Cosela (trilaciclib) has been approved by the FDA to reduce the frequency of bone marrow suppression induced by chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Cosela, which acts by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, is to be administered intravenously as a 30-minute infusion within four hours prior to the commencement of chemotherapy. The approval is based on the results of a trial that demonstrated a significant reduction in the duration and severity of neutropenia in addition to having a positive impact on red blood cell transfusions with its use.
News
Feb 25, 2021
According to recent reports, Dr Fauci suggests that "long COVID hat really is is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which they are now referring to as 'PASC,' or P-A-S-C." He stressed that even patients with moderate cases of the infection can develop PASC. Symptoms include fatigue; gastrointestinal problems; "brain fog," or an inability to focus; depression; anxiety; sleep difficulties; and, in extreme cases, impaired lung capacity.
Feb 25, 2021
A prescription-only, neuromuscular stimulation device, eXciteOSA, has been approved by the FDA to help reduce snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea to be used during the day while the patient is awake. eXciteOSA through 4 electrodes, 2 located above the tongue and 2 below, delivers a series of electrical pulses with rest periods in between. The device is used 20 minutes once a day while awake for 6 weeks, and once a week subsequently. The adverse effects with the use of the device include among others excessive salivation, tongue or tooth discomfort, dental filling sensitivity and metallic taste.
Journal Abstracts
Feb 26, 2021
Laura Pasin et al. performed a meta-analysis of studies to determine the effect of anakinra on survival and the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients. The analysis included 4 observational studies involving 184 patients and it was concluded that the use of anakinra resulted in significantly lower mortality and lower risk of the need for mechanical ventilation than controls.
Feb 25, 2021
Sánchez Ríos Carla Paola et.al. conducted a study to assess the utility of collection a sample from of a respiratory tract at the adequate moment and from the correct anatomical site as it is essential for a rapid and precise molecular diagnosis with a false negative rate of less than 20%. The researchers concluded that Patients with COVID-19 and a persistently negative RT-PCR test with fatal outcomes did not differ from the rest of the COVID-19 population since they present with the same risk factors shared by the rest of patients like lymphopenia, comorbidities, elevation of D-Dimer and DHL on admission as well as a tomographic COVID-19 score of severe illness, however we could suggest that the percentage of patients with a mild form of the disease is higher in those with a persistently negative RT-PCR test.
Feb 25, 2021
The study done by Matthias Ebner et al. attempted to determine the prognostic value of venous lactate with regard to in-hospital adverse outcomes and mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). The study involved 419 PE patients and it was found that an increased risk for adverse outcomes was associated with venous lactate above the upper limit of normal. Venous lactate cut-off value of 3.3 mmol/l predicted both, in-hospital adverse outcome and all-cause mortality and hence its levels could aid in risk stratification.
Recent Articles
Feb 26, 2021
Laura Pasin et al. performed a meta-analysis of studies to determine the effect of anakinra on survival and the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients. The analysis included 4 observational studies involving 184 patients and it was concluded that the use of anakinra resulted in significantly lower mortality and lower risk of the need for mechanical ventilation than controls.
Feb 26, 2021
Cosela (trilaciclib) has been approved by the FDA to reduce the frequency of bone marrow suppression induced by chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Cosela, which acts by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, is to be administered intravenously as a 30-minute infusion within four hours prior to the commencement of chemotherapy. The approval is based on the results of a trial that demonstrated a significant reduction in the duration and severity of neutropenia in addition to having a positive impact on red blood cell transfusions with its use. The adverse effects associated include among others fatigue, low levels of calcium, potassium, and phosphate and increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase.
Feb 25, 2021
A recent news release suggests that Moderna completed manufacturing a version of its vaccine to prevent infection by B.1.351, a variant first identified in South Africa. The company is sending doses of this mRNA-1273.351 booster vaccine to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for evaluation in a clinical trial, the company announced today. The move is part of a strategy for addressing this and other variants of concern. Moderna will compare the safety and efficacy of different boosting options, including the new booster vaccine in development; combining the booster with the existing vaccine in a single, multivalent booster; or administering a lower dose of the existing vaccine as a booster shot.
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
Feb 26, 2021
Edgar R. Lopez-Navarro et al. report the case of a 58-year-old male with a history of arterial hypertension who presented with numbness on the right side of the face and in the right arm, dysphonia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. MRI showed an acute ischemic lesion in the medulla oblongata and cerebellum on the left side. Later, the patient developed mild left sensorimotor hemisyndrome and was seen to be bradycardic subsequent to intense massage of the right side of the neck to relieve neck pain. Plaques in the right ICA and carotid web was seen in the CT and MRI demonstrated a watershed-type stroke on the right side.
Feb 25, 2021
Sara Almeida Ramalho et al. report hypercalcemia as a rare clinical presentation of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in a 39-year-old man who came in with asthenia, anorexia, weight loss and bilateral lower limb pain and paraesthesia. His blood work revealed hypercalcemia, elevated liver enzymes and lactate and he was started on calcium correction and subsequently hemodialysis. CT and PET scans revealed hepatosplenomegaly and pathological infiltration of the spleen and liver respectively. These findings prompted a liver biopsy which confirmed hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.
Feb 25, 2021
Mohamed Reda Belkhribchia et al. report a rare presentation of GBS in a 50-year-old woman who came in with severe, bilateral, occipital headache, inability to close the lips and both eyes and paraesthesias of the four limbs with a history of flu-like illness prior to the occurrence of symptoms. Physical examination demonstrated bilateral, symmetrical, lower motor neuron-type facial nerve palsy, absent deep tendon reflexes and reduced superficial and proprioceptive sensations in her extremities. Bell's palsy was suspected and she was given steroids which failed to resolve her symptoms. She presented again due to worsening of symptoms and a diagnosis of the bifacial weakness with paraesthesias variant of GBS was arrived at based on the findings from nerve conduction velocity studies done at this stage.
Feb 25, 2021
Shaadi Abughazaleh et.al. presented a case study of a 5-year-old female with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who presented with complaints of progressively worsening dysphagia, facial swelling, and shortness of breath, was found to have a large goiter. In patients treated with epoprostenol for long periods of time, thyroid disease is common. Most cases of thyroid disease describe thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroid statues, but this case was a patient on long term IV epoprostenol presenting with a superior vena cava-syndrome like appearance and airway compromise found to have a goiter incidentally during workup.