Signs and Symptoms of Venous Thromboembolism and Survival Outcome of Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if the presence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosed with subjective and objective measurements correlates with the survival outcome in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with endometrial cancer who developed VTE between cancer diagnosis and follow-up from 1999 to 2013. Disease-specific survival after VTE diagnosis was evaluated according to VTE symptoms and vital signs. RESULTS: Among 827 endometrial cancer cases during the study period, there were 72 (8.7%) patients with VTE identified (pulmonary embolism [PE] with or without deep vein thrombosis [DVT], n = 34; and DVT alone n = 38). In the PE group, decreased disease-specific survival after the diagnosis of VTE was associated with fatigue, systolic blood pressure (BP) less than 120 mm Hg, diastolic BP less than 70 mm Hg, and a heart rate 90 beats per minute or greater (all, P < 0.05) in a univariate analysis. Symptomatic PE was associated with decreased survival as compared to asymptomatic PE (2-year rate; 23.1% vs 77.8%, P < 0.01). In a multivariate analysis controlling for symptoms of VTE, signs, and tumor factors, a diastolic BP less than 70 mm Hg (adjusted-hazard ratio [HR], 10.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.70-37.1; P < 0.01) and HR greater than 90 beats per minute (adjusted-HR, 8.06; 95% confidence interval, 2.36-27.5; P < 0.01) remained as independent prognostic factors for decreased disease-specific survival after PE diagnosis. Patients with PE presenting with low diastolic BP and high heart rate resulted in a dismal survival outcome (diastolic BP < 70 mm Hg/heart rate ≥ 90 beats per minute vs diastolic BP ≥ 70 mm Hg/heart rate < 90 beats per minute; 0% vs 85.7%, P < 0.01). In the group of patients with DVT alone, no signs or symptoms correlated with survival outcome (all, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that both signs and symptoms of PE are important consideration in the management of patients with endometrial cancer with PE.

Dolutegravir in antiretroviral-experienced patients with raltegravir- and/or elvitegravir-resistant HIV-1: 24-week results of the phase III VIKING-3 study.

BACKGROUND: The pilot phase IIb VIKING study suggested that dolutegravir (DTG), a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase inhibitor (INI), would be efficacious in INI-resistant patients at the 50 mg twice daily (BID) dose. METHODS: VIKING-3 is a single-arm, open-label phase III study in which therapy-experienced adults with INI-resistant virus received DTG 50 mg BID while continuing their failing regimen (without raltegravir or elvitegravir) through day 7, after which the regimen was optimized with ≥1 fully active drug and DTG continued. The primary efficacy endpoints were the mean change from baseline in plasma HIV-1 RNA at day 8 and the proportion of subjects with HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL at week 24. RESULTS: Mean change in HIV-1 RNA at day 8 was -1.43 log10 c/mL, and 69% of subjects achieved <50 c/mL at week 24. Multivariate analyses demonstrated a strong association between baseline DTG susceptibility and response. Response was most reduced in subjects with Q148 + ≥2 resistance-associated mutations. DTG 50 mg BID had a low (3%) discontinuation rate due to adverse events, similar to INI-naive subjects receiving DTG 50 mg once daily. CONCLUSIONS: DTG 50 mg BID-based therapy was effective in this highly treatment-experienced population with INI-resistant virus. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01328041) and http://www.gsk-clinicalstudywww.gsk-clinicalstudyregister.com (112574).

Safety and efficacy of dolutegravir in treatment-experienced subjects with raltegravir-resistant HIV type 1 infection: 24-week results of the VIKING Study.

BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir (DTG; S/GSK1349572), a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase inhibitor, has limited cross-resistance to raltegravir (RAL) and elvitegravir in vitro. This phase IIb study assessed the activity of DTG in HIV-1-infected subjects with genotypic evidence of RAL resistance. METHODS: Subjects received DTG 50 mg once daily (cohort I) or 50 mg twice daily (cohort II) while continuing a failing regimen (without RAL) through day 10, after which the background regimen was optimized, when feasible, for cohort I, and at least 1 fully active drug was mandated for cohort II. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of subjects on day 11 in whom the plasma HIV-1 RNA load decreased by ≥0.7 log(10) copies/mL from baseline or was <400 copies/mL. RESULTS: A rapid antiviral response was observed. More subjects achieved the primary end point in cohort II (23 of 24 [96%]), compared with cohort I (21 of 27 [78%]) at day 11. At week 24, 41% and 75% of subjects had an HIV-1 RNA load of <50 copies/mL in cohorts I and II, respectively. Further integrase genotypic evolution was uncommon. Dolutegravir had a good, similar safety profile with each dosing regimen. CONCLUSION: Dolutegravir 50 mg twice daily with an optimized background provided greater and more durable benefit than the once-daily regimen. These data are the first clinical demonstration of the activity of any integrase inhibitor in subjects with HIV-1 resistant to RAL.

Warfarin Poisoning and Blunt Abdominal Trauma: A Rare Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction.

Intestinal intramural hematomas are a rare complication of blunt abdominal trauma in the setting of anticoagulation. A 52-year-old male presented to our surgical service with high-grade small bowel obstruction secondary to an extensive small bowel intramural hematoma requiring resection. The patient sustained a blunt abdominal assault several days earlier and workup revealed severe coagulopathy likely secondary to overexposure to a warfarin-based substance. Few cases have been reported on coagulopathic traumatic small bowel hematomas causing small bowel obstruction. Current literature suggests non-operative management can be used safely; however, operative intervention is warranted if there are signs of ischemia or perforation. This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion, thorough investigation, and prompt intervention to avoid significant morbidity in small bowel obstruction secondary to intramural traumatic hematoma.

Lean Lobectomy: Streamlining Video-Assisted Lobectomy to Increase the Value of Lung Cancer Care.

PURPOSE: A review of the outcomes of patients who received our video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung lobectomy in 2015 revealed long lengths of stay, inefficient care transitions, and overuse of resources. Focused process redesign offers a proven method for instituting improvement and changes in health care. We sought to use systems process improvement to streamline VATS lobectomies at our institution, and we targeted cost drivers to optimize quality of care and minimize overuse of resources. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of perioperative practices between January 2015 and March 2016 for patients undergoing VATS lobectomy that helped establish a value stream map, used a granular cost database, and performed real-time analysis. We used an outcomes database, which allowed us to identify cost drivers, practice variability, and rent seeking. We implemented process redesign with constant review and formal value stream reanalysis at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period. RESULTS: We ultimately experienced an overall 187% reduction of time in the operating room (297 v 159 minutes). Our process redesign also resulted in significantly fewer chest x-rays per patient (mean, 6.7 v 2), laboratory draws (100% v 5.7%), and consultations (100% v 5.7%), which resulted in a 234% reduction in mean length of stay (4.4 v 1.88 days) and an overall cost reduction of 40%. These changes did not have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes: pulmonary complications (16.9% v 8.6%), cardiac complications (13.2% v 8.6%), and readmission rates (13.6% v 2.9%) all decreased. CONCLUSION: By using value stream analysis and process redesign methodologies, closely paired with highly granular cost and outcomes data, we were able to achieve significant improvements in patient outcomes and use of resources.

Fosamprenavir/ritonavir in advanced HIV disease (TRIAD): a randomized study of high-dose, dual-boosted or standard dose fosamprenavir/ritonavir in HIV-1-infected patients with antiretroviral resistance.

BACKGROUND: APV102002 was an open-label study comparing a dual-boosted HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI) [fosamprenavir/lopinavir/ritonavir (FPV/LPV/RTV; 1400 mg/533 mg/133 mg twice daily)] and a high dose of FPV/RTV 1400 mg/100 mg twice daily (HD-FPV/RTV) versus the standard FPV/RTV 700 mg/100 mg twice-daily (STD-FPV/RTV) regimen for 24 weeks. METHODS: Adult patients with prior failure to two or more PI-based regimens and on a failing PI regimen were randomized to STD-FPV/RTV (n = 24), HD-FPV/RTV (n = 25) or FPV/LPV/RTV (n = 25). The primary aim was to test week 24 superiority of HD-FPV/RTV and FPV/LPV/RTV over STD-FPV/RTV as measured by plasma HIV-1 RNA average area under the curve minus baseline (AAUCMB). RESULTS: There was no difference in the week 24 AAUCMB between the regimens. The proportion of patients with <50 copies/mL of plasma HIV RNA was 21%, 24% and 20%, respectively, by time to loss of virological response (TLOVR) analysis. High baseline drug resistance provided some explanation for the low efficacy. A lower baseline background drug resistance and higher fosamprenavir genotypic inhibitory quotient led to better antiviral responses. The plasma amprenavir trough concentartion (C(tau)) was 49% higher in the HD-FPV/RTV arm than in the STD-FPV/RTV arm and similar in the FPV/LPV/RTV and STD-FPV/RTV arms. The plasma lopinavir C(tau) was similar to historical data with standard LPV/RTV 400 mg/100 mg twice daily. All regimens were relatively well tolerated, although diarrhoea was more frequent in the HD-FPV/RTV and FPV/LPV/RTV arms, and hypertriglyceridaemia and increased total cholesterol were more common in the FPV/LPV/RTV arm. CONCLUSIONS: While the strategies of higher dose FPV/RTV and dual FPV/LPV/RTV were relevant at the time of study initiation, new therapies for antiretroviral-experienced patients make such strategies of limited interest. In addition, this study failed to demonstrate antiviral superiority of the HD-FPV/RTV or FPV/LPV/RTV regimen over the STD-FPV/RTV twice-daily regimen in highly treatment-experienced patients.

The KLEAN study of fosamprenavir-ritonavir versus lopinavir-ritonavir, each in combination with abacavir-lamivudine, for initial treatment of HIV infection over 48 weeks: a randomised non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Lopinavir-ritonavir is a preferred protease inhibitor co-formulation for initial HIV-1 treatment. Fosamprenavir-ritonavir has shown similar efficacy and safety to lopinavir-ritonavir when each is combined with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. We compared the two treatments directly in antiretroviral-naive patients. METHODS: This open-label, non-inferiority study included 878 antiretroviral-naive, HIV-1-infected patients randomised to receive either fosamprenavir-ritonavir 700 mg/100 mg twice daily or lopinavir-ritonavir 400 mg/100 mg twice daily, each with the co-formulation of abacavir-lamivudine 600 mg/300 mg once daily. Primary endpoints were proportion of patients achieving HIV-1 RNA less than 400 copies per mL at week 48 and treatment discontinuations because of an adverse event. The intent-to-treat analysis included all patients exposed to at least one dose of randomised study medication. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00085943. FINDINGS: At week 48, non-inferiority of fosamprenavir-ritonavir to lopinavir-ritonavir (95% CI around the treatment difference -4.84 to 7.05) was shown, with 315 of 434 (73%) patients in the fosamprenavir-ritonavir group and 317 of 444 (71%) in the lopinavir-ritonavir group achieving HIV-1 RNA less than 400 copies per mL. Treatment discontinuations due to an adverse event were few and occurred with similar frequency in the two treatment groups (fosamprenavir-ritonavir 53, 12%; lopinavir-ritonavir 43, 10%). Diarrhoea, nausea, and abacavir hypersensitivity were the most frequent drug-related grade 2-4 adverse events. Treatment-emergent drug resistance was rare; no patient had virus that developed reduced susceptibility to fosamprenavir-ritonavir or lopinavir-ritonavir. INTERPRETATION: Fosamprenavir-ritonavir twice daily in treatment-naive patients provides similar antiviral efficacy, safety, tolerability, and emergence of resistance as lopinavir-ritonavir, each in combination with abacavir-lamivudine.

Long-term (120-Week) antiviral efficacy and tolerability of fosamprenavir/ritonavir once daily in therapy-naive patients with HIV-1 infection: an uncontrolled, open-label, single-arm follow-on study.

BACKGROUND: In the SOLO study (APV30002), once-daily antiretroviral treatment with the protease inhibitor fosamprenavir (FPV) 1,400 mg boosted by ritonavir (r) 200 mg plus abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) was found to be noninferior to nelfinavir plus ABC/3TC over 48 weeks in treatment-naive patients with HIV -1 infection. OBJECTIVE: This interim report presents antiviral efficacy and tolerability data from 211 patients who received FPV/r QD for at least 48 weeks in SOLO and continued this treatment in the follow-on study (APV30005) for up to 120 weeks. METHODS: APV30005 is an international, multicenter, uncontrolled, open-label, follow-on study conducted to provide continued access to FPV in patients with HIV-1 infection who had participated in previous FPV studies, including SOLO, and to obtain longer-term data on the antiviral response and tolerability of an FPV-containing regimen. Patients who had completed at least 48 weeks of FPV/r therapy in the SOLO study were eligible to enter the follow-on study and continue receiving FPV/r 1,400/200 QD, with study visits every 12 weeks. Their background regimens were chosen at the investigators' discretion and could be changed at any time. Antiviral response end points included plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 and <50 copies/mL, median plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, median and absolute changes from baseline in the CD4 cell count, and the frequency of HIV disease progression. Genotype and phenotype analyses were performed for patients meeting the criterion for virologic failure (defined as plasma HIV -1 RNA >1,000 copies/mL on 2 consecutive occasions on or after week 12). Tolerability was assessed in terms of adverse-event reports evaluated by the primary investigator and changes in laboratory values. Assessments were conducted at 12-week intervals during the follow-on study. Data from the baseline visit (day 1 of SOLO) were compared with data from the follow-on study through March 31, 2004, when all patients had completed at least 120 weeks of therapy with FPV/r QD. Because this was a rollover study, no significance testing was performed and all reported results are descriptive. RESULTS: The demographic and baseline characteristics of the patients who received FPV/r QD in this follow on study (N = 211) were similar to those of the 322 patients randomized to receive FPV/r QD in the SOLO study. Their median age was 36 years, 72% were male, 49% were white, and 39% were black. The median baseline plasma HIV 1 RNA level was 4.82 log(10) copies/ mL, and the median baseline CD4+ cell count was 168 cells/mm(3). The median duration of exposure to FPV/r QD from SOLO baseline through the cutoff date was 996 days (142 weeks), ranging from 372 to 1,226 days (53-175 weeks). At week 120, plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 and <50 copies/mL were achieved and maintained in 75% (159) and 66% (139) of patients, respectively, when missing data and discontinuations were counted as failures. The median CD4+ cell count at week 120 was 451 cells/mm(3), a median change from baseline of 292 cells/mm(3). In 14 patients with no baseline resistance who met the criterion for virologic failure, no viral protease resistance mutations were detected. Extended treatment was generally well tolerated. The most frequently reported drug-related grade 2-4 adverse events were diarrhea (22 [10%]), nausea (17 [8%]), drug hypersensitivity (14 [7%], all cases attributed to ABC, which was a study drug in SOLO), and increased triglycerides (14 [7%]). The nature of adverse events reported after 48 weeks of therapy was comparable to that reported before week 48. Adverse events occurred at a similar or lower frequency between weeks 48 and 120 compared with before week 48. Similarly, laboratory abnormalities seen by week 120 were comparable to those seen by week 48, although they were less frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Extended treatment (120 weeks) with FPV/r QD in these antiretroviral therapy-naive, HIV-1-infected patients was associated with sustained antiviral response and immunologic improvement. Adverse events had generally developed by 48 weeks of therapy and did not occur at a higher frequency through 120 weeks of treatment.

SOLO: 48-week efficacy and safety comparison of once-daily fosamprenavir /ritonavir versus twice-daily nelfinavir in naive HIV-1-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the magnitude and durability of the antiviral response to fosamprenavir (FPV) plus ritonavir (RTV) once-daily (FPV/r QD) with nelfinavir twice-daily (NFV BID), each administered with abacavir and lamivudine twice-daily. METHODS: An international, phase III, randomized, open-label study in antiretroviral therapy-naive, HIV-infected adults. RESULTS: Patients with advanced HIV disease received FPV/r QD (n = 322) or NFV BID (n = 327). At week 48, 69% of patients in the FPV/r QD group and 68% in the NFV BID group had plasma HIV-1 RNA (vRNA) < 400 copies/ml, whereas 55% of patients in the FPV/r QD group and 53% in the NFV BID group had vRNA < 50 copies/ml (intent to treat, rebound/discontinuation = failure). More patients in the NFV BID group (17%) experienced virological failure than in the FPV/r QD group (7%). Efficacy of FPV/r QD was maintained in patients with CD4+ cell counts < 50 x 10 cells/l or vRNA >/= 100 000 copies/ml at entry. At week 48, median CD4+ cell counts were increased to 203 x 10 cells/l (FPV/r QD group) and 207 x 10 cells/l (NFV BID group). Both regimens were generally well tolerated. Diarrhea was more common on NFV BID than on FPV/r QD (16 versus 9%; P = 0.008). Fasting lipid profile results were generally favorable in both treatment arms. FPV/r QD maintained plasma amprenavir (APV) trough concentrations above the mean phenotypic drug-susceptibility (IC50) for wild-type virus for APV. CONCLUSION: As a first choice protease inhibitor with a low daily pill burden, FPV/r QD was well tolerated and provided potent, durable antiviral suppression.

A 42-week open-label study to assess the pharmacokinetics, antiretroviral activity, and safety of amprenavir or amprenavir plus ritonavir in combination with abacavir and lamivudine for treatment of HIV-infected patients.

The pharmacokinetics, antiviral activity, and safety of an amprenavir-ritonavir (APV-RTV) 600/100 mg b.i.d. regimen and an APV-RTV 1200/200 mg q.d. regimen were studied in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population. The geometric least-square mean ratio (90% confidence interval) of steady-state trough concentrations, compared with that of the amprenavir 1200 mg b.i.d. regimen, was 6.08 (4.94-7.49) for the twice-daily APV-RTV regimen, and it was 4.19 (2.90-6.08) for the daily APV-RTV regimen. The regimens were well tolerated, which supports APV-RTV as an option for twice-daily or daily therapy for HIV.

Risk of myocardial infarction and abacavir therapy: no increased risk across 52 GlaxoSmithKline-sponsored clinical trials in adult subjects.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the Data collection of Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs Group (D:A:D) described results from their international observational cohort of 33,347 HIV-1-infected individuals, suggesting unexpected increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) associated with abacavir (ABC) therapy [relative rate 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47 to 2.45; P = 0.0001]. To contribute to the scientific question, we summarized GlaxoSmithKline HIV clinical trial data to determine if a similar signal emerged. METHODS: We compiled data from GlaxoSmithKline-sponsored clinical trials with > or = 24 weeks of combination antiretroviral therapy comprising 14,174 HIV-infected adults who received ABC (n = 9502; 7641 person-years) or not (n = 4672; 4267 person-years). FINDINGS: Baseline demographics and HIV disease characteristics, including lipids and glucose values, were similar. MI rates were comparable among subjects exposed [n = 16 (0.168%; CI: 0.096 to 0.273; 2.09 per 1000 person-years)] or not [n = 11 (0.235%; CI: 0.118 to 0.421; 2.57 per 1000 person-years)] to ABC-containing therapy. Results of 12 trials with randomization to ABC or not were consistent (2.15 per 1000 person-years vs. 4.10 per 1000 person-years). INTERPRETATIONS: In this pooled summary, we observed few MI events overall and no excess risk of MI with ABC therapy. It is unclear why results from this data set seem discrepant to the Data collection of Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs data set, particularly, as the non-ABC MI event rate is similar. Further data are needed to evaluate any association between ABC and increased risk of MI.

Emergence of resistance to protease inhibitor amprenavir in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients: selection of four alternative viral protease genotypes and influence of viral susceptibility to coadministered reverse transcriptase nucleoside inhibitors.

Previous data have indicated that the development of resistance to amprenavir, an inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease, is associated with the substitution of valine for isoleucine at residue 50 (I50V) in the viral protease. We present further findings from retrospective genotypic and phenotypic analyses of plasma samples from protease inhibitor-naïve and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-experienced patients who experienced virological failure while participating in a clinical trial where they had been randomized to receive either amprenavir or indinavir in combination with NRTIs. Paired baseline and on-therapy isolates from 31 of 48 (65%) amprenavir-treated patients analyzed demonstrated the selection of protease mutations. These mutations fell into four distinct categories, characterized by the presence of either I50V, I54L/I54M, I84V, or V32I+I47V and often included accessory mutations, commonly M46I/L. The I50V and I84V genotypes displayed the greatest reductions in susceptibility to amprenavir, although each of the amprenavir-selected genotypes conferred little or no cross-resistance to other protease inhibitors. There was a significant association, for both amprenavir and indinavir, between preexisting baseline resistance to NRTIs subsequently received during the study and development of protease mutations (P = 0.014 and P = 0.031, respectively). Our data provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms by which amprenavir resistance develops during clinical use and present evidence that resistance to concomitant agents in the treatment regimen predisposes to the development of mutations associated with protease inhibitor resistance and treatment failure.

Six-week randomized controlled trial to compare the tolerabilities, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activities of GW433908 and amprenavir in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients.

This study compared the plasma amprenavir pharmacokinetics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors amprenavir (Agenerase) 1,200 mg twice daily (BID) and the amprenavir prodrug GW433908, a formulation that substantially reduces the number of tablets per dose compared with amprenavir, at doses of 1,395 mg and 1,860 mg BID, in combination with abacavir 300 mg BID and lamivudine 150 mg BID in patients with HIV infection. Overall, 78 patients received study treatment. Compared with amprenavir 1,200 mg BID, both GW433908 1,395 mg BID and GW433908 1,860 mg BID delivered equivalent steady-state (ss) values for area under the plasma amprenavir concentration-time curve (AUC) at the end of a dosing interval (tau), lower maximum plasma amprenavir concentrations (30% lower), and higher plasma amprenavir concentrations at the end of a dosing interval (28% higher for GW433908 1,395 mg BID and 46% higher for GW433908 1,860 mg BID). Time-variant plasma amprenavir pharmacokinetics were observed with reductions in plasma amprenavir exposure over the first 4 weeks of dosing; the decrease in plasma amprenavir AUC(tau,ss) versus the AUC from 0 h to infinity was 27% for GW43308 1,395 mg, 45% for GW433908 1,860 mg, and 23% for amprenavir 1,200 mg. All three regimens reduced plasma HIV-1 RNA ( approximately 2 log(10) copies/ml) and increased CD4(+) cell counts ( approximately 100 cells/mm(3)) over the initial 28 days. Adverse event profiles were consistent with those previously reported for amprenavir. Although not statistically tested, the GW433908 groups appeared to have fewer gastrointestinal symptoms. In conclusion, the protease inhibitor GW433908 delivered comparable plasma amprenavir concentrations to those delivered by amprenavir 1,200 mg BID. GW433908, in combination with abacavir and lamivudine, demonstrated potent antiviral activity and was generally well tolerated over a 4-week period.