Citations

Background and Aims: Liver transplant is a specialized treatment for a spectrum of indications that use a scarce resource. Transplant is guided by principles of justice, equity, and benefit, with a constant conflict between competing interests. Organs are a national resource with a goal of equitable distribution across sites. An AASLD guideline for the evaluation and selection of appropriate candidates for transplant has been available since 2005. Methods: A multidisciplinary writing group of liver transplant experts and a librarian convened over 24 months. The writing group reviewed the literature, generated guideline recommendations, and rated the level of evidence for each recommendation based on the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. The group categorized the strength of recommendations based on the level of evidence, risk-benefit ratio, and patient preferences. Conclusions: Liver transplant is a lifesaving procedure that should be offered to selected patients with clear indications and a reasonable prospect of benefit. The evaluation is designed to identify those in need, to outline hurdles to a successful outcome, and to develop an effective transplant plan. The goal of this document is to provide a template for this process.

Abstract Objectives There are striking differences among caregivers of people with dementia in their health and well-being during active caregiving and after caregiving has ended. A key factor influencing caregiver health is the emotional quality of the caregiver–care recipient relationship, which may be reflected in the emotional language caregivers use when describing this relationship. The present study assessed whether caregivers’ positive and negative language is associated with their current and future depression trajectories. Methods Active caregivers responded to an open-ended question about a recent time they felt connected to the care recipient. We summed the number of positive and negative emotion words and divided them by the total words in the response. We evaluated whether caregivers’ emotional language (a proxy for the emotional quality of the caregiver–care recipient relationship) was associated with their depression assessed both concurrently (N = 347 active caregivers) and longitudinally (N = 224 former caregivers). Results Neither positive nor negative emotional language significantly correlated with caregiver depression during active caregiving. Structural equation modeling revealed caregivers’ greater positive emotional language (accounting for baseline depression) was associated with less steep increases in depression after the care recipient’s death. Results were robust when accounting for negative emotional language and covariates. Negative emotional language was not significantly associated with changes in caregiver depression. Discussion Caregivers who use more positive words when describing their connection with the care recipient may be more resilient, underscoring the potential role of positive emotional qualities of the caregiving relationship in preserving caregivers’ mental health after caregiving ends.

PURPOSE To compare patient-reported and clinical outcomes between radical cystectomy (RC) and bladder-sparing therapy (BST) in patients with recurrent high-grade non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS This pragmatic, prospective observational cohort study was designed with patients, who selected and prioritized outcomes. Eligible adults were candidates for both RC or BST, had previous induction Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and received their last treatment within 12 months. The primary outcome was the EORTC-QLQ-C30 physical function scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included other EORTC-QLQ-C30 scales, depression, anxiety, bladder cancer–specific quality of life (QOL), financial burden, and cancer-specific outcomes. Targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) was used to calculate average treatment effect (ATE) estimates between arms. Inverse probability weighted risk ratios (wRR) were calculated using quasi-Poisson regression. RESULTS Of 570 participants (mean age 71.4 years; 21% female), 371 selected BST and 199 selected RC. Physical function was significantly worse in the RC arm at 3 months; by 9 months, there was no difference between arms, and at 12 months, physical function did not differ (ATE, 0.9; 95% CI, –0.6 to 2.4; P = .22). RC was associated with better emotional function, generic health-related QOL, and financial burden, and lower depression and anxiety, while BST was associated with better bowel and sexual health. Cancer-specific survival was 99% for BST versus 96% for RC (wRR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.01). RC was associated with a higher risk of adverse events and serious adverse events, including a 90-day mortality rate of 2.5%. CONCLUSION Most patient-prioritized outcomes were similar or better among participants who chose RC compared with BST. These findings support the continued role of RC in managing recurrent high-grade NMIBC.

Importance The potential utility of real-time digital therapeutics that identify impending behavioral outbursts to proactively apply evidence-based interventions for managing children with disruptive behavior disorder has not been tested. Objectives To evaluate feasibility and adherence of a digitally augmented, real-time, proactive behavioral intervention (smartwatch) for children with disruptive behaviors. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial was conducted between March 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The study enrolled children aged 3 to 7 years with externalizing behavior problems rated above the clinically significant range (I score ≥120; T score ≥60) on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Interventions Twelve weekly sessions of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) (treatment as usual [TAU] arm) vs artificial intelligence (AI)–enhanced PCIT augmented with real-time behavioral outburst alerts (PCIT-AI arm). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was achieving the a priori feasibility benchmark set at greater than 70% for both completion of PCIT sessions and daily smartwatch wear. Parental reaction time to behavior prompts was measured in seconds. Secondary outcomes were percentage changes in ECBI and Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire scores. Behavioral outburst duration was examined based on parental logs of start and end times of observed tantrums using a smartphone application. Result This study enrolled 50 children (median [IQR] age, 5.0 [4.0-6.0] years; 34 [68%] male and 16 [32%] female; 28 randomized to the PCIT-AI arm and 22 to the PCIT-TAU arm). Of these children, 37 (74%; 21 in the PCIT-AI arm and 16 in the PCIT-TAU arm) completed PCIT, with children wearing the watch a median (IQR) 75.7% (67.8%-82.9%) of the time, thus achieving the feasibility benchmark (primary outcome). Median (IQR) response time to behavior prompts in the PCIT-AI arm was 3.65 (2.07-7.08) seconds. Assessing between-group differences, there was no statistically significantly greater numerical improvement in ECBI-intensity percentage change (13.86%; 95% CI, −1.41% to 29.14%), ECBI-problem percentage change subscale scores (38.59%; 95% CI, −1.22% to 78.40%), or absolute change in Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire scores (−0.16; 95% CI, −1.85 to 1.53) with the PCIT-AI arm than with the PCIT-TAU arm. Children in the PCIT-AI arm had significantly shorter mean (SD) tantrum durations (10.4 [20.8] minutes vs 22.1 [30.0] minutes; P < .001) and lower odds of tantrums lasting for 15 minutes or more (odds ratio, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.72-4.95). Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, both recruitment and technology feasibility benchmarks were achieved. The findings inform the design of fully powered efficacy study of wearable, digitally augmented PCIT for children with disruptive behaviors. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05077722

ABSTRACT The concentration of cells is a key component of modern blood tests. Given the biomarker potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in blood, we aimed to establish reference ranges for blood cell‐derived EVs using flow cytometry. To address the orders‐of‐magnitude variability in reported EV concentrations between different flow cytometers (FCMs), we first validated a calibration methodology to enable reproducible EV concentration measurements. The methodology was evaluated in an interlaboratory comparison study and shows that calibration reduces the median absolute deviation of EV concentrations measured on 25 different FCMs from 67 % to 25 %–31 %. The calibration methodology was then used to determine reference ranges of erythrocyte‐, leukocyte‐, and platelet‐derived EVs in human blood plasma in a cohort of healthy individuals ( n = 224). This study demonstrates that calibration enables comparable concentration measurements of blood cell‐derived EVs, thereby bringing EVs one step closer to clinical applications.

PURPOSE Low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSOC) of the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum is a hormonally driven, relatively chemoresistant malignancy with limited treatment options in the recurrent setting. Given frequent estrogen receptor (ER) expression and dysregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6)–p16–Rb pathway, features shared with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, dual endocrine, and CDK4/6 inhibition is a biologically rational strategy. This phase II trial evaluated ribociclib plus letrozole in recurrent LGSOC. METHODS This open-label, single-arm, multicenter phase II study enrolled women with measurable, recurrent LGSOC. Patients received ribociclib (600 mg orally, once daily, days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle) and letrozole (2.5 mg orally, once daily). The primary end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1. Secondary end points included clinical benefit rate (CBR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS Of 74 patients screened, 51 were enrolled and 49 treated. The confirmed ORR was 30.6% (90% CI, 19.9 to 43.2), including one complete and 14 partial responses. Among responders, the median duration of response was 21.2 months. The CBR was 84% (90% CI, 72.5 to 91.6). The median PFS was 14.5 months (90% CI, 10.1 to 28.8), and the median OS was 44.5 months (90% CI, 31.8 to not reached). The most common grade ≥3 adverse event (AE) was neutropenia (47%), managed with dose modifications. Three grade 5 events (6%) occurred but were unrelated to treatment. Treatment discontinuation because of AEs occurred in 4%. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION Ribociclib plus letrozole met the primary end point, achieving meaningful response rates and durable disease control in recurrent LGSOC. The safety profile was consistent with prior CDK4/6 inhibitor studies. This combination represents a therapeutic option in this rare and genomically distinct subtype.

This cohort study evaluates the use of definitive rhinectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for patients who declined rhinectomy or had unresectable disease.

Abstract Introduction Significant clinical variations exist in the definitions of acute/active vs chronic/stable Peyronie’s Disease (PD). While the American Urological Association’s 2015 guidelines define the acute phase as involving symptoms that change and the presence of pain, they do not specify a timeframe. Historically, acute-phase features include penile pain and worsening curvature, with symptom duration ranging from less than 3 to 18 months. Although temporally categorizing PD may have academic value, it may unnecessarily limit or delay treatment. In the United States, collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is the only FDA-approved treatment for adult men with PD who have a palpable plaque and a curvature deformity of at least 30 degrees. Several real-world studies suggest CCH is safe and effective during the acute phase. Objective To evaluate differences in outcomes by penile pain and symptom duration and to determine whether these factors should inform timing of CCH treatment in men with Peyronie’s disease. Methods A post hoc analysis of pooled data from 2 phase 3 randomized double-blind trials of CCH in PD (IMPRESS I, NCT01221597; IMPRESS II, NCT01221623). Men treated with CCH were stratified by baseline penile pain (Any Pain vs No Pain), based on both investigator-assessed and patient-reported measures. A subgroup analysis further stratified men with Any Pain by disease duration. The primary efficacy endpoint in the phase 3 study was the percentage change in penile curvature from baseline to week 52. A 2-sample t test was used to compare group means for each pain-related measure. Results A total of 364 CCH-treated men were included. Mean penile curvature improvements at week 52 were similar across all 4 investigator-assessed and patient-reported penile pain measures (35.0%-36.7% improvement for the No Pain group vs 32.2%-33.9% improvement for the Any Pain group, P=0.14-0.65). Among those experiencing Any Pain, no statistical differences were observed in men with disease durations that were shorter (12-18 months; 21.8%-34.8% improvement) vs longer (greater than 18 months; 31.4%-36.8% improvement, P=0.20-0.95). Conclusions This study found similar curvature improvements among men treated with CCH regardless of baseline pain or disease duration. Results align with prior studies showing no outcome differences by pain status or disease phase. These findings suggest that pain and disease duration should not be viewed as contraindications to CCH or used to guide clinical decision-making. Disclosure Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Endo USA, Inc. Clarification: Industry initiated, executed and funded study Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Endo USA, Inc.

Abstract Introduction While most patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD) present with dorsal or lateral curvature, a significant number have ventral curvature (VC). These patients face limited treatment options, as they were excluded from initial clinical trials of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) due to safety concerns related to the proximity of the injection site to the urethra. However, urethral involvement is rare, as PD plaques develop in the tunica albuginea rather than the corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethra. Moreover, multiple prospective and retrospective studies have demonstrated favorable outcomes with CCH treatment in men with VC. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CCH in men with PD and VC in a multicenter, real-world, retrospective study. Methods This is an ongoing phase 4, multicenter, retrospective review of medical records from 15 US physician sites. Eligible patients consisted of patients who are: age ≥18 years with a diagnosis of VC in PD with a palpable plaque that was treated with CCH from 2014 to the study start date at each site. Patients missing baseline (BL; pretreatment) or final (last measurement within 6 months of final CCH treatment) penile curvature measurements were excluded. Effectiveness endpoints included percentage change in VC from BL to last visit, mean change in VC (in degrees) from BL to last visit, and proportion of patients with ≥30% improvement in VC from BL to last visit. Safety was assessed as proportions of patients reporting treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) throughout the study period. Results As of April 22, 2025, there were 116 patients with mean (SD) age of 58 (10.3) years who were eligible for analysis. Mean baseline VC decreased from 58 degrees to 37 degrees at last visit (37% improvement). An improvement in VC of ≥30% was seen in 73/116 (63%) of patients, with 81/116 (69.8%) experiencing ≥20% improvement. At least 1 TRAE was reported by 12 (10%) patients. TRAEs were mild-to-moderate in severity in 9 (75%) patients and unknown in 3 patients, with most events (14/17 [82%]) related to injection site reactions. As of the data cut, there were no treatment-related serious or treatment-related severe AEs, no reports of urethral involvement or injury, and no reports of corporal rupture. Conclusions Men with PD who present with ventral curvature represent an underserved patient population. Concerns about potential urethral injury pose a significant barrier to both minimally invasive and surgical treatments, thereby limiting available therapeutic options. These updated results from a multi-institutional real-world clinical cohort align with previous findings, and demonstrate that the clinical effectiveness and safety profile of CCH is consistent with the profile of CCH seen in other clinical presentations of PD. Disclosure Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Endo USA, Inc Clarification: Industry initiated, executed and funded study Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Endo USA, Inc.