Getting high to cope with COVID-19: Modelling the associations between cannabis demand, coping motives, and cannabis use and problems

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people may use substances like cannabis for enhancement or coping purposes. Behavioral economic demand for a substance is a key determinant of its use and misuse and can be measured via hypothetical purchase tasks. Previous research suggests that motivations to use a substance play a mediational role between elevated substance demand and problems, but comparable mechanistic research has yet to be done in the COVID-19 context and on the effects of cannabis demand on cannabis use patterns. Participants (n = 137) were recruited via the online crowdsourcing platform Prolific. Participants completed measures of cannabis use and problems, motivations for cannabis use, and the Marijuana Purchase Task. Two indices of demand, Persistence (i.e., sensitivity to increasing cost of cannabis) and Amplitude (i.e., consumption of cannabis at unrestricted cost), were related to increased cannabis problems via the use motive of coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This model did not support the mediational role of enhancement motives. Those with increased cannabis demand who tend to use cannabis to cope are at increased risk of experiencing negative cannabis-related consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Long-term implications of pacemaker insertion in younger adults: a single centre experience

Background

The long-term implications of pacemaker insertion in younger adults are poorly described in the literature.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive younger adult patients (18–50 years) undergoing pacemaker implantation at a quaternary hospital between 1986–2020. Defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices were excluded. All clinical records, pacemaker checks and echocardiograms were reviewed.

Results

81 patients (39.5±9.6 years, 53% male) underwent pacemaker implantation. Indications were complete heart block (41%), sinus node dysfunction (33%), high grade AV block (11%) and tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (7%). During a median 7.6 (IQR=0.6–14.8) years follow-up, 9 patients (11%) developed 13 late device-related complications (generator or lead malfunction requiring reoperation (n=11), device infection (n=1) and pocket revision (n=1)). Five of these patients were <40 years old at time of pacemaker insertion. At long-term follow-up, a further 9 patients (11%) experienced significant symptoms from inadequate lead performance managed with device reprogramming. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was detected in 2 patients (2%). Deterioration in ventricular function (LVEF decline >10%) was observed in 14 patients (17%) and 7 of these patients required subsequent biventricular upgrade. Furthermore, 4 patients (5%) developed new tricuspid regurgitation (≥ moderate-severe). Of 69 patients with available long-term pacing data, minimal pacemaker utilisation (pacing <5% at all checks) was observed in 13 (19%) patients.

Conclusions

Pacemaker insertion in younger adults has significant long-term implications. Clinicians should carefully consider pacemaker insertion in this cohort given risk of device-related complications, potential for device under-utilisation and issues related to lead longevity. In addition, patients require close follow-up for development of structural abnormalities and arrhythmias.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Incidence and predictors of eosinophilic myocardial hypersensitivity in patients receiving home dobutamine

Background

Home inotropes are utilised in those with end-stage heart failure as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. The use of intravenous dobutamine has been linked to cases of eosinophilic myocardial hypersensitivity (EMH), however, little is known about incidence and predictors.

Purpose

We sought to examine the incidence and possible predictors of eosinophilic myocardial hypersensitivity in a cohort of patients on home inotrope therapy at a cardiac transplant centre.

Methods

Patients enrolled in the home inotrope program with progression to heart transplantation or ventricular assist device (VAD) with available myocardial tissue for histopathology, from January 2000 to May 2020 were included. EMH was defined by a pathologist reporting eosinophilic infiltrate with hypersensitivity on myocardial histopathology.

Results

From a cohort of 74 patients, 58% (43) were on dobutamine and 42% (31) were on milrinone. There were zero cases of EMH in those on milrinone. EMH was identified in 14% (6/43) of patients receiving dobutamine. In the dobutamine cohort, the mean age was 52-±12 years, with 22% being female. Non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy encompassed 62%, the remaining 38% were ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Median dobutamine dose (250 [200–282] mcg/min vs. 225 [200–291] mcg/min) and duration of therapy (41 [23–79] days vs. 53 [24–91] days) were similar between those with and without EMH. Rates of known allergy (27% vs. 33%) and asthma (1 patient in each group) were also similar between those with and without EMH. Those with EMH had a median peak eosinophil count of 0.40×109/L (IQR 0.21–0.66×109/L) compared to a peak of only 0.10×109/L (IQR 0.06–0.29×109/L) in the non-EMH cohort. There was a significant difference in the change in absolute eosinophil count between groups; over the duration of dobutamine therapy the median change in eosinophil count was 0.31×109/L (IQR 0.21–0.59×109/L) in the EMH group compared to 0.03×109/L (IQR 0.00–0.14×109/L) in the non-EMH cohort (p=0.02). Peak C-reactive protein was similar between groups (42±46mg/L vs. 44±45mg/L). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduced from 19% (±7%) to 17% (±2%) in those with EMH, while LVEF increased from 20% (±7%) to 22% (±9%) in non-EMH patients (Figure 1), p=NS. Re-presentation with heart failure requiring hospitalisation occurred in 83% in the EMH group compared to only 59% in the non-EMH group (p=0.26). The majority of patients with EMH (83%) required VAD as bridge to transplant, compared to only 41% of non-EMH (p=0.05).

Conclusion(s)

EMH occurred in 14% of patients receiving home dobutamine. Patients who developed EMH were more likely to require escalation in treatment to VAD as a bridge to heart transplant. In patients receiving dobutamine a reduction in LVEF, hospitalisation with decompensated heart failure and rising eosinophil count should prompt physicians to consider EMH.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1

Pregnancy outcomes in patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis receiving ixekizumab

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are chronic inflammatory diseases that often affect women of childbearing age. Detailed information about pregnancy and related outcomes across these indications in patients exposed to ixekizumab is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after maternal or paternal exposure to ixekizumab in patients with psoriasis, PsA, or axSpA.

METHODS

Pregnancy cases from clinical trials and post-marketing reports, associated with either maternal or paternal exposure to ixekizumab cumulatively through 22 March 2019, were identified in the Eli Lilly Global Safety Database and described separately.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-three ixekizumab-exposed pregnancies were identified. Maternal exposure occurred in 51.3% of pregnancies (clinical trials: n = 58; post-marketing: n = 41). The majority of paternal exposure pregnancies occurred in clinical trials (91 of 94). Live births were reported for 53.8 and 61.1% of known outcomes in maternal exposure pregnancies during clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance, respectively. No congenital malformations resulting from maternal exposure were reported in clinical trials: one case, not causally related to ixekizumab therapy, was recorded in the post-marketing setting.

CONCLUSIONS

This integrated safety analysis provides relevant information for clinicians treating patients with psoriasis, PsA, or axSpA with ixekizumab. No new safety signals were identified in patients receiving ixekizumab.

POS1033 SAFETY OF IXEKIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF 4 CLINICAL TRIALS

Background:

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) require long-term treatment, which may lead to adverse events (AEs). Ixekizumab, an interleukin-17A antagonist, is approved for the treatment of adults with active PsA.

Objectives:

We report a summary of safety outcomes for patients enrolled in 4 PsA studies with up to 3 years of exposure to ixekizumab.

Methods:

This integrated safety analysis included all patients with PsA who received at least 1 dose of ixekizumab (80 mg every 2 or 4 weeks) in 4 clinical trials (NCT01695239, NCT02349295, NCT02584855, NCT03151551). Safety outcomes included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious AEs (SAEs), discontinuations due to AEs, deaths, and AEs of special interest.

Results:

A total of 1401 patients were included in this safety analysis (51.5% female; mean age 49 years), with 2247.6 patient-years of exposure (Table 1). In all, 1131 patients (80.7%) reported ≥1 TEAE (exposure-adjusted incidence rate per 100 patient-years [IR] 50.3, 95% CI 47.5–53.3), mostly mild (32.9%) or moderate (39.7%) in severity. The most common TEAEs were nasopharyngitis (n=202, IR 9.0), upper respiratory infections (n=186, IR 8.3), and injection site reaction (n=156, IR 6.9). SAEs were reported by 134 patients (IR 6.0, 95% CI 5.0–7.1). 115 (8.2%) patients discontinued due to AEs (IR 5.1, 95% CI 4.3–6.1). Six deaths were reported (IR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.6). Allergic reactions/hypersensitivity were reported in 102 patients (IR 4.5, 95% CI 3.7–5.5). Three cases were adjudicated as de novo inflammatory bowel disease (IR 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.41); 1 was ulcerative colitis (IR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–0.32), 2 were Crohn’s disease (IR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.36). Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 12 patients (IR 0.5) and malignancies in 15 (IR 0.7), 9 of which were non-melanoma skin cancer. Opportunistic infections occurred in 40 (2.9%) patients (IR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3–2.4). Candidiasis occurred in 24 patients (oral: IR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.2; oral fungal infection: IR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.6; esophageal infection: IR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0–0.4). No active or reactive cases of tuberculosis were reported. Other opportunistic infections included hepatitis B (IR 0.0, 95% CI 0.0–0.3), herpes simplex (IR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3–2.5), and herpes zoster (IR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.2).

Conclusion:

The safety profile of ixekizumab across 4 clinical trials and up to 3 years of continuous treatment in patients with active PsA was consistent with the known safety profile reported in previous studies for psoriasis and PsA. No new safety events were found in this analysis.

Pooled Ixekizumab(N=1401; Total Patient-Years=2247.6)n (IR)95% CIYear 0–1(n=1401)n (IR)95% CIYear 1–2(n=946)n (IR)95% CIYear 2–3(n=510)n (IR)95% CIYear ≥3(n=89)n (IR)95% CITotal Patient-Years2247.71207.3689.8347.72.9Patients with ≥1 TEAE1131 (50.3)1050 (87.0)496 (71.9)234 (67.3)6 (206.2)47.5–53.381.9–92.465.9–78.559.2–76.592.6–458.9SAEs134 (6.0)72 (6.0)53 (7.7)19 (5.5)1 (34.4)5.0–7.14.7–7.55.9–10.13.5–8.64.8–243.9Discontinuations due to AEs115 (5.1)61 (5.1)37 (5.4)17 (4.9)0 (0)4.3–6.13.9–6.53.9–7.43.0–7.90.0–274.7Hepatic reactions112 (5.0)80 (6.6)32 (4.6)14 (4.0)0 (0)4.1–6.05.3–8.33.3–6.62.4–6.80.0–274.7Allergic reaction/hypersensitivity102 (4.5)83 (6.9)23 (3.3)5 (1.4)0 (0)3.7–5.55.5–8.52.2–5.00.6–3.50.0–274.7Serious infection28 (1.2)18 (1.5)9 (1.3)3 (0.9)0 (0)0.9–1.80.9–2.40.7–2.50.3–2.70.0–274.7Malignancies15 (0.7)4 (0.3)8 (1.2)4 (1.2)0 (0)0.4–1.10.1–0.90.6–2.30.4–3.10.0–274.7Major adverse cardiac events12 (0.5)3 (0.2)8 (1.2)1 (0.3)0 (0)0.3–0.90.1–0.80.6–2.30.0–2.00.0–274.7Inflammatory bowel disease3 (0.1)3 (0.2)1 (0.1)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0.0–0.40.1–0.80.0–1.00.0–2.30.0–274.7 Ulcerative colitis1 (0.0)1 (0.1)1 (0.1)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0.0–0.30.0–0.60.0–1.00.0–2.30.0–274.7 Crohn’s disease2 (0.1)2 (0.2)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0.0–0.40.0–0.70.0–1.20.0–2.30.0–274.7

AE, adverse event; CI, confidence interval; IR, exposure-adjusted incidence rate per 100 patient-years; SAE, serious adverse event; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.

Disclosure of Interests:

Carlos Sesin Speakers bureau: Amgen, AbbVie, Sanofi, Radius, Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Gaia Gallo Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Amanda Gellett Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Andris Kronbergs Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Aubrey Trevelin Sprabery Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Wen Xu Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Himanshu Patel Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Atul Deodhar Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos, Glaxo Smith & Kline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly and Company, Glaxo Smith & Kline, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Bernard Combe Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Gilead-Galapagos, Eli Lilly and Company, MSD, Pfizer, Roche Chugai, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bayer, Gilead-Galapagos, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Roche Chugai, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, Roche Chugai, Gerd Rüdiger Burmester Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Janssen, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, MSD, Pfizer.

Pathophysiology and Imaging Findings of COVID-19 Infection: An Organ-system Based Review

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 commonly presents with upper respiratory symptoms; however, studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection affects multiple organ systems. Here, we review the pathophysiology and imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in organ systems throughout the body and explore commonalities.

OBJECTIVE

Familiarity with the underlying pathophysiology and imaging characteristics is essential for the radiologist to recognize these findings in patients with COVID-19 infection. Though pulmonary findings are the most prevalent presentation, COVID-19 may have multiple manifestations and recognition of the extrapulmonary manifestations is especially important because of the potential serious and long-term effects of COVID-19 on multiple organ systems.

Primary colonic squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Colonic squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare, with no clear pathogenesis. It usually presents as an emergency. We present the surgical management of a descending colon squamous cell carcinoma, together with a review of the available cases of colonic squamous cell carcinoma in the literature. A 69-year-old woman presented with a palpable mass and abdominal pain. She underwent ultrasound and colonoscopy, which revealed a large obstructing mass at the descending colon, the biopsies of which were not diagnostic. Unfortunately, she was readmitted with bowel obstruction and underwent extended right hemicolectomy with en-bloc excision of attached small bowel and omentum because of local mass expansion. Histopathological analysis demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases. Palliative chemotherapy followed, owing to liver and peritoneal deposits. Sixty-six cases of colonic squamous cell carcinoma have been reported in the literature. The most common location is the right colon. Most cases present at a late stage. Several theories for the pathogenesis of colonic squamous cell carcinoma have been reported; the most popular is the squamous transformation of a pluripotent stem cell.