Adjuvant Bidirectional Chemotherapy Using an Intraperitoneal Port

PubMed Central

Sugarbaker, Paul H.; Bijelic, Lana

2012-01-01

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been established as treatment options for patients with peritoneal metastases or peritoneal mesothelioma. However, this novel treatment strategy remains associated with a large percentage of local-regional treatment failures. These treatment failures are attributed to the inadequacy of HIPEC to maintain a surgical complete response. Management strategies to supplement CRS and HIPEC are indicated. A simplified approach to the intraoperative placement of an intraperitoneal port for adjuvant bidirectional chemotherapy (ABC) was devised. Four different chemotherapy treatment plans were utilized depending upon the primary site of the malignancy. Thirty-one consecutive patients with an intraoperative placement of the intraperitoneal port were available for study. The incidence of adverse events that caused an early discontinuation of the bidirectional chemotherapy occurred in 75% of the 8 patients who had an incomplete cytoreduction and in 0% of patients who had a complete cytoreduction. All of the patients who had complete cytoreduction completed at least 5 of the scheduled 6 bidirectional chemotherapy treatments. Adjuvant bidirectional chemotherapy is possible following a major cytoreductive surgical procedure using a simplified method of intraoperative intraperitoneal port placement. PMID:22888340

Adjuvant bisphosphonate treatment for breast cancer: why did something so elegant become so complicated?

PubMed

Clemons, Mark; Russell, Kent; Costa, Luis; Addison, Christina L

2012-07-01

Bisphosphonate therapy has revolutionized the care of patients with metastatic bone disease. With its demonstrated activity and anti-tumour effects in preclinical studies it was natural to transition these agents to testing in the adjuvant setting. Surprisingly, the results of adjuvant breast cancer trials have shown either modest or no benefit or even harm. We sought to explore whether there were specific patient cohorts or treatment strategies that were most likely to benefit from adjuvant bisphosphonate therapy. We compared trial designs, patient characteristics and outcomes from the six published and two presented randomized adjuvant bisphosphonate trials. Differences in trial design and patient populations make direct comparisons complicated. The most efficacious use of adjuvant bisphosphonates appears to be in patients with either biopsy evidence of osseous micrometastases, were post-menopausal or had estrogen receptor-positive tumours. Despite tremendous optimism regarding adjuvant bisphosphonate therapy, results from large trials are conflicting. Further investigation into factors influencing response to bisphosphonate treatment or selection of appropriate sub-groups of patients with desirable response characteristics is warranted.

Adjuvant treatment for endometrial cancer: literature review and recommendations by the Comité de l'évolution des pratiques en oncologie (CEPO).

PubMed

Morneau, Mélanie; Foster, William; Lalancette, Marc; Van Nguyen-Huynh, Thu; Renaud, Marie-Claude; Samouëlian, Vanessa; Letarte, Nathalie; Almanric, Karine; Boily, Gino; Bouchard, Philippe; Boulanger, Jim; Cournoyer, Ghislain; Couture, Félix; Gervais, Normand; Goulet, Stéphanie; Guay, Marie-Pascale; Kavanagh, Mélanie; Lemieux, Julie; Lespérance, Bernard; Letarte, Nathalie; Morneau, Mélanie; Ouellet, Jean-François; Pineau, Gilles; Rajan, Raghu; Roy, Isabelle; Samson, Benoît; Sidéris, Lucas; Vincent, François

2013-10-01

Despite the very good prognosis of endometrial cancer, a number of patients with localized disease relapse following surgery. Therefore, various adjuvant therapeutic approaches have been studied. The objective of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies in patients with resectable endometrial cancer and to develop evidence-based recommendations. A review of the scientific literature published between January 1990 and June 2012 was performed. The search was limited to published phase III clinical trials and meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies in patients with endometrial carcinoma or carcinosarcoma. A total of 23 studies and five meta-analyses were identified. The selected literature showed that in patients with a low risk of recurrence, post-surgical observation is safe and recommended in most cases. There are several therapeutic modalities available for treatment of endometrial cancers with higher risk of recurrence, including vaginal brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these. Considering the evidence available to date, the CEPO recommends the following: (1)post-surgical observation for most patients with a low recurrence risk; (2)adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy for patients with an intermediate recurrence risk; (3)adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy with or without vaginal brachytherapy for patients with a high recurrence risk; addition of adjuvant chemotherapy may be considered as an option for selected patients (excellent functional status, no significant co-morbidities, poor prognostic factors); (4)adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy with or without brachytherapy and para-aortic irradiation for patients with advanced disease; © 2013.

Management of localized and locally advanced renal tumors. A contemporary review of current treatment options.

PubMed

Brookman-May, S; Langenhuijsen, J F; Volpe, A; Minervini, A; Joniau, S; Salagierski, M; Roscigno, M; Akdogan, B; Vandromme, A; Rodriguez-Faba, O; Marszalek, M

2013-06-01

About 70% of patients with renal cell carcinoma present with localized or locally advanced disease at primary diagnosis. Whereas these patients are potentially curable by surgical treatment alone, a further 20% to 30% of patients are diagnosed with primary metastatic disease. Although over the past years medical treatment for metastatic patients has nearly completely changed from immunotherapy to effective treatment with targeted agents, metastatic disease still represents a disease status which is not curable. Also in patients with metastatic disease, surgical treatment of the primary tumor plays an important role, since local tumor related complications can be avoided or minimized by surgery. Furthermore, also improvement of overall survival has been proven for surgery in metastatic patients when combined with cytokine treatment. Hence, surgical combined with systemic treatment as a multi-modal, adjuvant, and neo-adjuvant treatment is also required in patients with advanced or metastatic disease. A growing number of elderly and comorbid patients are currently diagnosed with small renal masses, which has led to increased attention paid to alternative ablative treatment modalities as well as active surveillance strategies, which are applied in order to avoid unnecessary overtreatment in these patients. Since surgical treatment also might enhance the risk of chronic kidney disease with consecutive cardiac disorders as well as reduced overall survival, ablative techniques and active surveillance are increasingly applied. In this review article we focus on current surgical and none-surgical treatment options for the management of patients with localized, locally advanced, and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Adjuvant Maneuvers for Residual Curvature Correction During Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Men with Peyronie's Disease.

PubMed

Berookhim, Boback M; Karpman, Edward; Carrion, Rafael

2015-11-01

The surgical treatment of comorbid erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease has long included the implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis as well as a number of adjuvant maneuvers to address residual curvature after prosthesis placement. To review the various surgical options for addressing curvature after prosthesis placement, with specific attention paid to an original article by Wilson et al. reporting on modeling over a penile prosthesis for the management of Peyronie's disease. A literature review was performed analyzing articles reporting the management of penile curvature in patients undergoing implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis. Reported improvement in Peyronie's deformity as well as the complication rate associated with the various surgical techniques described. Modeling is a well-established treatment modality among patients with Peyronie's disease undergoing penile prosthesis implantation. A variety of other adjuvant maneuvers to address residual curvature when modeling alone is insufficient has been presented in the literature. Over 20 years of experience with modeling over a penile prosthesis have proven the efficacy and safety of this treatment option, providing the surgeon a simple initial step for the management of residual curvature after penile implantation which allows for the use of additional adjuvant maneuvers in those with significant deformities. © 2015 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Retrospective study of management of uterine sarcomas at Oxford 1990-1998: role of adjuvant treatment.

PubMed

Riddle, P J; Echeta, C B; Manek, S; Lavery, B A; Charnock, F M L; Mackenzie, I; Ganesan, T S

2002-02-01

We report a retrospective study of 47 consecutive patients with uterine sarcoma treated at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford between 1990-1998. The mainstay of treatment was surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy reserved for selected patients with early stage disease. Overall 1 and 2 year survival was 49% and 30% respectively compared with 73% and 55% in the group who received adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Median survival was 11 months for the group as a whole compared to 32.9 months in the adjuvant therapy group. This is a retrospective review with small numbers and considerable selection bias, however, given the poor survival of patients with this disease, adjuvant treatment should be considered in future trials of patients with uterine sarcoma.

A systematic review of optimal treatment strategies for localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

PubMed

Werier, Joel; Yao, Xiaomei; Caudrelier, Jean-Michel; Di Primio, Gina; Ghert, Michelle; Gupta, Abha A; Kandel, Rita; Verma, Shailendra

2016-03-01

To perform a systematic review to investigate the optimal treatment strategy among the options of surgery alone, radiotherapy (RT) alone, and the combination of RT plus surgery in the management of localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. MEDLINE and EMBASE (1999 to February 2015), the Cochrane Library, and relevant conferences were searched. Two systematic reviews and eight full texts met the pre-planned study selection criteria. When RT was compared with surgery, a meta-analysis combining two papers showed that surgery resulted in a higher event-free survival (EFS) than RT in any location (HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.12-2.00; p = 0.007). However another paper did not find a statistically significant difference in patients with pelvic disease, and no papers identified a significant difference in overall survival. When surgery plus RT was compared with surgery alone, a meta-analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference for EFS between the two groups (HR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.90-1.63). Both surgical morbidities and radiation toxicities were reported. The existing evidence is based on very low aggregate quality as assessed by the GRADE approach. In patients with localized Ewing's sarcoma, either surgery alone (if complete surgical excision with clear margin can be achieved) or RT alone may be a reasonable treatment option. The optimal local treatment for an individual patient should be decided through consideration of patient characteristics, the potential benefit and harm of the treatment options, and patient preference. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of Lymph Node-Targeting Adjuvants.

PubMed

Hanson, Melissa C; Irvine, Darrell J

2017-01-01

Molecular adjuvants based off of pattern recognition receptor agonists are capable of potently stimulating innate immunity and inducing protective immune responses to subunit antigens. One significant disadvantage to these small molecule adjuvants is their pharmacokinetic profile of entering the blood stream rather than the lymphatics after parental injection. In order to target molecular adjuvants to lymph nodes, we have developed nanoparticle carriers whose size has been optimized to avoid the blood and efficiently drain to lymph nodes (Hanson et al. Vaccine 33:861-8,2015; Hanson et al. J Clin Invest 125:2532-2546, 2015). This chapter describes in detail the materials and procedures necessary to synthesize liposome nanoparticle carriers of either hydrophobic or hydrophilic adjuvants, including synthesis tips, alternative equipment options, and pitfalls to avoid.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma.

PubMed

Casali, Paolo G

2015-01-01

Adjuvant chemotherapy is not standard treatment in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). However, when the risk of relapse is high, it is an option for shared decision making with the patient in conditions of uncertainty. This is because available evidence is conflicting, even if several randomized clinical trials have been performed for 4 decades and also have been pooled into meta-analyses. Indeed, available meta-analyses point to a benefit in the 5% to 10% range in terms of survival and distant relapse rate. Some local benefit also was suggested by some trials. Placing chemotherapy in the preoperative setting may help gain a local advantage in terms of the quality of surgical margins or decreased sequelae. This may be done within a personalized approach according to the clinical presentation. Attempts to personalize treatment on the basis of the variegated pathology and molecular biology of STS subgroups are ongoing as well, according to what is done in the medical treatment of advanced STS. Thus, decision making for adjuvant and neoadjuvant indications deserves personalization in clinical research and in clinical practice, taking profit from all multidisciplinary clinical skills available at a sarcoma reference center, though with a degree of subjectivity because of the limitations of available evidence.

Cost analysis of adjuvant management strategies in early stage (stage I) testicular seminoma

PubMed Central

Cox, John A; Gajjar, Shefali R; Lanni, Thomas B; Swanson, Todd A

2015-01-01

Background Acceptable post-orchiectomy adjuvant therapy strategies for stage I seminoma patients include surveillance, para-aortic radiation therapy (RT), dog-leg RT, and a single cycle of carboplatin. The required follow-up recommendations were amended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in 2012. Given a cause-specific survival of nearly 100%, a closer analysis of the reimbursement for each treatment strategy is warranted. Methods NCCN guidelines were used to design treatment plans for each acceptable adjuvant treatment strategy. Follow-up charges were generated for 10 years based on 2012 (version 1.2012; unchanged in current version 1.2013) and 2011 NCCN (version 2.2011) surveillance recommendations. The 2012 Medicare reimbursement rates were used to calculate each treatment strategy and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios to compare the treatment options. Results Under the current NCCN follow-up recommendations, the total reimbursements generated over 10 years of surveillance, para-aortic RT, dog-leg RT, and carboplatin were $10,643, $11,678, $9,662, and $10,405, respectively. This is compared with the reimbursements as per the 2011 NCCN recommendations: $20,986, $11,517, $9,394, and $20,365 respectively. Factoring the rates of relapse into a salvage model, observation was found to be more costly and less effective ($–1,831, $−7,318, $–7,010) in the adjuvant management of stage I seminoma patients Conclusion Based on incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, para-aortic RT, dog-leg RT, and carboplatin are cost-effective options for the treatment of stage I seminoma when compared with observation; however, surveillance could potentially spare as many as 80%–85% of men diagnosed with stage I seminoma from additional therapy after radical inguinal orchiectomy. Such cost and reimbursement analyses are becoming increasingly relevant, but are not meant to usurp sound clinical judgment. Further studies are required to validate these findings

Circulating ESR1 mutations at the end of aromatase inhibitor adjuvant treatment and after relapse in breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Allouchery, Violette; Beaussire, Ludivine; Perdrix, Anne; Sefrioui, David; Augusto, Laetitia; Guillemet, Cécile; Sarafan-Vasseur, Nasrin; Di Fiore, Frédéric; Clatot, Florian

2018-05-16

Detection of circulating ESR1 mutations is associated with acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitor (AI) in metastatic breast cancer. Until now, the presence of circulating ESR1 mutations at the end of adjuvant treatment by AI in early breast cancer had never been clearly established. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the circulating ESR1 mutation frequency at the end of adjuvant treatment and after relapse. This monocentric retrospective study was based on available stored plasmas and included all early breast cancer patients who completed at least 2 years of AI adjuvant treatment and experienced a documented relapse after the end of their treatment. Circulating ESR1 mutations (D538G, Y537S/N/C) were assessed by droplet digital PCR in plasma samples taken at the end of adjuvant treatment, at time of relapse and at time of progression under first line metastatic treatment. A total of 42 patients were included, with a median adjuvant AI exposure of 60 months (range 41-85). No circulating ESR1 mutation was detectable at the end of AI adjuvant therapy. At first relapse, 5.3% of the patients (2/38) had a detectable circulating ESR1 mutation. At time of progression on first-line metastatic treatment, 33% of the patients (7/21) under AI had a detectable circulating ESR1 mutation compared to none of the patients under chemotherapy (0/10). The two patients with a detectable ESR1 mutation at relapse were treated by AI and had an increase of their variant allele fraction at time of progression on first-line metastatic treatment. Circulating ESR1 mutation detection at the end of AI-based adjuvant treatment is not clinically useful. Circulating ESR1 mutation could be assessed as soon as first relapse to guide interventional studies.

Pharmacological Treatment of Pain in Cancer Patients: The Role of Adjuvant Analgesics, a Systematic Review.

PubMed

van den Beuken-van Everdingen, Marieke H J; de Graeff, Alexander; Jongen, Joost L M; Dijkstra, Denise; Mostovaya, Irina; Vissers, Kris C

2017-03-01

In patients with cancer, pain is one of the most feared and burdensome symptoms. Adjuvant analgesics are an important cornerstone on which treatment of pain in patients with cancer is based. To update our guidelines for the treatment of pain in patients with cancer, we performed a systematic review on the use of adjuvant analgesics in pain in cancer. A systematic search of the literature was performed searching for articles that studied the effect of (1) antidepressants, (2) anti-epileptics, (3) N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, and (4) other adjuvant analgesics in patients with cancer pain and described their effects on pain intensity and/or side effects. Based on the keywords and after reading the full papers, we could include 12 papers on anticonvulsants, 10 papers on antidepressants, four on NMDA receptor antagonists, and 10 papers on other adjuvant analgesics. The methodological quality of the included papers was graded as low to very low. Overall, there was a low quality of evidence that gabapentin, pregabalin, amitriptyline, and venlafaxine were effective in reducing pain intensity in patients with cancer pain. There was insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of lamotrigine, levetiracetam, NMDA antagonists, cannabinoids, corticosteroids, and local anesthetics on reducing pain intensity in patients with cancer pain. The quality of currently available evidence on the effectiveness of adjuvant analgesics in the treatment of cancer pain is low. The treatment of pain associated with cancer should be tailored to the patient's personal preferences. © 2016 World Institute of Pain.

Opioid adjuvant strategy: improving opioid effectiveness.

PubMed

Bihel, Frédéric

2016-01-01

Opioid analgesics continue to be the mainstay of pharmacologic treatment of moderate to severe pain. Many patients, particularly those suffering from chronic pain, require chronic high-dose analgesic therapy. Achieving clinical efficacy and tolerability of such treatment regimens is hampered by the appearance of opioid-induced side effects such as tolerance, hyperalgesia and withdrawal syndrome. Among the therapeutic options to improve the opioid effectiveness, this current review focuses on strategies combining opioids to other drugs that can modulate opioid-mediated effects. We will discuss about experimental evidences reported for several potential opioid adjuvants, including N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, 5-HT7 agonists, sigma-1 antagonists, I2-R ligands, cholecystokinin antagonists, neuropeptide FF-R antagonists and toll-like receptor 4 antagonists.

[Music as an adjuvant treatment for anxiety in pediatric oncologic patients].

PubMed

Sepúlveda-Vildósola, Ana Carolina; Herrera-Zaragoza, Octavio René; Jaramillo-Villanueva, Leonel; Anaya-Segura, Armando

2014-01-01

Music has been used as adjuvant therapy for anxiety and it is based on scientific principles. Tone, rhythm, harmony and time are crucial for its efficacy. Chemotherapy treatment frequently produces important stress in pediatric patients. This may delay treatment occasionally. Our objective was to determine if adjuvant therapy with music reduces anxiety in pediatric oncologic patients under ambulatory chemotherapy. Time series design. We included patients from 8 to 16 years of age who received ambulatory intravenous chemotherapy at the Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI. They received treatment as usual on the first day, and music therapy during the second day of chemotherapy. A visual scale was used to categorize the level of anxiety prior and after treatment on both days. We included 22 patients. All patients experienced both moderate and high levels of anxiety prior to chemotherapy treatment on both days. There was a statistically significant reduction of anxiety on both groups after chemotherapy, but with lower levels of anxiety in the intervention group. There is an additional benefit with the use of music therapy in the reduction of anxiety in pediatric patients who receive ambulatory chemotherapy.

Treatment options for chronic pancreatitis.

PubMed

Issa, Yama; Bruno, Marco J; Bakker, Olaf J; Besselink, Marc G; Schepers, Nicolien J; van Santvoort, Hjalmar C; Gooszen, Hein G; Boermeester, Marja A

2014-09-01

This Review covers the latest developments in the treatment options for chronic pancreatitis. Pain is the most frequent and dominant symptom in patients with chronic pancreatitis, which ranges from severe disabling continuous pain to mild pain attacks and pain-free periods. Conventional treatment strategies and recent changes in the treatment of pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis are outlined. The different treatment options for pain consist of medical therapy, endoscopy or surgery. Their related merits and drawbacks are discussed. Finally, novel insights in the field of genetics and microbiota are summarized, and future perspectives are discussed.

Health-related quality of life during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Browall, Maria; Ahlberg, Karin; Karlsson, Per; Danielson, Ella; Persson, Lars-Olof; Gaston-Johansson, Fannie

2008-07-01

The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to describe changes of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) during the adjuvant treatment among postmenopausal women with breast cancer; second, in the same population to identify the best predictors of Overall Quality of Life (QoL) after treatment, from perceived functioning, symptoms, emotional distress and clinical/demographic variables measured at baseline. The study group was 150 women (> or = 55 years of age) scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy (CT, n=75) or radiotherapy (RT, n=75). They were examined before (baseline), during and after completing the treatment. Data about QoL, perceived functioning, symptoms and emotional distress were collected with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QLQ-C30, BR23 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. The general finding was that the adjuvant treatments were associated with decrease in overall QoL, physical and role functioning, anxiety and body image, as well as with increase in fatigue, dyspnoea, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation and systemic therapy side effects measured over time. For women receiving CT, better emotional functioning and less pain at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment. For women receiving RT, better physical and emotional functioning, less breast symptoms and lower tumour stage at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment.

Contribution of Early Detection and Adjuvant Treatments to Breast Cancer Mortality Reduction in Catalonia, Spain

PubMed Central

Vilaprinyo, Ester; Puig, Teresa; Rue, Montserrat

2012-01-01

Background Reductions in breast cancer (BC) mortality in Western countries have been attributed to the use of screening mammography and adjuvant treatments. The goal of this work was to analyze the contributions of both interventions to the decrease in BC mortality between 1975 and 2008 in Catalonia. Methodology/Principal Findings A stochastic model was used to quantify the contribution of each intervention. Age standardized BC mortality rates for calendar years 1975–2008 were estimated in four hypothetical scenarios: 1) Only screening, 2) Only adjuvant treatment, 3) Both interventions, and 4) No intervention. For the 30–69 age group, observed Catalan BC mortality rates per 100,000 women-year rose from 29.4 in 1975 to 38.3 in 1993, and afterwards continuously decreased to 23.2 in 2008. If neither of the two interventions had been used, in 2008 the estimated BC mortality would have been 43.5, which, compared to the observed BC mortality rate, indicates a 46.7% reduction. In 2008 the reduction attributable to screening was 20.4%, to adjuvant treatments was 15.8% and to both interventions 34.1%. Conclusions/Significance Screening and adjuvant treatments similarly contributed to reducing BC mortality in Catalonia. Mathematical models have been useful to assess the impact of interventions addressed to reduce BC mortality that occurred over nearly the same periods. PMID:22272292

Treatment options for Primary CNS Lymphoma.

PubMed

Laghari, Altaf Ali; Ahmed, Syed Ijlal; Jabbar, Adnan; Shamim, Muhammad Shahzad

2018-03-01

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive brain tumour that is uniformly fatal. The rarity of the disease and the poor response to treatment makes it difficult to reach a consensus with regards to treatment options. In this review, the authors have discussed different treatment modalities used in the management of PCNSL including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, as well as the results of recent clinical trials on treatment options for PCNSL.

Docetaxel as adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment for patients with breast cancer.

PubMed

Heys, Steven D; Sarkar, Tarun; Hutcheon, Andrew W

2004-10-01

Developments in the role of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with breast cancer have focused on the taxes, in particular, docetaxel. This paper discusses the rationale for the introduction of docetaxel into the management of patients following surgery and also its role in those patients with locally-advanced disease, focussing on key clinical trials. The addition of docetaxel to standard adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimens does seem to result in an increased survival in some patients with early-stage disease. In the neoadjuvant setting, the addition of docetaxel to standard regimens does increase pathological response rates, which is a surrogate marker of eventual outcome.

The efficacy and safety of adjuvant interferon-alfa therapy in the evolving treatment landscape for resected high-risk melanoma.

PubMed

Trinh, Van Anh; Zobniw, Chrystia; Hwu, Wen-Jen

2017-08-01

Patients with resected stage II or III melanoma are at high risk of recurrence, with 5-year mortality rate of 40-60%. Adjuvant interferon-alfa has demonstrated a small RFS and OS benefit versus observation in this patient population. However, the adjuvant treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. Areas covered: This review aims to summarize the safety and efficacy profiles of adjuvant IFNα/PEG-IFNα, revisit the controversy surrounding its application, and reappraise its position in the rapidly changing treatment landscape of resected melanoma. A literature search using PubMed database was undertaken using search words melanoma, interferon-alfa, pegylated interferon-alfa, adjuvant therapy. Expert opinion: Currently, there is no international consensus regarding the optimal dosing schedule for adjuvant IFNα, but HD IFNα-2b remains the most widely used regimen. The AEs of HD IFNα-2b are substantial; however, toxicity management experience amassed over the past 2 decades has significantly improved safety. Many exciting studies are ongoing to examine the roles of immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF-targeted therapies in the adjuvant setting and will further delineate the role of adjuvant IFNα.

Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Treatment Time Impacts Overall Survival in Gastric Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McMillan, Matthew T.; Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ojerholm, Eric

Purpose: Prolonged radiation therapy treatment time (RTT) is associated with worse survival in several tumor types. This study investigated whether delays during adjuvant radiation therapy impact overall survival (OS) in gastric cancer. Methods and Materials: The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients with resected gastric cancer who received adjuvant radiation therapy with National Comprehensive Cancer Network–recommended doses (45 or 50.4 Gy) between 1998 and 2006. RTT was classified as standard (45 Gy: 33-36 days, 50.4 Gy: 38-41 days) or prolonged (45 Gy: >36 days, 50.4 Gy: >41 days). Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the association between the following factors and OS: RTT, interval from surgery to radiationmore » therapy initiation, interval from surgery to radiation therapy completion, radiation therapy dose, demographic/pathologic and operative factors, and other elements of adjuvant multimodality therapy. Results: Of 1591 patients, RTT was delayed in 732 (46%). Factors associated with prolonged RTT were non-private health insurance (OR 1.3, P=.005) and treatment at non-academic facilities (OR 1.2, P=.045). Median OS and 5-year actuarial survival were significantly worse in patients with prolonged RTT compared with standard RTT (36 vs 51 months, P=.001; 39 vs 47%, P=.005); OS worsened with each cumulative week of delay (P<.0004). On multivariable analysis, prolonged RTT was associated with inferior OS (hazard ratio 1.2, P=.002); the intervals from surgery to radiation therapy initiation or completion were not. Prolonged RTT was particularly detrimental in patients with node positivity, inadequate nodal staging (<15 nodes examined), and those undergoing a cycle of chemotherapy before chemoradiation therapy. Conclusions: Delays during adjuvant radiation therapy appear to negatively impact survival in gastric cancer. Efforts to minimize cumulative interruptions to <7 days should be considered.« less

ARSENIC TREATMENT OPTIONS

EPA Science Inventory

The PPT presentation will provide information on the drinking water treatment options for small utilities to remove arsenic from ground water. The discussion will include information on the EPA BAT listed processes and on some of the newer technologies, such as the iron based ad...

Induction chemotherapy vs post-operative adjuvant therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

PubMed

Marulli, Giuseppe; Faccioli, Eleonora; Bellini, Alice; Mammana, Marco; Rea, Federico

2017-08-01

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasia. Multidisciplinary treatments, including the association of induction and/or adjuvant therapeutic regimens with surgery, have been reported to give encouraging results. Current therapeutic options are not well standardized yet, especially regarding the best association between surgery and medical treatments. The present review aims to assess safety, efficacy and outcomes of different therapies for MPM. Areas covered: This article focuses on the multimodality treatment of mesothelioma. A systematic review was performed by using electronic databases to identify studies that considered induction and adjuvant approaches in MPM therapy in a multidisciplinary setting, including surgery. Endpoints included overall survival, disease free survival, disease recurrence, and complications. Expert commentary: This systematic review offers a comprehensive view of current multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies for MPM, suggesting that multimodality therapy offers acceptable outcomes with better results reported for trimodality approaches. Individualization of care for each patient is fundamental in choosing the most appropriate treatment. The growing complexity of treatment protocols mandates that MPM patients be referred to specialized Centers, in which every component of the interdisciplinary team can provide the necessary expertise and quality of care.

Singapore Cancer Network (SCAN) Guidelines for Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

PubMed

2015-10-01

The SCAN lung cancer workgroup aimed to develop Singapore Cancer Network (SCAN) clinical practice guidelines for the use of adjuvant systemic therapy for non-small cell lung cancer in Singapore. The workgroup utilised a modified ADAPTE process to calibrate high quality international evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to our local setting. Five international guidelines were evaluated- those developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2014), European Society of Medical Oncology (2014), National Institute of Clinical Excellence (2012), Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2014), and the Cancer Care Council Australia (2012). Recommendations on the selection of patients, chemotherapy regimen, treatment for stage I disease, treatment for positive margins and treatment options for pN2 disease with negative margins were produced. These adapted guidelines form the SCAN Guidelines 2015 for adjuvant systemic therapy of non-small cell lung cancer.

Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Palliative Care and Adjuvant Therapy

PubMed Central

Liao, Guo-Shiou; Shyur, Lie-Fen

2013-01-01

Breast cancer is a life-threatening disease among women worldwide with annual rates of reported incidence and death increasing alarmingly. Chemotherapy is a recommended and effective treatment option for breast cancer; however, the narrow therapeutic indices and varied side effects of currently approved drugs present major hurdles in increasing its effectiveness. An increasing number of literature evidence indicate that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used in treatment-related symptom control and alleviation of side effects plays an important role in increasing survival rate and quality of life in breast cancer patients. This review focuses on the use of herbal medicines and acupuncture in palliative care and as adjuvants in the treatment of breast cancer. Herbal medicinal treatments, the correlation of clinical use with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo mechanisms of action, and the use of certain acupoints in acupuncture are summarized. The aim of this review is to facilitate an understanding of the current practice and usefulness of herbal medicine and acupuncture as adjuvants in breast cancer therapy. PMID:23840256

Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options

PubMed Central

Miller, Richard A.

2017-01-01

One of the most common dermatologic concerns is oily skin, and the demand for effective treatment options is ever apparent. This review article addresses numerous topical treatment options such as retinoids, olumacostat glasaretil, and various cosmeceutical agents. several systemic and procedural techniques that incorporate isotretinoin, spironolactone, oral contraceptives, botulinum toxin, photodynamic therapy, and lasers are reviewed as well. Each treatment option is analyzed in terms of the proposed mechanism of action, efficacy reported in the literature, and potential adverse effects. PMID:28979664

Adjuvant radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer: a review of the old and the new.

PubMed

Boyle, John; Czito, Brian; Willett, Christopher; Palta, Manisha

2015-08-01

Surgery represents the only potential curative treatment option for patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Despite aggressive surgical management for patients deemed to be resectable, rates of local recurrence and/or distant metastases remain high, resulting in poor long-term outcomes. In an effort to reduce recurrence rates and improve survival for patients having undergone resection, adjuvant therapies (ATs) including chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy (CRT) have been explored. While adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to consistently improve outcomes, the data regarding adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) is mixed. Although the ability of radiation to improve local control has been demonstrated, it has not always led to improved survival outcomes for patients. Early trials are flawed in their utilization of sub-optimal radiation techniques, limiting their generalizability. Recent and ongoing trials incorporate more optimized RT approaches and seek to clarify its role in treatment strategies. At the same time novel radiation techniques such as intensity modulated RT (IMRT) and stereotactic body RT (SBRT) are under active investigation. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to improved disease-related outcomes while reducing toxicity rates.

Adjuvant radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer: a review of the old and the new

PubMed Central

Boyle, John; Czito, Brian; Willett, Christopher

2015-01-01

Surgery represents the only potential curative treatment option for patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Despite aggressive surgical management for patients deemed to be resectable, rates of local recurrence and/or distant metastases remain high, resulting in poor long-term outcomes. In an effort to reduce recurrence rates and improve survival for patients having undergone resection, adjuvant therapies (ATs) including chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy (CRT) have been explored. While adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to consistently improve outcomes, the data regarding adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) is mixed. Although the ability of radiation to improve local control has been demonstrated, it has not always led to improved survival outcomes for patients. Early trials are flawed in their utilization of sub-optimal radiation techniques, limiting their generalizability. Recent and ongoing trials incorporate more optimized RT approaches and seek to clarify its role in treatment strategies. At the same time novel radiation techniques such as intensity modulated RT (IMRT) and stereotactic body RT (SBRT) are under active investigation. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to improved disease-related outcomes while reducing toxicity rates. PMID:26261730

Nail Psoriasis: A Review of Treatment Options.

PubMed

Pasch, Marcel C

2016-04-01

Nail involvement affects 80-90 % of patients with plaque psoriasis, and is even more prevalent in patients with psoriatic arthritis. This review is the result of a systemic approach to the literature and covers topical, intralesional, conventional systemic, and biologic systemic treatments, as well as non-pharmacological treatment options for nail psoriasis. The available evidence suggests that all anti-tumor necrosis factor-α, anti-interleukin (IL)-17, and anti-IL-12/23 antibodies which are available for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are highly effective treatments for nail psoriasis. Conventional systemic treatments, including methotrexate, cyclosporine, acitretin, and apremilast, as well as intralesional corticosteroids, can also be effective treatments for nail psoriasis. Topical treatments, including corticosteroids, calcipotriol, tacrolimus, and tazarotene, have also been shown to have a position in the treatment of nail psoriasis, particularly in mild cases. Finally, non-pharmacological treatment options, including phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser therapy, and several radiotherapeutic options, are also reviewed but cannot be advised as first-line treatment options. Another conclusion of this review is that the lack of a reliable core set of outcomes measures for trials in nail psoriasis hinders the interpretation of results, and is urgently needed.

Efficacy of aloe vera gel as an adjuvant treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.

PubMed

Alam, Sarwar; Ali, Iqbal; Giri, K Y; Gokkulakrishnan, S; Natu, Subodh S; Faisal, Mohammad; Agarwal, Anshita; Sharma, Himanshu

2013-12-01

Definitive therapy is not defined for the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). This study evaluated the efficacy of aloe vera gel as an adjuvant treatment of OSMF. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 subjects with OSMF divided into medicinal treatment (submucosal injection of hyaluronidase and dexamethasone, n = 30) and surgical treatment (n = 30) categories. Each category was randomly divided into groups A (with aloe vera, n = 15 per category) and B (without aloe vera, n = 15 per category). Follow-up assessment for various symptoms was performed, and results were analyzed using paired and unpaired Student t tests. The group receiving aloe vera had a significant improvement in most symptoms of OSMF (P < .01) compared with the non-aloe vera group, in both the medicinal and surgical categories. Aloe vera gel was effective as an adjuvant in treatment of OSMF. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Efficacy and safety of azathioprine and dapsone as an adjuvant in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid.

PubMed

Tirado-Sánchez, A; Díaz-Molina, V; Ponce-Olivera, R M

2012-01-01

Bullous pemphigoid is a chronic, blistering and autoimmune disease, common in old age. The treatment usually includes systemic steroids, however, these cause high morbidity rates, and then different products that function as adjuvants have been tried. At present, there are no studies to determine which adjuvant offers a better efficacy and safety profile. We performed a retrospective study which included the records of patients with bullous pemphigoid, treated either with azathioprine or dapsone. We evaluated the time to achieve complete remission, the time to inhibit disease progression, and the control of pruritus. Fifteen records of patients were selected, eight (53%) treated with azathioprine and seven (47%) with dapsone. Complete remission was achieved at week six in both groups. We found no difference in the inhibition of disease progression (p=0.083). Pruritus was controlled at four weeks of treatment in both treatments. Both products are effective as adjuvant in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid, with an acceptable safety profile. Copyright © 2010 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Adjuvant treatment or primary topical monotherapy for ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a systematic review.

PubMed

Viani, Gustavo Arruda; Fendi, Ligia Issa de

2017-01-01

In this systematic review, we evaluated studies involving adjuvant and primary topical treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). The findings were: (i) adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) reduces the risk of relapse after surgical excision with mild side effects [level Ib, grade of recommendation (GR) A]. (ii) Primary topical mitomycin (MMC) produces a high rate of complete response, low recurrence rate, and mild side effects (level Ib, GR A). (iii) Primary chemotherapy versus adjuvant chemotherapy produce similar rates of recurrence, with no significant difference (level IIb, GR B). (iv) Adjuvant 5-FU versus MMC showed no significant differences, with mild side effects in both groups and a better toxicity profile for MMC (level III, GR C). (v) Primary topical 5-FU versus MMC versus interferon (IFN) showed similar rates of tumor recurrence, mild side effects for all drugs, and more severe side effects in the 5-FU arm, followed successively by MMC and IFN (level III, GR C).

Evaluation and economic impact analysis of different treatment options for ankle distortions in occupational accidents.

PubMed

Audenaert, Amaryllis; Prims, Jente; Reniers, Genserik L L; Weyns, Dirk; Mahieu, Peter; Audenaert, Emmanuel

2010-10-01

Appropriate use of diagnostic and treatment modalities are essential for rational use of resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of diagnostic modalities and different treatment options and their economic impacts following an acute ankle distortion resulting from an occupational accident. We evaluated the type-of-treatment impact on the victims' course of recovery as well as its impact on the associated accident costs. Research was carried out in Belgium. An ankle distortion victims' database consisting of 200 cases of (Belgian) occupational accidents during the period 2005-2007 was analysed. Patients who were prescribed immobilization or the use of adjuvant support or physical therapy (118 cases) were not employed during a period of 37 days on average, with a mean total cost of 3140.14 Euros caused by the ankle sprain. Patients without any adjuvant therapy (82 cases) were characterized by an unemployment rate of 15 days on average, and a total cost of 1077.86 Euros. Cast immobilization, although its application is not supported by evidence-based literature, was still applied in 36% of the population studied and resulted in the longest average absence of work of 42 days with an obvious significant increase in medical and total costs. Our results show a high rate of inappropriate use of cast immobilizations for ankle distortions. From an economic point of view and for the same clinical endpoint (being full resumption of the occupational activities), simple conventional treatment, consisting of rest, ice, compression and elevation at diagnosis with allowance of early weight bearing in the further clinical course, leads to the quickest full resumption of activities in combination with the lowest medical costs, if compared with any other kind of treatment. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Role of Adjuvant Treatment in Esophageal Cancer With Incidental Pathologic Node Positivity.

PubMed

Gao, Sarah J; Park, Henry S; Corso, Christopher D; Rutter, Charles E; Kim, Anthony W; Johung, Kimberly L

2017-07-01

The optimal adjuvant treatment for cT1-2 N0 esophageal cancer patients found to have pathologic nodal involvement after an upfront operation is unclear. This study investigated the effects of postoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy on overall survival in cT1-2 N0 patients with incidental pN + disease stratified by margin status. We identified cT1-2 N0 M0 esophageal carcinoma patients from 2004 to 2012 from the National Cancer Data Base. Patients were categorized as having received surgical resection alone, surgical resection followed by chemotherapy (S+CT), and surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiation therapy (S+CRT). Subset analyses were conducted on margin-negative and margin-positive patients. Overall survival was compared by Kaplan-Meier estimation, the log-rank test, and multivariable Cox regression analysis. Among 443 patients, 52.6% received surgical resection alone, 18.7% received S+CT, and 28.6% received S+CRT. Significantly more adenocarcinoma patients received adjuvant treatment (50.8%) than squamous cell carcinoma patients (27.7%, p = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, S+CT (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 0.91; p = 0.014) and S+CRT (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval,. 0.55 to 0.98; p = 0.038) both were associated with significantly increased overall survival. These findings persisted among margin-negative patients. However, in margin-positive patients, S+CRT (hazard ratio, 0.29; p = 0.002) was the only treatment arm that was associated with significantly improved survival compared with surgical resection alone. Among cT1-2 N0 pN + esophageal cancer patients, adjuvant chemotherapy may be sufficient for margin-negative patients, whereas adjuvant chemoradiation therapy appears necessary for margin-positive patients. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the results. Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

Cancer.gov

Nasopharyngeal cancer treatment options include radiation therapy, chemoradiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Get detailed information about the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer in this summary for clinicians.

D-cycloserine adjuvant therapy to molindone in the treatment of schizophrenia.

PubMed

Rosse, R B; Fay-McCarthy, M; Kendrick, K; Davis, R E; Deutsch, S I

1996-10-01

This preliminary investigation examined the therapeutic efficacy of two doses of oral D-cycloserine (5 and 15 mg p.o. b.i.d.) administered as an adjuvant to molindone (150 mg p.o. q.d.) in the treatment of schizophrenia. D-Cycloserine is an agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subclass of glutamate receptor complex. An NMDA agonist intervention was studied because of the schizophreniform psychosis precipitated by phencyclidine (PCP), which is a noncompetitive antagonist at the NMDA glutamate receptor. The PCP model of schizophrenia is regarded as the most comprehensive pharmacological model of this disorder. In this preliminary, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study, the measures of treatment efficacy were the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and Clinical Global Impression Scale. The final scores for each item of the outcome measures employed were based on the consensus of at least two trained raters who were present during each rating interview. In the 13 subjects evaluated, although the D-cycloserine was well tolerated, neither dose seemed to possess adjuvant therapeutic efficacy. However, since another recent report of nine patients with schizophrenia treated for 2 weeks with a slightly higher dose of D-cycloserine (50 mg/day) described significant clinical and neuropsychological improvement, further study of the adjuvant potential of slightly higher doses of D-cycloserine seems warranted. Additionally, there might be a therapeutic window for D-cycloserine dosing, as daily doses of 250 mg have been associated with symptom worsening.

Adjuvant Lapatinib and Trastuzumab for Early Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: Results From the Randomized Phase III Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimization Trial

PubMed Central

Holmes, Eileen; Baselga, José; de Azambuja, Evandro; Dueck, Amylou C.; Viale, Giuseppe; Zujewski, Jo Anne; Goldhirsch, Aron; Armour, Alison; Pritchard, Kathleen I.; McCullough, Ann E.; Dolci, Stella; McFadden, Eleanor; Holmes, Andrew P.; Tonghua, Liu; Eidtmann, Holger; Dinh, Phuong; Di Cosimo, Serena; Harbeck, Nadia; Tjulandin, Sergei; Im, Young-Hyuck; Huang, Chiun-Sheng; Diéras, Véronique; Hillman, David W.; Wolff, Antonio C.; Jackisch, Christian; Lang, Istvan; Untch, Michael; Smith, Ian; Boyle, Frances; Xu, Binghe; Gomez, Henry; Suter, Thomas; Gelber, Richard D.; Perez, Edith A.

2016-01-01

Background Lapatinib (L) plus trastuzumab (T) improves outcomes for metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2–positive breast cancer and increases the pathologic complete response in the neoadjuvant setting, but their role as adjuvant therapy remains uncertain. Methods In the Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimization trial, patients with centrally confirmed human epidermal growth factor 2–positive early breast cancer were randomly assigned to 1 year of adjuvant therapy with T, L, their sequence (T→L), or their combination (L+T). The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS), with 850 events required for 80% power to detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.8 for L+T versus T. Results Between June 2007 and July 2011, 8,381 patients were enrolled. In 2011, due to futility to demonstrate noninferiority of L versus T, the L arm was closed, and patients free of disease were offered adjuvant T. A protocol modification required P ≤ .025 for the two remaining pairwise comparisons. At a protocol-specified analysis with a median follow-up of 4.5 years, a 16% reduction in the DFS hazard rate was observed with L+T compared with T (555 DFS events; HR, 0.84; 97.5% CI, 0.70 to 1.02; P = .048), and a 4% reduction was observed with T→L compared with T (HR, 0.96; 97.5% CI, 0.80 to 1.15; P = .61). L-treated patients experienced more diarrhea, cutaneous rash, and hepatic toxicity compared with T-treated patients. The incidence of cardiac toxicity was low in all treatment arms. Conclusion Adjuvant treatment that includes L did not significantly improve DFS compared with T alone and added toxicity. One year of adjuvant T remains standard of care. PMID:26598744

Weight changes after adjuvant treatment in Korean women with early breast cancer.

PubMed

Han, Hye-Suk; Lee, Keun-Wook; Kim, Jee Hyun; Kim, Sung-Won; Kim, In-Ah; Oh, Do-Youn; Im, Seock-Ah; Bang, Soo-Mee; Lee, Jong Seok

2009-03-01

Weight gain is a common problem in breast cancer patients and is reported to be associated with poorer survival. However, most data are limited to Western women. We evaluated weight changes after adjuvant treatment in Korean women with early breast cancer. The authors reviewed the records of 260 patients with stage I-III breast cancer treated between June 2003 and February 2006. Body weight, body mass index (BMI) and menopausal status at baseline and after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of adjuvant treatment were reviewed. Mean patient age was 47.0 years and 61.1% of women were premenopausal. Among them, 195 patients (75.8%) received chemotherapy and 186 (71.5%) received hormonal therapy. Mean baseline weight was 57.5 +/- 9.8 kg and mean BMI was 23.5 +/- 1.6 kg/m(2) (22.8 +/- 3.0 vs. 24.7 +/- 3.2 kg/m(2) for pre- vs. post-menopausal women, P = 0.286). Mean weight changes were; 0.30 kg at 3 months (P = 0.019); 0.16 kg at 6 months (P = 0.367); -0.34 kg at 1 year (P = 0.082); -0.40 kg at 2 years (P = 0.097). Twenty-three patients (10.4%) gained more than 5% of baseline body weight at 1 year, but no clinical variable was found to be associated with these weight gains. This study shows that Korean women with early breast cancer do not gain weight after adjuvant treatment. Further studies are needed to determine differences between Asian and Western women in terms of weight changes and prognosis in early breast cancer.

Adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb for patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Wang, Lina; Pan, Shuming

2015-12-01

Crude rhubarb has been used to treat critically ill patients for many years. However, no previous meta-analysis has been investigated the benefits of crude rhubarb in patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (AOPP). To summarize the beneficial effects of adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb in patients with AOPP by conducting a meta-analysis. A literature search of the databases through Pubmed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and Wanfang were performed for studies published up to October 2014. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of crude rhubarb as adjuvant treatment for patients with AOPP were included. A total of 12 RCTs with 886 patients were identified. Adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb was associated with a significantly lower incidence of intermediate syndrome (risk ratio [RR] 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.48), as well as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (RR 0.34; 95% CI 0.20-0.56). Crude rhubarb as adjuvant treatment reduced the total dose of pralidoxime (mean difference [MD] -5.12 g; 95% CI -8.24 to -2.00) or atropine (MD -94.89 mg; 95% CI -156.22 to -33.57), and hospital length of stay (MD -2.79 days; 95% CI -4.19 to -1.39) compared with the controls. This meta-analysis suggests that crude rhubarb as adjuvant treatment appears to have additional beneficial effects in patients with AOPP. More well-designed trials are needed to confirm our findings due to the methodological flaws of the included trials. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Personalizing, not patronizing: the case for patient autonomy by unbiased presentation of management options in stage I testicular cancer.

PubMed

Oldenburg, J; Aparicio, J; Beyer, J; Cohn-Cedermark, G; Cullen, M; Gilligan, T; De Giorgi, U; De Santis, M; de Wit, R; Fosså, S D; Germà-Lluch, J R; Gillessen, S; Haugnes, H S; Honecker, F; Horwich, A; Lorch, A; Ondruš, D; Rosti, G; Stephenson, A J; Tandstad, T

2015-05-01

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common neoplasm in males aged 15-40 years. The majority of patients have no evidence of metastases at diagnosis and thus have clinical stage I (CSI) disease [Oldenburg J, Fossa SD, Nuver J et al. Testicular seminoma and non-seminoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013; 24(Suppl 6): vi125-vi132; de Wit R, Fizazi K. Controversies in the management of clinical stage I testis cancer. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24: 5482-5492.]. Management of CSI TC is controversial and options include surveillance and active treatment. Different forms of adjuvant therapy exist, including either one or two cycles of carboplatin chemotherapy or radiotherapy for seminoma and either one or two cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for non-seminoma. Long-term disease-specific survival is ∼99% with any of these approaches, including surveillance. While surveillance allows most patients to avoid additional treatment, adjuvant therapy markedly lowers the relapse rate. Weighing the net benefits of surveillance against those of adjuvant treatment depends on prioritizing competing aims such as avoiding unnecessary treatment, avoiding more burdensome treatment with salvage chemotherapy and minimizing the anxiety, stress and life disruption associated with relapse. Unbiased information about the advantages and disadvantages of surveillance and adjuvant treatment is a prerequisite for informed consent by the patient. In a clinical scenario like CSI TC, where different disease-management options produce indistinguishable long-term survival rates, patient values, priorities and preferences should be taken into account. In this review, we provide an overview about risk factors for relapse, potential benefits and harms of adjuvant chemotherapy and active surveillance and a rationale for involving patients in individualized decision making about their treatment rather than adopting

Comparison of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide with doxorubicin-dacarbazine for the adjuvant treatment of canine hemangiosarcoma.

PubMed

Finotello, R; Stefanello, D; Zini, E; Marconato, L

2017-03-01

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a neoplasm of vascular endothelial origin that has an aggressive biological behaviour, with less than 10% of dogs alive at 12-months postdiagnosis. Treatment of choice consists of surgery followed by adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. We prospectively compared adjuvant doxorubicin and dacarbazine (ADTIC) to a traditional doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) treatment, aiming at determining safety and assessing whether this regimen prolongs survival and time to metastasis (TTM). Twenty-seven dogs were enrolled; following staging work-up, 18 were treated with AC and 9 with ADTIC. Median TTM and survival time were longer for dogs treated with ADTIC compared with those receiving AC (>550 versus 112 days, P = 0.021 and >550 versus 142 days, P = 0.011, respectively). Both protocols were well tolerated, without need for dose reduction or increased interval between treatments. A protocol consisting of combined doxorubicin and dacarbazine is safe in dogs with HSA and prolongs TTM and survival time. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The use of strontium-90 Beta radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment for conjunctival melanoma.

PubMed

Cohen, Victoria M L; Papastefanou, Vasilios P; Liu, S; Stoker, Ian; Hungerford, John L

2013-01-01

Background/Aims. To report the safety and efficacy of strontium (Sr(90)) beta radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment for conjunctival melanoma. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken from 1999 to 2007 of all patients who underwent Sr(90) beta radiotherapy for incompletely excised conjunctival melanoma. Failure of treatment was defined as recurrence of a conjunctival melanoma at the same location following beta radiotherapy. Results. Twenty patients underwent Sr(90) beta radiotherapy for incompletely excised conjunctival melanoma. Median follow-up interval was 59 months (8-152). All patients had conjunctival melanoma involving the bulbar conjunctiva. Underlying diagnoses included PAM with atypia in 60% (12 of 20), PAM without atypia in 15% (3 of 20), and de novo conjunctival melanoma in 25% (5 of 20). Following Sr(90) beta radiotherapy, in 90% (18 out of 20) local control was achieved and visual acuity was not affected in any patient. Three patients (15%) had dry eye symptoms, episcleritis, and descemetcoele, respectively. No cataract or secondary glaucoma was reported. Conclusions. Sr(90) treatment is a very effective adjuvant treatment after excisional biopsy and cryotherapy for conjunctival melanoma with a local success rate of 90%. The treatment is not associated with significant side effects and visual acuity is not affected.

The Use of Strontium-90 Beta Radiotherapy as Adjuvant Treatment for Conjunctival Melanoma

PubMed Central

Cohen, Victoria M. L.; Papastefanou, Vasilios P.; Liu, S.; Stoker, Ian; Hungerford, John L.

2013-01-01

Background/Aims. To report the safety and efficacy of strontium (Sr90) beta radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment for conjunctival melanoma. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken from 1999 to 2007 of all patients who underwent Sr90 beta radiotherapy for incompletely excised conjunctival melanoma. Failure of treatment was defined as recurrence of a conjunctival melanoma at the same location following beta radiotherapy. Results. Twenty patients underwent Sr90 beta radiotherapy for incompletely excised conjunctival melanoma. Median follow-up interval was 59 months (8–152). All patients had conjunctival melanoma involving the bulbar conjunctiva. Underlying diagnoses included PAM with atypia in 60% (12 of 20), PAM without atypia in 15% (3 of 20), and de novo conjunctival melanoma in 25% (5 of 20). Following Sr90 beta radiotherapy, in 90% (18 out of 20) local control was achieved and visual acuity was not affected in any patient. Three patients (15%) had dry eye symptoms, episcleritis, and descemetcoele, respectively. No cataract or secondary glaucoma was reported. Conclusions. Sr90 treatment is a very effective adjuvant treatment after excisional biopsy and cryotherapy for conjunctival melanoma with a local success rate of 90%. The treatment is not associated with significant side effects and visual acuity is not affected. PMID:23431299

Optimizing Local Control in High‐Grade Uterine Sarcoma: Adjuvant Vaginal Vault Brachytherapy as Part of a Multimodal Treatment

PubMed Central

Annede, Pierre; Gouy, Sébastien; Mazeron, Renaud; Bentivegna, Enrica; Maroun, Pierre; Petit, Claire; Dumas, Isabelle; Leary, Alexandra; Genestie, Catherine; Lhommé, Catherine; Deutsch, Eric; Morice, Philippe; Pautier, Patricia; Haie‐Meder, Christine

2017-01-01

Abstract Purpose. The phase III European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 55874 study has shown that external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) given as adjuvant treatment decreased locoregional recurrences from 40% to 20% in patients (pts) with localized uterine sarcomas (US). No data exist, however, on the place of brachytherapy (BT). Material and Methods. We conducted a single‐center retrospective analysis of pts receiving adjuvant BT of the vaginal vault based on the vaginal mold technique as part of their multimodal adjuvant treatment for a high‐grade US from 1985 to 2015. Treatment characteristics, patterns of relapse, and toxicity were examined. Results. Median follow‐up time was 5.5 years. A total of 98 pts with high‐grade US were identified: 81 leiomyosarcomas and 17 undifferentiated sarcomas. Postoperative chemotherapy was delivered in 53 pts. Median dose of EBRT was 45 Gy in 25 fractions. High‐dose rate, low‐dose rate, and pulsed‐dose rate techniques were used in 66, 31, and 1 pts, respectively. At last follow‐up, six pts (6.1%) experienced a locoregional relapse as first event. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and the tumor size were associated with a higher probability of local relapse. When focusing on pts with stage I‐III disease, 5‐year overall survival was 77% (95% confidence interval: 67%–87%) and 5‐year survival without locoregional failure was 91% (83%–98%). Toxicities were mild to moderate, with only four acute grade 3 toxicities and two grade 3 late effects. Conclusion. Vaginal vault BT as part of a multimodal adjuvant treatment was associated with a high locoregional control rate and with acceptable side effects in localized high‐grade US. Implications for Practice. This study suggests that an aggressive adjuvant treatment combining chemotherapy and pelvic external beam radiotherapy followed with a brachytherapy of the vaginal vault is associated with a high locoregional

Effect of adjuvant on pendimethalin and dimethenamid-P behaviour in soil.

PubMed

Kočárek, Martin; Kodešová, Radka; Sharipov, Umrbek; Jursík, Miroslav

2018-04-30

Adjuvants are used to improve pesticides' performance. It is expected that adjuvants should increase sorption and persistence, as well as decrease mobility of pesticides in soils. Impact of the "Grounded" brand adjuvant on the behaviour of two herbicides, pendimethalin and dimethenamid-P, was investigated in a Haplic Chernozem. Both herbicides were tested in a laboratory batch sorption experiment with and without adjuvant. The sorption experiment showed that adjuvant negligibly increased dimethenamid-P sorption (K F  = 2.12 and 2.15 cm 3/n  μg 1 - 1/n  g -1 ) but significantly increased pendimethalin sorption (K F  = 270.1 and 3096.4 cm 3/n  μg 1 - 1/n  g -1 ). In field conditions, both herbicides were retained mainly in the topsoil layer (0-5 cm). The pendimethalin dissipation half-lives were similar for all treatments (ranging from 43.0 to 44.6 days) and were not influenced by either irrigation (p = 0.86) or adjuvant (p = 0.9). The dimethenamid-P dissipation half-lives ranged from 8.8 days for irrigated treatment without adjuvant to 12.9 days for non-irrigated treatment with adjuvant. Dimethenamid-P dissipation half-life in treatments with adjuvant was significantly longer (p = 0.049) than was half-life in a treatment without adjuvant. Significantly longer dissipation half-life was observed also in non-irrigated treatments than in irrigated treatments (p = 0.044). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fibromyalgia Pathogenesis and Treatment Options Update.

PubMed

Chinn, Steven; Caldwell, William; Gritsenko, Karina

2016-04-01

This review article presents and summarizes up-to-date literature on the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatment options for fibromyalgia patients. First, the most recent diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, as put forth by the American College of Rheumatology will be summarized. Clinical features, including chronic widespread pain, hyperalgesia, mood disorders, anxiety, and disturbed sleep patterns will be explored in-depth. The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia involves alterations in multiple ascending and descending central nervous system pathways, as well as peripheral pathways, leading to heightened pain sensitivity. Risk factors have been studied extensively, and the most recent research focuses on various genetic influences and the contributions of stress and poor sleep. Lastly, the discussion in this article focuses on treatment options for fibromyalgia; some have been mainstay options for many years. Pharmacological agents include tricyclic antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as well as some investigational agents. The evidence behind non-pharmacologic treatments, including massage therapy, exercise, and acupuncture, are discussed.

Epirubicin in the adjuvant treatment of splenic hemangiosarcoma in dogs: 59 cases (1997-2004).

PubMed

Kim, Stanley E; Liptak, Julius M; Gall, Trent T; Monteith, Gabrielle J; Woods, J Paul

2007-11-15

To determine the efficacy and toxic effects of epirubicin for the adjuvant treatment of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma and identify prognostic factors. Retrospective case series. 59 client-owned dogs that underwent splenectomy for splenic hemangiosarcoma treated with or without epirubicin. Medical records were examined for signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings, and postoperative outcome. For dogs treated with epirubicin, dose numbers, intervals, and reductions and type and severity of toxic effects were recorded. Dogs were allotted to 2 groups: splenectomy alone and splenectomy with adjuvant epirubicin treatment. 18 dogs received epirubicin (30 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks for up to 4 to 6 treatments. Forty-one dogs were treated with splenectomy alone. The overall median survival time was significantly longer in dogs treated with splenectomy and epirubicin (144 days), compared with splenectomy alone (86 days). Median survival time for dogs with stage I disease (345 days) was significantly longer than for dogs with either stage II (93 days) or III disease (68 days). Seven of 18 dogs treated with epirubicin were hospitalized for signs of adverse gastrointestinal effects. Inappetence, long duration of clinical signs, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia, and high mitotic rate were negative prognostic factors. Epirubicin may be as efficacious as adjuvant doxorubicin-based protocols, but may result in a higher incidence of adverse gastrointestinal effects. Epirubicin should be considered as an alternative to doxorubicin in dogs with preexisting cardiac disease, as clinical epirubicin cardiotoxicity was not diagnosed in treated dogs.

Coconut Oil Extract Mitigates Testicular Injury Following Adjuvant Treatment with Antiretroviral Drugs

PubMed Central

Ogedengbe, Oluwatosin O; Jegede, Ayoola I; Onanuga, Ismail O; Offor, Ugochukwu; Naidu, Edwin CS; Peter, Aniekan I; Azu, Onyemaechi O

2016-01-01

Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has made the management of drug toxicities an increasingly crucial component of HIV. This study investigated the effects of adjuvant use of coconut oil and HAART on testicular morphology and seminal parameters in Sprague- Dawley rats. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 153~169 g were distributed into four groups (A–D) and treated as follows: A served as control (distilled water); B (HAART cocktail- Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine); C (HAART + Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg) and D (Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg). After 56 days of treatment, animals were killed and laparotomy to exercise the epididymis for seminal fluid analyses done whilst testicular tissues were processed for histomorphometric studies. Result showed a significant decline in sperm motility (P < 0.05) and count (P < 0.0001) in HAART-treated animals while there was insignificant changes in other parameters in groups C and D except count that was reduced (P < 0.0001) when compared with controls. Histomorphological studies showed HAART caused disorders in seminiferous tubular architecture with significant (P < 0.01) decline in epithelial height closely mirrored by extensive reticulin framework and positive PAS cells. Adjuvant Virgin coconut oil + HAART resulted in significant decrease in seminiferous tubular diameter (P < 0.05), but other morphometric and histological parameters were similar to control or Virgin coconut oil alone (which showed normal histoarchitecture levels). While derangements in testicular and seminal fluid parameters occurred following HAART, adjuvant treatment with Virgin coconut oil restored the distortions emanating thereof. PMID:27818734

Coconut Oil Extract Mitigates Testicular Injury Following Adjuvant Treatment with Antiretroviral Drugs.

PubMed

Ogedengbe, Oluwatosin O; Jegede, Ayoola I; Onanuga, Ismail O; Offor, Ugochukwu; Naidu, Edwin Cs; Peter, Aniekan I; Azu, Onyemaechi O

2016-10-01

Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has made the management of drug toxicities an increasingly crucial component of HIV. This study investigated the effects of adjuvant use of coconut oil and HAART on testicular morphology and seminal parameters in Sprague- Dawley rats. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 153~169 g were distributed into four groups (A-D) and treated as follows: A served as control (distilled water); B (HAART cocktail- Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine); C (HAART + Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg) and D (Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg). After 56 days of treatment, animals were killed and laparotomy to exercise the epididymis for seminal fluid analyses done whilst testicular tissues were processed for histomorphometric studies. Result showed a significant decline in sperm motility ( P < 0.05) and count ( P < 0.0001) in HAART-treated animals while there was insignificant changes in other parameters in groups C and D except count that was reduced ( P < 0.0001) when compared with controls. Histomorphological studies showed HAART caused disorders in seminiferous tubular architecture with significant ( P < 0.01) decline in epithelial height closely mirrored by extensive reticulin framework and positive PAS cells. Adjuvant Virgin coconut oil + HAART resulted in significant decrease in seminiferous tubular diameter ( P < 0.05), but other morphometric and histological parameters were similar to control or Virgin coconut oil alone (which showed normal histoarchitecture levels). While derangements in testicular and seminal fluid parameters occurred following HAART, adjuvant treatment with Virgin coconut oil restored the distortions emanating thereof.

Critical decision-making in radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer in a neo-adjuvant treatment era.

PubMed

De Felice, Francesca; Osti, Mattia Falchetto; De Sanctis, Vitaliana; Musio, Daniela; Tombolini, Vincenzo

2017-05-01

In breast cancer management, the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) has been the subject of intense controversy over the past several years, due to the improvement in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prescription. One of the most controversial questions regarding indication for adjuvant RT is whether or not RT is essential in patients with early stage disease at diagnosis. The value of adjuvant RT remains highly debatable in those patients with clinically negative nodes at the completion of NACT. Areas covered: This review is focused on this gray area and is intended to assist with clinical decision-making. We provide a comprehensive review using PubMed and meeting proceedings of San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology, European Society of Medical Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Expert commentary: The identification of potential prognostic factors may lead to novel adjuvant RT indications. Phase III clinical trials are underway and their results will help guide treatment decisions.

Treatment Option Overview (Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors)

MedlinePlus

... Tube, & Primary Peritoneal Cancer Screening Research Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version Treatment Option Overview ... types of treatment for patients with ovarian germ cell tumors. Different types of treatment are available for ...

Neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment of high-risk retinoblastoma: a report from the German Retinoblastoma Referral Centre.

PubMed

Künkele, Annette; Wilm, Josephine; Holdt, Markus; Lohmann, Dietmar; Bornfeld, Norbert; Eggert, Angelika; Temming, Petra; Schulte, Johannes H

2015-07-01

Retinoblastoma can extend beyond the structures of the eye, where cells can enter the bloodstream and cause metastases. Various types of protocols for adjuvant treatment risk-adapted according to histopathological risk factors are used worldwide. Between 1997 and 2009, 420 children were diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the German Retinoblastoma Referral Centre and risk factors were assessed. Patients with post-laminar optic nerve infiltration or choroid or minor scleral invasion received six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy using vincristine, etoposide, carboplatin and cyclophosphamide (group 1). Patients with microscopic extension beyond the sclera to the resection margin of the optic nerve or potential spread due to vitrectomy received chemotherapy plus orbital radiotherapy (group 2). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed in patients with local extraocular invasion detected on MRI. Following this protocol, 42 of the 420 patients and 21 referred from other centres showed high-risk histopathological factors qualifying for adjuvant therapy (57 in group 1 and 6 in group 2). Seven of the 63 patients received neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment. During a mean follow-up of 5.8 (range 0.4-15.4) years, one of six patients in group 2 developed metastases and died. No patients died from toxicity. The 5-year overall survival was 100% for group 1 and 80% for group 2. This retrospective single-site study reveals a 10% incidence of high-risk features in children with retinoblastoma diagnosed at the German Retinoblastoma Referral Centre. Overall survival rates of 98.3% underline the safety of this adjuvant chemotherapy protocol and its efficiency in preventing metastasis. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Treatment outcome and patterns of relapse following adjuvant carboplatin for stage I testicular seminomatous germ-cell tumour: results from a 17-year UK experience.

PubMed

Chau, C; Cathomas, R; Wheater, M; Klingbiel, D; Fehr, M; Bennett, J; Markham, H; Lee, C; Crabb, S J; Geldart, T

2015-09-01

Following inguinal orchidectomy, management options for patients with stage I seminoma include initial surveillance or treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The anticipated relapse rate for patients followed by surveillance alone is ∼15%, with adjuvant treatment this risk is reduced to ∼4%-5% at 5 years. After carboplatin treatment, follow-up strategies vary and there are no validated, predictive markers of relapse. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with stage I seminoma who received a single cycle of adjuvant carboplatin in South Central England between 1996 and 2013. We report on outcome and the results of univariate and multivariate analysis evaluating possible risk factors for post carboplatin relapse. A total of 517 eligible patients were identified. All underwent nuclear medicine estimation of glomerular filtration rate before treatment with carboplatin (dosed at area under the curve × 7). With a median follow-up of 47.2 months (range 0.4-214 months), 21/517 patients have relapsed resulting in a 5-year estimated relapse-free survival of 95.0% (95% confidence interval 92.8% to 97.3%). Median time to relapse was 22.7 months (range 12.5-109.5 months). Relapse beyond 3 years was rare (4/517; 0.8%). Twenty of 21 (95%) relapsed patients had retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. The majority (16/21; 76%) of patients had elevated tumour markers at relapse. Twenty of 517 (3.9%) patients developed a new contralateral testicular germ-cell cancer. There were no seminoma-related deaths. Tumour size was the only variable significantly associated with an increased risk of relapse. Overall results for this large cohort of patients confirm an excellent prognosis for these patients with outcomes equivalent to those seen in prospective clinical trials. Increasing tumour size alone appears to be associated with an increased risk of post chemotherapy relapse. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of

Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy Versus GnRH Analogue in the Adjuvant Treatment of Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Breast Cancer Outcome, Ovarian Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

PubMed

Ferrandina, Gabriella; Amadio, Giulia; Marcellusi, Andrea; Azzolini, Elena; Puggina, Anna; Pastorino, Roberta; Ricciardi, Walter; Scambia, Giovanni

2017-11-01

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no available evidence to recommend gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue-based ovarian suppression versus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer, since the two approaches are considered equivalent in terms of oncologic outcome. The role of surgical ovarian ablation has been revitalized based on the advances of minimally invasive surgery, and a better understanding of clinical and molecular basis of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndromes. The aim of this study is to analyze the cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic BSO and GnRH analogue administration in patients aged 40-49 years with hormone-sensitive breast cancer. A probabilistic decision tree model was developed to evaluate costs and outcomes of ovarian ablation through laparoscopic BSO, or ovarian suppression through monthly injections of GnRH analogue. Results were expressed as incremental costs per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Laparoscopic BSO strategy was associated with a lower mean total cost per patient than GnRH treatment, and considering the difference in terms of QALYs, the incremental effectiveness did not demonstrate a notable difference between the two approaches. From the National Health Service perspective, and for a time horizon of 5 years, laparoscopic BSO was the dominant option compared to GnRH treatment; laparoscopic BSO was less expensive than GnRH, €2385 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2044, 2753] vs €7093 (95% CI = 3409, 12,105), respectively, and more effective. Surgical ovarian ablation is more cost-effective than GnRH administration in the adjuvant treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer patients aged 40-49 years, and the advantage of preventing ovarian cancer through laparoscopic BSO should be considered.

Current options for the treatment of pathological scarring.

PubMed

Poetschke, Julian; Gauglitz, Gerd G

2016-05-01

Scarring is the consequence of surgery, trauma or different skin diseases. Apart from fresh, immature scars,that transform into mature scars over the course of would healing and that do not require further treatment,linear hypertrophic scars, widespread hypertrophic scars, keloids and atrophic scars exist. Symptoms like pruritusand pain, stigmatization as well as functional and aesthetic impairments that are very disturbing for the affected patients can bethe basis for the desire for treatment. Today, a multitude of options for the treatment and prevention of scars exists. Topical agents based on silicone or onion extract, intralesional injections of cristalline glucocorticoids (oftentimes in combinationwith cryotherapy) or 5-Fluorouracil as well as ablative and nonablative laser treatment are used. Current guidelines summarize the multitude of available treatment options and the currently available datafor the treating physicians, allowing them to make clear therapy recommendations for every single scar type. Relieving patients of their discomfort and doing their aesthetic demands justice is thus possible. Apart from scar prevention becoming more and more important, the increased use of modernlaser treatment options constitutes a key point in clinical scar treatment. At the same time the attention is turned to evaluating current therapeutic options with the help of contemporary study designs so as to graduallyimprove the level of evidence in scar treatment. © 2016 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Treatment options for demodex blepharitis: patient choice and efficacy.

PubMed

Hirsch-Hoffmann, S; Kaufmann, C; Bänninger, P B; Thiel, M A

2015-04-01

Demodex mites are microscopic parasites that live around hair follicles or sebaceous glands and may cause chronic blepharitis. The aim of this outcome analysis was to assess the efficacy and patient preferences with regard to the currently recommended treatment options. All patients with microscopic evidence for Demodex blepharitis were informed about the currently published treatments and instructed about daily lid hygiene. Additional topical treatment options included tea tree oil (TTO) 5%, a cleansing foam containing 0.02% TTO (Naviblef®), and metronidazole 2% ointment. Systemic treatment options included oral ivermectin 6 mg on day 1 and 14 and metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for 10 days. All patients were reviewed after 2 months for symptoms and for a mite count on 10 epilated lashes. Ninety-four of 96 patients with Demodex blepharitis opted for an additional treatment. The mean mite count after 2 months of treatment were 13.3 with 5% TTO (n=6), 12.0 with 0.02% TTO (n=38), 9.4 with metronidazole ointment (n=5), 12.8 with ivermectin (n=27) and 22.0 with oral metronidazole (n=5). While there are several published treatment options available, none of these options seem to be clearly effective in Demodex blepharitis. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Association of knowledge on ART line of treatment, scarcity of treatment options and adherence.

PubMed

Ramadhani, Habib O; Muiruri, Charles; Maro, Venance P; Omondi, Michael; Mushi, Julian B; Lirhunde, Eileen S; Bartlett, John A

2016-07-15

Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is critical piece in the management of HIV infected patients. Despite the benefits of ART, non-adherence to ART persists. This study explores association between patient's knowledge of the ART line of treatment, availability of future treatment options and adherence. A cross sectional survey of HIV infected adolescent and adults was conducted. Cumulative optimal and sub-optimal adherence was defined as percentage adherence of ≥ 95 % and < 95 %, respectively. Binomial regression models were used to assess the association of patient's knowledge of the ART line of treatment, availability of future treatment options and adherence. Of the 402 patients reviewed, 101 (25.1 %) patients knew their ART line of treatment and were aware that future treatment options are limited. Compared to those who were not aware of the ART line of treatment and/or scarcity of future treatment options, those who were aware were more likely to be adherent (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR], 1.1; 95 % CI, 1.0-1.3). The study reports knowledge of patient's ART line of treatment and future treatment options is important indicator of adherence to ART. Although majority of the patients did not have the knowledge, those who had the knowledge demonstrated to be more adherent. It is critical for the physicians/health care providers in these settings to clearly educate patients about ART line of treatment and limited availability of future treatment options as such information is likely to influence individual behavior and improve patient's adherence to ART.

Patients with pathological stage N2 rectal cancer treated with early adjuvant chemotherapy have a lower treatment failure rate.

PubMed

Feng, Yan-Ru; Jin, Jing; Ren, Hua; Wang, Xin; Wang, Shu-Lian; Wang, Wei-Hu; Song, Yong-Wen; Liu, Yue-Ping; Tang, Yuan; Li, Ning; Liu, Xin-Fan; Fang, Hui; Yu, Zi-Hao; Li, Ye-Xiong

2017-03-09

In this era of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant therapy, the optimal sequence in which chemoradiotherapy should be administered for pathological stage N2 rectal cancer is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate this sequence. In the primary adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (A-CRT) group (n = 71), postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy was administered before adjuvant chemotherapy. In the primary adjuvant chemotherapy (A-CT) group (n = 43), postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy was administered during or after adjuvant chemotherapy. Postoperative radiotherapy comprised 45-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions. Concurrent chemotherapy comprised two cycles of oral capecitabine (1,600 mg/m 2 ) on days 1-14 and 22-35. Patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with four or more cycles of XELOX (oxaliplatin plus capecitabine) or eight or more cycles of FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) were included. Between June 2005 and December 2013, data for 114 qualified rectal cancer patients were analyzed. The percentages of patients in whom treatment failed in the A-CRT and A-CT groups were 33.8% and 16.3%, respectively (p = 0.042). More patients had distant metastases in the A-CRT group than in the A-CT group (32.4% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis indicated that the sequence in which chemoradiotherapy was administered (A-CT vs. A-CRT) was an independent prognostic factor for both estimated disease-free survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.345, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.137-0.868, p = 0.024] and estimated distant metastasis-free survival (HR 0.366, 95% CI 0.143-0.938, p = 0.036). In pathological stage N2 rectal cancer patients, administering adjuvant chemotherapy before chemoradiotherapy led to a lower rate of treatment failure, especially with respect to distant metastasis. Adjuvant chemotherapy prescribed as early as possible might benefit this cohort of patients in this era of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant therapy.

Metronomic adjuvant chemotherapy improves treatment outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with postradiation persistently detectable plasma Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid.

PubMed

Twu, Chih-Wen; Wang, Wen-Yi; Chen, Chien-Chih; Liang, Kai-Li; Jiang, Rong-San; Wu, Ching-Te; Shih, Yi-Ting; Lin, Po-Ju; Liu, Yi-Chun; Lin, Jin-Ching

2014-05-01

To investigate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with persistently detectable plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA (pEBV DNA) after curative radiation therapy plus induction/concurrent chemotherapy. The study population consisted of 625 NPC patients with available pEBV DNA levels before and after treatment. Eighty-five patients with persistently detectable pEBV DNA after 1 week of completing radiation therapy were eligible for this retrospective study. Of the 85 patients, 33 were administered adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of oral tegafur-uracil (2 capsules twice daily) for 12 months with (n=4) or without (n=29) preceding intravenous chemotherapy of mitomycin-C, epirubicin, and cisplatin. The remaining 52 patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy served as the control group. Baseline patient characteristics at diagnosis (age, sex, pathologic type, performance status, T classification, N classification, and overall stage), as well as previous treatment modality, were comparable in both arms. After a median follow-up of 70 months for surviving patients, 45.5% (15 of 33 patients) with adjuvant chemotherapy and 71.2% (37 of 52 patients) without adjuvant chemotherapy experienced tumor relapses (P=.0323). There were a significant reduction in distant failure (P=.0034) but not in local or regional recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate was 71.6% for patients with adjuvant chemotherapy and 28.7% for patients without adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.27; 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.55; P<.0001). Our retrospective data showed that adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce distant failure and improve overall survival in NPC patients with persistently detectable pEBV DNA after curative radiation therapy plus induction/concurrent chemotherapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Survival After Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments Compared to Surgery Alone for Resectable Esophageal Carcinoma: A Network Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Pasquali, Sandro; Yim, Guang; Vohra, Ravinder S; Mocellin, Simone; Nyanhongo, Donald; Marriott, Paul; Geh, Ju Ian; Griffiths, Ewen A

2017-03-01

This network meta-analysis compared overall survival after neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), or combinations of both (chemoradiotherapy, CRT) or surgery alone to identify the most effective approach. The optimal treatment for resectable esophageal cancer is unknown. A search for randomized controlled trials reporting on neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies was conducted. Using a network meta-analysis, treatments were ranked based on their effectiveness for improving survival. In 33 eligible randomized controlled trials, 6072 patients were randomized to receive either surgery alone (N = 2459) or neoadjuvant CT (N = 1332), RT (N = 58), and CRT (N = 1196) followed by surgery or surgery followed by adjuvant CT (N = 542), RT (N = 383), and CRT (N = 102). Twenty-one comparisons were generated. Neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery compared with surgery alone was the only treatment to significantly improve survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68-0.87]. When trials were grouped considering neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies and surgery alone, neoadjuvant therapies combined with surgery compared with surgery alone showed a survival advantage (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.90), whereas surgery along with adjuvant therapies showed no significant survival advantage (HR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.67-1.14). A subgroup analysis of neoadjuvant therapies showed a superior effectiveness of neoadjuvant CRT and surgery compared with surgery alone (HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87). This network meta-analysis showed neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery to be the most effective strategy in improving survival of resectable esophageal cancer. Resources should be focused on developing the most effective neoadjuvant CRT regimens for both adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus.

What is the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, and adjuvant treatment in resectable esophageal cancer?

PubMed

Altorki, Nasser; Harrison, Sebron

2017-03-01

The majority of patients with operable esophageal cancers present with locally advanced disease, for which surgical resection as a sole treatment modality has been historically associated with poor survival. Even following radical resection, most of these patients will eventually succumb to their disease due to distant metastasis. For this reason, there has been intense interest in the role of neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy primarily consists of either chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two. Multiple studies of variable scope, design, and patient characteristics have been conducted to determine whether neoadjuvant therapy is warranted, and-if so-what is the best modality of treatment. Despite nearly three decades of study, decisions regarding neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer remain controversial. Regardless, the available evidence provided by large, prospective studies supports preoperative chemotherapy as opposed to surgery alone. Therefore, in our opinion, there is no longer any question as to whether induction therapy is appropriate for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Less clear, however, is the evidence that the addition of radiation to chemotherapy in the preoperative setting is superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. Our group generally advocates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone followed by radical esophageal resection. The data for adjuvant therapy are soft, and particularly troubling is the high rate of treatment drop out in trials studying adjuvant therapy. Therefore, we strongly prefer neoadjuvant chemotherapy and reserve adjuvant chemotherapy for those rare, highly selected patients-patients with T1 tumors, for example-who do not receive neoadjuvant treatment and are found to have occult nodal disease at the time of surgery.

Psychosocial influences on suboptimal adjuvant breast cancer treatment adherence among African American women: implications for education and intervention.

PubMed

Magai, Carol; Consedine, Nathan S; Adjei, Brenda A; Hershman, Dawn; Neugut, Alfred

2008-12-01

Despite lower incidence, African American women are at increased risk of dying from breast cancer relative to their European American counterparts. Although there are key differences in both screening behavior and tumor characteristics, an additional part of this mortality difference may lie in the fact that African American women receive suboptimal adjuvant chemotherapy and may receive suboptimal hormonal therapy, therapies that are known to increase survival. The authors consider ethnic differences in the psychosocial factors that have been shown to relate to poor screening adherence and consider how they may influence adherence to breast cancer adjuvant treatment, thus the receipt of suboptimal adjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy. To this end, they review ethnic differences in cognitive, emotional, and social network variables. Psychosocial variables should be included in research designed to understand cancer disparities as well interventions that can be tailored to culturally diverse populations to improve treatment adherence.

A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Platinum-Based Adjuvant Treatment on the Outcome of Borderline Ovarian Tumors With Invasive Implants

PubMed Central

Olschewski, Jessica; Braicu, Ioana; Sehouli, Jalid

2015-01-01

Background. Treatment of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) remains contentious, and there is no consensus regarding therapy for BOTs with invasive implants (BOTi). The benefits of platinum-based adjuvant treatment were evaluated in patients with BOTi at primary diagnosis. Methods. The PubMed database was systematically searched for articles using the following terms: ((borderline) OR (low malignant potential) AND (ovarian)) AND ((tumor) OR (cancer)) AND (invasive implants) AND ((follow-up) OR (survival) OR (treatment) OR (chemotherapy) OR (adjuvant treatment) OR (surgery) OR (surgical treatment)). Results. We identified 27 articles including 3,124 patients, 181 with invasive implants. All studies provided information regarding mortality or recurrence rates. Central pathological examination was performed in 19 studies. Eight studies included more than 75% stage I patients; 7 included only advanced-stage patients, and 14 included only serous BOT. The pooled recurrence estimates for both treatment groups (adjuvant treatment: 44.0%, upfront surgery: 21.3%) did not differ significantly (p = .114). A meta-analysis of the 6 studies providing separate mortality data for both treatment groups favored surgical treatment only, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (.05 < p < .1; odds ratio: 0.33; 95% confidence interval: 0.09–1.71; p = .086). We were unable to pool the results of the included studies because not all studies registered events in both treatment groups. Egger’s regression indicated low asymmetry of the studies (p = .39), and no heterogeneity was found (I2 = 0%). Conclusion. We did not find evidence supporting platinum-based adjuvant therapy for BOT with invasive implants. PMID:25601963

Subjective cognitive complaints one year after ceasing adjuvant endocrine treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

PubMed

Ribi, K; Aldridge, J; Phillips, K-A; Thompson, A; Harvey, V; Thürlimann, B; Cardoso, F; Pagani, O; Coates, A S; Goldhirsch, A; Price, K N; Gelber, R D; Bernhard, J

2012-05-08

In the BIG 1-98 trial objective cognitive function improved in postmenopausal women 1 year after cessation of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer. This report evaluates changes in subjective cognitive function (SCF). One hundred postmenopausal women, randomised to receive 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen, letrozole, or a sequence of the two, completed self-reported measures on SCF, psychological distress, fatigue, and quality of life during the fifth year of trial treatment (year 5) and 1 year after treatment completion (year 6). Changes between years 5 and 6 were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Subjective cognitive function and its correlates were explored. Subjective cognitive function and the other patient-reported outcomes did not change significantly after cessation of endocrine therapy with the exception of improvement for hot flushes (P=0.0005). No difference in changes was found between women taking tamoxifen or letrozole. Subjective cognitive function was the only psychosocial outcome with a substantial correlation between year 5 and 6 (Spearman's R=0.80). Correlations between SCF and the other patient-reported outcomes were generally low. Improved objective cognitive function but not SCF occur following cessation of adjuvant endocrine therapy in the BIG 1-98 trial. The substantial correlation of SCF scores over time may represent a stable attribute.

Waste battery treatment options: comparing their environmental performance.

PubMed

Briffaerts, K; Spirinckx, C; Van der Linden, A; Vrancken, K

2009-08-01

Waste consumer batteries are recycled using different routes based on hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes. Two hydrometallurgical and two pyrometallurgical treatment scenarios are compared starting from an average composition of Belgian waste batteries. The environmental performance is compared using life cycle analysis (LCA). The recycling rate is studied through mass balance calculation. Each treatment scenario results in a specific recycling rate. The environmental impact and benefits also vary between the treatment options. There is no such thing as a typical hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical treatment. When applying a hydrometallurgical treatment scenario, the focus lies on zinc and iron recycling. When allowing manganese recycling, the energy demand of the hydrometallurgical process increases considerably. Both pyrometallurgical options recycle zinc, iron and manganese. According to the LCA, none of the treatment scenarios performs generally better or worse than the others. Each option has specific advantages and disadvantages. The Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC sets out a recycling rate of 50% for consumer waste batteries. Based on metal recycling alone, the mass balances show that the target is difficult to obtain.

Metronomic Adjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Treatment Outcome in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients With Postradiation Persistently Detectable Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Twu, Chih-Wen; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Wang, Wen-Yi

Purpose: To investigate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with persistently detectable plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA (pEBV DNA) after curative radiation therapy plus induction/concurrent chemotherapy. Methods and Materials: The study population consisted of 625 NPC patients with available pEBV DNA levels before and after treatment. Eighty-five patients with persistently detectable pEBV DNA after 1 week of completing radiation therapy were eligible for this retrospective study. Of the 85 patients, 33 were administered adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of oral tegafur-uracil (2 capsules twice daily) for 12 months with (n=4) or without (n=29) preceding intravenous chemotherapy of mitomycin-C, epirubicin, and cisplatin.more » The remaining 52 patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy served as the control group. Results: Baseline patient characteristics at diagnosis (age, sex, pathologic type, performance status, T classification, N classification, and overall stage), as well as previous treatment modality, were comparable in both arms. After a median follow-up of 70 months for surviving patients, 45.5% (15 of 33 patients) with adjuvant chemotherapy and 71.2% (37 of 52 patients) without adjuvant chemotherapy experienced tumor relapses (P=.0323). There were a significant reduction in distant failure (P=.0034) but not in local or regional recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate was 71.6% for patients with adjuvant chemotherapy and 28.7% for patients without adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.27; 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.55; P<.0001). Conclusions: Our retrospective data showed that adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce distant failure and improve overall survival in NPC patients with persistently detectable pEBV DNA after curative radiation therapy plus induction/concurrent chemotherapy.« less

The role of adjuvant treatment in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: An international collaborative study.

PubMed

Fridman, Eran; Na'ara, Shorook; Agarwal, Jaiprakash; Amit, Moran; Bachar, Gideon; Villaret, Andrea Bolzoni; Brandao, Jose; Cernea, Claudio R; Chaturvedi, Pankaj; Clark, Jonathan; Ebrahimi, Ardalan; Fliss, Dan M; Jonnalagadda, Sashikanth; Kohler, Hugo F; Kowalski, Luiz P; Kreppel, Matthias; Liao, Chun-Ta; Patel, Snehal G; Patel, Raj P; Robbins, K Thomas; Shah, Jatin P; Shpitzer, Thomas; Yen, Tzu-Chen; Zöller, Joachim E; Gil, Ziv

2018-05-14

Up to half of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) have stage I to II disease. When adequate resection is attained, no further treatment is needed; however, re-resection or radiotherapy may be indicated for patients with positive or close margins. This multicenter study evaluated the outcomes and role of adjuvant treatment in patients with stage I to II OCSCC. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival, local-free survival, and disease-free survival rates were calculated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Of 1257 patients with T1-2N0M0 disease, 33 (2.6%) had positive margins, and 205 (16.3%) had close margins. The 5-year OS rate was 80% for patients with clear margins, 52% for patients with close margins, and 63% for patients with positive margins (P < .0001). In a multivariate analysis, age, depth of invasion, and margins were independent predictors of outcome. Close margins were associated with a >2-fold increase in the risk of recurrence (P < .0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that adjuvant treatment significantly improved the outcomes of patients with close/positive margins (P = .002 to .03). Patients with stage I to II OCSCC and positive/close margins have poor long-term outcomes. For this population, adjuvant treatment may be associated with improved survival. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Update on adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer.

PubMed

Rampurwala, Murtuza M; Rocque, Gabrielle B; Burkard, Mark E

2014-01-01

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Although most women are diagnosed with early breast cancer, a substantial number recur due to persistent micro-metastatic disease. Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes and has advanced from first-generation regimens to modern dose-dense combinations. Although chemotherapy is the cornerstone of adjuvant therapy, new biomarkers are identifying patients who can forego such treatment. Neo-adjuvant therapy is a promising platform for drug development, but investigators should recognize the limitations of surrogate endpoints and clinical trials. Previous decades have focused on discovering, developing, and intensifying adjuvant chemotherapy. Future efforts should focus on customizing therapy and reducing chemotherapy for patients unlikely to benefit. In some cases, it may be possible to replace chemotherapy with treatments directed at specific genetic or molecular breast cancer subtypes. Yet, we anticipate that chemotherapy will remain a critical component of adjuvant therapy for years to come.

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy is Not Associated with a Delay of Adjuvant Treatment.

PubMed

Albright, Emily L; Schroeder, Mary C; Foster, Kendra; Sugg, Sonia L; Erdahl, Lillian M; Weigel, Ronald J; Lizarraga, Ingrid M

2018-07-01

High-volume single-institution studies support the oncologic safety of nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM). Concerns remain regarding the increased potential for complications, recurrence, and delays to subsequent adjuvant therapy. A national database was used to examine treatment and outcomes for NSM patients. Women undergoing unilateral NSM or skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) for stage 0-4 breast cancer from 2004 to 2013 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Demographic and oncologic characteristics, short-term outcomes and time to local and systemic treatment were compared. NSM was performed on 8173 patients: 8.7% were node positive, and for stage 1-4 disease, 10.6% were triple negative (TN) and 15.3% were HER2-positive. NSM patients were less likely than SSM patients to receive chemotherapy [CT] (37.4 vs. 43.4%) or radiation [PMRT] (15.6 vs. 16.9%), and were also more likely to present with clinically early-stage disease. NSM patients with high-risk features were more likely to receive CT in the neoadjuvant [NCT] than adjuvant setting [AC] (OR 3.76, 1.81, and 1.99 for clinical N2/3, TN, and HER2-positive disease, all p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, NSM patients had a higher rate of pathologic complete response [pCR] (OR 1.41, p < 0.001). Readmission rate, positive margin rate and time to CT, PMRT or hormonal therapy were not increased for NSM compared to SSM patients. Over one third of NSM patients received chemotherapy and/or radiation. NSM patients with high-risk features were more likely to receive NAC and obtain a pCR. NSM patients did not experience worse outcomes or delayed adjuvant therapy compared to SSM.

Influence of adjuvant detached mindfulness and stress management training compared to pharmacologic treatment in primiparae with postpartum depression.

PubMed

Ahmadpanah, Mohammad; Nazaribadie, Marzieh; Aghaei, Elham; Ghaleiha, Ali; Bakhtiari, Azade; Haghighi, Mohammad; Bahmani, Dena Sadeghi; Akhondi, Amineh; Bajoghli, Hafez; Jahangard, Leila; Holsboer-Trachsler, Edith; Brand, Serge

2018-02-01

Ten to 15% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD). If untreated, PPD may negatively affect mothers' and infants' mental health in the long term. Accordingly, effective treatments are required. In the present study, we investigated the effect of detached mindfulness (DM) and stress management training (SMT) as adjuvants, compared to pharmacologic treatment only, on symptoms of depression in women with PPD. Forty-five primiparae (mean age: M = 24.5 years) with diagnosed PPD and treated with an SSRI (citalopram; CIT) took part in the study. At baseline, they completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic data and symptoms of depression. Experts rated also symptoms of depression. Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of the following study conditions: adjuvant detached mindfulness (CIT+DM); adjuvant stress management training (CIT+SMT); control condition (CIT). Self- and experts' ratings were completed at the end of the study 8 weeks later, and again at 8 weeks follow-up. Symptoms of depression decreased significantly over time, but more so in the CIT+DM and CIT+SMT group, compared to the control condition. The pattern of results remained stable at follow-up. In primiparae with PPD and treated with a standard SSRI, adjuvant psychotherapeutic interventions led to significant and longer-lasting improvements.

Treatment Options By Stage (Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors)

MedlinePlus

... Tube, & Primary Peritoneal Cancer Screening Research Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version Treatment Option Overview ... types of treatment for patients with ovarian germ cell tumors. Different types of treatment are available for ...

Personalizing colon cancer adjuvant therapy: selecting optimal treatments for individual patients.

PubMed

Dienstmann, Rodrigo; Salazar, Ramon; Tabernero, Josep

2015-06-01

For more than three decades, postoperative chemotherapy-initially fluoropyrimidines and more recently combinations with oxaliplatin-has reduced the risk of tumor recurrence and improved survival for patients with resected colon cancer. Although universally recommended for patients with stage III disease, there is no consensus about the survival benefit of postoperative chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer. The most recent adjuvant clinical trials have not shown any value for adding targeted agents, namely bevacizumab and cetuximab, to standard chemotherapies in stage III disease, despite improved outcomes in the metastatic setting. However, biomarker analyses of multiple studies strongly support the feasibility of refining risk stratification in colon cancer by factoring in molecular characteristics with pathologic tumor staging. In stage II disease, for example, microsatellite instability supports observation after surgery. Furthermore, the value of BRAF or KRAS mutations as additional risk factors in stage III disease is greater when microsatellite status and tumor location are taken into account. Validated predictive markers of adjuvant chemotherapy benefit for stage II or III colon cancer are lacking, but intensive research is ongoing. Recent advances in understanding the biologic hallmarks and drivers of early-stage disease as well as the micrometastatic environment are expected to translate into therapeutic strategies tailored to select patients. This review focuses on the pathologic, molecular, and gene expression characterizations of early-stage colon cancer; new insights into prognostication; and emerging predictive biomarkers that could ultimately help define the optimal adjuvant treatments for patients in routine clinical practice. © 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Management of pegylated interferon alpha toxicity in adjuvant therapy of melanoma.

PubMed

Daud, Adil; Soon, Christopher; Dummer, Reinhard; Eggermont, Alexander M M; Hwu, Wen-Jen; Grob, Jean Jacques; Garbe, Claus; Hauschild, Axel

2012-08-01

Both native IFNα2b and pegylated IFNα2b (PegIFNα2b) are approved for the adjuvant treatment of high-risk melanoma. This review compares the toxicity profiles of high-dose IFNα2b (HDI) and PegIFNα2b, and provides recommendations on the management of common PegIFNα2b-related toxicities, based on available clinical data and published literature. The toxicity profile of PegIFNα2b at the approved dose (6 μg/kg/week for 8 weeks then 3 μg/kg/week for up to 5 years) is qualitatively similar to HDI in melanoma. The most common adverse events (AEs) are fatigue, anorexia, hepatotoxicity, flu-like symptoms, injection site reactions and depression. However, fatigue and flu-like symptoms appear less severe with PegIFNα2b, and toxicity seems to occur earlier, whereas with HDI toxicity may increase with time. Most AEs can be managed effectively by dose modification and aggressive symptom control. Dosing to tolerance using a three-step dose reduction schedule to maintain an ECOG performance status of 0 - 1 may enable patients experiencing toxicity to remain on treatment; this can be applied readily in clinical practice. PegIFNα2b is therefore a valuable alternative option for adjuvant treatment in melanoma, with a toxicity profile similar to that of HDI overall but a more convenient administration schedule.

Adjuvant treatment for resected rectal cancer: impact of standard and intensified postoperative chemotherapy on disease-free survival in patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiation-a propensity score-matched analysis of an observational database.

PubMed

Garlipp, Benjamin; Ptok, Henry; Benedix, Frank; Otto, Ronny; Popp, Felix; Ridwelski, Karsten; Gastinger, Ingo; Benckert, Christoph; Lippert, Hans; Bruns, Christiane

2016-12-01

Adjuvant chemotherapy for resected rectal cancer is widely used. However, studies on adjuvant treatment following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) have yielded conflicting results. Recent studies have focused on adding oxaliplatin to both preoperative and postoperative therapy, making it difficult to assess the impact of adjuvant oxaliplatin alone. This study was aimed at determining the impact of (i) any adjuvant treatment and (ii) oxaliplatin-containing adjuvant treatment on disease-free survival in CRT-pretreated, R0-resected rectal cancer patients. Patients undergoing R0 TME following 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-only-based CRT between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010, were selected from a nationwide registry. After propensity score matching (PSM), comparison of disease-free survival (DFS) using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test was performed in (i) patients receiving no vs. any adjuvant treatment and (ii) patients treated with adjuvant 5FU/capecitabine without vs. with oxaliplatin. Out of 1497 patients, 520 matched pairs were generated for analysis of no vs. any adjuvant treatment. Mean DFS was significantly prolonged with adjuvant treatment (81.8 ± 2.06 vs. 70.1 ± 3.02 months, p < 0.001). One hundred forty-eight matched pairs were available for analysis of adjuvant therapy with or without oxaliplatin, showing no improvement in DFS in patients receiving oxaliplatin (76.9 ± 4.12 vs. 79.3 ± 4.44 months, p = 0.254). Local recurrence rate was not significantly different between groups in either analysis. In this cohort of rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT and TME surgery under routine conditions, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved DFS. No benefit was observed for the addition of oxaliplatin to adjuvant chemotherapy in this setting.

[Systematic review on conservative treatment options in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients refractory to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation therapy].

PubMed

Martini, Thomas; Wezel, Felix; Löbig, Niklas; Mitterberger, Michael J; Colleselli, Daniela

2017-08-01

Background Adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical instillation is the recommended standard treatment in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, a significant proportion of patients fail treatment, and radical cystectomy (RC) is the subsequent gold standard. On the other hand, there is an unmet need for conservative alternatives for patients who are unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery. This study aimed to identify conservative treatment options in NMIBC patients after BCG failure. Material and Methods We performed a systematic search in the databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and EMBASE, including all randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and single-arm studies, in which patients with NMIBC were treated with second-line intravesical or systemic therapy after BCG failure. A minimum of eight patients were included in each treatment arm. Full papers were restricted to English language. Literature research and data analysis were assessed independently by two reviewers. Data on treatment response, recurrence, time to recurrence, progression and rate of cystectomy were collected and analysed. Results  This systematic review included 42 publications with a total of 3521 patients (2371 BCG failures). Valrubicin, taxanes, gemcitabine, combination chemotherapy, thermochemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, combination of BCG and interferon and immunotherapies or targeted therapies were identified as conservative treatment options. For taxanes, gemcitabine and thermochemotherapy there is the highest evidence for a clinical meaningful response with minor toxicities. Conclusions Despite some promising response rates for taxanes, gemcitabine or thermochemotherapy, an evidence-based recommendation for treatment options superior to RC in patients failing BCG therapy cannot be made. The definition of BCG failure is still inconsistent and heterogeneous outcomes in patients with BCG

Current Status of Adjuvant Therapy for Colon Cancer

PubMed Central

André, Thierry; Afchain, Pauline; Barrier, Alain; Blanchard, Pierre; Larsen, Annette K.; Tournigand, Christophe; Louvet, Christophe; de Gramont, Aimery

2007-01-01

Due to its frequency and persistently high mortality, colorectal cancer represents a major public health problem. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy has improved prognosis in stage III disease, but much work remains to be done in optimizing adjuvant treatment, including refinement of ability to predict disease course and response to chemotherapy. The FOLFOX4 regimen is now considered standard treatment for stage III disease. Combinations of irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have not proven to be more effective than 5-FU/folinic acid (FA). Oral fluoropyrimidines (eg, capecitabine, UFT + FA) now offer an alternative to intravenous 5-FU. Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colorectal cancer is more controversial. Use of adjuvant chemotherapy does not appear to be justified in patients with no particular risk factors (T3N0 with no poor prognosis factor). In contrast, the risk:benefit ratio in patients with one or more poor prognostic factors (T4 tumor, occlusion or perforation, poorly differentiated tumor, vascular invasion, or < 10 lymph nodes examined) appears to favor adjuvant treatment with FOLFOX4. Ongoing adjuvant trials are evaluating bevacizumab and cetuximab combined with 5-FU and oxaliplatin, and are examining the utility of such potential predictive markers as tumor microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity. Duration of therapy and prevention of oxaliplatin neurotoxicity are other critical areas for future research. PMID:19262714

[Irritable bowel syndrome: current treatment options].

PubMed

Ducrotté, Philippe

2007-11-01

Relieving abdominal pain is the principal treatment objective for patients with irritable bowel syndrome. No single drug stands out in the treatment strategy for this illness. Antispasmodics, magnesium aluminum silicates, and alverine citrate drugs all remain initial options for treatment, although their prescription is impeded by the fact that an increasing number are no longer approved for reimbursement. Increased dietary fibers often have a harmful effect on symptoms. Some patients are probably intolerant to some foods but there is no satisfactory proof on which to base a restrictive diet. Improved knowledge of the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome has made it possible to diversify treatments that act first on one of the key pathophysiologic elements, visceral hypersensitivity. Antidepressants (especially tricyclics) can be used at low doses. Among the serotonergic drugs, serotonin 5-HT4 receptors agonists (tegaserod) may be available soon, but the development of 5-HT3 antagonists (alosetron, cilansetron) has been stopped for safety reasons (ischemic colitis and severe constipation). Non-drug options such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, relaxation, or yoga, may also be proposed to some patients. Probiotics are a possible treatment in the future.

PANDAS: A systematic review of treatment options.

PubMed

Farhood, Zachary; Ong, Adrian A; Discolo, Christopher M

2016-10-01

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) is a rare but important condition for pediatric otolaryngologists to recognize. Several treatment options exist including tonsillectomy, antibiotic treatment/prophylaxis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and psychiatric medications/therapy. A systematic review of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases was performed searching for articles that focused exclusively on the aforementioned treatment modalities in the PANDAS population. Review articles, single patient case reports, and studies examining the natural history or diagnostic strategies were excluded. Five articles regarding tonsillectomy treatments with level of evidence (LOE) 4 were found but no clear benefit could be determined. Three articles were selected involving the use of antibiotic therapy. One prospective study and one double-blind randomized control trial (DB RCT) supported the use of antibiotics but a separate DB RCT showed no benefit. Two selected articles described the use of IVIG: one unblinded RCT and one retrospective study. One prospective study on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) showed benefit in PANDAS. There is a paucity of high-level studies regarding this rare disorder and no hard treatment recommendations can be made. Tonsillectomy should only be performed in those who are surgical candidates based on current published guidelines. Antibiotics are an option but provide uncertain benefit. CBT remains a low-risk option. Studies support the use of IVIG, however more investigation is needed prior to widespread adoption of this treatment given its potential risks. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geographic variation in the intended choice of adjuvant treatments for women diagnosed with screen-detected breast cancer in Queensland.

PubMed

Hsieh, Jeff Ching-Fu; Cramb, Susanna M; McGree, James M; Dunn, Nathan A M; Baade, Peter D; Mengersen, Kerrie L

2015-12-02

Although early diagnosis and improved treatment can reduce breast cancer mortality, there still appears to be a geographic differential in patient outcomes. This study aims to determine and quantify spatial inequalities in intended adjuvant (radio-, chemo- and hormonal) therapy usage among women with screen-detected breast cancer in Queensland, Australia. Linked population-based datasets from BreastScreen Queensland and the Queensland Cancer Registry during 1997-2008 for women aged 40-89 years were used. We adopted a Bayesian shared spatial component model to evaluate the relative intended use of each adjuvant therapy across 478 areas as well as common spatial patterns between treatments. Women living closer to a cancer treatment facility were more likely to intend to use adjuvant therapy. This was particularly marked for radiotherapy when travel time to the closest radiation facility was 4 + h (OR =0.41, 95 % CrI: [0.23, 0.74]) compared to <1 h. The shared spatial effect increased towards the centres with concentrations of radiotherapy facilities, in north-east (Townsville) and south-east (Brisbane) regions of Queensland. Moreover, the presence of residual shared spatial effects indicates that there are other unmeasured geographical barriers influencing women's treatment choices. This highlights the need to identify the additional barriers that impact on treatment intentions among women diagnosed with screen-detected breast cancer, particularly for those women living further away from cancer treatment centers.

Treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

PubMed

Rosenberg, Casandra J; Watson, James C

2015-02-01

Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy impairs quality of life and can be difficult to treat. To discuss current treatment recommendations for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Literature review. Systematic review of the literature discussing treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Existing treatment guidelines were studied and compared. Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy occurs in about one in six people with diabetes. This condition impairs quality of life and increases healthcare costs. Treatment recommendations exist, but individual patient therapy can require a trial-and-error approach. Many treatment options have adjuvant benefits or side effects which should be considered prior to initiating therapy. Often, a combination of treatment modalities with various mechanisms of action is required for adequate pain control. Adequate medication titration and a reasonable trial period should be allowed. The treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be challenging, but effective management can improve patient's quality of life. Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy impairs quality of life and can be difficult to treat. Many treatment options have adjuvant benefits or side effects which should be considered prior to initiating therapy. Often, a combination of treatment modalities with various mechanisms of action is required for adequate pain control. © The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

ARSENIC REMOVAL TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

EPA Science Inventory

The presentation provides information on POU and POE arsenic removal drinking water treatment systems. The presentation provides information on the arsenic rule, arsenic chemistry and arsenic treatment. The arsenic treatment options proposed for POU and POE treatment consist prim...

Review of Systemic Treatment Options for Adult Atopic Dermatitis.

PubMed

Gooderham, Melinda; Lynde, Charles W; Papp, Kim; Bourcier, Marc; Guenther, Lyn; Gulliver, Wayne; Hong, Chih-Ho; Poulin, Yves; Sussman, Gordon; Vender, Ronald

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic inflammatory skin disease resulting from defects in skin barrier and aberrant immune responses. AD significantly affects the quality of life. Not all patients respond to topical therapies, and often systemic therapy is required to control the disease. To review the treatment options for adult AD patients including those options for patients who do not respond adequately or have contraindications to oral systemic therapy. A working group of clinicians with experience managing AD was convened to review the current literature on treatment options for adult AD patients. This review is based on the best available evidence from a published systematic review and an additional literature search. Current treatments for AD are reviewed, including options for adult AD patients who do not respond or have contraindications to current systemic therapies. A new approach with targeted therapies is reviewed based on best available evidence. Many AD patients respond satisfactorily to topical or systemic treatments, but for those patients who do not respond or have contraindications, new biologic agents appear to be promising therapies.

Pasireotide for the treatment of acromegaly.

PubMed

Wildemberg, Luiz Eduardo; Gadelha, Mônica R

2016-01-01

Acromegaly is a chronic disease with high morbidity and enhanced mortality if left untreated. Treatment options include surgery, medical therapy (somatostatin analogues (SA), dopamine agonists (DA) and growth hormone receptor antagonists) and radiotherapy. Despite these treatment options, "real-life" studies have shown that approximately 50% of patients are not controlled. In this scenario, a next-generation SA, pasireotide, has recently been approved for the treatment of acromegaly. 1) pasireotide's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; 2) pasireotide's anti-secretory and anti-proliferative effects, from preclinical studies up to phase III clinical trials; and 3) the adverse effects of pasireotide, focusing on hyperglycemia; 4) biomarkers of response to SA treatment. surgery is the primary treatment for most patients with acromegaly; however, approximately half of them will need adjuvant therapy. At present, the decision of this adjuvant treatment is made on a "trial-and-error" fashion. Nevertheless, in recent years, efforts have been made to establish biomarkers for the response to drugs involved in the treatment of acromegaly, which will change the treatment of acromegaly towards a more personalized therapeutic decision-making process. In the near future, the establishment of pasireotide response biomarkers will allow us to identify good candidates for first-line medical monotherapy with pasireotide.

Improved Survival Endpoints With Adjuvant Radiation Treatment in Patients With High-Risk Early-Stage Endometrial Carcinoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elshaikh, Mohamed A., E-mail: melshai1@hfhs.org; Vance, Sean; Suri, Jaipreet S.

2014-02-01

Purpose/Objective(s): To determine the impact of adjuvant radiation treatment (RT) on recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I-II endometrial carcinoma. Methods and Materials: We identified 382 patients with high-risk EC who underwent hysterectomy. RFS, DSS, and OS were calculated from the date of hysterectomy by use of the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression modeling was used to explore the risks associated with various factors on survival endpoints. Results: The median follow-up time for the study cohort was 5.4 years. The median age was 71 years.more » All patients underwent hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, 93% had peritoneal cytology, and 85% underwent lymphadenectomy. Patients with endometrioid histology constituted 72% of the study cohort, serous in 16%, clear cell in 7%, and mixed histology in 4%. Twenty-three percent of patients had stage II disease. Adjuvant management included RT alone in 220 patients (57%), chemotherapy alone in 25 patients (7%), and chemoradiation therapy in 27 patients (7%); 110 patients (29%) were treated with close surveillance. The 5-year RFS, DSS, and OS were 76%, 88%, and 73%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, adjuvant RT was a significant predictor of RFS (P<.001) DSS (P<.001), and OS (P=.017). Lymphovascular space involvement was a significant predictor of RFS and DSS (P<.001). High tumor grade was a significant predictor for RFS (P=.038) and DSS (P=.025). Involvement of the lower uterine segment was also a predictor of RFS (P=.049). Age at diagnosis and lymphovascular space involvement were significant predictors of OS: P<.001 and P=.002, respectively. Conclusion: In the treatment of patients with high-risk features, our study suggests that adjuvant RT significantly improves recurrence-free, disease-specific, and overall survival in patients with early-stage endometrial

Computational prediction of multidisciplinary team decision-making for adjuvant breast cancer drug therapies: a machine learning approach.

PubMed

Lin, Frank P Y; Pokorny, Adrian; Teng, Christina; Dear, Rachel; Epstein, Richard J

2016-12-01

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are used to optimise expert decision-making about treatment options, but such expertise is not digitally transferable between centres. To help standardise medical decision-making, we developed a machine learning model designed to predict MDT decisions about adjuvant breast cancer treatments. We analysed MDT decisions regarding adjuvant systemic therapy for 1065 breast cancer cases over eight years. Machine learning classifiers with and without bootstrap aggregation were correlated with MDT decisions (recommended, not recommended, or discussable) regarding adjuvant cytotoxic, endocrine and biologic/targeted therapies, then tested for predictability using stratified ten-fold cross-validations. The predictions so derived were duly compared with those based on published (ESMO and NCCN) cancer guidelines. Machine learning more accurately predicted adjuvant chemotherapy MDT decisions than did simple application of guidelines. No differences were found between MDT- vs. ESMO/NCCN- based decisions to prescribe either adjuvant endocrine (97%, p = 0.44/0.74) or biologic/targeted therapies (98%, p = 0.82/0.59). In contrast, significant discrepancies were evident between MDT- and guideline-based decisions to prescribe chemotherapy (87%, p < 0.01, representing 43% and 53% variations from ESMO/NCCN guidelines, respectively). Using ten-fold cross-validation, the best classifiers achieved areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.940 for chemotherapy (95% C.I., 0.922-0.958), 0.899 for the endocrine therapy (95% C.I., 0.880-0.918), and 0.977 for trastuzumab therapy (95% C.I., 0.955-0.999) respectively. Overall, bootstrap aggregated classifiers performed better among all evaluated machine learning models. A machine learning approach based on clinicopathologic characteristics can predict MDT decisions about adjuvant breast cancer drug therapies. The discrepancy between MDT- and guideline-based decisions

Adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer: what have we learned since INT0116?

PubMed

Jácome, Alexandre A; Sankarankutty, Ajith K; dos Santos, José Sebastião

2015-04-07

Gastric cancer is one of the main cancer-related causes of death worldwide. The curative treatment of gastric cancer consists of tumor resection and lymphadenectomy. However, surgical treatment alone is associated with high recurrence rates. Adjuvant treatment strategies have been studied over the last decades, but there have been controversial results from the initial studies. The pivotal INT0116 study demonstrated that the use of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil increases relapse-free and overall survival, and it has been adopted across the Western world. The high toxicity of radiochemotherapy and suboptimal surgical treatment employed, with fewer than 10% of the patients submitted to D2 lymphadenectomy, were the main study limitations. Since its publication, other adjuvant treatment modalities have been studied, and radiochemotherapy is being refined to improve its efficacy and safety. A multimodal approach has been demonstrated to significantly increase relapse-free and overall survival, and it can be offered in the form of perioperative chemotherapy, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy, regardless of the extent of lymphadenectomy. The objective of the present review is to report the major advances obtained in the last decades in the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer as well as the perspectives of treatment based on recent knowledge of the molecular biology of the disease.

Shared decision-making - Rhetoric and reality: Women's experiences and perceptions of adjuvant treatment decision-making for breast cancer.

PubMed

Mahmoodi, Neda; Sargeant, Sally

2017-01-01

This interview-based study uses phenomenology as a theoretical framework and thematic analysis to challenge existing explanatory frameworks of shared decision-making, in an exploration of women's experiences and perceptions of shared decision-making for adjuvant treatment in breast cancer. Three themes emerged are as follows: (1) women's desire to participate in shared decision-making, (2) the degree to which shared decision-making is perceived to be shared and (3) to what extent are women empowered within shared decision-making. Studying breast cancer patients' subjective experiences of adjuvant treatment decision-making provides a broader perspective on patient participatory role preferences and doctor-patient power dynamics within shared decision-making for breast cancer.

Lack of tolerable treatment options for patients with schizophrenia.

PubMed

Citrome, Leslie; Eramo, Anna; Francois, Clement; Duffy, Ruth; Legacy, Susan N; Offord, Steve J; Krasa, Holly B; Johnston, Stephen S; Guiraud-Diawara, Alice; Kamat, Siddhesh A; Rohman, Patricia

2015-01-01

Atypical antipsychotics (AAs), an effective treatment for schizophrenia, have a range of pharmacologic properties leading to differences in tolerability as well as heterogeneity in treatment response. Individual patient characteristics must be considered when making treatment choices, especially from an adverse event (AE) or tolerability perspective. Despite the availability of numerous AAs, after appraising patient characteristics at the time of treatment selection, physicians may quickly run out of tolerable treatment options. AE risk factors, defined as having either a prior history of an AE or a risk factor for that AE, were determined for Medicaid-insured and Commercially insured patients using database analysis. Patients receiving AA treatment between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 defined the index date of first observed AA prescription during this period. Nine AAs were evaluated for association with AE risk factors as informed by drug prescribing information from the different manufacturers and published meta-analyses. The proportion of patients with pre-index AE risk factors prescribed an AA associated with that risk factor was then determined. A high proportion of patients (>80%) were prescribed an AA associated with extrapyramidal symptoms or akathisia despite experiencing extrapyramidal symptoms or akathisia prior to AA treatment initiation. Similar trends were observed among patients with diabetes (>60%) and obesity (>40%). From the nine treatment options available, the number of optimal choices for individual patient segments were limited based on their prior history, including those with cardiometabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities (four); experiencing prolactin elevation-related problems (seven); needing to avoid excessive sedation (four); or at risk of extrapyramidal symptoms or akathisia (two). Options were then further restricted among patients in more than one segment when multiple pre-index AE risk factors were combined. When

Cyanobacterial Treatment Options: Permanganate and ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation will begin with a brief overview of drinking water treatment options for cyanobacteria and their toxins. The treatment discussion will focus on the impacts of permanganate addition to suspensions of toxin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa, followed by powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition. Results will be presented that show changes in toxin concentrations, chlorophyll-a concentrations and cell membrane integrity. The EPA Small Systems Webinar Presentations allow the dissemination of the latest Agency guidance and research to a large geographically dispersed audience while minimizing taxpayer expense

[Treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma in early stages].

PubMed

Meneses, José Carlos; Avila Martínez, Régulo J; Ponce, Santiago; Zuluaga, Mauricio; Bartolomé, Adela; Gámez, Pablo

2013-12-01

Treatment of lung carcinoma is multidisciplinary. There are different therapeutic strategies available, although surgery shows the best results in those patients with lung carcinoma in early stages. Other options such as stereotactic radiation therapy are relegated to patients with small tumors and poor cardiopulmonary reserve or to those who reject surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is not justified in patients with stage i of the disease and so double adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered. This adjuvant chemotherapy should be based on cisplatin after surgery in those patients with stages ii and IIIA. Copyright © 2012 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

[Necessary and unnecessary treatment options for hemorrhoids].

PubMed

Zindel, Joel; Inglin, Roman; Brügger, Lukas

2014-12-01

Up to one third of the general population suffers from symptoms caused by hemorrhoids. Conservative treatment comes first unless the patient presents with an acute hemorrhoidal prolapse or a thrombosis. A fiber enriched diet is the primary treatment option, recommended in the perioperative period as well as a long-term prophylaxis. A timely limited application of topical ointments or suppositories and/or flavonoids are further treatment options. When symptoms persist interventional procedures for grade I-II hemorrhoids, and surgery for grade III-IV hemorrhoids should be considered. Rubber band ligation is the interventional treatment of choice. A comparable efficacy using sclerosing or infrared therapy has not yet been demonstrated. We therefore do not recommend these treatment options for the cure of hemorrhoids. Self-treatment by anal insertion of bougies is of lowrisk and may be successful, particularly in the setting of an elevated sphincter pressure. Anal dilation, sphincterotomy, cryosurgery, bipolar diathermy, galvanic electrotherapy, and heat therapy should be regarded as obsolete given the poor or missing data reported for these methods. For a long time, the classic excisional hemorrhoidectomy was considered to be the gold standard as far as surgical procedures are concerned. Primary closure (Ferguson) seems to be superior compared to the "open" version (Milligan Morgan) with respect to postoperative pain and wound healing. The more recently proposed stapled hemorrhoidopexy (Longo) is particularly advisable for circular hemorrhoids. Compared to excisional hemorrhoidectomy the Longo-operation is associated with reduced postoperative pain, shorter operation time and hospital stay as well as a faster recovery, with the disadvantage though of a higher recurrence rate. Data from Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation (HAL)-, if appropriate in combination with a Recto-Anal Repair (HAL/RAR)-, demonstrates a similar trend towards a better tolerance of the procedure at the

Medial tibial stress syndrome: conservative treatment options.

PubMed

Galbraith, R Michael; Lavallee, Mark E

2009-10-07

Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), commonly known as "shin splints," is a frequent injury of the lower extremity and one of the most common causes of exertional leg pain in athletes (Willems T, Med Sci Sports Exerc 39(2):330-339, 2007; Korkola M, Amendola A, Phys Sportsmed 29(6):35-50, 2001; Hreljac A, Med Sci Sports Exerc 36(5):845-849, 2004). Although often not serious, it can be quite disabling and progress to more serious complications if not treated properly. Often, the cause of MTSS is multi-factorial and involves training errors and various biomechanical abnormalities. Few advances have been made in the treatment of MTSS over the last few decades. Current treatment options are mostly based on expert opinion and clinical experience. The purpose of this article is to review published literature regarding conservative treatment options for MTSS and provide recommendations for sports medicine clinicians for improved treatment and patient outcomes.

Treatment options in otitis media with effusion.

PubMed

Upadhya, Ila; Datar, J

2014-01-01

Secretary Otitis media with effusion (OME) is the accumulation of mucus in the middle ear and sometimes in the mastoid air cell system. The main etiological factor is alteration in mucociliary system of middle ear secondary to ET malfunction which may be primary or secondary. OME is the cause of concern due to its occurance in paediatric age group, highest at 2 years of age, presenting as impairment of hearing leading to delayed speech and language development, poor academic performance and behavioral problems. In spite of this there are no confirmed guidelines of treatment to overcome. Many treatment options are available medical as well as surgical. Prospective study conducted to evaluate various treatment options revealed that auto inflation of ET is the main stay of treatment. If the ET malfunction is due to any reasons like adenoids, deviated nasal septum, hypertrophied turbinates or any other cause surgical intervention of the same gives 100% results. Medical management gives good results but recurrence is equally common.

Treatment options for actinic keratoses.

PubMed

McIntyre, William J; Downs, Michael R; Bedwell, Sondra A

2007-09-01

Actinic keratoses are rough, scaly lesions that commonly occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin. The prevalence of the condition increases with age. Actinic keratoses are thought to be carcinomas in situ, which can progress to squamous cell carcinomas. The decision to treat can be based on cosmetic reasons; symptom relief; or, most importantly, the prevention of malignancy and metastasis. Treatment options include ablative (destructive) therapies such as cryosurgery, curettage with electrosurgery, and photodynamic therapy. Topical therapies are used in patients with multiple lesions. Fluorouracil has been the traditional topical treatment for actinic keratoses, although imiquimod 5% cream and diclofenac 3% gel are effective alternative therapies. There are too few controlled trials comparing treatment modalities for physicians to make sound, evidence-based treatment decisions.

Treatment of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Adjuvant or Definitive Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sher, David J., E-mail: dsher@lroc.harvard.edu; Thotakura, Vijaya; Balboni, Tracy A.

2011-11-15

Purpose: The optimal management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) typically involves surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the setting of adverse pathologic features. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is frequently used to treat oral cavity cancers, but published IMRT outcomes specific to this disease site are sparse. We report the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute experience with IMRT-based treatment for OCSCC. Methods and Materials: Retrospective study of all patients treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for OCSCC with adjuvant or definitive IMRT between August 2004 and December 2009. The American Joint Committee on Cancer disease stage criteria distributionmore » of this cohort included 5 patients (12%) with stage I; 10 patients (24%) with stage II (n = 10, 24%),; 14 patients (33%) with stage III (n = 14, 33%),; and 13 patients (31%) with stage IV. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were locoregional control (LRC) and acute and chronic toxicity. Results: Forty-two patients with OCSCC were included, 30 of whom were initially treated with surgical resection. Twenty-three (77%) of 30 surgical patients treated with adjuvant IMRT also received concurrent chemotherapy, and 9 of 12 (75%) patients treated definitively without surgery were treated with CRT or induction chemotherapy and CRT. With a median follow-up of 2.1 years (interquartile range, 1.1-3.1 years) for all patients, the 2-year actuarial rates of OS and LRC following adjuvant IMRT were 85% and 91%, respectively, and the comparable results for definitive IMRT were 63% and 64% for OS and LRC, respectively. Only 1 patient developed symptomatic osteoradionecrosis, and among patients without evidence of disease, 35% experienced grade 2 to 3 late dysphagia, with only 1 patient who was continuously gastrostomy-dependent. Conclusions: In this single-institution series, postoperative IMRT was associated with

Adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer: Is it needed?

PubMed Central

Milinis, Kristijonas; Thornton, Michael; Montazeri, Amir; Rooney, Paul S

2015-01-01

Adjuvant chemotherapy has become a standard treatment of advanced rectal cancer in the West. The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery alone have been well established. However, controversy surrounds the use adjuvant chemotherapy in patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy, despite it being recommended by a number of international guidelines. Results of recent multicentre randomised control trials showed no benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of survival and rates of distant metastases. However, concerns exist regarding the quality of the studies including inadequate staging modalities, out-dated chemotherapeutic regimens and surgical approaches and small sample sizes. It has become evident that not all the patients respond to adjuvant chemotherapy and more personalised approach should be employed when considering the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy. The present review discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the current evidence-base and suggests improvements for future studies. PMID:26677436

Clinical Practice of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Early-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

PubMed

Frielink, Lindy M J; Pijlman, Brenda M; Ezendam, Nicole P M; Pijnenborg, Johanna M A

2016-01-01

Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy improves survival in women with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Yet, there is a wide variety in clinical practice. All patients diagnosed with FIGO I and IIa EOC (2006-2010) in the south of the Netherlands were analyzed. The percentage of patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy was determined as well as the comprehensiveness of staging and outcome. Forty percent (54/135) of the patients with early-stage EOC received adjuvant chemotherapy. Treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with FIGO stage, clear-cell histology and nonoptimal staging. Optimal staging was achieved in 50%, and nonoptimal staging was associated with advanced age, comorbidity and treatment in a non-referral hospital. Overall, there was no difference in outcome between patients with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. Yet, in grade 3 tumors, adjuvant chemotherapy seems beneficial. Selective treatment of patients with early-stage EOC might reduce adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising outcome. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Patient knowledge on stroke risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.

PubMed

Faiz, Kashif Waqar; Sundseth, Antje; Thommessen, Bente; Rønning, Ole Morten

2018-01-01

Public campaigns focus primarily on stroke symptom and risk factor knowledge, but patients who correctly recognize stroke symptoms do not necessarily know the reason for urgent hospitalization. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge on stroke risk factors, symptoms and treatment options among acute stroke and transient ischemic attack patients. This prospective study included patients admitted to the stroke unit at the Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Norway. Patients with previous cerebrovascular disease, patients receiving thrombolytic treatment and patients who were not able to answer the questions in the questionnaire were excluded. Patients were asked two closed-ended questions: "Do you believe that stroke is a serious disorder?" and "Do you believe that time is of importance for stroke treatment?". In addition, patients were asked three open-ended questions where they were asked to list as many stroke risk factors, stroke symptoms and stroke treatment options as they could. A total of 173 patients were included, of whom 158 (91.3%) confirmed that they regarded stroke as a serious disorder and 148 patients (85.5%) considered time being of importance. In all, 102 patients (59.0%) could not name any treatment option. Forty-one patients (23.7%) named one or more adequate treatment options, and they were younger ( p <0.001) and had higher educational level ( p <0.001), but had a nonsignificant shorter prehospital delay time ( p =0.292). The level of stroke treatment knowledge in stroke patients seems to be poor. Public campaigns should probably also focus on information on treatment options, which may contribute to reduce prehospital delay and onset-to-treatment-time.

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer operated for cure.

PubMed

Petersen, Sune Høirup; Harling, Henrik; Kirkeby, Lene Tschemerinsky; Wille-Jørgensen, Peer; Mocellin, Simone

2012-03-14

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the Western world. Apart from surgery - which remains the mainstay of treatment for resectable primary tumours - postoperative (i.e., adjuvant) chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based regimens is now the standard treatment in Dukes' C (TNM stage III) colon tumours i.e. tumours with metastases in the regional lymph nodes but no distant metastases. In contrast, the evidence for recommendations of adjuvant therapy in rectal cancer is sparse. In Europe it is generally acknowledged that locally advanced rectal tumours receive preoperative (i.e., neoadjuvant) downstaging by radiotherapy (or chemoradiotion), whereas in the US postoperative chemoradiotion is considered the treatment of choice in all Dukes' C rectal cancers. Overall, no universal consensus exists on the adjuvant treatment of surgically resectable rectal carcinoma; moreover, no formal systematic review and meta-analysis has been so far performed on this subject. We undertook a systematic review of the scientific literature from 1975 until March 2011 in order to quantitatively summarize the available evidence regarding the impact of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on the survival of patients with surgically resectable rectal cancer. The outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). CCCG standard search strategy in defined databases with the following supplementary search. 1. Rect* or colorect* - 2. Cancer or carcinom* or adenocarc* or neoplasm* or tumour - 3. Adjuv* - 4. Chemother* - 5. Postoper* Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer who received no adjuvant chemotherapy with those receiving any postoperative chemotherapy regimen. Two authors extracted data and a third author performed an independent search for verification. The main outcome measure was the hazard ratio (HR) between the risk of event between the treatment arm (adjuvant chemotherapy

Activity of glycated chitosan and other adjuvants to PDT vaccines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korbelik, Mladen; Banáth, Judit; Čiplys, Evaldas; Szulc, Zdzislaw; Bielawska, Alicja; Chen, Wei R.

2015-03-01

Glycated chitosan (GC), a water soluble galactose-conjugated natural polysaccharide, has proven to be an effective immunoadjuvant for treatment of tumors based on laser thermal therapy. It was also shown to act as adjuvant for tumor therapy with high-intensity ultrasound and in situ photodynamic therapy (PDT). In the present study, GC was examined as potential adjuvant to PDT-generated cancer vaccine. Two other agents, pure calreticulin protein and acid ceramidase inhibitor LCL521, were also tested as prospective adjuvants for use in conjunction with PDT vaccines. Single treatment with GC, included with PDT vaccine cells suspension, improved the therapeutic efficacy when compared to vaccine alone. This attractive prospect of GC application remains to be carefully optimized and mechanistically elucidated. Both calreticulin and LCL521 proved also effective adjuvants when combined with PDT vaccine tumor treatment.

Antifungal adjuvants: Preserving and extending the antifungal arsenal

PubMed Central

Butts, Arielle; Palmer, Glen E.; Rogers, P. David

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT As the rates of systemic fungal infections continue to rise and antifungal drug resistance becomes more prevalent, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic options. This issue is exacerbated by the limited number of systemic antifungal drug classes. However, the discovery, development, and approval of novel antifungals is an extensive process that often takes decades. For this reason, there is growing interest and research into the possibility of combining existing therapies with various adjuvants that either enhance activity or overcome existing mechanisms of resistance. Reports of antifungal adjuvants range from plant extracts to repurposed compounds, to synthetic peptides. This approach would potentially prolong the utility of currently approved antifungals and mitigate the ongoing development of resistance. PMID:27459018

Therapeutic Potential of Ginsenosides as an Adjuvant Treatment for Diabetes

PubMed Central

Bai, Litao; Gao, Jialiang; Wei, Fan; Zhao, Jing; Wang, Danwei; Wei, Junping

2018-01-01

Ginseng, one of the oldest traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, has been used widely in China and Asia for thousands of years. Ginsenosides extracted from ginseng, which is derived from the roots and rhizomes of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, have been used in China as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Owing to the technical complexity of ginsenoside production, the total ginsenosides are generally extracted. Accumulating evidence has shown that ginsenosides exert antidiabetic effects. In vivo and in vitro tests revealed the potential of ginsenoside Rg1, Rg3, Rg5, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, compound K, Rk1, Re, ginseng total saponins, malonyl ginsenosides, Rd, Rh2, F2, protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type saponins to treat diabetes and its complications, including type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cognitive dysfunction, type 2 diabetes mellitus with fatty liver disease, diabetic cerebral infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and diabetic erectile dysfunction. Many effects are attributed to ginsenosides, including gluconeogenesis reduction, improvement of insulin resistance, glucose transport, insulinotropic action, islet cell protection, hepatoprotective activity, anti-inflammatory effect, myocardial protection, lipid regulation, improvement of glucose tolerance, antioxidation, improvement of erectile dysfunction, regulation of gut flora metabolism, neuroprotection, anti-angiopathy, anti-neurotoxic effects, immunosuppression, and renoprotection effect. The molecular targets of these effects mainly contains GLUTs, SGLT1, GLP-1, FoxO1, TNF-α, IL-6, caspase-3, bcl-2, MDA, SOD, STAT5-PPAR gamma pathway, PI3K/Akt pathway, AMPK-JNK pathway, NF-κB pathway, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Rg1, Rg3, Rb1, and compound K demonstrated the most promising therapeutic prospects as potential adjuvant medicines for the treatment of diabetes. This paper highlights the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of the

Vaccines, adjuvants and autoimmunity.

PubMed

Guimarães, Luísa Eça; Baker, Britain; Perricone, Carlo; Shoenfeld, Yehuda

2015-10-01

Vaccines and autoimmunity are linked fields. Vaccine efficacy is based on whether host immune response against an antigen can elicit a memory T-cell response over time. Although the described side effects thus far have been mostly transient and acute, vaccines are able to elicit the immune system towards an autoimmune reaction. The diagnosis of a definite autoimmune disease and the occurrence of fatal outcome post-vaccination have been less frequently reported. Since vaccines are given to previously healthy hosts, who may have never developed the disease had they not been immunized, adverse events should be carefully accessed and evaluated even if they represent a limited number of occurrences. In this review of the literature, there is evidence of vaccine-induced autoimmunity and adjuvant-induced autoimmunity in both experimental models as well as human patients. Adjuvants and infectious agents may exert their immune-enhancing effects through various functional activities, encompassed by the adjuvant effect. These mechanisms are shared by different conditions triggered by adjuvants leading to the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome). In conclusion, there are several case reports of autoimmune diseases following vaccines, however, due to the limited number of cases, the different classifications of symptoms and the long latency period of the diseases, every attempt for an epidemiological study has so far failed to deliver a connection. Despite this, efforts to unveil the connection between the triggering of the immune system by adjuvants and the development of autoimmune conditions should be undertaken. Vaccinomics is a field that may bring to light novel customized, personalized treatment approaches in the future. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An update on adjunctive treatment options for bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Dean, Olivia M; Gliddon, Emma; Van Rheenen, Tamsyn E; Giorlando, Francesco; Davidson, Sandra K; Kaur, Manreena; Ngo, Trung T; Williams, Lana J

2018-03-01

Bipolar disorder is a complex illness often requiring combinations of therapies to successfully treat symptoms. In recent years, there have been significant advancements in a number of therapies for bipolar disorder. It is therefore timely to provide an overview of current adjunctive therapeutic options to help treating clinicians to inform their patients and work towards optimal outcomes. Publications were identified from PubMed searches on bipolar disorder and pharmacotherapy, nutraceuticals, hormone therapy, psychoeducation, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, cognitive remediation, mindfulness, e-Health and brain stimulation techniques. Relevant articles in these areas were selected for further review. This paper provides a narrative review of adjunctive treatment options and is not a systematic review of the literature. A number of pharmacotherapeutic, psychological and neuromodulation treatment options are available. These have varying efficacy but all have shown benefit to people with bipolar disorder. Due to the complex nature of treating the disorder, combination treatments are often required. Adjunctive treatments to traditional pharmacological and psychological therapies are proving useful in closing the gap between initial symptom remission and full functional recovery. Given that response to monotherapy is often inadequate, combination regimens for bipolar disorder are typical. Correspondingly, psychiatric research is working towards a better understanding of the disorder's underlying biology. Therefore, treatment options are changing and adjunctive therapies are being increasingly recognized as providing significant tools to improve patient outcomes. Towards this end, this paper provides an overview of novel treatments that may improve clinical outcomes for people with bipolar disorder. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The efficacy of adjuvant trastuzumab in HER-2 positive breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastases according to the treatment duration.

PubMed

Sendur, Mehmet A N; Aksoy, Sercan; Ozdemir, Nuriye Y; Yazici, Ozan; Zengin, Nurullah; Altundag, Kadri

2014-12-01

Trastuzumab is the first anti-HER-2 humanized monoclonal antibody. The benefit of adjuvant trastuzumab has been shown in randomized phase III trials. Despite trastuzumab being recommended for 52 weeks in the adjuvant treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer according to the current breast cancer guidelines, there is still no consensus on the optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab. The aim of our study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant trastuzumab for 9 weeks and 52 weeks in axillary lymph node positive HER-2 positive breast cancer patients. A total of 271 HER-2 and axillary node positive breast cancer patients who received trastuzumab in adjuvant treatment between the years 2005 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with axillary node positive HER-2 positive breast cancer who were non-metastatic were enrolled to the study. Patients were allocated to the 9 week trastuzumab group (n = 155) or the 52 week trastuzumab group (n = 116). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out for disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Two-sided p values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The most important limitation of our manuscript is the retrospective design. The median follow-up time for this analysis was 34 (4-95) months. Patients' clinical and pathological characteristics were well balanced between the two treatment arms. In the 9 week trastuzumab treatment group, the DFS rate was 96.7%, 84.8% and 74.9% in the first, third and fifth years respectively, whereas in the 52 week trastuzumab treatment group it was 94.3%, 80.0% and 80.0% (P = 0.76). In the 9 week trastuzumab treatment group, the OS rate was 99.3%, 92.2% and 88.3% in the first, third and fifth years respectively, whereas in the 52 week trastuzumab treatment group it was 99.0%, 94.7% and 78.6% (P = 0.99). In both groups, symptomatic heart failure was not reported but asymptomatic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decline was observed 3 (1

Near-Infrared Laser Adjuvant for Influenza Vaccine

PubMed Central

Kashiwagi, Satoshi; Yuan, Jianping; Forbes, Benjamin; Hibert, Mathew L.; Lee, Eugene L. Q.; Whicher, Laura; Goudie, Calum; Yang, Yuan; Chen, Tao; Edelblute, Beth; Collette, Brian; Edington, Laurel; Trussler, James; Nezivar, Jean; Leblanc, Pierre; Bronson, Roderick; Tsukada, Kosuke; Suematsu, Makoto; Dover, Jeffrey; Brauns, Timothy; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Poznansky, Mark C.

2013-01-01

Safe and effective immunologic adjuvants are often essential for vaccines. However, the choice of adjuvant for licensed vaccines is limited, especially for those that are administered intradermally. We show that non-tissue damaging, near-infrared (NIR) laser light given in short exposures to small areas of skin, without the use of additional chemical or biological agents, significantly increases immune responses to intradermal influenza vaccination without augmenting IgE. The NIR laser-adjuvanted vaccine confers increased protection in a murine influenza lethal challenge model as compared to unadjuvanted vaccine. We show that NIR laser treatment induces the expression of specific chemokines in the skin resulting in recruitment and activation of dendritic cells and is safe to use in both mice and humans. The NIR laser adjuvant technology provides a novel, safe, low-cost, simple-to-use, potentially broadly applicable and clinically feasible approach to enhancing vaccine efficacy as an alternative to chemical and biological adjuvants. PMID:24349390

Cyanobacterial Treatment Options: Permanganate and Powdered Activated Carbon

EPA Science Inventory

This presentation will begin with a brief overview of drinking water treatment options for cyanobacteria and their toxins. The treatment discussion will focus on the impacts of permanganate addition to suspensions of toxin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa, followed by powdered ac...

The option value of innovative treatments in the context of chronic myeloid leukemia.

PubMed

Sanchez, Yuri; Penrod, John R; Qiu, Xiaoli Lily; Romley, John; Thornton Snider, Julia; Philipson, Tomas

2012-11-01

To quantify in the context of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) the additional value patients receive when innovative treatments enable them to survive until the advent of even more effective future treatments (ie, the "option value"). Observational study using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry comprising all US patients with CML diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 (N = 9,760). We quantified the option value of recent breakthroughs in CML treatment by first conducting retrospective survival analyses on SEER data to assess the effectiveness of TKI treatments, and then forecasting survival from CML and other causes to measure expected future medical progress. We then developed an analytical framework to calculate option value of innovative CML therapies, and used an economic model to value these gains. We calculated the option value created both by future innovations in CML treatment and by medical progress in reducing background mortality. For a recently diagnosed CML patient, the option value of innovative therapies from future medical innovation amounts to 0.76 life-years. This option value is worth $63,000, equivalent to 9% of the average survival gains from existing treatments. Future innovations in CML treatment jointly account for 96% of this benefit. The option value of innovative treatments has significance in the context of CML and, more broadly, in disease areas with rapid innovation. Incorporating option value into traditional valuations of medical innovations is both a feasible and a necessary practice in health technology assessment.

Long-term follow-up after transoral laser microsurgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for advanced recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Christiansen, Hans; Hermann, Robert Michael; Martin, Alexios

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy after transoral laser microsurgery for advanced recurrent head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients and Methods: Between 1988 and 2000, 37 patients with advanced local recurrences (23 local and 14 locoregional recurrences) of HNSCC without distant metastases were treated in curative intent with organ-preserving transoral laser microsurgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (before 1994 split-course radiotherapy with carboplatinum, after 1994 conventional radiotherapy). Initial therapy of the primary (8.1% oral cavity, 35.1% oropharynx, 13.5% hypopharynx, and 43.3% larynx) before relapse was organ-preserving transoral laser microsurgery without any adjuvant therapy. Results:more » After a median follow-up of 124 months, the 5-year overall survival rate was 21.3%, the loco-regional control rate 48.3%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, stage of original primary tumor (Stage I/II vs. Stage III/IV), and patient age (<58 years vs. {>=}58 years) showed statistically significant impact on prognosis. In laryngeal cancer, larynx preservation rate after treatment for recurrent tumor was 50% during follow-up. Conclusion: Our data show that organ-preserving transoral laser microsurgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is a curative option for patients who have advanced recurrence after transoral laser surgery and is an alternative to radical treatment.« less

Treatment Options to Manage Wound Biofilm

PubMed Central

Jones, Curtis E.; Kennedy, John P.

2012-01-01

Background Bioburden is an accepted barrier to chronic wound healing. Defining the significance, phenotype, clinical classification, and treatment guidelines has been historically lacking of evidence and based on paradigms that do not represent the scientific or clinical reality. The Problem Chronic wound bioburden is typically abundant, polymicrobial, and extremely diverse. These microbes naturally adopt biofilm phenotypes, which are quite often viable but not culturable, thereby going undetected. The failures of culture-based detection have led to abandonment of routine bioburden evaluation and aggressive treatment or, worse, to assume bioburden is not a significant barrier. Predictably, treatment regimens to address biofilm phenotypes lagged behind our diagnostic tools and understanding. Basic/Clinical Science Advances Microbial DNA-based diagnostic tools and treatment regimens have emerged, which provide and leverage objective information, resulting in a dramatic impact on outcomes. Relevance to Clinical Care Modern medicine demands decisions based on objective evidence. The diagnostic and treatment protocols reviewed herein empower clinicians to practice modern medicine with regard to bioburden, with DNA level certainty. Conclusion Bioburden is a significant barrier to healing for all chronic wounds. Molecular diagnostics provide the first objective means of assessing wound bioburden. The accuracy and comprehensive data from such diagnostic methodologies provide clinicians with the ability to employ patient-specific treatment options, targeted to each patient's microbial wound census. Based on current outcomes data, the most effective therapeutic options are topical (TPL) antibiofilm agents (ABF) combined with TPL antibiotics (ABX). In specific patients, systemic ABX and selective biocides are also appropriate, but not exclusive of ABF combined with TPL ABX. PMID:24527291

Bisphosphonates as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

PubMed

Burkinshaw, Roger; Coleman, Robert

2006-01-01

Great strides have been made over the last 20 years in the treatment of breast cancer and despite an increasing incidence, the number of deaths has fallen sharply since the late 1980s. The advent of new therapies, including taxanes and aromatase inhibitors, and exciting results announced recently using trastuzumab in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive patients should decrease this even further. However, although most patients present with disease that appears to be localized to the breast, a significant proportion of women will eventually develop metastatic breast cancer. Therefore, the detection and treatment of micrometastatic disease represents perhaps the most important remaining challenge in breast cancer management, and is the focus of extensive ongoing research. Bone is the most frequent site of distant relapse, accounting for approximately 40% of all first recurrences. In addition to the well recognized release of bone cell-activating factors from the tumor, it is now appreciated that the release of bone-derived growth factors and cytokines from resorbing bone can attract cancer cells to the bone surface and facilitate their growth and proliferation. Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of bone osteolysis and the inhibition of bone resorption could therefore have an effect on the development and progression of metastatic bone disease. They could represent an adjuvant therapeutic strategy of potential importance. Clinical trial results with the early bisphosphonate, clodronate, have proved inconclusive. A large, randomized, controlled trial has recently completed accrual and should provide the definitive answer to the question of the role of clodronate in this setting. More potent second- and third-generation bisphosphonates have also shown enhanced antitumor effects in preclinical evaluation and further studies are required to determine whether this antitumor potential of bisphosphonates translates to the clinical setting. Adjuvant bisphosphonates are

Same gain, less pain: potential patient preferences for adjuvant treatment in premenopausal women with early breast cancer.

PubMed

Fallowfield, Lesley; McGurk, Rhona; Dixon, Michael

2004-11-01

The aim of this study was to determine the treatment preferences (adjuvant goserelin or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy) of healthy premenopausal women should they hypothetically develop oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive early breast cancer. Two hundred pre or peri-menopausal women read two scenarios describing goserelin or chemotherapy. Information included: How and where treatments were administered, side-effects, their likely persistence and impact on fertility. Women stated their unprompted initial and final preferences with reasons for the choices made. Respondents showed an overwhelming preference for goserelin. 156 (78%) women favoured goserelin, 22 (11%) chemotherapy and 22 (11%) remained undecided (P<0.0001). Primary reasons for preferring goserelin for were 105 (71%) avoidance of chemotherapy side-effects, especially hair loss, perceived convenience and less disruption to normal life 54 (36%). The minority who preferred chemotherapy, valued the treatment finishing more quickly. These results together with clinical trial data showing equivalence of goserelin with CMF regimens suggest that premenopausal women with ER-positive tumours should at least be offered the choice of either adjuvant hormone therapy or chemotherapy.

Letrozole in the extended adjuvant setting: MA.17

PubMed Central

2007-01-01

Relapse after completing adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is a persistent threat for women with hormone-responsive breast cancer. Third-generation aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole, provide a new option for extended adjuvant hormonal therapy after 5 years of tamoxifen. MA.17 was conducted to determine whether letrozole improves outcome after discontinuation of tamoxifen. Postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (N = 5,187) were randomized to letrozole 2.5 mg or placebo once daily for 5 years. At a median follow-up of 30 months, letrozole significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS; P < 0.001), the primary end point, compared with placebo (hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence or contralateral breast cancer 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45, 0.76] P < 0.001). Furthermore, letrozole significantly improved distant DFS (HR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.43, 0.84; P = 0.002) and, in women with node-positive tumors, overall survival (HR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.38, 0.98; P = 0.04). Clinical benefits, including an overall survival advantage, were also seen in women who crossed over from placebo to letrozole after unblinding, indicating that tumors remain sensitive to hormone therapy despite a prolonged period since discontinuation of tamoxifen. The efficacy and safety of letrozole therapy beyond 5 years is being assessed in a re-randomization study, following the emergence of new data suggesting that clinical benefit correlates with the duration of letrozole. MA.17 showed that letrozole is extremely well-tolerated relative to placebo. Letrozole should be considered for all women completing tamoxifen; new results from the post-unblinding analysis suggest that letrozole treatment should also be considered for all disease-free women for periods up to 5 years following completion of adjuvant tamoxifen. PMID:17912635

Treatment Options in Gastrointestinal Cutaneous Fistulas

PubMed Central

Ashkenazi, Itamar; Turégano-Fuentes, Fernando; Olsha, Oded; Alfici, Ricardo

2017-01-01

Enterocutaneous fistulas occur most commonly following surgery. A minority of them is caused by a myriad of other etiologies including infection, malignancy, and radiation. While some fistulas may close spontaneously, most patients will eventually need surgery to resolve this pathology. Successful treatment entails adoption of various methods of treatment aimed at control of sepsis, protection of surrounding skin and soft tissue, control of fistula output, and maintenance of nutrition, with eventual spontaneous or surgical closure of the fistula. The aim of this article is to review the various treatment options in their appropriate context. PMID:28825016

Synthetic Self-Adjuvanting Glycopeptide Cancer Vaccines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Payne, Richard; McDonald, David; Byrne, Scott

2015-10-01

Due to changes in glycosyltransferase expression during tumorigenesis, the glycoproteins of cancer cells often carry highly truncated carbohydrate chains compared to those on healthy cells. These glycans are known as tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens, and are prime targets for use in vaccines for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Herein, we review the state-of-the-art in targeting the immune system towards tumor-associated glycopeptide antigens via synthetic self adjuvanting vaccines, in which the antigenic and adjuvanting moieties of the vaccines are present in the same molecule. The majority of the self-adjuvanting glycopeptide cancer vaccines reported to date employ antigens from mucin 1, a protein which is highly over-expressed and aberrantly glycosylated in many forms of cancer. The adjuvants used in these vaccines predominantly include lipopeptide- or lipoamino acid-based TLR2 agonists, although studies investigating stimulation of TLR9 and TLR4 are also discussed. Most of these adjuvants are highly lipophilic, and, upon conjugation to antigenic peptides, provide amphiphilic vaccine molecules. The amphiphilic nature of these vaccine constructs can lead to the formation of higher-order structures by vaccines in solution, which are likely to be important for their efficacy in vivo.

Treatment of uveal melanoma: where are we now?

PubMed Central

Yang, Jessica; Manson, Daniel K.; Marr, Brian P.; Carvajal, Richard D.

2018-01-01

Uveal melanoma, a rare subset of melanoma, is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Despite effective primary therapy, nearly 50% of patients will develop metastatic disease. Outcomes for those with metastatic disease remain dismal due to a lack of effective therapies. The unique biology and immunology of uveal melanoma necessitates the development of dedicated management and treatment approaches. Ongoing efforts seek to optimize the efficacy of targeted therapy and immunotherapy in both the adjuvant and metastatic setting. This review provides a comprehensive, updated overview of disease biology and risk stratification, the management of primary disease, options for adjuvant therapy, and the current status of treatment strategies for metastatic disease. PMID:29497459

Letrozole: a review of its use in the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer.

PubMed

Keating, Gillian M

2009-08-20

Letrozole (Femara) is a third-generation, nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Adjuvant therapy with letrozole is more effective than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer, and extended adjuvant therapy with letrozole after the completion of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is more effective than placebo in this patient population; letrozole is generally well tolerated. Ongoing trials will help answer outstanding questions regarding the optimal duration of letrozole therapy in early breast cancer and its efficacy compared with other third-generation aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole. In the meantime, letrozole should be considered a valuable option in the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive early breast cancer, both as adjuvant and extended adjuvant therapy.

Adjuvant treatment with a symbiotic in patients with inflammatory non-allergic rhinitis.

PubMed

Gelardi, M; De Luca, C; Taliente, S; Fiorella, M L; Quaranta, N; Russo, C; Ciofalo, A; Macchi, A; Mancini, M; Rosso, P; Seccia, V; Guagnini, F; Ciprandi, G

2017-01-01

Inflammatory non-allergic rhinitis (INAR) is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate and a non-IgE-mediated pathogenesis. This retrospective, controlled, multicentre study investigated whether a symbiotic, containing Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium lactis, and fructo-oligosaccharides (Pollagen®, Allergy Therapeutics, Italy), prescribed as adjunctive therapy to a standard pharmacological treatment, was able to reduce symptom severity, endoscopic features, and nasal cytology in 93 patients (49 males and 44 females, mean age 36.3±7.1 years) with INAR. The patients were treated with nasal corticosteroid, oral antihistamine, and isotonic saline. At randomization, 52 patients were treated also with symbiotic as adjunctive therapy, whereas the remaining 41 patients served as controls. Treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Patients were visited at baseline, after treatment, and after 4-week follow-up. Adjunctive symbiotic treatment significantly reduced the percentages of patients with symptoms and endoscopic signs, and diminished inflammatory cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that a symbiotic was able, as adjuvant treatment, to significantly improve symptoms, endoscopic feature, and cytology in patients with INAR, and its effect may be long lasting.

Adjuvant therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Meissner, Matthew A; McCormick, Barrett Z; Karam, Jose A; Wood, Christopher G

2018-07-01

Locally advanced, non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is conventionally managed with surgery. However, patients are at a high risk of RCC recurrence and have poor survival outcomes. An effective adjuvant systemic treatment is needed to improve on these outcomes. Targeted molecular and immune-based therapies have been investigated, or are under investigation, but their role in this setting remains unclear. Areas covered: A comprehensive search of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed for relevant literature. The following topics pertinent to adjuvant therapy in RCC were evaluated: strategies for patient selection, cytokine-based immunotherapy, vaccine therapy, VEGF and non-VEGF targeted molecular agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Expert commentary: Strong evidence for the incorporation of adjuvant therapy in high-risk RCC is lacking. Multiple targeted molecular therapies have been examined with only one approved for use. Genetic and molecular-based prognostic models are needed to determine who may benefit from adjuvant therapy. Developing adjuvant therapy strategies in the future depends on the results of important ongoing trials with immunotherapy and targeted agents.

78 FR 8060 - Treatment of Grantor of an Option on a Partnership Interest

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-05

... Treatment of Grantor of an Option on a Partnership Interest AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury... the tax treatment of noncompensatory options and convertible instruments issued by a partnership... with respect to, or a lapse of, an option on a partnership interest. The proposed regulations will...

Preoperative neo-adjuvant therapy for curable rectal cancer--reaching a consensus 2008.

PubMed

Scott, N A; Susnerwala, S; Gollins, S; Myint, A Sun; Levine, E

2009-03-01

Our aim was to determine the range of neo-adjuvant therapy the multidisciplinary team (MDT) currently offers patients with curable (M(0)) rectal cancer. A senior oncologist from each of the four oncology centres in north Wales and the north-west of England (approximate target population 8 million - Glan Clwyd, Clatterbridge, Christie and Preston) reviewed his/her understanding of the current evidence of neo-adjuvant therapy in rectal cancer. Then a representative from each centre was asked to identify which of three neo-adjuvant options (no neo-adjuvant therapy, short-course radiotherapy 25 Gy over five fractions and long-course chemoradiotherapy) he/she would use for a rectal cancer in the upper, middle or lower third of the rectum staged by magnetic resonance imaging as being T(2)-T(4) and/or N(0)-N(2). In all cases of locally advanced rectal cancer (T(3a) N(1)-T(4)), oncologists from the four oncology centres recommended long-course chemoradiotherapy before rectal resection. This consensus was maintained for cases of lower third T(3a) N(0) cancers. Thereafter, the majority of patients with rectal cancer are offered adjuvant short-course radiotherapy. Neo-adjuvant therapy is less likely to be offered if the tumour is early (T(2), N(0)) and/or situated in the upper third of the rectum.

[Post-traumatic arthritis in the young patient : Treatment options before the endoprosthesis].

PubMed

Burkhart, K J; Hollinger, B

2016-10-01

In the young patient, treatment of post-traumatic elbow arthritis remains difficult. Total elbow arthroplasty must be delayed for as long as possible. Therapy starts with nonoperative treatment. If this fails, operative options can be discussed. The aim of surgery is to provide a functional range of motion with acceptable pain without obstructing future treatment options. Patients with pain at terminal extension and/or flexion may benefit from arthroscopic or open debridement. Patients with advanced osteoarthritis and pain throughout the complete range of motion, who are too young for total elbow arthroplasty, are offered interposition arthroplasty or arthrodesis. Arthrodesis of the elbow leads to significant restrictions in daily life due to the complete loss of extension/flexion. Therefore, arthrodesis is only offered as treatment in exceptional circumstances. Interposition arthroplasty is a reasonable option for the young patient without significant bony defects, which may provide a stable, functional flexion arc with an acceptable pain level. Interposition arthroplasty preserves the revision options of re-interposition arthroplasty as well as the withdrawal to total elbow arthroplasty. Partial and total elbow arthroplasty are treatment options of elbow arthritis but are not subjects of this article.

Adjuvant treatment with monosialoganglioside may improve neurological outcomes in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PubMed Central

Sheng, Lei

2017-01-01

Background Ganglioside has a neuroprotective role in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This study aimed to evaluate the neurological outcomes of monosialoganglioside as adjuvant treatment for neonatal HIE by conducting a meta-analysis. Methods A comprehensive literature search was made in the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP databases through October 2016. Randomized controlled trials comparing monosialoganglioside with the usual treatment for newborns having HIE deemed eligible. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for continuous and dichotomous data, respectively. Results Ten trials consisting of 787 neonates were included. Adjuvant treatment with monosialoganglioside significantly reduced major neurodevelopmental disabilities (RR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.21–0.57), cerebral palsy (RR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.12–0.87), mental retardation (RR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.11–0.88) as well as improved the mental (WMD = 14.95; 95% CI = 7.44–22.46) and psychomotive (WMD = 13.40; 95% CI = 6.69–20.11) development index during the follow-up. Also, monosialoganglioside significantly improved Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment scores (WMD = 2.91; 95% CI = 2.05–3.78) compared with the usual treatment. However, adverse effects associated with monosialoganglioside were poorly reported in the included trials. Conclusion Adjuvant treatment with monosialoganglioside had beneficial effects in improving neurological outcomes in neonatal HIE. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of methodological flaws in the included trials. Furthermore, safety of monosialoganglioside use should also be further evaluated. PMID:28832625

Utility of up-front transoral robotic surgery in tailoring adjuvant therapy.

PubMed

Gildener-Leapman, Neil; Kim, Jeehong; Abberbock, Shira; Choby, Garret W; Mandal, Rajarsi; Duvvuri, Umamaheswar; Ferris, Robert L; Kim, Seungwon

2016-08-01

The purpose of this study was to describe how the up-front transoral robotic surgery (TORS) approach could be used to individually tailor adjuvant therapy based on surgical pathology. Between January 2009 and December 2013, 76 patients received TORS for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Clinical predictors of adjuvant therapy were analyzed and comparisons were made between recommended treatment guidelines for up-front surgery versus definitive nonsurgical approaches. Advanced N classification, human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tumor, extracapsular spread (ECS; 26 of 76), perineural invasion (PNI; 14 of 76), and positive margins (7 of 76) were significant predictors of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (p < .05). Up-front TORS deintensified adjuvant therapy; 76% of stage I/II and 46% of stage III/IV patients avoided CRT. Conversely, pathologic staging resulted in 33% of patients who would have received radiotherapy (RT) alone based on clinical staging, to be intensified to receive adjuvant CRT. The TORS approach deintensifies adjuvant therapy and provides valuable pathologic information to intensify treatment in select patients. TORS may be less effective in deintensification of adjuvant therapy in patients with clinically advanced N classification disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1201-1207, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dual HER2 blockade in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer

PubMed Central

Advani, Pooja; Cornell, Lauren; Chumsri, Saranya; Moreno-Aspitia, Alvaro

2015-01-01

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that is overexpressed on the surface of 15%–20% of breast tumors and has been associated with poor prognosis. Consistently improved pathologic response and survival rates have been demonstrated with use of trastuzumab in combination with standard chemotherapy in both early and advanced breast cancer. However, resistance to trastuzumab may pose a major problem in the effective treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Dual HER2 blockade, using agents that work in a complimentary fashion to trastuzumab, has more recently been explored to evade resistance in both the preoperative (neoadjuvant) and adjuvant settings. Increased effectiveness of dual anti-HER2 agents over single blockade has been recently reported in clinical studies. Pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab and taxane is currently approved in the metastatic and neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Various biomarkers have also been investigated to identify subsets of patients with HER2-positive tumors who would likely respond best to these targeted therapy combinations. In this article, available trial data regarding efficacy and toxicity of treatment with combination HER2 agents in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting have been reviewed, and relevant correlative biomarker data from these trials have been discussed. PMID:26451122

Adjuvant bisphosphonate treatment for breast cancer: Where are we heading and can the pre-clinical literature help us get there?

PubMed

Russell, Kent; Clemons, Mark; Costa, Luis; Addison, Christina L

2012-06-01

Bisphosphonates have demonstrated anti-tumour activity in preclinical studies of bone metastatic disease, thus it was natural to transition these agents into the adjuvant cancer therapy setting. Surprisingly, the results of adjuvant breast cancer trials have shown either modest to no benefit or even harm. We sought to explore whether the preclinical results supporting bisphosphonate use provided clues to help explain the current clinical data. Interestingly, the majority of preclinical data suggested that bisphosphonate treatment was more efficacious when administered after the establishment of osseous metastases. This is similar to the findings of one clinical study whereby patients with biopsy evidence of osseous micrometastases derive greater survival benefit from bisphosphonate treatment. Another clinical study found bisphosphonates were associated with increased incidence of visceral metastases, similar to what has been previously published in preclinical models using "preventative" dosing strategies. While the current clinical data suggest bisphosphonates may be more efficacious in post-menopausal or oestrogen depleted patients, or those with hormone receptor positive tumours, to date no appropriately designed preclinical studies have evaluated these effects. Furthermore, putative mechanisms that regulate response to bisphosphonates in other tumour types remain to be evaluated in breast cancer. Despite the initial optimism regarding adjuvant bisphosphonate therapy, the conflicting clinical results from large trials suggest that we should return to the bench to further investigate factors that may influence response to bisphosphonate treatment or identify appropriate characteristics that would indicate the sub-groups of patients most likely to benefit from bisphosphonate treatment.

Probiotics as an adjuvant treatment in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

PubMed

Zhu, Xin Yan; Liu, Fei

2017-04-01

Over 80% of individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are asymptomatic. Increased resistance to antibiotics and decreased compliance to the therapeutic regimens have led to the failure of eradication therapy. Probiotics, with direct and indirect inhibitory effects on H. pylori in both animal models and clinical trials, have recently been used as a supplementary treatment in H. pylori eradication therapy. Probiotics have been considered useful because of the improvements in H. pylori eradication rates and therapy-related side effects although treatment outcomes using probiotics are controversial due to the heterogeneity of species, strains, doses and therapeutic duration of probiotics. Thus, despite the positive role of probiotics, several factors need to be further considered during their applications. Moreover, adverse events of probiotic use need to be noted. Further investigations into the safety of adjuvant probiotics to H. pylori eradication therapy are required. © 2017 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Role of Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Adenocarcinomas of the Ampulla of Vater

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krishnan, Sunil; Rana, Vishal; Evans, Douglas B.

2008-03-01

Purpose: The role of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in the treatment of ampullary cancers remains undefined. We retrospectively compared treatment outcomes in patients treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy alone versus those who received additional adjuvant CRT. Methods and Materials: Between May 1990 and January 2006, 54 of 96 patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma who underwent potentially curative pancreaticoduodenectomy also received adjuvant CRT. The median preoperative radiation dose was 45 Gy (range, 30-50.4 Gy) and median postoperative dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 45-55.8 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy included primarily 5-fluorouracil (52%) and capecitabine (43%). Median follow-up was 31 months. Univariate and multivariate statistical methodologies weremore » used to determine significant prognostic factors for local control (LC), distant control (DC), and overall survival (OS). Results: Actuarial 5-year LC, DC, and OS were 77%, 69%, and 64%, respectively. On univariate analysis, age, gender, race/ethnicity, tumor grade, use of adjuvant treatment, and sequencing of adjuvant therapy were not significantly associated with LC, DC, or OS. However, on univariate analysis, T3/T4 tumor stage was prognostic for poorer LC and OS (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively); node-positive disease was prognostic for poorer LC (p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, T3/T4 tumor stage was independently prognostic for decreased OS (p = 0.002). Among these patients (n = 34), those who received adjuvant CRT had a trend toward improved OS (median, 35.2 vs. 16.5 months; p = 0.06). Conclusions: Ampullary cancers have a distinctly better treatment outcome than pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Higher primary tumor stage (T3/T4), an independent adverse risk factor for poorer treatment outcomes, may warrant the addition of adjuvant CRT to pancreaticoduodenectomy.« less

Clinical utility of gene expression profiling data for clinical decision-making regarding adjuvant therapy in early stage, node-negative breast cancer: a case report.

PubMed

Schuster, Steven R; Pockaj, Barbara A; Bothe, Mary R; David, Paru S; Northfelt, Donald W

2012-09-10

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in the United States with the second highest incidence of cancer-related death following lung cancer. The decision-making process regarding adjuvant therapy is a time intensive dialogue between the patient and her oncologist. There are multiple tools that help individualize the treatment options for a patient. Population-based analysis with Adjuvant! Online and genomic profiling with Oncotype DX are two commonly used tools in patients with early stage, node-negative breast cancer. This case report illustrates a situation in which the population-based prognostic and predictive information differed dramatically from that obtained from genomic profiling and affected the patient's decision. In light of this case, we discuss the benefits and limitations of these tools.

Impact of Oncotype DX breast Recurrence Score testing on adjuvant chemotherapy use in early breast cancer: Real world experience in Greater Manchester, UK.

PubMed

Loncaster, J; Armstrong, A; Howell, S; Wilson, G; Welch, R; Chittalia, A; Valentine, W J; Bundred, N J

2017-05-01

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the Oncotype DX ® Breast Recurrence Score ® (RS) assay as an option for informing adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in node-negative, oestrogen receptor (ER)+, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer assessed to be at intermediate risk of recurrence based on clinicopathological factors. We evaluated the impact of RS testing on adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making in routine clinical practice in a UK Cancer Network. RS testing was performed in 201 females with newly diagnosed, ER+, HER2-negative, invasive breast cancer who underwent breast surgery with curative intent, were calculated to have a >3% overall survival benefit at 10 years from adjuvant chemotherapy based on PREDICT, and were considered for adjuvant chemotherapy. The impact of RS testing on adjuvant treatment decisions/associated cost was assessed. In all patients, the multi-disciplinary team recommended chemotherapy but the RS result allowed 127/201 patients (63.2%) to avoid unnecessary adjuvant chemotherapy. Amongst ER+, HER2-negative, node-negative patients (eligible for Oncotype DX testing in UK guidelines), 60.3% were spared chemotherapy. In node-positive patients, the assay reduced the use of chemotherapy by 69.2%. The use of RS testing to guide treatment in these 201 patients was associated with significant cost saving (when considering the cost of RS testing for all patients plus chemotherapy and its associated cost for 74 patients). Incorporating RS testing into routine clinical practice for selected node-negative and node-positive breast cancer patients significantly reduces the use of chemotherapy (p < 0.001) with its associated morbidity and costs. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer with Lynch Syndrome Who Underwent XELOX Adjuvant Chemotherapy].

PubMed

Takase, Koki; Murata, Kohei; Kagawa, Yoshinori; Nose, Yohei; Kawai, Kenji; Sakamoto, Takuya; Naito, Atsushi; Murakami, Kohei; Katsura, Yoshiteru; Omura, Yoshiaki; Takeno, Atsushi; Nakatsuka, Shinichi; Takeda, Yutaka; Kato, Takeshi; Tamura, Shigeyuki

2018-01-01

Lynch syndrome is an inherited syndrome with the development of the colorectal and various other cancers. Lynch syndrome is caused by mutations in the mismatch repair genes. A 33 year-old male underwent XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy for ascending colon cancer with Lynch syndrome. Although efficacy of 5-FU is not demonstrated in Lynch syndrome, MOSAIC trial had suggested a benefit from FOLFOX compared with 5-FU in patients who have colorectal cancer with Lynch syndrome. Oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy can be a therapeutic option for colorectal cancer in lynch syndrome patients.

Chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for localized gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

PubMed

Girardi, Daniel M; de Lima, Mariana A; Pereira, Gabriel C B; Negrão, Marcelo V; López, Rossana V M; Capareli, Fernanda C; Sabbaga, Jorge; Hoff, Paulo Marcelo G

2018-04-03

Treatment of localized gastric cancer (LGC) consists of surgical resection followed by adjuvant treatment. Both chemoradiation (CRT) and chemotherapy (CT) regimens have shown benefit in survival outcomes versus observation. However, there are few data comparing these approaches. This study included consecutive patients with LGC treated at Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo (ICESP) from 2012 to 2015. CRT was based on the INT-0116 regimen and CT consisted of a platinum and fluoropyrimidine doublet. Treatment choice was based on physician preference. Toxicity was evaluated for every cycle. Overall survival (OS) analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier. A propensity score-matched analysis was performed to minimize selection bias. A total of 309 patients were evaluated, 227 in CRT group and 82 in CT group. The most prevalent grade 3/4 toxicities in CRT and CT groups were: nausea/vomiting (9.25 vs 4.9%), fatigue (9.3% vs 2.4%), mucositis (4.4% vs 1.2%), neutropenia (37.8% vs 20.9%), febrile neutropenia (3.9% vs 0%), anemia (4.3% vs 6.1%), thrombocytopenia (2.6% vs 4.9%), neuropathy (0 vs 2.4%) and hand-foot syndrome (0.4% vs 2.4%). Two grade 5 toxicities (febrile neutropenia and anemia) occurred in CRT group. There was no difference in the pattern of recurrence. After a median follow-up of 23.5 months (CRT) and 20.6 months (CT), there was no difference in OS between groups. CT and CRT present similar efficacy and tolerability as adjuvant treatment for LGC.

Curcuminoids as EBV Lytic Activators for Adjuvant Treatment in EBV-Positive Carcinomas

PubMed Central

Ramayanti, Octavia; Brinkkemper, Mitch; Verkuijlen, Sandra A. W. M.; Ritmaleni, Leni; Go, Mei Lin

2018-01-01

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists in nasopharyngeal (NPC) and gastric carcinomas (EBVaGC) in a tightly latent form. Cytolytic virus activation (CLVA) therapy employs gemcitabine and valproic acid (GCb+VPA) to reactivate latent EBV into the lytic phase and antiviral valganciclovir to enhance cell death and prevent virus production. CLVA treatment has proven safe in phase-I/II trials with promising clinical responses in patients with recurrent NPC. However, a major challenge is to maximize EBV lytic reactivation by CLVA. Curcumin, a dietary spice used in Asian countries, is known for its antitumor property and therapeutic potential. Novel curcuminoids that were developed to increase efficacy and bioavailability may serve as oral CLVA adjuvants. We investigated the potential of curcumin and its analogs (curcuminoids) to trigger the EBV lytic cycle in EBVaGC and NPC cells. EBV-reactivating effects were measured by immunoblot and immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies specific for EBV lytic proteins. Two of the hit compounds (41, EF24) with high lytic inducing activity were further studied for their synergistic or antagonistic effects when combined with GCb+VPA and analyzed by cytotoxicity and mRNA profiling assays to measure the EBV reactivation. Curcuminoid as a single agent significantly induced EBV reactivation in recombinant GC and NPC lines. The drug effects were dose- and time-dependent. Micromolar concentration of curcuminoid EF24 enhanced the CLVA effect in all cell systems except SNU719, a naturally infected EBVaGC cell that carries a more tightly latent viral genome. These findings indicated that EF24 has potential as EBV lytic activator and may serve as an adjuvant in CLVA treatment. PMID:29565326

Curcuminoids as EBV Lytic Activators for Adjuvant Treatment in EBV-Positive Carcinomas.

PubMed

Ramayanti, Octavia; Brinkkemper, Mitch; Verkuijlen, Sandra A W M; Ritmaleni, Leni; Go, Mei Lin; Middeldorp, Jaap M

2018-03-22

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists in nasopharyngeal (NPC) and gastric carcinomas (EBVaGC) in a tightly latent form. Cytolytic virus activation (CLVA) therapy employs gemcitabine and valproic acid (GCb+VPA) to reactivate latent EBV into the lytic phase and antiviral valganciclovir to enhance cell death and prevent virus production. CLVA treatment has proven safe in phase-I/II trials with promising clinical responses in patients with recurrent NPC. However, a major challenge is to maximize EBV lytic reactivation by CLVA. Curcumin, a dietary spice used in Asian countries, is known for its antitumor property and therapeutic potential. Novel curcuminoids that were developed to increase efficacy and bioavailability may serve as oral CLVA adjuvants. We investigated the potential of curcumin and its analogs (curcuminoids) to trigger the EBV lytic cycle in EBVaGC and NPC cells. EBV-reactivating effects were measured by immunoblot and immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies specific for EBV lytic proteins. Two of the hit compounds ( 41 , EF24 ) with high lytic inducing activity were further studied for their synergistic or antagonistic effects when combined with GCb+VPA and analyzed by cytotoxicity and mRNA profiling assays to measure the EBV reactivation. Curcuminoid as a single agent significantly induced EBV reactivation in recombinant GC and NPC lines. The drug effects were dose- and time-dependent. Micromolar concentration of curcuminoid EF24 enhanced the CLVA effect in all cell systems except SNU719, a naturally infected EBVaGC cell that carries a more tightly latent viral genome. These findings indicated that EF24 has potential as EBV lytic activator and may serve as an adjuvant in CLVA treatment.

Cytokine-enhanced vaccine and suicide gene therapy as surgery adjuvant treatments for spontaneous canine melanoma.

PubMed

Finocchiaro, L M E; Glikin, G C

2008-02-01

We evaluated the safety, efficacy and anti-tumor effects of a surgery adjuvant treatment on canine patients with malignant melanoma. This approach combined suicide gene therapy with a subcutaneous vaccine composed by formolized tumor cells and irradiated xenogeneic cells producing human interleukin-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The post-surgical margin of the cavity was infiltrated with lipid-complexed thymidine kinase suicide gene coadministrated with ganciclovir. Toxicity was minimal or absent in all patients. With respect to surgery-treated controls (SC), this combined treatment (CT) significantly increased the fraction of patients local disease-free from 6 to 58% and distant metastases-free from 43 to 78% (Fisher's Exact test). In addition, CT significantly improved both SC overall 78 (23-540) and metastasis-free survival 112 (0-467) days to more than 1312 days (respective ranges: 43-1312 and 0-1312) (Kaplan-Meier analysis). In those patients subjected to partial surgery or presenting local recurrence, the efficacy of CT was verified by a 49% of objective responses that averaged 85% of tumor mass loss, while 22% displayed tumor progression as 94% of SC did. Therefore, surgery adjuvant CT controlled tumor growth, delaying or preventing post-surgical recurrence and distant metastasis, significantly extending survival and recovering the quality of life.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting for treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

PubMed

Garrison, Louis P; Lubeck, Deborah; Lalla, Deepa; Paton, Virginia; Dueck, Amylou; Perez, Edith A

2007-08-01

Adding trastuzumab to adjuvant chemotherapy provides significant clinical benefit in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to assess clinical and economic implications of adding trastuzumab to adjuvant chemotherapy, based upon joint analysis of NSABP B-31 and NCCTG N9831 trials. A Markov model with 4 health states was used to estimate the cost utility for a 50-year-old woman on the basis of trial results through 4 years and estimates of long-term recurrence and death based on a meta-analysis of trials. From 6 years onward, rates of recurrence and death were assumed to be the same in both trastuzumab and chemotherapy-only arms. Incremental costs were estimated for diagnostic and treatment-related costs. Analyses were from payer and societal perspectives, and these analyses were projected to lifetime and 20-year horizons. Over a lifetime, the projected cost of trastuzumab per quality-adjusted life year (QALY; discount rate 3%) gained was 26,417 dollars (range 9,104 dollars-69,340 dollars under multiway sensitivity analysis). Discounted incremental lifetime cost was 44,923 dollars, and projected life expectancy was 3 years longer for patients who received trastuzumab (19.4 years vs 16.4 years). During a 20-year horizon, the projected cost of adding trastuzumab to chemotherapy was 34,201 dollars per QALY gained. Key cost-effectiveness drivers were discount rate, trastuzumab price, and probability of metastasis. The cost-effectiveness result was robust to sensitivity analysis. Trastuzumab for adjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer was projected to be cost effective over a lifetime horizon, achieving a cost-effectiveness ratio below that of many widely accepted oncology treatments. (c) 2007 American Cancer Society.

Integrated treatment options for male perpetrators of intimate partner violence.

PubMed

Crane, Cory A; Easton, Caroline J

2017-01-01

Male-to-female intimate partner violence remains a worldwide public health issue with adverse physical and psychological consequences for victims, perpetrators and children. Personality disorders, addiction, trauma and mood symptoms are established risk factors for intimate partner violence perpetration and factor prominently into a recovery-oriented treatment approach. We reviewed the partner violence literature for detailed reports of traditional as well as innovative, integrated treatment approaches. Empirically based recommendations for intervention programs and the policies that guide intervention efforts are offered. Nascent research suggests that integrated treatment models utilising a holistic approach to account for psychological comorbidity and interventions that involve a motivational interviewing component appear promising in terms of significantly improving intimate partner violence treatment compliance and reducing subsequent acts of physical partner violence. Further, methodologically rigorous research is required to fully assess the benefits of traditional and integrated treatment options. We have advanced several recommendations, including the development of and exclusive reliance upon empirically supported treatments, conducting a thorough risk and needs assessment of the offender and the immediate family to facilitate appropriate treatment referrals, integrating content to foster the offender's internal motivation to change maladaptive behaviours, and attempting to minimise offender treatment burdens through the strategic use of integrated treatment models. Intimate partner violence is a complicated and nuanced problem that is perpetrated by a heterogeneous population and requires greater variability in integrated treatment options. [Crane CA, Easton CJ. Integrated treatment options for male perpetrators of intimate partner violence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:24-33]. © 2017 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

[Adjuvant cryosurgery in the treatment of unicameral bone cysts].

PubMed

Tena-Sanabria, Mario Edgar; Hernández-Hernández, Melissa Jesús; Tena-González, Mario Edgar; Mejía-Aranguré, Juan Manuel

2014-01-01

Multiple treatments have been used for the unicameral bone cyst lesion, such as steroid application, multiple perforations, bone curettages, partial resection and bone grafting. The purpose of this study was to describe the evolution of children with unicameral bone cyst who were treated with cryosurgery as coadjuvant therapy. Cross-sectional descriptive study over the period between January 2001 and December 2006. Twelve patients were studied and treated at the Pediatric Orthopedics Department of the Pediatrics Hospital at the Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI. Twelve patients were analyzed; all of them were treated with curettage, cryotherapy and bone grafting. In 7 patients, the lesions were located in the humerus (58.3 %), in 3 in the tibia (25 %), in 1 in the ilio-ischiopubic branch (8.3 %), and in 1 in the clavicle (8.3 %). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 36 months. Bone healing required 2 to 3 months after the surgery; the response was complete in 9 (75 %) patients and partial in 3 (25 %). Function was restored in all cases, without recurrences. Cryosurgery as an adjuvant treatment and autologous or homologous bone grafting prevented local recurrence of unicameral bone cyst lesions, favored bone healing and allowed for a full range of motion functionality without complications.

Treatment for Problem Drinking: What Are the Options?

MedlinePlus

... Print-friendly page Treatment for Problem Drinking: What Are the Options? Ask someone on the street how ... program or Alcoholics Anonymous. Both of these responses are correct; however, they represent just a sample of ...

Review of Saccharomyces boulardii as a treatment option in IBD.

PubMed

Sivananthan, Kavitha; Petersen, Andreas Munk

2018-05-17

Review of the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii as a treatment option for the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD is caused by an inappropriate immune response to gut microbiota. Treatment options could therefore be prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics and/or fecal transplant. In this review, we have looked at the evidence for the yeast S. boulardii as a treatment option. Searches in PubMed and the Cochrane Library with the MeSH words 'Saccharomyces boulardii AND IBD', 'Saccharomyces boulardii AND Inflammatory Bowel Disease', 'Saccharomyces boulardii AND ulcerative colitis' and 'Saccharomyces boulardii AND Crohn's disease' gave total a total of 80 articles. After exclusions because of irrelevance, articles in other languages and some articles that were not available, 16 articles were included in this review. Three of the clinical trials showed a positive effect of S. boulardii in IBD patients (two Crohn's disease, one ulcerative colitis), while there was one trial that didn't prove any effect (Crohn's disease). Included Animal trials and cell assays describes different anti-inflammatory mechanisms of S. boulardii supporting a possible effect when treating IBD patients. The number of studies of S. boulardii as treatment for IBD is limited. Furthermore, the existing trials have small populations and short duration. We do not have enough evidence to prove the effect of S. boulardii in IBD. Saccharomyces boulardii is, however, a plausible treatment option in the future, but more placebo-controlled clinical studies on both patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are needed.

Adjuvant therapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

PubMed

Serke, Monika

2010-01-01

Evidence clearly supports adjuvant chemotherapy following resection in patients with stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on 3 landmark studies, adjuvant chemotherapy has become standard in completely resected NSCLC stage II and IIIA. Survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy is estimated to be between 3% and 15%, depending on stage. Treatment should include 4 cycles of platinum-based combination chemotherapy. There is uncertainty about chemotherapy prescription in those patients with resected stage IB NSCLC, as the risk of recurrence is lower in early NSCLC and the magnitude of benefit of adjuvant therapy is proportional to the risk of relapse according to stage. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) should not be used for stage I or II NSCLC, and remains controversial in resected stage IIIA (N2) disease. All positive adjuvant trials have utilized a cisplatin-based regimen, usually in combination with vinorelbine, and this should be considered the standard approach. Prognostic factors to select patients who will benefit from adjuvant therapy in general or from platinum-based chemotherapy are under discussion, but not yet established. In future we hope to optimize treatment convenience for the patients by using other combinations with the hope of better efficacy results. Work is currently under way to identify prognostic factors which in future may help to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Surgical Treatment as a First Option of the Lower Eyelid Xanthelasma.

PubMed

Obradovic, Bojan

2017-10-01

Xanthelasma palpebrarum represents yellowish plaques, which mostly appear near the inner cantus of the eyelid. In most patients, cosmetic reasons are the main purpose for their removal.The author presents a patient with a lower eyelid xanthelasma where surgical excision was used as a first treatment option. Cosmetic reasons, fast recovery, and possibility of a 1-stage procedure were the main requests of the patient for the removal of xanthelasma. Treatment and postrecovery period were routine.In the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum of the lower eyelids, it is necessary to consider surgical excision as a first treatment option.

Adjuvant therapy for resected colon cancer 2017, including the IDEA analysis.

PubMed

Tang, Monica; Price, Timothy Jay; Shapiro, Jeremy; Gibbs, Peter; Haller, Daniel G; Arnold, Dirk; Peeters, Marc; Segelov, Eva; Roy, Amitesh; Tebbutt, Niall; Pavlakis, Nick; Karapetis, Chris; Burge, Matthew

2018-04-01

Oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard of care for resected early colon cancer for over a decade. Recent results from the IDEA meta-analysis attempt to address the question of whether 3 or 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy is preferable in Stage III colon cancer. Areas covered: A review of the literature and recent conference presentations was undertaken on the topic of adjuvant therapy for resected early colon cancers. This article reviews the current evidence for adjuvant treatment of Stage II and III colon cancer, as well as up-to-date data regarding optimal duration of therapy. This article reviews the evidence for lifestyle modifications in the management of early colorectal cancer and other future directions for research in early colon cancer. Expert commentary: In recent years, there have been no advances in the development of novel agents for adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer. Although the IDEA meta-analysis was negative for its primary non-inferiority endpoint, the detailed results provide valuable information that allows personalisation of treatment regimen and duration.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients: patients' expectations and physicians' attitudes.

PubMed

Barak, Frida; Ostrowsky, Lev A; Kreitler, Shulamith

2012-06-01

Findings show that there is a certain degree of refusal on the part of breast cancer patients to undergo adjuvant therapy. Accordingly, the major goals of the study were, first, to learn more about the beliefs of breast cancer patients in regard to adjuvant therapy; second, to find out about the sources of the patients' beliefs; and third, to learn about the attitudes of oncologists concerning the same aspects of adjuvant therapy to which the patients' beliefs referred. The participants were 92 breast cancer patients (mean age 61.2) and 57 doctors of both genders specialized in oncology or affiliated domains. Both groups were administered questionnaires referring to goals of adjuvant treatment, the chances of attaining these goals, side effects, and difficulty of the treatment. Doctors were specifically asked about the views they thought proper to communicate to patients in regard to the mentioned issues. Patients were also asked about whether they had doubts about the treatment and sources of information. The findings showed disparities between the views of patients and doctors in regard to goals, chances of attainment, side effects, and difficulty of treatment. Patients endorsed more goals than doctors and tended to assign to them lower chances of attainment. Doctors were divided in their views about whether to communicate the side effects and difficulties. The results reveal the importance of outlining goals for patients undergoing adjuvant treatment and the disagreements between doctors about what should be communicated to patients, and highlight the complexity of providing to patients information that is both scientifically correct and emotionally helpful.

Semiconductor diode laser device adjuvanting intradermal vaccine

PubMed Central

Kimizuka, Yoshifumi; Callahan, John J.; Huang, Zilong; Morse, Kaitlyn; Katagiri, Wataru; Shigeta, Ayako; Bronson, Roderick; Takeuchi, Shu; Shimaoka, Yusuke; Chan, Megan P. K.; Zeng, Yang; Li, Binghao; Chen, Huabiao; Tan, Rhea Y. Y.; Dwyer, Conor; Mulley, Tyler; Leblanc, Pierre; Goudie, Calum; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Tsukada, Kosuke; Brauns, Timothy; Poznansky, Mark C.; Bean, David; Kashiwagi, Satoshi

2017-01-01

A brief exposure of skin to a low-power, non-tissue damaging laser light has been demonstrated to augment immune responses to intradermal vaccination. Both preclinical and clinical studies show that this approach is simple, effective, safe and well tolerated compared to standard chemical or biological adjuvants. Until now, these laser exposures have been performed using a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) devices, which are expensive and require labor-intensive maintenance and special training. Development of an inexpensive, easy-to-use and small device would form an important step in translating this technology toward clinical application Here we report that we have established a handheld, near-infrared (NIR) laser device using semiconductor diodes emitting either 1061, 1258, or 1301 nm light that costs less than $4,000, and that this device replicates the adjuvant effect of a DPSSL system in a mouse model of influenza vaccination. Our results also indicate that a broader range of NIR laser wavelengths possess the ability to enhance vaccine immune responses, allowing engineering options for the device design. This small, low-cost device establishes the feasibility of using a laser adjuvant approach for mass-vaccination programs in a clinical setting, opens the door for broader testing of this technology with a variety of vaccines and forms the foundation for development of devices ready for use in the clinic. PMID:28365253

Semiconductor diode laser device adjuvanting intradermal vaccine.

PubMed

Kimizuka, Yoshifumi; Callahan, John J; Huang, Zilong; Morse, Kaitlyn; Katagiri, Wataru; Shigeta, Ayako; Bronson, Roderick; Takeuchi, Shu; Shimaoka, Yusuke; Chan, Megan P K; Zeng, Yang; Li, Binghao; Chen, Huabiao; Tan, Rhea Y Y; Dwyer, Conor; Mulley, Tyler; Leblanc, Pierre; Goudie, Calum; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Tsukada, Kosuke; Brauns, Timothy; Poznansky, Mark C; Bean, David; Kashiwagi, Satoshi

2017-04-25

A brief exposure of skin to a low-power, non-tissue damaging laser light has been demonstrated to augment immune responses to intradermal vaccination. Both preclinical and clinical studies show that this approach is simple, effective, safe and well tolerated compared to standard chemical or biological adjuvants. Until now, these laser exposures have been performed using a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) devices, which are expensive and require labor-intensive maintenance and special training. Development of an inexpensive, easy-to-use and small device would form an important step in translating this technology toward clinical application. Here we report that we have established a handheld, near-infrared (NIR) laser device using semiconductor diodes emitting either 1061, 1258, or 1301nm light that costs less than $4000, and that this device replicates the adjuvant effect of a DPSSL system in a mouse model of influenza vaccination. Our results also indicate that a broader range of NIR laser wavelengths possess the ability to enhance vaccine immune responses, allowing engineering options for the device design. This small, low-cost device establishes the feasibility of using a laser adjuvant approach for mass-vaccination programs in a clinical setting, opens the door for broader testing of this technology with a variety of vaccines and forms the foundation for development of devices ready for use in the clinic. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Plant Sterols as Dietary Adjuvants in the Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk: Theory and Evidence

PubMed Central

Patch, Craig S; Tapsell, Linda C; Williams, Peter G; Gordon, Michelle

2006-01-01

Plant sterol-enriched foods are an effective dietary adjuvant in reducing cardiovascular risk by lowering total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in serum by up to ∼15%. The mechanism of action of plant sterols is different from those of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors (statins) and thus their effect is additive. Combining plant sterols with other dietary components known to reduce cholesterol in a portfolio approach has proven to be most effective for reduction of hypercholesterolemia and provide an alternative treatment option for clinicians. Plant sterol-enriched foods provides clinicians with a relatively cheap, safe, and effective way to help patients manage their cardiovascular risk. PMID:17319460

Treatment Options for the Cardinal Symptoms of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

PubMed Central

Tourian, Leon; LeBoeuf, Amélie; Breton, Jean-Jacques; Cohen, David; Gignac, Martin; Labelle, Réal; Guile, Jean-Marc; Renaud, Johanne

2015-01-01

Objective: DSM-5 has added a new developmentally appropriate child and adolescent mood disorder subtype called disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). The core features of DMDD are temper outbursts (manifested by either verbal rages and/or physical aggression) and unrelenting irritability or anger. Currently, the literature is lacking a thorough review of the possible treatment options for the cardinal symptoms constituting DMDD. The objective of this article is to provide a thorough review of peer-reviewed studies on the subject of pharmacological treatment options for children and adolescents with the cardinal symptoms of DMDD. Methods: Relevant articles for this study were obtained through Pubmed, Medline, PsychINFO and PsychINDEXplus using the key words: “adolescents,” “children,” “paediatric,” “youth,” “irritability,” “temper outbursts,” “aggression,” “rage,” “disruptive behaviour,” “treatment,” “dysphoria,” “autism,” “mental retardation/intellectual disability,” “impulsivity,” “ADHD,” “oppositional defiant disorder,” and “conduct disorder.” A total of 823 studies were generated; only English studies focusing on pharmacological treatment were retained. Results: Currently there are no established guidelines or thorough reviews summarizing the treatment of DMDD. Pharmacotherapeutic treatment options of both aggression and chronic irritability include: antidepressants/selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, mood stabilizers, psychostimulants, antipsychotics, and alpha-2 agonists. Conclusion: Treatment options of severe, persistent irritability in youth are numerous, and a consensual treatment algorithm has not yet emerged from the literature. Further studies and clinical trials are warranted to determine efficacious and safe treatment modalities. PMID:26336379

A Protocol-Based Decision for Choosing a Proper Surgical Treatment Option for Carotid Artery Stenosis.

PubMed

Jang, E-Wook; Chung, Joonho; Seo, Kwon-Duk; Suh, Sang Hyun; Kim, Yong Bae; Lee, Kyung-Yul

2015-06-01

There are two established surgical treatment options for carotid artery stenosis. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been accepted as a gold standard for surgical treatment while carotid artery stenting (CAS) has recently become an alternative option. Each treatment option has advantages and disadvantages for the treatment outcomes. We propose a protocol for selection of a proper surgical treatment option for carotid artery stenosis. A total of 192 published articles on management of carotid artery stenosis were reviewed. Preoperatively considerable factors which had been repeatedly noted in those articles for the risk/benefits of CEA or CAS were selected. According to those factors, a protocol with four categories was established. CEA or CAS is indicated when the patient has a symptomatic stenosis ≥ 50%, or when the patient has an asymptomatic stenosis ≥ 80%. Each treatment option has absolute indications and favorable indications. Each absolute indication is scored with three points, and each favorable indication, one point. Based on the highest scores, a proper treatment option (CEA or CAS) is selected. We have been treating patients according to this protocol and evaluating the outcomes of our protocol-based decision because this protocol might be helpful in assessment of risk/benefit for selection of a proper surgical treatment option in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Parents’ Online Portrayals of Pediatric Treatment and Research Options

PubMed Central

Schaffer, Rebecca; Henderson, Gail E.; Churchill, Larry R.; King, Nancy M. P.; Rothschild, Barbra B.; Lohser, Sara; Davis, Arlene M.

2012-01-01

Parents of seriously ill children face difficult decisions when standard therapies are limited or ineffective. In their search for information, they may turn to websites created by other parents facing similar experiences. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 21 websites created by families with children affected by cancer or genetic disease, two serious conditions with a range of treatment and clinical trial options. Our research questions address how parent authors portray serious pediatric illness, available options, parties to decision making, and sources of influence. In addition, we examine what these sites reveal about family vulnerability to various risks, particularly the risk of misunderstanding the distinction between standard treatment and research and the risk of overestimating the likely benefits of research participation, as well as whether vulnerability varies by type of condition. Our results demonstrate typically favorable views on research, but with inadequate distinctions between research and treatment and a complex set of trade-offs in consideration of research risks and potential benefits. While portraits of vulnerability emerge for both parents and children, so do portraits of strength and resilience. As a result, parents describe frustration with both under- and over-protection from research participation. Our discussion of these findings clarifies the potential for parent-authored websites to inform and influence families considering research and treatment options for their seriously ill children. PMID:19754237

How do surgeons decide to refer patients for adjuvant cancer treatment? Protocol for a qualitative study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer are commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada. Patients diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung, breast, or colorectal cancer represent potentially curable populations. For these patients, surgery is the primary mode of treatment, with (neo)adjuvant therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy) recommended according to disease stage. Data from our research in Nova Scotia, as well as others’, demonstrate that a substantial proportion of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer patients, for whom practice guidelines recommend (neo)adjuvant therapy, are not referred for an oncologist consultation. Conversely, surveillance data and clinical experience suggest that breast cancer patients have much higher referral rates. Since surgery is the primary treatment, the surgeon plays a major role in referring patients to oncologists. Thus, an improved understanding of how surgeons make decisions related to oncology services is important to developing strategies to optimize referral rates. Few studies have examined decision making for (neo)adjuvant therapy from the perspective of the cancer surgeon. This study will use qualitative methods to examine decision-making processes related to referral to oncology services for individuals diagnosed with potentially curable non-small cell lung, breast, or colorectal cancer. Methods A qualitative study will be conducted, guided by the principles of grounded theory. The study design is informed by our ongoing research, as well as a model of access to health services. The method of data collection will be in-depth, semi structured interviews. We will attempt to recruit all lung, breast, and/or colorectal cancer surgeons in Nova Scotia (n ≈ 42), with the aim of interviewing a minimum of 34 surgeons. Interviews will be audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data will be collected and analyzed concurrently, with two investigators independently coding

[Efficacy of racecadotril vs. smectite, probiotics or zinc as an integral part of treatment of acute diarrhea in children under five years: A meta-analysis of multiple treatments].

PubMed

Gutiérrez-Castrellón, Pedro; Ortíz-Hernández, Anna Alejandra; Llamosas-Gallardo, Beatriz; Acosta-Bastidas, Mario A; Jiménez-Gutiérrez, Carlos; Diaz-García, Luisa; Anzo-Osorio, Anahí; Estevez-Jiménez, Juliana; Jiménez-Escobar, Irma; Vidal-Vázquez, Rosa Patricia

2015-01-01

Despite major advances in treatment, acute diarrhea continues to be a public health problem in children under five years. There is no systematic approach to treatment and most evidence is assembled comparing active treatment vs. placebo. Systematic review of evidence on efficacy of adjuvants for treatment of acute diarrhea through a network meta-analysis. A systematic search of multiple databases searching clinical trials related to the use of racecadotril, smectite, Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus reuteri, Saccharomyces boulardii and zinc as adjuvants in acute diarrhea was done. The primary endpoint was duration of diarrhea. Information is displayed through network meta-analysis.The superiority of each coadjutant was analyzed by Sucra approach. Network meta-analysis showed race cadotril was better when compared with placebo and other adjuvants. Sucra analysis showed racecadotril as the first option followed by smectite and Lactobacillus reuteri. Considering a strategic decision making approach, network meta-analysis allows us to establish the therapeutic superiority of racecadotril as an adjunct for the comprehensive management of acute diarrhea in children aged less than five years.

A comparative review of the options for treatment of erectile dysfunction: which treatment for which patient?

PubMed

Hatzimouratidis, Konstantinos; Hatzichristou, Dimitrios G

2005-01-01

The field of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been revolutionised over the last two decades. Several treatment options are available today, most of which are associated with high efficacy rates and favourable safety profiles. A MEDLINE search was undertaken in order to evaluate all currently available data on treatment modalities for ED. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) are currently the first-choice of most physicians and patients for the treatment of ED. PDE5 inhibitors have differences in their pharmacological profiles, the most obvious being the long duration of action of tadalafil, but there are no data supporting superiority for any one of them in terms of efficacy or safety. Sublingual apomorphine has limited efficacy compared with the PDE5 inhibitors, and its use is limited to patients with mild ED. Treatment failures with oral drugs may be due to medication, clinician and patient issues. The physician needs to address all of these issues in order to identify true treatment failures. Patients who are truly unresponsive to oral drugs may be offered other treatment options.Intracavernous injections of alprostadil alone, or in combination with other vasoactive agents (papaverine and phentolamine), remain an excellent treatment option, with proven efficacy and safety over time. Topical pharmacotherapy is appealing in nature, but currently available formulations have limited efficacy. Vacuum constriction devices may be offered mainly to elderly patients with occasional intercourse attempts, as younger patients show limited preference because of the unnatural erection that is associated with this treatment modality. Penile prostheses are generally the last treatment option offered, because of invasiveness, cost and non-reversibility; however, they are associated with high satisfaction rates in properly selected patients. All treatment options are associated with particular strengths and weaknesses. A patient

17 CFR 30.7 - Treatment of foreign futures or foreign options secured amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION FOREIGN FUTURES AND FOREIGN OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS § 30.7 Treatment of foreign futures or foreign options secured amount. (a) Except as provided in this section, a futures commission... options customers denominated as the foreign futures or foreign options secured amount. Such money...

Treatment Options for Narcolepsy.

PubMed

Barateau, Lucie; Lopez, Régis; Dauvilliers, Yves

2016-05-01

Narcolepsy type 1 and narcolepsy type 2 are central disorders of hypersomnolence. Narcolepsy type 1 is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy and is associated with hypocretin-1 deficiency. On the other hand, in narcolepsy type 2, cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1 levels are normal and cataplexy absent. Despite major advances in our understanding of narcolepsy mechanisms, its current management is only symptomatic. Treatment options may vary from a single drug that targets several symptoms, or multiple medications that each treats a specific symptom. In recent years, narcolepsy treatment has changed with the widespread use of modafinil/armodafinil for daytime sleepiness, antidepressants (selective serotonin and dual serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors) for cataplexy, and sodium oxybate for both symptoms. Other psychostimulants can also be used, such as methylphenidate, pitolisant and rarely amphetamines, as third-line therapy. Importantly, clinically relevant subjective and objective measures of daytime sleepiness are required to monitor the treatment efficacy and to provide guidance on whether the treatment goals are met. Associated symptoms and comorbid conditions, such as hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, disturbed nighttime sleep, unpleasant dreams, REM- and non REM-related parasomnias, depressive symptoms, overweight/obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea, should also be taken into account and managed, if required. In the near future, the efficacy of new wake-promoting drugs, anticataplectic agents, hypocretin replacement therapy and immunotherapy at the early stages of the disease should also be evaluated.

Adjuvant interferon-α for the treatment of high-risk melanoma: An individual patient data meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ives, Natalie J; Suciu, Stefan; Eggermont, Alexander M M; Kirkwood, John; Lorigan, Paul; Markovic, Svetomir N; Garbe, Claus; Wheatley, Keith

2017-09-01

Many randomised trials assessing interferon-α (IFN-α) as adjuvant therapy for high-risk malignant melanoma have been undertaken. To better assess the role of IFN-α, an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of these trials was undertaken. IPD was sought from all randomised trials of adjuvant IFN-α versus no IFN-α for high-risk melanoma. Primary outcomes were event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Standard methods for quantitative IPD meta-analysis were used. Subgroup analyses by dose, duration of treatment and various patient and disease-specific parameters were performed. Fifteen trials were included in the analysis (eleven with IPD). EFS was significantly improved with IFN-α (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, CI 0.81-0.91; P < 0.00001), as was OS (HR = 0.90, CI 0.85-0.97; P = 0.003). The absolute differences in EFS at 5 and 10 years were 3.5% and 2.7%, and for OS were 3.0% and 2.8% respectively in favour of IFN-α. There was no evidence that the benefit of IFN-α differed depending on dose or duration of treatment, or by age, gender, site of primary tumour, disease stage, Breslow thickness, or presence of clinical nodes. Only for ulceration was there evidence of an interaction (test for heterogeneity: P = 0.04 for EFS; P = 0.002 for OS); only patients with ulcerated tumours appeared to obtain benefit from IFN-α. This meta-analysis provides clear evidence that adjuvant IFN-α significantly reduces the risk of relapse and improves survival and shows no benefit for higher doses compared to lower doses. The increased benefit in patients with ulcerated tumours, and lack of benefit in patients without ulceration, needs further investigation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hypochondriasis: treatment options for a diagnostic quagmire.

PubMed

Starcevic, Vladan

2015-08-01

This article presents the conceptual and diagnostic conundrums surrounding hypochondriasis and reviews current treatment options for this disorder. The removal of hypochondriasis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and its replacement with two new diagnostic entities have been controversial. It appears that the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases will take a more cautious approach and emphasise the links between hypochondriasis, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders. The cornerstone of any treatment approach to hypochondriasis is establishing a good therapeutic relationship with the patient. Psychological treatments, especially cognitive-behavioural therapy, have been more useful than pharmacotherapy, but there is much room for improving treatment outcomes. © The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.

Selection of appropriate treatment options for hand fractures.

PubMed

Sammer, Douglas M; Husain, Tarik; Ramirez, Rey

2013-11-01

Selecting the appropriate treatment method for hand fractures is challenging due to the wide spectrum of presentation and the enormous array of surgical and nonoperative treatment options. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence to help guide decision making is not of high quality. Because of this, the surgeon must rely on a few basic principles to guide treatment. This article provides an overview of the scientific evidence, and discusses the principles and rationale used to treat hand fractures. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental Treatment Options in Absence Epilepsy.

PubMed

Luijtelaar, Gilles van; Zobeiri, Mehrnoush; Lüttjohann, Annika; Depaulis, Antoine

2017-01-01

The benign character of absence epilepsy compared to other genetic generalized epilepsy syndromes has often hampered the search for new treatment options. Absence epilepsy is most often treated with ethosuximide or valproic acid. However, both drugs are not always well tolerated or fail, and seizure freedom for a larger proportion of patients remains to be achieved. The availability of genuine animal models of epilepsy does allow to search for new treatment options not only for absence epilepsy per se but also for other genetic - previously called idiopathic - forms of epilepsy. The recent discovery of a highly excitable cortical zone in these models is considered as a new therapeutic target area. Here, we provide an overview regarding the search for new therapeutical options as has been investigated in the genetic rodent models (mainly WAG/Rij and GAERS) including drugs and whether antiepileptogenesis can be achieved, various types of electrical and optogenetical invasive stimulations, different types of noninvasive stimulation and finally whether absence seizures can be predicted and prevented. Many factors determine either the cortical and or thalamic excitability or the interaction between cortex and thalamus and offer new possibilities for new anti-absence drugs, among others metabotropic glutamatergic positive and negative allosteric modulators. The inhibition of epileptogenesis by various drugs with its widespread consequences seems feasible, although its mechanisms remain obscure and seems different from the antiabsence action. Surgical intervention on the cortical zone initiating seizures, either with radiosurgery using synchrotron- generated microbeams, or ablation techniques might reduce spike-and-wave discharges in the rodent models. High frequency electrical subcortical or cortical stimulation might be a good way to abort ongoing spikeand- wave discharges. In addition, possibilities for prevention with real-time EEG analyses in combination with

Adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma: does higher risk for recurrence improve the chance for success?

PubMed

Figlin, R A; Leibovich, B C; Stewart, G D; Negrier, S

2018-02-01

The success of targeted therapies, including inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway or the mammalian target of rapamycin, in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma led to interest in testing their efficacy in the adjuvant setting. Results from the first trials are now available, with other studies due to report imminently. This review provides an overview of adjuvant targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma, including interpretation of currently available conflicting data and future direction of research. We discuss the key differences between the completed targeted therapy adjuvant trials, and highlight the importance of accurately identifying patients who are likely to benefit from adjuvant treatment. We also consider reasons why blinded independent radiology review and treatment dose may prove critical for adjuvant treatment success. The implications of using disease-free survival as a surrogate end point for overall survival from the patient perspective and measurement of health benefit have recently been brought into focus and are discussed. Finally, we discuss how the ongoing adjuvant trials with targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors may improve our understanding and ability to prevent tumor recurrence after nephrectomy in the future.

Endoresection with adjuvant ruthenium brachytherapy for selected uveal melanoma patients - the Tuebingen experience.

PubMed

Süsskind, Daniela; Dürr, Carina; Paulsen, Frank; Kaulich, Theodor; Bartz-Schmidt, Karl U

2017-12-01

To evaluate the treatment of selected patients with uveal melanoma with endoresection and adjuvant ruthenium brachytherapy. Thirty-five patients with uveal melanoma not suitable for ruthenium plaque monotherapy were treated with endoresection and adjuvant ruthenium brachytherapy between January 2001 and October 2013. Recurrence-free survival, globe retention, course of visual acuity (VA), occurrence of therapy-related complications and metastasis-free and overall survival were analysed retrospectively. Eight patients (22.9%) had a tumour recurrence after a median follow-up of 49.5 months (range: 21-134 months). Enucleation was necessary in eight patients. Thirty-two patients (91%) had a loss of VA with a median loss of nine lines (range: 0 to -39 lines); VA was stable in three patients and no patients had a gain in VA. Four patients (11.4%) developed radiation retinopathy. Metastases were detected in seven patients (20.0%) during follow-up. The occurrence of metastasis was significantly associated with monosomy 3 (p < 0.0001). Twenty-four patients (68.6%) were alive at the end of follow-up. Five patients (14.3%) died because of uveal melanoma (UM) metastasis. Endoresection with adjuvant ruthenium brachytherapy is an option for selected patients with UM who cannot be treated with brachytherapy as monotherapy. About two-thirds of eyes can be retained long term without recurrences. Visual acuity cannot be maintained in most cases, and may even decrease considerably. Radiation complications are comparatively rare and not a significant problem. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

How often parametrial involvement leads to post-operative adjuvant treatment in locally advanced cervical cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and type C radical hysterectomy?

PubMed

Martinelli, F; Bogani, G; Ditto, A; Carcangiu, M; Papadia, A; Lecce, F; Chiappa, V; Lorusso, D; Raspagliesi, F

2015-08-01

Parametrial involvement (PMI) is one of the most important factors influencing prognosis in locally advanced stage cervical cancer (LACC) patients. We aimed to evaluate PMI rate among LACC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), thus evaluating the utility of parametrectomy in tailor adjuvant treatments. Retrospective evaluation of consecutive 275 patients affected by LACC (IB2-IIB), undergoing NACT followed by type C/class III radical hysterectomy. Basic descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate analyses were applied in order to identify factors predicting PMI. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox models. PMI was detected in 37 (13%) patients: it was associated with vaginal involvement, lymph node positivity and both in 10 (4%), 5 (2%) and 12 (4%) patients, respectively; while PMI alone was observed in only 10 (4%) patients. Among this latter group, adjuvant treatment was delivered in 3 (1%) patients on the basis of pure PMI; while the remaining patients had other characteristics driving adjuvant treatment. Considering factors predicting PMI we observed that only suboptimal pathological responses (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.22) and vaginal involvement (OR: 1.29 (95%) CI: 1.17, 1.44) were independently associated with PMI. PMI did not correlate with survival (HR: 2.0; 95% CI: 0.82, 4.89); while clinical response to NACT (HR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.59, 7.04), vaginal involvement (HR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.02) and lymph nodes positivity (HR: 3.47; 95% CI: 1.62, 7.41), independently correlated with worse survival outcomes. Our data suggest that PMI had a limited role on the choice to administer adjuvant treatment, thus supporting the potential embrace of less radical surgery in LACC patients undergoing NACT. Further prospective studies are warranted. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adjuvant Treatment after Surgery in Stage IIIA Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

PubMed Central

Yoon, Mee Sun; Huh, Seung Jae; Kim, Hak Jae; Kim, Young Seok; Kim, Yong Bae; Kim, Joo-Young; Lee, Jong-Hoon; Kim, Hun Jung; Cha, Jihye; Kim, Jin Hee; Kim, Juree; Yoon, Won Sup; Choi, Jin Hwa; Chun, Mison; Choi, Youngmin; Lee, Kang Kyoo; Kim, Myungsoo; Jeong, Jae-Uk; Chang, Sei Kyung; Park, Won

2016-01-01

Purpose We evaluated the role of adjuvant therapy in stage IIIA endometrioid adenocarcinoma patients who underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy (RT) alone or chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) according to risk group. Materials and Methods A multicenter retrospective study was conducted including patients with surgical stage IIIA endometrial cancertreated by radical surgery and adjuvant RT or CTRT. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results Ninety-three patients with stage IIIA disease were identified. Nineteen patients (20.4%) experienced recurrence, mostly distant metastasis (17.2%). Combined CTRT did not affect DFS (74.1% vs. 82.4%, p=0.130) or OS (96.3% vs. 91.9%, p=0.262) in stage IIIA disease compared with RT alone. Patients with age ≥ 60 years, grade G2/3, and lymphovascular space involvement had a significantly worse DFS and those variables were defined as risk factors. The high-risk group showed a significant reduction in 5-year DFS (≥ 2 risk factors) (49.0% vs. 88.0%, p < 0.001) compared with the low-risk group (< 2). Multivariate analysis confirmed that more than one risk factor was the only predictor of worse DFS (hazard ratio, 5.45; 95% confidence interval, 2.12 to 13.98; p < 0.001). Of patients with no risk factors, a subset treated with RT alone showed an excellent 5-year DFS and OS (93.8% and 100%, respectively). Conclusion We identified a low-risk subset of stage IIIA endometrioid adenocarcinoma patients who might be reasonable candidates for adjuvant RT alone. Further randomized studies are needed to determine which subset might benefit from combined CTRT. PMID:26511800

Efficacy of temozolomide as adjuvant chemotherapy after postsurgical radiotherapy alone for glioblastomas.

PubMed

Rhee, Deok-Joo; Kong, Doo-Sik; Kim, Won Seog; Park, Kwon-Byong; Lee, Jung-Il; Suh, Yeon-Lim; Song, Sang Young; Kim, Sung Tae; Lim, Do-Hoon; Park, Kwan; Kim, Jong Hyun; Nam, Do-Hyun

2009-11-01

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of adjuvant TMZ chemotherapy for newly diagnosed GBM patients who were treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy alone. Between January 2003 and April 2005, 59 consecutive GBM patients underwent radiation therapy after surgical resection and subsequently received TMZ chemotherapy. For the comparative analysis, we selected 60 clinically matched GBM patients who underwent radiotherapy followed by nitrosourea-based chemotherapy (NUBC), at the same institution between June 1995 and April 2005. The study cohort was divided into two groups, those with adjuvant TMZ treatment and with NUBC. 59 patients with adjuvant TMZ treatment were assigned to the treatment group and 60 patients with NUBC to the control group. The median overall survival for the treatment group was 18.2 months (95% CI, 11.7-24.7 months), compared with the survival of 14.5 months (95% CI, 11.2-17.7 months) for the control group (p=0.019). The progression-free survival for the treatment group was 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.4-6.7 months), while the control group showed progression-free survival of 3.3 months (95% CT, 3.2-6.0 months) (p=0.030). Uni- and multivariate analysis revealed that extent of surgical resection, age > or =55 years and postoperative KPS were significantly associated with survival. Adjuvant TMZ chemotherapy provided a clinically relevant benefit of survival, as compared with NUBC. Thus, we suggest that adjuvant TMZ chemotherapy may be effective even for patients who did not receive concomitant chemoradiotherapy for GBM.

The cost-effectiveness of temozolomide in the adjuvant treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in the United States

PubMed Central

Messali, Andrew; Hay, Joel W.; Villacorta, Reginald

2013-01-01

Background The objective of this work was to determine the cost-effectiveness of temozolomide compared with that of radiotherapy alone in the adjuvant treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Temozolomide is the only chemotherapeutic agent to have demonstrated a significant survival benefit in a randomized clinical trial. Our analysis builds on earlier work by incorporating caregiver time costs and generic temozolomide availability. It is also the first analysis applicable to the US context. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to collect relevant data. Transition probabilities were calculated from randomized controlled trial data comparing temozolomide plus radiotherapy with radiotherapy alone. Direct costs were calculated from charges reported by the Mayo Clinic. Utilities were obtained from a previous cost-utility analysis. Using these data, a Markov model with a 1-month cycle length and 5-year time horizon was constructed. Results The addition of brand Temodar and generic temozolomide to the standard radiotherapy regimen was associated with base-case incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $102 364 and $8875, respectively, per quality-adjusted life-year. The model was most sensitive to the progression-free survival associated with the use of only radiotherapy. Conclusions Both the brand and generic base-case estimates are cost-effective under a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150 000 per quality-adjusted life-year. All 1-way sensitivity analyses produced incremental cost-effectiveness ratios below this threshold. We conclude that both the brand Temodar and generic temozolomide are cost-effective treatments for newly diagnosed glioblastoma within the US context. However, assuming that the generic product produces equivalent quality of life and survival benefits, it would be significantly more cost-effective than the brand option. PMID:23935155

Current status in the treatment options for esophageal achalasia

PubMed Central

Chuah, Seng-Kee; Chiu, Chien-Hua; Tai, Wei-Chen; Lee, Jyong-Hong; Lu, Hung-I; Changchien, Chi-Sin; Tseng, Ping-Huei; Wu, Keng-Liang

2013-01-01

Recent advances in the treatment of achalasia include the use of high-resolution manometry to predict the outcome of patients and the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The first multicenter randomized, controlled, 2-year follow-up study conducted by the European Achalasia Trial group indicated that laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) was not superior to pneumatic dilations (PD). Publications on the long-term success of laparoscopic surgery continue to emerge. In addition, laparoscopic single-site surgery is applicable to advanced laparoscopic operations such as LHM and anterior fundoplication. The optimal treatment option is an ongoing matter of debate. In this review, we provide an update of the current progress in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. Unless new conclusive data prove otherwise, LHM is considered the most durable treatment for achalasia at the expense of increased reflux-associated complications. However, PD is the first choice for non-surgical treatment and is more cost-effective. Repeated PD according to an “on-demand” strategy based on symptom recurrence can achieve long-term remission. Decision making should be based on clinical evidence that identifies a subcategory of patients who would benefit from specific treatment options. POEM has shown promise but its long-term efficacy and safety need to be assessed further. PMID:24023484

Current status in the treatment options for esophageal achalasia.

PubMed

Chuah, Seng-Kee; Chiu, Chien-Hua; Tai, Wei-Chen; Lee, Jyong-Hong; Lu, Hung-I; Changchien, Chi-Sin; Tseng, Ping-Huei; Wu, Keng-Liang

2013-09-07

Recent advances in the treatment of achalasia include the use of high-resolution manometry to predict the outcome of patients and the introduction of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The first multicenter randomized, controlled, 2-year follow-up study conducted by the European Achalasia Trial group indicated that laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) was not superior to pneumatic dilations (PD). Publications on the long-term success of laparoscopic surgery continue to emerge. In addition, laparoscopic single-site surgery is applicable to advanced laparoscopic operations such as LHM and anterior fundoplication. The optimal treatment option is an ongoing matter of debate. In this review, we provide an update of the current progress in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. Unless new conclusive data prove otherwise, LHM is considered the most durable treatment for achalasia at the expense of increased reflux-associated complications. However, PD is the first choice for non-surgical treatment and is more cost-effective. Repeated PD according to an "on-demand" strategy based on symptom recurrence can achieve long-term remission. Decision making should be based on clinical evidence that identifies a subcategory of patients who would benefit from specific treatment options. POEM has shown promise but its long-term efficacy and safety need to be assessed further.

Angina pectoris: current therapy and future treatment options.

PubMed

Parikh, Raj; Kadowitz, Philip J

2014-02-01

Angina pectoris is the consequence of an inequality between the demand and supply of blood to the heart. Angina manifests itself as chest pain or discomfort and is a common complaint of patients in the hospital and in the clinic. There are, in fact, roughly half a million new cases of angina per year. Chest pain, while having many etiologies, is generally considered to be most lethal when related to a cardiac cause. In this review, the authors outline the current medical and surgical therapies that are used in the management of angina. Highlights of the various clinical trials that have assisted in the investigation of these therapies are summarized also. Then, the authors provide a focused review of the novel therapy options for angina that are currently being explored. From new medical treatments to revised surgical techniques to the discovery of stem cell therapy, many innovative options are being investigated for the treatment of angina.

New treatment options for lower respiratory tract infections.

PubMed

Kocsis, Bela; Szabo, Dora

2017-09-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are among the most frequent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). They represent an increased morbidity and mortality rate in adults. Areas covered: This review describes recent advances regarding solithromycin, zabofloxacin and delafoxacin antibacterial agents that have been recently developed for treatment of CAP and in AECOPD. All of them have been introduced into phase III clinical trials. We will be summarising chemical structures, pharmacokinetics, antibacterial efficacy and toxicity of these agents. The manuscript has been prepared based on available scientific publications. Expert opinion: Novel agents of known antimicrobial classes have been developed that demonstrate treatment options in CAP and in AECOPD. Antimicrobials discussed in this review showed bactericide effect against major respiratory tract pathogens. Each has multiple targets in bacteria, thus enabling them for more potency, even against strains exhibiting resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Solithromycin, delafloxacin and zabofloxcian demonstrate broad-spectrum antibacterial activity together with other beneficial features like intracellular accumulation, anti-inflammatory effect and inhibition of biofilm production. These agents showed moderately severe or mild adverse events and demonstrated favourable tissue penetration. These features can make solithromycin, zabofloxacin and delafloxacin treatment options in LRTIs.

Treatment of adjuvant arthritis with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and peptide derived from heat shock protein 65.

PubMed

Brendolan, Andrea; Higuchi, Masanori; Sibley, Richard; Strober, Samuel

2003-01-01

Adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats is induced by the subcutaneous injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mineral oil, and the predominant T cell immune reactivity is against the heat shock protein 65 derived peptide 176-190. We treated Lewis rats with human recombinant G-CSF followed by (i.v) administration of peptide 176-190 after induction of adjuvant arthritis (AA), and observed decreased disease severity, joint destruction, new bone formation and joint ankylosis. Treatment with G-CSF alone was also effective, but to a lesser extent. In addition, we found that splenocytes from rats treated with G-CSF had reduced antigen presenting capacity compared with splenocytes from vehicle treated rats. Primed lymph node cells from G-CSF plus peptide treated rats showed a marked reduction in proliferation and secretion of IFN-gamma after stimulation with the heat shock protein peptide in vitro as compared to controls.

Virginal Breast Hypertrophy: Different Presentations of 2 Cases and the Role of Tamoxifen as an Adjuvant Therapy.

PubMed

Karagüzel, Gülay; Bilen, Sevcan; Karaçal, Naci; Yıldız, Kadriye; Livaoğlu, Murat

2016-10-01

Virginal breast hypertrophy is a rapid and massive enlargement of one or both breasts. There are several proposed causes and treatment options for virginal breast hypertrophy, but the investigations to support these theories are lacking. We report two premenarchal girls with virginal breast hypertrophy who presented as different clinical cases. After their surgical interventions, their clinical courses were followed for more than 2 years with tamoxifen as an adjuvant therapy. Breast size and shape disorders can be a disturbing cosmetic problem for adolescents who worry about their body image. A combination treatment of breast reduction surgery and tamoxifen is reasonable and can eliminate the need for repeated surgeries for girls with virginal breast hypertrophy. Copyright © 2016 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tamoxifen with ovarian function suppression versus tamoxifen alone as an adjuvant treatment for premenopausal breast cancer: a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials

PubMed Central

Yan, Shunchao; Li, Kai; Jiao, Xin; Zou, Huawei

2015-01-01

Background Ovarian function suppression (OFS) significantly downregulates the concentration of plasma estrogens. However, it is unclear whether it offers any survival benefits if combined with adjuvant tamoxifen treatment in premenopausal women. This meta-analysis was designed to assess data from previous studies involving adjuvant tamoxifen treatment plus OFS in premenopausal breast cancer. Methods Electronic literature databases (PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials published prior to February 1, 2015. Only randomized controlled trials that compared tamoxifen alone with tamoxifen plus OFS for premenopausal women with breast cancer were selected. The evaluated endpoints were disease-free survival and overall survival. Results Four randomized controlled trials comprising 6,279 patients (OFS combination, n=3,133; tamoxifen alone, n=3,146) were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant improvement in disease-free survival or overall survival with addition of OFS in either the whole population or the hormone receptor-positive subgroup. The risk of distant recurrence was not reduced with the addition of OFS in the whole population. A subgroup analysis showed that addition of OFS significantly improved overall survival in patients who were administered chemotherapy. Conclusion Based on the available studies, concurrent administration of OFS and adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for premenopausal women with breast cancer has no effect on prolonging disease-free survival and overall survival, excluding patients who were administered chemotherapy. It should not be widely recommended, except perhaps for women who were hormone-receptor positive and who were also administered adjuvant chemotherapy. PMID:26109867

Current treatment options for vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by azole-resistant Candida species.

PubMed

Sobel, J D; Sobel, R

2018-06-22

Clinicians are increasingly challenged by patients with refractory vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by azole-resistant Candida species. Fluconazole resistant C.albicans is a growing and perplexing problem following years of indiscriminate drug prescription and unnecessary drug exposure and for which there are few therapeutic alternatives. Regrettably, although the azole class of drugs has expanded, new classes of antifungal drugs have not been forthcoming, limiting effective treatment options in patients with azole resistant Candida vaginitis. Areas covered: This review covers published data on epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment options for women with azole-resistant refractory VVC. Expert opinion: Fluconazole resistant C.albicans adds to the challenge of azole resistant non-albicans Candida spp. Both issues follow years of indiscriminate drug prescription and unnecessary fluconazole exposure. Although an understanding of azole resistance in yeast has been established, this knowledge has not translated into useful therapeutic advantage. Treatment options for such women with refractory symptoms are extremely limited. New therapeutic options and strategies are urgently needed to meet this challenge of azole drug resistance.

Geographic Variation in the Use of Adjuvant Therapy among Elderly Patients with Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PubMed Central

Tien, Yu-Yu; Wright, Kara; Halfdanarson, Thorvardur R.; Abu-Hejleh, Taher; Brooks, John M.

2016-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess to what extent geographic variation in adjuvant treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients would remain, after controlling for patient and area-level characteristics. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort of 18,410 Medicare beneficiaries with resected, stage I-IIIA NSCLC was identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database. Adjuvant therapies were classified as adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), postoperative radiation therapy (PORT), or no adjuvant therapy. Predicted treatment probabilities were estimated for each patient given their clinical, demographic, and area-level characteristics with multivariate logistic regression. Area Treatment Ratios were used to estimate the propensity of patients in a local area to receive an adjuvant treatment, controlling for characteristics of patients in the area. Areas were categorized as low-, mid- and high-use and mapped for two representative SEER registries. Results Overall, 10%, 12%, and 78% of patients received ACT, PORT and no adjuvant therapy, respectively. Age, sex, stage, type and year of surgery, and comorbidity were associated with adjuvant treatment use. Even after adjusting for patient characteristics, substantial geographic treatment variation remained. High- and low-use areas were tightly juxtaposed within and across SEER registries, often within the same county. In some local areas, patients were up to eight times more likely to receive adjuvant therapy than expected, given their characteristics. On the other hand, almost a quarter of patients lived in local areas in which patients were more than three times less likely to receive ACT than would be predicted. Conclusion Controlling for patient and area-level covariates did not remove geographic variation in adjuvant therapies for resected NSCLC patients. A greater proportion of patients were treated less than expected, rather than more than expected

Contemporary solutions for the treatment of facial nerve paralysis.

PubMed

Garcia, Ryan M; Hadlock, Tessa A; Klebuc, Michael J; Simpson, Roger L; Zenn, Michael R; Marcus, Jeffrey R

2015-06-01

After reviewing this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the most modern indications and technique for neurotization, including masseter-to-facial nerve transfer (fifth-to-seventh cranial nerve transfer). 2. Contrast the advantages and limitations associated with contiguous muscle transfers and free-muscle transfers for facial reanimation. 3. Understand the indications for a two-stage and one-stage free gracilis muscle transfer for facial reanimation. 4. Apply nonsurgical adjuvant treatments for acute facial nerve paralysis. Facial expression is a complex neuromotor and psychomotor process that is disrupted in patients with facial paralysis breaking the link between emotion and physical expression. Contemporary reconstructive options are being implemented in patients with facial paralysis. While static procedures provide facial symmetry at rest, true 'facial reanimation' requires restoration of facial movement. Contemporary treatment options include neurotization procedures (a new motor nerve is used to restore innervation to a viable muscle), contiguous regional muscle transfer (most commonly temporalis muscle transfer), microsurgical free muscle transfer, and nonsurgical adjuvants used to balance facial symmetry. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages along with ongoing controversies and should be individualized for each patient. Treatments for patients with facial paralysis continue to evolve in order to restore the complex psychomotor process of facial expression.

New Fathers' Perinatal Depression and Anxiety-Treatment Options: An Integrative Review.

PubMed

O'Brien, Anthony P; McNeil, Karen A; Fletcher, Richard; Conrad, Agatha; Wilson, Amanda J; Jones, Donovan; Chan, Sally W

2017-07-01

More than 10% of fathers experience depression and anxiety during the perinatal period, but paternal perinatal depression (PPND) and anxiety have received less attention than maternal perinatal mental health problems. Few mainstream treatment options are available for men with PPND and anxiety. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the current understanding of PPND and the treatment programs specifically designed for fathers with perinatal depression. Eight electronic databases were searched using a predefined strategy, and reference lists were also hand searched. PPND and anxiety were identified to have a negative impact on family relationships, as well as the health of mothers and children. Evidence suggests a lack of support and tailored treatment options for men having trouble adjusting to the transition to fatherhood. Of the limited options available, cognitive behavioral therapy, group work, and blended delivery programs, including e-support approaches appear to be most effective in helping fathers with perinatal depression and anxiety. The review findings have important implications for the understanding of PPND and anxiety. Future research is needed to address the adoption of father-inclusive and father-specific models of care to encourage fathers' help-seeking behavior. Inclusion of male-specific requirements into support and treatment options can improve the ability of services to engage new fathers. Psychotherapeutic intervention could assist to address the cognitive differences and dissonance for men adjusting to the role of father, including male identity and role expectations.

New Fathers’ Perinatal Depression and Anxiety—Treatment Options: An Integrative Review

PubMed Central

O’Brien, Anthony P.; McNeil, Karen A.; Fletcher, Richard; Conrad, Agatha; Wilson, Amanda J.; Jones, Donovan; Chan, Sally W.

2016-01-01

More than 10% of fathers experience depression and anxiety during the perinatal period, but paternal perinatal depression (PPND) and anxiety have received less attention than maternal perinatal mental health problems. Few mainstream treatment options are available for men with PPND and anxiety. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the current understanding of PPND and the treatment programs specifically designed for fathers with perinatal depression. Eight electronic databases were searched using a predefined strategy, and reference lists were also hand searched. PPND and anxiety were identified to have a negative impact on family relationships, as well as the health of mothers and children. Evidence suggests a lack of support and tailored treatment options for men having trouble adjusting to the transition to fatherhood. Of the limited options available, cognitive behavioral therapy, group work, and blended delivery programs, including e-support approaches appear to be most effective in helping fathers with perinatal depression and anxiety. The review findings have important implications for the understanding of PPND and anxiety. Future research is needed to address the adoption of father-inclusive and father-specific models of care to encourage fathers’ help-seeking behavior. Inclusion of male-specific requirements into support and treatment options can improve the ability of services to engage new fathers. Psychotherapeutic intervention could assist to address the cognitive differences and dissonance for men adjusting to the role of father, including male identity and role expectations. PMID:27694550

Engineered Option Treatment of Remediated Nitrate Salts: Surrogate Batch-Blending Testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anast, Kurt Roy

2016-03-11

This report provides results from batch-blending test work for remediated nitrate salt (RNS) treatment. Batch blending was identified as a preferred option for blending RNS and unremediated nitrate salt (UNS) material with zeolite to effectively safe the salt/Swheat material identified as ignitable (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency code D001). Blending with zeolite was the preferred remediation option identified in the Options Assessment Report and was originally proposed as the best option for remediation by Clark and Funk in their report, Chemical Reactivity and Recommended Remediation Strategy for Los Alamos Remediated Nitrate Salt (RNS) Wastes, and also found to be a preferredmore » option in the Engineering Options Assessment Report: Nitrate Salt Waste Stream Processing. This test work evaluated equipment and recipe alternatives to achieve effective blending of surrogate waste with zeolite.« less

T Helper 1–Inducing Adjuvant Protects against Experimental Paracoccidioidomycosis

PubMed Central

de Oliveira, Leandro Licursi; Coltri, Kely Cristine; Cardoso, Cristina Ribeiro Barros; Roque-Barreira, Maria-Cristina; Panunto-Castelo, Ademilson

2008-01-01

Immunostimulatory therapy is a promising approach to improving the treatment of systemic fungal infections such as paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), whose drug therapy is usually prolonged and associated with toxic side effects and relapses. The current study was undertaken to determine if the injection of a T helper (Th) 1–stimulating adjuvant in P. brasiliensis–infected mice could have a beneficial effect on the course of experimental PCM. For this purpose, mice were infected and treated with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), a well-established Th1 experimental inductor, or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA - control group) on day 20 postinfection. Four weeks after treatment, the CFA-treated mice presented a mild infection in the lungs characterized by absence of epithelioid cell granulomas and yeast cells, whereas the control mice presented multiple sites of focal epithelioid granulomas with lymphomonocytic halos circumscribing a high number of viable and nonviable yeast cells. In addition, CFA administration induced a 2.4 log reduction (>99%) in the fungal burden when compared to the control group, and led to an improvement of immune response, reversing the immunosuppression observed in the control group. The immunotherapy with Th1-inducing adjuvant, approved to be used in humans, might be a valuable tool in the treatment of PCM and potentially useful to improve the clinical cure rate in humans. PMID:18335066

Pilot study of acupuncture for the treatment of joint symptoms related to adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Crew, Katherine D; Capodice, Jillian L; Greenlee, Heather; Apollo, Arlyn; Jacobson, Judith S; Raptis, George; Blozie, Kimberly; Sierra, Alex; Hershman, Dawn L

2007-12-01

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have become the standard of care for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal, hormone-sensitive breast cancer. However, patients receiving AIs may experience joint symptoms, which may lead to early discontinuation of this effective therapy. We hypothesize that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for AI-induced arthralgias. Postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer who had self-reported musculoskeletal pain related to adjuvant AI therapy were randomized in a crossover study to receive acupuncture twice weekly for 6 weeks followed by observation or vice-versa. The intervention included full body and auricular acupuncture, and a joint-specific point prescription. Outcome measures included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) quality of life measure, and serum levels of inflammatory markers, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Twenty-one women were enrolled and two discontinued early. From baseline to the end of treatment, patients reported improvement in the mean BPI-SF worst pain scores (5.3 to 3.3, p = 0.01), pain severity (3.7 to 2.5, p = 0.02), and pain-related functional interference (3.1 to 1.7, p = 0.02), as well as the WOMAC function subscale and FACT-G physical well-being (p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). No adverse events were reported. In this pilot study, acupuncture reduced AI-related joint symptoms and improved functional ability and was well-tolerated. Musculoskeletal side effects are common among breast cancer survivors on adjuvant AI therapy, therefore, effective treatments are needed for symptom relief and to improve adherence to these life-saving medications.

Beyond usual care: the economic consequences of expanding treatment options in early pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Dalton, Vanessa K; Liang, Angela; Hutton, David W; Zochowski, Melissa K; Fendrick, A Mark

2015-02-01

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic consequences of expanding options for early pregnancy loss (EPL) treatment beyond expectant management and operating room surgical evacuation (usual care). We constructed a decision model using a hypothetical cohort of women undergoing EPL management within a 30 day horizon. Treatment options under the usual care arm include expectant management and surgical uterine evacuation in an operating room (OR). Treatment options under the expanded care arm included all evidence-based safe and effective treatment options for EPL: expectant management, misoprostol treatment, surgical uterine evacuation in an office setting, and surgical uterine evacuation in an OR. Probabilities of entering various treatment pathways were based on previously published observational studies. The cost per case was US $241.29 lower for women undergoing treatment in the expanded care model as compared with the usual care model (US $1033.29 per case vs US $1274.58 per case, expanded care and usual care, respectively). The model was the most sensitive to the failure rate of the expectant management arm, the cost of the OR surgical procedure, the proportion of women undergoing an OR surgical procedure under usual care, and the additional cost per patient associated with implementing and using the expanded care model. This study demonstrates that expanding women's treatment options for EPL beyond what is typically available can result in lower direct medical expenditures. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Alopecia Areata: Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Pathogenesis, and New Treatment Options

PubMed Central

Darwin, Evan; Hirt, Penelope A; Fertig, Raymond; Doliner, Brett; Delcanto, Gina; Jimenez, Joaquin J

2018-01-01

Alopecia areata (AA) is a complex autoimmune condition that causes nonscarring hair loss. It typically presents with sharply demarcated round patches of hair loss and may present at any age. In this article, we review the epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, and new treatment options of AA, with a focus on the immunologic mechanism underlying the treatment. While traditional treatment options such as corticosteroids are moderately effective, a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis may lead to the development of new treatments that are more directed and effective against AA. Sources were gathered from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database using the keywords: alopecia, alopecia areata, hair loss, trichoscopy, treatments, pathogenesis, and epidemiology. PMID:29769777

Quality of online information on breast cancer treatment options.

PubMed

Arif, Nadia; Ghezzi, Pietro

2018-02-01

Offering breast cancer patients treatment choice has become a priority as the involvement of patients in the decision-making process is associated with improved physical and psychological outcomes. As the Internet is increasingly being used by patients as a source of medical information, it is important to evaluate the quality of information relating to breast cancer on the Internet. We analysed 200 websites returned by google.co.uk searching "breast cancer treatment options" in terms of their typology and treatment options described. These were related to standard measures of health information quality such as the JAMA score and the presence of quality certifications, as well as readability. We found that health portals were of higher quality whilst commercial and professional websites were of poorer quality in terms of JAMA criteria. Overall, readability was higher than previously reported for other conditions, and Google ranked websites with better readability higher. Most websites discussed surgical and medical treatments. Few websites, with a large proportion being of commercial typology, discussed complementary and alternative medicine. Google ranked professional websites low whilst websites from non-profit organizations were promoted in the ranking. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fertility concerns in men with genitourinary malignancies: Treatment dilemmas, fertility options, and medicolegal considerations.

PubMed

Polland, Allison; Berookhim, Boback M

2016-09-01

With increasing genitourinary cancer survivorship in patients of reproductive age, fertility preservation has become a greater focus in the management of these patients. We performed a review of articles pertaining to male infertility, fertility preservation, and genitourinary cancers. The aim was to review causes of infertility in patients with cancer, current options for fertility preservation, research that may expand preservation options, and ethical as well as medicolegal considerations. There are multiple causes of infertility in male patients with cancer, including the malignancy itself, and the treatments required to achieve a potential cure. Surgery can affect the normal pathways for erection, emission, and ejaculation. Chemotherapy can have a profound negative effect on spermatogenesis by causing chromosomal aberrations, maturation arrest, mutagenesis, and impaired spermatozoa motility. Radiation can cause cellular apoptosis with resultant reduction in spermatogonial stem cells. There are numerous methods to secure fertility before cancer treatment with the aid of cryopreservation ranging from simple patient-provided semen samples to complex sperm retrieval techniques. Research in the field of spermatogenic stem cells may lead to improved treatment options such as autotransplant of stem cells for repopulation of the testes after cancer treatment. Early discussion of possible fertility effects in patients undergoing genitourinary cancer treatment is critical in this era of increasing survivorship. Although current cancer treatments can cause infertility, there are well-established options for fertility preservation and current research will likely lead to improved treatment options. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Dengzhan Xixin injection as an adjuvant treatment for angina pectoris: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials].

PubMed

Wang, Feng-jiao; Xie, Yan-ming; Liao, Xing; Jia, Min

2015-08-01

The paper is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Deng Zhan Xi Xin injection ( DZXXI) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with angina pectoris. The Cochrane Library, Medline, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wan fang Data base were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of DZXXI combined with western medicine routine treatment versus western medicine routine treatment alone for angina pectoris patients were all included. All trials were assessed according to the Cochrane Reviewer' s Handbook 5.1 for Systematic Reviews of Intervention and Meta analyses were performed by RevMan 5. 2 Software. A total of 30RCTs (3 086 patients including 1 572 patients of treatment group and 1 514 patients of control group) were included. Meta-analysis of treatment group compared with control group showed superior effect over reducing cardiovascular events ( OR = 0.33; 95% CI: [0.16, 0.67], P = 0.002, improving effective rate of DZXXI as adjuvant treatment for angina pectoris patients (OR = 3.97; 95% CI: [3.15, 5.02]; P < 0.000 010 and electrocardiogram curative effect (OR = 2.21; 95% CI; [1.83, 2.68]; P < 0.000 010. Funnel figure seemed that there was publication bias. The current limited evidence showed that when compared with the control group, treatment group was superior in improving patients with angina pectoris. But based on the limitations of the study, rigorous design with long follow up clinical trials are necessary for further evidence.

Association Between Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Overall Survival in Patients With Rectal Cancer and Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Resection.

PubMed

Dossa, Fahima; Acuna, Sergio A; Rickles, Aaron S; Berho, Mariana; Wexner, Steven D; Quereshy, Fayez A; Baxter, Nancy N; Chadi, Sami A

2018-04-19

Although American guidelines recommend use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, individuals who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy are less likely to receive adjuvant treatment than incomplete responders. The association and resection of adjuvant chemotherapy with survival in patients with pCR is unclear. To determine whether patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who achieve pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and resection benefit from the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy. This retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study identified patients with locally advanced rectal cancer from the National Cancer Database from 2006 through 2012. We selected patients with nonmetastatic invasive rectal cancer who achieved pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and resection. We matched patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy to patients who did not receive adjuvant treatment in a 1:1 ratio. We separately matched subgroups of patients with node-positive disease before treatment and node-negative disease before treatment to investigate for effect modification by pretreatment nodal status. We compared overall survival between groups using Kaplan-Meier survival methods and Cox proportional hazards models. We identified 2455 patients (mean age, 59.5 years; 59.8% men) with rectal cancer with pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and resection. We matched 667 patients with pCR who received adjuvant chemotherapy and at least 8 weeks of follow-up after surgery to patients with pCR who did not receive adjuvant treatment. Over a median follow-up of 3.1 years (interquartile range, 1.94-4.40 years), patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated better overall survival than those who did not receive adjuvant treatment (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.28-0.70). When stratified by pretreatment nodal status, only those patients with pretreatment node

Trends in the Utilization of Adjuvant Vaginal Cuff Brachytherapy and/or External Beam Radiation Treatment in Stage I and II Endometrial Cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patel, Mehul K.; Cote, Michele L.; Ali-Fehmi, Rouba

2012-05-01

Purpose: The optimal adjuvant radiation treatment for endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains controversial. Adjuvant vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VB) has emerged as an increasingly common treatment modality. However, the time trends for using VB, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or combined therapy (VB+EBRT) have not been well characterized. We therefore examined the utilization trends of VB, EBRT, and VB+EBRT for adjuvant RT in International Federation of Gynecologic Oncology (FIGO) stage I and II EC over time. Methods and Materials: We evaluated treatment patterns for 48,122 patients with EC diagnosed between January 1995 and December 2005, using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology,more » and End Results (SEER) public use database. Chi-squared tests were used to assess differences by radiation type (VB, EBRT, and VB+EBRT) and various demographic and clinical variables. Results: Analyses were limited to 9,815 patients (20.4%) with EC who met the inclusion criteria. Among women who received adjuvant RT, the proportion receiving VB increased yearly (12.9% in 1995 compared to 32.8% in 2005 (p < 0.0001). The increasing use of VB was proportional to the decreasing use of EBRT (56.1% in 1995 to 45.8% in 2005; p < 0.0001) and VB+EBRT (31.0% in 1995 to 21.4% in 2005; p < 0.001). Conclusions: This population-based report demonstrates an increasing trend in the use of VB in the adjuvant setting after hysterectomy for treatment of women with FIGO stage I-II EC. VB alone appears to be replacing pelvic EBRT and VB+EBRT therapy in the management of stage I-II EC.« less

Do physicians’ recommendations pull patients away from their preferred treatment options?

PubMed Central

Mendel, Rosmarie; Traut‐Mattausch, Eva; Frey, Dieter; Bühner, Markus; Berthele, Achim; Kissling, Werner; Hamann, Johannes

2011-01-01

Abstract Context and objective  Shared decision making is especially advocated for preference‐sensitive decisions. We investigated whether physicians’ recommendations pull patients away from their preferred treatment option when making a preference‐sensitive decision. Design, participants and methods  Inpatients (N = 102 with schizophrenia, N = 101 with multiple sclerosis) were presented with a hypothetical scenario (the choice between two drugs). They were first asked about their preferences concerning the two drugs and then they received a (fictitious) clinician’s recommendation that was contrary to their preferences. Subsequently they made a final choice between the two drugs. Main outcome measures  The main outcome measure was whether the patient followed the physician’s advice in the hypothetical scenario. Thereby patient’s (pre‐recommendation) preferences served as a baseline. Results  In the decision scenario, about 48% of the patients with schizophrenia and 26% of the patients with multiple sclerosis followed the advice of their physician and thus chose the treatment option that went against their initial preferences. Patients who followed their physician’s advice were less satisfied with their decision than patients not following their physician’s advice (schizophrenia: t = 2.61, P = 0.01; multiple sclerosis: t = 2.67, P = 0.009). Discussion and conclusions  When sharing decisions with patients, physicians should be aware that their advice might influence patients’ decisions away from their preferred treatment option. They should encourage their patients to identify their own preferences and help to find the treatment option most consistent with them. PMID:21323824

What weight loss treatment options do geriatric patients with overweight and obesity want to consider?

PubMed

MacMillan, M; Cummins, K; Fujioka, K

2016-12-01

Since the 1990s, a number of weight loss medications have been removed from the USA and or European market because of adverse events associated with these medications. These medications include fenfluramine (heart valve thickening), sibutramine (cardiovascular risk) and rimonabant (depression). This history may affect a patient's desire to consider weight loss medications as an option for weight management. This descriptive study was designed to observe what treatment options the geriatric patient (age 65 or higher) seeking weight loss would like to consider, as well as the reasons they felt they struggled with overweight or obesity. A questionnaire was given to 102 geriatric patients with overweight or obesity before starting a weight loss programme at a weight management centre. The questionnaire asked the patient why they felt they were overweight or obese and what treatment options they wished to consider. The geriatric patients were matched with younger patients in body mass index and sex. The three most common perceptions that geriatric patients felt were causes of their increased weight were 'lack of exercise' (76.2%), 'poor food choices' (59.4%) and 'cravings' (47.5%). When geriatric patients were asked what treatment options they would like to discuss, the four most common options requested were 'diet and healthy eating' (67.3%), weight loss medications (57.4%), a request for a 'metabolic work up' (55.4%) and 'exercise' (53.5%). These responses were no different from their younger cohorts. When geriatric patients with a body mass index of 35 or higher were given bariatric surgery as a treatment option, 21.9% marked it as a treatment option they would like to consider. Over half of geriatric patients desired to discuss weight loss medications as a treatment option. Diet and exercise were also of strong interest, which is in line with current weight management guidelines.

Non-pharmacological treatment options for refractory epilepsy: an overview of human treatment modalities and their potential utility in dogs.

PubMed

Martlé, Valentine; Van Ham, Luc; Raedt, Robrecht; Vonck, Kristl; Boon, Paul; Bhatti, Sofie

2014-03-01

Refractory epilepsy is a common disorder both in humans and dogs and treatment protocols are difficult to optimise. In humans, different non-pharmacological treatment modalities currently available include surgery, the ketogenic diet and neurostimulation. Surgery leads to freedom from seizures in 50-75% of patients, but requires strict patient selection. The ketogenic diet is indicated in severe childhood epilepsies, but efficacy is limited and long-term compliance can be problematic. In the past decade, various types of neurostimulation have emerged as promising treatment modalities for humans with refractory epilepsy. Currently, none of these treatment options are used in routine daily clinical practice to treat dogs with the condition. Since many dogs with poorly controlled seizures do not survive, the search for alternative treatment options for canine refractory epilepsy should be prioritised. This review provides an overview of non-pharmacological treatment options for human refractory epilepsy. The current knowledge and limitations of these treatments in canine refractory epilepsy is also discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of invasive meningococcal diseases.

PubMed

Tolaj, Ilir; Dreshaj, Shemsedin; Qehaja, Emine; Tolaj, Jasmina; Doda-Ejupi, Teuta; Mehmeti, Murat

2010-01-01

With this study we want to evaluate the role of dexamethasone adjuvant treatment in different clinical forms of invasive meningococcal diseases. WORK METHODS: This was a randomized, open label trial that was conducted in 147 individuals with meningococcal sepsis. All of the cases have been divided in two groups: (1) Cases with meningococcal disease and CNS infection, and (2) Cases with meningococcal disease and no affection of the CNS. Cases from both groups were treated with dexamethasone, 0.15 mg/kg, every 6 h, for 4 (four) days, as adjuvant therapy. Cases which were not treated with dexamethasone were used as control group. From overall number of cases, in 130 of them, the meningococcal disease was accompanied with meningitis; in other 17 cases only signs of sepsis were present. In both clinical forms, the dexamethasone was used in 92 cases. The higher mortality rate is registered among the cases without meningitis, 17.65%, compared with 6.92% which is registered among cases with meningitis. The overall mortality rate among all cases was 8.2%. The significant difference was recorded only on CSF sugar level between two groups (treated or not with dexamethasone) on the day 1-4 of the hospitalization. Our epidemiological data are in correlation with data from other epidemiological studies. Most of the cases 69.4%, were more than 12 hours sick at home before the hospitalization, 7.5 % of cases were hospitalized within 12 hours from the onset of the diseases, while 23.1% of cases data are missing. This is in correlation with similar data from other studies. Dexamethasone has a limited effect on outcome of the invasive meningococcal disease. Dexamethasone had some effect only during the days of administration in cases with clinical form of sepsis with meningitis, by normalizing the values of CSF sugar earlier.

24-h Efficacy of Glaucoma Treatment Options.

PubMed

Konstas, Anastasios G P; Quaranta, Luciano; Bozkurt, Banu; Katsanos, Andreas; Garcia-Feijoo, Julian; Rossetti, Luca; Shaarawy, Tarek; Pfeiffer, Norbert; Miglior, Stefano

2016-04-01

Current management of glaucoma entails the medical, laser, or surgical reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) to a predetermined level of target IOP, which is commensurate with either stability or delayed progression of visual loss. In the published literature, the hypothesis is often made that IOP control implies a single IOP measurement over time. Although the follow-up of glaucoma patients with single IOP measurements is quick and convenient, such measurements often do not adequately reflect the untreated IOP characteristics, or indeed the quality of treated IOP control during the 24-h cycle. Since glaucoma is a 24-h disease and the damaging effect of elevated IOP is continuous, it is logical that we should aim to understand the efficacy of all treatment options throughout the 24-h period. This article first reviews the concept and value of diurnal and 24-h IOP monitoring. It then critically evaluates selected available evidence on the 24-h efficacy of medical, laser and surgical therapy options. During the past decade several controlled trials have significantly enhanced our understanding on the 24-h efficacy of all glaucoma therapy options. Nevertheless, more long-term evidence is needed to better evaluate the 24-h efficacy of glaucoma therapy and the precise impact of IOP characteristics on glaucomatous progression and visual prognosis.

A safe treatment option for esophageal bezoars

PubMed Central

Yaqub, Sheraz; Shafique, Muhammad; Kjæstad, Erik; Thorsen, Yngve; Lie, Erik S.; Dahl, Vegard; Bakka, Njål; Røkke, Ola

2012-01-01

INTRODUCTION Bezoar in the esophagus is a rare condition and associated with structural or functional abnormalities of the esophagus. Endoscopy is the main tool for diagnosis and treatment for bezoar in the esophagus. PRESENTATION OF CASE Here we present a case where an endoscopic evacuation of an esophageal bezoar was unsuccessful. We treated the bezoar through a nasogastric tube using a cocktail composed of pancreatic enzymes dissolved in Coca-Cola. DISCUSSION Endoscopy is regarded as the mainstay for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal bezoars. However, when this approach fails, other treatment options include dissolution therapy, and surgical exploration and removal of the bezoar. Surgical removal of an esophageal bezoar is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. We advocate that dissolving therapy should be the first choice of treatment when endoscopic evacuation is not possible. CONCLUSION This is the first report describing a successful treatment of an esophageal bezoar with a cocktail of Coca-Cola and pancreatic enzymes. It is an effective, inexpensive, and worldwide available treatment and should be considered when endoscopic evacuation fails. PMID:22609703

Alternative Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccines Adjuvanted with Quillaja brasiliensis or Quil-A Saponins Are Equally Effective in Inducing Specific Immune Responses

PubMed Central

de Costa, Fernanda; Yendo, Anna Carolina A.; Cibulski, Samuel P.; Fleck, Juliane D.; Roehe, Paulo M.; Spilki, Fernando R.; Gosmann, Grace; Fett-Neto, Arthur G.

2014-01-01

Inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) have an important role at the final stages of poliomyelitis eradication programs, reducing the risks associated with the use of attenuated polio vaccine (OPV). An affordable option to enhance vaccine immunogenicity and reduce costs of IPV may be the use of an effective and renewable adjuvant. In the present study, the adjuvant activity of aqueous extract (AE) and saponin fraction QB-90 from Quillaja brasiliensis using poliovirus antigen as model were analyzed and compared to a preparation adjuvanted with Quil-A, a well-known saponin-based commercial adjuvant. Experimental vaccines were prepared with viral antigen plus saline (control), Quil-A (50 µg), AE (400 µg) or QB-90 (50 µg). Sera from inoculated mice were collected at days 0, 28, 42 and 56 post-inoculation of the first dose of vaccine. Serum levels of specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a were significantly enhanced by AE, QB-90 and Quil-A compared to control group on day 56. The magnitude of enhancement was statistically equivalent for QB-90 and Quil-A. The cellular response was evaluated through DTH and analysis of IFN-γ and IL-2 mRNA levels using in vitro reestimulated splenocytes. Results indicated that AE and QB-90 were capable of stimulating the generation of Th1 cells against the administered antigen to the same extent as Quil-A. Mucosal immune response was enhanced by the vaccine adjuvanted with QB-90 as demonstrated by increases of specific IgA titers in bile, feces and vaginal washings, yielding comparable or higher titers than Quil-A. The results obtained indicate that saponins from Q. brasiliensis are potent adjuvants of specific cellular and humoral immune responses and represent a viable option to Quil-A. PMID:25148077

Gastroparesis: a review of current and emerging treatment options

PubMed Central

Enweluzo, Chijioke; Aziz, Fahad

2013-01-01

Gastroparesis is a motility disorder of the stomach causing delay in food emptying from the stomach without any evidence of mechanical obstruction. The majority of cases are idiopathic. Patients need to be diagnosed properly by formal testing, and the evaluation of the severity of the gastroparesis may assist in guiding therapy. Initially, dietary modifications are encouraged, which include frequent and small semisolid-based meals. Promotility medications, like erythromycin, and antiemetics, like prochlorperazine, are offered for symptom relief. In patients who are refractory to pharmacologic treatment, more invasive options, such as intrapyloric botulinum toxin injections, placement of a jejunostomy tube, or implantation of a gastric stimulator, can be considered. Hemin therapy and gastric electric stimulation are emerging treatment options that are still at different stages of research. Regenerative medicine and stem cell-based therapies also hold promise for gastroparesis in the near future. PMID:24039443

Current options for the treatment of facial angiofibromas.

PubMed

Salido-Vallejo, R; Garnacho-Saucedo, G; Moreno-Giménez, J C

2014-01-01

Facial angiofibromas are hamartomatous growths that are closely associated with tuberous sclerosis complex and, in fact, they constitute one of the main diagnostic criteria for that disease. These lesions composed of blood vessels and fibrous tissue appear on the face at an early age. Since they have important physical and psychological repercussions for patients, several treatment options have been used to remove them or improve their appearance. However, the lack of treatment guidelines prevents us from developing a common protocol for patients with this condition. The present article aims to review the treatments for facial angiofibromas used to date and to propose a new evidence-based treatment protocol. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEDV. All rights reserved.

Adjuvant Therapy for Gallbladder Carcinoma: The Mayo Clinic Experience

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gold, Douglas G.; Miller, Robert C.; Haddock, Michael G.

2009-09-01

Purpose: To analyze the effect of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy on gallbladder carcinoma. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the records from consecutive patients who underwent R0 resection of gallbladder carcinoma between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2004. Patients had either Stage I (T1-T2N0M0) or Stage II (T3N0M0 or T1-T3N1M0) disease. Patients undergoing adjuvant therapy received 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy concurrently with radiotherapy (median dosage, 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions). Adverse prognostic factors and the effect of adjuvant treatment on overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: A total of 73 patients were included in the analysis; of these, 25 received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Onmore » univariate analysis, no adverse prognostic factors for OS reached statistical significance, but trends were noted for Stage N1 vs. N0 (p = .06), Nx vs. N0 (p = .09), Stage T3 vs. T1-T2 (p = .06), and histologic findings other than adenocarcinoma (p = .13). The median OS for patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiotherapy vs. surgery alone was 4.8 years and 4.2 years, respectively (log-rank test, p = .56). However, a significantly greater percentage of patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiotherapy had Stage II disease (p <.001). In the multivariate Cox model, increasing T and N category and histologic findings other than adenocarcinoma were significant predictors of decreased OS. Additionally, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was a significant predictor of improved OS after adjusting for these prognostic factors (hazard ratio for death, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.69; p = .004). Conclusion: After adjusting for the stage parameters and histologic findings, our data suggest that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy might improve OS for patients with gallbladder cancer.« less

Management of Pediatric Myxopapillary Ependymoma: The Role of Adjuvant Radiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agbahiwe, Harold C.; Wharam, Moody; Batra, Sachin

2013-02-01

Introduction: Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a rare tumor in children. The primary treatment is gross total resection (GTR), with no clearly defined role for adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Published reports, however, suggest that children with MPE present with a more aggressive disease course. The goal of this study was to assess the role of adjuvant RT in pediatric patients with MPE. Methods: Sixteen patients with MPE seen at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) between November 1984 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen of the patients were evaluable with a mean age of 16.8 years (range, 12-21 years). Kaplan-Meier curves andmore » descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: All patients received surgery as the initial treatment modality. Surgery consisted of either a GTR or a subtotal resection (STR). The median dose of adjuvant RT was 50.4 Gy (range, 45-54 Gy). All patients receiving RT were treated at the involved site. After a median follow-up of 7.2 years (range, 0.75-26.4 years), all patients were alive with stable disease. Local control at 5 and 10 years was 62.5% and 30%, respectively, for surgery alone versus 100% at both time points for surgery and adjuvant RT. Fifty percent of the patients receiving surgery alone had local failure. All patients receiving STR alone had local failure compared to 33% of patients receiving GTR alone. One patient in the surgery and adjuvant RT group developed a distant site of recurrence 1 year from diagnosis. No late toxicity was reported at last follow-up, and neurologic symptoms either improved or remained stable following surgery with or without RT. Conclusions: Adjuvant RT improved local control compared to surgery alone and should be considered after surgical resection in pediatric patients with MPE.« less

Current Treatment Options for Auricular Hematomas.

PubMed

MacPhail, Catriona

2016-07-01

Ear disease, such as otitis externa, resulting in aggressive head shaking or ear scratching, is the most common cause of the development of aural hematomas in dogs and cats. An underlying immunologic cause has also been proposed to explain cartilage and blood vessel fragility. Numerous options exist for management of aural hematomas, from medical management alone with corticosteroids, to simple hematoma centesis, to surgical intervention. Because this condition is usually secondary to another disease process, regardless of mode of treatment, likelihood of recurrence is low if the underlying condition is managed properly. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Treatment options for moderate-to-very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PubMed

Cazzola, Mario; Rogliani, Paola; Ora, Josuel; Matera, Maria Gabriella

2016-01-01

The appropriate drug management of COPD is still based on the use of bronchodilators, possibly associated with an anti-inflammatory agent. However, there are still fundamental questions that require clarification to optimise their use and major unmet clinical needs that must be addressed. The advances obtained with the pharmacological options currently consolidated and the different approaches that are often used in an attempt to respond to unmet therapeutic needs are reviewed Expert opinion: In view of the unsatisfactory status of current treatments for COPD, there is an urgent need for alternative and more effective therapeutic approaches that will help to relieve patient symptoms and affect the natural course of COPD, inhibiting chronic inflammation and reversing the disease process or preventing its progression. However, new pharmacologic options have proved difficult to develop. Therefore, it is mandatory to optimize the use of the treatment options at our disposal. However, there are still fundamental questions regarding their use, including the step-up and step-down pharmacological approach, that require clarification to optimise the use of these drugs. It is likely that phenotyping COPD patients would help in identifying the right treatment for each COPD patient and improve the effectiveness of therapies.

Arthroscopic treatment options for irreparable rotator cuff tears of the shoulder

PubMed Central

Anley, Cameron M; Chan, Samuel KL; Snow, Martyn

2014-01-01

The management of patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears remains a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons with the final treatment option in many algorithms being either a reverse shoulder arthroplasty or a tendon transfer. The long term results of these procedures are however still widely debated, especially in younger patients. A variety of arthroscopic treatment options have been proposed for patients with an irreparable rotator cuff tear without the presence of arthritis of the glenohumeral joint. These include a simple debridement with or without a biceps tenotomy, partial rotator cuff repair with or without an interval slide, tuberplasty, graft interposition of the rotator cuff, suprascapular nerve ablation, superior capsule reconstruction and insertion of a biodegradable spacer (Inspace) to depress the humeral head. These options should be considered as part of the treatment algorithm in patients with an irreparable rotator cuff and could be used as either as an interim procedure, delaying the need for more invasive surgery in the physiologically young and active, or as potential definitive procedures in the medically unfit. The aim of this review is to highlight and summarise arthroscopic procedures and the results thereof currently utilised in the management of these challenging patients. PMID:25405083

Adjuvant Ciprofloxacin for Persistent BK Polyomavirus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients

PubMed Central

Chandran, Sindhu; Vagefi, Parsia A.

2014-01-01

Background. BK virus (BKV) infection is a common complication following kidney transplantation. Immunosuppression reduction is the cornerstone of treatment while adjuvant drugs have been tried in small uncontrolled studies. We sought to examine our center's experience with the use of ciprofloxacin in patients with persistent BKV infection. Methods. Retrospective evaluation of the effect of a 30-day ciprofloxacin course (250 mg twice daily) on BKV infection in kidney transplant recipients who had been diagnosed with BK viruria ≥106 copies/mL and viremia ≥500 copies/mL and in whom the infection did not resolve after immunosuppression reduction and/or treatment with other adjuvant agents. BKV in plasma and urine was evaluated after 3 months following treatment with ciprofloxacin. Results. Nine kidney transplant recipients received ciprofloxacin at a median of 130 days following the initial reduction in immunosuppression. Three patients showed complete viral clearance and another 3 had a ≥50% decrease in plasma viral load. No serious adverse events secondary to ciprofloxacin were reported and no grafts were lost due to BKV up to 1 year after treatment. Conclusion. Ciprofloxacin may be a useful therapy for persistent BKV infection despite conventional treatment. Randomized trials are required to evaluate the potential benefit of this adjuvant therapy. PMID:25349720

Assessment of Options for the Treatment of Nitrate Salt Wastes at Los Alamos National Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robinson, Bruce Alan; Funk, David John; Stevens, Patrice Ann

2016-03-17

This paper summarizes the methodology used to evaluate options for treatment of the remediated nitrate salt waste containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The method selected must enable treatment of the waste drums, which consist of a mixture of complex nitrate salts (oxidizer) improperly mixed with sWheat Scoop®1, an organic kitty litter and absorbent (fuel), in a manner that renders the waste safe, meets the specifications of waste acceptance criteria, and is suitable for transport and final disposal in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. A Core Remediation Team was responsible for comprehensively reviewing the options,more » ensuring a robust, defensible treatment recommendation. The evaluation process consisted of two steps. First, a prescreening process was conducted to cull the list on the basis for a decision of feasibility of certain potential options with respect to the criteria. Then, the remaining potential options were evaluated and ranked against each of the criteria in a consistent methodology. Numerical scores were established by consensus of the review team. Finally, recommendations were developed based on current information and understanding of the scientific, technical, and regulatory situation. A discussion of the preferred options and documentation of the process used to reach the recommended treatment options are presented.« less

Adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy: strong emotions decide but rational studies are needed.

PubMed

Brown, Paul D; Asher, Anthony L; Farace, Elana

2008-04-01

Brain metastases are common in cancer patients and cause considerable morbidity and mortality. For patients with limited disease and good performance status, treatment typically involves a combination of focal measures (e.g., surgical resection or radiosurgery) for the radiographically apparent disease, followed by adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) to treat subclinical disease. Because of concerns regarding the toxicity of WBRT, especially neurocognitive deterioration, many have advocated withholding adjuvant WBRT. Recently published studies have shed more light on the efficacy of adjuvant WBRT and the neurocognitive effects of WBRT. However, the inclusion of neurocognitive and quality-of-life data in clinical trials are still required to better define the role of adjuvant WBRT. Currently, two Phase III trials are underway, one in Europe and one in North America, that will determine the effect of adjuvant WBRT on patients' quality of life, neurocognitive function, and survival.

Adjuvant Whole Brain Radiotherapy: Strong Emotions Decide But Rational Studies Are Needed

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Paul D.; Asher, Anthony L.; Farace, Elana

2008-04-01

Brain metastases are common in cancer patients and cause considerable morbidity and mortality. For patients with limited disease and good performance status, treatment typically involves a combination of focal measures (e.g., surgical resection or radiosurgery) for the radiographically apparent disease, followed by adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) to treat subclinical disease. Because of concerns regarding the toxicity of WBRT, especially neurocognitive deterioration, many have advocated withholding adjuvant WBRT. Recently published studies have shed more light on the efficacy of adjuvant WBRT and the neurocognitive effects of WBRT. However, the inclusion of neurocognitive and quality-of-life data in clinical trials are stillmore » required to better define the role of adjuvant WBRT. Currently, two Phase III trials are underway, one in Europe and one in North America, that will determine the effect of adjuvant WBRT on patients' quality of life, neurocognitive function, and survival.« less

Aluminum adjuvants elicit fibrin-dependent extracellular traps in vivo

PubMed Central

Munks, Michael W.; McKee, Amy S.; MacLeod, Megan K.; Powell, Roger L.; Degen, Jay L.; Reisdorph, Nichole A.; Kappler, John W.

2010-01-01

It has been recognized for nearly 80 years that insoluble aluminum salts are good immunologic adjuvants and that they form long-lived nodules in vivo. Nodule formation has long been presumed to be central for adjuvant activity by providing an antigen depot, but the composition and function of these nodules is poorly understood. We show here that aluminum salt nodules formed within hours of injection and contained the clotting protein fibrinogen. Fibrinogen was critical for nodule formation and required processing to insoluble fibrin by thrombin. DNase treatment partially disrupted the nodules, and the nodules contained histone H3 and citrullinated H3, features consistent with extracellular traps. Although neutrophils were not essential for nodule formation, CD11b+ cells were implicated. Vaccination of fibrinogen-deficient mice resulted in normal CD4 T-cell and antibody responses and enhanced CD8 T-cell responses, indicating that nodules are not required for aluminum's adjuvant effect. Moreover, the ability of aluminum salts to retain antigen in the body, the well-known depot effect, was unaffected by the absence of nodules. We conclude that aluminum adjuvants form fibrin-dependent nodules in vivo, that these nodules have properties of extracellular traps, and the nodules are not required for aluminum salts to act as adjuvants. PMID:20876456

Adjuvant Radiation is Associated with Improved Survival for Select Patients with Non-metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

PubMed

Nelson, Daniel W; Chang, Shu-Ching; Bandera, Brad C; Fischer, Trevan D; Wollman, Robert; Goldfarb, Melanie

2018-07-01

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy for which surgery is the mainstay of treatment and for which adjuvant radiation is infrequently employed; however, small, single-institution series suggest adjuvant radiation may improve outcomes. All patients with non-metastatic ACC treated with either surgery alone or surgery followed by adjuvant radiation were identified in the 2004-2013 National Cancer Database. Factors associated with receipt of radiation and the impact of adjuvant radiation on survival were determined by multivariable analysis. Of 1184 patients, 171 (14.4%) received adjuvant radiation. Patient demographics were similar between the two groups, but those receiving radiation were more likely to have had positive margins following surgery (37.4 vs. 14.6%; p < 0.001), evidence of vascular invasion (14.0 vs. 5.1%; p = 0.05), and receive concurrent chemotherapy (57.3 vs. 28.8%; p < 0.001). After adjustment for tumor and other treatment factors, only positive margins following surgery was associated with an increased likelihood of receiving adjuvant radiation (odds ratio 3.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-7.56). Radiation therapy did not confer a difference in median overall survival in the general cohort. However, for patients with positive margins, adjuvant radiation was associated with a 40% decreased yearly risk of death after adjustment for concurrent chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.92; p = 0.02). This survival advantage was not evident for other traditional high-risk features. Adjuvant radiation appears to decrease the risk of death in ACC patients with positive margins following surgical resection, but only a small percentage are currently receiving radiation. Multidisciplinary treatment with surgery and radiation should be considered for these patients.

For Some Breast Cancers, New Drug May Be Treatment Option

Cancer.gov

Results from an international clinical trial suggest that women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that is no longer responding to the targeted therapy trastuzumab (Herceptin) may soon have a new treatment option.

A Case of Therapy-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia Associated with Adjuvant Temozolomide Chemotherapy for Anaplastic Astrocytoma.

PubMed

Kosugi, Kenzo; Saito, Katsuya; Takahashi, Wataru; Tokuda, Yukina; Tomita, Hideyuki

2017-05-01

Temozolomide (TMZ) is now standard adjuvant therapy in combination with radiotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute treatment-related leukemia (t-AML) associated with TMZ chemotherapy for patients with glioma is quite a rare complication. A 43-year-old man with an anaplastic astrocytoma received radiation therapy synchronized with ranimustine and adjuvant TMZ chemotherapy for 15 cycles. Close follow-up magnetic resonance imaging of the head during TMZ chemotherapy showed no evidence of tumor progression. One year after the completion of TMZ chemotherapy, a bone-marrow aspiration was performed because the patient's white blood cell count decreased. He was diagnosed with t-AML based on the bone marrow examination, and then he was referred to the cancer center for the treatment of t-AML. In this case study, we continued adjuvant TMZ therapy beyond the recommended 6 cycles. Currently, there is no consensus as to how long the adjuvant TMZ therapy should be continued for the treatment of residual tumor showing no apparent interval change. A new decision-making tool to assess the clinical benefits against the side effects for long-term adjuvant TMZ therapy is needed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phase III trial comparing 3-6 months of adjuvant FOLFOX4/XELOX in stage II-III colon cancer: safety and compliance in the TOSCA trial.

PubMed

Lonardi, S; Sobrero, A; Rosati, G; Di Bartolomeo, M; Ronzoni, M; Aprile, G; Massida, B; Scartozzi, M; Banzi, M; Zampino, M G; Pasini, F; Marchetti, P; Cantore, M; Zaniboni, A; Rimassa, L; Ciuffreda, L; Ferrari, D; Barni, S; Zagonel, V; Maiello, E; Rulli, E; Labianca, R

2016-11-01

Six months of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy is standard of care for radically resected stage III colon cancer and an accepted option for high-risk stage II. A shorter duration of therapy, if equally efficacious, would be advantageous for patients and Health-Care Systems. TOSCA ['Randomized trial investigating the role of FOLFOX-4 or XELOX (3 versus 6 months) regimen duration and bevacizumab as adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II/III colon cancer] is an open-label, phase III, multicenter, noninferiority trial randomizing patients with high-risk stage II or stage III radically resected colon cancer to receive 3 months (arm 3 m) versus 6 months (arm 6 m) of FOLFOX4/XELOX. Primary end-point was relapse-free survival. We present here safety and compliance data. From June 2007 to March 2013, 3759 patients were accrued from 130 Italian sites, 64% receiving FOLFOX4 and 36% XELOX in either arm. Treatment completion rate without any modification was 35% versus 12% and with delays or dose reduction 52% versus 44% in arm 3 and 6 m. Treatment was permanently discontinued in 8% (arm 3 m) and 33% (arm 6 m). In arm 6 m, 50% of patients discontinuing treatment did so after completing 80% of planned program. Grade 3+ toxicities were higher in arm 6 m than that in 3 m. Grade 2+ neuropathy was 31.2% versus 8.8% (P < 0.0001) while grade 3+ was 8.4 versus 1.3 (P < 0.0001), in arm 3 and 6 m. Seven deaths within 30 days from last treatment administration in arm 6 m and three deaths in arm 3 m were observed (0.3% versus 0.1%, P = 0.34). TOSCA is the first trial comparing 3 versus 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy completing accrual within the international initiative of treatment duration evaluation (International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant, IDEA). High compliance to treatment in control arm will allow a correct assessment of potential differences between the two treatment durations. NCT00646607. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of

[Quadriceps tendon insufficiency and rupture : Treatment options in total knee arthroplasty].

PubMed

Thiele, K; von Roth, P; Pfitzner, T; Preininger, B; Perka, C

2016-05-01

Quadriceps tendon injuries and insufficiencies in total knee arthroplasty are rare, but are followed by a devastating complication that left untreated leads to a complete loss of function of the knee. This review article summarizes the functional anatomy, risk factors, and the prevalence and diagnosis of quadriceps tendon injuries, in addition to the possible management options for partial and complete ruptures. The treatment options are adapted according to the extent of the loss of function (partial, complete) and the duration of the injury (acute vs chronic). Furthermore, the choice of treatment should take into account the quality and availability of primary tissue, the patient's general health, along with their likely functional requirements. Conservative treatment is often justified in partial ruptures with good results. Complete ruptures require surgical intervention and multiple operative techniques are described. Treatment options for acute ruptures include direct primary repair with autogenous or synthetic tissue augmentation. In the case of chronic insufficiency and a lack of soft-tissue surroundings, reconstruction with the aid of a muscle flap or allograft tissue can be considered. All surgical intervention techniques used so far have been fraught with complications and rarely lead to satisfactory results. A new surgical approach to the reconstruction and augmentation of the extensor mechanism consists of the use of a synthetic mesh. The technique is described here in detail.

Adjuvant treatment may benefit patients with high-risk upper rectal cancer: A nomogram and recursive partitioning analysis of 547 patients.

PubMed

Wang, Xin; Jin, Jing; Yang, Yong; Liu, Wen-Yang; Ren, Hua; Feng, Yan-Ru; Xiao, Qin; Li, Ning; Deng, Lei; Fang, Hui; Jing, Hao; Lu, Ning-Ning; Tang, Yu; Wang, Jian-Yang; Wang, Shu-Lian; Wang, Wei-Hu; Song, Yong-Wen; Liu, Yue-Ping; Li, Ye-Xiong

2016-10-04

The role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (ACRT) or adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in treating patients with locally advanced upper rectal cancer (URC) after total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery remains unclear. We developed a clinical nomogram and a recursive partitioning analysis (RPA)-based risk stratification system for predicting 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) to determine whether these individuals require ACRT or ACT. This retrospective analysis included 547 patients with primary URC. A nomogram was developed based on the Cox regression model. The performance of the model was assessed by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve in internal validation with bootstrapping. RPA stratified patients into risk groups based on their tumor characteristics. Five independent prognostic factors (age, preoperative increased carcinoembryonic antigen and carcinoma antigen 19-9, positive lymph node [PLN] number, tumor deposit [TD], pathological T classification) were identified and entered into the predictive nomogram. The bootstrap-corrected C-index was 0.757. RPA stratification of the three prognostic groups showed obviously different prognosis. Only the high-risk group (patients with PLN ≤ 6 and TD, or PLN > 6) benefited from ACRT plus ACT when compared with surgery followed by ACRT or ACT, and surgery alone (5-year CSS: 70.8% vs. 57.8% vs. 15.6%, P < 0.001). Our nomogram predicts 5-year CSS after TME surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer and RPA-based stratification indicates that ACRT plus ACT post-surgery may be an important treatment plan with potentially ignificant survival advantages in high-risk URC. This may help to select candidates of adjuvant treatment in prospective studies.

Chitin, Chitosan, and Glycated Chitosan Regulate Immune Responses: The Novel Adjuvants for Cancer Vaccine

PubMed Central

Li, Xiaosong; Min, Min; Du, Nan; Gu, Ying; Hode, Tomas; Naylor, Mark; Chen, Dianjun; Nordquist, Robert E.; Chen, Wei R.

2013-01-01

With the development of cancer immunotherapy, cancer vaccine has become a novel modality for cancer treatment, and the important role of adjuvant has been realized recently. Chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives have shown their advantages as adjuvants for cancer vaccine. In this paper, the adjuvant properties of chitin and chitosan were discussed, and some detailed information about glycated chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles was also presented to illustrate the trend for future development. PMID:23533454

Use and Effectiveness of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Men.

PubMed

Venigalla, Sriram; Carmona, Ruben; Guttmann, David M; Jain, Varsha; Freedman, Gary M; Clark, Amy S; Shabason, Jacob E

2018-05-24

Although adjuvant endocrine therapy confers a survival benefit among females with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, the effectiveness of this treatment among males with HR-positive breast cancer has not been rigorously investigated. To investigate trends, patterns of use, and effectiveness of adjuvant endocrine therapy among men with HR-positive breast cancer. This retrospective cohort study identified patients in the National Cancer Database with breast cancer who had received treatment from 2004 through 2014. Inclusion criteria for the primary study cohort were males at least 18 years old with nonmetastatic HR-positive invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery with or without adjuvant endocrine therapy. A cohort of female patients was also identified using the same inclusion criteria for comparative analyses by sex. Data analysis was conducted from October 1, 2017, to December 15, 2017. Receipt of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Patterns of adjuvant endocrine therapy use were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Association between adjuvant endocrine therapy use and overall survival was assessed using propensity score-weighted multivariable Cox regression models. The primary study cohort comprised 10 173 men with HR-positive breast cancer (mean [interquartile range] age, 66 [57-75] years). The comparative cohort comprised 961 676 women with HR-positive breast cancer (mean [interquartile range] age, 62 [52-72] years). The median follow-up for the male cohort was 49.6 months (range, 0.1-142.5 months). Men presented more frequently than women with HR-positive disease (94.0% vs 84.3%, P < .001). However, eligible men were less likely than women to receive adjuvant endocrine therapy (67.3% vs 79.0%; OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.58-0.63; P < .001). Treatment at academic facilities (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.25; P = .02) and receipt of adjuvant radiotherapy (odds ratio, 2.83; 95% CI, 2.55-3.15; P < .001) or chemotherapy

Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids: a critical appraisal of the current options.

PubMed

Cerato, Marlise Mello; Cerato, Nilo Luiz; Passos, Patrícia; Treigue, Alberto; Damin, Daniel C

2014-01-01

Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is still a dilemma. New techniques have been developed leading to a lower rate of postoperative pain; however, they are associated with a greater likelihood of recurrence. To review current indications as well as the results and complications of the main techniques currently used in the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. A systematic search of the published data on the options for treatment of hemorrhoids up to December 2012 was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, and UpToDate. Currently available surgical treatment options include procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD), and conventional hemorrhoidectomy techniques. Excisional techniques showed similar results regarding pain, time to return to normal activities, and complication rates. PPH and THD were associated with less postoperative pain and lower complication rates; however, both had higher postoperative recurrence rates. Conventional surgical techniques yield better long-term results. Despite good results in the immediate postoperative period, PPH and THD have not shown consistent long-term favorable results.

Treatment options for the management of exercise-induced asthma and bronchoconstriction.

PubMed

Millward, David T; Tanner, Lindsay G; Brown, Mark A

2010-12-01

Treatment for exercise-induced bronchospasm and exercise-induced asthma includes both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options. Pharmacologic agents that have been proven to be effective for treating these conditions include short- and long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonists, mast cell-stabilizing agents, anticholinergics, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). When selecting the most appropriate medication, factors to consider include the effectiveness of each, the duration of action, frequency of administration, potential side effects, and tolerance level. Long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonists should not be used without ICS. Nonpharmacologic treatments include physical conditioning, incorporating a warm-up before and a cool-down period after exercise, performing nasal breathing, avoiding cold weather or environmental allergens, using a face mask or other aid to warm and humidify inhaled air, and modifying dietary intake. The data to support nonpharmacologic treatments are limited; however, they are routinely recommended because of the low risk associated with their use. This article highlights the advantages and limitations of each treatment option.

Carbohydrate-based vaccine adjuvants - discovery and development.

PubMed

Hu, Jing; Qiu, Liying; Wang, Xiaoli; Zou, Xiaopeng; Lu, Mengji; Yin, Jian

2015-10-01

The addition of a suitable adjuvant to a vaccine can generate significant effective adaptive immune responses. There is an urgent need for the development of novel po7tent and safe adjuvants for human vaccines. Carbohydrate molecules are promising adjuvants for human vaccines due to their high biocompatibility and good tolerability in vivo. The present review covers a few promising carbohydrate-based adjuvants, lipopolysaccharide, trehalose-6,6'-dibehenate, QS-21 and inulin as examples, which have been extensively studied in human vaccines in a number of preclinical and clinical studies. The authors discuss the current status, applications and strategies of development of each adjuvant and different adjuvant formulation systems. This information gives insight regarding the exciting prospect in the field of carbohydrate-based adjuvant research. Carbohydrate-based adjuvants are promising candidates as an alternative to the Alum salts for human vaccines development. Furthermore, combining two or more adjuvants in one formulation is one of the effective strategies in adjuvant development. However, further research efforts are needed to study and develop novel adjuvants systems, which can be more stable, potent and safe. The development of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry can improve the study of carbohydrate-based adjuvants.

Histamine type 2 receptor antagonists as adjuvant treatment for resected colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Deva, Sanjeev; Jameson, Michael

2012-08-15

Anecdotal reports of tumour regression with histamine type 2 receptor antagonists (H(2)RAs) have lead to a series of trials with this class of drug as adjuvant therapy to try and improve outcomes in patients with resected colorectal cancers. There was a plausible scientific rationale suggesting merit in this strategy. This included improved immune surveillance (by way of increasing tumour infiltrating lymphocytes), inhibiting the direct proliferative effect of histamine as a growth factor for colorectal cancer and, in the case of cimetidine, inhibiting endothelial expression of E-selectin (a cell adhesion molecule thought to be critical for metastatic spread). To determine if H(2)RAs improve overall survival when used as pre- and/or postoperative therapy in colorectal cancer patients who have had surgical resection with curative intent. We also stratified the results to see if there was an improvement in overall survival in terms of the specific H(2)RA used. Randomised controlled trials were identified using a sensitive search strategy in the following databases: MEDLINE (1964 to present), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2009), EMBASE (1980 to present) and Cancerlit (1983 to present). Criteria for study selection included: patients with colorectal cancer surgically resected with curative intent; H(2)RAs used i) at any dose, ii) for any length of time, iii) with any other treatment modality and iv) in the pre-, peri- or post-operative period. The results were stratified for the H(2)RA used. The literature search retrieved 142 articles. There were six studies included in the final analysis, published from 1995 to 2007, including a total of 1229 patients. All patients were analysed by intention to treat according to their initial allocation. Log hazard ratios and standard errors of treatment effects (on overall survival) were calculated using the Cochrane statistical package RevMan Version 5. Hazard ratios and standard

Current treatment options in (peri)myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Maisch, B; Pankuweit, S

2012-09-01

In inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis there is--apart from heart failure and antiarrhythmic therapies--no alternative to an aetiologically driven specific treatment. Prerequisite are noninvasive and invasive biomarkers including endomyocardial biopsy and PCR on cardiotropic agents. This review deals with the different etiologies of myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy including the genetic background, the predisposition for heart failure and inflammation. It analyses the epidemiologic shift in pathogenetic agents in the last 20 years, the role of innate and aquired immunity including the T- and B-cell driven immune responses. The phases and clinical faces of myocarditis are summarized. Up-to-date information on current treatment options starting with heart failure and antiarrhythmic therapy are provided. Although inflammation can resolve spontaneously, specific treatment directed to the causative aetiology is often required. For fulminant, acute and chronic autoreactive myocarditis immunosuppressive treatment is beneficial, while for viral cardiomyopathy and myocarditis ivIg can resolve inflammation and is as successful as interferon therapy in enteroviral and adenoviral myocarditis. For Parvo B19 and HHV6 myocarditis eradication of the virus is still a problem by any of these treatment options. Finally, the potential of stem cell therapy has to be tested in future trials. In virus-negative, autoreactive perimyocardial disease a locoregional approach with intrapericardial instillation of high local doses of triamcinolone acetate has been shown to be highly efficient and with few systemic side-effects.

Aerial spray adjuvants for herbicidal drift control.

Treesearch

Gratkowski H.; Stewart R.

1973-01-01

Increased public concern about pesticides requires that foresters reduce drift and insure precise application of herbicides to the areas requiring treatment. Drift control is necessary near waterways and other ecologically sensitive areas. This publication discusses available drift control adjuvants for herbicidal sprays. These include invert emulsions, thickening...

Exercise for women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

PubMed

Furmaniak, Anna C; Menig, Matthias; Markes, Martina H

2016-09-21

A huge clinical research database on adjuvant cancer treatment has verified improvements in breast cancer outcomes such as recurrence and mortality rates. On the other hand, adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy and radiotherapy impacts on quality of life due to substantial short- and long-term side effects. A number of studies have evaluated the effect of exercise interventions on those side effects. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in 2006. The original review identified some benefits of physical activity on physical fitness and the resulting capacity for performing activities of daily life. It also identified a lack of evidence for other outcomes, providing clear justification for an updated review. To assess the effect of aerobic or resistance exercise interventions during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer on treatment-related side effects such as physical deterioration, fatigue, diminished quality of life, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. We carried out an updated search in the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (30 March 2015), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 2, 2015), MEDLINE (1966 to 30 March 2015), and EMBASE (1966 to 30 March 2015). We did not update the original searches in CINAHL (1982 to 2004), SPORTDiscus (1975 to 2004), PsycINFO (1872 to 2003), SIGLE (1880 to 2004), and ProQuest Digital Dissertations (1861 to 2004). We searched the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing trials on 30 March 2015. We screened references in relevant reviews and published clinical trials. We included randomised controlled trials that examined aerobic or resistance exercise or both in women undergoing adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Published and unpublished trials were eligible. Two review authors independently performed data extraction, assessed trials, and graded the

Regulatory considerations on new adjuvants and delivery systems.

PubMed

Sesardic, D

2006-04-12

New and improved vaccines and delivery systems are increasingly being developed for prevention, treatment and diagnosis of human diseases. Prior to their use in humans, all new biological products must undergo pre-clinical evaluation. These pre-clinical studies are important not only to establish the biological properties of the material and to evaluate its possible risk to the public, but also to plan protocols for subsequent clinical trials from which safety and efficacy can be evaluated. For vaccines, evaluation in pre-clinical studies is particularly important as information gained may also contribute to identifying the optimum composition and formulation process and provide an opportunity to develop suitable indicator tests for quality control. Data from pre-clinical and laboratory evaluation studies, which continue during clinical studies, is used to support an application for marketing authorisation. Addition of a new adjuvant and exploration of new delivery systems for vaccines presents challenges to both manufacturers and regulatory authorities. Because no adjuvant is licensed as a medicinal product in its own right, but only as a component of a particular vaccine, pre-clinical and appropriate toxicology studies need to be designed on a case-by-case basis to evaluate the safety profile of the adjuvant and adjuvant/vaccine combination. Current regulatory requirements for the pharmaceutical and pre-clinical safety assessment of vaccines are insufficient and initiatives are in place to develop more specific guidelines for evaluation of adjuvants in vaccines.

Adjuvant chemoradiation for resected gallbladder cancer: Treatment strategies for one of the leading causes of cancer death in Chilean women.

PubMed

Müller, Bettina; Sola, José A; Carcamo, Marcela; Ciudad, Ana M; Trujillo, Cristian; Cerda, Berta

2013-01-01

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in Chile. Even after curative surgery, prognosis is grim. To evaluate acute and late toxicity and efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) after curatively resected GBC. We retrospectively analyzed the cohort of patients diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2009, treated with adjuvant CRT at our institution. Treatment protocol considered external beam radiation (RT) (45-54 Gy) to tumor bed and regional lymph nodes with or without concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (500 mg/m2/day by 120-hours continuous infusion on days 1-5 and 29-33). Data was obtained from medical records, mortality from death certificates. Survival was estimated by Kaplan- Meier curves. 46 patients with curatively resected GBC received adjuvant CRT. Median age was 57 years (range 33-76); 39 patients were female. After diagnosis, a second surgery was performed in 42 patients. Cholecystectomy with hepatic segmentectomy and lymphadenectomy was the curative surgery in 41 patients. All patients received RT with a planned dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions, 11 patients received a boost to the tumor bed up to 54 Gy and 34 patients had concurrent 5-FU. Therapy was well tolerated. Five patients experienced grade 3 toxicities. No grade 4 or 5 toxicity was observed. No grade >2 late toxicity was observed. Three- and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 57% and 51%, respectively. Adjuvant chemoradiation is well tolerated and might impact favorably on survival in patients with curatively resected GBC.

Anomia treatment platform as behavioral engine for use in research on physiological adjuvants to neurorehabilitation.

PubMed

Kendall, Diane; Raymer, Anastasia; Rose, Miranda; Gilbert, JoEllen; Gonzalez Rothi, Leslie J

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to create a "behavioral treatment engine" for future use in research on physiological adjuvants in aphasia rehabilitation. We chose the behavioral target anomia, which is a feature displayed by many persons who have aphasia. Further, we wished to saturate the treatment approach with many strategies and cues that have been empirically reported to have a positive influence on aphasia outcome, with the goal being to optimize the potential for positive response in most participants. A single-subject multiple baseline design with replication across eight participants was employed. Four men and four women, with an average age of 62 yr and an average of 63.13 mo poststroke onset, served as participants. Word-retrieval treatment was administered 3 d/wk, 1 h/d for a total of 20 treatment hours (6-7 wk). Positive acquisition effects were evident in all eight participants (d effect size [ES] = 5.40). Treatment effects were maintained 3 mo after treatment termination for five participants (d ES = 2.94). Within and across semantic category, generalization was minimal (d ES = 0.43 within and 1.09 across). This study demonstrates that this behavioral treatment engine provides a solid platform on which to base future studies whereby various treatment conditions are manipulated and pharmacologic support is added.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for endometrial cancer after hysterectomy

PubMed Central

Johnson, Nick; Bryant, Andrew; Miles, Tracie; Hogberg, Thomas; Cornes, Paul

2014-01-01

Background Endometrial adenocarcinoma (womb cancer) is a malignant growth of the lining (endometrium) of the womb (uterus). It is distinct from sarcomas (tumours of the uterine muscle). Survival depends the risk of microscopic metastases after surgery. Adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy improves survival from some other adenocarcinomas, and there is evidence that endometrial cancer is sensitive to cytotoxic therapy. This systematic review examines the effect of chemotherapy on survival after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Objectives To assess efficacy of adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy for endometrial cancer. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2010, Issue 3), MEDLINE and EMBASE up to August 2010, registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, reference lists of included studies and contacted experts in the field. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing adjuvant chemotherapy with any other adjuvant treatment or no other treatment. Data collection and analysis We used a random-effects meta-analysis to assess hazard ratios (HR) for overall and progression-free survival and risk ratios (RR) to compare death rates and site of initial relapse. Main results Five RCTs compared no additional treatment with additional chemotherapy after hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Four trials compared platinum based combination chemotherapy directly with radiotherapy. Indiscriminate pooling of survival data from 2197 women shows a significant overall survival advantage from adjuvant chemotherapy (RR (95% CI) = 0.88 (0.79 to 0.99)). Sensitivity analysis focused on trials of modern platinum based chemotherapy regimens and found the relative risk of death to be 0.85 ((0.76 to 0.96); number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNT) = 25; absolute risk reduction = 4% (1% to 8%)). The HR for overall survival is 0.74 (0.64 to 0.89), significantly

Readability of websites containing information about prostate cancer treatment options.

PubMed

Ellimoottil, Chandy; Polcari, Anthony; Kadlec, Adam; Gupta, Gopal

2012-12-01

Approximately 90 million American adults have literacy skills that test below a high school reading level. Websites written above this level can pose a challenge for those seeking online information about prostate cancer treatment options. In this study we determine the readability of selected websites using a systematic search process and validated readability formulas. We identified the 3 most popular keywords from 513 terms related to prostate cancer treatment options. We then systematically collected 270 websites from the top 3 search engines, and excluded from study those that were nonEnglish, not primarily text, irrelevant and/or duplicated. We used the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Flesch Reading Ease to determine scores for each site. A total of 62 unique websites were analyzed. Median Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 12.0 (range 8.0 to 12.0) and median Flesch Reading Ease score was 38.1 (range 0.0 to 65.5). Only 3 sites (4.8%) were written below a high school reading level (less than 9.0). Few websites with discussions on prostate cancer treatment options are written below a high school reading level. This is problematic for a third of Americans who seek to further educate themselves using online resources. Clinicians can use this information to guide their patients to appropriate websites. Copyright © 2012 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy as a part of management in early endometrial cancer.

PubMed

Kellas-Ślęczka, Sylwia; Wojcieszek, Piotr; Białas, Brygida

2012-12-01

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent cancer of female genital tract. Metro- and menorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding results in its early presentation. It allows radical treatment. However, controversies remain on surgery coverage or adjuvant therapies in early endometrial women cancer. Optimal management should minimize intervention instead of aggressive approach, as showed by recent studies. There is a role for brachytherapy as an adjuvant irradiation. Crucial publications including PORTEC-1, GOG 99, MRC ASTEC, ASTEC/EN.5, PORTEC-2 or Italian lymphadenectomy trial are discussed. Moreover, there is attention paid on adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy analyses for the past fifteen years.

Adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy as a part of management in early endometrial cancer

PubMed Central

Wojcieszek, Piotr; Białas, Brygida

2012-01-01

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent cancer of female genital tract. Metro- and menorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding results in its early presentation. It allows radical treatment. However, controversies remain on surgery coverage or adjuvant therapies in early endometrial women cancer. Optimal management should minimize intervention instead of aggressive approach, as showed by recent studies. There is a role for brachytherapy as an adjuvant irradiation. Crucial publications including PORTEC-1, GOG 99, MRC ASTEC, ASTEC/EN.5, PORTEC-2 or Italian lymphadenectomy trial are discussed. Moreover, there is attention paid on adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy analyses for the past fifteen years. PMID:23378855

Successful continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation with adjuvant tricuspid valve repair for advanced heart failure.

PubMed

Lee, Chih-Hsien; Wei, Jeng

The prevalence of end-stage heart failure (HF) is on the increase, however, the availability of donor hearts remains limited. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly being used for treating patients with end-stage HF. LVADs are not only used as a bridge to transplantation but also as a destination therapy. HeartMate II, a new-generation, continuous-flow LVAD (cf-LVAD), is currently an established treatment option for patients with HF. Technological progress and increasing implantation of cf-LVADs have significantly improved survival in patients with end-stage HF. Here we report a case of a patient with end-stage HF who was successfully supported using cf-LVAD implantation with adjuvant tricuspid valve repair in a general district hospital.

Do online prognostication tools represent a valid alternative to genomic profiling in the context of adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer? A systematic review of the literature.

PubMed

El Hage Chehade, Hiba; Wazir, Umar; Mokbel, Kinan; Kasem, Abdul; Mokbel, Kefah

2018-01-01

Decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy has been based on clinical and pathological features. However, such decisions are seldom consistent. Web-based predictive models have been developed using data from cancer registries to help determine the need for adjuvant therapy. More recently, with the recognition of the heterogenous nature of breast cancer, genomic assays have been developed to aid in the therapeutic decision-making. We have carried out a comprehensive literature review regarding online prognostication tools and genomic assays to assess whether online tools could be used as valid alternatives to genomic profiling in decision-making regarding adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer. Breast cancer has been recently recognized as a heterogenous disease based on variations in molecular characteristics. Online tools are valuable in guiding adjuvant treatment, especially in resource constrained countries. However, in the era of personalized therapy, molecular profiling appears to be superior in predicting clinical outcome and guiding therapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: Pathophysiology, Imaging Characteristics, and Treatment Options.

PubMed

Eajazi, Alireza; Kussman, Steve; LeBedis, Christina; Guermazi, Ali; Kompel, Andrew; Jawa, Andrew; Murakami, Akira M

2015-11-01

The purpose of this article is to review the biomechanical properties of the rotator cuff and glenohumeral joint and the pathophysiology, imaging characteristics, and treatment options of rotator cuff tear arthropathy (RCTA). Although multiple pathways have been proposed as causes of RCTA, the exact cause remains unclear. Increasing knowledge about the clinical diagnosis, imaging features, and indicators of severity improves recognition and treatment of this pathologic condition.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approval: Neratinib for the Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Singh, Harpreet; Walker, Amanda J; Amiri-Kordestani, Laleh; Cheng, Joyce; Tang, Shenghui; Balcazar, Pamela; Barnett-Ringgold, Kimberly; Palmby, Todd R; Cao, Xianhua; Zheng, Nan; Liu, Qi; Yu, Jingyu; Pierce, William F; Daniels, Selena R; Sridhara, Rajeshwari; Ibrahim, Amna; Kluetz, Paul G; Blumenthal, Gideon M; Beaver, Julia A; Pazdur, Richard

2018-03-09

On July 17, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved neratinib (NERLYNX, Puma Biotechnology, Inc) for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early-stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer, to follow adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy. Approval was based on data from ExteNET, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer and within two years of completing adjuvant trastuzumab were randomized to neratinib (n=1420) or placebo (n=1420) for one year. The primary endpoint was invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) defined as the time between randomization date to first occurrence of invasive recurrence (local/regional, ipsilateral or contralateral breast cancer), distance recurrence, or death from any cause, with two years and 28 days of follow up. The trial showed a statistically significant treatment effect favoring neratinib with a stratified hazard ratio of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.90, p=0.008). Estimated iDFS rate at 2-years was 94.2% (95% CI: 92.6%, 95.4%) in patients treated with neratinib vs. 91.9% (95% CI: 90.2%, 93.2%) in those receiving placebo. Diarrhea was the most common adverse event (AE) with a 40% incidence of Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea and represents the most common AE leading to treatment discontinuation. Other frequent AEs (>10% incidence) were nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, rash, stomatitis, decreased appetite, and muscle spasms. Other than diarrhea, neratinib is associated with a low incidence of severe AEs; toxicities are generally reversible and manageable with dose interruptions, dose reductions, and/or standard medical care. This article summarizes FDA decision-making and data supporting the neratinib approval. Copyright ©2018, American Association for Cancer Research.

Vaxjo: a web-based vaccine adjuvant database and its application for analysis of vaccine adjuvants and their uses in vaccine development.

PubMed

Sayers, Samantha; Ulysse, Guerlain; Xiang, Zuoshuang; He, Yongqun

2012-01-01

Vaccine adjuvants are compounds that enhance host immune responses to co-administered antigens in vaccines. Vaxjo is a web-based central database and analysis system that curates, stores, and analyzes vaccine adjuvants and their usages in vaccine development. Basic information of a vaccine adjuvant stored in Vaxjo includes adjuvant name, components, structure, appearance, storage, preparation, function, safety, and vaccines that use this adjuvant. Reliable references are curated and cited. Bioinformatics scripts are developed and used to link vaccine adjuvants to different adjuvanted vaccines stored in the general VIOLIN vaccine database. Presently, 103 vaccine adjuvants have been curated in Vaxjo. Among these adjuvants, 98 have been used in 384 vaccines stored in VIOLIN against over 81 pathogens, cancers, or allergies. All these vaccine adjuvants are categorized and analyzed based on adjuvant types, pathogens used, and vaccine types. As a use case study of vaccine adjuvants in infectious disease vaccines, the adjuvants used in Brucella vaccines are specifically analyzed. A user-friendly web query and visualization interface is developed for interactive vaccine adjuvant search. To support data exchange, the information of vaccine adjuvants is stored in the Vaccine Ontology (VO) in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) format.

Vaxjo: A Web-Based Vaccine Adjuvant Database and Its Application for Analysis of Vaccine Adjuvants and Their Uses in Vaccine Development

PubMed Central

Sayers, Samantha; Ulysse, Guerlain; Xiang, Zuoshuang; He, Yongqun

2012-01-01

Vaccine adjuvants are compounds that enhance host immune responses to co-administered antigens in vaccines. Vaxjo is a web-based central database and analysis system that curates, stores, and analyzes vaccine adjuvants and their usages in vaccine development. Basic information of a vaccine adjuvant stored in Vaxjo includes adjuvant name, components, structure, appearance, storage, preparation, function, safety, and vaccines that use this adjuvant. Reliable references are curated and cited. Bioinformatics scripts are developed and used to link vaccine adjuvants to different adjuvanted vaccines stored in the general VIOLIN vaccine database. Presently, 103 vaccine adjuvants have been curated in Vaxjo. Among these adjuvants, 98 have been used in 384 vaccines stored in VIOLIN against over 81 pathogens, cancers, or allergies. All these vaccine adjuvants are categorized and analyzed based on adjuvant types, pathogens used, and vaccine types. As a use case study of vaccine adjuvants in infectious disease vaccines, the adjuvants used in Brucella vaccines are specifically analyzed. A user-friendly web query and visualization interface is developed for interactive vaccine adjuvant search. To support data exchange, the information of vaccine adjuvants is stored in the Vaccine Ontology (VO) in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) format. PMID:22505817

Total gastrectomy increases the incidence of grade III and IV toxicities in patients with gastric cancer receiving adjuvant TS-1 treatment.

PubMed

Chou, Wen-Chi; Chang, Chia-Lun; Liu, Keng-Hao; Hsu, Jun-Te; Cheng, Wei Hong; Hsu, Hung-Chih; Shen, Wen-Chi; Hung, Yu-Shin; Chen, Jen-Shi

2013-11-01

We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TS-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in Taiwanese patients with gastric cancer. We included in this study patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who received adjuvant TS-1 or 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy after curative surgery and extended lymph node dissection between 1 June 2008 and 31 December 2012 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patient characteristics, tumor features, safety profiles and compliance with TS-1 treatment were retrospectively analyzed from medical charts. Forty patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with TS-1 and 193 with 5-fluorouracil within the study period. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 90.6% and 87% in the TS-1 group and 95.4% and 86.8% in the 5-fluorouracil group (P = 0.34). The 1- and 2-year disease-free survival rates were 90.6% and 74.7% in the TS-1 group and 88% and 75.7% in the 5-fluorouracil group (P = 0.66). In the TS-1 group, tumor recurrence was more frequent in those with >15 metastatic lymph nodes than ≤15. Overall, 78.9%, 74.3%, 62.1% and 56% of patients underwent TS-1 treatment for at least 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. The most common adverse events of TS-1 were skin hyperpigmentation (55%), diarrhea (27.5%), dizziness (27.5%) and leucopenia (20%). Severe adverse events (SAEs; grade III or IV toxicity) were diarrhea (7.5%), stomatitis (7.5%), leukopenia (5%), vomiting (2.5%), anorexia (2.5%) and dizziness (2.5%). Patients who underwent total gastrectomy had a significantly greater risk of TS-1-related SAEs than patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy (40% versus 8%, P = 0.014). The incidence of SAEs during TS-1 therapy was more common in Taiwanese patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy compared with those who underwent subtotal gastrectomy. Clinicians must be aware of and able to manage these SAEs to maximize patient compliance with adjuvant TS-1.

Baicalin Inhibits IL-17-Mediated Joint Inflammation in Murine Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis

PubMed Central

Yang, Xue; Yang, Ji; Zou, Hejian

2013-01-01

T-helper-17 (Th17) cells are implicated in a number of inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis. Antagonism of Th17 cells is a treatment option for arthritis. Here, we report that Baicalin, a compound isolated from the Chinese herb Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), relieved ankle swelling and protected the joint against inflammatory destruction in a murine adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Baicalin inhibited splenic Th17 cell population expansion in vivo. Baicalin prevented interleukin- (IL-) 17-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to cultured synoviocytes. Baicalin also blocked IL-17-induced intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression in cultured synoviocytes. Collectively, these findings suggest that Baicalin downregulates the joint inflammation caused by IL-17, which is likely produced by an expanded population of splenic Th17 cells in experimental arthritis. Baicalin might be a promising novel therapeutic agent for treating rheumatoid arthritis in humans. PMID:23840239

Options Assessment Report: Treatment of Nitrate Salt Waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robinson, Bruce Alan; Stevens, Patrice Ann

2015-12-17

This report documents the methodology used to select a method of treatment for the remediated nitrate salt (RNS) and unremediated nitrate salt (UNS) waste containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The method selected should treat the containerized waste in a manner that renders the waste safe and suitable for transport and final disposal in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) repository, under specifications listed in the WIPP Waste Acceptance Criteria (DOE/CBFO, 2013). LANL recognizes that the results must be thoroughly vetted with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and that a modification to the LANL Hazardous Waste Facility Permitmore » is a necessary step before implementation of this or any treatment option. Likewise, facility readiness and safety basis approvals must be received from the Department of Energy (DOE). This report presents LANL’s preferred option, and the documentation of the process for reaching the recommended treatment option for RNS and UNS waste, and is presented for consideration by NMED and DOE.« less

Adjuvant tamoxifen and exemestane in early breast cancer (TEAM): a randomised phase 3 trial.

PubMed

van de Velde, Cornelis J H; Rea, Daniel; Seynaeve, Caroline; Putter, Hein; Hasenburg, Annette; Vannetzel, Jean-Michel; Paridaens, Robert; Markopoulos, Christos; Hozumi, Yasuo; Hille, Elysee T M; Kieback, Dirk G; Asmar, Lina; Smeets, Jan; Nortier, Johan W R; Hadji, Peyman; Bartlett, John M S; Jones, Stephen E

2011-01-22

Aromatase inhibitors improved disease-free survival compared with tamoxifen when given as an initial adjuvant treatment or after 2-3 years of tamoxifen to postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. We therefore compared the long-term effects of exemestane monotherapy with sequential treatment (tamoxifen followed by exemestane). The Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) phase 3 trial was conducted in hospitals in nine countries. Postmenopausal women (median age 64 years, range 35-96) with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to open-label exemestane (25 mg once a day, orally) alone or following tamoxifen (20 mg once a day, orally) for 5 years. Randomisation was by use of a computer-generated random permuted block method. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years. Main analyses were by intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00279448, NCT00032136, and NCT00036270; NTR 267; Ethics Commission Trial27/2001; and UMIN, C000000057. 9779 patients were assigned to sequential treatment (n=4875) or exemestane alone (n=4904), and 4868 and 4898 were analysed by intention to treat, respectively. 4154 (85%) patients in the sequential group and 4186 (86%) in the exemestane alone group were disease free at 5 years (hazard ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·88-1·08; p=0·60). In the safety analysis, sequential treatment was associated with a higher incidence of gynaecological symptoms (942 [20%] of 4814 vs 523 [11%] of 4852), venous thrombosis (99 [2%] vs 47 [1%]), and endometrial abnormalities (191 [4%] vs 19 [<1%]) than was exemestane alone. Musculoskeletal adverse events (2448 [50%] vs 2133 [44%]), hypertension (303 [6%] vs 219 [5%]), and hyperlipidaemia (230 [5%] vs 136 [3%]) were reported more frequently with exemestane alone. Treatment regimens of exemestane alone or after tamoxifen might be judged to be appropriate options for postmenopausal women with

Evaluation of a 2-aminoimidazole variant as adjuvant treatment for dermal bacterial infections.

PubMed

Draughn, G Logan; Allen, C Leigh; Routh, Patricia A; Stone, Maria R; Kirker, Kelly R; Boegli, Laura; Schuchman, Ryan M; Linder, Keith E; Baynes, Ronald E; James, Garth; Melander, Christian; Pollard, Angela; Cavanagh, John

2017-01-01

2-Aminoimidazole (2-AI)-based compounds have been shown to efficiently disrupt biofilm formation, disperse existing biofilms, and resensitize numerous multidrug-resistant bacteria to antibiotics. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , we provide initial pharmacological studies regarding the application of a 2-AI as a topical adjuvant for persistent dermal infections. In vitro assays indicated that the 2-AI H10 is nonbactericidal, resensitizes bacteria to antibiotics, does not harm the integument, and promotes wound healing. Furthermore, in vivo application of H10 on swine skin caused no gross abnormalities or immune reactions. Taken together, these results indicate that H10 represents a promising lead dermal adjuvant compound.

Evaluation of a 2-aminoimidazole variant as adjuvant treatment for dermal bacterial infections

PubMed Central

Draughn, G Logan; Allen, C Leigh; Routh, Patricia A; Stone, Maria R; Kirker, Kelly R; Boegli, Laura; Schuchman, Ryan M; Linder, Keith E; Baynes, Ronald E; James, Garth; Melander, Christian; Pollard, Angela; Cavanagh, John

2017-01-01

2-Aminoimidazole (2-AI)-based compounds have been shown to efficiently disrupt biofilm formation, disperse existing biofilms, and resensitize numerous multidrug-resistant bacteria to antibiotics. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, we provide initial pharmacological studies regarding the application of a 2-AI as a topical adjuvant for persistent dermal infections. In vitro assays indicated that the 2-AI H10 is nonbactericidal, resensitizes bacteria to antibiotics, does not harm the integument, and promotes wound healing. Furthermore, in vivo application of H10 on swine skin caused no gross abnormalities or immune reactions. Taken together, these results indicate that H10 represents a promising lead dermal adjuvant compound. PMID:28138218

Survival after recurrence in patients with gastric cancer who receive S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy: exploratory analysis of the ACTS-GC trial.

PubMed

Ito, Seiji; Ohashi, Yasuo; Sasako, Mitsuru

2018-04-20

Some patients develop recurrence after curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine, is one of the standard regimens in adjuvant chemotherapy, and is also used in first-line treatment for advanced/metastatic gastric cancer. It is controversial as to whether the same treatment strategy can be applied for patients who develop recurrence after adjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. To investigate this issue, we compared the outcomes of patients who developed recurrences after treatment with or without adjuvant chemotherapy using the results of the Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Gastric Cancer (ACTS-GC). Patients who had confirmed recurrence in the ACTS-GC trial were analyzed. We defined 2 independent cohorts. Cohort 1 patients were divided by whether they received adjuvant chemotherapy (adjuvant S-1 group and surgery-only group). Cohort 2 patients were divided by whether they received a regimen including S-1 (IS) or not including S-1 (NIS) after recurrence. A total of 375 patients experienced recurrence (160 in the adjuvant S-1 group and 215 in the surgery-only group). In cohort 1, the median time from recurrence to death (TFRD) was 11.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.4-13.9) in the adjuvant S-1 group and 11.3 months (95% CI, 9.7-13.1) in the surgery-only group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.84-1.31). In cohort 2, 292 patients received chemotherapy after recurrence and were divided into the IS (n = 189) or the NIS group (n = 103). The median TFRD was 13.9 months (95% CI, 12.7-15.6) in the IS group and 8.1 months (95% CI, 6.6-9.7) in the NIS group (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.45-0.76), and there was no significant interaction between the adjuvant S-1 group and surgery-only group. Adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 prolonged overall survival without influencing the TFRD. The same treatment strategy may be applied for patients who develop recurrence after adjuvant chemotherapy and

Effects of Screening and Systemic Adjuvant Therapy on ER-Specific US Breast Cancer Mortality

PubMed Central

Munoz, Diego; Near, Aimee M.; van Ravesteyn, Nicolien T.; Lee, Sandra J.; Schechter, Clyde B.; Alagoz, Oguzhan; Berry, Donald A.; Burnside, Elizabeth S.; Chang, Yaojen; Chisholm, Gary; de Koning, Harry J.; Ali Ergun, Mehmet; Heijnsdijk, Eveline A. M.; Huang, Hui; Stout, Natasha K.; Sprague, Brian L.; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Mandelblatt, Jeanne S.

2014-01-01

Background Molecular characterization of breast cancer allows subtype-directed interventions. Estrogen receptor (ER) is the longest-established molecular marker. Methods We used six established population models with ER-specific input parameters on age-specific incidence, disease natural history, mammography characteristics, and treatment effects to quantify the impact of screening and adjuvant therapy on age-adjusted US breast cancer mortality by ER status from 1975 to 2000. Outcomes included stage-shifts and absolute and relative reductions in mortality; sensitivity analyses evaluated the impact of varying screening frequency or accuracy. Results In the year 2000, actual screening and adjuvant treatment reduced breast cancer mortality by a median of 17 per 100000 women (model range = 13–21) and 5 per 100000 women (model range = 3–6) for ER-positive and ER-negative cases, respectively, relative to no screening and no adjuvant treatment. For ER-positive cases, adjuvant treatment made a higher relative contribution to breast cancer mortality reduction than screening, whereas for ER-negative cases the relative contributions were similar for screening and adjuvant treatment. ER-negative cases were less likely to be screen-detected than ER-positive cases (35.1% vs 51.2%), but when screen-detected yielded a greater survival gain (five-year breast cancer survival = 35.6% vs 30.7%). Screening biennially would have captured a lower proportion of mortality reduction than annual screening for ER-negative vs ER-positive cases (model range = 80.2%–87.8% vs 85.7%–96.5%). Conclusion As advances in risk assessment facilitate identification of women with increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer, additional mortality reductions could be realized through more frequent targeted screening, provided these benefits are balanced against screening harms. PMID:25255803

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE CURRENT OPTIONS

PubMed Central

CERATO, Marlise Mello; CERATO, Nilo Luiz; PASSOS, Patrícia; TREIGUE, Alberto; DAMIN, Daniel C.

2014-01-01

Introduction Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is still a dilemma. New techniques have been developed leading to a lower rate of postoperative pain; however, they are associated with a greater likelihood of recurrence. Aim To review current indications as well as the results and complications of the main techniques currently used in the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Methods A systematic search of the published data on the options for treatment of hemorrhoids up to December 2012 was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, and UpToDate. Results Currently available surgical treatment options include procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD), and conventional hemorrhoidectomy techniques. Excisional techniques showed similar results regarding pain, time to return to normal activities, and complication rates. PPH and THD were associated with less postoperative pain and lower complication rates; however, both had higher postoperative recurrence rates. Conclusion Conventional surgical techniques yield better long-term results. Despite good results in the immediate postoperative period, PPH and THD have not shown consistent long-term favorable results. PMID:24676303

Radiation Therapy Field Extent for Adjuvant Treatment of Axillary Metastases From Malignant Melanoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beadle, Beth M.; Guadagnolo, B. Ashleigh; Ballo, Matthew T.

2009-04-01

Purpose: To compare treatment-related outcomes and toxicity for patients with axillary lymph node metastases from malignant melanoma treated with postoperative radiation therapy (RT) to either the axilla only or both the axilla and supraclavicular fossa (extended field [EF]). Methods and Materials: The medical records of 200 consecutive patients treated with postoperative RT for axillary lymph node metastases from malignant melanoma were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received postoperative hypofractionated RT for high-risk features; 95 patients (48%) received RT to the axilla only and 105 patients (52%) to the EF. Results: At a median follow-up of 59 months, 111 patients (56%) hadmore » sustained relapse, and 99 patients (50%) had died. The 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 51%, 43%, and 46%, respectively. The 5-year axillary control rate was 88%. There was no difference in axillary control rates on the basis of the treated field (89% for axilla only vs. 86% for EF; p = 0.4). Forty-seven patients (24%) developed treatment-related complications. On both univariate and multivariate analyses, only treatment with EF irradiation was significantly associated with increased treatment-related complications. Conclusions: Adjuvant hypofractionated RT to the axilla only for metastatic malignant melanoma with high-risk features is an effective method to control axillary disease. Limiting the radiation field to the axilla only produced equivalent axillary control rates to EF and resulted in lower treatment-related complication rates.« less

A Review and Update of Treatment Options and Controversies in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PubMed

Dhir, Mashaal; Melin, Alyson A; Douaiher, Jeffrey; Lin, Chi; Zhen, Weining Ken; Hussain, Shahid M; Geschwind, Jean-Francois H; Doyle, Maria B Majella; Abou-Alfa, Ghassan K; Are, Chandrakanth

2016-06-01

To review the current management, outline recent advances and address controversies in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The treatment of HCC is multidisciplinary involving hepatologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, and other disciplines. Each of these disciplines brings its unique perspective and differing opinions that add to controversies in the management of HCC. A focused literature review was performed to identify recent studies on the management of HCC and thereby summarize relevant information on the various therapeutic modalities and controversies involved in the treatment of HCC. The main treatment algorithms continue to rely on hepatic resection or transplantation with controversies involving patients harboring early stage disease and borderline hepatic function. The other treatment strategies include locoregional therapies, radiation, and systemic therapy used alone or in combination with other treatment modalities. Recent advances in locoregional therapies, radiation, and systemic therapies have provided better therapeutic options with curative intent potential for some locoregional therapies. Further refinements in combination therapies such as algorithms consisting of locoregional therapies and systemic or radiation therapies are likely to add additional options and improve survival. The management of HCC has witnessed significant strides with advances in existing options and introduction of several new treatment modalities of various combinations. Further refinements in these treatment options combined with enrollment in clinical trials are essential to improve the management and outcomes of patients with HCC.

Current and future treatment options for esophageal cancer in the elderly.

PubMed

Bollschweiler, Elfriede; Plum, Patrick; Mönig, Stefan P; Hölscher, Arnulf H

2017-07-01

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally and has the sixth worst prognosis because of its aggressiveness and poor survival. Data regarding cancer treatment in older patients is limited because the elderly have been under-represented in clinical trials. Therefore, we reviewed the existing literature regarding treatment results for elderly patients (70+ years). Areas covered: We used pubmed to analyze the actual literature according to elderly esophageal cancer patients with subheading of incidence, esophagectomy, chemoradiation or chemotherapy. The main points of interest were treatment options for patients with Barrett's esophagus or early carcinoma, advanced tumor stages, and inoperable cancer. Expert opinion: The incidence of esophageal cancer has been increasing over the past thirty years, with a rapid increase of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western industrialized nations. Patients aged over 60 years have been particularly affected. In this review, we have shown that elderly patients with esophageal cancer have various alternatives for adequate treatment. Clinical evaluation of comorbidity is necessary to make treatment decisions. Therapeutic options for early carcinomas are endoscopic or surgical resection. For elderly patients with advanced carcinomas, preoperative chemoradiation or chemotherapy should be discussed.

Active treatment for food allergy.

PubMed

Kobernick, Aaron K; Burks, A Wesley

2016-10-01

Food allergy has grown in rapidly in prevalence, currently affecting 5% of adults and 8% of children. Management strategy is currently limited to 1) food avoidance and 2) carrying and using rescue intramuscular epinephrine/adrenaline and oral antihistamines in the case of accidental ingestion; there is no FDA approved treatment. Recently, oral, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy have been developed as active treatment of food allergy, though none have completed phase 3 study. Efficacy and safety studies of immunotherapy have been variable, though there is clearly signal that immunotherapy will be a viable option to desensitize patients. The use of bacterial adjuvants, anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies, and Chinese herbal formulations either alone or in addition to immunotherapy may hold promise as future options for active treatment. Active prevention of food allergy through early introduction of potentially offending foods in high-risk infants will be an important means to slow the rising incidence of sensitization. Copyright © 2016 Japanese Society of Allergology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modern Vaccines/Adjuvants Formulation Session 6: Vaccine &Adjuvant Formulation & Production 15-17 May 2013, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PubMed

Fox, Christopher B

2013-09-01

The Modern Vaccines/Adjuvants Formulation meeting aims to fill a critical gap in current vaccine development efforts by bringing together formulation scientists and immunologists to emphasize the importance of rational formulation design in order to optimize vaccine and adjuvant bioactivity, safety, and manufacturability. Session 6 on Vaccine and Adjuvant Formulation and Production provided three examples of this theme, with speakers emphasizing the need for extensive physicochemical characterization of adjuvant-antigen interactions, the rational formulation design of a CD8+ T cell-inducing adjuvant based on immunological principles, and the development and production of a rabies vaccine by a developing country manufacturer. Throughout the session, the practical importance of sound formulation and manufacturing design accompanied by analytical characterization was highlighted.

Managing AVN following internal fixation: treatment options and clinical results.

PubMed

Hoskinson, Simon; Morison, Zachary; Shahrokhi, Shahram; Schemitsch, Emil H

2015-03-01

Avascular necrosis (AVN) after internal fixation of intracapsular hip fractures is a progressive multifactorial disease that ultimately results in local ischemia with ensuing osteocyte necrosis and structural compromise. This disease can cause significant clinical morbidity and affects patients of any age, including young and active patients. Effective treatment of this condition among young adults is challenging due to their high functional demands. The aim of managing AVN is to relieve pain, preserve range of movement and improve function. Treatment methods vary depending on the stage of the disease and can be broadly categorised into two options, hip preserving surgery and hip arthroplasty. Although, hip preserving techniques are attractive in the young adult, they may alter the morphology of the proximal femur and make subsequent arthroplasty more challenging. Conversely, arthroplasty in the young adult may require repeat revision procedures throughout the patient's life. Current evidence suggests that modifications of prevailing treatments, in addition to new technologies, have led to the development of management strategies that may be able to alter the course of femoral head osteonecrosis. This review aims to summarise the options available for treatment of AVN in the young adult and review the clinical results. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topical tranexamic acid as an adjuvant treatment in melasma: Side-by-side comparison clinical study.

PubMed

Chung, Jong Yoon; Lee, Jong Hee; Lee, Joo Heung

2016-08-01

Tranexamic acid (TNA) is a novel therapeutic agent for hyperpigmented skin disorders. The efficacy and safety of topical TNA in patients with melasma has not been heretofore studied. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical TNA combined with intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment in Asians with melasma. A randomized, split-face (internally controlled) study was conducted in 15 women who received four monthly sessions of IPL to both sides of the face. Topical TNA or vehicle was applied to a randomly assigned side during and after IPL treatment. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks after completing the IPL treatments. Baseline and follow-up melanin index (MI; measured by Mexameter®, Courage and Khazaka, Cologne, Germany) and modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) scores were determined. Thirteen subjects completed the study without serious adverse events. MI and mMASI decreased significantly from baseline to 12 weeks after the last IPL treatment on the topical TNA side but not on the vehicle side. The efficacy of topical TNA in preventing rebound pigmentation after IPL treatment was also statistically significant. Topical TNA can be considered an effective and safe adjuvant to conventional treatment for melasma.

Melatonin and Fertoprotective Adjuvants: Prevention against Premature Ovarian Failure during Chemotherapy

PubMed Central

Jang, Hoon; Hong, Kwonho; Choi, Youngsok

2017-01-01

Premature ovarian failure is one of the side effects of chemotherapy in pre-menopausal cancer patients. Preservation of fertility has become increasingly important in improving the quality of life of completely recovered cancer patients. Among the possible strategies for preserving fertility such as ovarian tissue cryopreservation, co-treatment with a pharmacological adjuvant is highly effective and poses less of a burden on the human body. Melatonin is generally produced in various tissues and acts as a universally acting antioxidant in cells. Melatonin is now more widely used in various biological processes including treating insomnia and an adjuvant during chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize the information indicating that melatonin may be useful for reducing and preventing premature ovarian failure in chemotherapy-treated female patients. We also mention that many adjuvants other than melatonin are developed and used to inhibit chemotherapy-induced infertility. This information will give us novel insights on the clinical use of melatonin and other agents as fertoprotective adjuvants for female cancer patients. PMID:28590419

Grey water characteristics and treatment options for rural areas in Jordan.

PubMed

Halalsheh, M; Dalahmeh, S; Sayed, M; Suleiman, W; Shareef, M; Mansour, M; Safi, M

2008-09-01

Low water consumption in rural areas in Jordan had resulted in the production of concentrated grey water. Average COD, BOD and TSS values were 2568mg/l, 1056mg/l and 845mg/l, respectively. The average grey water generation was measured to be 14L/c.d. Three different treatment options were selected based on certain criterions, and discussed in this article. The examined treatment systems are septic tank followed by intermittent sand filter; septic tank followed by wetlands; and UASB-hybrid reactor. Advantages and disadvantages of each system are presented. It was concluded that UASB-hybrid reactor would be the most suitable treatment option in terms of compactness and simplicity in operation. The volume of UASB-hybrid reactor was calculated to be 0.268m(3) with a surface area of 0.138m(2) for each house having 10 inhabitants on average. Produced effluent is expected to meet Jordanian standards set for reclaimed water reuse in irrigating fruit trees.

Current treatment options for the management of esophageal cancer

PubMed Central

Mawhinney, Mark R; Glasgow, Robert E

2012-01-01

In recent years, esophageal cancer characteristics and management options have evolved significantly. There has been a sharp increase in the frequency of esophageal adenocarcinoma and a decline in the frequency of squamous cell carcinoma. A more comprehensive understanding of prognostic factors influencing outcome has also been developed. This has led to more management options for esophageal cancer at all stages than ever before. A multidisciplinary, team approach to management in a high volume center is the preferred approach. Each patient should be individually assessed based on type of cancer, local or regional involvement, and his or her own functional status to determine an appropriate treatment regimen. This review will discuss management of esophageal cancer relative to disease progression and patient functional status. PMID:23152702

Emerging Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

PubMed

Magistro, Giuseppe; Chapple, Christopher R; Elhilali, Mostafa; Gilling, Peter; McVary, Kevin T; Roehrborn, Claus G; Stief, Christian G; Woo, Henry H; Gratzke, Christian

2017-12-01

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are one of the most common and troublesome nonmalignant conditions affecting quality of life in aging men. A spectrum of established medical and surgical options is available to provide relief of bothersome LUTS. Both the adverse events of medication and the morbidity with surgical treatment modalities have to be counterbalanced against efficacy. Novel minimally invasive treatment options aim to be effective, ideally to be performed in an ambulatory setting under local anaesthesia and to offer a more favourable safety profile than existing reference techniques. A comprehensive, narrative review of novel minimally invasive treatment modalities for the management of male LUTS due to benign prostatic enlargement is presented. Medline, PubMed, Cochrane database, and Embase were screened for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials, and reviews on novel minimally invasive treatment options for male LUTS due to benign prostatic enlargement. With regard to newly devised intraprostatic injectables (botulinum neurotoxin A, NX1207, PRX302), PRX302 is currently the only substance that was superior to placebo in a phase 3 RCT providing proof of efficacy and safety. The prostatic urethral lift technique has been evaluated in several phase 3 trials showing rapid and durable relief of LUTS without compromising sexual function in carefully selected patients without a prominent median lobe. The first clinical experience of the temporary implantable nitinol device demonstrated that implantation of this novel device is a safe procedure, easy, and fast to perform. Further studies are required to evaluate efficacy, durability, and to define appropriate patient selection. New ablative approaches like the image guided robotic waterjet ablation (AquaBeam) or procedures based on convective water vapour energy (Rezūm) are in the early stages of development. Prostatic artery embolization performed by interventional radiologists at specialised

Biotechnology approaches to produce potent, self-adjuvanting antigen-adjuvant fusion protein subunit vaccines.

PubMed

Moyle, Peter Michael

Traditional vaccination approaches (e.g. live attenuated or killed microorganisms) are among the most effective means to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These approaches, nevertheless, have failed to yield successful vaccines against many important pathogens. To overcome this problem, methods have been developed to identify microbial components, against which protective immune responses can be elicited. Subunit antigens identified by these approaches enable the production of defined vaccines, with improved safety profiles. However, they are generally poorly immunogenic, necessitating their administration with potent immunostimulatory adjuvants. Since few safe and effective adjuvants are currently used in vaccines approved for human use, with those available displaying poor potency, or an inability to stimulate the types of immune responses required for vaccines against specific diseases (e.g. cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) to treat cancers), the development of new vaccines will be aided by the availability of characterized platforms of new adjuvants, improving our capacity to rationally select adjuvants for different applications. One such approach, involves the addition of microbial components (pathogen-associated molecular patterns; PAMPs), that can stimulate strong immune responses, into subunit vaccine formulations. The conjugation of PAMPs to subunit antigens provides a means to greatly increase vaccine potency, by targeting immunostimulation and antigen to the same antigen presenting cell. Thus, methods that enable the efficient, and inexpensive production of antigen-adjuvant fusions represent an exciting mean to improve immunity towards subunit antigens. Herein we review four protein-based adjuvants (flagellin, bacterial lipoproteins, the extra domain A of fibronectin (EDA), and heat shock proteins (Hsps)), which can be genetically fused to antigens to enable recombinant production of antigen-adjuvant fusion proteins, with a focus on their

Unraveling Molecular Signatures of Immunostimulatory Adjuvants in the Female Genital Tract through Systems Biology

PubMed Central

Brinkenberg, Ingrid; Samuelson, Emma; Thörn, Karolina; Nielsen, Jens; Harandi, Ali M.

2011-01-01

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) unequivocally represent a major public health concern in both industrialized and developing countries. Previous efforts to develop vaccines for systemic immunization against a large number of STIs in humans have been unsuccessful. There is currently a drive to develop mucosal vaccines and adjuvants for delivery through the genital tract to confer protective immunity against STIs. Identification of molecular signatures that can be used as biomarkers for adjuvant potency can inform rational development of potent mucosal adjuvants. Here, we used systems biology to study global gene expression and signature molecules and pathways in the mouse vagina after treatment with two classes of experimental adjuvants. The Toll-like receptor 9 agonist CpG ODN and the invariant natural killer T cell agonist alpha-galactosylceramide, which we previously identified as equally potent vaginal adjuvants, were selected for this study. Our integrated analysis of genome-wide transcriptome data determined which signature pathways, processes and networks are shared by or otherwise exclusive to these 2 classes of experimental vaginal adjuvants in the mouse vagina. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the effects of immunomodulatory adjuvants on the female genital tract of a mammal. These results could inform rational development of effective mucosal adjuvants for vaccination against STIs. PMID:21666746

[Adjuvants in modern medicine and veterinary].

PubMed

Kozlov, V G; Ozherelkov, S V; Sanin, A V; Kozhevnikova, T N

2014-01-01

The review is dedicated to immunologic adjuvants--various natural and synthetics substances that are added to vaccines for stimulation of specific immune response, but they do not induce specific response themselves. Critically important is the selection of the correct adjuvants, for which mechanisms of effect on immune system are studied the most. The majority of these mechanisms as well as physical-chemical and biological features of modern adjuvants are analyzed in the review. The problem of safety of adjuvants, types of immune response induced by adjuvants of various nature, excipients that are being verified or already in use in modern medicine and veterinary are also examined.

Renal Cell Carcinoma: Alternative Nephron-Sparing Treatment Options for Small Renal Masses, a Systematic Review.

PubMed

Prins, Fieke M; Kerkmeijer, Linda G W; Pronk, Anne A; Vonken, Evert-Jan P A; Meijer, Richard P; Bex, Axel; Barendrecht, Maurits M

2017-10-01

The standard treatment of T1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is (partial) nephrectomy. For patients where surgery is not the treatment of choice, for example in the elderly, in case of severe comorbidity, inoperability, or refusal of surgery, alternative treatment options are available. These treatment options include active surveillance (AS), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation (CA), microwave ablation (MWA), or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). In the present overview, the efficacy, safety, and outcome of these different options are summarized, particularly focusing on recent developments. Databases of MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. The search was performed in December 2016, and included a search period from 2010 to 2016. The terms and synonyms used were renal cell carcinoma, active surveillance, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy. The database search identified 2806 records, in total 73 articles were included to assess the rationale and clinical evidence of alternative treatment modalities for small renal masses. The methodological quality of the included articles varied between level 2b and level 4. Alternative treatment modalities, such as AS, RFA, CA, MWA, and SBRT, are treatment options especially for those patients who are unfit to undergo an invasive treatment. There are no randomized controlled trials available comparing surgery and less invasive modalities, leading to a low quality on the reported articles. A case-controlled registry might be an alternative to compare outcomes of noninvasive treatment modalities in the future.

Laser vaccine adjuvants

PubMed Central

Kashiwagi, Satoshi; Brauns, Timothy; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Poznansky, Mark C

2014-01-01

Immunologic adjuvants are essential for current vaccines to maximize their efficacy. Unfortunately, few have been found to be sufficiently effective and safe for regulatory authorities to permit their use in vaccines for humans and none have been approved for use with intradermal vaccines. The development of new adjuvants with the potential to be both efficacious and safe constitutes a significant need in modern vaccine practice. The use of non-damaging laser light represents a markedly different approach to enhancing immune responses to a vaccine antigen, particularly with intradermal vaccination. This approach, which was initially explored in Russia and further developed in the US, appears to significantly improve responses to both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines administered to the laser-exposed tissue, particularly the skin. Although different types of lasers have been used for this purpose and the precise molecular mechanism(s) of action remain unknown, several approaches appear to modulate dendritic cell trafficking and/or activation at the irradiation site via the release of specific signaling molecules from epithelial cells. The most recent study, performed by the authors of this review, utilized a continuous wave near-infrared laser that may open the path for the development of a safe, effective, low-cost, simple-to-use laser vaccine adjuvant that could be used in lieu of conventional adjuvants, particularly with intradermal vaccines. In this review, we summarize the initial Russian studies that have given rise to this approach and comment upon recent advances in the use of non-tissue damaging lasers as novel physical adjuvants for vaccines. PMID:25424797

Modes of Action for Mucosal Vaccine Adjuvants.

PubMed

Aoshi, Taiki

Vaccine adjuvants induce innate immune responses and the addition of adjuvants to the vaccine helps to induce protective immunity in the host. Vaccines utilizing live attenuated or killed whole pathogens usually contain endogenous adjuvants, such as bacterial cell wall products and their genomic nucleic acids, which act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns and are sufficient to induce adaptive immune responses. However, purified protein- or antigen-based vaccines, including component or recombinant vaccines, usually lose these endogenous innate immune stimulators, so the addition of an exogenous adjuvant is essential for the success of these vaccine types. Although this adjuvant requirement is mostly the same for parental and mucosal vaccines, the development of mucosal vaccine adjuvants requires the specialized consideration of adapting the adjuvants to characteristic mucosal conditions. This review provides a brief overview of mucosa-associated immune response induction processes, such as antigen uptake and dendritic cell subset-dependent antigen presentation. It also highlights several mucosal vaccine adjuvants from recent reports, particularly focusing on their modes of action.

Breast-cancer adjuvant therapy with zoledronic acid.

PubMed

Coleman, Robert E; Marshall, Helen; Cameron, David; Dodwell, David; Burkinshaw, Roger; Keane, Maccon; Gil, Miguel; Houston, Stephen J; Grieve, Robert J; Barrett-Lee, Peter J; Ritchie, Diana; Pugh, Julia; Gaunt, Claire; Rea, Una; Peterson, Jennifer; Davies, Claire; Hiley, Victoria; Gregory, Walter; Bell, Richard

2011-10-13

Data suggest that the adjuvant use of bisphosphonates reduces rates of recurrence and death in patients with early-stage breast cancer. We conducted a study to determine whether treatment with zoledronic acid, in addition to standard adjuvant therapy, would improve disease outcomes in such patients. In this open-label phase 3 study, we randomly assigned 3360 patients to receive standard adjuvant systemic therapy either with or without zoledronic acid. The zoledronic acid was administered every 3 to 4 weeks for 6 doses and then every 3 to 6 months to complete 5 years of treatment. The primary end point of the study was disease-free survival. A second interim analysis revealed that a prespecified boundary for lack of benefit had been crossed. At a median follow-up of 59 months, there was no significant between-group difference in the primary end point, with a rate of disease-free survival of 77% in each group (adjusted hazard ratio in the zoledronic acid group, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.13; P=0.79). Disease recurrence or death occurred in 377 patients in the zoledronic acid group and 375 of those in the control group. The numbers of deaths--243 in the zoledronic acid group and 276 in the control group--were also similar, resulting in rates of overall survival of 85.4% in the zoledronic acid group and 83.1% in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.01; P=0.07). In the zoledronic acid group, there were 17 confirmed cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw (cumulative incidence, 1.1%; 95% CI, 0.6 to 1.7; P<0.001) and 9 suspected cases; there were no cases in the control group. Rates of other adverse effects were similar in the two study groups. These findings do not support the routine use of zoledronic acid in the adjuvant management of breast cancer. (Funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals and the National Cancer Research Network; AZURE Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN79831382.).

Role of Adjuvant Therapy for Node-Negative Lung Cancer Invading the Chest Wall.

PubMed

Gao, Sarah J; Corso, Christopher D; Blasberg, Justin D; Detterbeck, Frank C; Boffa, Daniel J; Decker, Roy H; Kim, Anthony W

2017-03-01

The present study investigated the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation on survival among patients undergoing chest wall resection for T3N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with T3N0 NSCLC who underwent chest wall resection were identified in the National Cancer Data Base in 2004 to 2012. The cohort was divided into patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemoradiation therapy, or no adjuvant treatment. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare overall survival, and a bootstrapped Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the significant contributors to survival. A subset analysis was performed with stratification by margin status and tumor size. Of 759 patients identified, 42.0% underwent surgery alone, 23.3% underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy, 22.3% underwent surgery followed by chemoradiation therapy, and 12.3% underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy alone. Tumors > 4 cm benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the multivariable analysis, and those ≤ 4 cm benefited only from adjuvant chemotherapy. The subgroup analysis by margin status identified that margin-positive patients with tumors > 4 cm benefited significantly from either adjuvant chemoradiation therapy or radiation therapy alone. T3N0 NSCLC with chest wall invasion requires unique management compared with other stage IIB tumors. An important determinant of management is tumor size, with tumors ≤ 4 cm benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy and tumors > 4 cm benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy if margin negative and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy or radiotherapy if margin positive. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hepatic resection with or without adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol for hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative analysis.

PubMed

Chua, Terence C; Saxena, Akshat; Chu, Francis; Butler, S Patrick; Quinn, Richard J; Glenn, Derek; Morris, David L

2011-04-01

Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is potentially curative; however, recurrence is common. To date, few or no effective adjuvant therapies have been adequately investigated. This study evaluates the efficacy of adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol after hepatic resection through the experience of a single-center hepatobiliary service of managing this disease. All patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC and received adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol between January 1991 and August 2009 were selected for inclusion into the experimental group. A group composed of patients treated during the same time period without adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol was identified through the unit's HCC surgery database for comparison. The endpoints of this study were disease-free survival and overall survival. Forty-one patients who received adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol after hepatic resection were compared with a matched group of 41 patients who underwent hepatic resection only. The median disease-free and overall survival were 24 versus 10 months (P = 0.032) and 104 versus 19 months (P = 0.001) in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Rates of intrahepatic-only recurrences (73 vs. 37%; P = 0.02) and surgical and nonsurgical treatments for recurrences (84 vs. 56%; P = 0.04) were higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. The finding of this study corroborates the current evidence from randomized and nonrandomized trials that adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol improves disease-free and overall survival in patients with HCC after hepatic resection. The lengthened disease-free survival after adjuvant iodine-131-lipiodol allows for further disease-modifying treatments to improve the overall survival.

Human adjuvant-related syndrome or autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. Where have we come from? Where are we going? A proposal for new diagnostic criteria.

PubMed

Alijotas-Reig, J

2015-09-01

In 1964, Miyoshi reported a series of patients with diverse symptoms after receiving treatment with silicone or paraffin fillers. Miyoshi named this condition 'human adjuvant disease'. Since then, the literature has been flooded with case reports and case series of granulomatous and systemic autoimmune disorders related to vaccines, infection or other adjuvants such as silicone and other biomaterials. A new term -autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants--has recently been coined for a process that includes several clinical features previously described by Miyoshi plus other clinical and laboratory parameters related to exposure to diverse external stimuli. Disorders such as siliconosis, Gulf War syndrome, macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome, sick building syndrome and post-vaccination syndrome have been included in autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. Disorders such as Spanish toxic oil syndrome and Ardystil syndrome could also be included. Furthermore, biomaterials other than silicone should also be considered as triggering factors for these adjuvant-related syndromes. New diagnostic criteria in this field have been proposed. Nevertheless, many of these criteria are too subjective, leading to some patients being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or other 'central sensitization syndromes'. Diagnostic criteria based only on objective clinical and laboratory data to be further discussed and validated are proposed herein. © The Author(s) 2015.

Adjuvant Vaginal Brachytherapy for Early Stage Endometrial Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

PubMed Central

Harkenrider, Matthew M; Block, Alec M; Alektiar, Kaled M; Gaffney, David K; Jones, Ellen; Klopp, Ann; Viswanathan, Akila N; Small, William

2017-01-01

This article aims to review the risk stratification of endometrial cancer, treatment rationale, outcomes, treatment planning, and treatment recommendations of vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) in the post-operative management of endometrial cancer patients. The authors performed a thorough review of the literature and reference pertinent articles pertaining to the aims of this review. Adjuvant VBT for early stage endometrial cancer patients results in very low rates of vaginal recurrence (0–3.1%) with low rates of late toxicity which are primarily vaginal in nature. PORTEC-2 supports that VBT results in non-inferior rates of vaginal recurrence compared to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for the treatment of high-intermediate risk patients. VBT as a boost following EBRT, in combination with chemotherapy, and for high-risk histologies have shown excellent results as well though randomized data do not exist supporting VBT boost. There are many different applicators, dose-fractionation schedules, and treatment planning techniques which all result in favorable clinical outcomes and low rates of toxicity. Recommendations have been published by the American Brachytherapy Society and the American Society of Radiation Oncology to help guide practitioners in the use of VBT. Data support that patients and physicians both prefer joint decision-making regarding the use of VBT, and patients often desire additional treatment for a marginal benefit in risk of recurrence. Discussions regarding adjuvant therapy for endometrial cancer are best performed in a multi-disciplinary setting and patients should be counseled properly regarding the risks and benefits of adjuvant therapy. PMID:27260082

[Female sexual dysfunction: Drug treatment options].

PubMed

Alcántara Montero, A; Sánchez Carnerero, C I

2016-01-01

Many women will likely experience a sexual problem in their lifetime. Female sexual dysfunction is a broad term used to describe 3 categories of disorders of a multifactorial nature. Effective, but limited pharmacotherapeutic options exist to address female sexual dysfunction. The FDA recently approved the first agent for treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pre-menopausal women. Off-label use of hormonal therapies, particularly oestrogen and testosterone, are the most widely employed for female sexual dysfunction, particularly in post-menopausal women. Other drugs currently under investigation include phosphodiesterase inhibitors and agents that modulate dopamine or melanocortin receptors. Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Risk of treatment related death and febrile neutropaenia with taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in a middle income country outside a clinical trial setting.

PubMed

Phua, Chee Ee; Bustam, Anita Zarina; Yusof, Mastura Md; Saad, Marniza; Yip, Cheng-Har; Taib, Nor Aishah; Ng, Char Hong; Teh, Yew Ching

2012-01-01

The risk of treatment-related death (TRD) and febrile neutropaenia (FN) with adjuvant taxane- based chemotherapy for early breast cancer is unknown in Malaysia despite its widespread usage in recent years. This study aims to determine these rates in patients treated in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Patients who were treated with adjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy for early breast cancer stages I, II or III from 2007-2011 in UMMC were identified from our UMMC Breast Cancer Registry. The TRD and FN rates were then determined retrospectively from medical records. TRD was defined as death occurring during or within 30 days of completing chemotherapy as a consequence of the chemotherapy treatment. FN was defined as an oral temperature >38.5°C or two consecutive readings of >38.0°C for 2 hours and an absolute neutrophil count <0.5x109/L, or expected to fall below 0.5x109/L. A total of 622 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy during this period. Of these patients 209 (33.6%) received taxane-based chemotherapy. 4 taxane-based regimens were used namely the FEC-D, TC, TAC and AC-PCX regimens. The commonest regimen employed was the FEC-D regimen accounting for 79.9% of the patients. The FN rate was 10% and there was no TRD. Adjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy in UMMC for early breast cancer has a FN rate of 10%. Primary prophylactic G-CSF should be considered for patients with any additional risk factor for FN.

Adjuvant effects of saponins on animal immune responses*

PubMed Central

Rajput, Zahid Iqbal; Hu, Song-hua; Xiao, Chen-wen; Arijo, Abdullah G.

2007-01-01

Vaccines require optimal adjuvants including immunopotentiator and delivery systems to offer long term protection from infectious diseases in animals and man. Initially it was believed that adjuvants are responsible for promoting strong and sustainable antibody responses. Now it has been shown that adjuvants influence the isotype and avidity of antibody and also affect the properties of cell-mediated immunity. Mostly oil emulsions, lipopolysaccharides, polymers, saponins, liposomes, cytokines, ISCOMs (immunostimulating complexes), Freund’s complete adjuvant, Freund’s incomplete adjuvant, alums, bacterial toxins etc., are common adjuvants under investigation. Saponin based adjuvants have the ability to stimulate the cell mediated immune system as well as to enhance antibody production and have the advantage that only a low dose is needed for adjuvant activity. In the present study the importance of adjuvants, their role and the effect of saponin in immune system is reviewed. PMID:17323426

Automated VMAT planning for postoperative adjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

PubMed

Sharfo, Abdul Wahab M; Stieler, Florian; Kupfer, Oskar; Heijmen, Ben J M; Dirkx, Maarten L P; Breedveld, Sebastiaan; Wenz, Frederik; Lohr, Frank; Boda-Heggemann, Judit; Buergy, Daniel

2018-04-23

Postoperative/adjuvant radiotherapy of advanced gastric cancer involves a large planning target volume (PTV) with multi-concave shapes which presents a challenge for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning. This study investigates the advantages of automated VMAT planning for this site compared to manual VMAT planning by expert planners. For 20 gastric cancer patients in the postoperative/adjuvant setting, dual-arc VMAT plans were generated using fully automated multi-criterial treatment planning (autoVMAT), and compared to manually generated VMAT plans (manVMAT). Both automated and manual plans were created to deliver a median dose of 45 Gy to the PTV using identical planning and segmentation parameters. Plans were evaluated by two expert radiation oncologists for clinical acceptability. AutoVMAT and manVMAT plans were also compared based on dose-volume histogram (DVH) and predicted normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) analysis. Both manVMAT and autoVMAT plans were considered clinically acceptable. Target coverage was similar (manVMAT: 96.6 ± 1.6%, autoVMAT: 97.4 ± 1.0%, p = 0.085). With autoVMAT, median kidney dose was reduced on average by > 25%; (for left kidney from 11.3 ± 2.1 Gy to 8.9 ± 3.5 Gy (p = 0.002); for right kidney from 9.2 ± 2.2 Gy to 6.1 ± 1.3 Gy (p <  0.001)). Median dose to the liver was lower as well (18.8 ± 2.3 Gy vs. 17.1 ± 3.6 Gy, p = 0.048). In addition, Dmax of the spinal cord was significantly reduced (38.3 ± 3.7 Gy vs. 31.6 ± 2.6 Gy, p <  0.001). Substantial improvements in dose conformity and integral dose were achieved with autoVMAT plans (4.2% and 9.1%, respectively; p <  0.001). Due to the better OAR sparing in the autoVMAT plans compared to manVMAT plans, the predicted NTCPs for the left and right kidney and the liver-PTV were significantly reduced by 11.3%, 12.8%, 7%, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). Delivery time and total

Modes of Action for Mucosal Vaccine Adjuvants

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Abstract Vaccine adjuvants induce innate immune responses and the addition of adjuvants to the vaccine helps to induce protective immunity in the host. Vaccines utilizing live attenuated or killed whole pathogens usually contain endogenous adjuvants, such as bacterial cell wall products and their genomic nucleic acids, which act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns and are sufficient to induce adaptive immune responses. However, purified protein- or antigen-based vaccines, including component or recombinant vaccines, usually lose these endogenous innate immune stimulators, so the addition of an exogenous adjuvant is essential for the success of these vaccine types. Although this adjuvant requirement is mostly the same for parental and mucosal vaccines, the development of mucosal vaccine adjuvants requires the specialized consideration of adapting the adjuvants to characteristic mucosal conditions. This review provides a brief overview of mucosa-associated immune response induction processes, such as antigen uptake and dendritic cell subset-dependent antigen presentation. It also highlights several mucosal vaccine adjuvants from recent reports, particularly focusing on their modes of action. PMID:28436755

Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. Part 3: Endoscopic computer-assisted electromagnetic navigation and ultrasonography as technical adjuvants for shunt placement.

PubMed

Flannery, Ann Marie; Duhaime, Ann-Christine; Tamber, Mandeep S; Kemp, Joanna

2014-11-01

This systematic review was undertaken to answer the following question: Do technical adjuvants such as ventricular endoscopic placement, computer-assisted electromagnetic guidance, or ultrasound guidance improve ventricular shunt function and survival? The US National Library of Medicine PubMed/MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried using MeSH headings and key words specifically chosen to identify published articles detailing the use of cerebrospinal fluid shunts for the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus. Articles meeting specific criteria that had been delineated a priori were then examined, and data were abstracted and compiled in evidentiary tables. These data were then analyzed by the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines Task Force to consider evidence-based treatment recommendations. The search yielded 163 abstracts, which were screened for potential relevance to the application of technical adjuvants in shunt placement. Fourteen articles were selected for full-text review. One additional article was selected during a review of literature citations. Eight of these articles were included in the final recommendations concerning the use of endoscopy, ultrasonography, and electromagnetic image guidance during shunt placement, whereas the remaining articles were excluded due to poor evidence or lack of relevance. The evidence included 1 Class I, 1 Class II, and 6 Class III papers. An evidentiary table of relevant articles was created. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATION: There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of endoscopic guidance for routine ventricular catheter placement. Level I, high degree of clinical certainty. The routine use of ultrasound-assisted catheter placement is an option. Level III, unclear clinical certainty. The routine use of computer-assisted electromagnetic (EM) navigation is an option. Level III, unclear clinical certainty.

Exploring Opioid-Sparing Multimodal Analgesia Options in Trauma: A Nursing Perspective.

PubMed

Sullivan, Denise; Lyons, Mary; Montgomery, Robert; Quinlan-Colwell, Ann

Challenges with opioids (e.g., adverse events, misuse and abuse with long-term administration) have led to a renewed emphasis on opioid-sparing multimodal management of trauma pain. To assess the extent to which currently available evidence supports the efficacy and safety of various nonopioid analgesics and techniques to manage trauma pain, a literature search of recently published references was performed. Additional citations were included on the basis of authors' knowledge of the literature. Effective options for opioid-sparing analgesics include oral and intravenous (IV) acetaminophen; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available via multiple routes; and anticonvulsants, which are especially effective for neuropathic pain associated with trauma. Intravenous routes (e.g., IV acetaminophen, IV ketorolac) may be associated with a faster onset of action than oral routes. Additional adjuvants for the treatment of trauma pain are muscle relaxants and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists. Ketamine and regional techniques play an important role in multimodal therapy but require medical and nursing support. Nonpharmacologic treatments (e.g., cryotherapy, distraction techniques, breathing and relaxation, acupuncture) supplement pharmacologic analgesics and can be safe and easy to implement. In conclusion, opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia addresses concerns associated with high doses of opioids, and many pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options are available to implement this strategy. Nurses play key roles in comprehensive patient assessment; administration of patient-focused, opioid-sparing, multimodal analgesia in trauma; and monitoring for safety concerns.

Positive effects of an oil adjuvant on efficacy, dissipation and safety of pyrimethanil and boscalid on greenhouse strawberry.

PubMed

Wang, Zhiwei; Wang, Xinquan; Cang, Tao; Zhao, Xueping; Wu, Shenggan; Qi, Peipei; Wang, Xiangyun; Xu, Xiahong; Wang, Qiang

2018-05-21

Methylated vegetable oil adjuvants can enhance initial deposition and decrease the required dosages of pesticides sprayed on plants, so an oil adjuvant mixed with fungicides were used to prevent and control gray mold in greenhouse strawberry. As the persistence and dietary exposure risks from fungicides on strawberries after using adjuvants have not been assessed, the efficacy, dissipation and safety of pyrimethanil and boscalid in the presence and absence of a methylated vegetable oil adjuvant were evaluated. To better describe the actual use of fungicides in greenhouse strawberry, twice repeated application of fungicides were conducted follower by an optimized QuEChERS pre-treatment method. When applied at 60% of their recommended dosages with the adjuvant, the efficacy of pyrimethanil and boscalid for gray mold was similar to that shown by the treatment of 100% fungicides in absence of the adjuvant based on Duncan's Multiple-Range test, and their average residues increased to 89.0% and 89.3%, respectively. The adjuvant enhanced the accumulation effect of pyrimethanil residue by 31.7% after repeated applications, and the half-lives were similar (5.2 and 4.2 d). The adjuvant had comparable accumulation effects (1.75 and 1.83) and similar half-lives (5.4 and 5.5 d) for boscalid. In absence of adjuvant, the risk quotients (RQs) of pyrimethanil (0.41 and 0.33) and boscalid (0.49 and 0.63) after twice applications at pre-harvest interval were lower than 1. Adding the methylated vegetable oil adjuvant to fungicides would result in unprolonging half-life and acceptably low dietary exposure risk on strawberries, but lower dosage of fungicides were used. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Treatment of retroauricular keloids: Revision of cases treated at the ENT service of HC/UFPR.

PubMed

Carvalho, Bettina; Ballin, Annelyse Cristine; Becker, Renata Vecentin; Ribeiro, Talita Beithum; Cavichiolo, Juliana Benthien; Ballin, Carlos Roberto; Mocellin, Marcos

2012-04-01

 Keloids are benign tumors arising from abnormal healing of the skin, and there are several procedures available for their treatment.  The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing treatment of keloids after ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeries at our service center.  We conducted thorough, retrospective and prospective analysis of records of patients undergoing treatment of retroauricular keloids at our center.  Nine patients were evaluated, and 6 underwent resection and adjuvant beta-therapy, 2 underwent resection with local application of corticosteroids, and only 1 underwent resection without adjuvant therapy. There was no recurrence of keloids in patients that were treated with beta-therapy in the early postoperative period. One patient had relapsed despite corticosteroid administration and late beta-therapy.  Several techniques have been used for the treatment of retroauricular keloids, and beta-therapy is thought to yield the best results, followed by the use of intralesional corticosteroids.  Treatment of retroauricular keloids remains a challenge. While new techniques are being developed, resection followed by early beta-therapy is still the best treatment option.

Vaccines against drugs of abuse: a viable treatment option?

PubMed

Kantak, Kathleen M

2003-01-01

Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing brain disorder. There is an urgent need for new treatment options for this disease because the relapse rate among drug abusers seeking treatment is quite high. During the past decade, many groups have explored the feasibility of using vaccines directed against drugs of abuse as a means of eliminating illicit drug use as well as drug overdose and neurotoxicity. Vaccines work by inducing drug-specific antibodies in the bloodstream that bind to the drug of abuse and prevent its entry into the brain. The majority of work in this area has been conducted with vaccines and antibodies directed against cocaine and nicotine. On the basis of preclinical work, vaccines for cocaine and nicotine are now in clinical trials because they can offer long-term protection with minimal treatment compliance. In addition, vaccines and antibodies for phencyclidine, methamphetamine and heroin abuse are currently under development. An underlying theme in this research is the need for high concentrations of circulating drug-specific antibodies to reduce drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviour when the drug is repeatedly available, especially in high doses. Although vaccines against drugs of abuse may become a viable treatment option, there are several drawbacks that need to be considered. These include: a lack of protection against a structurally dissimilar drug that produces the same effects as the drug of choice;a lack of an effect on drug craving that predisposes an addict to relapse; and tremendous individual variability in antibody formation. Forced or coerced vaccination is not likely to work from a scientific perspective, and also carries serious legal and ethical concerns. All things considered, vaccination against a drug of abuse is likely to work best with individuals who are highly motivated to quit using drugs altogether and as part of a comprehensive treatment programme. As such, the medical treatment of drug abuse will not be radically

Role of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Granulosa Cell Tumors of the Ovary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hauspy, Jan; Beiner, Mario E.; Harley, Ian

2011-03-01

Purpose: To review the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in the outcome and recurrence patterns of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary. Methods and Materials: The records of all patients with GCTs referred to the Princess Margaret Hospital University Health Network between 1961 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. The patient, tumor, and treatment factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses using disease-free survival (DFS) as the endpoint. Results: A total of 103 patients with histologically confirmed GCTs were included in the present study. The mean duration of follow-up was 100 months (range, 1-399). Of the 103 patients, 31more » received adjuvant RT. A total of 39 patients developed tumor recurrence. The tumor size, incidence of intraoperative rupture, and presence of concurrent endometrial cancer were not significant risk factors for DFS. The median DFS was 251 months for patients who underwent adjuvant RT compared with 112 months for patients who did not (p = .02). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant RT remained a significant prognostic factor for DFS (p = .004). Of the 103 patients, 12 had died and 44 were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Ovarian GCTs can be indolent, with patients achieving long-term survival. In our series, adjuvant RT resulted in a significantly longer DFS. Ideally, randomized trials with long-term follow-up are needed to define the role of adjuvant RT for ovarian GCTs.« less

Role of adjuvant radiotherapy in granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

PubMed

Hauspy, Jan; Beiner, Mario E; Harley, Ian; Rosen, Barry; Murphy, Joan; Chapman, William; Le, Lisa W; Fyles, Anthony; Levin, Wilfred

2011-03-01

To review the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in the outcome and recurrence patterns of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary. The records of all patients with GCTs referred to the Princess Margaret Hospital University Health Network between 1961 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. The patient, tumor, and treatment factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses using disease-free survival (DFS) as the endpoint. A total of 103 patients with histologically confirmed GCTs were included in the present study. The mean duration of follow-up was 100 months (range, 1-399). Of the 103 patients, 31 received adjuvant RT. A total of 39 patients developed tumor recurrence. The tumor size, incidence of intraoperative rupture, and presence of concurrent endometrial cancer were not significant risk factors for DFS. The median DFS was 251 months for patients who underwent adjuvant RT compared with 112 months for patients who did not (p=.02). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant RT remained a significant prognostic factor for DFS (p=.004). Of the 103 patients, 12 had died and 44 were lost to follow-up. Ovarian GCTs can be indolent, with patients achieving long-term survival. In our series, adjuvant RT resulted in a significantly longer DFS. Ideally, randomized trials with long-term follow-up are needed to define the role of adjuvant RT for ovarian GCTs. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aspiration and sclerotherapy: a nonsurgical treatment option for hydroceles.

PubMed

Francis, John J; Levine, Laurence A

2013-05-01

We demonstrated that hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy with doxycycline is an effective and safe nonsurgical treatment option for hydrocele correction. The medical records of patients who underwent hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study for success rates as well as improvement in scrotal size and discomfort after a single hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy treatment. Patients who reported decreased scrotal size, improved physical symptoms and satisfaction with the procedure were considered as having success with hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy. A total of 29 patients (mean age 52.8 years) presenting with 32 nonseptated hydroceles underwent hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy with doxycycline between 2005 and 2012. Of the hydroceles 27 (84%) were successfully treated with a single aspiration and sclerotherapy procedure. Overall mean followup was 20.8 months. Three patients reported moderate pain which resolved in 2 to 3 days. Of those patients in whom hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy failed, 1 had hydrocele successfully resolved with a second aspiration and sclerotherapy treatment, 3 did not have success with a second procedure and underwent hydrocelectomy, and 1 wanted immediate surgical correction. Hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy was successful in correcting 84% of simple nonseptated hydroceles with a single treatment. This result is an increase from previously reported success rates involving a single hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy procedure with tetracycline (75%). The success rate of a single hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy procedure is similar to the reported success rates involving hydrocelectomy while avoiding the hospital expense and many other complications. We conclude that the hydrocele aspiration and sclerotherapy procedure is a reasonable, nonsurgical and underused treatment option for nonseptated simple hydroceles. Copyright © 2013 American Urological

Adjuvant chemotherapy and whole abdominal irradiation for gastric carcinoma.

PubMed

Kundel, Yulia; Levitt, Mark L; Oberman, Bernice; Sadezki, Siegal; Tichler, Thomas; Symon, Zvi; Catane, Raphael; Pfeffer, Raphael; Brenner, Baruch

2008-01-01

To analyze the efficacy and toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy followed by whole abdominal irradiation in the treatment of resectable gastric cancer with positive lymph nodes. Between 1996 and 1999, 10 patients with node-positive gastric cancer underwent complete gross resection and were treated by postoperative chemoradiotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil, 1000 mg/m2/day as a 96-hr continuous infusion on day 1, and cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 on day 2, every 21 days. Six courses were planned. Radiotherapy was administered 3 weeks after completion of the chemotherapy protocol as a single-fraction dose of 600 cGy in a two-field (anterior and posterior) configuration. Treatment was generally well tolerated, with no treatment-related deaths. However, 9 of the 10 patients died of recurrent disease, with a median survival of 20 months (range, 7-84). Adjuvant chemotherapy with whole abdominal irradiation for gastric cancer is safe and tolerable but has no apparent effect on patient outcome. Studies in larger series are needed to evaluate the role of the approach in this disease.

QS-21: a potent vaccine adjuvant

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

QS-21 is an potent adjuvant derived from the bark of a Chilean tree, Quillaja saponaria. One of the advantages of this adjuvant is that it promotes a balanced humoral and cell-mediaed immune response and can be widely applicable to a variety of vaccines. This adjuvant has used for some veterinary va...

CoVaccine HT™ adjuvant is superior to Freund's adjuvants in eliciting antibodies against the endogenous alarmin HMGB1.

PubMed

Lakhan, Nerissa; Stevens, Natalie E; Diener, Kerrilyn R; Hayball, John D

2016-12-01

Adjuvants are used to enhance the immune response against specific antigens for the production of antibodies, with the choice of adjuvant most critical for poorly immunogenic and self-antigens. This study quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated CoVaccine HT™ and Freund's adjuvants for eliciting therapeutic ovine polyclonal antibodies targeting the endogenous alarmin, high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Sheep were immunised with HMGB1 protein in CoVaccine HT™ or Freund's adjuvants, with injection site reactions and antibody titres periodically assessed. The binding affinity of antibodies for HMGB1 and their neutralisation activity was determined in-vitro, with in vivo activity confirmed using a murine model of endotoxemia. Results indicated that CoVaccine HT™ elicited significantly higher antibody tires with stronger affinity and more functional potency than antibodies induced with Freund's adjuvants. These studies provide evidence that CoVaccine HT™ is superior to Freund's adjuvants for the production of antibodies to antigens with low immunogenicity and supports the use of this alternative adjuvant for clinical and experimental use antibodies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pelvic radiation disease: Updates on treatment options

PubMed Central

Frazzoni, Leonardo; La Marca, Marina; Guido, Alessandra; Morganti, Alessio Giuseppe; Bazzoli, Franco; Fuccio, Lorenzo

2015-01-01

Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and radiotherapy represents one of the main treatment options. The irradiation field usually encompasses healthy intestinal tissue, especially of distal large bowel, thus inducing gastrointestinal (GI) radiation-induced toxicity. Indeed, up to half of radiation-treated patients say that their quality of life is affected by GI symptoms (e.g., rectal bleeding, diarrhoea). The constellation of GI symptoms - from transient to long-term, from mild to very severe - experienced by patients who underwent radiation treatment for a pelvic tumor have been comprised in the definition of pelvic radiation disease (PRD). A correct and evidence-based therapeutic approach of patients experiencing GI radiation-induced toxicity is mandatory. Therapeutic non-surgical strategies for PRD can be summarized in two broad categories, i.e., medical and endoscopic. Of note, most of the studies have investigated the management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding. Patients with clinically significant bleeding (i.e., causing chronic anemia) should firstly be considered for medical management (i.e., sucralfate enemas, metronidazole and hyperbaric oxygen); in case of failure, endoscopic treatment should be implemented. This latter should be considered the first choice in case of acute, transfusion requiring, bleeding. More well-performed, high quality studies should be performed, especially the role of medical treatments should be better investigated as well as the comparative studies between endoscopic and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. PMID:26677440

Adjuvant treatment with the bacterial lysate (OM-85) improves management of atopic dermatitis: A randomized study

PubMed Central

Bodemer, Christine; Guillet, Gerard; Cambazard, Frederic; Boralevi, Franck; Ballarini, Stefania; Milliet, Christian; Bertuccio, Paola; La Vecchia, Carlo; Bach, Jean-François; de Prost, Yves

2017-01-01

Background Environmental factors play a major role on atopic dermatitis (AD) which shows a constant rise in prevalence in western countries over the last decades. The Hygiene Hypothesis suggesting an inverse relationship between incidence of infections and the increase in atopic diseases in these countries, is one of the working hypothesis proposed to explain this trend. Objective This study tested the efficacy and safety of oral administration of the bacterial lysate OM-85 (Broncho-Vaxom®, Broncho-Munal®, Ommunal®, Paxoral®, Vaxoral®), in the treatment of established AD in children. Methods Children aged 6 months to 7 years, with confirmed AD diagnosis, were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to receive, in addition to conventional treatment with emollients and topical corticosteroids, 3.5mg of the bacterial extract OM-85 or placebo daily for 9 months. The primary end-point was the difference between groups in the occurrence of new flares (NF) during the study period, evaluated by Hazard Ratio (HR) derived from conditional Cox proportional hazard regression models accounting for repeated events. Results Among the 179 randomized children, 170 were analysed, 88 in the OM-85 and 82 in the placebo group. As expected most children in both treatment groups experienced at least 1 NF during the study period (75 (85%) patients in the OM-85 group and 72 (88%) in the placebo group). Patients treated with OM-85 as adjuvant therapy had significantly fewer and delayed NFs (HR of repeated flares = 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67–0.96), also when potential confounding factors, as family history of atopy and corticosteroids use, were taken into account (HR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69–0.98). No major side effect was reported, with comparable and good tolerability for OM-85 and placebo. Conclusions Results show an adjuvant therapeutic effect of a well standardized bacterial lysate OM-85 on established AD. PMID:28333952

Ketamine as an Analgesic Adjuvant in Adult Trauma Intensive Care Unit Patients With Rib Fracture.

PubMed

Walters, Mary K; Farhat, Joseph; Bischoff, James; Foss, Mary; Evans, Cory

2018-03-01

Rib fracture associated pain is difficult to control. There are no published studies that use ketamine as a therapeutic modality to reduce the amount of opioid to control rib fracture pain. To examine the analgesic effects of adjuvant ketamine on pain scale scores in trauma intensive care unit (ICU) rib fracture. This retrospective, case-control cohort chart review evaluated ICU adult patients with a diagnosis of ≥1 rib fracture and an Injury Severity Score >15 during 2016. Patients received standard-of-care pain management with the physician's choice analgesics with or without ketamine as a continuous, fixed, intravenous infusion at 0.1 mg/kg/h. A total of 15 ketamine treatment patients were matched with 15 control standard-of-care patients. Efficacy was measured via Numeric Pain Scale (NPS)/Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) scores, opioid use, and ICU and hospital length of stay. Safety of ketamine was measured by changes in vital signs, adverse effects, and mortality. Average NPS/BPS, severest NPS/BPS, and opioid use were lower in the ketamine group than in controls (NPS: 4.1 vs 5.8, P < 0.001; severest NPS: 7.0 vs 8.9, P = 0.004; opioid use: 2.5 vs 3.5 mg morphine equivalents/h/d, P = 0.015). No difference was found between the cohort's length of stay or mortality. Average diastolic blood pressure was higher in the treatment group versus the control group (75.3 vs 64.6 mm Hg, P = 0.014). Low-dose ketamine appears to be a safe and effective adjuvant option to reduce pain and decrease opioid use in rib fracture.

Novel treatment options for portal hypertension

PubMed Central

Laleman, Wim

2017-01-01

Abstract Portal hypertension is most frequently associated with cirrhosis and is a major driver for associated complications, such as variceal bleeding, ascites or hepatic encephalopathy. As such, clinically significant portal hypertension forms the prelude to decompensation and impacts significantly on the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. At present, non-selective β-blockers, vasopressin analogues and somatostatin analogues are the mainstay of treatment but these strategies are far from satisfactory and only target splanchnic hyperemia. In contrast, safe and reliable strategies to reduce the increased intrahepatic resistance in cirrhotic patients still represent a pending issue. In recent years, several preclinical and clinical trials have focused on this latter component and other therapeutic avenues. In this review, we highlight novel data in this context and address potentially interesting therapeutic options for the future. PMID:28533907

40 CFR 141.715 - Microbial toolbox options for meeting Cryptosporidium treatment requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... criteria are in § 141.716(b). Pre Filtration Toolbox Options (3) Presedimentation basin with coagulation 0... separate granular media filtration stage if treatment train includes coagulation prior to first filter...

40 CFR 141.715 - Microbial toolbox options for meeting Cryptosporidium treatment requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... criteria are in § 141.716(b). Pre Filtration Toolbox Options (3) Presedimentation basin with coagulation 0... separate granular media filtration stage if treatment train includes coagulation prior to first filter...

Trimethoprim as Adjuvant Treatment in Schizophrenia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Shibre, Teshome; Alem, Atalay; Abdulahi, Abdulreshid; Araya, Mesfin; Beyero, Teferra; Medhin, Girmay; Deyassa, Negusse; Negash, Alemayehu; Nigatu, Alemayehu; Kebede, Derege

2010-01-01

Various infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma gondii, have been hypothesized to be potentially relevant etiological factors in the onset of some cases of schizophrenia. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment trial in an attempt to explore the hypothesis that the symptoms of schizophrenia may be related to infection of the central nervous system with toxoplasma gondii. Systematically selected patients with ongoing and at least moderately severe schizophrenia from Butajira, in rural Ethiopia, were randomly allocated to trimethoprim or placebo, which were added on to participants' regular antipsychotic treatments. Trial treatments were given for 6 months. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess outcome. Ninety-one patients were included in the study, with 80 cases (87.9%) positive for T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibody. Seventy-nine subjects (87.0%) completed the trial. The mean age of subjects was 35.3 (SD = 8.0) years, with a mean duration of illness of 13.2 (SD = 6.7) years. Both treatment groups showed significant reduction in the overall PANSS score with no significant between-group difference. In this sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia, trimethoprim used as adjuvant treatment is not superior to placebo. However, it is not possible to draw firm conclusion regarding the etiological role of toxoplasmosis on schizophrenia based on this study because the timing and the postulated mechanisms through which toxoplasmosis produces schizophrenia are variable. PMID:19193743

Factors Predictive of Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy in High-Intermediate-Risk Stage I Endometrial Cancer.

PubMed

McGunigal, Mary; Pollock, Ariel; Doucette, John T; Liu, Jerry; Chadha, Manjeet; Kalir, Tamara; Gupta, Vishal

2018-06-01

Randomized trials have shown a local control benefit with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in high-intermediate-risk endometrial cancer patients, although not all such patients receive RT. We reviewed the National Cancer Data Base to investigate which patient/tumor-related factors are associated with delivery of adjuvant RT. The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 stage I endometrioid adenocarcinoma from 1998 to 2012 who underwent surgery +/- adjuvant RT. Exclusion criteria were unknown stage/grade, nonsurgical primary therapy, less than 30 days' follow-up, RT of more than 6 months after surgery, or palliative treatment. High-intermediate risk was defined based on Post Operative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Carcinoma 2 criteria: older than 60 years with stage IA grade 3 or stage IB grade 1-2. Seventeen thousand five hundred twenty-four met inclusion criteria, and the 13,651 patients with complete data were subjected to a multiple logistic regression analysis; 7814 (57.2%) received surgery alone, and 5837 (42.8%) received surgery + RT. Receipt of adjuvant RT was more likely among black women and women with higher income, Northeastern residence, diagnosis after 2010, greater than 50% myometrial invasion, and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Patients older than 80 years or those undergoing lymph node dissection were less likely to receive adjuvant RT (P < 0.05). Of those treated with RT, 44.0% received external beam therapy, 54.8% received vaginal cuff brachytherapy, and 0.6% received both. Among irradiated women, patients older than 80 years and those with Northeastern residence, treatment at academic facilities, diagnosis after 2004, and lymph node dissection were more likely to undergo brachytherapy over external beam radiation therapy (P < 0.05). Overall use of adjuvant RT was 28.8% between 1998 and 2004, 42.0% between 2005 and 2010, and 43.4% between 2011 and 2012

Treatment Options for Severe Obesity in the Pediatric Population: Current Limitations and Future Opportunities.

PubMed

Ryder, Justin R; Fox, Claudia K; Kelly, Aaron S

2018-06-01

Severe obesity is the only obesity classification increasing in prevalence among children and adolescents. Treatment options that produce meaningful and sustained weight loss and comorbidity resolution are urgently needed. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the current treatment options for pediatric severe obesity and offer suggestions regarding future opportunities for accelerating the development and evaluation of innovative treatment strategies. At present, there are three treatment options for youth with severe obesity: lifestyle modification therapy, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. Lifestyle modification therapy can be useful for improving many chronic disease risk factors and comorbid conditions but often fails to achieve clinically meaningful and sustainable weight loss. Pharmacotherapy holds promise as an effective adjunctive treatment but remains in the primordial stages of development in the pediatric population. Bariatric surgery provides robust weight loss and risk factor/comorbidity improvements but is accompanied by higher risks and lower uptake compared to lifestyle modification therapy and pharmacotherapy. New areas worth pursuing include combination pharmacotherapy, device therapy, identification of predictors of response aimed at precision treatment, and interventions in the postbariatric surgical setting to improve long-term outcomes. Treating pediatric severe obesity effectively and safely is extremely challenging. Some progress has been made, but substantially more effort and innovation are needed in the future to combat this serious and ongoing medical and public health issue. © 2018 The Obesity Society.

Vaccine adjuvants: Why and how.

PubMed

Christensen, Dennis

2016-10-02

Novel vaccine strategies include the so-called subunit vaccines, which encompass only the part of the pathogen to which immune recognition results in protection. The high purity of these vaccines make adverse events less likely, but it also makes the vaccines less immunogenic and therefore potentially less effective. Vaccine adjuvants that increase and modulate the immunogenicity of the vaccine are therefore added to solve this problem. Besides aluminum salts, which have been used in vaccines for 90 years, a number of novel vaccine adjuvants have been included in licensed vaccines over the last 30 years. Increasing insight into immunological mechanisms and how to manipulate them has replaced empirical with rational design of adjuvants, leading to vaccine adjuvants with increased and customized immunogenicity profiles without compromising vaccine safety.

Efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery when considered over all cancer types: a synthesis of meta-analyses.

PubMed

Bowater, Russell J; Abdelmalik, Sally M E; Lilford, Richard J

2012-10-01

Despite a large number of clinical trials having been conducted to assess the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for various cancers, whether it is best to use this treatment remains a generally contentious issue for many common cancers. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether any general conclusions can be drawn about the efficacy or inefficacy of this treatment within different cancer classifications. Meta-analyses of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery were synthesized over as many types of cancer as possible. Data sources were Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library. Eligible meta-analyses were meta-analyses of RCTs for any type of cancer that compared surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with surgery followed by no adjuvant chemotherapy. The literature search found 25 meta-analyses for 15 cancer types that satisfied the criteria necessary for detailed analysis within this study. The estimates of relative risk for all cause mortality were reported as being less than one (indicating adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial) by all meta-analyses apart from a meta-analysis for colorectal cancer metastasized to the liver. Moreover, 15 of these meta-analyses also reported that the 95% confidence interval for this relative risk is less than one (indicating statistical significance at the 5% level). The results for all cancer types included in this study except for cancer metastasized to the liver can be thought of as supporting each other through the idea of there being a common treatment effect or at least a common range of effect across all (or most) of these cancer types. For example, with regard to cancer types where the evidence in favor of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is only moderately strong, the results of this study may encourage more clinicians to regard the use of this treatment as standard practice.

Pudendal nerve neuromodulation with neurophysiology guidance: a potential treatment option for refractory chronic pelvi-perineal pain.

PubMed

Carmel, Maude; Lebel, Michel; Tu, Le Mai

2010-05-01

Refractory chronic pelvi-perineal pain (RCPPP) is a challenging entity that has devastating consequences for patient's quality of life. Many etiologies have been proposed including pudendal neuralgia. Multiple treatment options are used but the reported results are sub-optimal and temporary. In this article, we present the technique of pudendal nerve neuromodulation with neurophysiology guidance as a treatment option for RCPPP. This technique is a two-step procedure that includes electrode implantation under neurophysiology guidance followed by the implantation of a permanent generator after a successful trial period. We report the cases of three women who underwent this procedure as a last-resort treatment option. After 2 years of follow-up, their symptoms are still significantly improved. No major complication occurred.

Antibody production in rabbits administered Freund's complete adjuvant and carprofen concurrently.

PubMed

Fishback, Joanna E; Stronsky, Sabrina M; Green, Catherine A; Bean, Krystal D; Froude, Jeffrey W

2016-02-01

Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) is a commonly used immunopotentiator that can boost polyclonal antibody production in animal models such as rabbits, but FCA is also known to cause inflammation and pain. It is important to balance the welfare of animals with the goal of efficiently producing antibodies, but little is known about how common treatments for pain and inflammation, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), affect the production of polyclonal antibodies. The purpose of this study was to measure polyclonal antibody production in rabbits that were administered FCA either with or without a concurrent treatment of a NSAID, carprofen. Rabbits were divided into two groups and were administered identical treatments of an antigen with adjuvant, and the treatment group also received carprofen injections at different stages of the study. Carprofen treatment did not significantly affect polyclonal antibody production, which suggests that carprofen and other NSAIDs can be used alongside FCA in rabbits to achieve desired levels of antibody production while minimizing pain and distress associated with the use of FCA.

Rational design of small molecules as vaccine adjuvants.

PubMed

Wu, Tom Y-H; Singh, Manmohan; Miller, Andrew T; De Gregorio, Ennio; Doro, Francesco; D'Oro, Ugo; Skibinski, David A G; Mbow, M Lamine; Bufali, Simone; Herman, Ann E; Cortez, Alex; Li, Yongkai; Nayak, Bishnu P; Tritto, Elaine; Filippi, Christophe M; Otten, Gillis R; Brito, Luis A; Monaci, Elisabetta; Li, Chun; Aprea, Susanna; Valentini, Sara; Calabrό, Samuele; Laera, Donatello; Brunelli, Brunella; Caproni, Elena; Malyala, Padma; Panchal, Rekha G; Warren, Travis K; Bavari, Sina; O'Hagan, Derek T; Cooke, Michael P; Valiante, Nicholas M

2014-11-19

Adjuvants increase vaccine potency largely by activating innate immunity and promoting inflammation. Limiting the side effects of this inflammation is a major hurdle for adjuvant use in vaccines for humans. It has been difficult to improve on adjuvant safety because of a poor understanding of adjuvant mechanism and the empirical nature of adjuvant discovery and development historically. We describe new principles for the rational optimization of small-molecule immune potentiators (SMIPs) targeting Toll-like receptor 7 as adjuvants with a predicted increase in their therapeutic indices. Unlike traditional drugs, SMIP-based adjuvants need to have limited bioavailability and remain localized for optimal efficacy. These features also lead to temporally and spatially restricted inflammation that should decrease side effects. Through medicinal and formulation chemistry and extensive immunopharmacology, we show that in vivo potency can be increased with little to no systemic exposure, localized innate immune activation and short in vivo residence times of SMIP-based adjuvants. This work provides a systematic and generalizable approach to engineering small molecules for use as vaccine adjuvants. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Adjuvant treatment in patients at high risk of recurrence of thymoma: efficacy and safety of a three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy regimen.

PubMed

Perri, Francesco; Pisconti, Salvatore; Conson, Manuel; Pacelli, Roberto; Della Vittoria Scarpati, Giuseppina; Gnoni, Antonio; D'Aniello, Carmine; Cavaliere, Carla; Licchetta, Antonella; Cella, Laura; Giuliano, Mario; Schiavone, Concetta; Falivene, Sara; Di Lorenzo, Giuseppe; Buonerba, Carlo; Ravo, Vincenzo; Muto, Paolo

2015-01-01

The clinical benefits of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for patients with thymoma are still controversial. In the absence of defined guidelines, prognostic factors such as stage, status of surgical margins, and histology are often considered to guide the choice of adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy). In this study, we describe our single-institution experience of three-dimensional conformal PORT administered as adjuvant treatment to patients with thymoma. Twenty-two consecutive thymoma patients (eleven male and eleven female) with a median age of 52 years and treated at our institution by PORT were analyzed. The patients were considered at high risk of recurrence, having at least one of the following features: stage IIB or III, involved resection margins, or thymic carcinoma histology. Three-dimensional conformal PORT with a median total dose on clinical target volume of 50 (range 44-60) Gy was delivered to the tumor bed by 6-20 MV X-ray of the linear accelerator. Follow-up after radiotherapy was done by computed tomography scan every 6 months for 2 years and yearly thereafter. Two of the 22 patients developed local recurrence and four developed distant metastases. Median overall survival was 100 months, and the 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 83% and 74%, respectively. Median disease-free survival was 90 months, and the 5-year recurrence rate was 32%. On univariate analysis, pathologic stage III and presence of positive surgical margins had a significant impact on patient prognosis. Radiation toxicity was mild in most patients and no severe toxicity was registered. Adjuvant radiotherapy achieved good local control and showed an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with high-risk thymoma.

Hormonal and Surgical Treatment Options for Transgender Men (Female-to-Male).

PubMed

Gorton, Ryan Nicholas; Erickson-Schroth, Laura

2017-03-01

Untreated transgender men face serious negative health care outcomes. Effective medical, surgical, and mental health treatment ameliorates these risks. Although the research is not as robust as would be ideal, hormone treatment is effective and generally well tolerated with few serious medical risks. Surgeries carry serious risks; but for most transgender men, the benefits outweigh the risks. This review describes current evidence-based medical treatments for transgender men and provides an overview of surgical therapy to enable practitioners to discuss these options with their transgender male patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Liposomal adjuvants for human vaccines.

PubMed

Alving, Carl R; Beck, Zoltan; Matyas, Gary R; Rao, Mangala

2016-06-01

Liposomes are well-known as drug carriers, and are now critical components of two of six types of adjuvants present in licensed vaccines. The liposomal vaccine adjuvant field has long been dynamic and innovative, and research in this area is further examined as new commercial products appear in parallel with new vaccines. In an arena where successful products exist the potential for new types of vaccines with liposomal adjuvants, and alternative liposomal adjuvants that could emerge for new types of vaccines, are discussed. Major areas include: virosomes, constructed from phospholipids and proteins from influenza virus particles; liposomes containing natural and synthetic neutral or anionic phospholipids, cholesterol, natural or synthetic monophosphoryl lipid A, and QS21 saponin; non-phospholipid cationic liposomes; and combinations and mixtures of liposomes and immunostimulating ingredients as adjuvants for experimental vaccines. Liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A and QS21 have considerable momentum that will result soon in emergence of prophylactic vaccines to malaria and shingles, and possible novel cancer vaccines. The licensed virosome vaccines to influenza and hepatitis A will be replaced with virosome vaccines to other infectious diseases. Alternative liposomal formulations are likely to emerge for difficult diseases such as tuberculosis or HIV-1 infection.

Lymphadenectomy and Adjuvant Therapy Improve Survival with Uterine Carcinosarcoma: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

Versluis, Marco A C; Pielsticker, Cindy; van der Aa, Maaike A; de Bruyn, Marco; Hollema, Harry; Nijman, Hans W

2018-05-23

Uterine carcinosarcoma is a rare, aggressive subtype of endometrial cancer. Treatment consists of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy (LND). The survival benefit of LND in relation to adjuvant radio- and/or chemotherapy is unclear. We evaluated the impact of LND on survival in relation to adjuvant therapy in uterine carcinosarcoma. Retrospective data on 1,140 cases were combined from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) and the nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology in the Netherlands (PALGA). LND was defined as the removal of any nodes. Additionally, cases where 10 nodes or less (LND ≤10) or more than 10 nodes (LND > 10) were removed were analyzed separately. Adjuvant therapy was evaluated as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiochemotherapy. Associations were analyzed by χ2 test, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. Overall survival (OS) had improved after total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with LND > 10 (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-0.83). Adjuvant therapy was related to OS with an HR of 0.64 (95% CI 0.54-0.75) for radiotherapy, an HR of 0.65 (95% CI 0.48-0.88) for chemotherapy, and an HR of 0.25 (95% CI 0.13-0.46) for radiochemotherapy. Additionally, adjuvant treatment was related to OS when lymph nodes were positive (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.11-0.42), but not when they were negative. LND is related to improved survival when more than 10 nodes are removed. Adjuvant therapy improves survival when LND is omitted, or when nodes are positive. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy After Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Elderly Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horowitz, David P.; Hsu, Charles C.; Wang Jingya

2011-08-01

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients {>=}75 years of age. Methods: The study group of 655 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the Johns Hopkins Hospital over a 12-year period (8/30/1993 to 2/28/2005). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, intraoperative data, pathology data, and patient outcomes were collected and analyzed by adjuvant treatment status and age {>=}75 years. Cox proportional hazards analysis determined clinical predictors of mortality and morbidity. Results: We identified 166 of 655 (25.3%) patients were {>=}75 years of age and 489 of 655 patients (74.7%) were <75 years of age.more » Forty-nine patients in the elderly group (29.5%) received adjuvant CRT. For elderly patients, node-positive metastases (p = 0.008), poor/anaplastic differentiation (p = 0.012), and undergoing a total pancreatectomy (p = 0.010) predicted poor survival. The 2-year survival for elderly patients receiving adjuvant therapy was improved compared with surgery alone (49.0% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.013); however, 5-year survival was similar (11.7% vs. 19.8%, respectively, p = 0.310). After adjusting for major confounders, adjuvant therapy in elderly patients had a protective effect with respect to 2-year survival (relative risk [RR] 0.58, p = 0.044), but not 5-year survival (RR 0.80, p = 0.258). Among the nonelderly, CRT was significantly associated with 2-year survival (RR 0.60, p < 0.001) and 5-year survival (RR 0.69, p < 0.001), after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Adjuvant therapy after PD is significantly associated with increased 2-year but not 5-year survival in elderly patients. Additional studies are needed to select which elderly patients are likely to benefit from adjuvant CRT.« less

Treatment options for Dandy-Walker malformation.

PubMed

Mohanty, Aaron; Biswas, Arundhati; Satish, Satyanarayana; Praharaj, Shanti Shankar; Sastry, Kolluri V R

2006-11-01

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of various treatment options available for children with Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and to evaluate the role of endoscopic procedures in the treatment of this disorder. The authors conducted a retrospective review of 72 children who underwent surgical treatment for DWM during a 16-year period. All patients underwent computed tomography scanning, and 26 underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The initial surgical treatment included ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement in 21 patients, cystoperitoneal (CP) shunt placement in 24, and combined VP and CP shunt insertion in three. Twenty-one patients underwent endoscopic procedures (endoscopic third ventriculostomy [ETV] alone in 16 patients, ETV with aqueductal stent placement in three, and ETV with fenestration of the occluding membrane in two). Three patients underwent membrane excision via a posterior fossa craniectomy. In the 26 patients who had undergone preoperative MR imaging, aqueductal patency was noted in 23 and aqueductal obstruction in three. These three patients underwent placement of a stent from the third ventricle to the posterior fossa cyst in addition to the ETV procedure. During the follow-up period, 12 patients with a CP shunt and four with a VP shunt experienced shunt malfunctions that required revision. Four patients with a CP shunt also required placement of a VP shunt. In addition, five of the 21 ETVs failed, requiring VP shunt insertion. A reduction in ventricle size noted on postoperative images occurred more frequently in patients with a VP shunt, whereas a reduction in cyst size was more appreciable in patients with a CP shunt. Successful ETV resulted in a slight decrease in ventricle size and varying degrees of reduction in cyst size. Endoscopic procedures may be considered an acceptable alternative in children with DWM. The authors propose a treatment protocol based on preoperative MR imaging findings of associated aqueductal

Prognostic factors for patients with early-stage uterine serous carcinoma without adjuvant therapy.

PubMed

Tate, Keisei; Yoshida, Hiroshi; Ishikawa, Mitsuya; Uehara, Takashi; Ikeda, Shun Ichi; Hiraoka, Nobuyoshi; Kato, Tomoyasu

2018-05-01

Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is an aggressive type 2 endometrial cancer. Data on prognostic factors for patients with early-stage USC without adjuvant therapy are limited. This study aims to assess the baseline recurrence risk of early-stage USC patients without adjuvant treatment and to identify prognostic factors and patients who need adjuvant therapy. Sixty-eight patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I-II USC between 1997 and 2016 were included. All the cases did not undergo adjuvant treatment as institutional practice. Clinicopathological features, recurrence patterns, and survival outcomes were analyzed to determine prognostic factors. FIGO stages IA, IB, and II were observed in 42, 7, and 19 cases, respectively. Median follow-up time was 60 months. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for all cases were 73.9% and 78.0%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, cervical stromal involvement and positive pelvic cytology were significant predictors of DFS and OS, and ≥1/2 myometrial invasion was also a significant predictor of OS. Of 68 patients, 38 patients had no cervical stromal invasion or positive pelvic cytology and showed 88.8% 5-year DFS and 93.6% 5-year OS. Cervical stromal invasion and positive pelvic cytology are prognostic factors for stage I-II USC. Patients with stage IA or IB USC showing negative pelvic cytology may have an extremely favorable prognosis and need not receive any adjuvant therapies. Copyright © 2018. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

Longitudinal Assessments of Quality of Life in Endometrial Cancer Patients: Effect of Surgical Approach and Adjuvant Radiotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le, Tien, E-mail: tle@ottawahospital.on.c; Menard, Chantal; Samant, Rajiv

2009-11-01

Purpose: Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is often considered for endometrial cancer. We studied the effect of RT and surgical treatment on patients' quality of life (QOL). Methods and Materials: All patients referred to the gynecologic oncology clinics with biopsy findings showing endometrial cancer were recruited. QOL assessments were performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL questionnaire-C30, version 3. Assessments were obtained at study entry and at regular 3-month intervals for a maximum of 2 years. Open-ended telephone interviews were done every 6 months. Linear mixed regression models were built using QOL domain scores as dependent variables,more » with the predictors of surgical treatment and adjuvant RT type. Results: A total of 40 patients were recruited; 80% of the surgeries were performed by laparotomy. Significant improvements were seen in most QOL domains with increased time from treatment. Adjuvant RT resulted in significantly more severe bowel symptoms and improvement in insomnia compared with conservative follow-up. No significant adverse effect from adjuvant RT was seen on the overall QOL. Bowel symptoms were significantly increased in patients treated with laparotomy compared with laparoscopy in the patients treated with whole pelvic RT. Qualitatively, about one-half of the patients noted improvements in their overall QOL during follow-up, with easy fatigability the most prevalent. Conclusion: No significant adverse effect was seen on patients' overall QOL with adjuvant pelvic RT after the recovery period. The acute adverse effects on patients' QOL significantly improved with an increasing interval from diagnosis.« less

Emerging treatment options for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: focus on intravenous delafloxacin

PubMed Central

Righi, Elda; Carnelutti, Alessia; Vena, Antonio; Bassetti, Matteo

2018-01-01

The increase in hospitalization due to acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by resistant pathogens supports the need for new treatment options. Antimicrobial options for ABSSSI that provide broad-spectrum coverage, including gram-negative pathogens and multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are limited. Delafloxacin is a novel fluoroquinolone available as intravenous and oral formulations and is characterized by an increased efficacy in acidic environments and activity on bacterial biofilm. Delafloxacin displays enhanced in vitro activity against MRSA, and enterococci, while maintaining efficacy against gram-negative pathogens and anaerobes. Delafloxacin has been studied for the treatment of ABSSSI and respiratory infections. Phase III studies have demonstrated noninferiority of delafloxacin compared to vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline, and the combination of vancomycin plus aztreonam in the treatment of ABSSSI. Due to its favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics, the wide spectrum of action, and the potential for sequential therapy, delafloxacin represents a promising option in the empirical and targeted treatment of ABSSSI, both in hospital- and in community-based care. PMID:29670380

Emerging treatment options for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: focus on intravenous delafloxacin.

PubMed

Righi, Elda; Carnelutti, Alessia; Vena, Antonio; Bassetti, Matteo

2018-01-01

The increase in hospitalization due to acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by resistant pathogens supports the need for new treatment options. Antimicrobial options for ABSSSI that provide broad-spectrum coverage, including gram-negative pathogens and multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are limited. Delafloxacin is a novel fluoroquinolone available as intravenous and oral formulations and is characterized by an increased efficacy in acidic environments and activity on bacterial biofilm. Delafloxacin displays enhanced in vitro activity against MRSA, and enterococci, while maintaining efficacy against gram-negative pathogens and anaerobes. Delafloxacin has been studied for the treatment of ABSSSI and respiratory infections. Phase III studies have demonstrated noninferiority of delafloxacin compared to vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline, and the combination of vancomycin plus aztreonam in the treatment of ABSSSI. Due to its favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics, the wide spectrum of action, and the potential for sequential therapy, delafloxacin represents a promising option in the empirical and targeted treatment of ABSSSI, both in hospital- and in community-based care.

New treatment options for inflammatory bowel diseases.

PubMed

Verstockt, Bram; Ferrante, Marc; Vermeire, Séverine; Van Assche, Gert

2018-05-01

The advent of anti-TNF agents has dramatically changed the treatment algorithms for IBD in the last 15 years, but primarily and more importantly secondary loss of response is often observed. Fortunately , new treatment options have been actively explored and some have already entered our clinical practice. In the class of anti-cytokine agents, the anti-IL12/IL23 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have entered clinical practice with the anti-p40 mAb ustekinumab in Crohn's disease (CD). Also, more selective anti-IL23 agents (anti-p19) have shown efficacy and are being further developed, in contrast to agents inhibiting IL-17 downstream which have failed in clinical trials despite their clear efficacy in psoriasis (Verstockt et al. in Expert Opin Biol Ther 17(1):31-47, 2017; Verstockt et al. in Expert Opin Drug Saf 16(7):809-821, 2017). Following up on the efficacy of the anti-adhesion molecule vedolizumab, etrolizumab (anti-beta-7 integrin) and PF-00547659, an anti-MadCam mAb, are being developed (Lobaton et al. in Aliment Pharmacol Ther 39(6):579-594, 2014). Oral anti-trafficking agents, such as ozanimod, targeting the S1P receptor responsible for the efflux of T-cells from the lymph nodes, have also shown efficacy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (Sandborn et al. in N Engl J Med 374(18):1754-1762, 2016). Oral agents inhibiting cell signaling have been explored successfully in IBD. Tofacitinib, a non-selective oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, is effective in patients with UC and several other more or less selective Jak1, 2 and 3 inhibitors are being developed for the treatment of CD and UC (Sandborn et al. in N Engl J Med 376(18):1723-1736, 2017; Vermeire et al. in Lancet 389(10066):266-275, 2017; De Vries et al. in J Crohns Colitis 11(7):885-93, 2017). Finally, despite initial disappointing results with systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells, Alofisel, adipose tissue derived, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells, locally injected in perianal fistula

[Oligometastasized colorectal cancer-modern treatment strategies].

PubMed

Binnebösel, M; Lambertz, A; Dejong, K; Neumann, U P

2018-06-05

The prognosis of colorectal cancer in UICC stage IV has been improved in the last decades by improvements in interdisciplinary treatment. Treatment strategies for oligometastasized colorectal cancer are developing more and more into an individualized treatment. An overview of the current literature of modern treatment concepts in oligometastasized colorectal cancer UICC stage IV is given. Surgery still has the supreme mandate in resectable colorectal liver metastases, as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies to not provide any benefits for these patients. In marginal or non-resectable stages systemic treatment is superior in these patients depending on the prognostic parameters. Also in curative settings local treatment options should be considered as a reasonable additive tool. An interesting treatment approach for isolated liver metastases and non-resectable colorectal cancer is liver transplantation. Irrespective of new developments in treatment strategies for metastasized colorectal cancer, resection of colorectal liver metastases remains the gold standard whenever possible.

Plateau Iris - Therapeutic options and functional results after treatment.

PubMed

Feraru, Crenguța; Bâlha, Andrei; Aursulesei, Victor; Filip, Andrei; Pantalon, Anca

2017-01-01

We present the therapeutic options and functional results in patients with plateau iris (syndrome or configuration) in consecutive case series. Material and method: Our study included newly diagnosed patients with acute angle closure by "plateau iris" (configuration or syndrome), between June 2016 and April 2017. Series of 8 consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria, all being females. All the patients underwent an individualized treatment according to the underlying mechanism and evolution. Functional results (visual acuity, IOP, topical medication) were reported in the current paper. Results: For 10 months, we diagnosed 14 eyes, from 9 patients with acute angle closure by Plateau Iris, distributed as it follows: 6 eyes with closed angle glaucoma (optic disk and visual field changes), 8 eyes with plateau iris syndrome and 2 eyes with plateau iris configuration. 7/ 8 patients were misdiagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma, whereas only one patient had the correct diagnosis of closed angle glaucoma and underwent peripheral laser iridotomy. As treatment options in our study, we recommended and performed argon laser peripheral iridoplasty + iridotomy in 10/ 14 eyes, cataract lens was extracted in 4 eyes and then replaced with PC-IOL, whereas 2 eyes required a filtering anti-glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy + PI). 2 eyes from the same patient could not be treated as intended as the patient refused the treatment. In this unique case, Pilocarpine (4%) was temporarily indicated. Conclusion: Plateau iris represents a diagnostic trap, but based on a thorough gonioscopic examination and a good patient history, the right diagnosis can be made, all along with a correct therapeutic approach.

Randomized trial of adjuvant ovarian suppression in 926 premenopausal patients with early breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.

PubMed

Arriagada, R; Lê, M G; Spielmann, M; Mauriac, L; Bonneterre, J; Namer, M; Delozier, T; Hill, C; Tursz, T

2005-03-01

The aim of this multicenter trial was to evaluate the role of ovarian suppression in patients with early breast cancer previously treated with local surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine hundred and twenty-six premenopausal patients with completely resected breast cancer and either axillary node involvement or histological grade 2 or 3 tumors were randomized after surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy alone (control arm) or adjuvant chemotherapy plus ovarian suppression (ovarian suppression arm). Ovarian suppression was obtained by either radiation-induced ovarian ablation or triptorelin for 3 years. The analyses were performed with Cox models stratified by center. Median follow-up was 9.5 years. Mean age was 43 years. Ninety per cent of patients had histologically proven positive axillary nodes, 63% positive hormonal receptors and 77% had received an anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen. Ovarian suppression was by radiation-induced ovarian ablation (45% of patients) or with triptorelin (48%). At the time of randomization, all patients had regular menses or their follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol levels indicated a premenopausal status. The 10-year disease-free survival rates were 49% [95% confidence interval (CI) 44% to 54%] in both arms (P = 0.51). The 10-year overall survival rates were 66% (95% CI 61% to 70%) for the ovarian suppression arm and 68% (95% CI 63% to 73%) for the control arm (P = 0.19). There were no variations in the treatment effect according to age, hormonal receptor status or ovarian suppression modality. However, in patients <40 years of age and with estrogen receptor-positive tumors, ovarian suppression significantly decreased the risk of recurrence (P = 0.01). The results of this trial, after at least 10 years of follow-up, do not favor the use of ovarian suppression after adjuvant chemotherapy. The potential beneficial effect in younger women with hormono-dependent tumors should be further assessed.

Long term effects of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy on quality of life in breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Kool, M; Fontein, D B Y; Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg, E; Nortier, J W R; Rutgers, E J T; Marang-van de Mheen, P J; van de Velde, C J H

2015-06-01

The standard treatment for hormone-receptor positive, postmenopausal early breast cancer patients is 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Previous studies demonstrate that prolonging adjuvant endocrine therapy may improve disease-free survival. However, endocrine therapy is known for its adverse events, which may negatively affect Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of extended adjuvant endocrine therapy on long-term QoL outcomes. 471 patients selected from the IDEAL trial were invited to complete a questionnaire 1-1.5 years after starting with extended therapy. The questionnaire consisted of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Mean QoL outcomes were compared with EORTC reference values for stage I and II breast cancer patients and the general population. Furthermore, QoL outcomes were compared between different treatment regimens. A difference of eight points was considered clinically relevant. IDEAL patients receiving extended adjuvant endocrine therapy have significantly and clinically relevant better global QoL compared with reference values for stage I and II breast cancer patients (79.6 versus 64.6; p < 0.01) and the general population (79.6 versus 71.2; p < 0.01). Similar results were found for emotional function, pain, appetite loss, diarrhea and financial problems. Between treatment regimens prior to extended adjuvant endocrine therapy, differences were only found on specific QoL domains (e.g. arm symptoms). Breast cancer patients on extended adjuvant endocrine therapy have significantly and clinically relevant better global QoL compared with other stage I-II breast cancer patients and the general population, 6-8.5 years after diagnosis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Controversies in breast cancer: adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy.

PubMed

Montemurro, Filippo; Redana, Stefania; Valabrega, Giorgio; Aglietta, Massimo

2005-06-01

Initial randomised studies of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy showed that systemic treatments had a substantial impact on the survival of women with early breast cancer. The original assumption was that the efficacy of these treatments was limited to those patients presenting with more adverse prognostic features. Subsequently, meta-analyses of randomised trials revealed that the benefits of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy are not mutually exclusive and extend to all the prognostic subgroups. However, the absolute benefit varies according to baseline characteristics such as tumour stage and other biological factors. Over the last 10 years, considerable progress has been made with the introduction of new drugs into the adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of women with breast cancer. Taxanes and third-generation aromatase inhibitors are providing proof of additional benefits compared with standard reference treatments. In parallel, research on the biology of breast cancer is establishing novel prognostic and predictive factors, which may allow better treatment tailoring. Currently, however, women with early breast cancer and their doctors face the difficult task of making therapeutic decisions often based on early results from positive studies. In a disease where follow up is crucial to fully assess the benefit and long-term toxicities of an intervention, current knowledge leaves unanswered questions that generate debate and controversy. This review will summarise recent results from randomised trials of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy in women with early breast cancer and focus on the current controversies.

Adjuvants: Classification, Modus Operandi, and Licensing.

PubMed

Apostólico, Juliana de Souza; Lunardelli, Victória Alves Santos; Coirada, Fernanda Caroline; Boscardin, Silvia Beatriz; Rosa, Daniela Santoro

2016-01-01

Vaccination is one of the most efficient strategies for the prevention of infectious diseases. Although safer, subunit vaccines are poorly immunogenic and for this reason the use of adjuvants is strongly recommended. Since their discovery in the beginning of the 20th century, adjuvants have been used to improve immune responses that ultimately lead to protection against disease. The choice of the adjuvant is of utmost importance as it can stimulate protective immunity. Their mechanisms of action have now been revealed. Our increasing understanding of the immune system, and of correlates of protection, is helping in the development of new vaccine formulations for global infections. Nevertheless, few adjuvants are licensed for human vaccines and several formulations are now being evaluated in clinical trials. In this review, we briefly describe the most well known adjuvants used in experimental and clinical settings based on their main mechanisms of action and also highlight the requirements for licensing new vaccine formulations.

Methods to Prepare Aluminum Salt-Adjuvanted Vaccines.

PubMed

Thakkar, Sachin G; Cui, Zhengrong

2017-01-01

Many human vaccines contain certain insoluble aluminum salts such as aluminum oxyhydroxide and aluminum hydroxyphosphate as vaccine adjuvants to boost the immunogenicity of the vaccines. Aluminum salts have been used as vaccine adjuvants for decades and have an established, favorable safety profile. However, preparing aluminum salts and aluminum salt-adjuvanted vaccines in a consistent manner remains challenging. This chapter discusses methods to prepare aluminum salts and aluminum salt-adjuvanted vaccines, factors to consider during preparation, and methods to characterize the vaccines after preparation.

From discovery to licensure, the Adjuvant System story.

PubMed

Garçon, Nathalie; Di Pasquale, Alberta

2017-01-02

Adjuvants are substances added to vaccines to improve their immunogenicity. Used for more than 80 years, aluminum, the first adjuvant in human vaccines, proved insufficient to develop vaccines that could protect against new challenging pathogens such as HIV and malaria. New adjuvants and new combinations of adjuvants (Adjuvant Systems) have opened the door to the delivery of improved and new vaccines against re-emerging and difficult pathogens. Adjuvant Systems concept started through serendipity. The access to new developments in technology, microbiology and immunology have been instrumental for the dicephering of what they do and how they do it. This knowledge opens the door to more rational vaccine design with implications for developing new and better vaccines.

Chemotherapy and biological treatment options in breast cancer patients with brain metastasis: an update.

PubMed

Arslan, Cagatay; Dizdar, Omer; Altundag, Kadri

2014-08-01

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cause of CNS metastasis. Ten to 20% of all, and 38% of human epidermal growth factor-2(+), metastatic BC patients experience brain metastasis (BM). Prolonged survival with better control of systemic disease and limited penetration of drugs to CNS increased the probability of CNS metastasis as a sanctuary site of relapse. Treatment of CNS disease has become an important component of overall disease control and quality of life. Current standard therapy for BM is whole-brain radiotherapy, surgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy for selected cases, corticosteroids and systemic chemotherapy. Little progress has been made in chemotherapy for the treatment of BM in patients with BC. Nevertheless, new treatment choices have emerged. In this review, we aimed to update current and future treatment options in systemic treatment for BM of BC. Cornerstone local treatment options for BM of BC are radiotherapy and surgery in selected cases. Efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapeutics is limited. Among targeted therapies, lapatinib has activity in systemic treatment of BM particularly when used in combination with capecitabine. Novel agents are currently investigated.

Applications of nanomaterials as vaccine adjuvants

PubMed Central

Zhu, Motao; Wang, Rongfu; Nie, Guangjun

2014-01-01

Vaccine adjuvants are applied to amplify the recipient's specific immune responses against pathogen infection or malignancy. A new generation of adjuvants is being developed to meet the demands for more potent antigen-specific responses, specific types of immune responses, and a high margin of safety. Nanotechnology provides a multifunctional stage for the integration of desired adjuvant activities performed by the building blocks of tailor-designed nanoparticles. Using nanomaterials for antigen delivery can provide high bioavailability, sustained and controlled release profiles, and targeting and imaging properties resulting from manipulation of the nanomaterials’ physicochemical properties. Moreover, the inherent immune-regulating activity of particular nanomaterials can further promote and shape the cellular and humoral immune responses toward desired types. The combination of both the delivery function and immunomodulatory effect of nanomaterials as adjuvants is thought to largely benefit the immune outcomes of vaccination. In this review, we will address the current achievements of nanotechnology in the development of novel adjuvants. The potential mechanisms by which nanomaterials impact the immune responses to a vaccine and how physicochemical properties, including size, surface charge and surface modification, impact their resulting immunological outcomes will be discussed. This review aims to provide concentrated information to promote new insights for the development of novel vaccine adjuvants. PMID:25483497

Safety of treatment options for spondyloarthritis: a narrative review.

PubMed

D'Angelo, Salvatore; Carriero, Antonio; Gilio, Michele; Ursini, Francesco; Leccese, Pietro; Palazzi, Carlo

2018-05-01

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) are chronic inflammatory diseases with overlapping pathogenic mechanisms and clinical features. Treatment armamentarium against SpA includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs, including sulfasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide, cyclosporine), targeted synthetic DMARDs (apremilast) and biological DMARDs (TNF inhibitors, anti-IL 12/23 and anti-IL-17 agents). Areas covered: A narrative review of published literature on safety profile of available SpA treatment options was performed. Readers will be provided with a comprehensive overview on frequent and rare adverse events associated with each drug listed in current SpA treatment recommendations. Expert opinion: The overall safety profile of such molecules is good and serious adverse events are rare but need to be promptly recognized and treated. However, the monitoring of adverse events is a major challenge for clinicians because it is not adequately addressed by current treatment recommendations. A tailored treatment is crucial and rheumatologists must accurately select patients in order to identify those more susceptible to develop adverse events.

Prognostic nomogram for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization following curative resection

PubMed Central

Jing, Chu-Yu; Fu, Yi-Peng; Zheng, Su-Su; Yi, Yong; Shen, Hu-Jia; Huang, Jin-Long; Xu, Xin; Lin, Jia-Jia; Zhou, Jian; Fan, Jia; Ren, Zheng-Gang; Qiu, Shuang-Jian; Zhang, Bo-Heng

2017-01-01

Abstract Adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a major option for postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with recurrence risk factors. However, individualized predictive models for subgroup of these patients are limited. This study aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram for patients with HCC underwent adjuvant TACE following curative resection. A cohort comprising 144 HCC patients who received adjuvant TACE following curative resection in the Zhongshan Hospital were analyzed. The nomogram was formulated based on independent prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS). The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by the concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) and compared with the conventional staging systems. The results were validated in an independent cohort of 86 patients with the same inclusion criteria. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), incomplete tumor encapsulation, and double positive staining of Cytokeratin 7 and Cytokeratin 19 on tumor cells were identified as independent predictors for OS. The C-indices of the nomogram for OS prediction in the training cohort and validation cohort were 0.787 (95%CI 0.775–0.799) and 0.714 (95%CI 0.695–0.733), respectively. In both the training and validation cohorts, the calibration plot showed good consistency between the nomogram-predicted and the observed survival. Furthermore, the established nomogram was superior to the conventional staging systems in terms of C-index and clinical net benefit on DCA. The proposed nomogram provided an accurate prediction on risk stratification for HCC patients underwent adjuvant TACE following curative resection. PMID:28296727

Economic evaluation of first-line adjuvant chemotherapies for resectable gastric cancer patients in China.

PubMed

Tan, Chongqing; Peng, Liubao; Zeng, Xiaohui; Li, Jianhe; Wan, Xiaomin; Chen, Gannong; Yi, Lidan; Luo, Xia; Zhao, Ziying

2013-01-01

First-line postoperative adjuvant chemotherapies with S-1 and capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) were first recommended for resectable gastric cancer patients in the 2010 and 2011 Chinese NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Gastric Cancer; however, their economic impact in China is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX, with S-1 and no treatment after a gastrectomy with extended (D2) lymph-node dissection among patients with stage II-IIIB gastric cancer. A Markov model, based on data from two clinical phase III trials, was developed to analyse the cost-effectiveness of patients in the XELOX group, S-1 group and surgery only (SO) group. The costs were estimated from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system. The utilities were assumed on the basis of previously published reports. Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated with a lifetime horizon. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. For the base case, XELOX had the lowest total cost ($44,568) and cost-effectiveness ratio ($7,360/QALY). The relative scenario analyses showed that SO was dominated by XELOX and the ICERs of S-1 was $58,843/QALY compared with XELOX. The one-way sensitivity analysis showed that the most influential parameter was the utility of disease-free survival. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis predicted a 75.8% likelihood that the ICER for XELOX would be less than $13,527 compared with S-1. When ICER was more than $38,000, the likelihood of cost-effectiveness achieved by S-1 group was greater than 50%. Our results suggest that for patients in China with resectable disease, first-line adjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX after a D2 gastrectomy is a best option comparing with S-1 and SO in view of our current study. In addition, S-1 might be a better choice, especially with a higher value of willingness-to-pay threshold.

Micro/nanoparticle adjuvants for antileishmanial vaccines: present and future trends.

PubMed

Badiee, Ali; Heravi Shargh, Vahid; Khamesipour, Ali; Jaafari, Mahmoud Reza

2013-01-21

Leishmania infection continues to have a major impact on public health inducing significant morbidity and mortality mostly in the poorest populations. Drug resistance, toxicity and side effects associated with expensive chemotherapeutic treatments and difficult reservoir control emphasize the need for a safe and effective vaccine which is not available yet. Although, Leishmanization (LZ) was shown to be effective against cutaneous leishmaniasis, standardization and safety are the main problems of LZ. First generation killed parasites demonstrated limited efficacy in phase 3 trials and moreover well defined molecules have not reached to phase 3 yet. Limited efficacy in vaccines against leishmaniasis is partly due to lack of an appropriate adjuvant. Hence, the use of particulate delivery systems as carriers for antigen and/or immunostimulatory adjuvants for effective delivery to the antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is a valuable strategy to enhance vaccine efficacies. Particle-based delivery systems such as emulsions, liposomes, virosomes, and polymeric microspheres have the potential for successfully delivering antigens, which can then be further improved via incorporation of additional antigenic or immustimulatory adjuvant components in or onto the particle carrier system. In this review, we have attempted to provide a list of particulate vaccine delivery systems involved in the production of candidate leishmaniasis vaccines and introduced some potentially useful vaccine delivery systems for leishmaniasis in future experiments. In conclusion, combination vaccines (adjuvant systems) composed of candidate antigens and more importantly well-developed particulate delivery systems, such as lipid-based particles containing immunostimulatory adjuvants, have a chance to succeed as antileishmanial vaccines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Treatment options for diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

PubMed

Senneville, Eric; Robineau, Olivier

2017-06-01

Diabetic foot osteomyelitis therapeutical options are based on antibiotic therapy and surgical resection of the infected bone(s). Surgical and medical approaches of patients suffering from a diabetic foot osteomyelitis do not oppose but are complementary and need to be discussed as a tailored manner. Areas covered: The aim of the present article is to discuss data issued from the most recent guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot on the management of the diabetic foot infection and from a search in the current literature using the terms diabetic foot osteomyelitis and treatment/therapy/therapeutical in both PubMed and Medline, restricted to the last five years. Expert opinion: Surgical removal of the entire infected bone(s) has been considered in the past as the standard treatment but medical approach of these patients has now proven efficacy in selected situations. The current emergence of bacteria, especially among Gram negative rods, resistant to almost all the available antibiotics gradually augments the complexity of the management of these patients and is likely to decrease the place of the medical approach and to worsen the outcome of these infections in the next future.

Efficacy and safety of platinum combination chemotherapy re-challenge for relapsed patients with non-small-cell lung cancer after postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy of cisplatin plus vinorelbine.

PubMed

Imai, Hisao; Shukuya, Takehito; Yoshino, Reiko; Muraki, Keiko; Mori, Keita; Ono, Akira; Akamatsu, Hiroaki; Taira, Tetsuhiko; Kenmotsu, Hirotsugu; Naito, Tateaki; Murakami, Haruyasu; Tomizawa, Yoshio; Takahashi, Toshiaki; Takahashi, Kazuhisa; Saito, Ryusei; Yamamoto, Nobuyuki

2013-01-01

There is no standard therapy for relapsed patients who have received postoperative platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy for resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the efficacy and safety of platinum combination chemotherapy re-challenge for such patients. Medical records from 3 institutes from April 2005 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent complete surgical resection were eligible if they received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin plus vinorelbine once and then re-challenge with platinum combination chemotherapy. Sixteen patients were enrolled in this study. After re-challenge with platinum combination chemotherapy, we observed an overall response rate of 31.2% (5/16) and a disease control rate of 81.2% (13/16). Median progression-free survival and overall survival from the start of the re-administration of platinum combination chemotherapy were 6.5 and 28.0 months, respectively. Frequently observed severe adverse events (≥grade 3) included neutropenia (31.2%), thrombocytopenia (31.2%), leukopenia (12.5%) and hyponatremia (12.5%). Frequently observed non-hematological toxicities (≥grade 2) were anorexia (37.5%) and nausea (37.5%). Re-challenge with platinum combination chemotherapy was effective and safe; therefore, this therapy should be considered as a treatment option for relapsed patients after postoperative cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for resected NSCLC. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Adjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy for early stage epithelial ovarian cancer

PubMed Central

Winter-Roach, Brett A; Kitchener, Henry C; Lawrie, Theresa A

2014-01-01

Background Epithelial ovarian cancer is diagnosed in 4500 women in the UK each year of whom 1700 will ultimately die of their disease.Of all cases 10% to 15% are diagnosed early when there is still a good possibility of cure. The treatment of early stage disease involves surgery to remove disease often followed by chemotherapy. The largest clinical trials of this adjuvant therapy show an overall survival (OS) advantage with adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy but the precise role of this treatment in subgroups of women with differing prognoses needs to be defined. Objectives To systematically review the evidence for adjuvant chemotherapy in early stage epithelial ovarian cancer to determine firstly whether there is a survival advantage of this treatment over the policy of observation following surgery with chemotherapy reserved for treatment of disease recurrence, and secondly to determine if clinical subgroups of differing prognosis based on histological sub-type, or completeness of surgical staging, have more or less to gain from chemotherapy following initial surgery. Search methods We performed an electronic search using the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2011, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1948 to Aug week 5, 2011) and EMBASE (1980 to week 36, 2011). We developed the search strategy using free-text and medical subject headings (MESH). Selection criteria We selected randomised clinical trials that met the inclusion criteria set out based on the populations, interventions, comparisons and outcome measures. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third review author. We performed random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses. Main results Five randomised controlled trials (RCTs), enrolling 1277 women, with a median follow-up of 46 to 121 months, met the inclusion criteria. Four

Exploring Opioid-Sparing Multimodal Analgesia Options in Trauma: A Nursing Perspective

PubMed Central

Lyons, Mary; Montgomery, Robert; Quinlan-Colwell, Ann

2016-01-01

Challenges with opioids (e.g., adverse events, misuse and abuse with long-term administration) have led to a renewed emphasis on opioid-sparing multimodal management of trauma pain. To assess the extent to which currently available evidence supports the efficacy and safety of various nonopioid analgesics and techniques to manage trauma pain, a literature search of recently published references was performed. Additional citations were included on the basis of authors' knowledge of the literature. Effective options for opioid-sparing analgesics include oral and intravenous (IV) acetaminophen; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available via multiple routes; and anticonvulsants, which are especially effective for neuropathic pain associated with trauma. Intravenous routes (e.g., IV acetaminophen, IV ketorolac) may be associated with a faster onset of action than oral routes. Additional adjuvants for the treatment of trauma pain are muscle relaxants and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists. Ketamine and regional techniques play an important role in multimodal therapy but require medical and nursing support. Nonpharmacologic treatments (e.g., cryotherapy, distraction techniques, breathing and relaxation, acupuncture) supplement pharmacologic analgesics and can be safe and easy to implement. In conclusion, opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia addresses concerns associated with high doses of opioids, and many pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options are available to implement this strategy. Nurses play key roles in comprehensive patient assessment; administration of patient-focused, opioid-sparing, multimodal analgesia in trauma; and monitoring for safety concerns. PMID:27828892

The impact of size on particulate vaccine adjuvants.

PubMed

Shah, Ruchi R; O'Hagan, Derek T; Amiji, Mansoor M; Brito, Luis A

2014-12-01

Particulate adjuvants have been successful at inducing increased immune responses against many poorly immunogenic antigens. However, the mechanism of action of these adjuvants often remains unclear. As more potential vaccine targets are emerging, it is becoming necessary to broaden our knowledge on the factors involved in generating potent immune responses to recombinant antigens with adjuvants. While composition of adjuvants is integral in defining the overall performance of an adjuvant, some physical parameters such as particle size, surface charge and surface modification may also contribute to the potency. In this review, we will try to highlight the role of particle size in controlling the immune responses to adjuvanted vaccines, with a focus on insoluble aluminum salts, oil-in-water emulsions, polymeric particles and liposomes.

Pectus Excavatum: A Review of Diagnosis and Current Treatment Options.

PubMed

Abid, Irfaan; Ewais, MennatAllah M; Marranca, Joseph; Jaroszewski, Dawn E

2017-02-01

Osteopathic medicine places a special emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, and understanding how chest wall structure may influence function is critical. Pectus excavatum is a common congenital chest wall defect in which the sternum is depressed posteriorly. Patients may present with complaints of chest wall discomfort, exercise intolerance, and tachycardia. The medical implications, diagnosis, and treatment options for patients with pectus excavatum are reviewed.

Adjuvant Radioactive iodine 131 ablation in papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid: Saudi Arabian experience [corrected].

PubMed

Al-Qahtani, Khalid Hussain; Al Asiri, Mushabbab; Tunio, Mutahir A; Aljohani, Naji J; Bayoumi, Yasser; Fatani, Hanadi; AlHadab, Abdulrehman

2015-12-01

Papillary Microcarcinoma (PMC) of thyroid is a rare type of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), which according to the World Health Organization measures 1.0 cm or less. The gold standard of treatment of PMC is still controversy. Our aim was to contribute in resolving the debate on the therapeutic choices of the surgical and adjuvant I-131 (RAI) treatment in PMC. From 2000 to 2012, 326 patients were found to have PMC and were retrospectively reviewed for clinicopathological characteristics, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors. Mean age of cohort was 42.6 years (range: 18-76) and the mean tumor size was 0.61 cm ± 0.24; lymph node involvement was seen in 12.9 % of cases. Median follow up period was 8.05 years (1.62-11.4). Total 23 all site recurrences (7.13 %) were observed; more observed in patients without I-131 ablation (p <0.0001). Ten year DFS rates were 89.6 %. Cox regression Model analysis revealed size, histopathologic variants, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymphovascular space invasion, nodal status, and adjuvant RAI ablation the important prognostic factors affecting DFS. Despite excellent DFS rates, a small proportion of patients with PMC develop recurrences after treatment. Adjuvant RAI therapy improves DFS in PMC patients with aggressive histopathologic variants, multifocality, ETE, LVSI, tumor size (> 0.5 cm) and lymph node involvement. Failure of RAI ablation to decrease risk in N1a/b supports prophylactic central neck dissection during thyroidectomy, however more trials are warranted. Adjuvant I-131 ablation following thyroidectomy in PMC patients, particularly with poor prognostic factors improves DFS rates.

Differential clonal evolution in oesophageal cancers in response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

PubMed

Findlay, John M; Castro-Giner, Francesc; Makino, Seiko; Rayner, Emily; Kartsonaki, Christiana; Cross, William; Kovac, Michal; Ulahannan, Danny; Palles, Claire; Gillies, Richard S; MacGregor, Thomas P; Church, David; Maynard, Nicholas D; Buffa, Francesca; Cazier, Jean-Baptiste; Graham, Trevor A; Wang, Lai-Mun; Sharma, Ricky A; Middleton, Mark; Tomlinson, Ian

2016-04-05

How chemotherapy affects carcinoma genomes is largely unknown. Here we report whole-exome and deep sequencing of 30 paired oesophageal adenocarcinomas sampled before and after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Most, but not all, good responders pass through genetic bottlenecks, a feature associated with higher mutation burden pre-treatment. Some poor responders pass through bottlenecks, but re-grow by the time of surgical resection, suggesting a missed therapeutic opportunity. Cancers often show major changes in driver mutation presence or frequency after treatment, owing to outgrowth persistence or loss of sub-clones, copy number changes, polyclonality and/or spatial genetic heterogeneity. Post-therapy mutation spectrum shifts are also common, particularly C>A and TT>CT changes in good responders or bottleneckers. Post-treatment samples may also acquire mutations in known cancer driver genes (for example, SF3B1, TAF1 and CCND2) that are absent from the paired pre-treatment sample. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy can rapidly and profoundly affect the oesophageal adenocarcinoma genome. Monitoring molecular changes during treatment may be clinically useful.

New generation adjuvants--from empiricism to rational design.

PubMed

O'Hagan, Derek T; Fox, Christopher B

2015-06-08

Adjuvants are an essential component of modern vaccine development. Despite many decades of development, only a few types of adjuvants are currently included in vaccines approved for human use. In order to better understand the reasons that development of some adjuvants succeeded while many others failed, we discuss some of the common attributes of successful first generation adjuvants. Next, we evaluate current trends in the development of second generation adjuvants, including the potential advantages of rationally designed synthetic immune potentiators appropriately formulated. Finally, we discuss desirable attributes of next generation adjuvants. Throughout, we emphasize that the importance of formulation and analytical characterization in all aspects of vaccine adjuvant development is often underappreciated. We highlight the formulation factors that must be evaluated in order to optimize interactions between vaccine antigens, immune potentiators, and particulate formulations, and the resulting effects on safety, biological activity, manufacturability, and stability. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vaccine adjuvant technology: from mechanistic concepts to practical applications.

PubMed

Degen, Winfried G J; Jansen, Theo; Schijns, Virgil E J C

2003-04-01

Distinct types of immune responses are required for efficient elimination of different pathogens. Programming of the desired type of immune response by safe nonreplicating vaccines requires suitable vaccine adjuvants. Adjuvants largely determine the magnitude and quality of immune responses specific for the coadministered antigen. Unfortunately, rational vaccine design requiring a rational choice of vaccine adjuvant, is hampered by a lack of knowledge about the mechanism(s) of vaccine adjuvant activity. The current review addresses different critical immunological processes possibly explaining adjuvant functions. In addition, we discuss traditional vaccine adjuvant formulations and their possible mode of action. Finally, we reflect on the latest technologies for the identification of novel adjuvants using molecular analysis of immune activation and functional genomics.

Advax-Adjuvanted Recombinant Protective Antigen Provides Protection against Inhalational Anthrax That Is Further Enhanced by Addition of Murabutide Adjuvant

PubMed Central

Feinen, Brandon; Petrovsky, Nikolai; Verma, Anita

2014-01-01

Subunit vaccines against anthrax based on recombinant protective antigen (PA) potentially offer more consistent and less reactogenic anthrax vaccines but require adjuvants to achieve optimal immunogenicity. This study sought to determine in a murine model of pulmonary anthrax infection whether the polysaccharide adjuvant Advax or the innate immune adjuvant murabutide alone or together could enhance PA immunogenicity by comparison to an alum adjuvant. A single immunization with PA plus Advax adjuvant afforded significantly greater protection against aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain 7702 than three immunizations with PA alone. Murabutide had a weaker adjuvant effect than Advax when used alone, but when murabutide was formulated together with Advax, an additive effect on immunogenicity and protection was observed, with complete protection after just two doses. The combined adjuvant formulation stimulated a robust, long-lasting B-cell memory response that protected mice against an aerosol challenge 18 months postimmunization with acceleration of the kinetics of the anamnestic IgG response to B. anthracis as reflected by ∼4-fold-higher anti-PA IgG titers by day 2 postchallenge versus mice that received PA with Alhydrogel. In addition, the combination of Advax plus murabutide induced approximately 3-fold-less inflammation than Alhydrogel as measured by in vivo imaging of cathepsin cleavage resulting from injection of ProSense 750. Thus, the combination of Advax and murabutide provided enhanced protection against inhalational anthrax with reduced localized inflammation, making this a promising next-generation anthrax vaccine adjuvanting strategy. PMID:24554695

Advax-adjuvanted recombinant protective antigen provides protection against inhalational anthrax that is further enhanced by addition of murabutide adjuvant.

PubMed

Feinen, Brandon; Petrovsky, Nikolai; Verma, Anita; Merkel, Tod J

2014-04-01

Subunit vaccines against anthrax based on recombinant protective antigen (PA) potentially offer more consistent and less reactogenic anthrax vaccines but require adjuvants to achieve optimal immunogenicity. This study sought to determine in a murine model of pulmonary anthrax infection whether the polysaccharide adjuvant Advax or the innate immune adjuvant murabutide alone or together could enhance PA immunogenicity by comparison to an alum adjuvant. A single immunization with PA plus Advax adjuvant afforded significantly greater protection against aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain 7702 than three immunizations with PA alone. Murabutide had a weaker adjuvant effect than Advax when used alone, but when murabutide was formulated together with Advax, an additive effect on immunogenicity and protection was observed, with complete protection after just two doses. The combined adjuvant formulation stimulated a robust, long-lasting B-cell memory response that protected mice against an aerosol challenge 18 months postimmunization with acceleration of the kinetics of the anamnestic IgG response to B. anthracis as reflected by ∼4-fold-higher anti-PA IgG titers by day 2 postchallenge versus mice that received PA with Alhydrogel. In addition, the combination of Advax plus murabutide induced approximately 3-fold-less inflammation than Alhydrogel as measured by in vivo imaging of cathepsin cleavage resulting from injection of ProSense 750. Thus, the combination of Advax and murabutide provided enhanced protection against inhalational anthrax with reduced localized inflammation, making this a promising next-generation anthrax vaccine adjuvanting strategy.

Treatment of retroauricular keloids: Revision of cases treated at the ENT service of HC/UFPR

PubMed Central

Carvalho, Bettina; Ballin, Annelyse Cristine; Becker, Renata Vecentin; Ribeiro, Talita Beithum; Cavichiolo, Juliana Benthien; Ballin, Carlos Roberto; Mocellin, Marcos

2012-01-01

Summary Introduction: Keloids are benign tumors arising from abnormal healing of the skin, and there are several procedures available for their treatment. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing treatment of keloids after ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeries at our service center. Method: We conducted thorough, retrospective and prospective analysis of records of patients undergoing treatment of retroauricular keloids at our center. Results: Nine patients were evaluated, and 6 underwent resection and adjuvant beta-therapy, 2 underwent resection with local application of corticosteroids, and only 1 underwent resection without adjuvant therapy. There was no recurrence of keloids in patients that were treated with beta-therapy in the early postoperative period. One patient had relapsed despite corticosteroid administration and late beta-therapy. Discussion: Several techniques have been used for the treatment of retroauricular keloids, and beta-therapy is thought to yield the best results, followed by the use of intralesional corticosteroids. Conclusion: Treatment of retroauricular keloids remains a challenge. While new techniques are being developed, resection followed by early beta-therapy is still the best treatment option. PMID:25991935

Role of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Ampulla of Vater Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Kyubo; Chie, Eui Kyu; Jang, Jin-Young

2009-10-01

Purpose: To evaluate the role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for ampulla of Vater cancer. Methods and Materials: Between January 1991 and December 2002, 118 patients with ampulla of Vater cancer underwent en bloc resection. Forty-one patients received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy [RT(+) group], and 77 did not [RT(-) group]. Postoperative radiotherapy was delivered to the tumor bed and regional lymph nodes, for a total dose of up to 40 Gy delivered in 2-Gy fractions, with a planned 2-week rest period halfway through the treatment period. Intravenous 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m{sup 2}/day) was given on Days 1 to 3 of each split course. The medianmore » follow-up was 65 months. Results: The 5-year overall survival rate in the RT(-) and RT(+) groups was 66.9% and 52.8%, respectively (p = 0.2225). The 5-year locoregional relapse-free survival rate in the RT(-) and RT(+) groups was 79.9% and 80.2%, respectively (p = 0.9582). When age, type of operation, T stage, N stage, histologic differentiation, and the use of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy were incorporated into the Cox proportional hazard model, there was an improvement in the locoregional relapse-free survival rate (p = 0.0050) and a trend toward a longer overall survival (p = 0.0762) associated with the use of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Improved overall survival (p = 0.0235) and locoregional relapse-free survival (p = 0.0095) were also evident in patients with nodal metastasis. In contrast, enhanced locoregional control (p = 0.0319) did not result in longer survival in patients with locally advanced disease (p = 0.4544). Conclusions: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy may enhance locoregional control and overall survival in patients with ampulla of Vater cancer after curative resection, especially in those with nodal involvement.« less

Manufacturing Methods for Liposome Adjuvants.

PubMed

Perrie, Yvonne; Kastner, Elisabeth; Khadke, Swapnil; Roces, Carla B; Stone, Peter

2017-01-01

A wide range of studies have shown that liposomes can act as suitable adjuvants for a range of vaccine antigens. Properties such as their amphiphilic character and biphasic nature allow them to incorporate antigens within the lipid bilayer, on the surface, or encapsulated within the inner core. However, appropriate methods for the manufacture of liposomes are limited and this has resulted in issues with cost, supply, and wider scale application of these systems. Within this chapter we explore manufacturing processes that can be used for the production of liposomal adjuvants, and we outline new manufacturing methods can that offer fast, scalable, and cost-effective production of liposomal adjuvants.

Antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effect of sirolimus in rat model of adjuvant arthritis.

PubMed

Orhan, Cahide Elif; Önal, Aytül; Uyanıkgil, Yiğit; Ülker, Sibel

2013-04-05

Sirolimus is an immunosupressive drug that specifically inhibit the activation of T-lymphocytes. This study was undertaken to investigate whether treatment with sirolimus exert analgesic effect in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of Freund's complete adjuvant to male Wistar rats that were divided into four groups; control (saline), vehicle (ethanol), sirolimus 0.75 and sirolimus 1.5. Sirolimus (0.75 and 1.5mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally using Monday-Wednesday-Friday dosing schedule for 29 days, this dosing regimen revealed acceptable trough blood concentrations in arthritic rats. Adjuvant inoculation resulted in paw inflammation, hyperalgesia and allodynia as assessed by pletismometer, analgesymeter and dynamic plantar aesthesiometer respectively. Light microscopic evaluation of the arthritic metacarpophalangeal joints revealed synovial hypertrophy with inflammatory cellular infiltration, cartilage destruction and partial subchondral bone resorption. ELISA tests of serum TNF-α, IL-1β or IL-6 did not show any change in arthritic rats, while Western blotting analysis revealed a significant increase in TNF-α (P<0.001), but not IL-1β or IL-6, protein expression in the lumbar spinal cord of arthritic rats. Treatment with sirolimus significantly decreased the arthritic lesions (P<0.001) and paw swelling (P<0.05), alleviated the histological features in the metacarpophalangeal joint, resulted in antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects without affecting the locomotor activity and prevented the increased spinal cord TNF-α level (P<0.05). It seems that prevention of the increased TNF-α expression in the spinal cord may partially contribute to the antihyperalgesic effect of sirolimus in adjuvant arthritic rats and sirolimus could be a promising immunosupressive agent in the treatment of arthritic pain. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Personalized treatment of women with early breast cancer: a risk-group specific cost-effectiveness analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy accounting for companion prognostic tests OncotypeDX and Adjuvant!Online.

PubMed

Jahn, Beate; Rochau, Ursula; Kurzthaler, Christina; Hubalek, Michael; Miksad, Rebecca; Sroczynski, Gaby; Paulden, Mike; Bundo, Marvin; Stenehjem, David; Brixner, Diana; Krahn, Murray; Siebert, Uwe

2017-10-16

Due to high survival rates and the relatively small benefit of adjuvant therapy, the application of personalized medicine (PM) through risk stratification is particularly beneficial in early breast cancer (BC) to avoid unnecessary harms from treatment. The new 21-gene assay (OncotypeDX, ODX) is a promising prognostic score for risk stratification that can be applied in conjunction with Adjuvant!Online (AO) to guide personalized chemotherapy decisions for early BC patients. Our goal was to evaluate risk-group specific cost effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for women with early stage BC in Austria based on AO and ODX risk stratification. A previously validated discrete event simulation model was applied to a hypothetical cohort of 50-year-old women over a lifetime horizon. We simulated twelve risk groups derived from the joint application of ODX and AO and included respective additional costs. The primary outcomes of interest were life-years gained, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs and incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER). The robustness of results and decisions derived were tested in sensitivity analyses. A cross-country comparison of results was performed. Chemotherapy is dominated (i.e., less effective and more costly) for patients with 1) low ODX risk independent of AO classification; and 2) low AO risk and intermediate ODX risk. For patients with an intermediate or high AO risk and an intermediate or high ODX risk, the ICER is below 15,000 EUR/QALY (potentially cost effective depending on the willingness-to-pay). Applying the AO risk classification alone would miss risk groups where chemotherapy is dominated and thus should not be considered. These results are sensitive to changes in the probabilities of distant recurrence but not to changes in the costs of chemotherapy or the ODX test. Based on our modeling study, chemotherapy is effective and cost effective for Austrian patients with an intermediate or high AO risk and an intermediate or high

Initial Experience With Low-Dose Methotrexate as an Adjuvant Treatment for Rapidly Recurrent Nonvasculitic Laryngotracheal Stenosis.

PubMed

Rosow, David E; Ahmed, Jamal

2017-02-01

Adult laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is typically managed surgically, but some patients fail treatment because of rapid restenosis or granulation tissue formation. The need for frequent surgery or tracheostomy reduces the quality of life in these patients and poses a significant challenge for the treating physician. New adjuvant treatments are required to reduce the surgical burden of this condition. To examine whether patients with rapidly recurrent nonvasculitic LTS who fail surgical management of their stenosis (ie, requiring dilation more frequently than every 6 months) experience longer intervals between surgical procedures when receiving adjuvant treatment with low-dose methotrexate. This study was a retrospective case series study of patients treated with methotrexate from January 2014 to January 2016 at a tertiary academic medical center. Participants were 10 patients with LTS without any diagnosis of vasculitis or granulomatous disease who underwent low-dose methotrexate therapy. Once-weekly treatment with oral methotrexate, 15 or 20 mg. The mean number of days between operations before and after starting methotrexate therapy was compared. Clinical courses and adverse effects of each patient were also reviewed. Among 10 patients, the mean (SD) age at the outset of study inclusion was 52 (19) years; 8 were female and 2 were male. All 10 patients experienced some clinical improvement. Three patients who were previously tracheostomy dependent were able to be decannulated. Two other patients who were tracheostomy dependent and had failed endoscopic management of their granulation tissue had complete resolution. In 6 patients who underwent at least 1 surgical procedure before and after the initiation of methotrexate treatment, the mean (SD) interval between operations increased from 61 (35) days (95% CI, 26-96 days) before starting methotrexate therapy to 312 (137) days (95% CI, 175-449 days) after starting methotrexate therapy, for an absolute difference of

Current options and future possibilities for the treatment of dyskinesia and motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Cenci, M A; Ohlin, K E; Odin, P

2011-09-01

Dyskinesia and motor fluctuations affect up to 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) within ten years of L-DOPA pharmacotherapy, and represent a major challenge to a successful clinical management of this disorder. There are currently two main treatment options for these complications, namely, deep brain electrical stimulation or continuous infusion of dopaminergic agents. The latter is achieved using either subcutaneous apomorphine infusion or enteric L-DOPA delivery. Some patients also benefit from the antidyskinetic effect of amantadine as an adjunct to L-DOPA treatment. Ongoing research in animal models of PD aims at discovering additional, novel treatment options that can either prevent or reverse dyskinesia and motor fluctuations. Alternative methods of continuous L-DOPA delivery (including gene therapy), and pharmacological agents that target nondopaminergic receptor systems are currently under intense experimental scrutiny. Because clinical response profiles show large individual variation in PD, an increased number of treatment options for dyskinesia and motor fluctuations will eventually allow for antiparkinsonian and antidyskinetic therapies to be tailor-made to the needs of different patients and/or PD subtypes.

Outcomes of curettage and anhydrous alcohol adjuvant for low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bone.

PubMed

Kim, Wanlim; Han, Ilkyu; Kim, Eo Jin; Kang, Seungcheol; Kim, Han-Soo

2015-06-01

Low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones can be treated successfully with extended intralesional curettage using adjuvants. However, there is no study reporting the use of anhydrous alcohol as an adjuvant in the treatment of low-grade chondrosarcoma. We asked (1) whether intralesional curettage and anhydrous alcohol adjuvant for low-grade chondrosarcoma is associated with good oncologic outcomes; and we report (2) the complications of the procedure. Thirty-six patients (13 men, 23 women) with a mean age of 46 years (range, 18-67 years) were treated for low-grade chondrosarcoma and followed up for a median of 62 months (range, 24-169 months). After intralesional curettage, and additional burring, anhydrous alcohol was used as an adjuvant therapy. At the time of last follow-up, there were no local recurrences or distant metastases. Six patients developed complications: 4 postoperative fractures (11%), 1 intra-articular loose body (3%) and 1 postoperative joint stiffness (3%). Anhydrous alcohol is a reasonable adjuvant for the curettage of low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones. A long-term follow-up study is necessary, considering the slow biological progression of low-grade chondrosarcoma. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Treatment Options for Primary Refractory/Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents

MedlinePlus

... back). The treatment options also depend on: The child's age and sex. The risk of long-term side effects . Most ... Physical problems that affect the following: Development of sex and reproductive organs . Fertility (ability to have children). Bone and muscle growth and development. Thyroid , heart, ...

Sequential versus "sandwich" sequencing of adjuvant chemoradiation for the treatment of stage III uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Lu, Sharon M; Chang-Halpenny, Christine; Hwang-Graziano, Julie

2015-04-01

To compare the efficacy and tolerance of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy delivered in sequential (chemotherapy followed by radiation) versus "sandwich" fashion (chemotherapy, interval radiation, and remaining chemotherapy) after surgery in patients with FIGO stage III uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma. From 2004 to 2011, we identified 51 patients treated at our institution fitting the above criteria. All patients received surgical staging followed by adjuvant chemoradiation (external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without high-dose rate (HDR) vaginal brachytherapy (VB)). Of these, 73% and 27% of patients received their adjuvant therapy in sequential and sandwich fashion, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical or pathologic factors between patients treated with either regimen. Thirty-nine (76%) patients had stage IIIC disease. The majority of patients received 6 cycles of paclitaxel with carboplatin or cisplatin. Median EBRT dose was 45 Gy and 54% of patients received HDR VB boost (median dose 21 Gy). There were no significant differences in the estimated 5-year overall survival, local progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival between the sequential and sandwich groups: 87% vs. 77% (p=0.37), 89% vs. 100% (p=0.21), and 78% vs. 85% (p=0.79), respectively. No grade 3-4 genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicities were reported in either group. There was a trend towards higher incidence of grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity in the sandwich group. Adjuvant chemoradiation for FIGO stage III endometrioid uterine cancer given in either sequential or sandwich fashion appears to offer equally excellent early clinical outcomes and acceptably low toxicity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of adjuvant radiotherapy for localized extrahepatic bile duct cancer

PubMed Central

Kim, Yi-Jun; Min, Seog Ki; Nam, Eun Mi

2017-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after surgical resection for extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer. Methods: From 1997 to 2015, 59 patients with EHBD cancer were the subject of this study; 36 patients not undergoing adjuvant treatment after surgery (observation group) and 23 patients receiving adjuvant RT (RT group) were compared. Microscopic residual disease (R1) was in 9 (25%) patients and 5 (22%) patients, and macroscopic residual disease (R2) was in 2 (6%) patients and 6 (26%) patients in the observation and RT groups, respectively. Adjuvant RT was delivered to the tumour bed and regional lymph nodes up to 50.4 Gy (range, 45–61 Gy). Results: With a median follow-up of 19 months, local recurrence was observed in 10 (28%) patients and 2 (9%) patients in the observation and RT groups, respectively. On univariate analysis, the 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates were 50% in the observation group and 54% in the RT group (p = 0.401). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 29.3% in the observation group and 26.3% in the RT group (p = 0.602). On multivariable analysis, however, adjuvant RT significantly improved LRFS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.310; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.100–0.963; p = 0.043] and had a trend towards increased OS (HR, 0.491; 95% CI, 0.219–1.102; p = 0.085). Resection margin (RM) status was also correlated with LRFS (HR for R1 6.134, 95% CI 2.051–18.344; and HR for R2 18.551, 95% CI 3.680–93.520; p < 0.001) and OS (HR for R1 1.816, 95% CI 0.853–3.867; and HR for R2 3.564, 95% CI 1.175–10.809; p = 0.054). Conclusion: RM status was a significant prognosticator of EHBD cancer, and adjuvant RT improved local control rate; thereby, survival rate might be increased. Advances in knowledge: The benefit of adjuvant RT in EHBD cancer was demonstrated via comparison with observation group. PMID:28118028

The safety of treatment options available for gout.

PubMed

Schlesinger, Naomi

2017-04-01

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in humans. Gout treatment includes rapid initiation of anti-inflammatory medications for acute attacks and chronically treating with urate lowering drugs as well as chronic anti-inflammatory prophylaxis. Areas covered: This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the safety concerns of current treatment options available for gout. Expert opinion: Gout is a curable disease with appropriate treatment. The advent of new therapies provides encouraging opportunities to improve gout management. However, clinicians should be aware of some of the safety concerns of medications used to treat acute and chronic gout. When prescribing medications for gout one has to be mindful of the presence of comorbidities commonly affecting gout patients that may affect drug safety and efficacy, especially in the elderly and in patients treated with multiple drugs. The benefits of gout drugs, usually, outweigh their safety concerns. Studies are needed in gout patients with chronic kidney disease and/or cardiovascular disease, so that escalation of dosing /combination of anti-inflammatory drugs needed to suppress gouty inflammation as well as escalation of dosing/combination of urate lowering drugs needed to achieve target serum urate level will lead to better understanding of gout treatment safety issues.

Adjuvant Treatment with Yupingfeng Formula for Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PubMed

Song, Tao; Hou, Xiaoli; Yu, Xiaohui; Wang, Zhen; Wang, Ruiren; Li, Yanling; Hu, Dan; Wang, Xiaohong; Xiao, Zhengzheng; Sui, Yong; Zhu, Chunhong; Wang, Jing

2016-07-01

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the immunomodulating function of Yupingfeng Formula (YPFF) in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs). The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI and WanFang databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing with and without YPFF for RRTIs in children. Twelve trials with 1236 patients were identified. Adjuvant treatment with YPFF significantly increased serum levels of IgA (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.33 mg/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 to 0.45), IgG (WMD 1.36 mg/mL; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.65), IgM (WMD 0.16 mg/mL; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.31), and CD3(+) T-lymphocytes (WMD 10.16%; 95% CI 4.62 to 15.69) but not CD4(+) T-lymphocytes (WMD 3.16%; 95% CI -0.27 to 6.59) and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes (WMD -0.84%; 95% CI -2.50 to 0.81). YPFF also reduced the frequency of RRTIs (WMD -3.80 times; 95% CI -4.86 to -2.74) and increased total effective rates of symptom improvement (risk ratio: 1.44; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.75). Adjuvant treatment with YPFF could improve total clinical effective rate and decrease the frequency of respiratory tract infections in children with RRTIs. The beneficial effects of YPFF may be correlated to its immunomodulating action. More well-designed trials with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of Outcomes After Fluorouracil-Based Adjuvant Therapy for Stages II and III Colon Cancer Between 1978 to 1995 and 1996 to 2007: Evidence of Stage Migration From the ACCENT Database

PubMed Central

Shi, Qian; Andre, Thierry; Grothey, Axel; Yothers, Greg; Hamilton, Stanley R.; Bot, Brian M.; Haller, Daniel G.; Van Cutsem, Eric; Twelves, Chris; Benedetti, Jacqueline K.; O'Connell, Michael J.; Sargent, Daniel J.

2013-01-01

Purpose With improved patient care, better diagnosis, and more treatment options after tumor recurrence, outcomes after fluorouracil (FU) -based treatment are expected to have improved over time in early-stage colon cancer. Data from 18,449 patients enrolled onto 21 phase III trials conducted from 1978 to 2002 were evaluated for potential differences in time to recurrence (TTR), time from recurrence to death (TRD), and overall survival (OS) with regard to FU-based adjuvant regimens. Methods Trials were predefined as old versus newer era using initial accrual before or after 1995. Outcomes were compared between patients enrolled onto old- or newer-era trials, stratified by stage. Results Within the first 3 years, recurrence rates were lower in newer- versus old-era trials for patients with stage II disease, with no differences among those with stage III disease. Both TRD and OS were significantly longer in newer-era trials overall and within each stage. The lymph node (LN) ratio (ie, number of positive nodes divided by total nodes harvested) in those with stage III disease declined over time. TTR improved slightly, with larger number of LNs examined in both stages. Conclusion Improved TRD in newer trials supports the premise that more aggressive intervention (oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy and/or surgery for recurrent disease) improves OS for patients previously treated in the adjuvant setting. Lower recurrence rates with identical treatments in those with stage II disease enrolled onto newer-era trials reflect stage migration over time, calling into question historical data related to the benefit of FU-based adjuvant therapy in such patients. PMID:23980089

Lung cancer: biology and treatment options

PubMed Central

Hassan, Omer; Yang, Yi-Wei; Buchanan, Petra

2015-01-01

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in men and women in the U.S. and worldwide. About 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking and the use of tobacco products. However, other factors such as radon gas, asbestos, air pollution exposures, and chronic infections can contribute to lung carcinogenesis. In addition, multiple inherited and acquired mechanisms of susceptibility to lung cancer have been proposed. Lung cancer is divided into two broad histologic classes, which grow and spread differently: small-cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) and non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Treatment options for lung cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Therapeutic-modalities recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer. Despite the improvements in diagnosis and therapy made during the past 25 years, the prognosis for patients with lung cancer is still unsatisfactory. The responses to current standard therapies are poor except for the most localized cancers. However, a better understanding of the biology pertinent to these challenging malignancies, might lead to the development of more efficacious and perhaps more specific drugs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent developments in lung cancer biology and its therapeutic strategies, and discuss the latest treatment advances including therapies currently under clinical investigation. PMID:26297204

Effects of manual therapy on treatment duration and motor development in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly: a randomised controlled pilot study.

PubMed

Cabrera-Martos, I; Valenza, M C; Valenza-Demet, G; Benítez-Feliponi, A; Robles-Vizcaíno, C; Ruiz-Extremera, A

2016-11-01

Despite growing evidence regarding nonsynostotic plagiocephaly and their repercussions on motor development, there is little evidence to support the use of manual therapy as an adjuvant option. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a therapeutic approach based on manual therapy as an adjuvant option on treatment duration and motor development in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly. This is a randomised controlled pilot study. The study was conducted at a university hospital. Forty-six infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly (types 4-5 of the Argenta scale) referred to the Early Care and Monitoring Unit were randomly allocated to a control group receiving standard treatment (repositioning and an orthotic helmet) or to an experimental group treated with manual therapy added to standard treatment. Infants were discharged when the correction of the asymmetry was optimal taken into account the previous clinical characteristics. The outcome measures were treatment duration and motor development assessed with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at baseline and at discharge. Asymmetry after the treatment was minimal (type 0 or 1 according to the Argenta scale) in both groups. A comparative analysis showed that treatment duration was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the experimental group (109.84 ± 14.45 days) compared to the control group (148.65 ± 11.53 days). The motor behaviour was normal (scores above the 16th percentile of the AIMS) in all the infants after the treatment. Manual therapy added to standard treatment reduces the treatment duration in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.

Effect of Antioxidant Vitamins as Adjuvant Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Systematic Review Study.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Iman; Zeitouni, Anthony; da Silva, Sabrina Daniela

2018-06-22

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otological emergency of unknown etiology. Recent reports showed that antioxidant drugs can benefit patients with SSNHL. This study attempted to evaluate the effect of adding antioxidant vitamins as an adjuvant therapy alongside with corticosteroids. To evaluate the effects of the 3 major antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E) as an adjuvant therapy, administered with corticosteroids, for the treatment of SSNHL in adult patients (≥18 years). MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane electronic databases from January 1, 1995, through September 25, 2017. Published studies of adult patients who received antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E, or any combination of these vitamins) as an adjuvant therapy in addition to the regular treatment (corticosteroids) for SSNHL. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool for Assessing Risk of Bias. Each study had a control group (conventional treatment + placebo) and a trial group (antioxidant vitamin(s) + conventional treatment). From 446 manuscripts identified in the literature, 3 studies were included in the review with 279 patients. The most common vitamins used to treat SSNHL were the 3 major antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, combined sometimes with other antioxidants such as selenium. The success of the treatment is increased in patients who received antioxidant vitamins in combination with conventional therapy. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Current and future treatment options for polycythemia vera.

PubMed

Griesshammer, Martin; Gisslinger, Heinz; Mesa, Ruben

2015-06-01

Patients with polycythemia vera (PV), a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an elevated red blood cell mass, are at high risk of vascular and thrombotic complications and have reduced quality of life due to a substantial symptom burden that includes pruritus, fatigue, constitutional symptoms, microvascular disturbances, and bleeding. Conventional therapeutic options aim at reducing vascular and thrombotic risk, with low-dose aspirin and phlebotomy as first-line recommendations for patients at low risk of thrombotic events and cytoreductive therapy (usually hydroxyurea or interferon alpha) recommended for high-risk patients. However, long-term effective and well-tolerated treatments are still lacking. The discovery of mutations in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) as the underlying molecular basis of PV has led to the development of several targeted therapies, including JAK inhibitors, and results from the first phase 3 clinical trial with a JAK inhibitor in PV are now available. Here, we review the current treatment landscape in PV, as well as therapies currently in development.

Therapeutic Success of the Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment Option for Epilepsy: a Meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Li, Hai-feng; Zou, Yan; Ding, Gangqiang

2013-01-01

Objective To systematically evaluate therapeutic success of the ketogenic diet (KD) as a treatment option for epilepsy. Methods Using MEDLINE and Google Scholar search, we searched for studies investigating the therapeutic success of ketogenic diet for epilepsy. We estimated therapeutic success rate for ketogenic diet as a treatment option for epilepsy and its 95% CIs using generic inverse variance method. Findings A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria. In retrospective studies, the weighted success rate of the patients who take the KD as a treatment option for epilepsy was 58.4% (95% confidence interval (95%CI)=48.7% – 69.9%) at 3 months (n=336); 42.8% (95%CI =36.3% – 50.3%) at 6 months (n=492), and 30.1% (95%CI =24.3% – 37.2%) at 12 months (n=387); in prospective studies, weighted success rate was 53.9% (95%CI 45.5% – 63.8%) at 3 months (n=474); 53.2% (95%CI =44.0% – 64.2%) at 6 months (n=321), and 55.0% (95%CI =45.9% – 65.9%) at 12 months (n=347). Conclusion This meta-analysis provides formal statistical support for the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epileptic patients. PMID:24910737

Advances in aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant research and its mechanism.

PubMed

He, Peng; Zou, Yening; Hu, Zhongyu

2015-01-01

In the past few decades, hundreds of materials have been tried as adjuvant; however, only aluminum-based adjuvants continue to be used widely in the world. Aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate and alum constitute the main forms of aluminum used as adjuvants. Among these, aluminum hydroxide is the most commonly used chemical as adjuvant. In spite of its wide spread use, surprisingly, the mechanism of how aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants exert their beneficial effects is still not fully understood. Current explanations for the mode of action of aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants include, among others, the repository effect, pro-phagocytic effect, and activation of the pro-inflammatory NLRP3 pathway. These collectively galvanize innate as well as acquired immune responses and activate the complement system. Factors that have a profound influence on responses evoked by aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant applications include adsorption rate, strength of the adsorption, size and uniformity of aluminum hydroxide particles, dosage of adjuvant, and the nature of antigens. Although vaccines containing aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants are beneficial, sometimes they cause adverse reactions. Further, these vaccines cannot be stored frozen. Until recently, aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants were known to preferentially prime Th2-type immune responses. However, results of more recent studies show that depending on the vaccination route, aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants can enhance both Th1 as well as Th2 cellular responses. Advances in systems biology have opened up new avenues for studying mechanisms of aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants. These will assist in scaling new frontiers in aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant research that include improvement of formulations, use of nanoparticles of aluminum hydroxide and development of composite adjuvants.

Advances in aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant research and its mechanism

PubMed Central

He, Peng; Zou, Yening; Hu, Zhongyu

2015-01-01

In the past few decades, hundreds of materials have been tried as adjuvant; however, only aluminum-based adjuvants continue to be used widely in the world. Aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate and alum constitute the main forms of aluminum used as adjuvants. Among these, aluminum hydroxide is the most commonly used chemical as adjuvant. In spite of its wide spread use, surprisingly, the mechanism of how aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants exert their beneficial effects is still not fully understood. Current explanations for the mode of action of aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants include, among others, the repository effect, pro-phagocytic effect, and activation of the pro-inflammatory NLRP3 pathway. These collectively galvanize innate as well as acquired immune responses and activate the complement system. Factors that have a profound influence on responses evoked by aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant applications include adsorption rate, strength of the adsorption, size and uniformity of aluminum hydroxide particles, dosage of adjuvant, and the nature of antigens. Although vaccines containing aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants are beneficial, sometimes they cause adverse reactions. Further, these vaccines cannot be stored frozen. Until recently, aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants were known to preferentially prime Th2-type immune responses. However, results of more recent studies show that depending on the vaccination route, aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants can enhance both Th1 as well as Th2 cellular responses. Advances in systems biology have opened up new avenues for studying mechanisms of aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants. These will assist in scaling new frontiers in aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvant research that include improvement of formulations, use of nanoparticles of aluminum hydroxide and development of composite adjuvants. PMID:25692535

Comparative survival analysis of adjuvant therapy with iodine-131-labeled lipiodol to hepatic resection of primary hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Gong, Lin; Shi, Lu; Sun, Jing; Yuan, Wei-Sheng; Chen, Jian-Feng; Liu, Peng; Gong, Feng; Dong, Jia-Hong

2014-05-01

Adjuvant therapies play an important role in delaying the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with resectable tumor. Among the available options, use of radionuclides is an effective strategy. This meta-analysis aims to examine the evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy with intra-arterial iodine-131-labeled lipiodol ((131)I-lipiodol) to hepatic resection of HCC. A literature survey was conducted of multiple electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar using various combinations of the most relevant key terms. The odds ratio-based meta-analysis of recurrence and survival rates was performed with RevMan software (version 5.2) using a random-effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed by χ(2) and I(2) statistics. When compared with the resection-only group, recurrence rates at 2 and 5 years were significantly lower in patients who received adjuvant therapy with intra-arterial I-lipiodol, with a corresponding odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.45 (0.29-0.70) and 0.52 (0.32-0.85), respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were found to be significantly higher in patients who received adjuvant therapy with (131)I-lipiodol than in patients who were not given any adjuvant therapy. Between-study statistical heterogeneity was moderate. Postoperative adjuvant therapy with intra-arterial (131)I-lipiodol to hepatic resection of HCC significantly improves overall and disease-free survival rates and reduces recurrence rates. However, well-designed randomized trials are needed to arrive at conclusive evidence.

Menstrual Migraine and Treatment Options: Review.

PubMed

Maasumi, Kasra; Tepper, Stewart J; Kriegler, Jennifer S

2017-02-01

A review of treatment options for menstrual migraine. Migraine affects ∼30 million people in the US. A subset of female migraineurs have migraines that are mainly associated with menstruation. Menstrual migraine (MM) is divided into pure MM and menstrually related migraine. Pure MM attacks occur only with menstruation and have a prevalence of 1%. Menstrually related migraine has a prevalence of 6-7%, and occurs both during menstruation as well as during the rest of the cycle. MM is usually without aura and is more severe, longer lasting, and more resistant to treatment due to the effects of ovarian hormones, specifically estrogen. MM treatment is divided into acute, short-term prophylaxis, and daily prevention. The best-studied acute treatments are triptans. For short-term prophylaxis, triptans, non-triptans, or combinations are used. Some preventive medications may be used daily to prevent MM. Many anti-epileptic medications used in migraine prevention can affect the efficacy of oral contraceptives and hormonal treatments, so caution is indicated when these are used. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase were searched for MM and treatments. Many randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective studies have evaluated the efficacy of sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, and almotriptan in MM. Reviewing numerous studies with statistically significant results, rizatriptan has the best overall evidence for acute treatment of MM, ranging from pain-free responses of 33-73% at 2 hours. Sumatriptan and rizatriptan have shown similar efficacies of 61-63% in terms of 2 hour pain freedom. Rizatriptan showed sustained pain relief between 2 and 24 hours with an efficacy of 63% and sustained pain freedom for MM between 2 and 24 hours with an efficacy of 32%. For short-term prevention of MM, there were four randomized controlled trials for frovatriptan taken twice daily, one trial for zolmitriptan taken three times daily, and two studies for naratriptan taken twice

Macrophage-directed immunotherapy as adjuvant to photodynamic therapy of cancer.

PubMed

Korbelik, M; Naraparaju, V R; Yamamoto, N

1997-01-01

The effect of Photofrin-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) and adjuvant treatment with serum vitamin D3-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (DBPMAF) was examined using a mouse SCCVII tumour model (squamous cell carcinoma). The results show that DBPMAF can markedly enhance the curative effect of PDT. The most effective DBPMAF therapy consisted of a combination of intraperitoneal and peritumoral injections (50 and 0.5 ng kg-1 respectively) administered on days 0, 4, 8 and 12 after PDT. Used with a PDT treatment curative to 25% of the treated tumours, this DBPMAF regimen boosted the cures to 100%. The DBPMAF therapy alone showed no notable effect on the growth of SCCVII tumour. The PDT-induced immunosuppression, assessed by the evaluation of delayed-type contact hypersensitivity response in treated mice, was greatly reduced with the combined DBPMAF treatment. These observations suggest that the activation of macrophages in PDT-treated mice by adjuvant immunotherapy has a synergistic effect on tumour cures. As PDT not only reduces tumour burden but also induces inflammation, it is proposed that recruitment of the activated macrophages to the inflamed tumour lesions is the major factor for the complete eradication of tumours.

Macrophage-directed immunotherapy as adjuvant to photodynamic therapy of cancer.

PubMed Central

Korbelik, M.; Naraparaju, V. R.; Yamamoto, N.

1997-01-01

The effect of Photofrin-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) and adjuvant treatment with serum vitamin D3-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (DBPMAF) was examined using a mouse SCCVII tumour model (squamous cell carcinoma). The results show that DBPMAF can markedly enhance the curative effect of PDT. The most effective DBPMAF therapy consisted of a combination of intraperitoneal and peritumoral injections (50 and 0.5 ng kg-1 respectively) administered on days 0, 4, 8 and 12 after PDT. Used with a PDT treatment curative to 25% of the treated tumours, this DBPMAF regimen boosted the cures to 100%. The DBPMAF therapy alone showed no notable effect on the growth of SCCVII tumour. The PDT-induced immunosuppression, assessed by the evaluation of delayed-type contact hypersensitivity response in treated mice, was greatly reduced with the combined DBPMAF treatment. These observations suggest that the activation of macrophages in PDT-treated mice by adjuvant immunotherapy has a synergistic effect on tumour cures. As PDT not only reduces tumour burden but also induces inflammation, it is proposed that recruitment of the activated macrophages to the inflamed tumour lesions is the major factor for the complete eradication of tumours. PMID:9010027

Effectiveness of Optional Videoconferencing-Based Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders: Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Bojesen, Anders Bo; Mejldal, Anna; Nielsen, Anette Søgaard

2017-01-01

Background Treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is characterized by an adherence rate below 50%. Clinical research has found that patient adherence enhances treatment effect; hence, health authorities, clinicians, and researchers strive to explore initiatives contributing to patients receiving treatment. Concurrently, videoconferencing-based treatment is gaining ground within other addiction and psychiatric areas. Objective The aim of this study was to test whether optional videoconferencing increases adherence to and effectiveness of AUD treatment in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). We hypothesized that the intervention would decrease premature dropout (the primary outcome), as well as increase successful treatment termination, treatment duration, and treatment outcome (secondary outcomes). Methods We conducted this study in the public outpatient alcohol clinic in Odense, Denmark, between September 2012 and April 2013. It was an RCT with 2 groups: treatment as usual (TAU) and treatment as usual with add-on intervention (TAU+I). The TAU+I group had the option, from session to session, to choose to receive treatment as usual via videoconferencing. Data consisted of self-reported responses to the European version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI). We collected data at baseline, at follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months, and at discharge. Results Among consecutive patients attending the clinic, 128 met the inclusion criteria, and 71 of them were included at baseline. For the primary outcome, after 180 days, 2 of 32 patients (6%) in the TAU+I group and 12 of 39 patients (31%) in the TAU group had dropped out prematurely. The difference is significant (P=.008). After 365 days, 8 patients (25%) in the TAU+I group and 17 patients (44%) in the TAU group had dropped out prematurely. The difference is significant (P=.02). For the secondary outcomes, significantly more patients in the TAU+I group were still attending treatment after 1 year (P=.03). We found no

Pharmacologic treatment options for nosocomial pneumonia involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Maclayton, Darego O; Hall, Ronald G

2007-02-01

To discuss current and potential treatment options for nosocomial pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A MEDLINE search (1966-January 2007) was conducted to identify English-language literature on pharmacotherapy of nosocomial pneumonia and the bibliographies of pertinent articles. Programs and abstracts from infectious disease meetings were also searched. Search terms included MRSA, nosocomial pneumonia, pulmonary infections, vancomycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, daptomycin, tigecycline, dalbavancin, oritavancin, and ceftobiprole. DATA SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All articles were critically evaluated and all pertinent information was included in this review. Vancomycin has been the drug of choice for MRSA infections for many years. Recent data suggest that linezolid may be superior to vancomycin in the treatment of MRSA nosocomial pneumonia. However, there are limitations to the available data. Therefore, prospective, randomized studies are needed before linezolid is recommended as the preferred first-line therapy. Other approved agents for nosocomial MRSA infections, such as quinupristin/dalfopristin and daptomycin, should not be used in the treatment of MRSA pneumonia, as they were inferior in clinical trials. Tigecycline has excellent activity against MRSA in vitro, but should not be routinely used for the treatment of MRSA pneumonia, as clinical data are lacking. In a Phase III clinical trial, an anti-MRSA cephalosporin, ceftobiprole, is being evaluated for effectiveness against nosocomial pneumonia. Investigational glycopeptides may eventually have a role in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, but data are currently lacking. Vancomycin is still the drug of choice for treatment of MRSA pneumonia, and linezolid should be used as an alternative agent. Linezolid should carry strong consideration for patients with vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity or a documented lack of response to vancomycin. Tigecycline and

Risk of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiation for resected gastric cancer.

PubMed

Gemici, Cengiz; Sargin, Mehmet; Uygur-Bayramicli, Oya; Mayadagli, Alpaslan; Yaprak, Gokhan; Dabak, Resat; Kocak, Mihriban

2013-05-01

Adjuvant radiotherapy combined with 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy has become the new standard after curative resection in high risk gastric cancer. Beside many complications due to surgery, the addition of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment may lead to both acute and late toxicities. Pancreatic tissue irradiation during this adjuvant treatment because of incidental and unavoidable inclusion of the organ within the radiation field may affect exocrine and endocrine functions of the organ. Fifty-three patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were evaluated for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after surgery. While 37 out of 53 patients were treated postoperatively due to either serosal or adjacent organ or lymph node involvement, 16 patients without these risk factors were followed up regularly without any additional treatment and they served as the control group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c), insulin and C-peptide levels were measured in the control and study groups after the surgery and 6 months and 1 year later. At the baseline there was no difference in FBG, HbA1c, C-peptide and insulin levels between the control and the study groups. At the end of the study there was a statistically significant decline in insulin and C-peptide levels in the study group, (7.5 ± 6.0 vs 4.5 ± 4.4 IU/L, p: 0.002 and 2.3 ± 0.9 vs 1.56 ± 0.9 ng/ml, p: 0.001) respectively. Adjuvant radiotherapy in gastric cancer leads to a decrease in beta cell function and insulin secretion capacity of the pancreas with possible diabetes risk. Radiation-induced pancreatic injury and late effects of radiation on normal pancreatic tissue are unknown, but pancreas is more sensitive to radiation than known. This organ should be studied extensively in order to determine the tolerance doses and it should be contoured during abdominal radiotherapy planning as an organ at risk. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cost-effectiveness of the 21-gene assay for guiding adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer.

PubMed

Paulden, Mike; Franek, Jacob; Pham, Ba'; Bedard, Philippe L; Trudeau, Maureen; Krahn, Murray

2013-01-01

Adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer are complex. The 21-gene assay can potentially aid such decisions, but costs US $4175 per patient. Adjuvant! Online is a freely available decision aid. We evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using the 21-gene assay in conjunction with Adjuvant! Online, and of providing adjuvant chemotherapy conditional upon risk classification. A probabilistic Markov decision model simulated risk classification, treatment, and the natural history of breast cancer in a hypothetical cohort of 50-year-old women with lymph node-negative, estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu-negative early breast cancer. Cost-effectiveness was considered from an Ontario public-payer perspective by deriving the lifetime incremental cost (2012 Canadian dollars) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for each strategy, and the probability each strategy is cost-effective, assuming a willingness-to-pay of $50,000 per QALY. The 21-gene assay has an incremental cost per QALY in patients at low, intermediate, or high Adjuvant Online! risk of $22,440 (probability cost-effective 78.46%), $2,526 (99.40%), or $1,111 (99.82%), respectively. In patients at low (high) 21-gene assay risk, adjuvant chemotherapy increases (reduces) costs and worsens (improves) health outcomes. For patients at intermediate 21-gene assay risk and low, intermediate, or high Adjuvant! Online risk, chemotherapy has an incremental cost per QALY of $44,088 (50.59%), $1,776 (77.65%), or $1,778 (82.31%), respectively. The 21-gene assay appears cost-effective, regardless of Adjuvant! Online risk. Adjuvant chemotherapy appears cost-effective for patients at intermediate or high 21-gene assay risk, although this finding is uncertain in patients at intermediate 21-gene assay and low Adjuvant! Online risk. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights

Lack of Prognostic Impact of Adjuvant Radiation on Oncologic Outcomes in Elderly Women with Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Omidvari, Shapour; Talei, Abdolrasoul; Tahmasebi, Sedigheh; Moaddabshoar, Leila; Dayani, Maliheh; Mosalaei, Ahmad; Ahmadloo, Niloofar; Ansari, Mansour; Mohammadianpanah, Mohammad

2015-01-01

Radiotherapy plays an important role as adjuvant treatment in locally advanced breast cancer and in those patients who have undergone breast-conserving surgery. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of adjuvant radiation on oncologic outcomes in elderly women with breast cancer. In this retrospective study, we reviewed and analyzed the characteristics, treatment outcome and survival of elderly women (aged ≥ 60 years) with breast cancer who were treated and followed-up between 1993 and 2014. The median follow up for the surviving patients was 38 (range 3-207) months. One hundred and seventy-eight patients with a median age of 74 (range 60-95) years were enrolled in the study. Of the total, 60 patients received postoperative adjuvant radiation (radiation group) and the remaining 118 did not (control group). Patients in the radiation group were significantly younger than those in the control group (P value=0.004). In addition, patients in radiation group had higher node stage (P value<0.001) and disease stage (P=0.003) and tended to have higher tumor grade (P=0.031) and received more frequent (P value <0.001) adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared to those in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding the local control, disease-free survival and overall survival rates. In this study, we did not find a prognostic impact for adjuvant radiation on oncologic outcomes in elderly women with breast cancer.

Current Treatment Options for Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: A State-of-the-Art Review

PubMed Central

Li, Yike; Garrett, Gaelyn; Zealear, David

2017-01-01

Vocal fold paralysis (VFP) refers to neurological causes of reduced or absent movement of one or both vocal folds. Bilateral VFP (BVFP) is characterized by inspiratory dyspnea due to narrowing of the airway at the glottic level with both vocal folds assuming a paramedian position. The primary objective of intervention for BVFP is to relieve patients’ dyspnea. Common clinical options for management include tracheostomy, arytenoidectomy and cordotomy. Other options that have been used with varying success include reinnervation techniques and botulinum toxin (Botox) injections into the vocal fold adductors. More recently, research has focused on neuromodulation, laryngeal pacing, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. These newer approaches have the potential advantage of avoiding damage to the voicing mechanism of the larynx with an added goal of restoring some physiologic movement of the affected vocal folds. However, clinical data are scarce for these new treatment options (i.e., reinnervation and pacing), so more investigative work is needed. These areas of research are expected to provide dramatic improvements in the treatment of BVFP. PMID:28669149

A phase III randomized trial comparing adjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy versus standard adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in operable node-positive breast cancer: Final results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rouesse, Jacques; Lande, Brigitte de la; Bertheault-Cvitkovic, Frederique

Purpose: To compare concomitant and sequential adjuvant chemoradiotherapy regimens in node-positive, operable breast cancer patients. Methods and Materials: This was a randomized, French, multicenter, phase III trial enrolling 638 eligible women with prior breast surgery and positive axillary dissection. Patients in Arm A received 500 mg/m{sup 2} 5-fluorouracil, 12 mg/m{sup 2} mitoxantrone, and 500 mg/m{sup 2} cyclophosphamide, with concomitant radiotherapy (50 Gy {+-} 10-20-Gy boost). Patients in Arm B received 500 mg/m{sup 2} 5-fluorouracil, 60 mg/m{sup 2} epirubicin, and 500 mg/m{sup 2} cyclophosphamide, with subsequent radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was administered on Day 1 every 21 days for 4 cycles. Results: Medianmore » treatment durations were 64 and 126 days (Arms A and B, respectively), with no significant difference in overall or disease-free survival. Five-year locoregional relapse-free survival favored patients with conservative surgery (two thirds of the population), with less local and/or regional recurrence in Arm A than in Arm B (3% vs. 9%; p 0.01). Multivariate analysis in this subgroup showed a 2.8-fold increased risk of locoregional recurrence with sequential chemoradiotherapy, independent of other prognostic factors (p = 0.027). Febrile neutropenia and Grade 3-4 leukopenia were significantly more frequent in Arm A. Subclinical left ventricular ejection fraction events at 1 year were more frequent with concomitant radiotherapy (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Concomitant radiotherapy with adjuvant fluorouracil, mitoxantrone, and cyclophosphamide has significantly better locoregional control in node-positive breast cancer after conservative surgery and 50% shorter treatment, albeit with slightly more acute toxicity. With mitoxantrone no longer available for adjuvant breast cancer treatment, alternative concomitant chemoradiotherapy studies are needed.« less

Assessment of squalene adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccines against pandemic H1N1 influenza in children 6 months to 17 years of age

PubMed Central

Vesikari, Timo; Pepin, Stéphanie; Kusters, Inca; Hoffenbach, Agnès; Denis, Martine

2012-01-01

Vaccines were urgently needed in 2009 against A/H1N1 pandemic influenza. Based on the H5N1 experience, it was originally thought that 2 doses of an adjuvanted vaccine were needed for adequate immunogenicity. We tested H1N1 vaccines with or without AF03, a squalene-based adjuvant, in children. Two randomized, open-label, trials were conducted. Participants 3–17 y received two injections of 3.8 µg or 7.5 µg hemagglutinin (HA) with adjuvant or 15 µg HA without adjuvant. Participants aged 6–35 mo received two injections of 1.9 µg or 3.8 µg HA with full or half dose adjuvant or 7.5 µg HA without adjuvant. All subjects 3 to 17 y reached seroprotection (hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer ≥ 40) after the first dose of the adjuvanted vaccine, and 94% and 98% in the 3–8 and 9–17 y groups respectively with the non-adjuvanted vaccine. In children aged 6–35 mo responses were modest after one dose, but after two doses virtually all children were seroprotected regardless of HA or adjuvant dose. In this age group, antibody titers were 5 to 7 times higher after adjuvanted than non-adjuvanted vaccine. The higher responses with the adjuvanted vaccine were also reflected as better antibody persistence. There was no clustering of adverse events that would be suggestive of a safety signal. While a single injection was sufficient in subjects from 3 y, in children aged 6–35 mo two injections of this A/H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine were required. Formulation of this vaccine with adjuvant provided a significant advantage for immunogenicity in the latter age group. PMID:22906943

Effective Treatment of Solitary Pituitary Metastasis with Panhypopituitarism in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer by Lapatinib.

PubMed

Park, Youngmok; Kim, Hyemin; Kim, Eui-Hyun; Suh, Chang-Ok; Lee, Soohyeon

2016-01-01

Brain metastasis affects one third of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab. Surgical resection and radiation therapy are often unsuccessful at accomplishing complete control of metastasis. Lapatinib is presumed to cross the blood-brain barrier, and exhibits clinical activities for treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. A 43-year-old woman was treated for early breast carcinoma with total mastectomy, axillary lymph-node dissection, and adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide plus doxorubicin. After the end of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy, she was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism due to pituitary metastasis. Surgical removal and whole brain radiation therapy were performed, but a portion of viable tumor remained. Only taking lapatinib, the size of the metastatic lesion began to shrink. Trastuzumab may have controlled the micro-metastasis of breast cancer, but it was unable to control its progression to the central nervous system. Lapatinib is a possible option for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients with brain metastasis.

Breakthrough pain in elderly patients with cancer: treatment options.

PubMed

Pautex, Sophie; Vogt-Ferrier, Nicole; Zulian, Gilbert B

2014-06-01

The prevalence of pain is high in the elderly and increases with the occurrence of cancer. Pain treatment is challenging because of age-related factors such as co-morbidities, and over half of the patients with cancer pain experience transient exacerbation of pain that is known as breakthrough pain (BTP). As with background pain, BTP should be properly assessed before being treated. The first step to be taken is optimizing around-the-clock analgesia with expert titration of the painkiller. Rescue medication should then be provided as per the requested need, while at the same time preventing identified potential precipitating factors. In the elderly, starting treatment with a lower dose of analgesics may be justified because of age-related physiological changes such as decreased hepatic and renal function. Whenever possible, oral medication should be provided prior to a painful maneuver. In the case of unpredictable BTP, immediate rescue medication is mandatory and the subcutaneous route is preferred unless patient-controlled analgesia via continuous drug infusion is available. Recently, transmucosal preparations have appeared in the medical armamentarium but it is not yet known whether they represent a truly efficient alternative, although their rapid onset of activity is already well recognized. Adjuvant analgesics, topical analgesics, anesthetic techniques and interventional techniques are all valid methods to help in the difficult management of pain and BTP in elderly patients with cancer. However, none has reached a satisfying scientific level of evidence as to nowadays make the development of undisputed best practice guidelines possible. Further research is therefore on the agenda.

Informing patients about emerging treatment options: creating "saviour siblings" for haemopoietic stem cell transplant.

PubMed

Strong, Kimberly A

2009-05-04

In June 2008, the ABC screened a television documentary involving a couple who decided to have an additional child in the hope of obtaining umbilical cord blood to treat their daughter who had leukaemia. The couple conceived naturally, meaning that there was a one in four chance that their child would be suitably matched. They seemed to be unaware of technologies that, if successful, could provide a near certainty that the next child would be a matched "saviour sibling". This story raises questions about whether clinicians have an obligation to discuss emerging and morally contentious treatment options. Ignorance of technology, assumptions about availability, and medical assessment of burdens and benefits may affect attitudes towards treatment options, but they do not justify non-disclosure of information.

Cost-utility analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer in Thailand.

PubMed

Lerdkiattikorn, Panattharin; Chaikledkaew, Usa; Lausoontornsiri, Wirote; Chindavijak, Somjin; Khuhaprema, Thirawud; Tantai, Narisa; Teerawattananon, Yot

2015-01-01

In Thailand, there has been no economic evaluation study of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer patients after resection. This study aims to evaluate the cost-utility of all chemotherapy regimens currently used in Thailand compared with the adjuvant 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) plus capecitabine as the first-line therapy for metastatic disease in patients with stage III colon cancer after resection. A cost-utility analysis was performed to estimate the relevant lifetime costs and health outcomes of chemotherapy regimens based on a societal perspective using a Markov model. The results suggested that the adjuvant 5-FU/LV plus capecitabine as the first-line therapy for metastatic disease would be the most cost-effective chemotherapy. The adjuvant FOLFOX and FOLFIRI as the first-line treatment for metastatic disease would be cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 299,365 Thai baht per QALY gained based on a societal perspective if both prices of FOLFOX and FOLFIRI were decreased by 40%.

Cytokine-Enhanced Vaccine and Interferon-β plus Suicide Gene Therapy as Surgery Adjuvant Treatments for Spontaneous Canine Melanoma.

PubMed

Finocchiaro, Liliana M E; Fondello, Chiara; Gil-Cardeza, María L; Rossi, Úrsula A; Villaverde, Marcela S; Riveros, María D; Glikin, Gerardo C

2015-06-01

We present here a nonviral immunogene therapy trial for canine malignant melanoma, an aggressive disease displaying significant clinical and histopathological overlapping with human melanoma. As a surgery adjuvant approach, it comprised the co-injection of lipoplexes bearing herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and canine interferon-β genes at the time of surgery, combined with the periodic administration of a subcutaneous genetic vaccine composed of tumor extracts and lipoplexes carrying the genes of human interleukin-2 and human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Following complete surgery (CS), the combined treatment (CT) significantly raised the portion of local disease-free canine patients from 11% to 83% and distant metastases-free (M0) from 44% to 89%, as compared with surgery-only-treated controls (ST). Even after partial surgery (PS), CT better controlled the systemic disease (M0: 82%) than ST (M0: 48%). Moreover, compared with ST, CT caused a significant 7-fold (CS) and 4-fold (PS) rise of overall survival, and >17-fold (CS) and >13-fold (PS) rise of metastasis-free survival. The dramatic increase of PS metastasis-free survival (>1321 days) and CS recurrence- and metastasis-free survival (both >2251 days) demonstrated that CT was shifting a rapidly lethal disease into a chronic one. In conclusion, this surgery adjuvant CT was able of significantly delaying or preventing postsurgical recurrence and distant metastasis, increasing disease-free and overall survival, and maintaining the quality of life. The high number of canine patients involved in CT (301) and the extensive follow-up (>6 years) with minimal or absent toxicity warrant the long-term safety and efficacy of this treatment. This successful clinical outcome justifies attempting a similar scheme for human melanoma.

21 CFR 582.99 - Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. 582.99 Section 582.99 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... § 582.99 Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. Adjuvants, identified and used in accordance with 40 CFR 180...

21 CFR 582.99 - Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. 582.99 Section 582.99 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... § 582.99 Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. Adjuvants, identified and used in accordance with 40 CFR 180...

21 CFR 582.99 - Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. 582.99 Section 582.99 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... § 582.99 Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. Adjuvants, identified and used in accordance with 40 CFR 180...

21 CFR 582.99 - Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. 582.99 Section 582.99 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... § 582.99 Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. Adjuvants, identified and used in accordance with 40 CFR 180...

21 CFR 582.99 - Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. 582.99 Section 582.99 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... § 582.99 Adjuvants for pesticide chemicals. Adjuvants, identified and used in accordance with 40 CFR 180...

[Role of Pharmacists in Completion of Adjuvant Cisplatin-Vinorelbine Chemotherapy in Japanese Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].

PubMed

Morimoto, Yoshihito; Takei, Hidefumi; Tachibana, Keisei; Nakazato, Yoko; Tanaka, Ryota; Nagashima, Yasushi; Watanabe, Kazuhiro; Seki, Reisuke; Shinohara, Takao; Kondo, Haruhiko

2018-01-01

　Adjuvant cisplatin-vinorelbine chemotherapy has been shown to be effective in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in several Phase III trials, but not yet in the Japanese population. Pharmacists are expected to assist patients with completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the compliance with and safety of adjuvant cisplatin-vinorelbine chemotherapy in Japanese patients and to evaluate the contribution of pharmacists to completion of treatment. Thirty-four patients with NSCLC who received adjuvant cisplatin-vinorelbine chemotherapy at Kyorin University Hospital between January 2006 and June 2015 were reviewed. The treatment schedule comprised cisplatin 80 mg/m 2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. Four 3-week cycles were planned. A pharmacist provided guidance to all patients and monitored them for adverse effects thereafter. The pharmacist intervened with advice to doctors as necessary. The 4 cycles were administered in 67.6% of cases. There were no treatment-related deaths. The main grade 3 or 4 toxicities were neutropenia (76.5%) and anorexia (38.2%). The most common reason for discontinuation and dose reduction was anorexia. There were 56 instances of pharmacist intervention. In total, 96.4% of the pharmacist interventions were implemented by doctors, which included administration of an antiemetic on 15 occasions and hot fomentation for prevention of vasculitis on 7 occasions. Adjuvant cisplatin-vinorelbine chemotherapy was tolerated by most patients but was discontinued because of adverse events in some. Pharmacist intervention aids completion of planned chemotherapy and management of treatment-related adverse events.

Novel Adjuvants and Immunomodulators for Veterinary Vaccines.

PubMed

Heegaard, Peter M H; Fang, Yongxiang; Jungersen, Gregers

2016-01-01

Adjuvants are crucial for efficacy of vaccines, especially subunit and recombinant vaccines. Rational vaccine design, including knowledge-based and molecularly defined adjuvants tailored for directing and potentiating specific types of host immune responses towards the antigens included in the vaccine is becoming a reality with our increased understanding of innate and adaptive immune activation. This will allow future vaccines to induce immune reactivity having adequate specificity as well as protective and recallable immune effector mechanisms in appropriate body compartments, including mucosal surfaces. Here we describe these new developments and, when possible, relate new immunological knowledge to the many years of experience with traditional, empirical adjuvants. Finally, some protocols are given for production of emulsion (oil-based) and liposome-based adjuvant/antigen formulations.

Treatment of central sensitization in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: what options do we have?

PubMed

Nijs, Jo; Meeus, Mira; Van Oosterwijck, Jessica; Roussel, Nathalie; De Kooning, Margot; Ickmans, Kelly; Matic, Milica

2011-05-01

Central sensitization accounts for chronic 'unexplained' pain in a wide variety of disorders, including chronic whiplash-associated disorders, temporomandibular disorders, chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic tension-type headache among others. Given the increasing evidence supporting the clinical significance of central sensitization in those with unexplained chronic pain, the awareness is growing that central sensitization should be a treatment target in these patients. This article provides an overview of the treatment options available for desensitizing the CNS in patients with chronic pain due to central sensitization. It focuses on those strategies that specifically target pathophysiological mechanisms known to be involved in central sensitization. In addition, pharmacological options, rehabilitation and neurotechnology options are discussed. Acetaminophen, serotonin-reuptake inhibitor drugs, selective and balanced serototin and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor drugs, the serotonin precursor tryptophan, opioids, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonists, calcium-channel alpha(2)delta (a2δ) ligands, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), manual therapy and stress management each target central pain processing mechanisms in animals that - theoretically - desensitize the CNS in humans. To provide a comprehensive treatment for 'unexplained' chronic pain disorders characterized by central sensitization, it is advocated to combine the best evidence available with treatment modalities known to target central sensitization. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd

Use of Adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil and Radiation Therapy After Gastric Cancer Resection Among the Elderly and Impact on Survival

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strauss, Joshua; Hershman, Dawn L.; Department of Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY

2010-04-15

Purpose: In randomized trials patients with resected nonmetastatic gastric cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (chemoRT) had better survival than those who did not. We investigated the effectiveness of adjuvant chemoRT after gastric cancer resection in an elderly general population and its effects by stage. Methods and Materials: We identified individuals in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database aged 65 years or older with Stage IB through Stage IV (M0) gastric cancer, from 1991 to 2002, who underwent gastric resection, using multivariate modeling to analyze predictors of chemoRT use and survival. Results: Among 1,993 patients who received combinedmore » chemoRT or no adjuvant therapy after resection, having a later year of diagnosis, having a more advanced stage, being younger, being white, being married, and having fewer comorbidities were associated with combined treatment. Among 1,476 patients aged less than 85 years who survived more than 4 months, the 313 who received combined treatment had a lower mortality rate (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.98) than the 1,163 who received surgery alone. Adjuvant therapy significantly reduced the mortality rate for Stages III and IV (M0), trended toward improved survival for Stage II, and showed no benefit for Stage IB. We observed trends toward improved survival in all age categories except 80 to 85 years. Conclusions: The association of combined adjuvant chemoRT with improved survival in an overall analysis of Stage IB through Stage IV (M0) resected gastric cancer is consistent with clinical trial results and suggests that, in an elderly population, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is effective. However, our observational data suggest that adjuvant treatment may not be effective for Stage IB cancer, is possibly appropriate for Stage II, and shows significant survival benefits for Stages III and IV (M0) for those aged less than 80 years.« less

Low-intensity ultrasound adjuvant therapy: enhancement of doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity and the acoustic mechanisms involved.

PubMed

Kondo, Takashi; Yoshida, Toru; Ogawa, Ryohei; Hassan, Mariame A; Furusawa, Yukihiro; Zhao, Qing-Li; Watanabe, Akihiko; Morii, Akihiro; Feril, Loreto B; Tachibana, Katsuro; Kitagawa, Hiroshi; Tabuchi, Yoshiaki; Takasaki, Ichiro; Shehata, Mohammad H; Kudo, Nobuki; Tsukada, Kazuhiro

2009-06-01

In this study, the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIU) as an adjuvant to doxorubicin (DOX) treatment was further investigated in comparison to hyperthermia as another widely used adjuvant. The effects were compared with respect to cell killing and apoptosis induction in U937 cells. Human primary liver cancer (PLC) cells were also used to evaluate the effects of the combinations. The use of an echo contrast agent was investigated for further enhancement of cytotoxicity. Finally, the acoustic mechanisms involved were investigated. The effects of different treatment regimens on cell viability were determined using the Trypan blue dye-exclusion test. Apoptosis induction was detected by flow cytometry using fluorescein isothiocyanate-annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The mechanistic study involved electron paramagnetic spin trapping for detecting free radical formation as an indicator of the occurrence of inertial cavitation and spectrophotometry for sucrose hydrolysis as an indicator for noncavitational effects. The combination treatments exerted synergistic effects on cytotoxicity depending on the acoustic conditions used. The use of LIU as an adjuvant to DOX treatment was shown to be superior to the use of hyperthermia as an adjuvant. Moreover, the combination seems to be promising for other cancer types provided that the acoustic conditions are properly selected with respect to drug concentration. The key ultrasound mechanism responsible for the synergism observed was shown to be the production of free radicals by inertial cavitation. Non-cavitational forces were also shown to contribute to the effect. This study is motivating to engage in in vivo research with various cancer types as a step toward clinical applicability and is emphasizing on the importance of developing therapeutic protocols for setting LIU parameters with respect to other therapeutic conditions.

Periprosthetic Joint Infection of Shoulder Arthroplasties: Diagnostic and Treatment Options

PubMed Central

Sevelda, Florian

2017-01-01

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most frequent reasons for painful shoulder arthroplasties and revision surgery of shoulder arthroplasties. Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes) is one of the microorganisms that most often causes the infection. However, this slow growing microorganism is difficult to detect. This paper presents an overview of different diagnostic test to detect a periprosthetic shoulder infection. This includes nonspecific diagnostic tests and specific tests (with identifying the responsible microorganism). The aspiration can combine different specific and nonspecific tests. In dry aspiration and suspected joint infection, we recommend a biopsy. Several therapeutic options exist for the treatment of PJI of shoulder arthroplasties. In acute infections, the options include leaving the implant in place with open debridement, septic irrigation with antibacterial fluids like octenidine or polyhexanide solution, and exchange of all removable components. In late infections (more than four weeks after implantation) the therapeutic options are a permanent spacer, single-stage revision, and two-stage revision with a temporary spacer. The functional results are best after single-stage revisions with a success rate similar to two-stage revisions. For single-stage revisions, the microorganism should be known preoperatively so that specific antibiotics can be mixed into the cement for implantation of the new prosthesis and specific systemic antibiotic therapy can be applied to support the surgery. PMID:29423407

Vaccine Adjuvants: from 1920 to 2015 and Beyond

PubMed Central

Di Pasquale, Alberta; Preiss, Scott; Tavares Da Silva, Fernanda; Garçon, Nathalie

2015-01-01

The concept of stimulating the body’s immune response is the basis underlying vaccination. Vaccines act by initiating the innate immune response and activating antigen presenting cells (APCs), thereby inducing a protective adaptive immune response to a pathogen antigen. Adjuvants are substances added to vaccines to enhance the immunogenicity of highly purified antigens that have insufficient immunostimulatory capabilities, and have been used in human vaccines for more than 90 years. While early adjuvants (aluminum, oil-in-water emulsions) were used empirically, rapidly increasing knowledge on how the immune system interacts with pathogens means that there is increased understanding of the role of adjuvants and how the formulation of modern vaccines can be better tailored towards the desired clinical benefit. Continuing safety evaluation of licensed vaccines containing adjuvants/adjuvant systems suggests that their individual benefit-risk profile remains favorable. Adjuvants contribute to the initiation of the innate immune response induced by antigens; exemplified by inflammatory responses at the injection site, with mostly localized and short-lived effects. Activated effectors (such as APCs) then move to draining lymph nodes where they direct the type, magnitude and quality of the adaptive immune response. Thus, the right match of antigens and adjuvants can potentiate downstream adaptive immune responses, enabling the development of new efficacious vaccines. Many infectious diseases of worldwide significance are not currently preventable by vaccination. Adjuvants are the most advanced new technology in the search for new vaccines against challenging pathogens and for vulnerable populations that respond poorly to traditional vaccines. PMID:26343190

Transoral Resection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: Outcomes with and Without Adjuvant Therapy.

PubMed

Jackson, Ryan S; Sinha, Parul; Zenga, Joseph; Kallogjeri, Dorina; Suko, Jasmina; Martin, Eliot; Moore, Eric J; Haughey, Bruce H

2017-11-01

With the rise of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), appropriate treatment strategies continue to be tailored toward minimizing treatment while preserving oncologic outcomes. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for those undergoing transoral resection with or without adjuvant therapy for HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma. A case-match cohort analysis was performed at two institutions on patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. All the subjects underwent transoral surgery and neck dissection. The patients treated with surgery alone were matched 1:1 to those treated with surgery and adjuvant therapy using two groups identified as confounders: T-stage (T1/2 or T3/4) and number of pathologically positive lymph nodes (≤4 or >4). The study identified 105 matched pairs, with a median follow-up period of 42 months (range 3.1-102.3 months). The patients were staged as T1/T2 (86%) or T3/4 (14%). Each group had five patients with more than four positive lymph nodes. Adjuvant therapy significantly improved disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.067; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.62) and was associated with a lower risk of local and regional recurrence (risk ratio [RR] 0.096; 95% CI 0.02-0.47). No difference in disease-specific survival (HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.02-2.57) or overall survival (HR 0.18; 95% CI 0.01-2.4) was observed with the addition of adjuvant therapy. The risk of the gastrostomy tube was higher for those receiving adjuvant therapy (RR 7.3; 95% CI 2.6-20.6). Transoral surgery is an effective approach for the treatment of HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma. The addition of adjuvant therapy appears to decrease the risk of recurrence and improve disease-free survival but may not significantly improve overall survival.

New and current preventive treatment options in actinic keratosis.

PubMed

Arenberger, P; Arenbergerova, M

2017-09-01

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a characteristic skin lesion on skin areas of subjects with mainly phototype I and phototype II, or with specific genetic factors and who are exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation. AK may be considered a precursor of in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). However, it is still not possible to predict which AK lesions will develop into SCC. Early treatment of AK is therefore recommended. Despite the increasing number of patients with AK developing into SCC, to date, there is still no clear suggestion of therapeutic strategy for AK. Current treatment consists of a multitude of topical lesion-directed or field-directed therapies or a combination of both. Recently, orally administered nicotinamide has shown to significantly reduce rates of new NMSC and AK in high-risk patients. This study aims to provide an update on the most relevant information about AK and to provide an insight into current and new treatment options. © 2017 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Effects of Formulated Glyphosate and Adjuvant Tank Mixes on Atomization from Aerial Application Flat Fan Nozzles

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

Bradley K. Fritz,1 W. Clint Hoffmann,1 and W. E. Bagley2 Effects of Formulated Glyphosate and Adjuvant Tank Mixes on Atomization from Aerial...Application Flat Fan Nozzles REFERENCE: Fritz, Bradley K., Hoffmann, W. Clint, and Bagley, W. E., “Effects of Formulated Glyphosate and Adjuvant Tank Mixes on...factors. Twelve spray-solution treatments were evaluated, ten of which contained a formulated glyphosate product and nine of these con- tained an

Use of a computerised decision aid (DA) to inform the decision process on adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colorectal cancer: development and preliminary evaluation.

PubMed

Miles, A; Chronakis, I; Fox, J; Mayer, A

2017-03-24

To develop a computerised decision aid (DA) to inform the decision process on adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colorectal cancer, and examine perceived usefulness, acceptability and areas for improvement of the DA. Mixed methods. Single outpatient oncology department in central London. Consecutive recruitment of 13 patients with stage II colorectal cancer, 12 of whom completed the study. Inclusion criteria were: age >18 years; complete resection for stage II adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum; patients within 14-56 days after surgery; no contraindication to adjuvant chemotherapy; able to give written informed consent. Exclusion criterion: previous chemotherapy. Patient perceived usefulness (assessed by the PrepDM questionnaire) and acceptability of the DA. PrepDM scores, measuring the perceived usefulness of the DA in preparing the patient to communicate with their doctor and make a health decision, were above those reported in other patient groups. Patient acceptability scores were also high; however, interviews showed that there was evidence of a lack of understanding of key information among some patients, in particular their baseline risk of recurrence, the net benefit of combination chemotherapy and the rationale for having chemotherapy when cancer had apparently gone. Patients found the DA acceptable and useful in supporting their decision about whether or not to have adjuvant chemotherapy. Suggested improvements for the DA include: sequential presentation of treatment options (eg, no treatment vs 1 drug, 1 drug vs 2 drugs) to enhance patient understanding of the difference between combination and single therapy, diagrams to help patients understand the rationale for chemotherapy to prevent a recurrence and inbuilt checks on patient understanding of baseline risk of recurrence and net benefit of chemotherapy. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Biological effects of Corynebacterium parvum. IV. Adjuvant and inhibitory activities on B lymphocytes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)