Successful Treatment of SCD-Related Priapism With Crizanlizumab: A Case Series.

Priapism, an unwanted, painful, prolonged erection that is unrelated to sexual stimulation, is a common complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Priapic events in SCD are stuttering, meaning they occur repeatedly with intervening periods of detumescence. Without health care intervention, repeated episodes can lead to erectile dysfunction. There are limited treatment options for SCD-related priapism and no approved targeted therapies. Crizanlizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to P-selectin and is used to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in patients with SCD. Here, we report the cases of 3 patients with SCD-related priapism who were treated with crizanlizumab. All patients were African American men who experienced numerous priapic episodes that interfered with their daily lives. Upon treatment with crizanlizumab, priapic events were reduced in all 3 patients. These successful cases suggest a potential role for crizanlizumab in the prevention of SCD-related priapism.

A steroid receptor coactivator small molecule "stimulator" attenuates post-stroke ischemic brain injury.

Introduction: Pathologic remodeling of the brain following ischemic stroke results in neuronal loss, increased inflammation, oxidative stress, astrogliosis, and a progressive decrease in brain function. We recently demonstrated that stimulation of steroid receptor coactivator 3 with the small-molecule stimulator MCB-613 improves cardiac function in a mouse model of myocardial ischemia. Since steroid receptor coactivators are ubiquitously expressed in the brain, we reasoned that an MCB-613 derivative (MCB-10-1), could protect the brain following ischemic injury. To test this, we administered MCB-10-1 to rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Methods: Neurologic impairment and tissue damage responses were evaluated on day 1 and day 4 following injury in rats treated with control or 10-1. Results: We show that 10-1 attenuates injury post-stroke. 10-1 decreases infarct size and mitigates neurologic impairment. When given within 30 min post middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, 10-1 induces lasting protection from tissue damage in the ischemic penumbra concomitant with: (1) promotion of reparative microglia; (2) an increase in astrocyte NRF2 and GLT-1 expression; (3) early microglia activation; and (4) attenuation of astrogliosis. Discussion: Steroid receptor coactivator stimulation with MCB-10-1 is a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing inflammation and oxidative damage that cause neurologic impairment following an acute ischemic stroke.

Burkitt's Lymphoma of the Colon: A Case Report and Review of the Texas Cancer Registry.

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma with gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, but very few cases report primary colonic findings. We report one case of primary sporadic BL of the colon with non-specific GI symptoms, and its morphologic and immunohistochemical features. In addition, we reviewed and analyzed data from the Texas Cancer Registry between the years 1995 and 2016 in order to provide insight into the demography and epidemiology of BL originating in the colon. This paper reports a 69-year-old male who presented with a history of irritable bowel syndrome, was diagnosed with BL in the colon, and subsequently developed abdominal compartment syndrome. Biopsies derived from the colon tumor at three different sites showed infiltrating malignant lymphoma of the lamina propria. Immunohistochemistry stains of lymphoma cells were positive for CD20, CD79a, CD10, MUM1, BCL6, C-MYC, and negative for BCL2, cyclin D1, CD5, and CD3. Ki-67 demonstrated a high proliferative index of 100%. Forty-nine cases of primary BL of the colon were reported to the Texas Cancer Registry between 1995 and 2016. The unadjusted incidence of BL originating in the colon in persons 18 years old and over was 1.32 per 10 million, and the majority of the cases involved non-Hispanic white males with cecum being the most common primary site. BL is a rapidly growing malignancy, hence, reporting cases of BL and its presenting symptoms can improve assessment and management. Our analysis from the Texas Cancer Registry further supports the rarity of primary sporadic BL in the colon.