Citations

111 Background: Comparative evidence of quality of life (QoL) outcomes regarding life-prolonging treatments for the management of first-line treatment of metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) is not known. Methods: This systematic review uses the living interactive evidence synthesis framework (PMID: 36862387). Phase III randomized controlled trials assessing contemporary systemic treatments in mCSPC were included. Small sample size adjusted standardized mean differences (SMD; Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed for global QoL at 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo. Positive SMD indicated better health-related QoL, with zero indicating a null effect. Mixed treatment comparisons were made using a network meta-analysis. P-scores were computed; a higher score indicated better QoL. Results: Of 10 clinical trials initially included, eight trials (15 references) reported QoL. At 3mo global QoL was improved with abiraterone (AAP)+ADT compared to D+ADT (SMD: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.13-0.39), enzalutamide (E)+ADT (0.18; 0.03-0.33), and ADT (0.14; 0.02-0.27). At 6mo, AAP+ADT significantly improved global QoL compared to D+ADT (0.74; 0.62-0.87), E+ADT (1.74; 1.56-1.92), and ADT (1.79; 1.65-1.93). D+ADT also improved global QoL at 6mo compared to ADT (1.05; 0.93-1.16) but not when compared to E+ADT. At 12mo, AAP+ADT improved global QoL compared to E+ADT (0.20; 0.05-0.34) and ADT (0.19; 0.07-0.31) but not compared to D+ADT (0.05; -0.07-0.17). D+ADT also improved global QoL at 12mo compared to ADT (0.14; 0.03-0.24) (Table). Global QoL has not been reported for ARASENS trial at this time. These results are available on the Living interactive website. Conclusions: The totality of evidence suggests improved global QoL with androgen-pathway inhibitors (API) doublet therapy. D+ADT may offer better QoL at longer 6 and 12 months of follow-up. QoL data for triplet therapy is still emerging and will be incorporated in the living review as soon as it becomes available. [Table: see text]

INTRODUCTION: Management of hepatic encephalopathy relies on self-titration of lactulose. In this feasibility trial, we assess an artificial intelligence–enabled tool to guide lactulose use through a smartphone application. METHODS: Subjects with hepatic encephalopathy on lactulose captured bowel movement pictures during lead-in and intervention phases. During the intervention phase, daily feedback on lactulose titration was delivered through the application. Goals were determined according to number of bowel movement and Bristol Stool Scale reports. RESULTS: Subjects completed the study with more than 80% satisfaction. In the lead-in phase, less compliant subjects achieved Bristol Stool Scale goal on 62/111 (56%) of days compared with 107/136 (79%) in the intervention phase ( P = 0.041), while the most compliant subjects showed no difference. Severe/recurrent hepatic encephalopathy group achieved Bristol Stool Scale goal on 80/104 (77%) days in the lead-in phase and 90/110 (82%) days in the intervention phase ( P = NS), compared with 89/143 (62%) days and 86/127 (68%) days in the stable group. DISCUSSION: Dieta application is a promising tool for objective Bowel Movement/Bristol Stool Scale tracking for hepatic encephalopathy and may potentially be used to assist with lactulose titration.

Background Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides full hemodynamic support for patients with cardiogenic shock, but optimal timing of ECMO initiation remains uncertain. We sought to determine whether earlier initiation of ECMO is associated with improved survival in cardiogenic shock. Methods and Results We analyzed adult patients with cardiogenic shock who received venoarterial ECMO from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry from 2009 to 2019, excluding those cannulated following an operation. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between time from admission to ECMO initiation and in‐hospital death. Among 8619 patients (median, 56.7 [range, 44.8–65.6] years; 33.5% women), the median duration from admission to ECMO initiation was 14 (5–32) hours. Patients who had ECMO initiated within 24 hours (n=5882 [68.2%]) differed from those who had ECMO initiated after 24 hours, with younger age, more preceding cardiac arrest, and worse acidosis. After multivariable adjustment, patients with ECMO initiated >24 hours after admission had higher risk of in‐hospital death (adjusted odds ratio, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.06–1.36]; P =0.004). Each 12‐hour increase in the time from admission to ECMO initiation was incrementally associated with higher adjusted in‐hospital mortality rate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.03–1.10]; P <0.001). The association between longer time to ECMO and worse outcomes appeared stronger in patients with lower shock severity. Conclusions Longer delays from admission to ECMO initiation were associated with higher a mortality rate in a large‐scale, international registry. Our analysis supports optimization of door‐to‐support time and the avoidance of inappropriately delayed ECMO initiation.

As the availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) expands, so has the need for interfacility transfer to ECMO centers. However, the impact of these transfers is unknown. We hypothesized that interfacility transfers would be associated with increased complications and mortality. This retrospective cohort study includes adult patients treated with venovenous (VV) ECMO at all four adult ECMO centers comprising our statewide registry. Complications, mortality, ECMO duration, length of stay, and disposition were compared based on cannulation at an ECMO center versus outside hospital and transferred by air versus ground after adjusting for baseline covariates/parameters. The study included 420 adult patients, 36% of whom were cannulated at an outside institution before transfer. Of these, 63% were transported by ground and the remainder by air. Risk adjusted logistic regression revealed similar odds of mortality between those cannulated at ECMO centers versus referring hospital and then transported (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77, confidence interval [CI] = 0.49–1.22). This study supports the practice of interfacility ECMO transfer.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is commonly misdiagnosed because of the complexity of presentation and multiple diagnostic criteria. FASD includes four categorical entities (fetal alcohol syndrome, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder, and alcohol related birth defects). The four FASD diagnostic criteria are facial dysmorphology, growth deficiency, central nervous system dysfunction, and prenatal alcohol exposure. Sensory processing disorders (SPDs) are common in FASD and are observed as inappropriate behavioral responses to environmental stimuli. These can be either a sensory-based motor disorder, sensory discrimination disorder, or sensory modulation disorder. A child with SPD may experience challenges with their fine motor coordination, gross motor coordination, organizational challenges, or behavioral regulation impairments. FASD requires a multidimensional approach to intervention. Although FASD cannot be cured, symptoms can be managed with sleep-based therapies, sensory integration, and cognitive therapies. This paper reviews SPDs in FASD and the interventions that can be used by practitioners to help improve their therapeutic management, although it is unlikely that any single intervention will be the right choice for all patients.

Background: Approximately 30% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases present with de novo metastatic disease, while 20% to 30% of those with localized disease will develop metastases following surgical resection. Various drug classes have been investigated to treat RCC, including cytokine-based therapies, small molecule Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and antibody-based therapies. Up to 58% of patients fail to respond to primary immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, and nearly all initial responders experience disease progression due to the development of secondary resistance. Consequently, novel treatment options are being investigated. Objective: Review the rapidly evolving ADC therapeutic landscape in metastatic RCC including recent trials, emerging ADCs targets, and future directions for ADCs in the treatment of advanced RCC. Methods: Literature review using the MEDLINE database on important trials and presentations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conferences. Key words used included “renal cell carcinoma,” “RCC,” “metastatic RCC,” “advanced RCC,” “antibody-based therapies,” “immunotherapy,” “clinical trials,” and “emerging drugs.” Specifically for review of ADCs in RCC, the following search string was used with additional review of bibliographies from retrieved papers: “((antibody drug conjugate) OR (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) OR (chimeric antigen receptor)) AND ((kidney cancer) OR (renal cell carcinoma))”. Results: Several promising targets including MMP14, EGFR, MCT4, CA9, MET, CDH13, B7-H3, and PSMA were identified with relevant preclinical and clinical studies reviewed. Conclusions: While ADCs therapeutics have not shown benefit to date for renal cell carcinoma, there are ample promising candidates and targets for future research.

Lactulose-based hepatic encephalopathy treatment requires bowel movements/day titration, which is improved with Bristol stool scale (BSS) incorporation. Dieta app evaluates artificial intelligence (AI)-based BSS (AI-BSS) with stool images. Initially, controls (N = 13) and cirrhosis patients on lactulose/not on lactulose (n = 33) were trained on the app. They entered self-reported BSS (self-BSS) with AI-BSS communicated. Lactulose dose changes were tracked. A subset (n = 12) was retested with AI communication blocked. Most subjects were comfortable with the app. Self/AI-BSS and lactulose dose/AI-BSS correlation increased with app use. AI-BSS communications improved insight into self-BSS over time. Dieta app to gauge stool AI characteristics was acceptable and increased insight into lactulose dose and BSS in cirrhosis.