Evaluation of vascular risk in patients with migraine with and without aura treated with erenumab: Post hoc analysis of pooled long-term clinical trial data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiovascular (CV) safety of erenumab in clinical trial patients associated with degree of CV risk. BACKGROUND: Hypertension has been considered a theoretical risk associated with the inhibition of the calcitonin gene-related peptide pathway in migraine management, particularly in a patient population with pre-existing CV risk factors. METHODS: Data pooled from four double-blind, randomized trials were used to assess blood pressure (BP) changes and CV safety in patients grouped based on 10-year risk of cardiac, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease as no-risk-factors, low-risk (>0% to ≤10%), moderate-risk (>10% to ≤20%), and high-risk (>20%) categories. CV safety was assessed as ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events (ICCAE). RESULTS: There was no apparent difference between placebo- (N = 1032) and erenumab-treatment groups (70 mg, N = 885; 140 mg, N = 504) in clinical worsening of BP category from baseline to Months 1-3 (14% [143/1032] placebo vs. 13% [114/885] and 14% [71/504] for erenumab 70 and 140 mg, respectively) regardless of baseline BP category. The adverse event (AE) profile of erenumab was similar across CV risk categories throughout the long-term analysis. Erenumab-treated patients with high and moderate 10-year CV risk (N = 107) did not experience any ICCAEs during the double-blind treatment period; there was a single ICCAE (a cerebral dural venous sinus thrombosis) observed in the low-risk erenumab group (N = 273). There were no increases in AEs during the long-term extensions of up to 5 years (N = 2499; 3482 patient-years of exposure to erenumab) with exposure-adjusted incidence rates of cardio/cerebrovascular disorder AEs of 0.4, 0.5, 0.0, and 1.1 (per 100 patient-years) for no risk factor (N = 1805), low (N = 492), moderate (N = 121), and high (N = 81) 10-year CV risk groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic CV and cerebrovascular AEs were uncommon and the incidence rates were similar across the 10-year CV risk categories. This analysis helps provide more detail on the CV safety of erenumab.

Role of artificial intelligence in defibrillators: a narrative review.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are used to treat life-threatening arrhythmias. AEDs and ICDs use shock advice algorithms to classify ECG tracings as shockable or non-shockable rhythms in clinical practice. Machine learning algorithms have recently been assessed for shock decision classification with increasing accuracy. Outside of rhythm classification alone, they have been evaluated in diagnosis of causes of cardiac arrest, prediction of success of defibrillation and rhythm classification without the need to interrupt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This review explores the many applications of machine learning in AEDs and ICDs. While these technologies are exciting areas of research, there remain limitations to their widespread use including high processing power, cost and the 'black-box' phenomenon.

Exploring the Epigenome in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasias.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasias are a diverse group of neoplasms with different characteristics in terms of site, biological behaviour and metastatic potential. In comparison to other cancers, they are genetically quiet, harbouring relatively few somatic mutations. It is increasingly becoming evident that epigenetic changes are as relevant, if not more so, as somatic mutations in promoting oncogenesis. Despite significant tumour heterogeneity, it is obvious that DNA methylation, histone and chromatin modifications and microRNA expression profiles are distinctive for GEP-NEN subtypes and may correlate with clinical outcome. This review summarises existing knowledge on epigenetic changes, identifying potential contributions to pathogenesis and oncogenesis. In particular, we focus on epigenetic changes pertaining to well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours, which make up the bulk of NENs. We also highlight both similarities and differences within the subtypes of GEP-NETs and how these relate and compare to other types of cancers. We relate epigenetic understanding to existing treatments and explore how this knowledge may be exploited in the development of novel treatment approaches, such as in theranostics and combining conventional treatment modalities. We consider potential barriers to epigenetic research in GEP-NENs and discuss strategies to optimise research and development of new therapies.

Vitamin D status and outcomes for hospitalised older patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Older adults are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. The aim of the study was to determine whether these patients have worse outcomes with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study between 1 March and 30 April 2020 to assess the importance of vitamin D deficiency in older patients with COVID-19. The cohort consisted of patients aged ≥65 years presenting with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (n=105). All patients were tested for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels during acute illness. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed via viral reverse transcriptase PCR swab or supporting radiological evidence. COVID-19-positive arm (n=70) was sub-divided into vitamin D-deficient (≤30 nmol/L) (n=39) and -replete groups (n=35). Subgroups were assessed for disease severity using biochemical, radiological and clinical markers. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were laboratory features of cytokine storm, thoracic imaging changes and requirement of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). RESULTS: COVID-19-positive arm demonstrated lower median serum 25(OH)D level of 27 nmol/L (IQR=20-47 nmol/L) compared with COVID-19-negative arm, with median level of 52 nmol/L (IQR=31.5-71.5 nmol/L) (p value=0.0008). Among patients with vitamin D deficiency, there was higher peak D-dimer level (1914.00 µgFEU/L vs 1268.00 µgFEU/L) (p=0.034) and higher incidence of NIV support and high dependency unit admission (30.77% vs 9.68%) (p=0.042). No increased mortality was observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Older adults with vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 may demonstrate worse morbidity outcomes. Vitamin D status may be a useful prognosticator.

Two Cases of Respiratory Insufficiency Secondary to Pre-procedural Nerve Blocks for Upper Extremity Injuries.

Interscalene nerve blocks are common procedures performed before upper extremity surgeries in order to provide post-op pain relief and improve recovery time. Here we present two cases of patients who underwent a unilateral supraclavicular and bilateral interscalene nerve block, respectively. The first patient had no risk factors but the second presented with a body mass index of 45.5 and a history of symptoms consistent with obstructive sleep apnea but never diagnosed. Both patients experienced some form of respiratory distress diagnosed via changes in chest x-ray and clinical presentation. The mechanism of injury that occurs in these procedures is typically from inadvertent damage to the phrenic nerve. Mild adverse effects in interscalene nerve block are relatively common. However, there is minimal data in regards to performing bilateral interscalene nerve blocks. The purpose of this study is to highlight that severe complication in both high and low-risk patients can occur but may be reduced with a safer approach and more effective communication among multidisciplinary team members.

Predictors of recovery following allogeneic CD34+-selected cell infusion without conditioning to correct poor graft function.

Poor graft function is a serious complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Infusion of CD34+-selected stem cells without pre-conditioning has been used to correct poor graft function, but predictors of recovery are unclear. We report the outcome of 62 consecutive patients who had primary or secondary poor graft function who underwent a CD34+-selected stem cell infusion from the same donor without further conditioning. Forty-seven of 62 patients showed hematological improvement and became permanently transfusion and growth factor-independent. In multivariate analysis, parameters significantly associated with recovery were shared CMV seronegative status for recipient/donor, the absence of active infection and matched recipient/donor sex. Recovery was similar in patients with mixed and full donor chimerism. Five -year overall survival was 74.4% (95% CI 59-89) in patients demonstrating complete recovery, 16.7% (95% CI 3-46) in patients with partial recovery and 22.2% (CI 95% 5-47) in patients with no response. In patients with count recovery, those with poor graft function in 1-2 lineages had superior 5-year overall survival (93.8%, 95% CI 82-99) than those with tri-lineage failure (53%, 95% CI 34-88). New strategies including cytokine or agonist support, or second transplant need to be investigated in patients who do not recover.

COVID-19 and rheumatology: is shielding really necessary?

Rheumatology patients who are taking immunosuppressants are considered to be at 'high risk' from COVID-19, hence have been self-isolating or shielding. However, they may be protected from the features of hyperinflammation driven by a 'cytokine storm', so may have better clinical outcomes if infected. This editorial discusses whether it may not be necessary to advise these patients to shield.

Talc pleurodesis through indwelling pleural catheters for malignant pleural effusions: retrospective case series of a novel clinical pathway.

Malignant pleural effusions cause significant morbidity, but there is no gold standard minimally invasive treatment. A new therapeutic approach combines talc pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) to enable outpatient management. This case series summarizes the safety and efficacy data of all patients (24) with a symptomatic malignant pleural effusion who underwent talc pleurodeses via IPCs between December 2010 and July 2013. Successful pleurodesis was achieved in 22 procedures (92%). There was one empyema, one hydropneumothorax, one recurrent effusion, and two minor complications: one drain site wound infection and one complaint of chest pain. Twenty-two procedures (92%) were performed in the outpatient setting. This report confirms the safety and efficacy of administering talc slurry through IPCs in an outpatient setting. Studies in a larger cohort are necessary to define the role of this novel approach in the treatment algorithm of patients with this condition.

Progress towards gene therapy for haemophilia B.

Haemophilia B is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder, arising from a deficiency of coagulation factor IX. It has been a target for gene therapy ever since the factor IX gene was cloned in 1982. Several distinct approaches have been evaluated in humans over the last 30 years, but none has resulted in tangible corrections of the bleeding phenotype in humans until recently. Our group has now shown that lasting clinical improvement of the bleeding phenotype in patients with haemophilia B is possible following a single systemic administration of a self-complementary adeno-associated virus vector to deliver an optimised factor IX expression cassette to the liver. Success in this trial raises hope for patients with severe haemophilia B as well as others with inherited monogenetic disorders of the liver where current treatment options are limited.

Therapeutic levels of FVIII following a single peripheral vein administration of rAAV vector encoding a novel human factor VIII variant.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors encoding human factor VIII (hFVIII) were systematically evaluated for hemophilia A (HA) gene therapy. A 5.7-kb rAAV-expression cassette (rAAV-HLP-codop-hFVIII-N6) containing a codon-optimized hFVIII cDNA in which a 226 amino acid (aa) B-domain spacer replaced the entire B domain and a hybrid liver-specific promoter (HLP) mediated 10-fold higher hFVIII levels in mice compared with non-codon-optimized variants. A further twofold improvement in potency was achieved by replacing the 226-aa N6 spacer with a novel 17-aa peptide (V3) in which 6 glycosylation triplets from the B domain were juxtaposed. The resulting 5.2-kb rAAV-HLP-codop-hFVIII-V3 cassette was more efficiently packaged within AAV virions and mediated supraphysiologic hFVIII expression (732 ± 162% of normal) in HA knock-out mice following administration of 2 × 10(12) vector genomes/kg, a vector dose shown to be safe in subjects with hemophilia B. Stable hFVIII expression at 15 ± 4% of normal was observed at this dose in a nonhuman primate. hFVIII expression above 100% was observed in 3 macaques that received a higher dose of either this vector or the N6 variant. These animals developed neutralizing anti-FVIII antibodies that were abrogated with transient immunosuppression. Therefore, rAAV-HLP-codop-hFVIII-V3 substantially improves the prospects of effective HA gene therapy.