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Background:Injectable azacitidine (AZA) has been evaluated in a variety of malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and solid tumors. CC‐486, the oral formulation of AZA, allows extended dosing schedules (>7 days per 28‐day treatment cycle) to increase AZA exposure to malignant cells over the course of the cycle. CC‐486 is under investigation in phase 3 clinical trials as maintenance therapy for patients with AML in first complete remission after induction chemotherapy (NCT01757535) and in lower‐risk MDS with concurrent thrombocytopenia and RBC transfusion dependence (NCT01566695). In these studies, patients receive CC‐486 300 mg QD administered in two 150 mg tablets. A single 300 mg CC‐486 tablet is in development for market approval.Aims:Evaluate the bioequivalence (BE) of a single 300 mg CC‐486 tablet relative to two 150 mg CC‐486 tablets, and the food effect (FE) on the bioavailability of the CC‐486 300 mg tablet.Methods:This was a phase 1, randomized, crossover study (NCT01519011). Adult patients had hematologic malignancies or solid tumors relapsed/refractory to prior therapy for which no standard treatments were available, and ECOG PS scores 0‐2. The BE phase assessed pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of CC‐486 administered as two 150 mg tablets (formulation A) and as one 300 mg tablet (formulation B). Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive each formulation at least 48 hours apart. In the FE phase, patients were randomized to receive formulation B on each of 2 PK study days under fed (high fat, ∼800‐1000 calories) and fasted conditions. PK parameters, including area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUC∞), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to Cmax (Tmax), terminal half‐life (t1/2), apparent total clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution (Vz/F) were analyzed. BE of formulations A and B, and absence of FE on formulation B, were indicated when the 90% CI of the ratios of geometric means (RGM) based on log‐transformed data for AUC∞ and Cmax between formulations A and B, and between fed and fasted conditions, were within 80%>125%.Results:30 patients were enrolled in the BE phase (median age 68.5 yrs, range 46‐86); 3 patients (10%) had hematologic malignancies and 27 (90%) had solid tumors. Formulations A and B were bioequivalent: the Cmax RGM was 101.5% (90% CI 89.9, 114.7) and AUC∞ RGM was 105.7% (95.0, 117.6). Median Tmax was 1.0 hour for both formulations.57 patients enrolled in the FE phase (median age 62 yrs, 31‐88); all had solid tumors. Despite a lower Cmax under fed condition (RGM 78.9% [90%CI 68.6, 90.7]), overall drug exposure was similar (AUC∞ RGM 108.9% [90%CI 98.5, 120.5]) (Figure A). Consistent with an effect of gastric emptying, median Tmax was reached at 2 hrs and 1 hr post‐dose in fed and fasted states, respectively (Figure B) and mean t1/2 was 0.78 and 0.58 hr postdose. CL/F and Vz/F were comparable in fed and fasted states. Moderate to high intersubject variability was observed for all CC‐486 PK parameters (Figure A).Summary/Conclusion:A single oral CC‐486 300 mg tablet is bioequivalent to two 150 mg tablets. The PK profile for the CC‐486 300 mg tablet under fed and fasted conditions was comparable although Cmax occurred later and was decreased in fed vs. fasted condition. Systemic drug exposure (AUC∞) in fed and fasted states was similar and within the bioequivalence limits. Limited differences in other CC‐486 PK parameters between fed and fasted states are not expected to have a clinical impact.image

OBJECTIVES To identify the top priority areas for research to optimize pharmacotherapy in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD). DESIGN Consensus meeting. SETTING Multidisciplinary workshop supported by the National Institute on Aging, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Geriatrics Society, February 6–7, 2017. PARTICIPANTS Leaders in the Cardiology and Geriatrics communities, (officers in professional societies, journal editors, clinical trialists, Division chiefs), representatives from the NIA; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Food and Drug Administration; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, pharmaceutical industry, and trainees and early career faculty with interests in geriatric cardiology. MEASUREMENTS Summary of workshop proceedings and recommendations. RESULTS To better align older adults’ healthcare preferences with their care, research is needed to improve skills in patient engagement and communication. Similarly, to coordinate and meet the needs of older adults with multiple comorbidities encountering multiple healthcare providers and systems, systems and disciplines must be integrated. The lack of data from efficacy trials of CVD medications relevant to the majority of older adults creates uncertainty in determining the risks and benefits of many CVD therapies; thus, developing evidence‐based guidelines for older adults with CVD is a top research priority. Polypharmacy and medication nonadherence lead to poor outcomes in older people, making research on appropriate prescribing and deprescribing to reduce polypharmacy and methods to improve adherence to beneficial therapies a priority. CONCLUSION The needs and circumstances of older adults with CVD differ from those that the current medical system has been designed to meet. Optimizing pharmacotherapy in older adults will require new data from traditional and pragmatic research to determine optimal CVD therapy, reduce polypharmacy, increase adherence, and meet person‐centered goals. Better integration of the multiple systems and disciplines involved in the care of older adults will be essential to implement and disseminate best practices. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:371–380, 2019.

Introduction: In response to reported difficulties in selecting a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, we designed a patient-centered online Part D plan selection tool (CHOICE1.0) to simplify the selection process and to provide personalized, expert recommendations. Methods: This ethnographic comparative usability study observed 44 patients using the first version of the tool during Medicare 2016 Open Enrollment. Participants were observed as they chose their drug plan using Medicare.gov and 1 of 3 versions of CHOICE1.0 that varied in amount of expert guidance. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze exit survey data. The observations were video-recorded, and field notes were analyzed thematically. Results: Participants were significantly more satisfied with CHOICE1.0 for choosing a plan, understanding information, and ease of use compared to Medicare.gov . Those using expert versions of CHOICE1.0 were more likely to indicate their intention to switch plans than those using Medicare.gov , though they wanted to know the source and content. Conclusion: The more patient-centered prescription drug choice tool improved user experience and enabled users to choose plans more consistent with expert recommendations.

Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. with approximately 610,000 people dying every year. Effective therapies for many cardiac diseases are lacking, largely due to an incomplete understanding of their genetic basis and underlying molecular mechanisms. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an excellent model system for studying heart disease as they enable a forward genetic approach to tackle this unmet medical need. In recent years, our team has been employing electrocardiogram (ECG) as an efficient tool to study the zebrafish heart along with conventional approaches, such as immunohistochemistry, DNA and protein analyses. We have overcome various challenges in the small size and aquatic environment of zebrafish in order to obtain ECG signals with favorable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and high spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper, we highlight our recent efforts in zebrafish ECG acquisition with a cost-effective simplified microelectrode array (MEA) membrane providing multi-channel recording, a novel multi-chamber apparatus for simultaneous screening, and a LabVIEW program to facilitate recording and processing. We also demonstrate the use of machine learning-based programs to recognize specific ECG patterns, yielding promising results with our current limited amount of zebrafish data. Our solutions hold promise to carry out numerous studies of heart diseases, drug screening, stem cell-based therapy validation, and regenerative medicine.

Objective: The primary objective was to conduct a meta-analysis on published observational cohort data describing the association between acetyl-salicylic acid (aspirin) use prior to the onset of sepsis and mortality in hospitalized patients. Study Selection: Studies that reported mortality in patients on aspirin with sepsis with a comparison group of patients with sepsis not on prior aspirin therapy were included. Data Sources: Fifteen studies described hospital-based cohorts (n = 17,065), whereas one was a large insurance-based database (n = 683,421). Individual-level patient data were incorporated from all selected studies. Data Extraction: Propensity analyses with 1:1 propensity score matching at the study level were performed, using the most consistently available covariates judged to be associated with aspirin. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the pooled average treatment effect of aspirin on sepsis-related mortality. Data Synthesis: Use of aspirin was associated with a 7% (95% CI, 2–12%; p = 0.005) reduction in the risk of death as shown by meta-analysis with considerable statistical heterogeneity (I 2 = 61.6%). Conclusions: These results are consistent with effects ranging from a 2% to 12% reduction in mortality risk in patients taking aspirin prior to sepsis onset. This association anticipates results of definitive studies of the use of low-dose aspirin as a strategy for reduction of deaths in patients with sepsis.

ABSTRACT Carpal tunnel pressure is a key factor in the etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. Numerous approaches have been conducted to measure carpal tunnel pressure. However, most techniques are invasive and take time and effort. We have developed an innovative approach to noninvasively assess the tunnel pressure by using the ultrasound surface wave elastography (USWE) technique. In a previous study it was shown that the shear wave speed in a tendon increased linearly with increasing tunnel pressure enclosed the tendon in a simple tendon model. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the carpal tunnel pressure and the shear wave speeds inside and outside the carpal tunnel in a human cadaveric model. The result showed that the shear wave speed inside the carpal tunnel increased linearly with created carpal tunnel pressure, while the shear wave speed outside the carpal tunnel remained constant. These findings suggest that noninvasive measurement of carpal tunnel pressure is possible by measuring the shear wave speed in the tendon. After fully establishing this technology and being applicable in clinic, it would be useful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. For that reason, further validation with this technique in both healthy controls and patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is required. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:477–483, 2018.

Fibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of CTS pathophysiology. In this study, we evaluated the effect of blocking profibrotic pathways in fibroblasts from the SSCT in CTS patients. Fibroblasts were stimulated with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), and then treated either with a specific fibrosis pathway inhibitor targeting TGF‐β receptor type 1 (TβRI), platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). Fibrosis array and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction of fibrotic genes were evaluated. Array gene expression analysis revealed significant down‐regulation of multiple fibrotic genes after treatment with TβRI, PDGFR, and VEGFR inhibitors. No array fibrotic genes were significantly down‐regulated with EGFR inhibition. Further gene expression analysis of known CTS fibrosis markers collagen type I A2 (Col1), collagen type III A1 (Col3), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and SERPINE1 showed significantly down‐regulation after TβRI inhibition. In contrast, VEGFR inhibition significantly down‐regulated CTGF and SERPINE1, whereas, PDGFR and EGFR inhibition significantly down‐regulated Col3. Taken together the inhibition of TβRI appears to be the primary mediator of fibrotic gene expression in fibroblasts from CTS patients. TGF‐β/Smad activity was further evaluated, and as expected inhibition of Smad activity was significantly down‐regulated after inhibition of TβRI, but not with PDGFR, VEGFR, or EGFR inhibition. These results indicate that local therapies specifically targeting TGF‐β signaling alone or in combination offer the potential of a novel local antifibrosis therapy for patients with CTS.