Feasibility of a dietary intervention to modify gut microbial metabolism in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Evaluation of the impact of dietary intervention on gastrointestinal microbiota and metabolites after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is lacking. We conducted a feasibility study as the first of a two-phase trial. Ten adults received resistant potato starch (RPS) daily from day -7 to day 100. The primary objective was to test the feasibility of RPS and its effect on intestinal microbiome and metabolites, including the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. Feasibility met the preset goal of 60% or more, adhering to 70% or more doses; fecal butyrate levels were significantly higher when participants were on RPS than when they were not (P < 0.0001). An exploratory objective was to evaluate plasma metabolites. We observed longitudinal changes in plasma metabolites compared to baseline, which were independent of RPS (P < 0.0001). However, in recipients of RPS, the dominant plasma metabolites were more stable compared to historical controls with significant difference at engraftment (P < 0.05). These results indicate that RPS in recipients of allogeneic HCT is feasible; in this study, it was associated with significant alterations in intestinal and plasma metabolites. A phase 2 trial examining the effect of RPS on graft-versus-host disease in recipients of allogeneic HCT is underway. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02763033 .

Patterns of use and outcomes of peripherally inserted central catheters in hospitalized patients with solid tumors: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-related complications in patients hospitalized with solid tumors remains unclear. Existing studies are limited by single-center, outpatient designs and include heterogenous patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed and included adult patients with solid organ cancers who were admitted to a general medicine ward or intensive care unit and received a PICC. Data were collected from November 2013 to December 2019 at 50 Michigan hospitals. Major complications were defined as central line-associated bloodstream infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and catheter occlusion. Hospital variation in PICC use and outcomes was examined. RESULTS: Data included 3235 hospitalized patients with solid tumors who had PICCs placed for 51,047 catheter days. Most catheters were double-lumen devices (57.0%). Notably, 17.5% of patients had another central venous catheter at the time of PICC insertion. The most common indications for PICC use were antibiotics (34.5%) and difficult access or blood draws (21.6%); chemotherapy was the primary indication in only 15.7% of patients. A major PICC-related complication occurred in 491 patients (15.2%); catheter occlusion was the most prevalent complication (n = 322; 10.0%) followed by deep vein thrombosis (n = 116; 3.6%), central line-associated bloodstream infection (n = 82; 2.5%), and pulmonary embolism (n = 20; 0.6%). Significant variation in indications for PICC use, device characteristics, and frequency of major complications across hospitals was observed (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: PICCs were associated with significant complications in hospitalized patients who had solid malignancies and were often used for reasons other than chemotherapy. Policies and guidance for the appropriate use of PICCs in oncologic patients appear necessary. LAY SUMMARY: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are devices placed in peripheral veins to deliver medication to large veins near the heart. PICCs are used frequently in oncology. The objective of this report was to describe PICC-associated complications in hospitalized patients with solid tumors. This study was performed across 50 Michigan hospitals and included 3235 patients with solid tumor cancers and who had a PICC. Overall, 15.2% of patients experienced a complication, including central line-associated bloodstream infections, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or catheter occlusion. Complication rates varied across hospitals. PICCs are associated with substantial complications in hospitalized patients with solid tumors.

Clinical Availability of ATRA for Patients With Suspected Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Why Guidelines May Not Be Followed.

BACKGROUND: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) serves as the backbone of the management of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), with guidelines recommending the initiation of ATRA as soon as APL is suspected. As a regional referral center for patients with acute leukemia, those who are suspected of having APL are often transferred to our facility. However, many referring centers are unable to initiate treatment using ATRA. We conducted an exploratory analysis of the clinical availability of ATRA and the factors limiting access to this critical drug. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The United States was divided into 6 geographic regions: Northwest, Southwest, Central, Southeast, Northeast, and the Great Lakes. Twenty hospitals were randomly selected from states within each of these regions and were surveyed as to whether they typically treated patients with acute leukemia, the availability of ATRA at their institution, and reported reasons for not stocking ATRA (if not available). RESULTS: Less than one-third of hospitals queried (31%) had ATRA in stock. Neither the size of the hospital nor the hospital's status as academic versus nonacademic (53% vs 31%; P=.08) influenced ATRA availability. Of the hospitals that referred patients with APL, only 14% (7/49) had ATRA readily available. Hospitals that treated patients with APL were more likely to have ATRA available than referring centers (58% vs 14%; P=.000002). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two-thirds of the hospitals surveyed that cared for patients with acute leukemia do not have ATRA immediately available. Moreover, the vast majority of hospitals that refer patients to other centers do not have ATRA. These findings should spur investigation into the impact of immediate ATRA availability on the morbidity and mortality of patients with APL. A call by hematologists nationwide to their formulary committees is warranted to ensure that this lifesaving medication is available to patients suspected of having APL.

Multicentre retrospective study of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma treated at academic institutions within the United States.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare entity, with a generally aggressive course that may vary based on geographic presentation. While a United States (US) registry study showed relatively good outcomes with IVLBCL, clinicopathological and treatment data were unavailable. We performed a detailed retrospective review of cases identified at 8 US medical centres, to improve understanding of IVLBCL and inform management. We compiled data retrieved via an Institutional Review Board-approved review of IVLBCL cases identified from 1999 to 2015 at nine academic institutions across the US. We characterized the cohort's clinical status at time of diagnosis, presenting diagnostic and clinical features of the disease, treatment modalities used and overall prognostic data. Our cohort consisted of 54 patients with varying degrees of clinical features. Adjusting for age, better performance status at presentation was associated with increased survival time for the patients diagnosed in vivo (hazard ratio: 2·12, 95% confidence interval 1·28, 3·53). Based on the data we have collected, it would appear that the time interval to diagnosis is a significant contributor to outcomes of patients with IVLBCL.

An allele of sequoia dominantly enhances a trio mutant phenotype to influence Drosophila larval behavior.

The transition of Drosophila third instar larvae from feeding, photo-phobic foragers to non-feeding, photo-neutral wanderers is a classic behavioral switch that precedes pupariation. The neuronal network responsible for this behavior has recently begun to be defined. Previous genetic analyses have identified signaling components for food and light sensory inputs and neuropeptide hormonal outputs as being critical for the forager to wanderer transition. Trio is a Rho-Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor integrated into a variety of signaling networks including those governing axon pathfinding in early development. Sequoia is a pan-neuronally expressed zinc-finger transcription factor that governs dendrite and axon outgrowth. Using pre-pupal lethality as an endpoint, we have screened for dominant second-site enhancers of a weakly lethal trio mutant background. In these screens, an allele of sequoia has been identified. While these mutants have no obvious disruption of embryonic central nervous system architecture and survive to third instar larvae similar to controls, they retain forager behavior and thus fail to pupariate at high frequency.

Pulmonary chemoreflex responses are potentiated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha in mice.

Inhalation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine, induces airway hyperresponsiveness, and the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Hypersensitivity of vagal bronchopulmonary C-fiber afferents is known to contribute to the airway hyperresponsiveness during an airway inflammatory reaction. Because activation of these afferents can elicit pulmonary chemoreflexes, this study was designed to determine if a pretreatment with TNF-α induced airway inflammation and enhanced the pulmonary chemoreflex sensitivity in anesthetized mice; and if so, whether the effect was mediated through activation of either or both of the TNF receptors, p55 and p75. Our results showed that TNF-α instilled into the lung caused an increased sensitivity of pulmonary chemoreflex responses to various chemical stimulants of the vagal bronchopulmonary C-fiber afferents. The increased sensitivity was found 24 h later, persisted at 48 h, and then gradually declined after several days. The TNF-α-induced airway hypersensitivity was accompanied by airway inflammation as shown by a striking elevation of the levels of eosinophils and neutrophils, several potent bronchoactive inflammatory mediators, and proinflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, the increase in pulmonary chemoreflex response caused by TNF-α was partially abrogated in both p55-null and p75-null mice, but completely abolished in p55/p75-null mice. In conclusion, TNF-α pretreatment induced airway inflammation and a sustained elevation of pulmonary chemoreflex sensitivity, which was mediated through an activation of both types of TNF receptors.