Citations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), constituting the predominant manifestation of liver cancer, stands as a formidable medical challenge. The prognosis subsequent to surgical intervention, particularly for individuals presenting with a solitary tumor, relies heavily on the degree of invasiveness. The decision-making process surrounding therapeutic modalities in such cases assumes paramount importance. This case report illuminates a rather unusual clinical scenario. Here, we encounter a patient who, following a disease-free interval, manifested an atypical presentation of HCC, specifically, a solitary cardiac metastasis. The temporal interval of remission adds an additional layer of complexity to the case. Through a multidisciplinary planning process, the decision was made for surgical removal of the metastatic tumor.

OBJECTIVES Early warning scores detecting clinical deterioration in pediatric inpatients have wide-ranging performance and use a limited number of clinical features. This study developed a machine learning model leveraging multiple static and dynamic clinical features from the electronic health record to predict the composite outcome of unplanned transfer to the ICU within 24 hours and inpatient mortality within 48 hours in hospitalized children. METHODS Using a retrospective development cohort of 17 630 encounters across 10 388 patients, 2 machine learning models (light gradient boosting machine [LGBM] and random forest) were trained on 542 features and compared with our institutional Pediatric Early Warning Score (I-PEWS). RESULTS The LGBM model significantly outperformed I-PEWS based on receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the composite outcome of ICU transfer or mortality for both internal validation and temporal validation cohorts (AUROC 0.785 95% confidence interval [0.780–0.791] vs 0.708 [0.701–0.715] for temporal validation) as well as lead-time before deterioration events (median 11 hours vs 3 hours; P = .004). However, LGBM performance as evaluated by precision recall curve was lesser in the temporal validation cohort with associated decreased positive predictive value (6% vs 29%) and increased number needed to evaluate (17 vs 3) compared with I-PEWS. CONCLUSIONS Our electronic health record based machine learning model demonstrated improved AUROC and lead-time in predicting clinical deterioration in pediatric inpatients 24 to 48 hours in advance compared with I-PEWS. Further work is needed to optimize model positive predictive value to allow for integration into clinical practice.

Background: Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) represent a group of rare hematologic malignancies, distinguished by their concurrent dysplastic and proliferative features. Patients with these neoplasms have an increased risk of acute leukemia transformation and often present with extramedullary and constitutional symptoms. The only approved therapies for MDS/MPNs are hydroxyurea, decitabine (oral decitabine/cedazuridine and parenteral decitabine) or azacitidine (parenteral) for pts with CMML. Given the rarity and the heterogeneity of MDS/MPNs, prospective studies focusing specifically on MDS/MPN have been uncommon, and refining treatment strategies has been difficult. ABNL-MARRO ( A Basket study of Nove l therapy for untreated MDS/MPN and Relapsed/ Refractory Overlap Syndromes) is an international cooperative effort that leverages the expertise of the MDS/MPN International Working Group (IWG) and provides a framework for collaborative studies around the world to advance treatment of MDS/MPN and to explore clinical and pathologic markers of disease severity, prognosis, and treatment response (Moyo TK et.al BMC Cancer. 2022). Methods: ABNL-MARRO 001 (AM-001) is an open-label, phase 1b/2 study testing the treatment combination of ASTX727 (days 1-5), a fixed dose oral combination pill containing 35 mg of the DNMTi decitabine (DEC) and 100 mg of the cytidine deaminase inhibitor cedazuridine (CED), together with a series of active agents in myeloid disease (see Figure 1a) for MDS/MPN. In arm A, ASTX727 is combined with itacitinib 300 mg (days 1-28), a selective JAK1 inhibitor in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory (R/R) pts. Here we report results from the 3+3 dose de-escalation phase 1b portion used to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) in arm A. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed in cycle 1. Disease response was assessed by the MDS/MPN IWG response criteria (Savona et.al., Blood. 2015). Results: Seven patients were enrolled with a median age 75 (range 32-82) years with newly diagnosed (4 pts) or R/R (3 pts) MDS/MPN. Three patients had CMML, 2 had MDS/MPN-U, and 2 had refractory MDS/MPN RST. One patient was not DLT evaluable given severe disease-induced cytopenia, and was not included in the assessment (patient 4 in Figure 1b). The majority of pts experienced a treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) of any grade; the most common (≥30% of pts) were thrombocytopenia (50%), neutropenia (30%), and constipation (30%); 50% of pts experienced a Grade ≥3 TEAE; the most common was neutropenia (30%). No DLTs were reported, and these AEs were consistent with what has been reported in the use of ASTX727 (Savona et al. Blood. 2022). One patient achieved a CR, and two additional patients had the best overall response of optimal marrow response after receiving 6 cycles of treatment. All patients are alive with a median follow-up of 12 months (range 6-17 months). The clinical responses and time-on-treatment of all pts in phase 1b are summarized in Figure 1b. Summary/Conclusion: Based on the preliminary results of the phase 1b study, the dosing schedule of 35 mg DEC / 100 mg CED daily for 5 days in combination with itacitinib 300 mg daily for 28 days was selected as the RP2D as it balanced clinical efficacy with an acceptable and manageable safety profile. This regimen and dose are being utilized in a 28-day cycle in the ongoing global, multi-center phase 2 study (NCT04061421).

Introduction: Pregnancy is considered a hypercoagulable state, with levels of multiple coagulation factors including Factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand Factor (VWF), progressively increasing throughout, reaching their peak levels during the third trimester. However, in women with von Willebrand disease (VWD), these changes are variable and could be blunted or absent due to the wide heterogeneity of phenotypes and pathophysiological mechanisms linked to this disorder, posing a significant clinical challenge. This study aims to describe the trend in the VWF profile in women with VWD during each trimester of pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study that included adult pregnant women diagnosed with VWD, who were followed at Henry Ford Health between 03/2012 and 11/2022. Patients with other bleeding disorders were excluded from the study. Data on baseline characteristics, including age, race, age at childbirth, and parity were collected. Additional data collected included VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) level, FVIII activity level, and VWF ristocetin cofactor (VWF:Rco) activity during the first, second, and third trimesters, as well as in the postpartum period. Results: A total of 33 cases were included in our study. At baseline, the mean VWF:Ag level in our patients was 50.5% (reference range 50%-150%). Compared to baseline, the VWF:Ag level increased by 48.71% in the first trimester, 80.59% in the second trimester, and 168.71% in the third trimester. Postpartum, the VWF:Ag level decreased by 51.29% compared to the third trimester; however, it remained 30.89% higher than baseline levels. While the FVIII level (reference range 50%-150%) was an average of 64.8% at baseline, it increased by 21.91% in the first trimester, 74.23% in the second trimester, and 143.67% in the third trimester, compared to baseline. Postpartum, the FVIII level decreased by 48.45% from the third trimester but remained 25.62% higher than baseline. Additionally, the VWF:Rco level was an average of 44.3% (reference range 51%-215%) at baseline. Compared to baseline, the VWF:Rco level increased by 61.85% in the first trimester, 90.52% in the second trimester, and 142.66% in the third trimester. It decreased by 49.12% postpartum compared to the third trimester but remained 23.48% higher than baseline. Conclusion: In women with VWD, VWF:Ag level, FVIII level, and VWF:Rco levels steadily increase during pregnancy, reaching their maximum levels during the third trimester. All three levels decreased in the postpartum period; however, they remain higher compared to baseline at a median follow up of 105 days after delivery.