Citations

Currently, there are no internationally accepted consensus guidelines for pathologic evaluation of posttherapy pancreatectomy specimens. The Neoadjuvant Therapy Working Group of Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society was formed in 2018 to review grossing protocols, literature, and major issues and to develop recommendations for pathologic evaluation of posttherapy pancreatectomy specimens. The working group generated the following recommendations: (1) Systematic and standardized grossing and sampling protocols should be adopted for pancreatectomy specimens for treated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). (2) Consecutive mapping sections along the largest gross tumor dimension are recommended to validate tumor size by histology as required by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) cancer protocol. (3) Tumor size of treated PDACs should be measured microscopically as the largest dimension of tumor outer limits that is bound by viable tumor cells, including intervening stroma. (4) The MD Anderson grading system for tumor response has a better correlation with prognosis and better interobserver concordance among pathologists than does the CAP system. (5) A case should not be classified as a complete response unless the entire pancreas, peripancreatic tissues, ampulla of Vater, common bile duct, and duodenum adjacent to the pancreas are submitted for microscopic examination. (6) Future studies on tumor response of lymph node metastases, molecular and/or immunohistochemical markers, as well as application of artificial intelligence in grading tumor response of treated PDAC are needed. In summary, systematic, standardized pathologic evaluation, accurate tumor size measurement, and reproducible tumor response grading to neoadjuvant therapy are needed for optimal patient care. The criteria and discussions provided here may provide guidance towards these goals.

Abstract Background Lyme disease, the most common tickborne disease in the United States, may be prevented by taking a single 200-mg dose of oral doxycycline after a high-risk bite from a blacklegged tick. Currently, it is not known how Lyme disease post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) might vary by region and healthcare system. We identified single-dose doxycycline medication orders in three healthcare systems in states with high incidence of Lyme disease and compared associated patient and provider characteristics. Methods Electronic health record data during 2012 – 2016 were obtained from three healthcare systems: Geisinger (Pennsylvania), Marshfield Clinic (Wisconsin), and Mayo Clinic (Minnesota/Wisconsin). Creation of analytic variables and analysis were harmonized across the three sites. Medication orders for single-dose doxycycline ≤200 mg that were accompanied by specific key words or diagnostic codes (e.g., tick bite; Lyme disease prevention) were considered evidence of PEP. Manual chart review was performed from a random subset to evaluate the algorithms used to identify PEP. Results Among 2,937,585 patients with at least one medication order or clinical encounter during the study period, 14,102 single-dose doxycycline orders for Lyme disease PEP for 13,172 unique patients were identified. The typical patient receiving PEP was older (mean age 51 – 58 years), male (56 – 59%), and non-Hispanic White (81 – 98%). The annual seasonality of medication orders was bimodal, with peaks occurring during April – July and October – November. The most common encounter setting was an outpatient clinic or urgent care center (80 – 91%); medication orders after patient phone calls in the absence of an in-person visit occurred frequently (14 – 19%) in two health systems. Chart abstractions (n=600) revealed instances of PEP prescribed inappropriately (e.g., bite from a non-blacklegged tick; patient with symptoms of acute Lyme disease). Conclusion Lyme disease PEP with a single dose of doxycycline was frequently prescribed in healthcare systems where there is a high incidence of Lyme disease. PEP was most commonly prescribed to non-Hispanic Whites over the age of 50 years. Public health initiatives for tickborne disease prevention should include clinician education on the appropriate use of Lyme disease PEP. Disclosures Anna M. Schotthoefer, PhD, HelixBind (Other Financial or Material Support, salary support) John Zeuli, PharmD, INSMED (Other Financial or Material Support, honoraria for educational speaking)

Abstract Introduction. About 60% of patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) relapse after standard of care (SOC) anti-CD19 autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, CD19 downregulation representing a major mechanism of resistance. Therefore, agents able to target B-cell antigens other than CD19 could be clinically effective for these patients. Polatuzumab vedotin (PV) is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD79b, and approved by the FDA in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) LBCL. Patients who relapsed after CAR T-cell therapy were not included in the registration study, and reports of PV use after CAR T-cells in real world practice are very limited. Methods. This is a multi-center retrospective analysis of patients with LBCL who relapsed after SOC CAR T-cell therapy and subsequently received SOC PV with or without rituximab and bendamustine between 07/2019 and 04/2021. PV was given at the standard dose of 1.8 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks in all patients (except for one patient, who received 1.4 mg/Kg). Response to treatment and progression were defined according to 2014 Lugano criteria. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and were compared between subgroups using the log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis (MVA). Results. Fifty-four patients were included in the study: median age was 59 (range, 22-79 years), 38 (70%) were male, and 30 (56%) had an internal prognostic index score > 3. Median number of systemic therapies before CAR T-cell therapy was 2 (range, 2-6), 16 (30%) patients previously had autologous stem cell transplant (SCT), and 2 (4%) had allogeneic SCT. Sixteen (30%) patients were primary refractory to CAR T-cell therapy, and median time from CAR T-cell therapy to PV was 5 months (range, 1-40 months). CD19 status at time of relapse after CAR T-cell therapy was assessed by immunohistochemistry and/or flow cytometry in 41 patients, and positive in 34 (83%); CD79b status was assessed in 14 patients, and positive in all cases (100%). Thirty-two (59%) patients received PV-based therapy immediately after CAR T cell therapy, while 22 (41%) had intervening treatments (median 1, range 1-5). At time of PV initiation, median absolute neutrophil count was 2.9 (range 0.5-19 X10 9/L), median platelet count was 87 X10 9/L (range 15-437 X10 9/L), median serum creatinine was 0.9 mg/dL (range 0.4-22 mg/dL), and 44 (81%) patients had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The median number of PV cycles was 2 (range, 1-16): PV was combined with rituximab in 51 (94%) patients, and administered with bendamustine in 33 (61%). A response was achieved in 24 (45%) patients, including complete remission (CR) in 8 (14%) patients and partial remission in 16 (30%)(Figure A), with a median duration of response of 11 weeks (95%CI, 5-17 weeks). No significant association between baseline characteristics and response was observed. To date, 49 (91%) patients stopped PV: 38 (70%) due to progression, 7 (13%) because of CR/patient decision, 3 (6%) to proceed to allogeneic SCT, and 1 (2%) to proceed to an immunotherapy clinical trial (despite absence of progression). No patients stopped therapy because of toxicity. After a median follow up of 45 weeks (95% CI, 20-70 weeks), 44 (81%) patients progressed/died, and median PFS was 9 weeks (95% CI, 4-14 weeks). To date, 34 (63%) died, and median OS was 16 weeks (95% CI, 13-19 weeks)(Figure B). Causes of death included progression in 31 patients and transplant-related complications in 3. On univariate analysis, a shorter median progression-free survival (PFS) was observed for patients with bone marrow (BM) involvement (3 vs 10 weeks, p=0.002), prior central nervous system involvement (4 vs 10 weeks, p=0.02), and elevated LDH (6 months vs not reached, p=0.004). On MVA, the association was maintained only for BM involvement (hazard ratio [HR] 4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-12.5, p=0.004) and elevated LDH (HR 5; 1.4-16.7, p=0.01)(Figure C). Discussion. PV is safe and effective, but has short duration of response in r/r LBCL after anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, except for patients with normal LDH. Studies aimed at better characterizing intrinsic mechanism of resistance, including upregulation of BCL2 family proteins, to favor the development of more effective PV-based combination strategies for these patients, are warranted. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Crombie: Roche: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Kamdar: Celgene (BMS): Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Genetech: Other; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; SeaGen: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Other; KaryoPharm: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Hess: ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Neelapu: Takeda Pharmaceuticals and related to cell therapy: Patents & Royalties; Kite, a Gilead Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Poseida, Cellectis, Celgene, Karus Therapeutics, Unum Therapeutics (Cogent Biosciences), Allogene, Precision BioSciences, Acerta and Adicet Bio: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene Therapeutics, Cell Medica/Kuur, Incyte, Precision Biosciences, Legend Biotech, Adicet Bio, Calibr, Unum Therapeutics and Bluebird Bio: Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene, Kuur, Incyte, Precision BioSciences, Legend, Adicet Bio, Calibr, and Unum Therapeutics: Other: personal fees. Lin: Novartis: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Sorrento: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Vineti: Consultancy. Strati: Astrazeneca-Acerta: Research Funding; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogenous cancer of terminally differentiated plasma cells that typically express elevated levels of antiapoptotic proteins, such as BCL-2. Venetoclax (Ven), a highly selective, potent, oral BCL-2 inhibitor, induces apoptosis in MM cells, and when combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone showed promising efficacy in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM; Moreau et al. Blood. 2017;130:2392-2400). The Phase 3 BELLINI study primary analysis showed significantly improved response rates and progression-free survival (PFS) in pts with RRMM treated with Ven added to bortezomib and dexamethasone versus placebo (Pbo); however, increased mortality was observed in the Ven group (Kumar et al. Lancet Oncol. 2020;21:1630-1642). At the initial data cutoff (November 26, 2018), the PFS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.44-0.90) and overall survival (OS) HR was 2.03 (95% CI, 1.04-3.95). Pts with t(11;14) translocation or high BCL2 expression showed improved responses and PFS without increased mortality. Here, we present updated safety and efficacy data from the prespecified final OS analysis. Methods: BELLINI (NCT02755597) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of Ven or Pbo combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone in pts with RRMM who had received 1-3 prior lines of therapy and were either sensitive or naïve to proteasome inhibitors. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive Ven 800 mg/day or Pbo plus bortezomib and dexamethasone. Cycles 1-8 were 21-day cycles with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 on Days 1, 4, 8, and 11 and dexamethasone 20 mg on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Cycles 9 and beyond were 35-day cycles with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 on Days 1, 8, 15, and 22 and dexamethasone 20 mg on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23. The primary endpoint was PFS assessed by independent review committee. Key secondary endpoints included overall response rate and OS. BCL2 expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction with the cutoff for high BCL2 determined using bootstrapping and aggregating thresholds from trees. Results: Of 291 randomized pts (194 to Ven and 97 to Pbo), 33 pts were receiving ongoing treatment (28 with Ven and 5 with Pbo) as of the final OS analysis data cutoff (March 15, 2021). At a median follow-up of 45.6 months, there were 78 (40%) deaths in the Ven arm versus 36 (37%) in the Pbo arm. Updated PFS and OS among all pts and those with t(11;14) or high BCL2 expression are shown in the Table. Among all pts, the median PFS per investigator was 23.4 months in the Ven arm versus 11.4 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.43-0.78]). In pts with t(11;14), the median PFS was 36.8 months in the Ven arm versus 9.3 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.03-0.44]). In pts with high BCL2, the median PFS was 30.1 months in the Ven arm versus 9.9 months in the Pbo arm (HR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.21-0.64]). Median OS was not reached in the Ven or Pbo arm among all pts (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.80-1.77]), pts with t(11;14) (HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.16-2.32]), pts with high BCL2 (HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.32-1.51]), and pts with t(11;14) or high BCL2 (HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.40-1.70]). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) with Ven (versus Pbo) were diarrhea (60% versus 50%), nausea (38% versus 23%), and constipation (35% versus 31%). The most common Grade 3/4 AEs (Ven versus Pbo) were thrombocytopenia (16% versus 30%), neutropenia (23% versus 8%), pneumonia (19% versus 13%), anemia (16% versus 15%), and diarrhea (15% versus 11%). Serious AEs occurred in 57% of Ven- and 55% of Pbo-treated pts, with serious infections and infestations occurring in 35% and 29% of pts, respectively. Overall, 26% of pts in the Ven arm and 11% of pts in the Pbo arm experienced an AE leading to Ven or Pbo discontinuation. AEs led to 12 deaths in the Ven arm, with 9 of these deaths due to serious infection; an AE led to 1 death in the Pbo arm. A total of 16 (6%) treatment-emergent deaths occurred (14 [7%] with Ven and 2 [2%] with Pbo), with 3 of these deaths due to disease progression (2 [1%] with Ven and 1 [1%] with Pbo). Conclusion: In the final OS analysis, the addition of Ven to bortezomib and dexamethasone showed significantly improved PFS but resulted in increased mortality versus Pbo in the total population. Consistent with results from previous analyses, Ven added to bortezomib and dexamethasone showed the greatest PFS improvement in pts with t(11;14) or high BCL2, with a favorable benefit-risk profile. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kumar: Beigene: Consultancy; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Carsgen: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Harrison: Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/ Juno/ BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Haemalogix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Eusa: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Terumo BCT: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cavo: Novartis: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Accommodations, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. de la Rubia: Ablynx/Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb,: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Celgene, Takeda, Janssen, Sanofi: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Accommodations; GSK: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Popat: Abbvie, Takeda, Janssen, and Celgene: Consultancy; AbbVie, BMS, Janssen, Oncopeptides, and Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen and BMS: Other: travel expenses. Gasparetto: Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptite: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy; Connect Registry: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Hungria: Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings/travel ; Takeda: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Support for attending meetings/travel . Salwender: Oncopeptides: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Chugai: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES. Suzuki: Japanese Red Cross Medical Center: Current Employment; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; ONO: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Kim: Seoul National University Hospital: Current Employment. Onishi: Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Genentech: Current Employment. Ku: Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Genentech: Current Employment, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES. Pothacamury: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Sehgal: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Masud: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Ross: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Dobkowska: AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Pharmacyclics: Current Employment. Moreau: Celgene BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Honoraria.

Abstract Background Since its emergence in late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to pose a risk to healthcare personnel (HCP) and patients in healthcare settings. Although all clinical interactions likely carry some risk of transmission, human actions, such as coughing, and care activities, such as aerosol-generating procedures, likely have a higher risk of transmission. The rapid emergence and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 continues to create significant challenges in healthcare facilities, particularly with shortages of the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by HCP. Evidence-based recommendations for what PPE to use in conventional, contingency, and crisis standards of care continue to be needed. Where evidence is lacking, the development of specific research questions can help direct funders and investigators. The purpose of the current study was to develop evidence-based rapid guidelines intended to support HCP in their decisions about infection prevention when caring for patients with suspected or known coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel including frontline clinicians, infectious disease specialists, experts in infection control, and guideline methodologists, with representation from the disciplines of public health, medical microbiology, pediatrics, critical care medicine and gastroenterology. The process followed a rapid recommendation checklist. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes. Then a systematic review of the peer-reviewed and gray literature was conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations. Results The IDSA guideline panel agreed on 8 recommendations, including 2 updated recommendations and 1 new recommendation added since the first version of the guideline. Narrative summaries of other interventions undergoing evaluations are also included. Conclusions Using a combination of direct and indirect evidence, the panel was able to provide recommendations for 8 specific questions on the use of PPE by HCP providing care for patients with suspected or known COVID-19. Where evidence was lacking, attempts were made to provide potential avenues for investigation. There remain significant gaps in the understanding of the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2, and PPE recommendations may need to be modified in response to new evidence. These recommendations should serve as a minimum for PPE use in healthcare facilities and do not preclude decisions based on local risk assessments or requirements of local health jurisdictions or other regulatory bodies.

OBJECTIVE To describe the impact of obesity on disease severity and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among hospitalized children. METHODS This retrospective cohort study from the Society of Critical Care Medicine Viral Respiratory Illness Universal Study registry included all children hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to January 2021. Obesity was defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BMI or World Health Organization weight for length criteria. Critical illness definition was adapted from National Institutes of Health criteria of critical COVID. Multivariate mixed logistic and linear regression was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratio of critical illness and the adjusted impact of obesity on hospital length of stay. RESULTS Data from 795 patients (96.4% United States) from 45 sites were analyzed, including 251 (31.5%) with obesity and 544 (68.5%) without. A higher proportion of patients with obesity were adolescents, of Hispanic ethnicity, and had other comorbidities. Those with obesity were also more likely to be diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (35.7% vs 28.1%, P = .04) and had higher ICU admission rates (57% vs 44%, P < .01) with more critical illness (30.3% vs 18.3%, P < .01). Obesity had more impact on acute COVID-19 severity than on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children presentation. The adjusted odds ratio for critical illness with obesity was 3.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.8–5.3). Patients with obesity had longer adjusted length of stay (exponentiated parameter estimate 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.1–1.5) compared with patients without obesity but did not have increased mortality risk due to COVID-19 (2.4% vs 1.5%, P = .38). CONCLUSION In a large, multicenter cohort, a high proportion of hospitalized children from COVID-19 had obesity as comorbidity. Furthermore, obesity had a significant independent association with critical illness.

Objective Mild aortic valve stenosis (AS) and aortic valve (AV) sclerosis are associated with diastolic dysfunction and increased mortality in the general population. This study specifically investigated the impact of mild AV disease in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods Consecutive patients hospitalised with HFpEF (n=370) underwent assessment of cardiac structure and function and long-term clinical follow-up. Results In the study cohort, 111 had mild AS (30%), 104 AV sclerosis (28%) and 155 a non-calcified AV (42%). Mild-to-moderate AV regurgitation (AR) was present in 64 (17%). Compared with patients with a normal AV, those with AV disease were older, with worse renal function and more atrial fibrillation. E/e′ increased from non-calcified AV to AV sclerosis to mild AS (13.8 (10.8–16.8) vs 15.0 (10.9–20.0) vs 18.0 (12.7–23.3), respectively; p<0.001)). Left ventricular diastolic pressure–volume relationships were shifted leftwards in patients with AS and AV sclerosis, but not influenced by AR. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume normalised at 20 mm Hg was 117±34 mL, 106±30 mL and 112±30 mL in non-calcified AV, AV sclerosis and mild AS, respectively (p=0.023), while 112±32 mL in mild-to-moderate AR. Over 30 months (IQR, 8–61 months), 247 patients died (67%). The presence of mild AV disease was associated with increased mortality, but this was no longer significant after adjusting for age and sex. Conclusions Low-grade AV disease is common among patients hospitalised for HFpEF and is associated with older age, atrial arrhythmia, renal dysfunction, higher left heart filling pressures and increased left ventricular chamber stiffness.

Abstract Background Wild type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (wtATTR-CA) is increasingly recognized as a cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) but prognosis is often limited due to late or misdiagnosis.Longitudinal left ventricular strain and biomarkers are established as markers of disease severity, but the role of RV free wall strain, reflecting RV contractility, is less well understood. Purpose We sought to determine whether RV free wall strain might add incremental prognostic value in wtATTR-CA. Methods Consecutive patients diagnosed with wtATTR-CA with tissue confirmation at Mayo clinic between 2013 and 2015 were included. Patients with TTR gene mutations were excluded. Baseline characteristics and transthoracic echocardiography measurements were obtained from the medical records. Speckle tracking RV free wall longitudinal 2D strain and peak LA longitudinal 2D strain were measured using Tom Tec Imaging System. Survival was determined using Kaplan Meier estimates and using the cox proportional hazard ratio, univariate and multivariable analysis were performed to identify predictors of mortality in patients with wtATTR. Results The study group comprised 139 patients (mean age 74.9±8.6, 92.8% male), of which 102 had adequate image quality for RV strain, and 99 for LA strain. Amongst these, 102 (73.3%) had AF and 118 patients (84.8%) had HF. During 3.23±2.0 years of follow up, 66 patients died. Both mean RV and LA strain were impaired at baseline: RV free wall strain was −14.7±4.9, and peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) was 13.2±8.8%. Using ROC analysis, RV strain of −16.8% was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. In univariate modeling, higher levels of NT-proBNP (HR: 1.1 per 1000 pg.ml; 95%, CI 1.05–1.15, p&lt;0.001) and Troponin T (HR: 2.0 per 0.1ng/ml; 95% CI 1.49–2.61, p&lt;0.001) were associated with increased all-cause mortality. In addition, LV GLS (HR: 1.13 per 1%; 95% CI1.04–1.24, p=0.003), RV free wall LS (HR: 2.16 per 5%; 95%, CI 1.57–3.03, p&lt;0.0001), and PALS (HR: 0.91 per1%; 95% CI 0.85–0.96, p&lt;0.0001) were univariate predictors of all-cause mortality. In multivariate analysis using a stepwise regression model, RV free wall longitudinal strain (HR: 1.81; 95% CI 1.29–2.62, p&lt;0.001) and Troponin T (HR: 1.7; 95% CI 1.25–2.26, p=0.001) remained independent predictors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a higher mortality rate above −16.8 RV strain cut-off (Wilcoxon &lt;0.0001). All stages were divided into two groups by −16.8% RV strain, and survival in individual stages analyzed. Stage 1 and 2 with &lt;−16.8 RV free wall strain value had higher mortality than ≤-16.8% RV strain (Stage 1: Wilcoxon = 0.0041 and Stage 2: Wilcoxon = 0.023). However, there was not a survival difference between two RV strain groups in stage3 (Wilcoxon = 0.34) Conclusion RV free wall strain is an independent predictor of survival in wtATTR patients and may add incremental prognostic value to NT-proBNP and Troponin. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Kaplan-Meier curve of all patientsKaplan-Meier curve of stages

The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations are associated with the development of higher blood pressure or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Participants were women without chronic hypertension who enrolled in The Infant Development and the Environment Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort conducted at four U.S. academic medical centers from 2010–2012. Prenatal records were reviewed to obtain blood pressure measurements and diagnoses of PIH (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome, defined as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count). Complete-case analyses used multivariable linear and logistic regression for analysis of blood pressure measurements and PIH diagnoses, respectively. In the final dataset (N = 668), higher concentrations of first-trimester monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP) and third-trimester mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were significantly associated with a medical chart diagnosis of PIH. First-trimester mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and MEP along with the sum of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (∑DEHP) were each associated with increased systolic blood pressure across pregnancy. In conclusion, several phthalate metabolite concentrations were significantly associated with PIH and greater increases in systolic blood pressure across pregnancy.