Developing and Retaining Homecare Nurses Through Employer-Based Tuition Assistance Programs: A Mixed Methods Study

PURPOSE

This study describes how an employer-based tuition-assistance program for homecare workers at one Canadian homecare organization enabled nursing career advancement and retention.

DESIGN

A convergent parallel mixed-methods design.

METHODS

We reviewed existing administrative data and concurrently conducted semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used on quantitative data and qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. A joint data display was developed to integrate findings from both quantitative and qualitative data together.

FINDINGS

Tuition assistance reduced financial barriers to career advancement; 83% of recipients remained with their employer for at least 1-year post-studies but only 29% experienced career advancement. Psychosocial supports, career navigation and coaching to ease the licensing and role transition processes were identified as opportunities to support learners.

CONCLUSION

Employer-based tuition assistance programs are impactful in helping to develop skilled employees. Practical enhancements to further support career transitions may maximize retention to address urgent homecare staffing challenges.

CLINICAL EVIDENCE

Employer-based tuition assistance can be a useful strategy to support nursing career growth and staff retention.

Reconceptualizing Patient Safety Beyond Harm: Insights From a Mixed-Methods Qualitative Inquiry

BACKGROUND

Although patients' and care partners' perspectives on patient safety can guide health care learning and improvements, this information remains underutilized. Efforts to leverage this valuable data require challenging the narrow focus of safety as the absence of harm.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to gain a broader insight into how patients and care partners perceive and experience safety.

METHODS

We used a mixed-methods approach that included a literature review and interviews and focus groups with patients, care partners, and health care providers. An emergent coding schema was developed from triangulation of the 2 data sets.

RESULTS

Two core themes-feeling unsafe and feeling safe-emerged that collectively represent a broader view of safety.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge from patients and care partners about feeling unsafe and safe needs to inform efforts to mitigate harm and promote safety, well-being, and positive outcomes and experiences.

Evaluating Skill-Mix Models of Care: A Rapid Scoping Review of Measures and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the literature on measures and outcomes for skill-mix models of care.

BACKGROUND

To address the human health resource crisis, changes to skill mix within models of care are being implemented emphasizing the need to synthesize evaluation methods for skill-mix models in the future.

METHODS

A scoping review of the literature using a rigorous search strategy and selection process was completed to identify articles that examined skill-mix models in an effort to identify related concepts.

RESULTS

Ten studies examined skill-mix models. Areas of measurement in assessing the impact of skill-mix models included patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, cost, and nurse perceptions of role changes, model effectiveness, and quality of care. Studies examining nurse satisfaction, patient satisfaction, and/or cost generally reported improvements upon skill-mix model implementation. Studies examining patient outcomes related to skill mix were inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors for consideration upon implementation of a skill-mix change include education of role clarity, the number of unregulated staff who require supervision, and professional practice support.

Cellular mediators in human leishmaniasis: Critical determinants in parasite killing or disease progression

Data on cellular immunity mediators in the early phase of human leishmaniasis are still limited and controversial. In order to mimic the changes of humoral mediators during the early phase of human natural infection, some Th1, Th2, Treg, and Breg cytokines, MCP-1, and the nitric oxide (NO) from human PBMC, stimulated by Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani and Leishmania tropica infective metacyclic promastigotes, were determined. After 4 h of L. major, L. donovani, and L. tropica challenge, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 levels were significantly higher than negative control cultures with saline (SF) instead of Leishmania promastigotes, unlike L. infantum-stimulated TNFα and L. major-stimulated IL-1β. We obtained higher levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines after stimulation of human PBMCs by L. infantum and L. donovani, compared to those observed after the challenge of PBMCs by L. major and L. tropica. Regarding IL-35, such cytokine levels were significantly increased following infection with L. infantum and L. donovani, in contrast to L. major and L. tropica. Up to our knowledge, we are the first to study the effect of four different species of Leishmania on IL-35 levels in human cells. Our study highlights how several Leishmania species can up-regulate different groups of cytokines (Th1, Th2, Treg and Breg) and modulate NO release in a different way. This original aspect can be explained by different Leishmania cell products, such as LPG, obtained from different strains/species of live parasites. Our findings would contribute to the development of new therapeutics or vaccination strategies.

Exploring the impact of evaluation on learning and health innovation sustainability: protocol for a realist synthesis

BACKGROUND

Within the Learning Health System (LHS) model, learning routines, including evaluation, allow for continuous incremental change to take place. Within these learning routines, evaluation assists in problem identification, data collection, and data transformation into contextualized information, which is then re-applied to the LHS environment. Evaluation that catalyzes learning and improvement may also contribute to health innovation sustainability. However, there is little consensus as to why certain evaluations seem to support learning and sustainability, while others impede it. This realist synthesis seeks to understand the contextual factors and underlying mechanisms or drivers that best support health systems learning and sustainable innovation.

METHODS

This synthesis will be guided by Pawson and colleagues' 2005 and Emmel and colleagues' 2018 guidelines for conducting realist syntheses. The review process will encompass five steps: (1) scoping the review, (2) building theories, (3) identifying the evidence, (4) evidence selection and appraisal, and (5) data extraction and synthesis. An Expert Committee comprised of leaders in evaluation, innovation, sustainability, and realist methodology will guide this synthesis. Review findings will be reported using the RAMESES guidelines.

DISCUSSION

The use of a realist review will allow for exploration and theorizing about the contextual factors and underlying mechanisms that make evaluations 'work' (or 'not work') to support learning and sustainability. Depending on results, we will attempt to synthesize findings into a series of recommendations for evaluations with the intention to support health systems learning and sustainability. Finalized results will be presented at national and international conferences, as well as disseminated via a peer-reviewed publication.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

This realist synthesis protocol has been registered with PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/  ID 382690).

Diagnostic approach to focal liver lesions at cross-sectional imaging: a primer for beginners

Liver imaging encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases in different clinical backgrounds. The available literature is vast and reported data often lacks standardization. Because of all these issues, the differential diagnosis and the characterization of liver lesions can be challenging for the beginner. The aim of this narrative review is to provide the basics for an algorithm approach to liver lesions on cross-sectional imaging. First, some tips for the optimization of Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) protocols will be provided. Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS, version 2018) working group is proposing the adoption of their standardized lexicon beyond the original target population of LI-RADS (i.e., liver cirrhosis). Thus, the main imaging findings will be defined following the LI-RADS lexicon. Since the contrast study is the most important for lesion characterization, this narrative review separates the lesions into avascular, hypovascular, and hypervascular, with a focus on chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Integrating Implementation Science in a Quality and Patient Safety Improvement Learning Collaborative: Essential Ingredients and Impact

BACKGROUND

There is a current lack of research exploring the contextual factors of why and how quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) work. To this end, a mixed methods study was undertaken to improve our understanding of what works for whom and in what context among participants in a nationwide Canadian QIC.

METHODS

The authors used a mixed methods approach consisting of a written survey and 30-to-45-minute telephone interviews with collaborative team members, coaches, and senior leaders of participating safety improvement project (SIP) organizations to identify the essential elements of an integrated approach involving implementation science/knowledge translation, quality improvement (QI), patient safety, and collaborative learning/networked approach to enhancing safety and quality and building implementation capabilities. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Interview data were analyzed by three team members using thematic analysis and development of an emergent coding schema.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged as the essential elements: (1) integrating implementation science into the QI/patient safety learning collaborative; (2) reinforcing of and opening eyes to implementation science by an expert implementation specialist; (3) valuing the sense making and strategies shared by coaches; and (4) experiencing challenges to implementation amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams also reported improvements in teamwork and patient outcomes as a result of participating in the QIC.

CONCLUSION

This study's findings provide deeper insight into the "essential ingredients" (expert implementation specialist, coaches) grounded in an integrated approach that drew from QI, patient safety, and implementation science. Organizations can use the key learnings on how best to implement quality and safety projects by leveraging the sense making of the expert implementation specialist and coaches in an integrated networked learning approach.

Technological advances in body CT: a primer for beginners

Many technological advances have entered the clinical routine of Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. The new CT scanners have specific solutions in gantry design to bear the mechanical solicitations. The X-ray tubes have been improved for faster acquisitions at low radiation exposure, while the innovations in CT detectors provide a better image quality. The optimization of image quality and contrast, and the reduction of radiation dose, cannot be achieved without the implementation of adequate reconstruction software, such as Iterative Reconstructions (IR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In recent years, dual-energy (DECT) technology has expanded the indications of CT. In this narrative review, a panoramic overview of the technological novelties in CT imaging will be provided for optimal utilization of CT technology.

Coronary plaque characteristics associated with major adverse cardiovascular events in atherosclerotic patients and lesions – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The clinical value of high-risk coronary plaque characteristics (CPCs) to inform intensified medical therapy or revascularization of non-flow-limiting lesion remains uncertain.

Purpose

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the prognostic impact of CPCs on patient-level and lesion-level major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE).

Methods

We systematically reviewed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database for studies evaluating the association of CPC with patient-level and lesion-level MACE. CPCs included high plaque burden, low minimal lumen area, thin cap fibroatheroma, high lipid core burden index, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, napkin ring sign, or positive remodelling.

Results

Thirty studies (21 retrospective, 9 prospective) with 30,369 patients were included. CPCs were evaluated by invasive intravascular techniques in 9 studies (optical coherence tomography=4, intravascular ultrasound imaging=3, near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound imaging=2) and by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in 21 studies. CPCs significantly predicted patient-level and lesion-level MACE in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. For each CPC, the risks were higher for lesion-level (HR range 3.2–16.8) as compared with patient-level MACE (HR range 1.8–4.1). Accuracy was modest to good for most CPCs at the patient-level (AUC for MACE ranging between 0.53 and 0.84) and moderate to good for most CPCs at the lesion-level (AUC for MACE ranging between 0.71 and 0.83). Plaques with more than one CPC had the highest accuracy for lesion-level MACE (AUC 0.87, 95% CI 0.84–0.90). The pooled sensitivities of CPCs for lesion-level MACE ranged between 40% and 63% and specificities between 73% and 98%. As the pooled prevalence of CPCs among plaques was low (3% to 28%), the estimated positive predictive values for lesion-level MACE were modest (range 1% to 26%).

Conclusions

CCTA and intravascular imaging characterization of CPCs identifies high-risk atherosclerotic plaques that place lesions and patients at risk for future MACE, albeit with modest sensitivity and positive predictive value (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42021251810).

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Incidence of heart failure after acute coronary syndrome in multivessel patients a subanalysis of the coralys registry

Introduction

Potential protective role of complete revascularization for development of Heart Failure (HF) after an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) remains to be elucidated.

Methods

CORALYS is a multicenter, retrospective, observational registry enrolling consecutive patients admitted for ACS and treated with PCI. Patients with known history of HF or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before index admission were excluded. The composite of first hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular (CV) death was the primary endpoint, while its single components along with all-cause death were the secondary ones. Complete vs. non complete revascularization (CR vs. non-CR) strategies were compared with Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (IPTW) across all patients and for those admitted for STEMI and NSTEMI ACS and with Ejection Fraction (EF) at discharge above or below 50%.

Results

Out of 14699 patients, 5054 presented with multivessel disease. Of them, 1473 (29.2%) underwent CR. Over 5 years follow up, complete revascularization reduced the primary combined endpoint (9.2% vs. 16.2%, p<0.001) and the secondary endpoints of HF hospitalization (6.3% vs. 11.7%, p<0.001), CV death (3.7% vs. 6.6%, p<0.001), and all-cause death (9.3% vs. 14.9%, p<0.001). These results remained consistent according to ACS presentation with STEMI or NSTEMI (respectively with an incidence of the primary end point of 5.4% vs. 8.8%, p<0.001; and of 7.4% vs. 13.2%, p<0.001) and according to EF at discharge ≥ or <50% (respectively the primary end point occurred in 3.7% vs. 8.5%, p<0.001; and 10.9% vs. 15.9%, p=0.003).

Conclusions

Complete revascularization after ACS reduces risk of CV death and of hospitalizations for HF, providing another explanation of the prognostic role of CR apart from prevention of recurrent infarctions and a clear therapeutic strategy.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Degenerative and inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders: updates and hot topics in diagnostic and interventional imaging

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to present the latest innovations and current topics in musculoskeletal diagnosis and interventional imaging, with a focus on degenerative and inflammatory diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the search was conducted through the online databases PubMed and Google Scholar, including articles published in English in the past 15 years, in order to find existing studies, clinical cases, and reviews on the latest innovations and current topics in degenerative and inflammatory musculoskeletal pathologies.

RESULTS

Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of MSK degenerative and inflammatory disease. In the last few years continuous innovations and technological advances have allowed new clinical applications in the management of MSK disorder. Advanced magnetic resonance techniques, the introduction of fusion imaging techniques and new approaches to infiltrative medicine are revolutionizing the clinical and therapeutic approach to degenerative and inflammatory pathologies. Artificial intelligence also increasingly seeks to be applied in all fields of medicine and radiology with increasingly promising results.

CONCLUSIONS

Imaging modalities undergo continuous innovations and revolutions due to technological advances, with direct repercussions on clinical applications and new therapeutic potential through interventional radiology techniques. In recent years, there have been particular innovations in the context of musculoskeletal imaging of degenerative and inflammatory diseases, both for diagnosis and intervention.

P11.26.A STAT3 expression in brain metastases from breast cancer: correlations with different molecular subtypes and clinical outcome

Background

STAT3 expression in peritumoral reactive astrocytes (RA) of brain metastases (BM) may favor a pro-metastatic environment. The aim of the study was to evaluate in a retrospective cohort of surgically resected BM from breast cancer (BC) the expression of pSTAT3 in RA of peritumoral tissue of BM, identify different patterns of expression according to molecular subtypes, and correlate with intracranial progression-free survival (i-PFS).

Material and Methods

Patients with histologically proven BM diagnosis from BC were identified from the biobank of Pathology Unit of University of Turin and Spanish national BrM network (RENACER). pSTAT3 expression was evaluated and scored in RA of peritumoral tissue using GFAP and STAT3 immunohistochemistry, according to Priego et al. (Nat Med 2018). Data on histological diagnosis, molecular subtypes, and i-PFS were retrieved by chart review. Intracranial progression was defined based on MRI reports.

Results

Eighty-five BM specimens from BC of 85 female patients with a median age of 54 years (range 30-81 years) were available for analysis. Immunohistochemistry for GFAP and pSTAT3 was feasible in 68/85 (80%). Fifteen out of 68 patients (21.1%) had BM from luminal BC, 27/68 (39.7%) from HER2-positive BC, and 26/68 (39.2%) from TNBC. Fifty-six out of 68 (82.4%) showed positive staining of pSTAT3 in peritumoral RA, of which 9/68 (13.3%) scored with 3, 26/68 (38.2%) with 2, and 21/68 (30.9%%) with 1, while pSTAT3 expression was negative (score 0) in 12/68 (17.6%). High pSTAT3 expression (score 2-3) was observed in 17/27 (62.9%) BM from HER2-positive BC and in 15/26 (57.7%) BM from TNBC, while most of BM from luminal BC (12/15 - 80%) had low or absent pSTAT3 (score 0-1) (p=0.021). Overall i-PFS was 16 months (range 7-41): low pSTAT3 BM (score 0-1) had a median i-PFS of 21 months versus 12 months for high pSTAT3 BM (score 2-3). A shorter median i-PFS was observed in high pSTAT3 BM from TNBC (4 months) as compared with low pSTAT3 BM (11 months). Conversely, i-PFS of high pSTAT3 BM (7 months) was similar to low pSTAT3 BM (6 months) in HER2-positive BC.

Conclusion

pSTAT3 expression in RA of peritumoral tissue of BM from TNBC and HER2-positive BC is higher than in BM from luminal BC. Of note, patients with high pSTAT3 BM from TNBC progressed earlier in comparison with those with low pSTAT3, suggesting that pSTAT3 expression has an influence on the outcome.

JS06.4.A Intracranial ependymomas of the adult: outcome and response to treatments across molecular subtypes

Background

The 2021 WHO Classification lists two molecularly defined types of supratentorial ependymomas (STEs), i.e., ZFTA and YAP1 fusions, and posterior fossa ependymomas (PFEs), i.e, PFA and PFB. Based on retrospective data, the presence of the ZFTA fusion (for STEs) and the PFA subtype (for PFEs) seem to correlate with a poorer outcome. However, prospective data on large cohorts of adult patients are lacking, and the role of treatments is uncertain. The aim of our study is to investigate the clinical characteristics, response to treatment, and outcome of a cohort of adult patients with supratentorial and posterior fossa ependymomas across different molecular subtypes.

Patients and Methods

Clinical data of patients ≥18 years with STEs and PFEs were retrospectively collected from 2 Italian Centres (Turin, Treviso). ZFTA and YAP1 fusions were detected by FISH, while PFA and PFB subtypes were defined by anti-H3K27me3 immunohistochemistry.

Results

We collected 42 adult patients with STEs (11, 26.2%) and PFEs (31, 73.8%) diagnosed between 1984 and 2021. Median age was 45 years. ZFTA and YAP1 fusions were found in 5 (45.5%) and 1 (9.1%) case of STEs. PFA and PFB subtypes accounted for 9 (29.0%) and 22 (71.0%) cases of PFEs. Extent of resection (EOR) was gross-total (GTR) in 6/11 (54.8%) STEs and 17/31 PFEs (54.8%). 4/11 (36.4%) STEs and 9/31 (29.0%) PFEs received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) were 172 and 61.6 months for STEs patients, and not reached (NR) and 332 months for PFEs. For patients with STEs, the presence of ZFTA fusion correlated with a significant shorter PFS (64.0 months vs NR, p = 0.05) and with a trend for shorter mOS (168.0 months vs NR, p = 0.307). The only patient with YAP1 fusion had a very long PFS (33 years). In a multivariable analysis, EOR and adjuvant RT did not significantly affect survival of STEs patients.For patients with PFEs, PFA and PFB subtypes did not differ significantly in terms of mPFS (NR vs 137.0 months, p = 0.513) and mOS (NR vs NR, p = 0.132). Conversely, GTR was associated with a significantly longer mPFS (NR vs 63.0 months, p = 0.007) and with a trend for longer mOS (NR vs 332.0 months, p = 0.146). In a multivariable analysis, GTR was associated with a significantly lower risk of disease progression, both in the entire cohort of PFE patients (p = 0.016), and within the PFA subtype (p = 0.013). Similarly, GTR was associated with a trend for better PFS within the PFB subtype.

Conclusion

Our preliminary data on a real-life cohort of adult patients confirm the worse prognosis of STEs harbouring the ZFTA fusion and suggest an impact of the EOR among PFEs regardless of molecular subtypes. Larger populations of patients are needed to better define the role of treatment modalities within molecular subrogups. The study is still ongoing in a multicentric setting.

P11.59.B Real-life application of the 2021 WHO Classification molecular criteria in Italy: a national survey from the Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology (AINO) Gruppo Giovani

Background

Diffuse gliomas display heterogeneous biology, natural history, response to treatments, and outcome. According to the 2021 WHO Classification, an integration of histological and molecular factors is needed for the diagnosis of diffuse gliomas. The Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology (AINO), with the participation of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch), promoted a survey to explore how the 2021 WHO molecular diagnostic criteria are integrated into clinical practice in a national framework.

Material and Methods

A web-based survey containing 38-item multiple-choice questions was sent to members of the AINO and SINch in February 2022 via the respective email listings of these organizations.

Results

We collected 152 answers. Most attendants were < 45-year-old (117, 77.0%). Participants from North, Centre and South of Italy were 85 (55.9%), 38 (25.0%), and 29 (19.1%). Academic and non-academic hospitals were 35 (46.1%) and 82 (53.9%). The presence of an institutional Brain Tumour Board was reported in 108 cases (71.7%). One hundred forty attendees (92.1%) reported that IDH mutation was assessed in all glioma patients regardless of age. The 1p19q-codeletion was assessed routinely in all IDH-mutant gliomas in 88 (57.9%) or when TP53 mutation and/or ATRX expression was found (45, 29.6%). The MGMTp methylation was assessed, regardless of grading, at diagnosis in 110 (72.4%), and at second surgery in 82 (53.9%). Eighty (52.6%) performed a quantitative analysis of MGMTp status. The CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion in IDH-mutant lower-grade astrocytomas was routinely investigated in 53 (34.9%). Assessment of EGFR amplification, pTERT status or +7/-10 chromosome alterations to stratify IDH-wildtype lower-grade astrocytomas was reported in 76 (50.0%), 43 (28.3%), and 16 (10.5%) cases. Rarer alterations were less commonly investigated (H3K27M: 34, 22.4%; H3G34: 11, 7.2%; BRAF: 18, 11.8%; NTRK: 16, 10.5%), being usually evaluated in selected cases (e.g., younger patients). Academic vs non-academic hospitals treated more patients per year (> 300 in 22/70, 31.4% vs 3/82, 3.7%, p<0.001), had more available molecular technologies (53/70, 75.5% vs 37/82, 45.1, p<0.001), had a higher availability of molecular markers, such as CDKN2A/B deletion (34/70, 48.6% vs 19/82, 23.2%, p=0.001), MGMTp at second surgery (48/69, 69.6% vs 34/72, 47.2%, p=0.008), EGFR/pTERT/+7-10 (46/70, 65.7% vs 32/77, 41.6%, p=0.003), BRAF (14/70, 20.0% vs 4/82, 4.9%, p=0.002), NTRK (14/70, 20.0% vs 2/81, 2.5%, p<0.001).

Conclusion

The availability of new molecular markers is increasing among Italian Neuro-Oncology Centres. However, there is still a gap with the proposed criteria of the 2021 WHO Classification and the real-life application. A critical issue remains how to select patients who might benefit from the identification of some extremely rare mutations in light of targeted therapies.

OS07.4.A Regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma patients: a multicentric real-life study

Background

Few options are still available for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). In the Italian phase 2 REGOMA trial, regorafenib improved overall survival, as compared to lomustine, for GBM patients at first progression after chemoradiation. Here, we present the results of a real-life multicentre study that analysed clinical and radiological features, response to treatments, tolerability, and outcome of a cohort of GBM patients treated with regorafenib at first tumour progression.

Patients and Methods

We enrolled GBM patients at first tumour progression in three Italian Institutions (Turin, Treviso, Bari). Regorafenib was administered following an escalation dose protocol (1st cycle: 80 mg/day for 2 weeks, then 120 mg/day for one week; 2nd cycle: 120 mg/day for 2 weeks, then 160 mg/day for one week; 160 mg/day from the 3rd cycle). MRI scans were obtained at baseline and every 3 months. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were defined as time from regorafenib initiation and disease progression or death.

Results

From January 2020 to January 2022, 66 GBM patients were included. Median age was 60.0 years. MGMTp methylation was found in 30 patients (45.5%). First-line treatment consisted in chemoradiation in 61 (92.4%), in upfront TMZ (3, 4.5%) or RT alone followed by TMZ (2, 3.0%). Median dose was 120 mg/day 21q28 day, which was lower than that used in REGOMA trial (149 mg). Median PFS (mPFS) was 2.7 months (2.4 - 3.0 95% CI) and median OS (mOS) 7.1 months (5.4 - 8.9 95% CI). Best RANO response to regorafenib was partial response (PR) in 10 (15.1%), stable disease in 14 (21.2%), and progressive disease in 42 (63.7%) patients. All PRs were observed within the first three months of treatment. Patients who completed treatment up the 6th, 9th, and 12th cycles were 20, 3 and 2, respectively. Forty-six (69.7%) patients presented adverse events of any grade, and 21 (31.8%) grade III-IV toxicity. The most frequent adverse events were fatigue (33.3%), hand-foot syndrome (27.3%), and liver enzymes increase (15.2%). Two patients only (3.0%) interrupted regorafenib due to toxicity.In a multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with disease progression were higher age (p = 0.035) and absence of MGMTp methylation (p = 0.024).

Conclusion

In this real-life study on 66 patients, mPFS and mOS were similar to those of the 59 patients enrolled in the regorafenib arm of REGOMA trial (2.7 vs 2.0 months; 7.1 vs 7.4 months, respectively). However, we observed a higher rate of PRs as compared to REGOMA (15% versus 3.0%). Type and severity of adverse events were similar between the two studies. Moreover, we had a lower incidence of discontinuations of regorafenib due to toxicity, maybe attributable to the lower dose intensity.We are further analysing the data of MRI-perfusion, with the aim to explore whether it can predict an early response or progression in comparison to standard MRI.

OS08.4.A Analysis of melanoma brain metastasis immune microenvironment through multiplex gene expression profiling

Background

Novel immunotherapies based on targeting of specific immune checkpoints enabled a significant improvement of melanoma outcome, but melanoma brain metastases (BM) remain an unmet oncological need with an overall 2-year survival rate lower than 10%. Tumour immune microenvironment has been demonstrated to play a key role in BM establishment and development, but data regarding the specific milieu of melanoma BM is limited.

Material and Methods

Gene expression profiles of 55 samples of primary melanoma and BM were evaluated using the nCounter PanCancer IO 360 Panel (NanoString Technologies) targeting 770 mRNA involved in tumor immune microenvironment modulation. The case series consisted of 10 primary melanomas and their 10 matched BM, 25 unmatched BM, and 10 locally advanced control melanomas without evidence of BM after >5 year follow up.

Results

Among BM samples, most patients (25/45) were males and median age at BM diagnosis was 61,2 years with a median time to BM development of 2,1 years. Median OS from BM diagnosis was 1,3 years. Several genes resulted significantly downregulated in BM compared to primary melanomas, including SERPINB5 (p<0.001), ARG1 (p=0.0067), S100A8 (p<0.001), S100A9 (p<0.001), S100A12 (p=0.0037), IL1RN (p=0.0012), CCL21 (p=0.0012), CCL22 (p=0.0012) and CCL13 (p=0.037) and SELE (p=0.026); conversely, C7 was upregulated (p<0.001). Downregulated signatures in BM involved those associated with multiple immune cell populations, including neutrophils, dendritic cells, mast cells and Treg, as well as inflammatory chemokines, the CTLA4 immune checkpoint and ARG1 enzyme function; conversely, MAGEs-related signature was upregulated. Comparison between primary melanomas which developed BM and those which did not showed a significant overexpression of RRM2 (p=0.0247) and TNFRSF1A (p=0.032) genes in the latter group and an upregulation of the PD-1 pathway. Analysis according to tumour mutational status showed an upregulation of signatures associated with inflammatory chemokines, dendritic and myeloid cells and neutrophils. No differences were observed according to time to BM development and survival from BM diagnosis.

Conclusion

Our findings show that melanoma BM harbor distinct immunosuppressive mechanisms compared to primary tumors: this data elicits the importance of investigating the heterogeneity of BM microenvironment. Genes and pathways selectively overexpressed or downregulated in melanoma BM should be validated to be possibly considered as novel therapeutic targets.

OS02.6.A Lacosamide in monotherapy in brain tumour-related epilepsy (BTRE): results from an Italian multicentre retrospective study

Background

Lacosamide (LCM) is a third-generation anti-seizure medication (ASM) approved for focal onset epilepsy in patients aged ≥4 years. Previous studies have reported an efficacy of LCM as add-on treatment in brain tumour-related epilepsy (BTRE). To date, there are no studies in the literature focusing on lacosamide used in monotherapy to treat BTRE. In our retrospective study we investigated efficacy and tolerability of LCM in monotherapy in a multicentre national cohort of primary brain tumour patients.

Patients and Methods

Adult patients who were treated with LCM in monotherapy were collected from 12 Italian Centres (either mainly involved in neuro-oncology or in epileptology). Main inclusion criteria were diagnosis of primary brain tumour; at least two focal-onset seizures in the disease course; LCM used either as primary or secondary monotherapy after withdrawal of previous ASMs. For each patient, we evaluated seizure freedom at 3 and 6 months (primary endpoints), side effects and drop-out rate (secondary endpoints).

Results

We collected 132 patients. The majority of patients had a diagnosis of diffuse gliomas, being those with lower-grade glioma 66 (50.0%) and those with glioblastoma 33 (25.0%). Overall, LCM led to seizure-freedom in 64.4% of patients at 3 months and 55% at 6 months. Patients who used two or more ASMs before LCM had a worse seizure control than patients in monotherapy with LCM as first choice.In 14 patients, we observed seizure control despite tumour progression on magnetic resonance (MRI). Multivariate analysis showed that gross-total resection at diagnosis and use of steroids were significantly associated with higher seizure freedom rate at 6 months. Side effects were mainly mild (grade 1-2 according to the CTCAE classification), and the drop-out rate was low (1.5%). The main side effects were dizziness and somnolence.

Conclusion

This is the first study on the role of LCM in monotherapy in BTRE. The study has shown a good efficacy and tolerability of LCM with more than a half of patients becoming seizure-free at 6 months and with a very low rate of drop-out. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data in a prospective manner, adding quality of life and neurocognitive functions as endpoints.

P388 CORONARY PLAQUE CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AMONG ATHEROSCLEROTIC PATIENTS AND LESIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META–ANALYSIS

Background

The clinical value of coronary plaque characteristics (CPCs) to inform intensified medical therapy or revascularization of non–flow–limiting lesion remains uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta–analysis to study the prognostic impact of CPCs comprehensively assessed with invasive and non–invasive imaging technologies on patient–level and lesion–level major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE).

Methods

We systematically reviewed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database for studies evaluating the association of CPC with patient–level and lesion–level (MACE). CPCs included high plaque burden, low minimal lumen area, thin cap fibroatheroma, high lipid core burden index, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, napkin ring sign or positive remodelling.

Results

Thirty studies (21 retrospective, 9 prospective) with 30.369 patients were included. CPCs were evaluated by invasive intravascular techniques in 9 studies (optical coherence tomography=4, intravascular ultrasound imaging=3, near–infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound imaging=2) and by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in 21 studies. CPCs were significantly predictive of patient–level and lesion–level MACE, also when only adjusted data where considered. For each CPC, the odds appeared higher for lesion–level (HR range 3.2–16.8) as compared to patient–level MACE (HR range 1.8–4.1). Accuracy was modest to moderate for most CPCs at the patient–level (AUC for MACE ranging between 0.53 and 0.84) and moderate to good for most CPCs at the lesion–level (AUC for MACE ranging between 0.71 and 0.83). Plaques with more than one CPC had the highest accuracy for lesion–level MACE (AUC 0.87, 95%CI 0.84–0.90). CPC pooled sensitivities for lesion–level MACE ranged between 40% and 63% and specificities between 73% and 98%. As the pooled prevalence of CPCs among plaques was low (3% to 28%), the estimated positive predictive values for lesion–level MACE were modest (range 33% to 45%).

Conclusion

CCTA and intravascular imaging characterization of CPCs provides independent prognostic value among atherosclerotic patients and lesions. However, the modest sensitivity and positive predictive value observed across all CPCs seem to suggest modest clinical value, especially to predict lesion–level events (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42021251810).

C64 UNMASKING THE PREVALENCE OF AMYLOID CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THE REAL WORLD: RESULTS FROM PHASE 2 OF AC–TIVE STUDY, AN ITALIAN NATIONWIDE SURVEY

Background

Clinicians need to identify patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy (AC) at an early stage, due to the availability of disease–modifying therapies. Some echocardiographic findings may rise the suspicion of AC, also in patients with mild or no symptoms, addressing second level diagnostic tests.

Aim

To investigate the prevalence of AC in consecutive patients ≥55 years undergoing clinically indicated, routine transthoracic echocardiogram in Italy and presenting echocardiographic signs suggestive of AC.

Methods

This is a prospective multicentric study conducted in Italy. It comprises two phases: 1) a recording phase consisting in a national survey on prevalence of possible echocardiographic red flags of AC in consecutive unselected patients ≥55 years undergoing routine echocardiogram (previously published) and 2) an AC diagnostic phase involving a diagnostic work–up for AC to investigate AC prevalence among patients with at least one echocardiographic red flag (herein presented). Patients that in Phase 1 presented an “AC suggestive” echocardiogram (i.e., at least one red flag of AC in hypertrophic, non–dilated left ventricles with preserved ejection fraction) underwent clinical evaluation, blood and urine tests and scintigraphy with bone tracer. Diagnosis of transthyretin related–AC (ATTR–AC) was made in presence of grade 2–3 Perugini uptake at scintigraphy and absence of monoclonal protein. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT04738266).

Results

Of the 5315 screened echocardiograms, 381 exams (7.2%) were classified as “AC suggestive” and proceeded to Phase 2. 217 patients completed Phase 2 investigations. Main reasons for the 164 non–entering patients into Phase 2 were death (n = 49) and refusal to participate (n = 66). A final diagnosis of AC was made in 62 patients with an estimated prevalence of 28,6% (95% CI: 22,5%–34,7%). ATTR–AC was diagnosed in 51 and AL–AC in 11 patients, ascertaining a prevalence of 23,5% (95% CI: 17,8%–29,2%) and 5,1% (95% CI: 2,2%–8,0%), respectively.

Conclusion

Among a cohort of consecutive unselected patients ≥55 years with echocardiographic findings suggestive of AC, the prevalence of AC ranged from 23% up to 35%. Although ATTR–AC was predominant, AL–AC was diagnosed in a significant number of cases. Echocardiography has a fundamental role in screening patients, raising the suspicion of disease and orienting diagnostic work–up for AC.

P316 TRANSTHYRETIN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS UNDERGOING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Background

Even if prevalent among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), the clinical suspicion for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR–CA) remains difficult in this subset.

Methods

Consecutive severe AS patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) evaluation at a single center were prospectively included. Those with suspected ATTR–CA based on clinical assessment underwent 99mTc–DPD cardiac scintigraphy. The RAISE score, a novel screening tool with high sensitivity for ATTR–CA in AS, was retrospectively calculated to rule–out ATTR–CA in the remaining patients. Patients were categorized as follow: “ATTR–CA +”: patients with confirmed ATTR–CA at 99mTc–DPD cardiac scintigraphy; “ATTR–CA –”: patients with negative 99mTc–DPD cardiac scintigraphy or a negative RAISE score; c) “ATTR–CA indeterminate”: patients not undergoing ATTR–CA assessment with a positive RAISE score. The characteristics and outcomes of ATTR–CA + and ATTR–CA – patients were compared.

Results

Of 107 included patients, ATTR–CA suspicion was posed in 13 patients and confirmed in 6. Patients were categorized as follow: 6 (5.6%) ATTR–CA +, 79 (73.8%) ATTR–CA –, 22 (20.6%) ATTR–CA indeterminate. Excluding ATTR–CA indeterminate patients, the prevalence of ATTR–CA was 7.1%. As compared to ATTR–CA – patients, ATTR–CA + patients were older, had higher procedural risk and more extensive myocardial and renal damage. They had higher left ventricle mass index and lower ECG voltages, translating into a lower voltage to mass ratio. Moreover, bifascicular block was more common. No difference in procedural outcomes and 1–year mortality was observed between groups.

Conclusions

Among severe AS patients, ATTR–CA is prevalent and presents with phenotypic features that may aid to differentiate it from lone AS. The procedural and mid–term outcomes following TAVR seems unaffected by ATTR–CA status.

Non-traumatic non-cardiovascular thoracic emergencies: role of imaging

Patients presenting to the emergency with thoracic symptoms could have a wide variety of causes, even if the traumatic and vascular causes are excluded. Therefore, the diagnosis is often a challenge for emergency physicians. Anamnesis, physical examination and laboratory testing need to be integrated with imaging to get a rapid diagnosis and to distinguish among the potential causes. This review discusses the role of diagnostic imaging studies in the emergency setting in patients with non-traumatic non-cardiovascular thoracic symptoms. The use of chest x-ray, bedside lung Ultrasound and Computed Tomography in the diagnosis and care of these patients have been reviewed as well as the common findings on imaging.

Thoracic non-traumatic cardiovascular diseases: current perspective and multi-detectors Computed Tomography protocols optimization in the emergency setting

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the most common causes of access to the Emergency Department and among the leading causes of death worldwide. Accurate diagnostic algorithms are mandatory to ensure a rapid life-saving treatment. However, non-specific clinical presentation and unnecessary referrals to other subspecialties may lead to misinterpretation of the diagnosis and delays. In recent years, the development of imaging technologies has allowed Computed Tomography (CT) to play a prominent role in the concepts of CVD rule-in and rule-out. An optimization strategy for CT protocols is needed to reduce variability and improve image quality. A correct diagnostic suspicion is crucial, as different districts (i.e., heart, aorta and pulmonary circulation) may require different investigation techniques. Additionally, the CVD pre-test probability assessment is highly correlated with CT accuracy. The purpose of this narrative review is to analyze the current role of CT in the approach to the CVDs in the ED, and to analyze the main strategies of CT optimization.

Optimization of CT protocol in polytrauma patients: an update

Radiologists play a key role in the management of trauma patients. With the improvement of computed tomography (CT), radiologist makes an important contribution to the timely diagnosis of trauma-related findings and the choice of the most suitable treatment, improving patient outcomes. It is important to select the most appropriate imaging technique, which in the trauma patient is CT, and especially the most appropriate CT protocol, to correctly characterize trauma injuries. Currently, there is no agreement on what the optimal protocol is, acquisition times and number of contrast enhanced phases are not standardized. This is a review of the most recent literature on optimizing the CT protocol in polytrauma, with the intent of giving a useful tool for radiologists in the management of trauma patients.

CT study protocol optimization in acute non-traumatic abdominal settings

Abdominal acute pain is a manifestation of heterogeneous medical conditions, with difficult clinical-laboratory assessment. Multi-detector CT (MDCT) is the gold standard imaging technique for evaluating adult patients with acute abdominal pain. Due to its fast execution and the high spatial resolution, CT is fundamental in the diagnostic and therapeutic work-up of patients with time-dependent pathology that could require surgical treatment, reducing mortality and morbidity. However, the radiological risk connected to the ionizing radiation use should not be underestimated, especially in young patients. The aim of this study is to identify optimized CT protocols to apply in the management of non-traumatic acute abdomen. In particular, this review is focused on the main emergency settings: acute pancreatitis, small bowel obstruction, acute appendicitis and acute diverticulitis. This survey would not be complete without mentioning Dual-Energy CT (DECT) technique, one of the last frontiers in CT, achieving encouraging results also in acute abdominal conditions.

Diagnostic protocols in oncology: workup and treatment planning. Part 1: the optimitation of CT protocol

The increase in oncology knowledge and the possibility of creating personalized medicine by selecting a more suitable therapy related to tumor subtypes, as well as the patient's management with cancer within a multidisciplinary team has improved the clinical outcomes. Early detection of cancer through screening-based imaging is probably the major contributor to a reduction in mortality for certain cancers. Nowadays, imaging can also characterize several lesions and predict their histopathological features and can predict tumor behaviour and prognosis. CT is the main diagnostic tool in oncologic imaging and is widely used for the tumors detection, staging, and follow-up. Moreover, since CT accounts for 49-66% of overall patient radiation exposure, the constant reduction, optimization, dose inter- and intraindividual consistency are major goals in radiological field. In the recent years, numerous dose reduction techniques have been established and created voltage modulation keeping a satisfactory image quality. The introduction of CT dual-layer detector technology enabled the acquisition of spectral data without additional CT x-ray tube or additional acquisitions. In addition, since MRI does not expose the body to radiation, it has become a mainstay of non-invasive diagnostic radiology modality since the 1980s.

Diagnostic protocols in oncology: workup and treatment planning. Part 2: Abbreviated MR protocol

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging technique (non-ionizing radiation) with superior soft tissue contrasts and potential morphological and functional applications. However, long examination and interpretation times, as well as higher costs, still represent barriers to MRI use in clinical routine. Abbreviated MRI protocols have emerged as an alternative to standard MRI protocols. Abbreviated MRI protocols eliminate redundant sequences that negatively affect cost, acquisition time, patient comfort. However, the diagnostic information is generally not compromised. Abbreviated MRI protocols have already been utilized for hepatocellular carcinoma, for prostate cancer detection, and for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease screening.

Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement or re-surgical aortic valve replacement in degenerated bioprostheses: a systematic review and meta-analysis of short and mid-term results

Introduction

Despite limited to short and mid-term outcomes, Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to redo surgery for high and intermediate-risk patients with good outcomes across different surgical risk profiles.

Purpose

The aim of the resent meta-analysis is to compare short and mid-term outcomes of VIV and surgical redo fo patients with a degenerative aortic bioprosthesis.

Methods

All studies comparing with multivariate adjustment between ViV TAVI and re-SAVR were screened. All-cause mortality at 30-day and at follow-up were the primary endpoints, while Valve Academy research Consortium (VARC) endpoints at 30 days including stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), major vascular complications, major bleeding, new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) during the index hospitalization were the secondary endpoints. Subgroup analysis were performed according to the surgical risk. All the analyses were stratified according to the design of the study (observational vs propensity-matched study).

Results

We obtained data from 11 studies, encompassing 8570 patients, 4224 undergoing ViV TAVI and 4346 re-SAVR. Four studies included intermediate-risk patients and seven high-risk patients. Mean age was 76 and 71.5 years in the ViV and re-SAVR group respectively, with a 60.2% and 61.3% of male. For the ViV procedure, BE prostheses were used in the 49.6% of patients and SE prostheses in the 45.8%. The ViV group have higher prevalence of previous CAD (53.8% vs 41.1%) and CABG (35% vs 23.6%) and more history of HF (72.1% vs 65.6%), CKD (26.6% vs 14.8%) and COPD (25.4 vs 14.8%). 30-day all-cause and CV mortality were significantly lower in ViV (OR 0.43, 0.29–0.64 and OR 0.44, 0.26–0.73 respectively), while after a mean follow-up of 717 (180–1825) days, there were no difference between the two groups (OR 1.04, 0.87–1.25 and OR 1.05, 0.78–1.43 respectively). The result were consistent both in intermediate and high-risk classes. The risk of stroke (OR 1.03, 0.59–1.82), MI (OR 0.70, 0.34–1.44), major vascular complications (OR 0.92, 0.50–1.67) and permanent pacemaker implantation (OR 0.67, 0.36–1.25) at 30 days did not differ, while major bleedings and new onset atrial fibrillation were significantly lower in ViV patients (OR 0.41, 0.25–0.67 and OR 0.23, 0.12–0.42 respectively, all CI 95%).

Conclusions

In patients with a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis, ViV TAVI is associated with better short-term outcomes, including all-cause mortality, without any difference in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality at mid-term follow-up compared to surgical redo.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Prognostic value of brain tissues' volumes in patients with essential tremor treated with MRgFUS thalamotomy

MRgFUS Vim thalamotomy is a novel, effective, minimally invasive therapeutic option for patients with essential tremor (ET). Among the selection criteria, some parameters related to the patient's anatomy, such as the skull density ratio (SDR), are well recognized. The role of brain tissue interposed between the target and the ultrasound transducers has never been explored. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the correlation and the possible predictive value between brain tissue volumes (grey matter - GM, white matter - WM, and cerebrospinal fluid - CSF) and several treatment-related variables (periprocedural parameters, MRI imaging findings, and the clinical outcome). We analysed data from thirty ET patients previously submitted to MRgFUS thalamotomy. Pre-treatment images were automatically segmented in sopra-tentorial (ST) WM, GM, and CSF using SPM 12. The most significant findings were a positive correlation of the ST-GM with the Accumulated Thermal Dose (ATD) (p < 0,001) and a negative correlation of the ATD temperature with ST-CSF and ST-TIV (p < 0,001). Ultrasound propagation speed is lower in fluids than brain tissues. Also, WM has an attenuation rate of 1.5 higher than the GM. Therefore, the difference in the ATD may be explained by the different acoustic properties of normal brain tissues interposed between the transducers and the VIM.

P14.77 Efficacy and safety of Tumor-Treating Fields associated with Depatux M and metronomic temozolomide for recurrent glioblastoma: a case-report

BACKGROUND

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have a poor prognosis following an extensive resection, radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant/adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). Once GBM progresses after SOC, lomustine is the standard second-line treatment, while rechallenge with TMZ may be employed in selected patients with methylated promoter of MGMT, and bevacizumab is reserved for patients with extensive edema and need for steroids. New treatment modalities have been investigated at first recurrence, including alternating electric fields (TTFields) or antibody direct against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), such as depatuximab mafodontin (ABT-414, Depatux-M), that have shown some activity in terms of disease control and progression-free survival (PFS).

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

In September 2018, a 38 year-old man developed reduced strength in left upper limb and daily focal seizures. MRI showed an enhancing right fronto-temporal lesion which was subtotally removed with a diagnosis of glioblastoma (IDH 1/2 wild type, MGMT methylated - 40%, EGFR amplified, EGFRvIII positive). As the patient had a poor KPS (50), in October 2018 a hypofractionated RT (DFT 40 Gy/15 fractions) with concomitant TMZ (140 mg/day) was performed, followed by adjuvant standard TMZ (340 mg/day); however, chemotherapy was stopped after 3 cycles due to local progression on MRI coupled with strength worsening, increased seizure frequency, and need for steroids. Pseudoprogression was ruled out due to tumor growth out of the field of RT. Based on the high level of methylation of the MGMT promoter and EGFR amplification, a combined treatment with metronomic TMZ (100 mg/day continuously) plus Depatux-M (1.25 mg/kg every 2 weeks) was started (February 2019), but a brain MRI performed after 3 months of treatment displayed no significant changes on both MRI and neurological status. At this time point (May 2019) TTFields treatment was added. An initial decrease of tumor size was observed on MRI after 5 months, while a reduction of tumor size more than 90% has been progressively achieved after 1 year of treatment (April 2020). Moreover, a seizure-free status was observed without changing the antiepileptic medication. The patient developed a grade 3 ocular side effect (CTCAE version 5.0) with photophobia, blurred vision, foreign body sensation in the eyes after 6 months of treatment, which improved after dose delays and dose reduction of Depatux-M. The patient is still alive, and free of progression after 30 months and 25 months from diagnosis and first recurrence, respectively.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a recurrent GBM with a significant and long-lasting neuroradiological response following a combined treatment with TTFields, Depatux-M, and intensified schedule of TMZ. A synergistic effect of TTFields with compounds interfering with the microtubular system should be further investigated.

P14.42 Neratinib for treatment of leptomeningeal metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer in extended access program: preliminary results

BACKGROUND

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) occur in 5% of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) breast cancer (BC) with a poor overall survival (OS) of 3 months. Neratinib is an oral, irreversible tyrosine kinase pan-inhibitor that was approved by FDA for the treatment of HER2-enriched BC, who completed a prior adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of neratinib in LM from HER2-positive BC after the failure of multiple lines of treatment, including trastuzumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥ 18 years; histological diagnosis of primary HER2-positive BC; newly-diagnosed LM according to LANO criteria; KPS ≥60 at the time of diagnosis of LM; coexistence of BM that have or not received WBRT or radiosurgery; systemic disease with a life expectancy of at least 3 months; concomitant drugs, including capecitabine, trastuzumab, TDM-1, pertuzumab, and hormone therapy were allowed, with the exclusion of lapatinib or other investigational agents. Neratinib was administered 240 mg daily continuously. The primary endpoint was the OS after the diagnosis of LM. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) following the diagnosis of LM, neurological benefit, radiological response rate, and tolerability.

RESULTS

From January 2018 to April 2021, 9 patients with LM have been enrolled. Median age at the time of diagnosis of LM was 44 years (95%CI 36–59) with a median KPS of 80 (95%CI 60–90). Median time since LM onset from the diagnosis of primary BC was 42 months (95%CI 11–166), and patients underwent a median number of adjuvant treatments before LM of 3 (95%CI 2–5). Three patients developed LM alone, and other 6 had LM associated with multiple brain metastases. Six-months and 1-year OS were 66.7% and 22.3%, respectively, with a median OS of 8 months (95%CI 3–13*). Median PFS was 3.5 months (95%CI 2–6) after the start of treatment. A neurological improvement was reported in 2/9 patients (22.2%), while in other 4/9 patients (44.5%) was achieved a neurological stabilization lasting for a median time of 5 months (95%CI 2–19). The best radiological response was a stable disease in 5/9 patients (55.6%), while no complete or partial response were achieved according to LANO and RANO criteria, respectively. A CSF clearance was observed in 1 patient only (11.1%) following two months of neratinib. Grade III-IV adverse events were not reported, and 2 patients only (22.2%) had mild diarrhea correlated with neratinib.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study that shows that neratinib might be a safe and effective treatment in LM from heavily pretreated HER2-positive BC.

POS1344 EVALUATING THE MULTIVISCERAL INVOLVEMENT ON ADULT-ONSET STILL’S DISEASE TO RETRIEVE IMAGING-BASED DIFFERENCES IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION SYNDROME; RESULTS FROM A SINGLE-CENTRE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background:

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder usually affecting young adults, burdened by life-threatening complications, mainly macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a secondary form of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [1]. In this context, the importance of an accurate assessment of AOSD is suggested to promptly recognise the multivisceral involvement of the disease which is associated with life-threatening complications. The assessment of the most aggressive subsets of the disease could guide the clinicians when to apply additional resources but avoiding unnecessary expenditures in patients with a less severe clinical picture.

Objectives:

In this study, we aimed at describing the multivisceral involvement of the disease to retrieve imaging-based differences in AOSD patients with and without MAS.

Methods:

The present evaluation has been designed as a cross-sectional study to descriptively compare the multivisceral involvement in AOSD patients with and without MAS. Patients admitted to our Institution, who underwent a total body CT scan, were selected from our historical cohort and assessed. Clinical and CT scan characteristics of AOSD patients with and without MAS were compared. Clinical and CT scan characteristics of AOSD patients with and without MAS were analysed by parametric or non-parametric t tests for all continuous variables, and chi squared test was used for categorical ones, as appropriate. Furthermore, possible correlations among radiological outcomes with laboratory markers and systemic score were estimated by using a point-biserial coefficient correlation.

Results:

This study evaluated 39 AOSD patients (men 64.1%), mean age of 48.8±16.6 years). Out of those, 14 patients (35.9%) were complicated by MAS. These patients showed higher values of ferritin [AOSD: 770.0 (1306.5) ng/mL vs MAS: 2926.3 (4918.5) ng/mL p=0.003] and systemic score (AOSD: 4.6±1.4 vs MAS: 6.9±1.7, p<0.0001). AOSD patients with MAS presented a higher prevalence of lung disease than others (AOSD: 56.0% vs MAS 85.7% p=0.048). Lung disease correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.491, p=0.003). AOSD patients with MAS were more frequently characterised by hepatomegaly (AOSD: 12.0% vs MAS: 50.0% p=0.019) and splenomegaly (AOSD: 16.0% vs MAS 50.0% p=0.033), respectively, than others. Hepatomegaly correlated with CRP (coefficient 0.421, p=0.016), ferritin (coefficient 0.397, p=0.020), and systemic score (coefficient 0.391, p=0.022). Furthermore, the presence of splenomegaly correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.439, p=0.009). CT scan features of abdominal effusions were more frequently observed in AOSD patients with MAS than those without this complication (AOSD: 12.0% vs 57.1% p=0.007). Finally, a higher percentage of AOSD patients with MAS showed a significant lymph node enlargement, either mediastinal or abdominal, than others on CT scan (AOSD: 36.0% vs MAS 71.4% p=0.048). The presence of lymphadenomegaly correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.368, p=0.032).

Conclusion:

Our findings showed a higher prevalence of multiorgan involvement in AOSD patients with MAS, suggesting imaging-based differences, although other studies are needed to fully assess this issue. Pulmonary disease, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymph nodes enlargement, and abdominal effusions were associated with these more aggressive patients.

References:

[1]Giacomelli R, Ruscitti P, Shoenfeld Y. A comprehensive review on adult onset Still’s disease. J Autoimmun. 2018 Sep;93:24-36.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0156 INCIDENCE OF CERVICAL SPINE INVOLVEMENT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, RESULTS FROM A SINGLE CENTRE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) manifests as a chronic, symmetrical articular disease; any synovial joint may be involved and the cervical spine is another possible affected site [1,2]. Although the cervical spine involvement is a very severe complication of RA, the exact incidence of cervical spine abnormalities in RA is not fully elucidated yet.

Objectives:

In this work, we aimed at evaluating the incidence of a cervical spine involvement and associated clinical characteristics in patients with RA in a single centre observational study.

Methods:

In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively followed-up patients with RA attending our Rheumatologic Clinic, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy, between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of 1987 ACR and/or ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria were assessed. Each patient was investigated for cervical spine involvement occurrence, particularly the atlas-axis cervical involvement. Instrumental imaging evaluation of the cervical spine was performed in all patients with clinical suspicion of involvement, by both MRI and CT examinations. MRI examinations were performed on a 1.5 Tesla scanner, acquiring T1, T2, and STIR sequences on sagittal, coronal and axial planes. CT examinations were performed on a multidetector 320-row CT scanner (Aquilion One,Toshiba) acquired with a thin collimation; soft tissue or bone algorithms were applied for image data reconstruction and analysis.

Incident cases of cervical spine involvement were reported as incidence proportion and incidence rate per 1000 person-years at risk.

Results:

In this evaluation, 347 consecutive patients, (mostly female 87.6%, mean age of 66.1 ± 11.3 years) attending our Rheumatologic Clinic, were studied. The incidence proportion of cervical spine involvement was 2.0% [0.6 – 3.4%], occurring in 7 out of 347 patients, and identified by both MRI and CT scan. Considering over 1623 person-years, an incidence rate of 4.0 × 1000 [3.0 – 5.0] person-years was also estimated. All our patients with cervical spine involvement were characterised by female gender, rheumatoid factor, ACPA, fulfilment of ACR 1987 classificative criteria, and poorly controlled disease activity. Smoking habit and extra-articular manifestations were also frequently reported. Glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and infliximab were mainly administered in these patients. This therapeutic strategy resulted in a complete resolution of the inflammatory synovitis in all but one patient. The latter developed a cervical spinal instability resulting in neurological progression and required a subsequent surgical management.

Conclusion:

The cervical spine involvement is an uncommon but serious manifestation of RA, since possibly causing severe neurologic damage. A poorly controlled inflammatory process would be an important risk factor for developing a cervical spine involvement in RA, thus, a proper management is required, from an early accurate recognition to a timely therapeutic strategy. MRI could provide a useful clinical tool to early evaluate the cervical spine involvement in RA. Finally, considering the low incidence, further studies are needed to fully estimate the exact incidence of this manifestation, mostly in poorly symptomatic patients.

References:

[1]Shlobin NA, Dahdaleh NS. Cervical spine manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis: a review. Neurosurg Rev. 2020 Oct 10. Neurosurg Rev. 2020 Oct 10. doi: 10.1007/s10143-020-01412-1.

[2]Kothe, R.Rheumatoid instability in the cervical spine: Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Orthopade. 2018 Jun;47(6):489-495.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS1349 THE JOINT INVOLVEMENT IN ADULT ONSET STILL’S DISEASE IS CHARACTERISED BY A PECULIAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND A SPECIFIC TRANSCRIPTOMIC PROFILE

Background:

Adult onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic autoinflammatory disease and joint involvement is one of its clinical manifestations [1]. Arthritis, either oligoarthritis or bilateral symmetrical rheumatoid arthritis-like polyarthritis, is another common clinical feature of AOSD, with a migrating pattern at the beginning and becoming stable over the time [1].

Objectives:

The aims of the study were to assess joint involvement in AOSD by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to describe main patterns of involvement, and associated clinical characteristics, and to evaluate the global transcriptomic profile of synovial tissues in AOSD to elucidate possible pathogenic pathways involved with.

Methods:

AOSD patients, who underwent to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on joints, were assessed to describe patterns of joint involvement and associated clinical characteristics. Some synovial tissues were collected for RNA-sequencing purposes.

Results:

In this study, 31 patients with AOSD (mean age 42.3 ± 15.2 years, 54.8% male gender), who underwent to at least one MRI exam on joints, were assessed. The most common MRI finding was the presence of synovitis on 60.5%, mainly in peripheral affected joints. MRI revealed a mild to moderate proliferative synovitis, as thickening of the synovial membrane, with low to intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-fat saturated weighted and STIR images, suggesting the presence of a hyperplastic than of a hypertrophied synovial tissue. Bone oedema and bone erosions were reported on 34.9% and 25.6% MRI exams, respectively. In all patients but one, bone erosions were synchronous with bone oedema, overlapping completely the locations. Assessing clinical characteristics in patients with MRI-erosions, a higher prevalence of splenomegaly, a more frequent chronic disease course, lower levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and ferritin was observed.

Assessing the synovial tissues of some AOSD patients, a moderate perivascular mononuclear infiltrate in the sub-lining stroma of hip synovial tissues was observed, whereas the lining cells were relatively unremarkable. In addition, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, TNF, and heavy ferritin subunit (FeH) were found on AOSD synovial tissues.

An RNA-sequencing analysis assessed the global transcriptomic profile of synovial tissues on AOSD patients and matched-controls. Assessing IL-1 pathway, we found an increased expression of il1a, il1b, il1rap, il1r1, il18r1, and Il18bp on AOSD tissues when compared with controls. In IL-6 pathway, we found an increased expression of il6 and il6st/gp130 on AOSD synovial tissues whereas an increased expression of il6r was shown on the controls. Among genes involved in TNF pathway, tnf, traf1, traf2, tnfaip3 and tnfrsf1a resulted to be more expressed in AOSD synovial tissues than in controls. Finally, fth1 and ftl were more expressed in AOSD patients than controls, when we explored the iron uptake and transport pathway.

Conclusion:

A peculiar MRI pattern of joint involvement in AOSD was reported; the most common finding was the presence of synovitis, characterised by intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-fat-saturated weighted and STIR images. Bone erosions and bone oedema were also observed. This MRI pattern was associated with a hyper-activation of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF pathways together with a hyper-expression of ferritin genes on AOSD synovial tissues.

References:

[1]Giacomelli R, Ruscitti P, Shoenfeld Y. A comprehensive review on adult onset Still’s disease. J Autoimmun. 2018;93:24-36.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS0308 TRAJECTORIES OF FATIGUE IN EARLY RA OVER 10 YEARS: RESULTS FROM THE ESPOIR COHORT

Background:

Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptom reported by persons with RA. RA-related fatigue is a complex concept with biological, psychological and social interactions.

Objectives:

In a cohort of early RA patients, to determine and characterize fatigue trajectories over 10 years of follow-up and identify predictors of trajectory membership.

Methods:

Patients fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA included in the ESPOIR cohort. We used a cluster analysis to obtain fatigue (assessed by fatigue visual analogue scale) trajectories over the course of 10 years from enrolment. Chi-square tests or ANOVA were performed to evaluate differences of baseline variables between fatigue trajectories. Using a multinomial logistic regression we could identify predictors of trajectory membership.

Results:

We analysed 598 patients with mean disease duration at enrolment of 26.2 ± 40.9 days. Cluster analysis revealed 3 trajectories: high (18%), moderate (52%) and low fatigue (30%). Compared to patients with moderate or low fatigue trajectory, patients with high fatigue trajectory were predominantly women and reported significantly higher duration and intensity of morning stiffness, HAQ score, number of tender joints, levels of pain, number of awakenings due to arthritis, levels of physician and patient global assessment and more frequent sleep problems, and increased psychological distress. Female patients with pain, psychological distress and presence of sicca symptoms had higher risk of being in high trajectory group.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that levels of fatigue are rather stable over time in each trajectory. Baseline clinical measures and baseline patient-reported measures of functional status better distinguished the three fatigue trajectories. We did not find differences between trajectories in baseline laboratory measures. Inflammatory activity was not a predictor of being in high trajectory fatigue group.

References:

[1]Pollard LC, Choy EH, Gonzalez J, Khoshaba B, Scott DL. Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis reflects pain, not disease activity. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2006;45:885–9

[2]Repping-Wuts H, van Riel P, van Achterberg T. Fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: what is known and what is needed. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2009;48:207–9.

[3]Pilgaard T, hagelund L, Stallknecht SE, jensen HH, Esbensen BA. Severity of fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoritic artrhitis and spondyoarthritis- Results of cross-sectional study. Plos One. 2019;14:e0211831

[4]Feldthusen C, Grimby-Ekman A, Forsblad-d’Elia H, Jacobsson L, Mannerkorpi K. Explanatory factors and predictors of fatigue in persons with rheumatoid arthritis: a longitudinal study. J Rehabil Med 2016 28;48:469–76.

[5]Madsen SG, Danneskiold-Samsøe B, Stockmarr A, Bartels EM. Correlations between fatigue and disease duration, disease activity, and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Scand J Rheumatol. 2016;45:255-61.

[6]Olsen CL, Lie E, Kvien TK, Zangi HA. Predictors of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients in remission or in a low disease activity state. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2016;68:1043–8.

[7]Druce K, Jones GT, Macfarlane GJ, Verstappen SMM, Basu N. The longitudinal course of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Norfolk Arthritis Register. J Rheumatol 2015;42:2059–65.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Mean differences and individual changes in nursing students' attitudes toward statistics: The role of math background and personality traits

Nursing students have compulsory statistics courses in their degree program, but they usually have negative attitudes toward statistics that may hinder their learning. The present study aims: (i) to investigate nurse students' attitudes toward statistics and the relationships with mathematical background and personality traits; (ii) to stress individual changes in attitude that occur during the course; and (iii) to explore if mathematical background and personality traits influence these changes. We adopted a one-group pre-post survey study. Fifty nursing students were enrolled in an introductory statistics course at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy during the 2018-2019 academic year. Participants were surveyed at the beginning and end of the course administering a multidimensional measure of attitude toward statistics. Multiple regression analyses were run to establish the relative impact of mathematical background and Big Five personality factors on attitude components, as well as the changes in these attitude components. Results confirmed the predictive role of mathematic competence on some attitude dimensions and showed that also personality traits influenced attitudes toward statistics. However, the observed changes in attitudes during the course were minimally influenced by these factors. Findings suggest that course pedagogy can enhance students' attitudes regardless their mathematical background and personality.

Quality of life and psychopathology in candidates to bariatric surgery: relationship with BMI class

PURPOSE

This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing the quality of life (Qol), the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis and pharmacological treatment in 104 candidates to bariatric surgery according to the degree of obesity (class 2 vs. class ≥ 3 obesity).

METHODS

All surgical candidates underwent a detailed psychiatric interview based on DSM-5 criteria, including sociodemographic, clinical, psychological and psychiatric data. Participants completed the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

RESULTS

Overall, bariatric candidates reported a significant impairment in the physical (PCS 38.8 [95% CI 36.2-41.5]) and mental (MCS 42.2 [95% CI 40.4-43.9]) components of Qol compared to population norms (p < 0.001 for both). Subjects with class 2 obesity scored significantly lower in the MCS compared to those with class 3 (38.7 (8.1) vs. 43.6 (8.4), p = 0.008). No other statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of sociodemographic and clinical variables.

CONCLUSION

These data support the usefulness of Qol assessment in bariatric candidates as a sensible screening parameter, especially in patients with lower BMI, in whom MCS could identify the need for early psychosocial intervention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) guided vs angiography guided coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

A strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) driven by FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve) has demonstrated to reduce adverse events through the “deferring” of unnecessary stenting procedures compared to PCI guided by angiographic evaluation of stenosis. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) represents another option for revascularization, being superior to PCI in patients with diffuse disease. In this setting, some evidence has been provided about physiological driven CABG procedures, but studies reported contrasting results regarding clinical benefits and outcomes at follow up.

The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate clinical and procedural impact of FFR versus angiographic guided surgical revascularization and assess outcomes at follow up.

Methods

All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational studies with multivariable adjustment or propensity matching were included. MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Events) was the primary end point, while its single components (death, myocardial infarction and revascularization) along with number of grafts and percent of off-pump CABG were the secondary ones. Of 86 studies identified, 4 articles were included in this review, representing a combined total of 777 patients (426 angio-guided and 351 FFR-guided). Mean age was 66±2.1, 80% man, 74% hypertension, 71% hyperlipidemia, 33% diabetes, 39% smokers. Mean EuroSCORE I was 2.7. 18% a prior MI, and 25% a prior PCI. Coronary lesions were allocated as follow: 36% left anterior descending artery, 32% circumflex artery, 27% right coronary artery. Mean follow up was 30 months. At the follow up, rates of MACE did not differ (MACE OR 1.31:0.88–1.96), as those of death (OR 1.47:0.86–2.51), of MI (OR 1.80:0.89–3.63), and of target vessel revascularization (1.03: 0.54–1.97.). FFR-guided CABG was associated with more off-pump surgical procedure (OR 0.58, IC 0.34–0.97) and shorter hospitalization time (8.2±2.49 vs 8,87±3,25 p&lt;0.01). FFR- guided CABG was associated more frequently with off-pump surgical procedure (OR 0.58:0.34–0.97) with fewer anastomes (2.5 vs 3), leading to higher rates of global arteria revascularization in FFR group (56% vs. 45%) and higher rates of venous grafts in angio-guided group (55% vs. 44%). Shorter hospitalization time was recorded in FFR patients (8.2±2.49 vs 8,87±3,25 days, p&lt;0.01). Graft patency at follow up was not statistically higher in the FFR guided group (OR 0.67, CI 95% 0.32–1,39, all CI 95%).

Conclusions

FFR-guided surgical revascularization is associated with more off-pump procedures, a lower number of surgical anastomoses and more arterial grafts compared to angiography guided CABG. These differences lead to a shorter hospitalization time in the FFR-guided group compared to the angiography-guided group. No difference between two groups in MACE, overall death and MI was observed during the follow up. RCT with longer follow up are needed to evaluate long term outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of an orthogeriatrician on length of stay of elderly patient with hip fracture

Hip fracture patients are complex, and orthopaedic management is limited to the surgery phase. To provide better evaluation pre-operatively and an optimal level of post-operative care, an orthogeriatrician was introduced in the orthopaedic team. This ensured that time to surgery from admission consistently was below 48 h, decreasing hospitalization time after surgery and total length of stay.

INTRODUCTION

Hip fractures are a major health issue in elderly and frail patient. The integration of orthogeriatric care within the orthopaedic team could be useful to optimize the clinical conditions of these patients in perioperative phases and stabilize them after surgery, reducing hospital length of stay. The present study evaluates the role of an orthogeriatrician in the management of patients with a hip fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data about patients admitted and operated from February to September 2018 and from February to September 2019 were collected from the San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona Hospital of Salerno database. A total of 352 patients were identified and divided in two groups according to the year in which the orthogeriatrician was working in Orthopaedic Department. Records regarding age, sex, side and type of fracture, time of admission, day of surgery and discharge were collected and length of stay, days from the admission to surgery and days from surgery to discharge were calculated.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in the pre-surgery phases of both groups, and all patients were operated at a mean of 2.1 days ± 1.8 SD from admission (p > 0.05). No statistically significant difference between demographic data in both groups (p > 0.01) was observed. There was, however, statistically significant reduction of hospitalization time after surgery and total LOS from 2018 to 2019 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

An Orthogeriatric doctor in an Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department may lead a multidisciplinary approach to manage elderly patients with hip fractures, ensuring that the time to surgery from admission is less than 48 h, and reducing hospitalization time after surgery and total length of stay.

Prognostic implication of sodium nitroprusside vasodilator test in pulmonary hypertension and left heart disease: insights from PUSHON registry

Background

Definition of combined post and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Cpc-PH) is controversial, despite involving up to 25% of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The 2019 World Symposium on PH focused on conflicting results and potential misleading interpretation of mean transpulmonary gradient (TPG) and diastolic transpulmonary gradient (DPG) in predicting outcomes in type 2 PH patients. A new Cpc-PH definition has been proposed, basing on pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) &gt;15 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) &gt;3 WU. In this setting, the role of vasodilator challenge has marginally been explored.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether vasodilator test increases prognostic accuracy in PH-LHD comparing to PVR and TPG.

Methods

125 patients with a first diagnosis of PH-LHD were selected within the PUlmonary hypertenSion in rigHt heart catheterization (PUSHON) registry. All patients underwent right heart catheterization and sodium nitroprusside vasodilator infusion. Hemodynamic response was defined as decrease of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) &lt;25 mmHg with maintenance of systemic systolic arterial pressure &gt;85 mmHg. Primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, heart transplantation and urgent LVAD implant at 2 years.

Results

34 (27%) patients were sodium nitroprusside responders. Normalization of mPAP during acute vasodilator challenge was associated with higher event-free survival at 2 years (HR 2.46, 95% C.I. 1.29–4.69, p=0.006). Responders to nitroprusside showed lower baseline pressure regimens in pulmonary artery (sPAP 56.4±12.9 vs 63.2±12.4 mmHg, p=0.009; mPAP 38.1±6.9 vs 44.7±8.8 mmHg, p=0.001) and lower Wedge Pressure (25.1±6.6 vs 29.8±6.6 mmHg, p=0.001). Also, patients with positive vasodilator test showed better right ventricular function expressed by TAPSE (17.2±4.3 vs 15.4±3.8 mm, p=0.05) and higher EF (34.6±15.3% vs 28.1±13.1%, p=0.023). Interestingly, nitroprusside responders exhibited lower DPG (−0.11±5.30 vs 2.04±5.21 p=0.04). At multivariate analysis PVR and TPG ≥12 mmHg fail to independently predict primary endpoint, while positive vasodilator response was independently associated with better outcome (OR 0.22, 95% C.I. 0.09–0.52, p=0.001). The same results were confirmed in the Cpc-PH subgroup (OR 0.54, 95% C.I. 0.08–0.78, p=0.018).

Conclusions

Nitroprusside vasodilator response was associated with a higher event-free survival at 2 years follow-up in our cohort of patients with PH-LHD. Larger studies with prospective hemodynamic evaluations are needed to support our hypothesis.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Percutaneous vs. surgical revascularization for patients with unprotected left main stenosis: a meta-analysis of 5 years follow-up RCTs

Introduction

5-year survival of patients with ULM (Unprotected Left Main) stenosis according to the choice of revascularization (percutaneous vs. surgical) remains to be defined.

Methods and results

Randomized Controlled Trials (RTCs) comparing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) vs. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) with a follow-up of at least 5 years were included. All-cause death was the primary endpoint. MACCE (a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction [MI], stroke and repeat revascularization) along with its single components and cardiovascular (CV) death were the secondary ones. Analyses were stratified according to use of first vs. last generation coronary stents. Subgroup comparisons were performed according to Syntax Score (below or above 33) and to age (using cutoffs of each trial's subgroup analysis). 4 RCTs with 4394 patients were identified: 2197 were treated with CABG, 657 with first generation and 1540 with last generation stents. At 5 years rates of all-cause death did not differ (OR 0.93: 0.71–1.21), as those of CV death and stroke. CABG reduced rates of MACCE (OR 0.69: 0.60–0.79), mainly driven by MI (OR 0.48: 0.36–0.65) and revascularization (OR 0.53: 0.45–0.64). Benefit of CABG for MACCE was consistent, although with different extent, across values of Syntax Score (OR 0.76: 0.59–0.97 for values &lt;32 and OR 0.63: 0.47–0.84 for values ≥33) while was not evident for “younger” patients (OR 0.83: 0.65–1.07 vs. OR 0.65: 0.51–0.84 for “older” patients, all CI 95%).

Conclusion

For patients with ULM disease, PCI and CABG yielded same survival benefit at 5 years. CABG reduced risk of MI, revascularization and MACCE especially in older patients and in those with diffuse coronary disease.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Incidence, predictors and outcomes of Valve-in-valve (ViV) Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Surgical aortic valve replacement has been the treatment of choice for patients with aortic valve disease before the arrival of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI), although limited by degeneration of the bioprosthesis. “Redo” intervention itself is burdened by high risk of complications and valve-in-valve (ViV) TAVI could be a valid strategy of redo for patients with comorbidities. The aim of this meta-analysis is to give an overview of the state of the art of ViV TAVI in high-risk patients, analyzing efficacy, safety, intra-hospital outcomes and 1-year outcomes and assess predictors of survival at short and mid-term follow up.

Methods

Two independent reviewers screened all studies investigating patients undergoing ViV TAVI. PubMed database was searched for reports published in English according to the following highly sensitive strategy: (Transcatheter[All Fields] AND “aortic”[All Fields]) AND valve-in-valve[All Fields] AND “implantation”[All Fields] NOT (review[pt] OR editorial[pt] OR letter[pt])AND “humans”[MeSH Terms]). Mortality at 30 days and at 1 year were the primary end point, while procedural and short-term outcomes and echocardiographic parameters at hospital discharge were the secondary end points.

Results

Of 286 studies identified, 26 articles were included, with a total of 1448 patients. Median age was 78.8 years, 57.7% of the patients were male. Median STS-predicted risk of mortality was 9.4% while median Logistic EuroSCORE was 31.3%. Median age of bioprosthesis was 10 years with 84.6% of stented valves. Stenosis (45%), followed by regurgitation (31%) and mixed defects (21%) were the causes of prosthesis failure. Diameter of the degenerated valve was ≤21 mm in 25.4%, 22–25 mm in 55% and &gt;25mm in 11.7% of the patients. Transfemoral approach was preferred (76%), with a prevalence of balloon expandable valve (73.3%). Mean post procedural gradient was 16.7±0.8 mmHg. Mean follow up was 376 days. Overall and cardiovascular mortality at 30 days was 6.5% and 5.5% respectively, while at 1 year it was 14.5% and 8.9% respectively. Regarding short-term outcomes, overall bleeding (10.4%), pacemaker implantation (9.4%) and vascular complications (8.3%) were the most common peri-procedural complications, while stroke (2.3%), myocardial infarction (2.7%) and coronary obstruction (2.8%) were less frequent. At meta-regression analysis study year (p&lt;0.001), Logistic Euroscore (p&lt;0.01) and valve diameter ≤21 mm (p&lt;0.05) at 30 days, and stenosis as reason for failure (p=0.05) at 1 year were identified as possible predictors of survival.

Conclusions

Percutaneous valve-in-valve aortic valve implantation offers a valid strategy to treat high risk patients with a degenerative bioprosthesis. Short and mid-term outcomes are substantially superimposable to those of TAVI, except for coronary obstruction which appears more frequent. Future studies are needed to find predictors of long- term survival and outcomes in lower risk patients.

Outcome of VIV TAVI

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

P513Electrocardiographic and clinical predictors for permanent pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a 10-year single center experience

Funding Acknowledgements

None of the author have conflict of interest to disclose.

Background

 As transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) procedures have increased, the need of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) is a complication to be taken into account. 

Objective

 The aim of this study is to identify clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG) and procedural predictors for PPM requirement after TAVI.

Methods

 The present is a single centre, retrospective study. All consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI had continuous ECG monitoring. Pre and post TAVI 12-leads ECG were analysed. We arbitrarily divided the patients into early and late PPM implantation (beyond the 3rd day after TAVI). The primary endpoint of the study was to identify electrocardiographic predictors of PPM implantation after TAVI, and the secondary endpoint was to identify other clinical or procedure-related predictive factors.

Results

 Of 431 patients who underwent TAVI, 77 (18%) required a PPM, and 30 (7%) had late PPM implantations. Pre-operative RBBB implies more than five-fold increase of the risk of PPM implantation after TAVI (OR 5,43, CI 2.11 - 13.99, P = 0.000), whereas the history of syncope is associated with a two-fold increase of the risk (OR 2.00, CI 1.01 - 3.96, P = 0.044), and maintains its predictive value also in the late PPM subgroup (OR 2.76, CI 1.11 – 6.82, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

 It is hard to predict the need of a PPM in the individual patients, but careful evaluation of pre-operative 12-lead ECG looking for pre-existing RBBB and an history of syncope, can individuate the group of patients with an increased risk of PPM requirement.

P1789Outcomes of different approaches for severe aortic stenosis: “"The Deferred-TAVI”, a multicentre study investigating medical and percutaneous therapy in the era of TAVI

Background

In the era of TAVI, also very high surgical risk patients can be treated and the importance of the Heart Team is to address the patient to the right therapy. In some cases due to comorbidities, lack of symptoms and patients' decision not always a final decision is achieved after the first clinical evaluation and the final strategy could be deferred for months.

Purpose

The study aims to analyze outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis differently treated according to the various approaches proposed by the Heart Team.

Methods

All the patients with a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis considered at high and very high surgical risk were enrolled. Three international cardiology departments participated in this multicentre study. All the patients were divided into four groups according to the Heart Team decision of approach. Patients with indication to medical therapy only (DTO Drug therapy only), Patients first deferred from heart team decision, personal reasons or lack of symptoms and then addressed to medical therapy (D-DTO Deferred-Drug therapy only), Patients deferred and then addressed to TAVI within 3 months (D-TP Deferred TAVI Procedure), Patients with direct indication to TAVI (ITP Immediate TAVI procedure). Primary endpoint were overall survive at follow up comparing the differences between the four groups and the impact of the deferred strategy.

Results

795 patients were enrolled (80 DTO, 451 ITP, 264 initially deferred and then 155 D-DTO and 109 D-TP). Median follow-up was 465 days. Overall survive of the four groups at 1 year was 74% DTO, 73% D-DTO, 77% D-TP and 78% ITP, at 2 years 62% DTO, 38% D-DTO, 62% D-TP and 68% ITP, at 3 years 39% DTO, 11% D-DTO, 25% D-TP and 56% ITP (p≤0,001 at log rank test). At the multivariate analysis, compared to the referral group DTO, D-DTO was associated with higher mortality (HR=1,90; IC [95%]: 1,05–3,58; p=0,03 at 2 years; HR 1,66; IC [95%]: 1,01–2,76; p<0,05, at 3 years), while D-TP was not associated with lower mortality risk (HR 1,31 IC [95%]: 0,62–2,76; p=0,72 at 2 years, HR 1,37 IC [95%]: 0,77–2,44; p=0,77 at 3 years). ITP was associated with lower mortality risk only at 3 years (HR 0,60; IC [95%]: 0,42–0,99; p<0.05). Comparing the group deferred (D-DTO and D-TP) to the group not deferred (DTO and ITP), the deferred group was associated with higher mortality risk (HR 1,86; IC [95%]: 1,30–2.65; p=0,001 at 2 years, HR 2,21; IC [95%]: 1,61–3,05; p<0,001 at 3 years).

Conclusions

The Heart team decision on the approach of treatment strongly influence the survive of the patient. Compared to direct medical therapy, there is a higher risk of mortality for patients initially deferred and then treated with medical therapy and there is no survival benefit for patients initially deferred and then treated with TAVI. The choice of deferring the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis clearly decrease long term survive at follow up regardless the strategy of the approach.

P04.09 Patterns of care and impact on survival of first salvage therapy in high-risk grade II gliomas following initial temozolomide

BACKGROUND

Initial chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) may provide benefit in high-risk low-grade gliomas. To date, no standard treatment is validated at first progression. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the optimal salvage therapy after the first progression and the factors that influence the PFS and overall survival (OS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

we evaluated 71 patients with an histological diagnosis of grade II glioma according to WHO 2016 classification, who were included in a phase II AINO (Italian Association for Neuro-Oncology) trial, and progressed following initial chemotherapy with TMZ. Molecular data were available in all patients: 32 (45.1%) patients were oligodendrogliomas IDH 1/2 mutated and 1p19q codeleted, 11 (15.5%) were diffuse astrocytomas IDH mutant, and 28 (39.4%) were diffuse astrocytomas IDH wild-type. Thirty-five (49.3%) patients were MGMT methylated. Median follow up was 144 months (range 23–180).

RESULTS

thirty-one patients (43.7%) underwent second surgery, 24 patients (33.8%) second-line chemotherapy (rechallenge with TMZ or nitrosoureas), and 16 patients (22.5%) radiotherapy with a median PFS of 58 months (IC 95% 49–116). The association between prognostic factors and type of salvage therapy revealed a prevalence of younger age (≤ 45 years), non-enhancing tumor and location in eloquent area among patients treated with second surgery or chemotherapy, while aolder age (> 45 years) and contrast-enhancing tumors prevailed among patients receiving radiotherapy. Overall, median PFS was 60 months after second surgery (IC95% 43–116) and chemotherapy (IC95% 51–69), and 38 months after radiotherapy (IC95% 15–64) (p 0.09). No significant benefit in length of PFS was achieved in oligodendrogliomas undergoing second surgery (60 months) as compared with oligodendrogliomas treated with radiation or chemotherapy (58 months, p 0.11). PFS of diffuse astrocytomas IDH wild-type following second surgery (53 months) did not differ from that of patients treated with adjuvant treatments (65 months, p 0.28). Overall, median OS from the first salvage therapy was 117 months (IC95% 93 - 123+): 120 months (IC95% 108–140+) after second surgery, 94 months (IC95% 75–117+) after chemotherapy, and 62 months (IC95% 27–112) after radiotherapy (p 0.04). Median OS (123 months, IC95% 106–154) was prolonged in oligodendrogliomas receiving second surgery as compared to those receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy (93 months, IC 95% 61–112, p 0.07), while median OS in diffuse astrocytomas IDH wild-type did not differ between those who received second surgery or radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION: W

hen feasible, reoperation as first salvage treatment following initial TMZ in grade II gliomas seems to offer a probability of a longer OS as compared with second-line chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and this could hold true especially for oligodendrogliomas.

P14.85 Brain metastasis from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Central nervous system (CNS) metastases from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) are very rare, occurring in 0.02–0.5% of cases. They are usually associated to systemic relapse of the disease. Treatment options for HL brain metastases include surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy.

CASE REPORT

A 54 year-old woman presented with thoracic pain and dyspnea. Chest CT showed a thoracic bulky mass larger than 10 cm. Biopsy confirmed HL stage IIA, nodular sclerosing variant. No typical B symptoms, such as fever, night sweats or weight loss, were observed. The patient underwent chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD scheme), followed by 30Gy mediastinic radiotherapy (RT), which led to complete remission in September 2017. After 3 months, she presented with headache and rapidly progressing gait disorder. MRI showed a contrast-enhanced lesion in the right occipital lobe, with central necrosis and massive edema. Total-body CT scan and FDG-PET ruled out either the presence of new solid tumors or systemic relapses of HL. Gross total resection of the brain lesion was carried out, and HL histology was confirmed. CSF analysis from lumbar puncture was normal. Afterwards, the patient underwent 2 cycles of high dose cytarabine, but she rapidly progressed, and received salvage RT (30 Gy). Nevertheless, further systemic progression occurred: the patient developed headache, diplopia and dysphagia and, unfortunately, she died 6 months after the diagnosis of brain metastasis.

DISCUSSION

Thus far, only 45 cases of CNS HL have been reported from 2000 to 2018. Whole brain radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, was the most common treatment. In our patient, we chose surgical resection for the solitary brain metastasis followed by chemotherapy, delaying RT at recurrence. In the literature, median overall survival of patients diagnosed with brain metastases from HL is 18 months (1–273): 17 patients (38%) showed a progression (local / systemic: 12/17 - 71%), while 28 (62%) showed complete remission after a median follow-up of 20 months (6–273).

CONCLUSION

Intracranial localisation of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a rare entity but still has to be taken into account. Advanced brain imaging could be of help in case of uncertain radiological presentation. A multidisciplinary approach is needed as there is no consensus on the best treatment to choose: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be considered on individual basis.

OS1.4 Liquid biopsy of the CSF in a series of GBM patients: preliminary results

BACKGROUND

Liquid biopsy (LB) by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be useful to identify circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), thus offering information about the heterogeneity of the neoplastic genome. The aim of our study is to assess the effectiveness of LB of the CSF in detecting ctDNA which mirrors the genetic profile of the tumoural tissue, and to investigate the clinical and radiological aspects influencing the availability of ctDNA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Tumoral tissue and CSF samples of 13 GBM patients undergoing surgery was collected. CSF was withdrawn from the very proximity of the tumoural surface before the excision. DNA extracted from tissue samples was analysed by qPCR to identify typical genetic alterations such as copy number variations (EGFR, PDGFRA, CDK4, MDM2, CDKN2A), and point mutations (TP53, PTEN, IDH, NRAS, PI3K1, pTERT). CtDNA extracted from CSF was analysed by droplet digital PCR to assess the presence of the alterations found in the matching tissue. Both contrast-enhanced (CE) and FLAIR volumes of the lesions were measured in the pre-surgical MRI. Linear and logarithmic regressions were employed for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

From June 2016 to February 2017 we prospectively collected 13 GBM patients. Median age was 73 years. All lesions showed CE at the MRI; other radiological findings included necrosis (84.6%), oedema (76.9%), cortical, ventricular or meningeal involvement (76.9%, 30.8%, and 15.4%). Median volumes of CE and FLAIR lesions were 28.6 and 25.5 cm3, with a median FLAIR/CE ratio of 72.9. Surgery was subtotal (<95%) in all patients. All GBM tissues were tested for the following alterations: EGFR, PDGFRA, CDK4, MDM2, CDKN2A; 76.9% were tested for TP53, PTEN, and IDH mutations; 38.5% for NRAS and pTERT mutations; 30.8% for PI3KR1 mutation. MGMT methylation was assessed in 12 cases (92.3%) and found in 7 (58.3%). Median CSF volume, ctDNA quantity and concentration were 0.45 mL, 59.64 ng, and 0.42 ng/μL. Processable DNA was found in 11 CSF specimens (84.6%), in 8 of which (61.5%) it carried the same alteration expressed by the tumoural cells of the matched tissue, while in 3 cases (23.1%) it seemed to have a different genetic profile; finally, in 2 cases it was not possible to detect any circulating DNA in the CSF. Preliminary data on 13 patients suggest that the ctDNA concentration in the CSF could be related to the FLAIR/CE ratio as measured in the MRI before surgery (p = 0.02). Other correlations between the molecular and the radiological features are still being exploring.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms that LB of CSF can detect ctDNA carrying the same molecular profile harboured in the tumour. Therefore, it seems to be an accurate method to identify markers useful for the diagnosis and the monitoring of the disease. Additionally, our ongoing study is trying to demonstrate a potential correlation between radiological features of the tumour and availability of ctDNA in CSF.