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ABSTRACTObjectivesThis final post hoc analysis evaluated patient‐reported outcomes from the Phase 3 MAIA study of daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (D‐Rd) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) after median 64.5‐month follow‐up in transplant‐ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), including patient subgroups.MethodsKey scales from the EORTC QLQ‐C30 (global health status [GHS], physical functioning, pain, and fatigue) were assessed. Scores were evaluated every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months until disease progression.ResultsThe intent‐to‐treat population (n = 737) included 46.3% frail, 35.4% 70 to < 75 years old, and 43.6% ≥ 75 years old. D‐Rd‐treated patients showed improvements from baseline that were sustained over 5 years in the intent‐to‐treat population and across subgroups by age, frailty, and bone lesions. Greater proportions of patients treated with D‐Rd versus Rd achieved minimally important changes for improvement at cycle 36 (year ~3) in GHS (odds ratio, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.16–2.91]), physical functioning (1.93 [1.18–3.14]), pain (1.41 [0.90–2.22]), and fatigue (2.00 [1.24–3.23]). Greater proportions of patients with bone lesions improved with D‐Rd versus Rd on GHS and physical functioning.ConclusionsIn transplant‐ineligible patients with NDMM, D‐Rd improved health‐related quality of life over a 5‐year period versus Rd. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02252172

Objectives: Every year, around 300 million surgeries are conducted worldwide, with an estimated 4.2 million deaths occurring within 30 days after surgery. Adequate patient education is crucial, but often falls short due to the stress patients experience before surgery. Large language models (LLMs) can significantly enhance this process by delivering thorough information and addressing patient concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer-4o’s audio-based responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding six general surgical procedures. Three experienced surgeons and two senior residents formulated seven general and three procedure-specific FAQs for both preoperative and postoperative situations, covering six surgical scenarios (major: pancreatic head resection, rectal resection, total gastrectomy; minor: cholecystectomy, Lichtenstein procedure, hemithyroidectomy). In total, 120 audio responses were generated, transcribed, and assessed by 11 surgeons from 6 different German university hospitals. Results: ChatGPT-4o demonstrated strong performance, achieving an average score of 4.12/5 for accuracy, 4.46/5 for relevance, and 0.22/5 for potential harm across 120 questions. Postoperative responses surpassed preoperative ones in both accuracy and relevance, while also exhibiting lower potential for harm. Additionally, responses related to minor surgeries were minimal, but significantly more accurate compared to those for major surgeries. Conclusions: This study underscores GPT-4o’s potential to enhance patient education both before and after surgery by delivering accurate and relevant responses to FAQs about various surgical procedures. Responses regarding the postoperative course proved to be more accurate and less harmful than those addressing preoperative ones. Although a few responses carried moderate risks, the overall performance was robust, indicating GPT-4o’s value in patient education. The study suggests the development of hospital-specific applications or the integration of GPT-4o into interactive robotic systems to provide patients with reliable, immediate answers, thereby improving patient satisfaction and informed decision-making.

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe self‐expanding, supra‐annular Evolut valve is an established platform for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Evolut PRO introduced an outer sealing wrap to mitigate paravalvular leakage. We evaluated the 3‐year clinical outcomes and valve performance of the Evolut PRO in standard clinical practice for severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients at intermediate or higher risk for surgery.MethodsThe FORWARD PRO prospective, single‐arm, multicentre, post‐market clinical study enrolled 638 patients with native aortic valve stenosis or failed surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve undergoing TAVI, at intermediate or high risk, with the Evolut PRO valve. Clinical and serial echocardiographic outcomes were followed‐up for 3 years.ResultsTAVI using Evolut PRO was attempted in 629 AS patients (implanted in 97%) (mean age 81.7 years; STS PROM score, 4.7%). At 3 years all‐cause mortality was 25.0%, disabling stroke 6.5% (all‐cause mortality or disabling stroke, 28.5%) and rate of new permanent pacemaker implantation 24.7%. Excellent valve haemodynamics were maintained (mean gradient 8.8 ± 4.7 mm Hg; mean effective orifice area 2.0 ± 0.5 cm2) at 3 years. In a paired analysis of patients with ≥ mild paravalvular leakage (PVL) at discharge, more than two‐thirds demonstrated improved PVL at 3 years. Patients with ≥ mild PVL at discharge had higher median total calcium volume than those with no/trace PVL (p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn clinical practice TAVI with the Evolut PRO valve is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and excellent haemodynamic performance out to 3 years. The observation of improvements in PVL over time warrants further research.

Background: Daratumumab (DARA) has demonstrated clinical benefit in multiple myeloma (MM) and is approved for the treatment of both newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) and relapsed refractory MM (RRMM). While single-center studies have shown the benefit of DARA retreatment in patients (pts) who are refractory to DARA (D-Ref), there is a lack of real-world data on the characteristics of pts who are retreated with DARA across multiple lines of treatment (LOTs). In this study, we examine DARA retreatment patterns and outcomes among pts who are D-Ref and those who are sensitive to DARA (D-Sens) after the first DARA exposure in the US real-world clinical practice. Methods: This study used the Flatiron MM Core Registry data to identify pts with MM treated with a DARA-containing regimen in ≥2 separate LOTs between November 1, 2015, and March 31, 2024. The first DARA-based LOT was defined as D1, and the second DARA-based LOT was defined as the retreatment LOT (D2). The following criteria, developed by Janssen Scientific Affairs, were used to classify pts as Dara-retreated: 1) pts treated with the same DARA-containing regimens in consecutive LOTs were classified as Dara-retreated if there was a gap of &gt;90 days between D1 and D2, 2) pts treated with different DARA-containing regimens in consecutive LOTs were classified as Dara-retreated, 3) pts treated with DARA-containing regimens had ≥1 LOTs between D1 and D2 they were classified as Dara-retreated, regardless of whether the regimens were the same or different. Derived disease progression reported in the Flatiron data was used for this analysis. If disease progression was reported during D1, or within 60 days of discontinuing D1, the pt was considered as D-Ref, otherwise, the pt was considered as D-Sens. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses were conducted to evaluate duration of D2, proportion of pts not receiving subsequent treatment after D2, and progression-free survival (PFS) rates during D2. Results: Data for 201 pts retreated with DARA were identified in this analysis, 150 were D-Sens and 51 were D-Ref. In the D-Sens group, the median age at D2 initiation was 71 years, 44.0% of pts were female, 27.3% were ISS stage II and 16.0% were African American. In the D-Ref group, the median age at D2 initiation was 67 years, 45.1% of pts were female, 21.6% were ISS stage II, and 25.5% were African American. At D2 initiation, 64.7% (D-Sens) and 60.8% (D-Ref) of pts were frail, and 56.0% (D-Sens) and 52.9% (D-Ref) of pts had a Quan-Charlson Comorbidity Index of ≥3, indicating a high burden of comorbidities. About 31% of pts in both groups had high cytogenetic risk abnormalities, and about 20% had a 1q21 gain or amplification. The median time from MM diagnosis to start of D1 and to start of D2 was shorter in the D-Sens group (10.8 and 34.9 months) than in the D-Ref group (18.4 and 44.4 months). D-Sens pts were less likely to receive D1 in the third LOT or later compared to D-Ref pts (30.0% vs 45.1%). The median number of LOTs before D2 was three in both groups. The median gap between D1 and D2 was 9.3 months in D-Sens pts and 9.0 months in D-Ref pts, however, more D-Sens pts received D1 and D2 LOTs consecutively compared to D-Ref pts (62.0% vs 51.0%). The most common regimen used in D1 was DARA + lenalidomide + dexamethasone (dex; 18.7%) and DARA + bortezomib + dex (18.7%) among D-Sens pts, and DARA + pomalidomide + dex (23.5%) among D-Ref pts. The most common regimen used in D2 was DARA mono (31.3%) in D-Sens pts, and DARA mono (17.6%) and DARA + carfilzomib + dex (17.6%) in D-Ref pts. Overall, 32.0% of D-Sens and 35.3% of D-Ref pts received agents from the same drug class in D1 and D2. The KM median duration of D2 was 7.4 months (95% CI: 5.5-9.5) among D-Sens pts and 6.4 months (95% CI: 3.8-23.5) among D-Ref pts. The proportion of pts that had not received subsequent treatment after D2 was 38.7% and 29.5% at 12 months in the D-Sens and D-Ref groups, respectively. PFS rates at 12 months after D2 initiation were 77.1% in the D-Sens group and 49.4% in the D-Ref group. Conclusion: DARA retreatment is utilized frequently and is effective in the real-world, suggesting the ability to use this approach in subsequent LOTs among pts with RRMM. In the absence of other feasible alternatives, this may be a treatment strategy for patient benefit, regardless of whether they are D-Sens or D-Ref. Future studies are needed to definitively investigate the benefit of DARA retreatment in combination with drugs with novel mechanisms of action.

BACKGROUND: The EXCELLENT registry aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMBOTRAP Revascularization Device in an all-comer population in a real-world setting, with a focus on the composition of retrieved clots. METHODS: EXCELLENT is a prospective, global registry of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EMBOTRAP as the first-line mechanical thrombectomy device conducted at 34 sites (25 sites contributing clot) from September 2018 to March 2021, utilizing core imaging and central histology laboratories blinded to clinical data, independent 90-day modified Rankin Scale assessment and Clinical Events Committee. RESULTS: After screening 3799 patients, a total of 997 subjects (mean age, 70.0±14.2 years; 51.8% women; 19.7% non-White) were included. The first-pass modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2b rate was 64.5% (623/966), first-pass mTICI ≥2c was 39.1% (378/966), and final mTICI ≥2b was 94.5% (931/985). A total of 427/912 (46.8%) patients achieved a 90-day modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 or ≤baseline. Embolization to a new territory occurred in 0.2% (2/984), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 24 hours in 1.6% (16/997). The 90-day mortality was 19.1% (175/918). Device- and/or procedure-related serious adverse events occurred in 5.9% (54/912) through 90 days. The mean RBC percentage of retrieved clots was 45.62±21.372. Among patients who achieved mTICI ≥2b with the first pass, 15.7% (52/331) and 9.7% (32/331), respectively, had RBC-poor (<25%) and RBC-rich (>75%) clots. Patients with no clot retrieved in any procedural pass had a lower percentage of hyperdense or susceptibility vessel sign on baseline imaging (58.9% versus 74.7%; P <0.001), pointing to a potential preprocedure indicator of challenging clot. CONCLUSIONS: The EXCELLENT registry informs real-world practices in mechanical thrombectomy and sheds light on the range of clots effectively retrieved by current technology. This is the first report of detailed patient characteristics where mechanical thrombectomy maneuvers failed to remove any clot material. Although the composition of nonretrievable clots cannot be assessed histologically, the results support the notion that no retrieval may be correlated with imaging findings suggesting clots lower in RBC. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03685578.

The NCCN Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer/Fallopian Tube Cancer/Primary Peritoneal Cancer provide multidisciplinary diagnostic workup, staging, and treatment recommendations for this disease. These NCCN Guidelines Insights detail how the evolution of the use of PARP inhibitors as maintenance and single-agent regimens for the treatment of ovarian cancer informed panel recommendations in the guidelines.

Background: Rupture of the pectoralis major is most commonly seen with eccentric contraction mechanisms, and surgical options in the setting of acute tear include direct repair, endocortical buttons, suture anchors, and transosseous tunnel fixation. This technique video will detail repair using a unicortical endobutton fixation construct. Indications: Surgical repair is indicated for acute, complete pectoralis major tears; incomplete tears involving rupture of the sternal head with intact clavicular head; and tears in the young, active, high-demand demographic. Delay in diagnosis increases the risk of tendon retraction and fatty atrophy. Recent literature has shown that acute repair is superior to chronic repair in functional outcome, pain relief, and overall cosmesis. Technique Description: A beach-chair position and a deltopectoral approach are used to identify and mobilize the torn and retracted sternal head of the pectoralis major. A No. 2 SutureTape is then passed through the disrupted sternal head in a Krackow fashion to allow for a 6-strand repair. Two of the suture strands are then shuttled through the endocortical button. A drill is used to create a corticectomy for endobutton placement, which is secured into place by sequentially tightening each limb. Two additional endobuttons are placed in a similar fashion to complete the construct. Results: Outcomes studies regarding patients with pectoralis major tendon ruptures who underwent endocortical button fixation reveal that 83% of patients had good or excellent outcomes in a recent systematic review. Another study showed no significant difference in functional outcomes, return to activity, or complication rate with endocortical button fixation compared with other mechanisms of fixation. Discussion/Conclusion: Unicortical endobutton fixation can provide another fixation strategy for acute pectoralis major tears in young, active high-demand individuals. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Abstract Background: Pneumonitis caused by radiotherapy for lung cancer may be missed, since it often occurs only several months later. In a previous trial including patients of any age, a symptom-based scoring system was tested to facilitate the correct diagnosis of radiation pneumonitis. Since elderly lung cancer patients have a greater risk of developing this complication, a separate scoring system particularly for this age group appears reasonable. This trial investigates such a specific tool for elderly patients irradiated for lung cancer. Methods: Patients with lung cancer patients aged ≥65 years will be included in this prospective multi-center trial and complete paper-based questionnaires (symptom-based scoring system). Patients indicate and rate symptoms potentially caused by pneumonitis, namely cough, dyspnea, and fever, once a week during and up to 24 weeks following their radiotherapy course. If symptomatic (grade ≥2) pneumonitis is confirmed by corresponding diagnostic procedures, patients receive prednisolone whenever possible. The total score of the symptom-based scoring system, which ranges between 0 and 9 points, is correlated to pneumonitis (yes or no). The discriminative power of the scoring system is evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Optimality is defined as a cut-off score with sensitivity ≥90% and specificity ≥80%. In addition, the Youden index (sensitivity + specificity – 1) will be applied. Fifty-nine patients (18 with and 41 without pneumonitis) are required in the full analysis set. Assuming that 5% of the patients will not qualify for this set, 62 patients should be enrolled. In addition, patient satisfaction with the scoring system is evaluated. If the dissatisfaction rate is >20%, the score needs modifications; if the dissatisfaction rate is >40%, the scoring system is considered not useful. Discussion: If the optimal cut-off score facilitates the diagnosis of radiation pneumonitis and its discrimination from other lung diseases in elderly patients with lung cancer, it will contribute to the development of a mobile application for identification of radiation pneumonitis, which can be used by the patients at home. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06480734; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT06480734); protocol version 1.2, registered on 27th of June, 2024.