Combination Therapy of Endoscopic Gastric Remodeling with GLP-1RA for the Treatment of MASLD

PURPOSE

The mainstay of treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is weight loss. Endoscopic gastric remodeling (EGR) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) are effective weight loss therapies. This study aims to assess the effect of combining EGR with GLP-1RA on liver-related outcomes and weight profile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected registry of patients with MASLD and compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) who underwent EGR. Patients were categorized as (1) monotherapy: EGR alone and (2) combination therapy: GLP-1RA prescribed within 6 months prior to or after EGR. Outcomes included changes in noninvasive tests of hepatic fibrosis, weight profile, and insulin resistance status at 12 months.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (body mass index 40.7 ± 9.3 kg/m2) were included. Of these, 12 patients (40%) underwent EGR monotherapy, and 18 patients (60%) underwent EGR + GLP-1RA combination therapy. Combination therapy group experienced greater improvements in fibrosis compared to monotherapy group (alanine aminotransferase: reduction by 55 ± 23% vs 29 ± 22% (p = 0.008), NAFLD fibrosis score: reduction by 181 ± 182% vs 30 ± 83% (p = 0.04), liver stiffness measurement on transient elastography: reduction by 54 ± 12% vs 14 ± 45% (p = 0.05)). There were greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance in combination therapy compared to monotherapy (p < 0.05). At 12 months, the combination therapy group experienced 18.2 ± 6.6% TWL, while monotherapy group experienced 9.6 ± 3.3% TWL (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with MASLD and cACLD, combination of EGR with GLP-1RA is associated with greater improvements in hepatic fibrosis, weight profile, and insulin resistance compared to EGR alone.

Current challenges in cell and gene therapy: a joint view from the European Committee of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Cell and gene therapy poses evolving challenges. The current article summarizes the discussions held by European Regional Committee of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) on the current challenges in this field, focusing on the European setting. This article emphasizes the imperative assessment of real-world cell and gene therapy activity, advocating for expanded registries beyond hematopoietic transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor-T-cell therapy. Accreditation's role in ensuring standardized procedures, as exemplified by JACIE (The Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT-Europe and EBMT), is crucial for safety. Access to commercial products and reimbursement variations among countries underscore the need for uniform access to advanced therapy medical products (ATMPs). Academic product development and point-of-care manufacturing face barriers to patient access. Hospital Exemption's potential, demonstrated by some initial experiences, may increase patient accessibility in individual situations. Regulatory challenges, including the ongoing European ATMPs legislation review, necessitate standardized criteria for Hospital Exemption and mandatory reporting within registries. Efforts to combat unproven therapies and fraud involve collaboration between scientific societies, regulatory bodies and patient groups. Finally, is important to highlight the vital role of education and workforce development in meeting the escalating demand for specialized professionals in the ATMP field. Collaboration among scientific societies, academic institutions, industry, regulatory bodies and patient groups is crucial for overcoming all these challenges to increase gene and cell therapy activity in Europe.

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty: A Practice Pattern Survey

PURPOSE

Obesity is a complex, chronic disease that is strongly associated with complications which cost the US healthcare system billions of dollars per year. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has emerged as a safe and effective procedure for treatment of obesity, but without practice guidelines there are likely to be variations practice. We sought to describe current practice patterns amongst endoscopists who perform ESG to help define areas of focus for future research and guideline development.

METHODS

We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey to examine practice patterns related to ESG. The survey was organized in 5 sections: Endoscopic Practice, Training, and Resources; Pre-ESG Evaluation and Payment Model; Perioperative/Operative Period; Post-operative Period; and Endobariatric Practice Other Than ESG.

RESULTS

A variety of exclusion criteria were reported by physicians performing ESG. Most respondents (n = 21/32, 65.6%) would not perform ESG for BMI under 27, and 40.6% (n = 13/32) would not perform ESG on patients with BMI over 50. The majority of respondents (74.2%, n = 23/31) reported ESG was not covered in their region, and most reported patients covered residual costs (67.7%, n = 21/31).

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant variability with respect to practice setting, exclusion criteria, pre-procedural evaluation, and medication use. Without guidelines for the selection of patients or standards for pre- and post-ESG care, substantial barriers to coverage will remain, and ESG will remain limited to those who can meet out-of-pocket costs. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings, and future research should be focused on establishing patient selection criteria and standards in practices to provide guidance for endobariatric programs.

[Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases : Current indications and mode of action, a review on behalf of the EBMT Autoimmune Diseases Working Party (ADWP)]

The recent introduction of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying drugs has led to more specificity in the treatment of autoimmune diseases; however, they require continuous or intermittent administration, are associated with cumulative risks for side effects, result in high costs and provide no cure. In contrast, high-dose chemotherapy followed by transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells (AHSCT) has been demonstrated to induce clinical remission in various autoimmune diseases that can persist over many years without continued maintenance therapy. The principle behind AHSCT is an elimination of important components of the autoreactive immunological memory with subsequent regeneration of the complete immune system. Several studies have indicated that such an immune reset is associated with fundamental changes in the immune repertoire leading to an induction of tolerance against self-antigens. This article presents the current indications of AHSCT for autoimmune diseases based on the registry data of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and discusses the results from mechanistic studies, which provide detailed insights into the mode of action of this treatment.

Conditioning-based outcomes after allogeneic transplantation for myeloma following a prior autologous transplant (1991-2012) on behalf of EBMT CMWP

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the intensity of conditioning approaches used in allogeneic transplantation in myeloma-reduced intensity conditioning (RIC), non-myeloablative (NMA), myeloablative conditioning (MAC) or Auto-AlloHCT-on outcomes in patients who had had a prior autologous transplant.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the EBMT database (1991-2012) was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 344 patients aged between 40 and 60 years at the time of alloHCT were identified: 169 RIC, 69 NMA, 65 MAC and 41 Auto-Allo transplants. At a median follow-up of 54 months, the probabilities of overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 39% (95% CI 31%-47%), 45% (95% CI 32%-57%), 19% (95% CI 6%-32%) and 34% (95% CI 17%-51%), respectively. Status at allogeneic HCT other than CR or PR conferred a 70% higher risk of death and a 40% higher risk of relapse. OS was markedly lower in the MAC group (P = .004). MAC alloHCT was associated with a higher risk of death than RIC alloHCT until 2002 (HR = 4.1, P < .001) but not after 2002 (HR = 1.2, P = .276).

CONCLUSION

From 1991 to 2002, MAC was associated with poorer OS. Between 2003 and 2012, there were no significant differences in outcomes based on these different approaches.

Training in Bariatric and Metabolic Endoscopic Therapies

Bariatric endoscopy is an emerging subspecialty for gastroenterologists encompassing a broad array of procedures including primary endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies and the treatment of complications of bariatric surgery. In addition, comprehensive understanding of lifestyle intervention and pharmacotherapy are essential to successful outcomes. This review summarizes goals and steps of training for this emerging field.

Treatment of NASH with Gastric Bypass

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is defined as the presence of fatty liver along with inflammation and hepatocyte injury. To date, weight loss achieved via lifestyle intervention remains the mainstay of NASH treatment. However, given the known benefit of weight loss on NASH and the known effect of bariatric surgery on weight loss, several studies have explored the potential role of bariatric surgery on the treatment of NASH.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review article summarizes the evidence on the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), a common bariatric surgery, on NASH therapy. Specifically, studies show that RYGB is associated with an improvement of all NASH histologic features at 1 year. Compared to adjustable gastric band, RYGB appears to be superior at treating NASH. Randomized controlled trials and long-term studies are underway to better clarify the role of these procedures specifically for NASH therapy.

Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Therapies: Surgical Analogues and Mechanisms of Action

Obesity is a worsening pandemic with numerous related comorbid illnesses. Conservative management including lifestyle modification and medications have limited efficacy. In contradistinction, bariatric surgery is effective, however, with substantial cost and non-negligible morbidity and mortality. As such, a small percentage of eligible patients undergo surgery. Over the past decade, endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies have been introduced as a less invasive option for the treatment of obesity and its related comorbid illnesses. This article reviews major endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies, their surgical analogues, and proposed mechanisms of action. Clinical trial data for each device also are discussed.

The role of second transplants for leukemia

Management of relapsed leukemia following allogeneic transplantation is challenging. Intensive chemotherapy, donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI), or second transplantation have some value, but most reported series describe only a limited number of patients surviving beyond 2 or 3 years following relapse. Additionally, understandable selection-bias of reports describing the outcomes of intensive management approaches for relapsed leukemia confound generalizability to a broader population. However numerous reports suggest that second allogeneic transplantation for relapsed leukemia following an initial transplant may produce extended disease control and survival for patients with favorable performance status, remission at the time of second transplant, and most importantly a long interval between initial transplant and relapse. Reduced intensity conditioning for second allografts may be preferable and little data exists to suggest that a new donor will improve disease control by inducing a stronger graft-versus-leukemia effect. Improved measures to prevent the first relapse, however, may protect more patients and produce a greater fraction enjoying extended leukemia-free survival.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients Age ≥ 70 Years with Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Retrospective Study of the MDS Subcommittee of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT

In this retrospective analysis we evaluated the outcome of 313 patients aged ≥ 70 years in the registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 221) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (n = 92) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from related (n = 79) or unrelated (n = 234) donors. Median age at HSCT was 72 years (range, 70 to 78). Conditioning regimen was nonmyeloablative (n = 54), reduced intensity (n = 207), or standard intensity (n = 52). Allogeneic HSCT for MDS patients ≥ 70 years was increasingly performed over time. Although during 2000 to 2004 only 16 patients received HSCT, during 2011 to 2013 the number of transplantations increased to 181. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 1 year and relapse at 3 years was 32% and 28%, respectively, with a 3-year overall survival rate of 34%. Good performance, determined by Karnofsky performance status, and recipients' seronegativity for cytomegalovirus was associated with 3-year estimated overall survival rates of 43% (P = .01) and 46% (P = .002), respectively. Conditioning intensity did not impact survival. After careful patient selection, allogeneic HSCT can be offered to patients older than 70 years with MDS.

Antifungal prophylaxis: why, what and how?

41st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT 2015), Istanbul, Turkey, 22-25 March 2015 The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) is the leading scientific society for professionals involved in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and represents 563 transplant centers from 57 countries within and outside Europe. Each year, the EBMT Annual Meeting brings together over 4,500 scientists, physicians, nurses, biologists, technicians and patients to discuss scientific data that build on past achievements in the field of HSCT. The procedure offers the chance of long-term remission of hematological and lymphoid cancers, but patients are at increased risk of serious infections, especially after allogeneic HSCT. These infections include the invasive fungal infections that were among the important topics discussed during EBMT 2015.

Report on the 40th annual meeting of the European society for blood and marrow transplantation

INTRODUCTION

The EBMT is a non-profit scientific society representing 563 transplant centres from 57 countries in and outside Europe.

BACKGROUND

From 29 March to 2 April 2014, the EBMT Annual Meeting took place at the Milan Convention Centre (MiCo), for the 40th Annual Meeting.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS

This report will summarise the meeting's sessions and discuss the nursing scientific programme.

DATA SOURCE/EXTRACTION

programme, interview, presentations, and abstracts.

CONCLUSIONS

This year's 40th Anniversary congress in Milan received a record number of abstract submissions plus an extremely high attendance of more than 4600 participants-the second highest in the history of the EBMT. The meeting provided a venue for a constructive multinational and multidisciplinary dialogue. EBMT continues to monitor differences between countries and spreads good clinical practice.

Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) report

The Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) is a network of 33 centers in North America that study the treatment of rare and severe primary immunodeficiency diseases. Current protocols address the natural history of patients treated for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and chronic granulomatous disease through retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional studies. The PIDTC additionally seeks to encourage training of junior investigators, establish partnerships with European and other International colleagues, work with patient advocacy groups to promote community awareness, and conduct pilot demonstration projects. Future goals include the conduct of prospective treatment studies to determine optimal therapies for primary immunodeficiency diseases. To date, the PIDTC has funded 2 pilot projects: newborn screening for SCID in Navajo Native Americans and B-cell reconstitution in patients with SCID after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ten junior investigators have received grant awards. The PIDTC Annual Scientific Workshop has brought together consortium members, outside speakers, patient advocacy groups, and young investigators and trainees to report progress of the protocols and discuss common interests and goals, including new scientific developments and future directions of clinical research. Here we report the progress of the PIDTC to date, highlights of the first 2 PIDTC workshops, and consideration of future consortium objectives.