Outcomes following a multi-disciplinary pediatric-to-adult transition and transfer clinic at a level four epilepsy center.

OBJECTIVE: Transition and transfer from the pediatric to adult care model is crucial to the continued long-term health and well-being of patients impacted by life-long diseases. This project explores the impact of a novel epilepsy transition collaboration between Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) and Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of 56 consecutive patients transferred to an adult health care system. These patients were divided into two groups. A cohort of 23 patients transferred in 2019 prior to clinic implementation were compared to a cohort of 33 consecutive patients transferred in 2019 and early 2020 using the epilepsy transition and transfer clinic model. Data points of interest included demographic information, age at transfer, epilepsy diagnosis, pharmacoresistance of epilepsy, surgical history and compliance with follow-up. RESULTS: Patients transferred to OSU through the transition clinic were statistically more likely to be followed at OSU (p = .037) within 6 months (p = .013). Additionally, there was improved patient retention at OSU following transition clinic implementation (p = .037). SIGNIFICANCE: Data demonstrating statistically significant improvement in care has not been reported for an epilepsy transition clinic. This study establishes that our novel approach improves continuity of care in this at-risk population. Our clinic model also successfully transitioned and transferred medically complex patients, including those with pharmacoresistant and/or genetically mediated epilepsy. Additionally, this work suggests that this clinic structure has potential to foster the growth of associated adult epilepsy subspecialty practices. These findings are encouraging as they offer potential for improved health care in the youth and young adult epilepsy population.

Voluntary wheel running ameliorates select paclitaxel chemotherapy-induced sickness behaviors and associated melanocortin signaling.

While chemotherapy remains a common cancer treatment, it is associated with debilitating side effects (e.g., anorexia, weight loss, and fatigue) that adversely affect patient quality of life and increase mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying taxane chemotherapy-induced side effects, and effective treatments to ameliorate them, are not well-established. Here, we tested the longitudinal relationship between a clinically-relevant paclitaxel regimen, inflammation, and sickness behaviors (loss of body mass, anorexia, fever, and fatigue) in adult, female mice. Furthermore, we sought to identify the extent to which voluntary exercise (wheel running) attenuates paclitaxel-induced sickness behaviors and underlying central pathways. Body mass and food intake decreased following six doses of chemotherapy treatment relative to vehicle controls, lasting less than 5 days after the last dose. Paclitaxel treatment also transiently decreased locomotion (open field test), voluntary wheel running, home-cage locomotion, and core body temperature without affecting motor coordination (rotarod task). Circulating interleukin (IL)-6 and hypothalamic Il1b gene expression remained elevated in chemotherapy-treated mice at least 3 days after the last dose. Exercise intervention did not ameliorate fatigue or inflammation, but hastened recovery from paclitaxel-induced weight loss. Body mass recovery was associated with the wheel running-induced recovery of body composition, paclitaxel-induced alterations to hypothalamic melanocortin signaling, and associated peripheral circulating hormones (ghrelin and leptin). The present findings demonstrate the benefits of exercise on faster recovery from paclitaxel-induced body mass loss and deficits in melanocortin signaling and suggests the development of therapies targeting the melanocortin pathway to reduce paclitaxel-induced weight loss.