more engaging, efficient, and prioritized ways. Traditional approaches to neuroscience instruction typically begin with neuroanatomy and advance to clinical problem solving after this foundation of knowledge is in place. Over the past 45 years, neurology faculty at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine have developed and iteratively refined an inverted approach called The Basic Four. The Basic Four uses authentic clinical scenarios as the basis for neuroscience instruction and incorporates principles from cognitive load theory to calibrate load on students’ working memory. This perspective describes The Basic Four and illustrates how cognitive load theory can be used to enhance case-based learning.

AbstractObjectiveGiven that weight gain patterns in adolescents receiving outpatient Family‐Based Treatment (FBT) have not been characterized, the purpose of this study was to examine trajectories of weight gain in a group of adolescent patients with a restrictive eating disorder [e.g., anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN] receiving FBT. This study also examined the association of patient characteristics with weight gain trajectories, including age, diagnosis, weight suppression, presenting BMI‐for‐age percentile, and eating pathology.MethodLatent growth mixture modeling was used to identify distinct weight trajectories, as defined by change in BMI‐for‐age percentile, for 153 adolescents with AN or atypical AN, receiving FBT.ResultsThere were five distinct weight gain trajectory profiles for adolescents receiving FBT for a restrictive eating disorder. Younger age and greater weight suppression were associated with more rapid weight gain trajectories. A pattern of slow and consistent weight gain was associated with older age and less eating pathology.DiscussionThere was considerable variability in weight gain trajectories in youth receiving outpatient FBT for a restrictive eating disorder. This suggests that patients' presenting information can be used to inform expectations regarding weight gain trajectories.