5 year retrospective follow-up of new cases of Charcot neuroarthropathy-A single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Few data describe the natural history of Charcot neuroarthropathy treated with a total contact plaster cast (TCC).

METHODS

A 5 year retrospective analysis of 50 patients presenting with an acute CN, Assessing time to clinical resolution into appropriate footwear and assessing if initial immobilisation device influenced resolution time.

RESULTS

During the study period 42 patients (84%) of patients went into remission, 2 died during their treatment, 4 had major amputations, in 2 patients treatment was ongoing. 36 patients were treated with combination offloading devices, 6 were treated with one modality only. Median time to resolution for patients initially treated with a TCC was not significantly shorter than for those treated with a removable below knee boot. 34.9% required re-casting due to clinical deterioration in the removable device.

CONCLUSIONS

More precise measures of resolution of CN are needed to assess the impact of initial treatment modality on time to resolution.

Intracerebral haemorrhage and hemiplegia with heterotopic ossification of the affected hip

We present the case of a 72-year-old woman who developed right hemiparesis following a left frontal intraparenchymal haemorrhage. Three months following initial presentation, the patient noted poorly localised right lower quadrant pain. Following extensive investigations, a diagnosis of heterotopic ossification of the hip was made. We discuss the aetiology and pathogenesis of this uncommon entity, and discuss its relationship to ipsilateral neurological injury. The link with neurological injury can result in a delayed and atypical presentation. Early recognition and treatment are important for those caring for patients with acquired neurological deficits, and permit improved patient outcomes.

Ice sheets. Reverse glacier motion during iceberg calving and the cause of glacial earthquakes

Nearly half of Greenland's mass loss occurs through iceberg calving, but the physical mechanisms operating during calving are poorly known and in situ observations are sparse. We show that calving at Greenland's Helheim Glacier causes a minutes-long reversal of the glacier's horizontal flow and a downward deflection of its terminus. The reverse motion results from the horizontal force caused by iceberg capsize and acceleration away from the glacier front. The downward motion results from a hydrodynamic pressure drop behind the capsizing berg, which also causes an upward force on the solid Earth. These forces are the source of glacial earthquakes, globally detectable seismic events whose proper interpretation will allow remote sensing of calving processes occurring at increasing numbers of outlet glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.

Glyco-engineered anti-EGFR mAb elicits ADCC by NK cells from colorectal cancer patients irrespective of chemotherapy

Background:

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), and is correlated with poor prognosis, making it an attractive target for monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy. A component of the therapeutic efficacy of IgG1 mAbs is their stimulation of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer (NK) cells bearing the CD16 receptor. As NK cells are functionally impaired in cancer patients and may be further compromised upon chemotherapy, it is crucial to assess whether immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at further enhancing ADCC are viable.

Methods:

CRC patients before, during and after chemotherapy were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry for major white blood cell populations. ADCC-independent NK cell functionality was assessed in cytotoxicity assays against K562 cells. ADCC-dependent killing of EGFR⁺ A431 cancer cells by NK cells was measured with a degranulation assay where ADCC was induced by GA201, an anti-EGFR mAb glyco-engineered to enhance ADCC.

Results:

Here, we confirm the observation that NK cells in cancer patients are dysfunctional. However, GA201 was able to induce robust NK cell-dependent cytotoxicity in CRC patient NK cells, effectively overcoming their impairment.

Conclusions:

These findings support the evaluation of the therapeutic potential of GA201 in combination with chemotherapy in CRC patients.

Proposed regulations for research with biospecimens: responses from stakeholders at CTSA consortium institutions

Secondary research with biospecimens acquired through clinical care and through research is often conducted without the informed consent of individuals from whom the specimens were acquired. While such uses are consistent with the current federal regulations, surveys of the general public suggest that many individuals would prefer more information and choice regarding research use of biospecimens. The federal government issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in 2011 that proposed a number of potential changes in the regulations governing human subjects. These proposed regulations are particularly pertinent to institutions committed to research involving human subjects-including institutions in the NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium. In this study, we reviewed public responses by CTSA-funded institutions and CTSA-affiliated organizations and groups regarding the proposed changes in the ANPRM with respect to research with biospecimens. Our results indicate that the majority of responses to the ANPRM from CTSA institutions were not supportive of the proposed changes. While many responses acknowledge a need to change current research practices regarding biospecimens, the proposed changes in the ANPRM received only limited support from this subgroup of academic research institutions.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) use in Medicare beneficiaries with nonmetastatic (M0) prostate cancer (PC) in the United States

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Background: ADT is well-established for metastatic PC but is also used in men with less advanced PC. Patterns of ADT use in the M0 PC setting have not been well-described. Methods: Medicare claims in 2005 for men aged ≥66 years (yrs) were assessed for use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists or bilateral orchiectomy. The cohort was limited to men who, during the 15 months (mos) prior to their first 2005 ADT claim, had continuous Parts A + B coverage, a diagnosis code for PC, no claims for metastases (except lymph nodes), and no claims for ADT. Follow-up (f/u) was from ADT initiation to 3 yrs, death, or change in Medicare coverage. Regimen duration was defined by combining claim service count and dosage with FDA label dosing. Because ADT has biologic activity beyond the recommended regimen duration, active dose time was calculated by adding 3 and 6 mos to claims for regimens <6 mos and ≥6 mos, respectively. Interruption was defined as ≥180 days from end of active dose time to next ADT claim. Results: We identified 3246 M0 PC patients aged ≥66 yrs who initiated ADT in 2005 but describe results in the 2161 who had 3 full yrs of f/u (data for the entire cohort were similar). Nearly 70% received only 1 type of ADT agent during f/u (25% had 2 types, 5% had 3 or 4 types), and 73% started on a 3-or 4-month regimen. The distribution of patients by first ADT type (and by type received at any point) was: leuprolide injection: 54% (67%); goserelin implant: 36% (43%); triptorelin injection: 6% (19%); leuprolide implant: 2% (4%); orchiectomy: <1% (1%); and histrelin implant: 0% (3%). Use of >1 type of ADT agent was more common in men who began with goserelin (45%) or triptorelin (53%) versus leuprolide (≤24%). At three years after ADT initiation, 36% received ADT for the entire 36-month period, 15% for 24-35 mos, 17% for 12-23 mos, and 32% for <12 mos. Interruption in active therapy occurred in only 13%. Conclusions: Most elderly men with M0 PC initiating ADT in 2005 started on a 3- or 4-month leuprolide or goserelin regimen. Though these agents remained the most commonly used throughout f/u, switching was common (30% used >1 type during f/u). ADT was continued for at least 2 yrs in nearly half and extended to 3 yrs in over one-third of the cohort.

Rare cerebellar metastases from oesophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Metastatic oesophageal carcinoma to the brain is an uncommon diagnosis that may cause abnormal neurological findings.

AIMS

The case of a 56-year-old man who presented with brain secondaries as an initial manifestation of carcinoma of oesophagus is presented and the unique characteristics highlighted.

RESULTS

Patient survival was for 12 months after initial presentation and treatment.

CONCLUSION

Oesophageal carcinoma is a recognised cause of intracerebral metastatic tumours, though this is an uncommon occurrence.