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Introduction: Leadless pacing(LP) technology has been expanding in recent practice as an alternative to traditional pacing This technology is associated with reduce complications such as infection, dislodgment, and hardware burden. There has been recent reports on effusions with its implantation .Historically the manufacturer has recommend bolus of heparin or infusions We present the results and operative outcomes of patients who received a LP without initial heparinization or infusion from 2016 to 2021 at a single center. Objective We sought to describe the outcomes of LP implantation without the need of heparin administration. Methods: We report the clinical outcomes and operative findings of 200 patients who underwent LP implantation without initial heparin loading or infusions . An aggressive flushing strategy of the sheaths before and during the procedures was performed Data recorded include indication, ejection fraction (EF) R waves, capture thresholds, ventricular ectopy on deployment,recaptures, procedure times, and complications. Patients on chronic anticoagulation were excluded Results: A total of 200 patients were included , average age was 77 years and 20 (10%) had a reduced EF (<40%) pre-procedure. The most common indications included complete AV block (97, 48.5%) and atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response (76, 38%). All patients (100%) had successful establishment of ventricular pacing with no short-term complications postoperatively. Average R waves after deployment were 9.7 with average capture thresholds of 0.84 @ 0.24 Ventricular ectopy was seen for 134 (67%) of patients upon deployment with 62 (31%) patients requiring recaptures, and 29 (14.5%) requiring more than one recapture. There was no evidence of thrombus in the sheaths or implanting instruments . There were no embolic or thrombotic complications. Conclusions: LP implantation is highly effective and efficacious in establishing single-chamber ventricular pacing for a variety of conduction pathologies with minimal complications postoperatively. It appears that an aggressive flushing strategy of the implanting equipment & sheaths is safe & effective without the need of heparinization. Further studies will be require to validate this strategy

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy, with 34,470 estimated new cases in 2022. High-dose therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) remains a standard treatment for MM even in the era of novel therapies. This is usually performed in hospital-based settings, either in the inpatient or outpatient units. Advanced Care at Home (ACH) represents a virtual hybrid hospital-at-home program that combines a virtual provider-staffed command center with a vendor-mediated supply chain capable of delivering high-acuity care in the comfort of the patients’ own homes. In our program, we used the existing ACH platform to deliver post-HCT care for recipients of auto-HCT. Patients and methods: Four patients (female = 2, 50%) with MM, with a median age of 60 (range, 40–74) years, were admitted to the inpatient Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit. The conditioning regimen consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m 2 , administered on day –2. All patients received stem cell infusion (day 0) in the inpatient setting, with a median dose of 3.64 (range, 2.92–8.22) × 10 6 /kg CD34 cells. Results: Patients were discharged to their homes after completing the infusion on day 0 or day +1 at the latest. Postinfusion care was provided by the ACH team in coordination with the BMT team. The median time intervals to absolute neutrophil count and platelet engraftment were 12 (range, 11–13) and 11 (range, 9–16) days, respectively. All patients were successfully discharged from the ACH program at a median of day +14 (range, day +14 to day +15). Conclusions: Our results highlight the feasibility of delivering post-HCT care for auto-HCT recipients in the home setting and confirm the generalizability of this approach.

8009 Background: Heavily pretreated patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) treated with standard of care therapy have median overall survival (OS) of ~12 months (mo). In the single-arm, phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 study (NCT03548207), pts received a single infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), a CAR-T cell therapy targeting BCMA. At the final protocol-specified analysis (27.7-mo median follow-up [MFU]), overall response rate (ORR) was 98%, with 83% stringent complete response (CR); 27-mo rates of progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 55% and 70%, respectively. Here, we report study closeout results. Methods: Eligible pts received ≥3 prior lines of therapy (LOT) or were double refractory to a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and immunomodulatory drug (IMiD); and had received prior PI, IMiD, and anti-CD38 antibody therapy. Primary endpoint was ORR and safety; secondary endpoints included PFS, OS, and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity at 10-5. Results: 97 pts received cilta-cel (median age 61 years [y]; median 6 prior LOT; 42% penta-drug refractory; 88% triple-class refractory; 99% refractory to last LOT). As of October 14, 2022, MFU was 33.4 mo (range, 1.5-45.2). Median (m) duration of response was 33.9 mo (95% CI, 25.5–not estimable [NE]). mPFS was 34.9 mo (95% CI, 25.2–NE), with an estimated 47.5% progression free and alive at 36 mo. mOS was not reached (NR), with an estimated 62.9% survival at 36 mo. Of 49 MRD-evaluable pts, 26 had MRD negativity sustained for ≥12 mo, of which 20 had sustained MRD-negative ≥CR. mPFS was NR in these subgroups (Table). 18 pts were MRD negative with ≥CR at 24 mo post infusion. No new safety signals and no new neurotoxicity events were reported since the 27.7-mo MFU. 6 new cases of second primary malignancy were reported, including 2 cases of basal cell carcinoma and 1 case each of myelodysplastic syndrome, B-cell lymphoma, melanoma, and prostate cancer. 5 additional deaths occurred (progressive disease [PD], n=3; pneumonia and sepsis, n=1 each [both unrelated to cilta-cel]), for a total of 35 (PD, n=17; unrelated to cilta-cel, n=12; related, n=6). Conclusions: Longer mPFS was observed after a single infusion of cilta-cel than any previously reported therapy in heavily pretreated pts with RRMM. Achieving CR and/or sustained MRD negativity was associated with prolonged PFS. Pts continue to be followed for safety and survival in the 15-y CARTINUE long-term study (NCT05201781; MMY4002). Clinical trial information: NCT03548207 . [Table: see text]

Abstract Background Rifampin-resistant tuberculosis is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide; only one-third of persons start treatment, and outcomes are often inadequate. Several trials demonstrate 90% efficacy using an all-oral, 6-month regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL), but significant toxicity occurred using 1200-mg linezolid. After US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2019, some US clinicians rapidly implemented BPaL using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose adjusted by serum drug concentrations and clinical monitoring. Methods Data from US patients treated with BPaL between 14 October 2019 and 30 April 2022 were compiled and analyzed by the BPaL Implementation Group (BIG), including baseline examination and laboratory, electrocardiographic, and clinical monitoring throughout treatment and follow-up. Linezolid dosing and clinical management was provider driven, and most patients had linezolid adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring. Results Of 70 patients starting BPaL, 2 changed to rifampin-based therapy, 68 (97.1%) completed BPaL, and 2 of the 68 (2.9%) experienced relapse after completion. Using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose daily adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring and careful clinical and laboratory monitoring for adverse effects, supportive care, and expert consultation throughout BPaL treatment, 3 patients (4.4%) with hematologic toxicity and 4 (5.9%) with neurotoxicity required a change in linezolid dose or frequency. The median BPaL duration was 6 months. Conclusions BPaL has transformed treatment for rifampin-resistant or intolerant tuberculosis. In this cohort, effective treatment required less than half the duration recommended in 2019 US guidelines for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Use of individualized linezolid dosing and monitoring likely enhanced safety and treatment completion. The BIG cohort demonstrates that early implementation of new tuberculosis treatments in the United States is feasible.

IntroductionAdamantinoma‐like Ewing sarcoma (ALES) is a rare aggressive malignancy occasionally diagnosed in the thyroid gland. ALES shows basaloid cytomorphology, expresses keratins, p63, p40, frequently CD99, and harbours the t(11;22) EWSR1::FLI1 translocation. There is debate on whether ALES resembles more sarcoma or carcinoma.MethodsWe performed RNA sequencing from two ALES cases and compared findings with skeletal Ewing's sarcomas and nonneoplastic thyroid tissue. ALES was investigated by in situ hybridization (ISH) for high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and immunohistochemistry for the following antigens: keratin 7, keratin 20, keratin 5, keratins (AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2), CD45, CD20, CD5, CD99, chromogranin, synaptophysin, calcitonin, thyroglobulin, PAX8, TTF1, S100, p40, p63, p16, NUT, desmin, ER, FLI1, INI1, and myogenin.ResultsAn uncommon EWSR1::FLI transcript with retained EWSR1 exon 8 was detected in both ALES cases. Regulators of EWSR1::FLI1 splicing (HNRNPH1, SUPT6H, SF3B1) necessary for production of a functional fusion oncoprotein, as well as 53 genes (including TNNT1, NKX2.2) activated downstream to the EWSR1::FLI1 cascade, were overexpressed. Eighty‐six genes were uniquely overexpressed in ALES, most of which were related to squamous differentiation. Immunohistochemically, ALES strongly expressed keratins 5, AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2, p63, p40, p16, and focally CD99. INI1 was retained. The remaining immunostains and HPV DNA ISH were negative.ConclusionComparative transcriptomic profiling reveals overlapping features of ALES with skeletal Ewing's sarcoma and an epithelial carcinoma, as evidenced by immunohistochemical expression of keratin 5, p63, p40, CD99, the transcriptome profile, and detection of EWSR1::FLI1 fusion transcript by RNA sequencing.

Abstract Background It is unclear if the location of implantation of the leadless pacemaker (LP) makes a difference in the incidence of pacing‐induced cardiomyopathy (PICM). Aim The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of PICM based on the location of implantation of LP. Methods A total of 358 consecutive patients [women: 171 (48%), mean age: 73 ± 15 years] with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) > 50%, who received an LP (Micra) between January 2017 and June 2022, formed the study cohort. Micra‐AV and Micra‐VR were implanted in 122 (34%) and 236 (66%) patients, respectively. Fluoroscopically, the location of implantation of LP in the interventricular septum (IS) was divided into two equal halves (apex/apical septum [AS] and mid/high septum [HS]). During follow‐up, PICM was defined as an EF drop of ≥10%. Results LP was implanted in 109 (34%) and 249 (66%) patients at AS and HS locations, respectively. During a mean 18 ± 8 months follow‐up, 28 patients (7.8%) developed PICM. Among the 249 patients with HS placement of LP, 10 (4%) developed PICM, whereas among the 109 patients with AS placement of LP, 18 (16.5%) developed PICM ( p = .002). AS location was associated with a higher risk of PICM compared to HS locations (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.42, p < .001). Conclusion AS location of LP was associated with a higher risk of PICM compared to HS placement. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings.

PURPOSE Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by JAK/STAT activation, thrombotic/hemorrhagic events, systemic symptoms, and disease transformation. In high-risk PV, ruxolitinib controls blood counts and improves symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS MAJIC-PV is a randomized phase II trial of ruxolitinib versus best available therapy (BAT) in patients resistant/intolerant to hydroxycarbamide (HC-INT/RES). Primary outcome was complete response (CR) within 1 year. Secondary outcomes included duration of response, event-free survival (EFS), symptom, and molecular response. RESULTS One hundred eighty patients were randomly assigned. CR was achieved in 40 (43%) patients on ruxolitinib versus 23 (26%) on BAT (odds ratio, 2.12; 90% CI, 1.25 to 3.60; P = .02). Duration of CR was superior for ruxolitinib (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.61; P < .001). Symptom responses were better with ruxolitinib and durable. EFS (major thrombosis, hemorrhage, transformation, and death) was superior for patients attaining CR within 1 year (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.78; P = .01); and those on ruxolitinib (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.94; P = .03). Serial analysis of JAK2V617F variant allele fraction revealed molecular response was more frequent with ruxolitinib and was associated with improved outcomes (progression-free survival [PFS] P = .001, EFS P = .001, overall survival P = .01) and clearance of JAK2V617F stem/progenitor cells. ASXL1 mutations predicted for adverse EFS (HR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.47 to 6.17; P = .003). The safety profile of ruxolitinib was as previously reported. CONCLUSION The MAJIC-PV study demonstrates ruxolitinib treatment benefits HC-INT/RES PV patients with superior CR, and EFS as well as molecular response; importantly also demonstrating for the first time, to our knowledge, that molecular response is linked to EFS, PFS, and OS.