Does the extent of neck surgery based on preoperative calcitonin level influence survival in medullary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective tertiary centre experience

INTRODUCTION

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare thyroid cancer arising from the calcitonin-secreting parafollicular cells. Previous studies suggested a preoperative calcitonin level >200ng/l is an indication for prophylactic lateral neck dissection (LND) to remove micrometastases and improve survival outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective single-centre study assessed the efficacy of preoperative calcitonin levels as a marker for determining need for prophylactic LND in MTC. Data were obtained on demographics, preoperative calcitonin levels, size and laterality of index tumour, type of neck dissection (central neck dissection (CND), LND), nodes removed, levels with involved nodes, number of nodes histologically involved, mortality, adjuvant therapy and locoregional recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 33 patients were identified from St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between 1 January 2001 and 19 August 2021; 8 were excluded for data quality issues. Of the 18 classified with a high preoperative calcitonin level (>200ng/l), 10 (56%) had a LND and 8 (44%) had a CND. In the low-calcitonin group, three (43%) patients had a CND only and four (57%) had a LND. There was no difference in absolute or disease-free survival between the low and high groups (p=0.960, p=0.817), or between those who had a CND and LND in the high-calcitonin group (p=0.607, hazard ratio (HR) 0.55; p=0.129, HR 8.78).

CONCLUSION

There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes between high and low calcitonin groups. A selective approach to performing LND in MTC patients based on clinical and imaging findings suggesting disease presence in the lateral neck should be explored further.

The real-world impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cancer: a multidisciplinary cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to cancer care worldwide. We conducted a multidisciplinary survey of the real-world impact of the pandemic, as perceived by patients with cancer.

METHODS

A total of 424 patients with cancer were surveyed using a 64-item questionnaire constructed by a multidisciplinary panel. The questionnaire examined patient perspectives regarding COVID-19-related effects (eg, social distancing measures) on cancer care delivery, resources, and healthcare-seeking behaviour, along with the physical and psychosocial aspects of patient well-being and pandemic-related psychological repercussions.

RESULTS

Overall, 82.8% of respondents believed that patients with cancer are more susceptible to COVID-19; 65.6% expected that COVID-19 would delay anti-cancer drug development. Although only 30.9% of respondents felt that hospital attendance was safe, 73.1% expressed unaltered willingness to attend scheduled appointments; 70.3% of respondents preferred to receive chemotherapy as planned, and 46.5% were willing to accept changes in efficacy or side-effect profile to allow an outpatient regimen. A survey of oncologists revealed significant underestimation of patient motivation to avoid treatment interruptions. Most surveyed patients felt that there was an insufficient amount of information available concerning the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care, and most patients reported social distancing-related declines in physical, psychological, and dietary wellness. Sex, age, education level, socio-economic status, and psychological risk were significantly associated with patient perceptions and preferences.

CONCLUSION

This multidisciplinary survey concerning the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed key patient care priorities and unmet needs. These findings should be considered when delivering cancer care during and after the pandemic.

Dabrafenib and Trametinib Therapy for Advanced Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer - Real-World Outcomes From UK Centres

AIMS

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but aggressive form of thyroid cancer with a median survival of 4 months. Recent advances in molecular profiling have shown that up to half of ATCs harbour the BRAF-V600E mutation. The aim of this study was to provide real-world data and experience on the use of combination therapy dabrafenib and trametinib in patients with BRAF-V600E-mutated advanced ATC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed BRAF-V600E-mutated ATC, defined as patients with locally advanced or metastatic ATC with no locoregional, radical treatment options. Outcomes measured were overall survival, progression-free survival, response rate, discontinuation rate, dose reduction rate and toxicity data.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were evaluated and the mean age was 68 years. Ten patients died by the time of censoring. The median duration of follow-up was 12 months (3-43 months). The estimated median overall survival was 6.9 months (95% confidence interval 2.46 months - upper confidence interval not reached) and the median progression-free survival was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval 1.4-7.8 months). Dose interruptions and/or reductions were common, but none of the patients had to permanently discontinue treatment because of toxicities. Severe toxicities (grades 3 and 4) were uncommon.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the indication of dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF-V600E-mutated ATC as an effective and well-tolerated treatment in an historically difficult to treat cancer.

Update on the Recommendations on Breast Cancer Screening by the Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong. The Food and Health Bureau commissioned The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to conduct the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Study (HKBCS) with the aim of identifying relevant risk factors for BC in Hong Kong and developing a locally validated BC risk assessment tool for Hong Kong Chinese women. After consideration of the most recent international and local scientific evidence including findings of the HKBCS, the Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (CEWG) has reviewed and updated its BC screening recommendations. Existing recommendations were preserved for women at high risk and slightly changed for women at moderate risk. The following major updates have been made concerning recommendations for other women in the general population: Women aged 44 to 69 with certain combinations of personalised risk factors (including presence of history of BC among first-degree relative, a prior diagnosis of benign breast disease, nulliparity and late age of first live birth, early age of menarche, high body mass index and physical inactivity) putting them at increased risk of BC are recommended to consider mammography screening every 2 years. They should discuss with their doctors on the potential benefits and harms before undergoing mammography screening. A risk assessment tool for local women (eg, one developed by HKU) is recommended to be used for estimating the risk of developing BC with regard to the personalised risk factors described above.

Abstract TP185: Cardiac Gadolinium Enhancement And Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Background: Accumulation of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) leads to various well described detrimental clinical consequences. Similar to CSVD, the development of coronary microvascular disease (CMD) yields end-organ dysfunction, namely myocardial ischemia and chamber dilation. We aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiac gadolinium enhancements (CGE), a marker for CMD, on CSVD burden on brain MRI.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of adults between January 2014 and December 2019 who completed a cardiac and brain MRI within one year of each other. The ordinal total small vessel disease score (tSVD) was used to quantify CSVD with two cohorts being created: tSVD 0 to 1 (low CSVD) and tSVD 2 to 4 (high CSVD). Cardiac MRI data was obtained under the guidance of an experienced cardiologist with advanced cardiac imaging training. Chi-squared or Fisher’s, Wilcoxon rank-sum analyses were performed for binary and ordinal variables, respectively. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios. Statistical significance was defined as < 0.05.

Results: A total of 259 individuals were included with 140 and 119 in the low and high CSVD groups, respectively. Those with low CSVD were significantly lower in age, predominately female and had lower rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure. CGE was more common in those with higher burdens of CSVD (23.2% vs 47.2%, p<0.001). CGE increased the odds of being within the high CSVD group despite adjustment for significant clinical and demographic factors (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.0).

Discussion: In those with CMD as identified by CGE, there was a 2 fold increase in being within the high burden of CSVD cohort likely as a result of similar intrinsic pathological processes. Further studies are needed to determine whether CGE predates development of CSVD, its association with development of acute cerebrovascular diseases and its influence on specific subtypes of CSVD.

Abstract WP73: Impact Of Patient Age On Sex Disparities In Intravenous Alteplase Administration For Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Prior research with the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) has shown that women are less likely than men to receive to receive intravenous Alteplase (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke, but more recent analyses have found conflicting results and patient age has not been taken into account, nor has stroke severity.

Methods: We included patients in the NIS from 2016-18 with a primary discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke and who had an admission NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The primary outcome was receipt of tPA and the exposure was patient sex. After survey weighting, we fit logistic regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, NIHSS, patient income by ZIP code, hospital teaching status, hospital Census region, and hospital location according to the NCHS Urban-Rural Classification. We included interactions between our covariates and the exposure of sex.

Results: After weighting, we included 384,700 patients, of which 15.1% received tPA and 49.1% were female. The rate of tPA was identical (15.1%) between male and female patients (p=0.880). In the multivariable logistic regression model, female sex had an odds ratio for tPA of 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01, p=0.163). The only covariate that had a significant interaction with sex was age (p<0.001 for interaction). After stratification, female patients aged ≥75 were 1.5% (95% CI -2.3, -0.7, p<0.001) less likely than men to receive tPA (Figure 1).

Conclusion: In the most recent sample of the NIS, women with acute ischemic stroke are no longer less likely than men to receive tPA. We show this holds true after adjustment for stroke severity, although there is still a disparity in older patients aged ≥75, with women being 1.5% less likely than men to receive tPA.

Abstract 102: Effect Of Antihypertensives By Class On Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Post-hoc Analysis Of SPRINT-MIND

Introduction: Treatment of uncontrolled arterial hypertension reduces the risk of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) progression, though it is unclear whether this reduction occurs due to blood pressure control or antihypertensive class-specific pleotropic effects. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of antihypertensive medication class on accumulation of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), a radiographic marker of CSVD, within a cohort with well-controlled hypertension.

Methods: Using the SPRINT-MIND dataset, we completed a post-hoc analysis of participants who completed a baseline and 4-year follow-up brain MRI with volumetric WMH data. Antihypertensive medication data were recorded at follow-up visits between the MRIs. A percentage of follow-up time participants were prescribed each of the eleven classes of antihypertensive was then derived. Progression of CSVD was calculated as the difference in WMH volume between two scans and, to address skew, dichotomized into a top tertile (greatest) accumulation and combined middle and bottom tertiles (slowest) accumulation.

Results: Among 448 individuals included in this study, vascular risk profiles were similar across WMH progression subgroups except age (70.1±7.9 years versus 65.7±7.3 years, p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (128.3±11.0 mmHg versus 126.2±9.4 mmHg, p=0.039). The high had a mean WMH progression of 4.7±4.3 mL compared with 0.13±1.0 mL for the slowest progressors (p<0.001). Only angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.75, p=0.008) and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (d-CCB) (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.81, p=0.012) were independently associated with lower odds of being in the greatest progression grouping.

Conclusions: Amongst hypertensive participants in the SPRINT-MIND trial, ACE-I and d-CCB antihypertensive medications were associated with significantly lower odds of being in the highest tertile of WMH progression compared with other antihypertensive classes, independent of blood pressure control.

Abstract WP224: Trends In Self-reported Stroke And Myocardial Infarction Prevalence And Associated Modifiable Risk Factors Within Race/ethnicity Strata In The United States From 2011-2019

Background: Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) prevalence varies by race/ethnicity, as do the risk factors.

Methods: We included biyearly data from the 2011-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys of adults (age ≥18) in the United States. We describe survey-weighted prevalence of self-reported stroke and MI by race and ethnicity. We also describe the prevalence of modifiable vascular risk factors in patients with stroke and MI.

Results: The weighted number of U.S. participants represented in BRFSS surveys increased from 237,404,549 in 2011 to 251,703,709 in 2019. Stroke prevalence increased from 2.9% in 2011 to 3.4% in 2019 (<0.001), while MI prevalence did not change over time (4.3% in 2011; 4.2% in 2019). The prevalence of stroke and MI was highest in American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) at 5.6% and 7.5% in 2011 and 2019, respectively, compared to 3.2% and 4.8% for whites (p<0.001). Prevalence trends by race/ethnicity are in Figure 1. Modifiable risk factors are in Tables 1&2, which show that AI/AN consistently have the highest or second highest proportion with ≥4 risk factors.

Conclusion: Prevalence of self-reported stroke, but not MI, is increasing in the United States. AI/AN consistently had the highest prevalence from 2011-2019 and the highest overall burden of modifiable vascular risk factors, rendering this group more vulnerable to a recurrent vascular event.

Abstract TP222: The Impact Of Il-6 Level On Visit-to-visit Blood Pressure Variability And Incidence Of Stroke: A Post-hoc Analysis Of Mesa

Background: Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) has been associated with stroke risk, but no serum inflammatory markers have been identified associated with increased BPV, despite preclinical data suggesting a role.

Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study. The study exposure was tertiles of serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the baseline study visit. The primary outcome was visit-to-visit BPV measured as the residual standard deviation (rSD) of at least 4 subsequent study visits (1999-2018). Two logistic regression models were fit to the top tertile (i.e. most variability) of rSD during follow-up: in Model 1, we adjusted for covariates chosen with restricted Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and in Model 2, for all covariates.

Results: Our analysis included 5,483 patients, of mean (SD) age 61.4 (10.0) years and with 52.9% female. Mean (SD) of IL-6 was 1.7 (1.2) (pg/mL) in the top tertile BPV rSD and 1.4 (1.1) in the bottom tertiles. The incidence of ischemic stroke and all major adverse cardiovascular event was higher in top tertile of BPV (Table 1). Elevated serum IL-6, but not other serum biomarkers of inflammation and clotting (see comment below), was associated with the highest tertile of BPV, independent of potential confounders (Table 2).

Conclusion: Higher levels of serum IL-6 were associated with increased subsequent BPV in a large multiracial cohort. Further investigation is needed to better understand the relationship between chronic inflammation and BPV.

Table 1. Baseline demographics, serum biomarkers, and clinical outcomes during follow-up (how long was follow-up on average?) in the full cohort, and stratified by the top versus lower tertiles of BPV.

Table 2. Association of serum biomarkers at baseline with the highest tertile of blood pressure variability.*Model 1 adjusted for patient age categories (<55, 55-64, 65-69, ≥70), sex, and hypertension.

**Model 2 (n=5,447) adjusted for patient age categories (<55, 55-64, 65-69, ≥70), sex, race/ethnicity, education, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, drinking, body mass index, lipid lowering medication, and mean systolic blood pressure

Abstract 144: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce The Risk Of Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) are antihyperglycemic medications which may have a pleotropic benefit in reducing the risk of stroke. However, with ischemic stroke being the most common stroke subtype in diabetic individuals, it is currently unknown if this benefit remains present when evaluating ischemic stroke in isolation. The aim of this study was to identify whether GLP1-RA medications lower the risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods: A 1:1 propensity score matched analysis of a retrospective cohort of patients from the TriNetX platform was performed with the outcome of ischemic stroke, defined with ICD-10-CM codes, during 5 years of follow-up. The exposure was prescription of a GLP1-RA, after which follow-up began. Subgroup propensity matched analyses were performed on individual GLP1-RA medications.

Results: 256,938 diabetic individuals prescribed a GLP1-RA were matched with an equal cohort of unexposed diabetics. Demographic and diabetic parameters were equally matched (mean age 57.4 years, 52.5% using insulin concurrently, mean hemoglobin A1c 8.3%). Composite ischemic stroke was lower in the GLP1-RA cohort (3.5%; 8,961/256,938 versus 5.8%; 14,806/256,938) with a risk ratio of 0.61 (95% 0.59-0.62), odds ratio of 0.59 (95% CI 0.58-0.61), hazard ratio of 0.71 (95% CI 0.60-0.87), without violation of the PH assumption (p=0.4). Rate of first-time incident stroke followed a similar pattern: (1.9%; 4,746/246,735 versus 3.3%; 8,044/241,891), risk ratio of 0.58 (95% CI 0.56 - 0.60), odds ratio of 0.57 (0.57 - 0.59), hazard ratio of 0.76 (0.67 - 0.86) with preservation of the PH assumption (p= 0.25). All four GLP1-RA medications lowered the event rate of ischemic stroke.

Conclusions: In our study of a large cohort of adults with diabetes, the use of a GLP1-RA reduced the risk of ischemic stroke, consistent with post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract WP181: Statin Usage Increases White Matter Hyperintensities: A Post-hoc Analysis Of SPRINT-MIND

Introduction: White matter hyperintensity (WMH), a radiographic marker of cerebral small vessel disease, is typically treated by modification of conventional cerebrovascular risk factors. However, the influence of dyslipidemia and the impact of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors (statins) on WMH is less certain. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of statins on progression of WMH over a four-year interval.

Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of the SPRINT-MIND database for participants who had completed a baseline and a 4-year follow-up brain MRI with volumetric WMH calculations. Follow-up visits within this time window included data on medications, including statins. We defined statin usage as no therapy (0% of visits), partial therapy (1 - 99% of visits) or full therapy (100% of visits) based on this self-reported data. WMH progression was calculated as the difference in WMH volume between the two scans and then segmented into tertiles. ANOVA and chi-squared tests were used for continuous and categorical variables with adjustments made for variables known to influence WMH development.

Results: 425 individuals were included in this study: 53% (226/425) without statins use, 27% (115/425) with partial use and 20% (84/425) and full use. Demographic characteristics and baseline WMH volumes were similar amongst the cohort. With increasing statin use, a significant reduction in LDL was identified. Those with full statin use were significantly more likely to be in the top tertile of worse WMH progression (adjusted OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.11 - 4.77, p = 0.025).

Conclusion: SPRINT-MIND participants prescribed a statin were nearly 2.5 times more likely to be within the top tertile of WMH progression over four years, despite adjustment for synergistic risk factors and improvement in LDL.

Cranial neuropathies in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Neurological recovery after modern radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES

Cranial neuropathy is a common presenting symptom of advanced T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Data on neurological outcomes after modern intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and chemotherapy are scarce.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case records of consecutive T4 NPC patients who received definitive IMRT in two tertiary oncology centers in 2004-2019 were reviewed. Patterns of cranial neuropathies at disease presentation were recorded. Time to neurological recovery and the rate of subsequent re-palsy were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical predictors were analyzed using multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

During the study period, 257 T4 NPC patients presented with 504 individual cranial neuropathies. The median time from neuropathy onset to NPC diagnosis was two months (IQR, 1-4 months). Cranial nerves (CN) VI (56.4%), V2 (47.9%), and V3 (29.2%) were most frequently involved. At a median follow-up of 6.4 years, the crude partial and full recovery rates of neuropathies were 111 (22%) and 289 (57.3%), respectively. CN III, IV, and VI had the highest 5-year full recovery rate (72.7%), followed by CN V1-3 (60.3%), XII (48.6%), and II (18.2%) (p < 0.001). Positive smoking history, optic nerve involvement, and longer duration of neuropathy were independent negative predictors for neurological recovery. After full recovery, re-palsy was observed in 6.9% (20/289) of the nerves, 60% of which co-occurred with local NPC recurrences.

CONCLUSION

Durable recovery of most cranial neuropathies in advanced T4 NPC was observed in the era of modern IMRT and effective systemic chemotherapy. Both patient and disease factors affected the chance of neurological recovery. Re-palsy of recovered nerves should prompt careful evaluation for local recurrence.

Abstract P690: Conversion From Prediabetes to Diabetes After Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Type II diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor for ischemic stroke. Prediabetes, defined as hemoglobin A1C from 5.7 to 6.4%, is a significant and under-recognized contributor to stroke risk. Based on meta-analyses in the general population, the risk of progression from prediabetes is roughly 11%/year. To date, there has been only one prospective cohort study of 26 acute stroke patients which found a progression rate of 19% in 3 months.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of acute ischemic stroke patients from 2013 to 2018 with prediabetes (A1C 5.7-6.4%) during hospitalization, as well as a follow up A1C at least 3 months later. Patients were excluded if they had a known diagnosis of diabetes or were on antidiabetic medication. Our primary outcome was incident diabetes (A1c>6.4). We evaluated potential predictors in logistic regression models and used a stepwise interactive process to create a final model, for which we report the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC).

Results: We included 74 patients with a mean age of 66.1 years, 54% male, at a mean of 1.6 days from stroke onset to first A1c measurement, and a mean of 386 days to the follow-up A1c measurement. The conversion rate to diabetes was 10.8% (8/74) and 36.5% (27/74) of patients had an increase in A1c. The final predictive model for incident diabetes included discharge to home (vs. facility), 90-day mRS ≥2, baseline A1c ≥6, and median income by zip code of <$50,000/year, which yielded an AUC of 0.85.

Conclusion: In this preliminary cohort, acute ischemic stroke patients with prediabetes have a rate of conversion to diabetes that is comparable to the general population. However, given that diabetes increases risk for stroke and recurrent stroke has significantly higher morbidity and mortality than primary stroke, this patient population warrants targeting to prevent conversion to diabetes. Further research into a predictive model such as ours, with an AUC of 0.85, could improve patient selection for diabetes prevention after acute ischemic stroke.

Abstract MP14: White Matter Hyperintensity Progression, Macroalbuminuria, and Intensive Glycemic Control in Diabetics

Introduction: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, and depression. Prior research has suggested that renal impairment and diabetes may predispose to the development of WMH. Here, we evaluated the association between WMH volume (WMHv), macroalbuminuria, and glycemic control in a cohort of diabetic patients.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) dataset. The primary outcome is WMH progression in mL, evaluated by fitting linear regression to WMHv on the month 40 MRI and including the WMHv on the baseline MRI in the model. The primary predictors were incident macroalbuminuria, defined as new onset urinary albumin >300mg/day, and the ACCORD glucose randomization arm.

Results: We included 502 patients. The mean (SD) WMHv at baseline was 2.1 (3.9) mL and at month 40 was 3.6 (5.7) mL. Twenty-three patients (4.6%) developed macroalbuminuria during the study period, who had a higher mean WMH progression (2.9 vs. 1.4 mL, p=0.012). In a linear regression model adjusted for mean systolic blood pressure during follow-up, macroalbuminuria was a significant predictor of WMH progression (Beta 1.20, 95% CI 0.17-2.22, p=0.022). In the same model, the interaction term between glucose randomization arm and macroalbuminuria was highly significant (Beta 3.38, 95% CI 1.20-5.57, p=0.003). The predicted follow-up WMHv for the interaction term are in Figure 1, showing that macroalbuminuria with intensive glycated hemoglobin reduction (goal A1c<6%) was associated with the most WMH progression.

Conclusion: In diabetic patients, the development of macroalbuminuria was associated with WMH progression over 40 months, although only in patients assigned to intensive glycemic control. This finding is consistent with the adverse events seen in ACCORD with intensive glycemic control.

Abstract P232: Patient and Caregiver Agreement on Stroke Survivor Quality of Life in the Year After Stroke Onset

Background: The burden of post-stroke disability falls on both stroke survivors and their caregivers. To better understand patient and caregiver perspectives on post-stroke quality of life (QoL), we explored their agreement on a QoL testing instrument in the year after an ischemic stroke.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the IMS-III trial. The primary outcome are scores of the 5 domains of the EQ-5D-3L during the year after stroke onset. We included pairs of EQ-5D-3L scores obtained from both the patient and their proxy to determine the level of agreement and Cohen’s Kappa for the individual domains.

Results: There were 1,042 instances of a paired EQ-5D-3L during the first year of follow-up, derived from six study visits described in Table 1. The agreement between patient and proxy was highest for the Mobility and Self-Care domains of the EQ-5D-3L (Table 2), achieving a Kappa of 0.7407 and 0.7567, respectively. The agreement for the Anxiety/Depression domain of the EQ-5D-3L was lowest, with a Kappa of 0.6009 (Table 2).

Conclusion: In the year after ischemic stroke, the agreement between patients and their caregivers was highest for the motor domains of QoL and lowest for the mental health domain. Depression and anxiety are known to be under-diagnosed and under-treated after stroke. Further research is warranted to explore the reasons for less agreement between patient and caregiver perception of the stroke survivor’s mental health QoL after ischemic stroke.

Abstract P369: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Enlarged Cardiac Ventricles

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a radiographic marker for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Conditions altering cerebral venous outflow such as elevated central venous pressure and right atrial pressure in individuals with cardiac valvular disease have been implicated in the development of WMH.

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that increased right-heart chamber size in individuals without significant cardiac valvular disease is associated with worse WMH.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of adults with a brain MRI and a 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was performed. Worst burden of WMH by way of Fazekas score, either periventricular or deep white matter, served as the primary outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model.

Results: A total of 132 individuals were included. Right atrial area (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.00, p = 0.0041), right ventricular internal diameter (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.27 to 0.83, p = 0.008) and left atrial area (OR 0.93, 95%CI 0.88 to 0.98, p = 0.007) was identified as being significant. Cardiac functional markers were not significant, including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.05, p = 0.670), right ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.96 to 1.02, p = 0.670) and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.96 to 1.02, p = 0.567). Analysis of isolated DWM or PVWM Fazekas scores did not find significant predictors in relation to cardiac structure or function.

Conclusions: Through non-invasive cardiac imaging, we identified that cardiac structural abnormalities as opposed to functional abnormalities were associated with worse WMH. Mechanistically this may result from altered intracerebral arteriovenous coupling or a shared pathophysiologic pathway between WMH and coronary microvascular disease.

Abstract MP33: Association Between Neurologic Outcomes and Temporal Profile of Systolic Blood Pressure Variability After Endovascular Thrombectomy

Introduction: Higher systolic blood pressure variability (BPV) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation and worse functional outcomes. However, the time-varying behavior of BPV after EVT and its effects on functional outcome have not been well characterized.

Methods: We analyzed data from an international cohort of patients with acute large-vessel occlusion stroke who underwent EVT at 11 centers across North America, Europe, and Asia. Repeated time-stamped blood pressure data were recorded for the first 72 hours after thrombectomy. Parameters of BPV were calculated in 12-hour epochs using five established methodologies: standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV), successive variation (SV), and residual SD (rSD). Patients’ overall mean BPV was then used to assign patients into tertiles for regression analysis: low BPV, intermediate BPV, and high BPV. Functional outcome was measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days.

Results: Of the 1,791 patients (age 69 ± 14, NIHSS 15 ± 6) included in our analysis, 1,085 (60.6%) had a poor 90-day outcome (mRS >3). Patients with poor outcome had significantly higher systolic BPV (p<0.05) measured as standard deviation (SBP SD) at each epoch (Figure 1B). Compared to patients with low BPV, those in the highest tertile group had significantly greater odds of a poor functional outcome after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, NIHSS, ASPECT, tPA, time to reperfusion, and TICI score (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-2; p=0.001). Patients in the highest tertile of BPV demonstrated time-dependent variability with the highest SBP SD during the first 24 hours after thrombectomy (Figure 1A).

Conclusions: Higher BPV measured by SBP SD appears to be associated with poor 90-day outcome in EVT-treated stroke patients. Early treatment strategies targeting early high BPV warrant further prospective investigation.

Abstract P606: Hemodynamic Predictors of Multiple Recurrent Strokes in the Patients With Prior Lacunar Stroke

Background: Recurrent stroke has higher morbidity and mortality than incident stroke. We evaluated hemodynamic risk factors for multiple recurrent strokes.

Methods: We included patients in the SPS3 trial. The primary predictor was the top tertile, compared to the bottom tertile, of the mean systolic blood pressure (mSBP) and blood pressure variability represented as standard deviation (sdSBP) using blood pressures from day 30 of the trial to the end of follow-up. We excluded blood pressures from the first 30 days to reduce confounding from the trial’s intervention. We fit a logistic regression model to ≥2 recurrent strokes from day 30 to the end of follow-up and, to accurately analyze the multiple failure-time data, we ordered the multiple failure events to the Prentice, Williams and Peterson extension of the Cox proportional-hazards model.

Results: We included 2,882 patients, of which 223 had a recurrent stroke and 41/223 had ≥2 recurrent strokes for a total of 272 strokes. The mean (SD) number of blood pressure readings was 78.0 (37.4). The etiology of the 272 strokes was 161 (59.2%) lacunar, 22 (8.1%) intracranial atherosclerosis, 10 (3.7%) extracranial atherosclerosis, 24 (8.8%) cardioembolic, and 55 (20.2%) cryptogenic or other. In both unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models and PWP Cox models, the top tertile of sdSBP was consistently predictive of multiple recurrent strokes, while mSBP was not (Tables 1/2).

Conclusions: We found that in patients with an index lacunar stroke, higher SBP variability, but not mean SBP, was predictive of multiple recurrent strokes of varying mechanisms.

Clinical outcomes of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ in Hong Kong: 10-year territory-wide cancer registry study

BACKGROUND

Incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased in recent decades because of breast cancer screening. This study comprised a long-term survival analysis of DCIS using 10-year territory-wide data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.

METHODS

This study included all patients diagnosed with DCIS in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2006. Exclusion criteria were age <30 years or ≥70 years, lobular carcinoma in situ, Paget's disease, and co-existing invasive carcinoma. Patients were stratified into those diagnosed from 1997 to 2001 and those diagnosed from 2002 to 2006. The 5- and 10-year breast cancer-specific survival rates were evaluated; standardised mortality ratios were calculated.

RESULTS

Among the 1391 patients in this study, 449 were diagnosed from 1997 to 2001, and 942 were diagnosed from 2002 to 2006. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.2±9.2 years. Overall, 51.2% of patients underwent mastectomy and 29.5% received adjuvant radiotherapy. The median follow-up interval was 11.6 years; overall breast cancer-specific mortality rates were 0.3% and 0.9% after 5 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. In total, 109 patients (7.8%) developed invasive breast cancer after a considerable delay. Invasive breast cancer rates were comparable between patients diagnosed from 1997 to 2001 (n=37, 8.2%) and those diagnosed from 2002 to 2006 (n=72, 7.6%).

CONCLUSION

Despite excellent long-term survival among patients with DCIS, these patients were more likely to die of breast cancer, compared with the general population of women in Hong Kong.

Recommendations on prevention and screening for colorectal cancer in Hong Kong

Colorectal cancer is the commonest cancer in Hong Kong. The Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening was established in 2002 under the Cancer Coordinating Committee to review local and international scientific evidence, assess and formulate local recommendations on cancer prevention and screening. At present, the Cancer Expert Working Group recommends that average-risk individuals aged 50 to 75 years and without significant family history consult their doctors to consider screening by: (1) annual or biennial faecal occult blood test, (2) sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or (3) colonoscopy every 10 years. Increased-risk individuals with significant family history such as those with a first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age ≤60 years; those who have more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer irrespective of age at diagnosis; or carriers of genetic mutations associated with familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome should start colonoscopy screening earlier in life and repeat it at shorter intervals.

Risk factors associated with 1-year mortality among patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis in areas with intermediate tuberculosis burden and low HIV prevalence

INTRODUCTION

Data are limited regarding risk factors for mortality among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis (TB) in areas with low HIV prevalence and intermediate TB burden, such as the Western Pacific region. This study aimed to assess such risk factors in Hong Kong, which has an intermediate TB burden and low HIV prevalence.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients reported to the Hong Kong TB-HIV Registry between 2006 and 2015. Baseline characteristics were compared with Kaplan-Meier estimates. Cox proportional hazards regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with mortality.

RESULTS

Of 299 patients studied, 21 (7.0%) died within 12 months of anti-TB treatment (median [interquartile range], 7.5 [3.8-10] months). The median age of death was 54 (interquartile range, 40.5-75.0) years. The cause of death was TB in five and unrelated to TB in the remaining 16. Cox proportional hazards regression showed that older age (adjusted hazard ratio=4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.4-14.9), history of drug addiction (4.6; 95% CI=1.6-13.0), and low baseline CD4 cell count of <50/μL (2.9; 95% CI=1.1-7.7) were independent risk factors for death within 12 months.

CONCLUSION

This study complements previous studies by providing information regarding risk factors associated with mortality among patients with HIV-associated TB in areas with intermediate TB burden and low HIV prevalence. The results from our study may guide targeted measures to improve survival in other areas with intermediate TB burden and low HIV prevalence, such as the Western Pacific region.

Are we mis-estimating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy? Analysis of assessment methodologies from a prospective, multinational, longitudinal cohort study of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy

Background

There are inconsistencies in the literature regarding the prevalence and assessment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This study explored CIPN natural history and its characteristics in patients receiving taxane- and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients and methods

Multi-country multisite prospective longitudinal observational study. Patients were assessed before commencing and three weekly during chemotherapy for up to six cycles, and at 6,9, and 12 months using clinician-based scales (NCI-CTCAE; WHO-CIPN criterion), objective assessments (cotton wool test;10 g monofilament); patient-reported outcome measures (FACT/GOG-Ntx; EORTC-CIPN20), and Nerve Conduction Studies.

Results

In total, 343 patients were recruited in the cohort, providing 2399 observations. There was wide variation in CIPN prevalence rates using different assessments (14.2–53.4%). Prevalence of sensory neuropathy (and associated symptom profile) was also different in each type of chemotherapy, with paclitaxel (up to 63%) and oxaliplatin (up to 71.4%) showing the highest CIPN rates in most assessments and a more complex symptom profile. Peak prevalence was around the 6-month assessment (up to 71.4%). Motor neurotoxicity was common, particularly in the docetaxel subgroup (up to 22.1%; detected by NCI-CTCAE). There were relatively moderately-to-low correlations between scales (r_s = 0.15,p < 0.05-r_s = 0.48 p < 0.001), suggesting that they measure different neurotoxicity aspects from each other. Cumulative chemotherapy dose was not associated with onset and course of CIPN.

Conclusion

The historical variation reported in CIPN incidence and prevalence is possibly confounded by disagreement between assessment modalities. Clinical practice should consider assessment of motor neuropathy for neurotoxic chemotherapy. Current scales may not be all appropriate to measure CIPN in a valid way, and a combination of scales are needed.

Abstract TP429: Predictors of Increased Blood Pressure Variability in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Secondary Analysis of the ATACH-2

Introduction: Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with worse neurologic outcome in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, studies have shown that accurate measurement of BPV requires over 50 blood pressure readings, during which patients may be exposed to the deletrious effects of increased BPV.

Hypothesis: Clinical variables will accurately predict BPV in patients enrolled in the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage II (ATACH-2) trial.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of ATACH-2. Our primary outcome is the top quintile of the standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP SD), which was calculated using all available blood pressures after the first 2 hours, with a mean of 56 blood pressures per patient. With stepwise backwards selection and an interactive process, we selected demographic variables that best predicted the top quintile.

Results: We included 946 patients, of which 360 (38.1%) were female and the mean±SD age was 61.8±13.0 years. After exploring multiple combinations of baseline demographics, the best model included non-asian (vs. asian), intubation, and female sex as the predictors. This resulted in an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.772 (Figure 1). We created a scoring system (Table 1). With a score of ≥4, there is 79% sensitivity and 60% specificity for determining the top quintile of SBP SD.

Conclusion: This pilot study identifies several easily determined clinical variables which, with further refinement and validation, could be used to identify patients at risk of the highest levels of BPV after ICH, and potentially to administer treatment to reduce BPV.

Recommendations on prevention and screening for breast cancer in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and poses a significant health care burden. The Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (CEWG) was set up in 2002 by the Cancer Coordinating Committee to review and assess local and international scientific evidence, and to formulate recommendations for cancer prevention and screening. After considering the local epidemiology, emerging scientific evidence, and local and overseas screening practices, the CEWG concluded that it was unclear whether population-based breast cancer screening did more harm than good in local asymptomatic women at average risk. The CEWG considers that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against population-based mammography screening for such individuals. Women who consider breast cancer screening should be adequately informed about the benefits and harms. The CEWG recommends that all women adopt primary preventive measures, be breast aware, and seek timely medical attention for suspicious symptoms. For women at high risk of breast cancer, such as carriers of confirmed BRCA1/2 deleterious mutations and those with a family history of breast cancer, the CEWG recommends that they seek doctor's advice for annual mammography screening and the age at which the process should commence. Additional annual screening by magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for confirmed BRCA1/2 mutation carriers or women who have undergone radiation therapy to the chest between the age of 10 and 30 years. Women at moderate risk of breast cancer should discuss with doctors the pros and cons of breast cancer screening before making an informed decision about mammography screening every 2 to 3 years.

Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) Modelling of Severe Acute Mucositis using a Novel Oral Mucosal Surface Organ at Risk

AIMS

A normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model of severe acute mucositis would be highly useful to guide clinical decision making and inform radiotherapy planning. We aimed to improve upon our previous model by using a novel oral mucosal surface organ at risk (OAR) in place of an oral cavity OAR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Predictive models of severe acute mucositis were generated using radiotherapy dose to the oral cavity OAR or mucosal surface OAR and clinical data. Penalised logistic regression and random forest classification (RFC) models were generated for both OARs and compared. Internal validation was carried out with 100-iteration stratified shuffle split cross-validation, using multiple metrics to assess different aspects of model performance. Associations between treatment covariates and severe mucositis were explored using RFC feature importance.

RESULTS

Penalised logistic regression and RFC models using the oral cavity OAR performed at least as well as the models using mucosal surface OAR. Associations between dose metrics and severe mucositis were similar between the mucosal surface and oral cavity models. The volumes of oral cavity or mucosal surface receiving intermediate and high doses were most strongly associated with severe mucositis.

CONCLUSIONS

The simpler oral cavity OAR should be preferred over the mucosal surface OAR for NTCP modelling of severe mucositis. We recommend minimising the volume of mucosa receiving intermediate and high doses, where possible.

The phenomenon of missing doses in a cohort of HIV patients with good adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in a specialist HIV clinical service in Hong Kong. A total of 76 male Chinese patients who had been on highly active antiretroviral therapy for over one year were enrolled. All except one had undetectable viral load at the time of the assessment. Though a majority (76%) scored 100% in self-reporting adherence rating, one-third of these had in fact missed at least one dose in the preceding four-week period. Men having sex with men had a lower tendency of missing dose than heterosexuals (13.6% versus 42%, P = 0.019). There was no association between missing doses and clinical staging or the regimens. The study revealed that missing doses may occur despite report of almost complete adherence, which, in the long run, could be a cause for concern.

Management of health care workers following occupational exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus

INTRODUCTION

Needlestick injury or mucosal contact with blood or body fluids is well recognised in the health care setting. This study aimed to describe the post-exposure management and outcome in health care workers following exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during needlestick injury or mucosal contact.

METHODS

This case series study was conducted in a public clinic in Hong Kong. All health care workers with a needlestick injury or mucosal contact with blood or body fluids who were referred to the Therapeutic Prevention Clinic of Department of Health from 1999 to 2013 were included.

RESULTS

A total of 1525 health care workers were referred to the Therapeutic Prevention Clinic following occupational exposure. Most sustained a percutaneous injury (89%), in particular during post-procedure cleaning or tidying up. Gloves were worn in 62.7% of instances. The source patient could be identified in 83.7% of cases, but the infection status was usually unknown, with baseline positivity rates of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV of all identified sources, as reported by the injured, being 7.4%, 1.6%, and 3.3%, respectively. Post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV was prescribed to 48 health care workers, of whom 14 (38.9%) had been exposed to known HIV-infected blood or body fluids. The majority (89.6%) received HIV post-exposure prophylaxis within 24 hours of exposure. Drug-related adverse events were encountered by 88.6%. The completion rate of post-exposure prophylaxis was 73.1%. After a follow-up period of 6 months (or 1 year for those who had taken HIV post-exposure prophylaxis), no hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV seroconversions were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous injury in the health care setting is not uncommon but post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV is infrequently indicated. There was no hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV transmission via sharps or mucosal injury in this cohort of health care workers.

Treatment outcomes after early initiation of antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the optimal timing for initiating antiretroviral therapy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis in Hong Kong.

DESIGN

Historical cohort. SETTING. Tuberculosis and Chest Service and Special Preventive Programme, Public Health Service Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS

Consecutive patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis in a territory-wide TB-HIV registry encountered from 1996 to 2009.

RESULTS

Of the 260 antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis, 32 (12%) had antiretroviral therapy initiated within 2 months after starting anti-tuberculosis treatment (early antiretroviral therapy). Early antiretroviral therapy was associated with a more favourable outcome (cure or treatment completion without relapse) at 24 months (91% vs 67%; P=0.007) than those with antiretroviral therapy started later or not initiated, and remained an independent predictor of a favourable outcome after adjustment for potential confounders. Adverse effects from anti-tuberculosis drugs tended to occur more frequently in patients with early antiretroviral therapy (13/32 or 41%) compared with the remainder (59/228 or 26%; P=0.08). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the former group experienced immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome than in the latter group (7/32 or 22% vs 9/228 or 4%; P<0.001). There was no death attributable to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy is associated with more favourable tuberculosis treatment outcomes in patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis with a low CD4 count (<200/µL). Drug co-toxicity and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that may be increased by earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy does not undermine tuberculosis treatment outcomes to a significant extent.

Tuberculin sensitivity testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis remains effective for tuberculosis control in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a policy to treat latent tuberculosis identified by annual tuberculin sensitivity testing is effective for tuberculosis control in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Hong Kong.

DESIGN

Historical cohort study.

SETTING

Integrated Treatment Centre, Department of Health, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus without a history of tuberculosis were offered annual tuberculin sensitivity testing, coupled with treatment of latent tuberculosis if they tested positive. All such patients were followed for new tuberculosis.

RESULTS

In all, 1154 patients on antiretroviral therapy, contributing to 5587 patient-years of observation, were analysed; 1032 patients (89%) received annual tuberculin sensitivity testing. Their baseline characteristics, including CD4 counts and other risk factors for tuberculosis, did not differ significantly from those who declined testing. The overall incidence rate of tuberculosis was 0.59 case per 100 patient-years. It was lower in those who received annual tuberculin sensitivity testing than those who did not (0.41 vs 3.85 per 100 patient-years; P<0.0001). Only a low baseline CD4 count and a history of tuberculin sensitivity testing were shown to be significant indicators of incident tuberculosis using multivariate analysis. The hazard ratio was 0.36 (95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.85; P=0.02) for those with a baseline CD4 count of 100/mm3 or above, and 0.26 (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.77; P=0.016) for those who received annual tuberculin sensitivity testing. The incidence of tuberculosis was highest within 90 days of antiretroviral therapy initiation.

CONCLUSION

The established policy continues to be effective. The high risk of tuberculosis during the early period of antiretroviral therapy supports early use of tuberculin sensitivity testing. Alternatively, the strategy of universal isoniazid preventive therapy at antiretroviral therapy initiation could be studied for those with very low baseline CD4 counts.

Accelerating prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: ten-year experience of universal antenatal HIV testing programme in a low HIV prevalence setting in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a low prevalence of HIV infection at less than 0.01%. Universal Antenatal HIV Testing Programme (UATP) was launched in all public antenatal units in September 2001. In 2008, voluntary rapid HIV testing was introduced in all public labour units to fill up the gap for pregnant women without HIV testing during the antenatal period. This study evaluated the performance of UATP and rapid HIV testing with indicators. From September 2001 to December 2011, process and outcome indicators for monitoring and evaluation were collected from the service providers in the form of monthly return of workload statistics and case-based statistics of each identified HIV-positive pregnancy via reporting forms. A total of 479,160 antenatal HIV tests and 2,675 rapid tests were performed in the study period. The acceptance rate for UATP and rapid HIV testing was 98% and 80.4% respectively. With the implementation of rapid HIV testing in January 2008, the proportion of pregnant women with HIV status discerned before delivery increased from 84.9% in 2006 to over 99.5% since 2008. The HIV prevalence in UATP and rapid HIV testing was 0.02% and 0.1% respectively. Fifty-three (68%) out of 78 HIV-infected pregnant women identified from the programme have delivered locally. Forty-three (81%) of them delivered by caesarean section and 50 (94%) of them were given antiretrovirals for intervention. Only three children born before the implementation of rapid HIV testing were HIV-infected. In conclusion, UATP and its rapid HIV testing component have been highly accepted and effective in the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission in Hong Kong.

Use of methylphenidate for the management of fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer

REASON FOR THE STUDY: Studies on methylphenidate for cancer-related fatigue showed conflicting results. This prospective study aims to determine whether methylphenidate is useful for relieving fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer. Chinese Version of Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C) was administered on days 1, 8, and 29. Methylphenidate dose on day 1 was 5 mg daily then adjusted after day 8 according to response and side effects tolerance.

MAIN FINDINGS

Only 48% of the 25 recruited patients were on methylphenidate by day 29. Overall, no significant improvement in fatigue level was observed after methylphenidate, though benefits were shown in subgroups with age ≤ 65 and higher baseline BFI-C values.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS

Methylphenidate may be useful for management of cancer-related fatigue in selected Chinese patients.

The pentacyclic triterpenoids in herbal medicines and their pharmacological activities in diabetes and diabetic complications

Pentacyclic triterpenoids including the oleanane, ursane and lupane groups are widely distributed in many medicinal plants, such as Glycyrrhiza species, Gymnema species, Centella asiatica, Camellia sinensis, Crataegus species and Olea europaea, which are commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications. A large number of bioactive pentacyclic triterpenoids, such as oleanolic acid, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, ursolic acid, betulin, betulinic acid and lupeol have shown multiple biological activities with apparent effects on glucose absorption, glucose uptake, insulin secretion, diabetic vascular dysfunction, retinopathy and nephropathy. The versatility of the pentacyclic triterpenes provides a promising approach for diabetes management.

Incidence, mortality, and survival trends of ovarian cancer in Hong Kong, 1997 to 2006: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the incidence and mortality of ovarian cancer, and the survival patterns of the invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma in Hong Kong based on population-based cancer registry data.

DESIGN

Historical cohort study.

SETTING

Hong Kong.

PATIENTS

All patients with ovarian cancer diagnosed between 1997 and 2006 were included. Patients eligible for survival analysis were followed up until 31 December 2007.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates with their estimated annual percent changes were determined. Cumulative observed and relative survival rates were estimated using a period approach.

RESULTS

During the study period, in Hong Kong there was a steadily increasing ovarian cancer incidence rate (1.4% annually) but a steadily decreasing mortality rate (1.9% annually). The improvement in mortality was mainly in the age-group of 50-69 years (4.7% annually). Invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma accounted for 79.6% of the study cohort. The 2-year and 5-year relative survival rates were 75.8% and 63.1%, respectively. Those diagnosed in the period 2002 to 2006 had significantly better survival than those diagnosed in the period 1997 to 2001 (65.3% vs 60.7%; P=0.008); a significant improvement was evident for patients with stage II disease and in the age-group of 50-69 years. Multivariate analyses confirmed that age, histological subtype, FIGO stage, and the period of diagnosis were independent prognostic indicators of invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

In Hong Kong, invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma showed an increasing incidence and an improving survival trend over the period 1997 to 2006. The survival data derived from this study provides a baseline from which to monitor the effectiveness of ovarian cancer treatment in Hong Kong.

In-house human immunodeficiency virus-1 genotype resistance testing to determine highly active antiretroviral therapy resistance mutations in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of highly active antiretroviral therapy resistance mutations in the viral pol gene of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) genotypes that circulate in Hong Kong, by means of an in-house HIV-1 genotyping system.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Two HIV clinics in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS

A modified in-house genotyping resistance test was used to sequence the partial pol gene in 1165 plasma samples from 965 patients. The performance of our test was cross-compared with the US Food and Drug Administration-approved ViroSeq HIV-1 genotyping system. The results of genotyping were submitted to the Stanford HIV-1 drug resistance database for analysis.

RESULTS

The cost-effective in-house genotypic resistance test (US$40) demonstrated comparable performance to the US Food and Drug Administration-approved ViroSeq system. The detection limit of this in-house genotypic resistance test could reach 400 copies/mL for both HIV-1 subtype B and CRF01_AE, which were the predominant genotypes in Hong Kong. Drug resistance mutations were detected only in post-treatment samples from treatment-failure patients. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of drug resistance mutations between subtype B and CRF01_AE.

CONCLUSION

Our cost-effective in-house genotypic resistance test detected no significant difference in drug resistance-related mutations frequencies between HIV-1 subtype B and CRF01_AE in Hong Kong. A drug resistance-related mutations database for different HIV-1 genotypes should be established in Hong Kong to augment guidance for HIV treatment.

The use of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) is effective in symptom palliation from recurrent tumor after esophagogastrectomy for cancer

The efficacy of using self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) for palliation of symptoms because of tumor recurrence after prior esophagogastrectomy has not been properly assessed despite the well recognized use of SEMS in patients without prior surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using SEMS in patients who had prior esophagogastrectomy. The study group included 35 patients with carcinoma of esophagus or cardia documented to have loco-regional recurrence after esophagogastrectomy and in whom SEMS were placed for palliation. The median age was 67 (ranged 41-85). The indications for stenting were dysphagia caused by recurrence at the esophageal anastomosis (n= 4) and in the esophageal remnant (n= 5), or extrinsic compression from mediastinal nodal disease (n= 7); gastric outlet obstruction produced by extrinsic tumor compression (n= 13); and tracheo-esophageal fistulae (n= 6). Forty-three stenting procedures were performed, and the technical success rate was 97.6%. The dysphagia score improved from 4.66 to 2.54 (P < 0.001). All patients with tracheo-esophageal fistula had their symptoms successfully palliated. The immediate complication rate was 14% (n= 5); two patients had stent malpositioning, two had inadequate opening of their stents, and one had a failed stenting procedure. On follow-up, 15 (42.8%) patients required a total of 22 re-intervention procedures for various reasons: endoscopic dilatation (five dilatations in three patients), removal of foreign bodies (nine procedures in four patients), and insertion of a second SEMS related to tumor growth (eight stents in eight patients). There was no procedure-related mortality. The median survival was short at 42 days (range 5-290 days), mostly related to advanced disease stage. SEMS in patients with recurrent tumor after esophagogastrectomy is safe and effective.

Antigens of mycobacterial cell walls

Three antigenic fractions from the cell walls of eight strains of mycobacteria were studied. Isolation and purification of these antigens were effected by enzymatic digestions, differential and sucrose gradient centrifugations, dialyses, and column chromatography. Two of the fractions were termed cell wall tuberculins (CWT-1, solubilized with lipase; CWT-2, solubilized with lysozyme); the third was termed "C" (cross-reacting) antigen. All appeared to be lipopolysaccharides. The CWT antigens, as compared with purified protein derivatives (human), were relatively species (group)-specific in both double immunodiffusion and guinea pig skin tests; in the latter, the reactions resembled those of delayed hypersensitivity. The C antigens reacted heterologously in double immunodiffusion and skin tests; the latter were the "immediate" type of reaction.

The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis in Hong Kong.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tuberculosis and Chest Service and Special Preventive Programme, Public Health Services Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

PATIENTS

Cases reported to the TB/HIV Registry jointly kept by the Tuberculosis and Chest Service and Special Preventive Programme from 1996 to 2006 were reviewed. The Registry includes cases of human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis diagnosed in the two services, and cases referred from regional hospitals under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the private sector.

RESULTS

Tuberculosis has become an increasingly important acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness in Hong Kong, and overtook Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia for the first time as the most common primary acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness in 2005 (accounting for 39% and 31% of all such illnesses, respectively in that year). The presentation of human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis is often atypical. In these patients moreover, there was a slightly higher rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (2%) than in the general population (range, 0.7-1.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Programmes for the provider-initiated human immunodeficiency virus testing policy to reduce diagnostic delays should continue and be enhanced. Continual surveillance of both conditions is imperative, especially in view of a possible link between human immunodeficiency virus and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.