Silicone hydrogel contact lenses retain and document ocular surface lipid mediator profiles.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A leading reason for patients to abandon their contact lenses is discomfort. Mechanisms and biomarkers for lens discomfort remain to be elucidated. BACKGROUND: Physical stress and tear film interaction are likely factors for lens discomfort. Lipid mediators are generated from polyunsaturated fatty acids. They regulate ocular surface physiology and pathophysiology, are constituents of human tears and may interact with contact lenses. This study set out to determine if hydrogel lenses and silicone hydrogel lenses interact with tear film polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids-derived mediators. METHODS: In vitro incubations, rat experiments and analysis of worn human lenses assessed polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediator interactions with lenses. Silicone hydrogel and hydrogel lenses were incubated with lipid mediators and polyunsaturated fatty acids up to 24 hours. Rats were fitted with custom silicone hydrogel lenses and basal tears collected. Silicone hydrogel lenses worn for 2 weeks were obtained from 57 human subjects. Tear and lens lipidomes were quantified by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Silicone hydrogel lenses retained polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediators within 15 minutes in vitro. Lenses contained 90% of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and 83-89% of total monohydroxy fatty acids by 12 hours. Retention correlated with polarity of lipid mediators and lipophilic properties of silicone hydrogel lenses. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediators such as lipoxygenase- and cyclooxygenase-derived eicosanoids were present in tears and worn lenses from rats. Worn silicone hydrogel lenses from human subjects established robust and lens-type specific lipidomes with high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, lipoxygenase-pathway markers and subject-specific differences in lipoxin A4 and leukotriene B4. CONCLUSION: Worn silicone hydrogel lenses rapidly retain and accumulate tear polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediators. Marked subject and lens type differences in the lipidome may document changes in ocular surface physiology, cell activation or infection that are associated with lens wear. If contact lens discomfort and adverse events induce specific tear and lens fatty acid and lipid mediator profiles warrants further studies.

Expansion of pharmacist clinical services to optimize the management of immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities.

INTRODUCTION: The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment and is now a part of the treatment paradigm for several malignancies. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors are generally well tolerated, treatment is associated with immune-related adverse events, some serious and potentially life threatening. Early identification and prompt appropriate management of immune-related adverse events are crucial to prevent morbidity and mortality. The complexity and severity of immune-related adverse events require interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize care. Patient and caregiver education and continued communication between patients and members of the oncology care team are vital for timely recognition and successful management of immune-related adverse events. The objective of this program is to provide a proof of concept; a pharmacist-led immune checkpoint inhibitor management program will increase early recognition and management of immune-related adverse events through patient and caregiver education and proactively assessing patients for toxicities. METHODS: At the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, we developed and implemented a pharmacist-driven program, referred to as the immune checkpoint inhibitor program, which aimed to ensure patient and caregiver education and continuous monitoring of immune-related adverse events. This program utilized pharmacist-patient encounters to improve patient and caregiver education and follow-up monitoring. The design and implementation are detailed. Pharmacist interventions and patient outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: At interim analysis, 47 patients were enrolled in the program and pharmacists completed 34 interventions on 26 patients. Pharmacists are well positioned to educate patients and caregivers on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and provide proactive monitoring to detect immune-related adverse events. We hypothesize that the interventions made by pharmacist may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of immune-related adverse events.

Oral Chemotherapy in Patients with Hematological Malignancies-Care Process, Pharmacoeconomic and Policy Implications.

Patients with hematologic malignancies are increasing being prescribed oral anticancer medications (OAMs) and/or biologics. These newer targeted OAMs are associated with a host of practical and pharmacoeconomic implications for patients and healthcare providers. Issues such as safety, procurement challenges, and the need for proactive involvement of all stakeholders to optimize adherence for successful use of these agents are increasingly being recognized. The current reactive model is negatively impacting the patient experience through delays in care, financial toxicity, and decreased safety. It also impacts the healthcare providers in the form of lost revenue and staff burnout due to labor-intensive procurement and patient financial assistance burdens. In this review, we describe some of the issues identified and discuss potential strategies to improve patient access, minimize healthcare burden, and review current policy initiatives and patient advocacy efforts to reduce financial toxicity.