The Female Reproductive Tract Microbiota: Friends and Foe.

We do not seem to be the only owner of our body; it houses a large population of microorganisms. Through countless years of coevolution, microbes and hosts have developed complex relationships. In the past few years, the impact of microbial communities on their host has received significant attention. Advanced molecular sequencing techniques have revealed a remarkable diversity of the organ-specific microbiota populations, including in the reproductive tract. Currently, the goal of researchers has shifted to generate and perceive the molecular data of those hidden travelers of our body and harness them for the betterment of human health. Recently, microbial communities of the lower and upper reproductive tract and their correlation with the implication in reproductive health and disease have been extensively studied. Many intrinsic and extrinsic factors influences the female reproductive tract microbiota (FRTM) that directly affects the reproductive health. It is now believed that FRTM dominated by Lactobacilli may play an essential role in obstetric health beyond the woman's intimate comfort and well-being. Women with altered microbiota may face numerous health-related issues. Altered microbiota can be manipulated and restored to their original shape to re-establish normal reproductive health. The aim of the present review is to summarize the FRTM functional aspects that influence reproductive health.

The role of positive information provision in open-label placebo effects.

Open label placebos (OLPs) appear generally efficacious among clinical samples, but the empirical evidence regarding their use in non-clinical and sub-clinical samples, as well as when administered independent of a convincing rationale, is mixed. Healthy participants (N = 102) were randomised to either a 6-day course of OLP pills with information provision (OLP-plus: N = 35), without information provision (OLP-only: N = 35), or no-treatment control group (N = 32). OLP pills were described as enhancing physical (symptoms and sleep) and psychological (positive and negative emotional) well-being. Well-being was assessed at baseline and on Day 6. Expectancies and adherence were measured. OLP administration interacted with baseline well-being. The OLP-plus group demonstrated increased well-being on all outcomes other than positive emotions, but only when they reported decreased baseline well-being. OLP-only and control groups did not differ. The OLP-plus group demonstrated elevated expectancies, that mediated the OLP effect on physical symptoms relative to control, but only when well-being was lower than average at baseline (i.e. moderated-mediation). Results demonstrate the importance of information provided with OLPs. The moderating effect of baseline outcomes may reconcile inconsistent results regarding clinical and non-clinical samples. Accounting for baseline symptoms in non-clinical and sub-clinical samples is likely to enhance our understanding of when OLPs are effective.

Development of an Empathy Rating Scale for Young Children.

Empathy is critical to young children's socioemotional development and deficient levels characterize a severe and pervasive type of Conduct Disorder (i.e., with limited prosocial emotions). With the emergence of novel, targeted early interventions to treat this psychopathology, the critical limitations of existing parent-report empathy measures reveal their unsuitability for assessing empathy levels and outcomes in young children. The present study aimed to develop a reliable and comprehensive parent-rated empathy scale for young children. This was accomplished by first generating a large list of empathy items sourced from both preexisting empathy measures and from statements made by parents during a clinical interview about their young child's empathy. Second, this item set was refined using exploratory factor analysis of item scores from parents of children aged 2 to 8 years (56.6% male), recruited online using Amazon's Mechanical Turk. A five-factor solution provided the best fit to the data: Attention to Others' Emotions, Personal Distress (i.e., Emotional Contagion/Affective Empathy), Personal Distress-Fictional Characters, Prosocial Behavior, and Sympathy. Total and subscale scores on the new "Measure of Empathy in Early Childhood" (MEEC) were internally consistent. Finally, this five-factor structure was tested using confirmatory factor analysis and model fit was adequate. With further research into the validity of MEEC scores, this new rater-based empathy measure for young children may hold promise for assessing empathy in early childhood and advancing research into the origins of empathy and empathy-related disorders.

A pilot study of intensive 7-day internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder.

Accessible, affordable cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) options for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) that allow for rapid symptom improvement are needed. The present study investigated the first intensive, 7-day internet-based CBT for SAD. An open pilot trial was conducted to test the acceptability, feasibility and preliminary outcomes of the program in a sample of 16 participants (9 females, M age = 40.34, SD = 10.55) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of SAD. Participants were enrolled into the 6-lesson online program, and completed the Social Phobia Scale [SPS], Social Interaction Anxiety Scale [SIAS], Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) at baseline, post and one month follow-up. We found support for the feasibility and acceptability of the program; 15 participants (93.8%) completed the program, and all participants reported the program was satisfactory. Large, significant reductions in social anxiety severity on both the SPS and SIAS (Hedges' gs = 1.26-1.9) and functional impairment (WSAS; gs = 0.88-0.98) were found at post-treatment and follow-up. Medium, significant reductions in depressive symptom severity were also found (gs = 0.88-0.98 at post and follow-up, respectively). A third of participants scored below the clinical cut-off on both the SPS and SIAS at post-treatment and follow-up. A randomized controlled trial with longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this intensive internet-based treatment for SAD. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Association Between RBC Antigen Allo-Antibodies and Immune-Related Adverse Events During Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment for Advanced Cancers.

INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become a primary treatment modality for patients with a variety of malignancies. Given their increasing use, it is essential to be familiar with their immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Here we report a severe case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) associated with cold agglutinin precipitated by pembrolizumab, and a retrospective study of patients treated with ICI utilizing an institutional database where we analyzed the patterns of anti-RBC testing and their ability to predict irAE. METHODS: Patients treated with at least one dose of ICI (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4 inhibitors) for advanced cancer between November 2012 and September 2017 at our institution were included. Electronic Medical Records were reviewed to abstract data. Medians and 95% CIs were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and differences compared using the Log Rank test. Fisher's exact test and Chi square test were used to analyze clinical associations. RESULTS: We identified 1065 patients who received at least one dose of ICI: 180/1065 (17%) underwent direct antiglobulin test (DAT) or allo-antibody (alloAb) testing at any time; 127/1065 (12%) had either DAT or alloAb testing pre-ICI; 129 had either DAT or alloAb testing after ICI initiation; and 76 had either DAT or alloAb testing at both time points. There was a significant association between positive alloAb pre-ICI and the development of irAE while on ICI (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Given the increasing use of ICI, oncologists should be aware of potential irAEs with ICI. We found an association between the presence of an alloAb pre-ICI and the development of irAE, indicating that this previous non-self antigen response may predict immune adverse events. A larger prospective study is needed for systematic evaluation of the association between alloAb testing and irAE, and whether routine testing may inform clinical decision-making for patients.

Framingham Risk Score Is an Ineffective Screening Strategy for Coronary Heart Disease in Long-Term Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Survivors.

Long-term allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) survivors suffer an elevated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized, cross-sectional study to screen asymptomatic survivors at a single allo-HCT center using cardiac computed tomography (CT) involving coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Seventy-nine subjects with a median age of 39 years at allo-HCT and a median follow-up interval of 8 years were evaluated for CHD by Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and cardiac CT. CHD was detected in 33 of 79 (42%) subjects; 91% of lesions were nonobstructive, 19.5% of were noncalcified and 30% had associated valvular calcification. Overall, CAC was significantly superior to FRS in detecting early CHD in allo-HCT survivors [∆C = 0.25; P < 0.0001]. While both FRS and CAC were highly, >95% specific, FRS had a sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of only 28% (95% CI, 14%-47%), 90% (95% CI, 55%-100%) and 60% (95% CI, 47%-73%), respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of CAC were 78% (95% CI, 60%-91%), 96% (95% CI, 80%-100%) and 83% (95% CI, 69%-93%), respectively. Significantly, cardiac CT detected CHD in 23 of the 68 (34%) survivors deemed to have a low Framingham risk. Radiation exposure during cardiac CT was negligible, and there were no adverse events. In conclusion, CAC score with or without CCTA is a safe, feasible and sensitive screening technique for CHD. The FRS greatly underestimates CHD in allo-HCT survivors.

Immunotherapy in inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a review.

The leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States continues to be lung cancer. Approximately 25-30% of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Concurrent chemoradiation with a platinum-based doublet is the current standard of care for patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC. Unfortunately, only 15-20% of patients treated with definitive chemoradiation are alive at 5 years. Thus, there has been a major unmet need in this area. In this article, we summarize the current status and ongoing clinical trials incorporating immunotherapy into the management of inoperable stage III NSCLC, and we also present our perspective on the future directions.

Treatment of refractory delayed onset heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after thoracic endovascular aortic repair with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Delayed onset heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), is characterized by a late nadir due to persistent platelet-activating IgG antibodies. It typically begins or worsens 5 or more days after heparin is discontinued with complications such as thrombosis up to 3 weeks after exposure to heparin.1-3 In 50% of cases, the platelet count can decrease to very low numbers (<20 000/µL), which is not usual for typical HIT. Here we report 2 cases of post-operative delayed onset HIT manifesting as severe thrombocytopenia that persisted despite cessation of heparin and initiation of argatroban. Key Clinical Question: Is intravenous immunoglulin beneficial in severe refractory delayed-onset HIT?

CD34+ selection and the severity of oropharyngeal mucositis in total body irradiation-based allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of ex vivo T cell depleted (TCD) by CD34+ selection on the incidence and severity of oropharyngeal mucositis (OM) after myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) with total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning. This approach has the advantage of avoiding methotrexate for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the incidence and severity of OM in a cohort of 105 consecutive patients who underwent CD34+ selected (peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical siblings) allo-SCT with total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning. OM was graded by the World Health organization (WHO) and the Bearman regimen-related toxicity (RRT) scales. RESULTS: The incidence of WHO grade 3-4 OM was 34.3 %. There were no cases of grade 3-4 OM by the RRT scale. Significant correlation was found between the severity of OM and the use of intravenous (IV) narcotic medications (r (2) = 0.15, p = 0.004), total parenteral nutrition (TPN; r (2) = 0.68, p < 0.001), and hospital length of stay (LOS) (r (2) = 0.12, p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: TBI-induced OM can inflict significant morbidity in the early transplant period, and the incidence of WHO grade 3-4 OM can exceed 50 % when methotrexate is used for GVHD prophylaxis. In the CD34+ selected setting, methotrexate is avoided and the incidence of WHO grade 3-4 OM, use of TPN, and need for narcotic analgesia appear to be lower than historic evidence from standard T-replete allogeneic transplantation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that toxicity from OM is tolerable in CD34+ selected allo-SCT and should be prospectively measured in randomized trials comparing CD34+ selection versus T-replete transplantation.

Clinical and biological predictors of outcome following relapse of CML post-allo-SCT.

Although there are now fewer allo-SCTs performed for CML, leukemic relapse post transplant remains a persistent problem. To better define clinical and biological parameters determining postrelapse outcome, we studied 59 patients with CML relapsing after HLA-identical sibling allo-SCT between 1993 and 2008. Eighteen (30.5%) were transplanted in advanced phase and 41 (69.5%) in chronic phase. With a median follow-up from relapse of 7.9 years, 5-year post relapse survival (PRS) was 62%. Multivariate analysis found disease status at transplant, time to diagnosis of relapse from transplant and pretransplant tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) use as significant factors associated with PRS. Analysis of BCR-ABL transcript expression in the hematopoietic progenitor compartment was performed in 36 patients (22 relapsed, 8 non-relapsed and 6 TKI alone controls). Patients with BCR-ABL expression in their early hematopoietic stem cell compartment (Lineage(-)CD34(+)CD38(-)CD90(+)) had worse survival irrespective of the disease status. We conclude that disease status remains the strongest clinical prognostic factor for PRS in CML following allo-SCT. The persistence of BCR-ABL expression in the progenitor cell compartment in some patients after SCT emphasizes the need to target CML-leukemia stem cells.

A Rare Consequence of Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease - Peyronie's Disease.

Chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) may involve any organ system, but male genital involvement is rare. Peyronie's Disease (PD) is an acquired, localized fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea, which leads to penile deformity, pain, and eventually to erectile dysfunction. We report the case of a 52 year old African American male with Acute Myeloid Leukemia who underwent human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matched sibling allogeneic peripheral blood SCT. His post transplant course was complicated by development of acute and multi-organ chronic GvHD requiring prolonged immunosuppression. He developed progressive dorsal curvature of the penis with erections within 1 year of ultra low dose interleukin -2 (IL2) treatment for his chronic GvHD but concealed symptoms for several months. Color Doppler Duplex ultrasound evaluation of the erect penis revealed a 75-degree curvature and appropriate hemodynamic response to prostaglandin injection. He underwent successful incision and grafting of the penile plaque. There is no significant residual curvature and is now able to engage in intercourse. A strong temporal association between GVHD (or its treatment) and Peyronie's is documented here. Awareness of the possible link between PD and chronic GVHD is required in this era of rapid growth in numbers of SCT.

The clinical and financial burden of pre-emptive management of cytomegalovirus disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation-implications for preventative treatment approaches.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is rarely fatal, the management of CMV by pre-emptive medication for viral reactivation has toxicity and carries a financial burden. New strategies to prevent CMV reactivation with vaccines and antiviral T cells may represent an advance over pre-emptive strategies but have yet to be justified in terms of transplantation outcome and cost. METHODS: We compared outcomes and post-transplantation treatment cost in 44 patients who never required pre-emptive CMV treatment with 90 treated patients undergoing SCT at our institute between 2006 and 2012. Eighty-one subjects received CD34+ selected myeloablative SCT, 12 umbilical cord blood transplants, and 41 T-replete non-myeloablative SCT. One hundred nineteen patients (89%) were at risk for CMV because either the donor or recipient was seropositive. Of these, 90 patients (75.6%) reactivated CMV at a median of 30 (range 8-105) days after transplantation and received antivirals. RESULTS: There was no difference in standard transplantation risk factors between the two groups. In multivariate modeling, CMV reactivation >250 copies/mL (odds ratio = 3, P < 0.048), total duration of inpatient IV antiviral therapy (odds ratio = 1.04, P < 0.001), type of transplantation (T-deplete vs. T-replete; odds ratio = 4.65, P < 0.017) were found to be significantly associated with increased non-relapse mortality. The treated group incurred an additional cost of antiviral medication and longer hospitalization within the first 6 months after SCT of $58,000 to $74,000 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that to prevent CMV reactivation, treatment should be given within 1 week of SCT. Preventative treatment may improve outcome and have significant cost savings.

Repair of impaired pulmonary function is possible in very-long-term allogeneic stem cell transplantation survivors.

Both early- and late-onset noninfectious pulmonary injury are important contributors to the nonrelapse mortality seen after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), particularly in subjects conditioned with high-dose total body irradiation (TBI). To characterize the kinetics of recovery from pulmonary injury in long-term survivors, we collected data on 138 subjects who survived > 3 years (median survival, 10.2 years) after predominantly TBI-based allo-SCT from their HLA-matched siblings. Baseline pulmonary function tests served as the reference for subsequent measurements at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years for each survivor. The only parameter showing a clinically and statistically significant decline post-transplant was adjusted diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), which reached a nadir at 5 years but surprisingly normalized at the 10-year mark. Multivariable modeling identified chronic graft-versus-host disease (P < .02) and abnormal baseline-adjusted DLCO (P < .03) as the only significant factors associated with the decline in adjusted DLCO at 5 years but excluded smoking, conditioning intensity, baseline C-reactive protein level, TBI dose to the lungs, disease, and demographic variables. In conclusion, pulmonary injury as monitored by the adjusted DLCO continues to deteriorate in the first 5 years after allo-SCT but recovers at 10 years.

Radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures following allogeneic stem cell transplantation--how much is acceptable?

BACKGROUND: Frequent diagnostic radiology procedures in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients raise concern about the potential harm from incidental radiation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cumulative radiation dose from diagnostic studies in allogeneic SCT and its impact on clinical outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the cumulative radiation dose from diagnostic studies following SCT. Sixty-four consecutive patients with hematological malignancies in a single tertiary care institution underwent total body irradiation (TBI)-based myeloablative conditioning followed by six of six human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling allogeneic SCT. The median follow-up was 3 years. The cumulative effective dose in mSv from diagnostic radiological studies in the peri-transplant period from day -30 to day +200 was calculated for each patient and its impact on overall survival and non-relapse mortality was determined. RESULTS: The median cumulative radiation exposure from diagnostic radiological procedures was 92 mSv (range 1.2-300), representing about 30× the normal annual background radiation for the population and 10% of the 1200 cGy TBI dose used in conditioning. Sixty-five percent of the cumulative radiation exposure was delivered between day +1 and day 100 and computed tomography scans contributed 88%. In multivariate analysis, diagnostic procedures did not significantly impact clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: While radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures did not impact clinical outcomes the risk of secondary cancers in long-term survivors is likely to be increased. Our results indicate that patients who are acutely ill for prolonged periods can receive clinically significant radiation doses during their hospital care. Our findings should prompt attempts to limit radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures in post-SCT recipients.

Male survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have a long term persisting risk of cardiovascular events.

Long-term survivors of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We retrospectively studied cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in 109 SCT survivors (62 males, 47 females; median age 34 years) five years or more after bone marrow (15) or T cell-depleted peripheral blood (94) SCT for CML (56), acute leukemia (29), MDS (13), and others (11). One death and two cardiovascular events were reported. At five and ten years after SCT, respectively, 44% and 52% had abnormal lipid profiles; 23% of 5-year survivors met the Adult Treatment Panel III threshold for dyslipidemia treatment, which is substantially higher than the age-matched general population. There were significant increases in prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.018), and body mass index (p = 0.044) after SCT compared with baseline. The Framingham general cardiovascular risk score (FGCRS) in males at five years after SCT projected a doubling (median 10.4% vs. 5.4%) in the 10-year risk of cardiovascular events. Females received HRT after SCT, and none had increased FGCRS. Chronic GVHD and C-reactive protein were not associated with CVRF at any time. All CVRFs stabilized between five and ten years after SCT. Thus, SCT survivors have sustained elevations in CVRFs. Males have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events in their second and third decade after SCT.