Salvage Using Polatuzumab Vedotin Based Therapy in Relapsed Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphomas: Early Experience from a Real-World Middle-Income Setting Using Named-Patient Compassionate Access Program.

Polatuzumab vedotin is a novel immunotherapy antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD79b. It has been used in relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphomas since its FDA approval in 2019. Presently, this drug is unaffordable or unavailable for patients in Lower-Middle Income Countries (LMIC) like India. This is a retrospective study of adult (> 18 years) patients with R/R large B-cell lymphoma failing two prior lines of therapy, who received Polatuzumab based salvage therapy on a compassionate or named-patient access program. Between May 2019 and April 2022, 10 patients received Polatuzumab vedotin, and 9 were evaluable. The most common regimen used was Polatuzumab-Bendamustine-Rituximab. Out of 43 infusions administered, the adverse event profile was manageable [One grade-2 infusion reaction, 4 patients developed grade 3-4 hematological toxicity and none had grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicities]. Ten infusions were administered in the day care service. After a median of 4.5 cycles (range 1-8), 4 patients achieved CR, 2 had partial response (PR), and 3 had progressive disease (PD). With a median follow up of 491 days (range 8-1048 days), four patients are alive (three in CR and one in PR), three patients have died and three patients were lost to follow up. Early real-world experience from a LMIC setting demonstrates feasibility and a favourable safety profile of Polatuzumab vedotin based approach, along with encouraging response rates in a subset of patients.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of ministry of health primary health care physicians in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study in the Al Hasa District of Saudi Arabia, 2010.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) of MOH Primary Health Care Physician in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conduced between April and October 2010 on MOH Primary Health Care physicians working in Al Hasa district of Saudi Arabia by filling up of pre-tested specially designed questionnaires focused on Knowledge, Attitude and practice towards Type 2 DM patients. The answers were scored by assigning marks. A SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean of overall KAP score (± SD) for all the respondents were 66.59 ± 8.82 (Maximum 100). Male physicians scored better than the females physicians (66.90, P=.018 Vs 64.67, P=.018) and the same was true with the rural physicians who scored higher (68.65 ± 10.19, P=.003) than the urban physicians (65.34 ± 7.36, P=.003).The main weakness of knowledge was on epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). 28.3 % (n=28) of physicians didn't know the correct diagnostic criteria of Type 2 DM and only 34.7% physicians knew the correct angle of insulin injection. 86.8% (n=86) of the physicians did not agree that Diabetic Self Management Education (DSME) is an essential part of diabetic care. The mean overall KAP score was significantly higher for physicians with 1-5 years of experience (70.16, P=<.05)) than those with more than 5 years of practice (P=<.05). This difference was found in all the segments of KAP. Overall KAP score of those GPs who had a copy of Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) in their clinic was 70.90 ± 10.94 which was higher than KAP Score of those GPs who did not have a copy of CPG (65.10 ± 7.01, P=.005). Checking patients' ability to manage their diabetes, checking blood pressure, eye exam, lipids , serum creatinine, baseline ECG, chest X ray and serum electrolyte were the best followed tests while foot exam and urinary protein were performed more often than recommended in the guideline. Serum HbAc1 was the most delayed test. CONCLUSION: This study explored several aspects of diabetes related KAP of Ministry of Health appointed GPs and identified the need for improvement in their knowledge, attitude and practices for treating Type 2 DM patients.

Management of congenital talipes equinovarus by Ponseti technique: a clinical study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results of treatment of idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) by the Ponseti method and compare the results with those of other manipulation techniques and surgical treatment reported in the literature. A total of 100 patients with 156 clubfeet (80 males, 20 females), were treated for idiopathic CTEV by the Ponseti method. The average age at presentation was 4.5 months. Scoring of each foot was done according to the Pirani score. Photographs showing the deformity and podograms were taken to have an objective record against which the results were compared. The mean total Pirani score at the start of treatment was 4.26 and mean foot print angle (FPA) was 14.2 degrees. Post correction, there was a significant difference (P < .001, z = 18.638) in the mean FPA. There was also a statistically significant difference between the pre- and postcorrection Pirani scores (P < .001, z = 55.427). In 95% of the patients correction of the deformity was achieved. The Ponseti technique is based on sound understanding of the pathoanatomy of clubfoot. The good results obtained by the Ponseti technique show that posteromedial soft tissue release may no longer be required for most cases of idiopathic CTEV.