A new 3D CT image acquisition, visualization and measurement application software for interventional radiology procedures called SmartCT has been given clearance by the FDA. SmartCT that works with Philips’ guided therapy system, Azurion, makes possible the removal of structures from the images that obstruct the region of interest and the selection and storage of optimum projection angles for recall during procedures.
News
May 13, 2021
A single-center, randomized, sham-controlled trial has demonstrated that endoscopic full-thickness plication performed with the new GERD-X device improved both symptoms and quality of life in patients with PPI–dependent GERD. The procedure also has the advantages that it has fewer side effects and a short procedure time. Improvements in GERD-HRQL score, heartburn symptom score and regurgitation symptom score were reported in the subjects who underwent the procedure. Over 60% of the subjects could discontinue the use of PPIs at 12 months.
May 13, 2021
Accelerated approval has been granted to pembrolizumab to be used in combination with trastuzumab and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The recommended dosage for the same is 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks. The approval is based on the interim results of a trial involving 264 patients that saw an overall response rate of 74% and a median duration of response of 10.6 months in patients who received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks with trastuzumab and either fluorouracil plus cisplatin or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin.
Journal Abstracts
May 14, 2021
Jooae Choe et al. conducted a retrospective study to find out features on preoperative CT that could predict pathologic lymphovascular invasion (pLVI) in stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to determine the prognostic value of these features in patients who undergo sublobar resection. The study included 904 patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection. It was observed that pLVI was present only in solid-dominant part solid nodules (PSNs) and solid nodules with solid portion diameter >10 mm. Among these peritumoral interstitial thickening and pleural contact were independent predictors of pLVI.
May 13, 2021
Srishti Saha et al. conducted a prospective survey-based study to determine the short-term and long-term safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The study involved periodic follow-up of 609 patients who underwent FMT. Although 73 new diagnoses (gastrointestinal, weight gain and new infections) were made overall, they were unrelated to FMT. Hence it was concluded that FMT is safe and effective with a low risk of transmission of infections.
May 13, 2021
Abhiram Duvvuri et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare incidence rates of metachronous colorectal cancer (CRC) and CRC-related mortality in patients with no adenomas, low-risk adenomas (LRAs), or high-risk adenomas (HRAs), detected at index colonoscopy. Twelve studies with 510,019 patients were analyzed and it was found that the risk of metachronous CRC and mortality is significantly higher for patients with HRAs but only low for those with LRA.
Recent Articles
May 14, 2021
Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound or tFUS is a noninvasive, precise and fully reversible neuromodulation technology that shows promise in the treatment of a multitude of neurological and psychiatric diseases and conditions. It involves the transmission of pulsed mechanical energy through the skull, with high spatial resolution and selectivity, at highly targeted brain regions. Researchers have found that excitatory neurons showed high sensitivity to ultrasound pulse repetition frequency, whereas inhibitory neurons did not and this property of focused ultrasound facilitates precise targeting of brain circuits.
May 14, 2021
The aim of the proof-of-concept study conducted by Sergio Grosu et al. was to establish a noninvasive, radiomics-based machine-learning differentiation of benign and premalignant polyps in CT colonography data sets. CT colonography detected polyps were classified as benign or premalignant according to the histopathologic reference standard. A training set consisting of 107 colorectal polyps in 63 patients were used to fit the random forest model. The machine learning based image analysis allowed differentiation of benign and premalignant colorectal polyps.
May 13, 2021
Accelerated approval has been granted to pembrolizumab to be used in combination with trastuzumab and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The recommended dosage for the same is 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks. The approval is based on the interim results of a trial involving 264 patients that saw an overall response rate of 74% and a median duration of response of 10.6 months in patients who received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks with trastuzumab and either fluorouracil plus cisplatin or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin.
Clinical Research
Jun 01, 2020
The purpose of this study is to find the most effective dose of radiation therapy to give to breast tumors in a shorter period of time, prior to standard partial mastectomy/axillary surgery.
Jun 01, 2020
This research study is being done to understand how patients with chronic cancer pain take their long-acting opioid medications and to develop an intervention to enhance cancer pain management.
Feb 27, 2020
Christopher G. Brennan-Jones et.al. identified specific strategies which have shown effectiveness in reducing workplace noise. These include implementation of stricter legislation and also stress upon the need for training in the proper use of earplugs and earmuffs so as to reduce noise exposure to safe levels.
Publications
Jun 26, 2020
In patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), a once-daily oral regimen of ibrutinib and venetoclax was associated with deep molecular remissions in both bone marrow and peripheral blood, including in patients with high-risk disease, according to investigators in phase 2 CAPTIVATE MRD trial.
Jun 04, 2020
Georgios Tsakonas et.al. conducted a study to understand the alterations in gene expression in brain metastasis versus primary tumour as it may increase aggressiveness and impair therapeutic efforts. The researchers concluded identified a unique gene downregulation pattern in brain metastases compared with primary tumours. This finding may explain the lower intracranial efficacy of systemic therapy, especially immunotherapy, in brain metastasis of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer.
Jun 01, 2020
Advance in Cancer Prevention addresses all types of cancer, how cancer forms in the body, and their prevention. It focuses on Cancer Vaccines, Chemotherapy, Radioactive Iodine Therapy, Breast Reconstruction Surgery, Mammography, Chemoprevention, aromatase inhibitors, Scintimammography, Oncoplastic surgery, Sumoylation, Dietary Supplements, Cancer Screening, Cancer and Nutrition, Exercise and Cancer, Alternative Cancer Medicines, Stem cell transplants for cancer prevention, Naturopathic Treatments, Clinical Naturopathy, Cancer Prevention from nuts.
Videos
Oct 21, 2020
A 30-year-old female presented with rapid onset of acute dysarthria and left oculomotor paralysis. The MRI showed ruptured anterior midbrain cavernoma. A conservative approach was adopted as the patient was stable. However, one month later she experienced a new bleed with right hemiparesis, diplopia and severe dysarthria. The haemorrhage extended to the surface of the midbrain anteriorly and extended posteriorly without reaching the surface of the safe entry zone. The approach to a cavernous malformation via safe zones are not always feasible due to the proximity of several critical neural structures as in this case. The resection via a posterolateral route using the supracerebellar infratentorial approach was performed successfully.
Oct 21, 2020
A 30-year-old female presented with rapid onset of acute dysarthria and left oculomotor paralysis. The MRI showed ruptured anterior midbrain cavernoma. A conservative approach was adopted as the patient was stable. However, one month later she experienced a new bleed with right hemiparesis, diplopia and severe dysarthria. The haemorrhage extended to the surface of the midbrain anteriorly and extended posteriorly without reaching the surface of the safe entry zone. The approach to a cavernous malformation via safe zones are not always feasible due to the proximity of several critical neural structures as in this case. The resection via a posterolateral route using the supracerebellar infratentorial approach was performed successfully.
Jul 17, 2020
As many as half of patients diagnosed with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer will see their cancer spread to their brain. Though brain metastases, or "Brain Mets," are rare, they are exceedingly difficult to treat, so these patients experience poor outcomes. At this year’s ASCO meeting, Dr. Nancy Lin of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute presented promising results from the HER2CLIMB trial for these patients. In this video BCRF talks with Dr. Lin about her research focus, Brain Mets, and HER2CLIMB’s findings.
Jul 10, 2020
Watch Dr. Jamie Studts discuss the quality implementation of lung cancer screening and share his thoughts on optimizing community-based implementation.
Case Studies
May 14, 2021
Dominik Reinert et al. report the case of a 61-year-old male who presented with paraparesis due to bilateral subdural bleeding as seen in cranial CT. His blood work revealed elevated CRP and leukocytosis and a chest X-ray demonstrated pleural effusion with pulmonary consolidation in the left lower lobe of the lung. Despite the administration of antibiotics, his flu-like symptoms and increase in the inflammatory parameters persisted. His SARS-CoV2-RNA and SARS-CoV2 E-gene tests were negative. However, consolidation and patchy ground glass opacity in the left lower lobe of the lung and hyperdensity in the left pulmonary artery of the left upper and lower lobe indicating pulmonary embolism were seen in the CT.
May 13, 2021
Ekmektzoglou K. et al report the case of a 79-year-old male who underwent a programmed ERCP session for a mid-CBD stricture. The patient’s vital signs and hemodynamic parameters were stable during the procedure. After the procedure, he developed marked desaturation and hypotension while repositioning the patient from the left lateral decubitus to the supine position. A bedside transesophageal echocardiogram bubble study revealed a patent foramen ovale and head computed tomography demonstrated an extensive ischemic infarction.
May 12, 2021
Yuki Yamauchi et al. report the case of an 83-year-old woman on cabergoline following a diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's disease because of the presence of a pituitary tumor. Four years after the diagnosis she presented with decreased consciousness and fever. Investigations demonstrated elevated levels of WBCs, CRP, ACTH and HbA1c. Her fever subsided with antibiotics but subsequently, erythematous vesicles appeared on her chest and she was diagnosed with herpes zoster.
May 12, 2021
Daiki Takatsuka et.al. presented a case of a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with a left-sided breast mass. A 1.3-cm irregular mass was found in the lower outer quadrant of the left breast on breast ultrasonography. At 3 years and 8 months of follow-up, no recurrent or metastatic lesions were identified in her body.