AIMTo perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in non-resectable cholangiocarcinoma.METHODSIncluded studies compared outcomes with photodynamic therapy and biliary stenting (PDT group) vs biliary stenting only (BS group) in palliation of non-resectable cholangiocarcinoma. Articles were searched in MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE. Pooled proportions were calculated using fixed and random effects model. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I2 statistic.RESULTSTen studies (n = 402) that met inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. The P for χ2 heterogeneity for all the pooled accuracy estimates was > 0.10. Pooled odds ratio for successful biliary drainage (decrease in bilirubin level > 50% within 7days after stenting) in PDT vs BS group was 4.39 (95%CI: 2.35-8.19). Survival period in PDT and BS groups were 413.04 d (95%CI: 349.54-476.54) and 183.41 (95%CI: 136.81-230.02) respectively. The change in Karnofsky performance scores after intervention in PDT and BS groups were +6.99 (95%CI: 4.15-9.82) and -3.93 (95%CI: -8.63-0.77) respectively. Odds ratio for post-intervention cholangitis in PDT vs BS group was 0.57 (95%CI: 0.35-0.94). In PDT group, 10.51% (95%CI: 6.94-14.72) had photosensitivity reactions that were self-limiting. Subgroup analysis of prospective studies showed similar results, except the incidence of cholangitis was comparable in both groups.CONCLUSIONIn palliation of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, PDT seems to be significantly superior to BS alone. PDT should be used as an adjunct to biliary stenting in these patients.
Introduction: Aerococcus urinae is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. Aerococcus is a gram positive cocci that is easily misidentified as Staphylococci or Streptococci. The true incidence rate of this pathogen is likely underestimated. Recent advances in laboratory diagnostic methods with matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) have lead to increased recognition of this pathogen in the clinical microbiology lab, and awareness as a cause of infective endocarditis in the infectious disease community.Case reports: Aerococcus usually affects males with underlying urinary tract conditions. Herein, we report a case of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis caused by Aerococcus urinae.Discussion: Our patient was considered high risk for cardiac surgery and was treated successfully with intravenous antibiotics alone for six weeks.Conclusion: Infective endocarditis should be considered in all cases of Aerococcus bacteremia and appropriate diagnostic evaluations pursued.Abbreviations: AV: Aortic valve; IE: Infective endocarditis
Hemorrhage remains a major complication of anticoagulants, with bleeding leading to serious and even life-threatening outcomes in rare settings. Currently available anticoagulants target either multiple coagulation factors or specifically coagulation factor (F) Xa or thrombin; however, inhibiting these pathways universally impairs hemostasis. Bleeding complications are especially salient in the medically complex population who benefit from medical devices. Extracorporeal devices—such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, hemodialysis, and cardiac bypass—require anticoagulation for optimal use. Nonetheless, bleeding complications are common, and with certain devices, highly morbid. Likewise, pharmacologic prophylaxis to prevent thrombosis is not commonly used with many medical devices like central venous catheters due to high rates of bleeding. The contact pathway members FXI, FXII, and prekallikrein serve as a nexus, connecting biomaterial surface-mediated thrombin generation and inflammation, and may represent safe, druggable targets to improve medical device hemocompatibility and thrombogenicity. Recent in vivo and clinical data suggest that selectively targeting the contact pathway of coagulation through the inhibition of FXI and FXII can reduce the incidence of medical device-associated thrombotic events, and potentially systemic inflammation, without impairing hemostasis. In the following review, we will outline the current in vivo and clinical data encompassing the mechanism of action of drugs targeting the contact pathway. This new class of inhibitors has the potential to herald a new era of effective and low-risk anticoagulation for the management of patients requiring the use of medical devices.
Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Thromboprophylaxis is a safe and effective way to decrease VTE in other high-risk populations. Recently, a clinical prediction model was developed to identify patients with newly diagnosed MM starting chemotherapy at highest risk of VTE. The model, IMPEDE VTE, found the following clinical risk factors for VTE: immunomodulatory drugs, body mass index, recent pathologic fracture of the femur or hip, erythropoietin stimulating drugs, dexamethasone, doxorubicin, Asian ethnicity/race, history of VTE, tunneled line or central venous catheter, and existing use of aspirin or anticoagulation. External validation of the model has yielded a c-statistic for VTE risk prediction of 0.64 to 0.65. Laboratory parameters can predict VTE in some patients with cancer. Accordingly so, the addition of laboratory parameters to IMPEDE VTE has the ability to improve model performance. Thus, we sought to determine the association between soluble P-selectin and D-dimer with the development of VTE in patients with newly diagnosed MM starting chemotherapy. Methods: We identified 545 patients from the Washington University in St. Louis MM banking protocol, with available plasma from time of diagnosis (2007-2019). Thirty-eight cases of VTE were identified within 6 months following treatment initiation. An additional 137 patients were randomly selected as controls. D-dimer and soluble P-selectin ELISA assays were performed on the banked plasma by Eve Technologies, who was blinded to case vs. control status. Both assays were performed in duplicate and results averaged. All additional variables were collected through manual chart abstraction. IMPEDE VTE scores were calculated as we previously described (Sanfilippo et al.). The association of D-dimer and soluble P-selectin with VTE risk was assessed using Cox regression, adjusting for IMPEDE VTE score. Results: The median age of all 545 patients was 65 (range 32-79), 54% were male, and 85% were white. All patients received novel chemotherapy agents for first-line MM therapy and 66% underwent autologous stem cell transplant. Of the 38 cases with VTE, 20 patients had deep vein thrombosis, 17 had pulmonary emboli, and 1 patient had concurrent events. The median time from chemotherapy initiation to VTE was 51 days (range 4-193). The median IMPEDE VTE score was 5 (range -1 to 12). Each unit increase in IMPEDE VTE score was associated with a 21% increase in risk for VTE (HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.04-1.40; p = 0.01). Median D-dimer was 11,795 ng/mL (range 280-144,832). Each 1000 ng/mL unit increase in D-dimer was associated with a 2% increase risk for VTE after controlling for IMPEDE VTE score (aHR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04; p < 0.001). Patients in the highest quartile of D-dimer levels, above the 75th percentile, had a 2-fold increase in risk of VTE after adjusting for IMPEDE VTE score (aHR 2.04; 95% CI 1.03-4.02; p = 0.04). Median soluble P-selectin was 189 ng/ml (range 23-638). There was no association between soluble P-selectin level and VTE risk in patients with MM. Conclusions and Relevance: D-dimer is predictive of VTE in patients with MM starting chemotherapy. The combination of D-dimer and the IMPEDE VTE score can improve identification of patients at high risk of VTE and therefore allow for selection of primary thromboprophylaxis among patients with MM. Disclosures Sanfilippo: Bayer HealthCare Pharamceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Other: Travel Support for Investigator Meeting; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Covington & Burling LLP: Consultancy; Luther & Associates: Consultancy; Health Services Advisory Group: Consultancy; Amgen: Other: Trasfer of Value (food) during discussion of research.
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