Our audit demonstrates a lack of compliance with IVIG Request Form requirements, a lack of documentation of diagnostic criteria and efficacy, and suggests inappropriate use of IVIG. Current implementation of the form may not be sufficient as a strategy for improving appropriate IVIG use.
Immune checkpoint and MAP kinase pathway inhibitors can significantly improve long-term survival for patients with melanoma. There is limited real-world data of these regimens’ effectiveness. We retrospectively analyzed 402 patients with unresectable and metastatic melanoma between August 2013 and July 2020 treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and MAP kinase pathway targeted therapy in Alberta, Canada. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Subgroup survival outcomes were analyzed by first-line treatment regime and BRAF mutation status. Three treatment eras were defined based on drug access: prior to August 2013, August 2013 to November 2016, and November 2016 to July 2020. Across each era, there were improvements in median OS: 11.7 months, 15.9 months, and 33.6 months, respectively. Patients with BRAF mutant melanoma had improved median OS when they were treated with immunotherapy in the first line as opposed to targeted therapy (median OS not reached for immunotherapy versus 17.4 months with targeted treatment). Patients with BRAF wild-type melanomas had improved survival with ipilimumab and nivolumab versus those treated with a single-agent PD-1 inhibitor (median OS not reached and 21.2 months). Our real-world analysis confirms significant survival improvements with each subsequent introduction of novel therapies for advanced melanoma.
Abstracf-Recent experiments in functional electrical stimulation of gastrointestinal organs have demonstrated effective techniques for producing controlled movement of content in dogs and humans. However, as a result of the substantive power requirements of the proposed stimulation techniques, which impede the use of traditional power supply methods such as implantable batteries, the feasibility of transcutaneously powering multiple implanted microstimulators through inductive coupling remains an unresolved issue. This paper proposes the use of a well-established circuit model for calculating the transcutaneous power transfer to au implanted micro-stimulator. In addition, techniques for modeling ail aspects of the inductive link are proposed. The comprehensive model is then used in the design of an inductive link capable of delivering over 80 mW of power to multiple implanted micro-stimulators.
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