Importance The choice of induction agent during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) of critically ill adults may affect clinical outcomes. Although ketamine and etomidate are frequently used for RSI, their comparative effectiveness remains controversial. Objective To compare the safety of etomidate vs ketamine for emergency RSI in critically ill adults. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used a target trial emulation with observational data collected between March 1, 2022, and April 30, 2024, from 18 emergency departments across Brazil, with data from the Brazilian Airway Registry Cooperation. Adults who underwent RSI and received either etomidate or ketamine as a sole hypnotic agent were included; those with preintubation cardiac arrest or immediate postintubation transfer were excluded. Exposure Administration of etomidate or ketamine as the induction agent for RSI. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was 28-day in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 7-day in-hospital mortality, first-attempt intubation success, and major adverse events (new hemodynamic instability, severe hypoxemia, and cardiac arrest) within 30 minutes after intubation. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for confounding. Risk ratios (RRs) and risk differences (RDs) with 95% CIs were used to compare outcomes between groups. Results Among 1810 patients (median age, 64 years [IQR, 50-74 years]; 1048 men [57.9%]), 514 received ketamine and 1296 received etomidate. The median shock index was higher in the ketamine group than the etomidate group (0.81 [IQR, 0.65-1.01] vs 0.76 [IQR, 0.59-0.99]), and preintubation vasopressor use was more common in the ketamine group than the etomidate group (191 of 514 [37.2%] vs 391 of 1296 [30.2%]). Weighted 28-day mortality was higher with etomidate than ketamine (60.5% [95% CI, 57.2%-63.8%] vs 54.4% [95% CI, 45.0%-63.9%]; RR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.03-1.27]; RD, 7.6% [95% CI, 2.0%-13.3%]). Seven-day mortality was also higher with etomidate than ketamine (35.2% [95% CI, 32.0%-38.3%] vs 30.1% [95% CI, 23.5%-36.7%]; RR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.04-1.35]). New hemodynamic instability within 30 minutes after intubation was more frequent with ketamine (24.2% [95% CI, 20.4%-28.0%] vs 18.9% [95% CI, 16.7%-21.0%]; RR, 0.78 [0.64-0.95]). There were no statistically significant differences in the other secondary outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of critically ill adults undergoing RSI, etomidate use was associated with higher in-hospital mortality at 7 and 28 days compared with ketamine. These findings highlight the need for definitive randomized clinical trials to compare both agents.
Tisochrysis lutea F&M-M36 Mitigates Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome and Promotes Visceral Fat Browning through β3-Adrenergic Receptor/UCP1 Signaling
Pre-metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS) may represent the best transition phase to start treatments aimed at reducing cardiometabolic risk factors of MetS. In this study, we investigated the effects of the marine microalga Tisochrysis lutea F&M-M36 (T. lutea) on cardiometabolic components of pre-MetS and its underlying mechanisms. Rats were fed a standard (5% fat) or a high-fat diet (20% fat) supplemented or not with 5% of T. lutea or fenofibrate (100 mg/Kg) for 3 months. Like fenofibrate, T. lutea decreased blood triglycerides (p < 0.01) and glucose levels (p < 0.01), increased fecal lipid excretion (p < 0.05) and adiponectin (p < 0.001) without affecting weight gain. Unlike fenofibrate, T. lutea did not increase liver weight and steatosis, reduced renal fat (p < 0.05), diastolic (p < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure (p < 0.05). In visceral adipose tissue (VAT), T. lutea, but not fenofibrate, increased the β3-adrenergic receptor (β3ADR) (p < 0.05) and Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) (p < 0.001) while both induced glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) protein expression (p < 0.001) and decreased interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β gene expression (p < 0.05). Pathway analysis on VAT whole-gene expression profiles showed that T. lutea up-regulated energy-metabolism-related genes and down-regulated inflammatory and autophagy pathways. The multitarget activity of T. lutea suggests that this microalga could be useful in mitigating risk factors of MetS.
Acute myocarditis associated with desmosomal gene variants
Abstract Background The risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocarditis (AM) and desmosomal gene variants (DGV) remains unknown. Purpose To ascertain the risk of death, ventricular arrhythmias, recurrent myocarditis, and heart failure (main endpoint) in patients with AM and pathogenic or likely pathogenetic DGV. Methods In a retrospective international study from 23 hospitals, 97 patients were included: 36 with AM and DGV (DGV(+)), 25 with AM and negative gene testing (DGV(−)), and 36 AM patients without genetics (w/o genetics). All patients had troponin elevation plus findings consistent with AM on histology or at cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). In 86 patients CMRI changes in function and structure were re-assessed at follow-up. Results In the DGV(+) AM group (88.9% DSP variants), median age was 24 years, 91.7% presented with chest pain, and median left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was 56% on CMRI (p=NS vs. the other 2 groups). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a higher risk of the main endpoint in DGV(+) AM compared to DGV(−) and w/o genetics patients (62.3% vs. 17.5% vs. 5.3% at 5 years respectively; p<0.0001), driven by myocarditis recurrence and ventricular arrhythmias (Figure 1A, B). At follow-up CMRI, a higher number of late-gadolinium enhanced segments was found in DGV(+) AM. Conclusions Patients with AM and evidence of DGV have a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events compared with AM patients without DGV. Further prospective studies are needed to ascertain if genetic testing might improve risk stratification of patients with AM who are considered at low risk. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Italian Ministry of Health
High-Dose Cytarabine Is Indispensable for the Survival of Children with Myeloid Leukemia of Down Syndrome Despite Negative Minimal Residual Disease Post-Induction
Introduction. Myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome (ML-DS) is a unique subtype of acute myeloid leukemia, distinguished by an earlier age of onset (under 4 years of age); somatic mutations of GATA1; hypersensitivity of leukemic blasts to cytarabine and other chemotherapeutic agents; lack of CNS involvement; and superior event-free survival (EFS, 85-90% at 5 years). Due to these excellent outcomes, successive protocols by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) have aimed for a reduction of treatment intensity but continue to include a course containing high-dose cytarabine (HD-AraC) for all patients, which is associated with the bulk of infectious toxicity. COG AAML1531 is the first study to evaluate differential treatment for ML-DS patients based on risk-stratification. We report the outcomes for patients with Standard Risk (SR) ML-DS enrolled on AAML1531, who were treated without inclusion of HD-AraC (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02521493?term=AAML1531&rank=1). Methods. Patients older than 90 days and younger than 4 years of age with ML-DS were eligible, including those presenting with myelodysplastic syndrome (< 20% blasts in the bone marrow) and trisomy 21 mosaicism. Pathological and cytogenetic data were reviewed centrally. All patients received the same first course of induction therapy (cytarabine 200 mg/m2/24h IV as continuous infusion, day 1-4; daunorubicin 20 mg/m2IV, day 1-4; thioguanine 50 mg/m2/dose PO twice daily, day 1-4; and a single dose of age-based intrathecal cytarabine on day 1). After this first course, measureable residual disease (MRD) in the bone marrow by multi-dimensional flow cytometry in a reference laboratory was used for risk stratification. Patients with negative MRD (<0.05%) were assigned to Standard Risk (SR) therapy, which was modeled after the AAML0431 predecessor study, but with further reduction of treatment by omission of the course containing HD-AraC/E. coli asparaginase (Induction II of AAML0431). Courses #2 and #3 of SR therapy were identical to the first course except that no further intrathecal chemotherapy was administered. Courses #4 and #5 (cytarabine 100 mg/m2/24h IV as continuous infusion day 1-7; etoposide 125 mg/m2 IV, day 1-3) were identical to the corresponding courses of AAML0431. For patients younger than 36 months, chemotherapy doses were calculated based on weight. Use of dexrazoxane during anthracycline-containing courses was at the discretion of the treating center but was captured by the data collection of the study. Patients with positive MRD (>0.05%) after the first course were assigned to the High Risk (HR) Arm and received intensified therapy (equivalent to that used for non-DS AML). Accrual to the HR arm is ongoing. Results. Interim analysis of SR therapy was performed after 50% of expected EFS events had occurred as of June 30, 2018. The observed EFS was 89.3 +/- 6.1% at 2 years from study entry and significantly lower than expected for comparable MRD-negative patients whose treatment in predecessor study AAML0431 included a course of HD-AraC/E. coliasparaginase (p=0.0002). OS at 2 years was 88.7 +/- 6.8%. Among a total of 114 SR ML-DS patients, 11 developed a relapse, all within the first year from study entry (range 136-327 days). OS at 1 year from relapse was 9.1 +/- 17.3%. Based on the results of interim analysis, the SR arm of AAML1531 was closed to accrual due to lack of efficacy. Cytogenetic analysis showed that complex karyotypes (defined as >3 independent abnormalities including >1 structural one) were significantly more frequent in SR patients who relapsed (40%, n=10) compared to SR patients who did not (9%; n=100; p=0.017). The most common abnormalities were trisomies (61% of cases) of chromosomes 3 and 8, and a gain of a fourth copy of chromosome 21. Monosomy 7 was present in 20% of relapsed vs. 5% of patients without a relapse (p=0.122). Conclusions. MRD measured by multi-dimensional flow cytometry is insufficient to identify a subset of ML-DS patients for whom HD-AraC/E.coliasparaginase can be eliminated from treatment. Cytogenetic profiling may aid in further refining risk-based subsets of ML-DS patients. Additional approaches to risk stratification of ML-DS should be pursued, which take into account the emerging genetic events that co-operate with mutant GATA1 in the development of ML-DS. At this time, HD-AraC/E.coli asparaginase should be included in the treatment of ML-DS, regardless of MRD. Disclosures Druley: Washington University: Employment; ArcherDX Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Loken:Hematologics, Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Eidenschink Brodersen:Hematologics, Inc: Employment.
Abstract C12: Identification of biomarkers and pathways associated with response to the DOT1L inhibitor Pinometostat (EPZ-5676) in MLL-r leukemia
Abstract Pinometostat is a highly selective first in class DOT1L inhibitor currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in adult and pediatric leukemia patients (pts) with MLL rearrangements (MLL-r or MLL-PTD). Preliminary results of the adult trial have demonstrated clinical activity including complete remissions in a subset of patients (Stein, 2014). Investigation and identification of candidate molecular correlates of pinometostat response in both pt samples and cell lines are reported. RNA and DNA were isolated from PBMCs and/or bone marrow collected prior to treatment from 18 pts enrolled in the adult pinometostat Phase 1 study (CT.gov: NCT01684150), at the following doses 24 (n = 2), 36 (n = 3), 54 (n = 6), 80 (n = 3) and 90 mg/m2/day doses (n = 4). mRNA transcript abundance was assessed using whole genome RNASeq and DNA variants were determined using a 194 gene panel, MyAML (Genection Inc.). Correlations of transcript abundance and DNA variants detected with categorical (responder = CR or PR [n = 3], or no response [n = 16]) and continuous response parameters (time on study [TOS], mean = 59 days: range = 8-196 days) were performed. For cell lines, whole genome RNASeq data was generated from 14 cell lines (MLL-r or MLL-PTD) with a range of in vitro sensitivity to pinometostat (cell proliferation IC50 2 nM to > 10 μM) and RNA transcripts identified as correlated with IC50 were submitted for pathway analysis. Univariate analyses revealed no DNA variants to be associated with either response category (FDR adjusted P < 0.05), however, a statistical association (unadjusted P = 0.05) was identified between increased TOS and those pts harboring t(11:19). Indicating that specific MLL fusion partners may elicit differential sensitivity to pinometostat therapy (2/2 CR pts had t(11:19)). Analysis of the baseline PBMC RNASeq data revealed 201 genes as significantly correlated with TOS (FDR adjusted P<0.05), these data were further analyzed using the Selventa causal modelling platform to identify pathways associated with TOS. Increased activity in pathways leading to differentiation, oxidative stress, inflammation, ras activation and decreased activities of PPAR-γ, DNA methylation and stem cell renewal were associated with increased TOS. Independent analysis of the cell line response data identified pathways that significantly overlapped with those observed in pt samples, with 4/7 of the pt derived mechanisms identified (PPAR-γ activity, inflammation, stem cell renewal and ras activation). In all cases directionality of pathway activity relative to pinometostat sensitivity were concordant between pt and cell line data. Based on these results the effect of a PPAR-γ agonist e.g. rosiglitazone, would be predicted to be antagonistic to pinometostat activity. Results of experiments investigating the effects of combination of rosiglitazone and pinometostat in MOLM-13 cell lines demonstrated that the combination was significantly less effective at inhibiting cell proliferation than pinometostat alone (IC50 shift of 2 fold (n = 2)). MLL-r fusion partner (e.g. t(11:19)) may influence clinical response to pinometostat. In addition RNASeq based characterization of patient samples and cell lines revealed candidate pathways that may cooperate with or antagonize pinometostat activity that warrant further investigation. Citation Format: Scott Daigle, Alice McDonald, Ty M. Thomson, David A. Drubin, Michael Maria, A. Carson, Brad Patay, Jeff Keats, Christine Klaus, Alejandra Raimondi, G. Garcia-Manero, D. A. Rizzieri, Raoul Tibes, Jesus Berdeja, Eytan M. Stein, Blythe Thomson, Stephen J. Blakemore. Identification of biomarkers and pathways associated with response to the DOT1L inhibitor Pinometostat (EPZ-5676) in MLL-r leukemia. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr C12.