Mohamad Bassam Sonbol

Comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of compression modalities for the promotion of venous ulcer healing and reducing ulcer recurrence

OBJECTIVE This was a systematic review of the literature to determine which compression method is superior in promoting ulcer healing and reducing recurrence in patients with lower extremity venous ulcer disease. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases for randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies from 1990 to December 2013. RESULTS We identified 36 studies and two Cochrane systematic reviews. Many studies had moderate risk of bias. We found no overall difference between compression stockings vs compression bandages with respect to ulcer healing, time to ulcer healing, or ulcer recurrence outcomes. When we compared stockings vs short stretch bandages, stockings were superior with respect to ulcer healing. However, stockings compared with four-layer systems showed no difference in ulcer healing outcomes. When four-layer systems were compared with compression with less than four layers, there was also no significant difference in ulcer healing outcomes. Similarly, short stretch bandages were not superior to long stretch bandages with respect to ulcer healing, time to ulcer healing, or ulcer recurrence. One Cochrane review presented many additional comparisons and reported increased wound healing with compression compared with no compression, with multicomponent systems over single component systems, and compression systems with an elastic component over no elastic component. Another Cochrane review demonstrated a reduction in recurrence with compression in patients with healed ulcers. CONCLUSIONS At least moderate-quality evidence supports compression over no compression, multicomponent systems over single component systems, and systems with an elastic component over those without. We did not find significant differences with respect to ulcer healing outcomes for other comparisons. Low-quality evidence supports the effect of compression on ulcer recurrence.

The Benefits and Harms of Systemic Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Postmenopausal Women With Normal Adrenal Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT Exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) therapy has been proposed to replenish the depletion of endogenous DHEA and its sulfate form, which occurs with advancing age and is thought to be associated with loss of libido and menopausal symptoms. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence supporting the use of systemic DHEA in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus through January 2014. Pairs of reviewers, working independently, selected studies and extracted data from eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We used the random-effects model to pool across studies and evaluated heterogeneity using the I(2) statistic. RESULTS We included 23 RCTs with moderate to high risk of bias enrolling 1188 women. DHEA use was not associated with significant improvement in libido or sexual function (standardized mean difference, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, -0.02 to 0.73; P value = .06; I(2) = 62%). There was also no significant effect of DHEA on serious adverse effects, serum lipids, serum glucose, weight, body mass index, or bone mineral density. This evidence warranted low confidence in the results, mostly due to imprecision, risk of bias, and inconsistency across RCTs. CONCLUSIONS Evidence warranting low confidence suggests that DHEA administration does not significantly impact sexual symptoms or selected metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function.

Methemoglobinemia and hemolysis in a patient with G6PD deficiency treated with rasburicase.

A 52-year-old African American male was admitted to the hospital for high-dose chemotherapy for refractory aggressive multiple myeloma (MM). He had previously progressed through bortezomib/dexamethasone and lenalidomide therapy. The most recent bone marrow biopsy showed approximately 90% kappa light chain-restricted plasma cells with a high proliferative rate (3.3% cells in S-phase). Admission labs prior to starting any therapy (Table I) were significant for uric acid 16.1 mg/ dL (reference range, 3.7–8.0), creatinine 2.1 mg/dL (reference range, 0.8–1.3 and his baseline was 1.1), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 438 U/L (reference range, 122– 222), phosphorus 6.2 mg/dL (reference range, 2.5–4.5), hemoglobin 7.1 g/dL (reference range, 13.5–17.5), and IgG kappa monoclonal protein of 4.1 g/dL. On admission, baseline pulse oximetry at the bedside was normal at 95% O2 saturation (SpO2). Due to baseline renal insufficiency and anticipated tumor lysis, intravenous (IV) fluids were started immediately followed by 6 mg of rasburicase on Day 1. High-dose IV cyclophosphamide (1,500 mg/m) and 1,000 mg of methylprednisolone were administered in the early morning on Day 2. This patient presents with hyperuricemia and hyperphosphatemia with laboratory levels that meet Cairo–Bishop criteria of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) even before chemotherapy was initiated [1,2]. In addition, he also has an acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to TLS occurring in the setting of refractory MM as manifested by high tumor burden, high plasma cell proliferative rate, increased serum LDH, and a very high uric acid with AKI. Given the clinical features and baseline hyperuricemia and AKI, rasburicase should be administered to prevent worsening renal failure. A glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) level is usually obtained in patients receiving rasburicase because rasburicase can induce hemolysis and cause methemoglobinemia in enzyme-deficient individuals. In our patient, the options were to give rasburicase or to provide prophylactic kidney dialysis without rasburicase. We proceeded with rasburicase given the need for immediate chemotherapy. On hospital Day 2, bedside pulse oximetry showed significant hypoxemia (SpO2 75%), triggering an emergency consultation with the critical care team. The patient was evaluated and found to be quite comfortable on room air with a respiratory rate of 16 per minute without the use of accessory muscles of respiration; lung, cardiac, and mucous membrane examinations were normal. An arterial blood gas (ABG) was performed and the arterial blood was noted to be brown in color. ABG showed pH 7.39, pO2 104 mmHg, pCO2 39 mmHg, HCO3 24 mmol/L and methemoglobin 12.9% (normal range, 0–1.5%). At this point, the care team discussed the use of IV methylene blue. Methemoglobinemia is one of the known side effects of rasburicase administration. In the setting of recent rasburicase administration, the low SpO2 with a normal physical examination in an asymptomatic patient makes the diagnosis of methemoglobinemia highly likely. There was no detectable blue skin color due to his African American ethnicity. ABG findings with the normal pO2 and increased methemoglobin confirmed the diagnosis. Rasburicase can induce hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. Moreover, G6PD deficient patients who develop methemoglobinemia should not be given methylene blue as it can also induce hemolysis. Immediate treatment with methylene blue was considered in our patient, but avoided given his relatively moderate degree of methemoglobinemia, asymptomatic condition, and his unknown G6PD status at that time on Day 2. Ascorbic acid administration is the alternative method of treatment. The patient was treated conservatively with ascorbic acid therapy 1,000 mg oral daily. The G6PD level returned deficient at 3.3 U/g Hb (normal, 8.8–13.4) and thus the patient did not receive methylene blue. Over the next 4 days, his methemoglobinemia resolved and his O2 saturation normalized (Fig. 1). Unfortunately, during this same time period, he developed progressive anemia requiring red blood cell support. Serum haptoglobin was normal at 69 mg/dL (reference range, 30–200) on Day 3 but became undetectable (<14) by Day 5. Bilirubin increased from 0.6 mg/dL on Day 2 to 3.6 mg/dL (reference range, 0.1–1.0 mg/dL) on Day 5; LDH increased from 438 U/L on Day 1 to 1,555 U/L on Day 5. The patient reported tea-colored urine. He was supported with a total of eight units of packed red blood cells over the next 4 days (Table I). The patient’s low G6PD level explains the moderate hemolysis that he developed after rasburicase administration. It is important to note that there was an hemolysis-free interval between the rasburicase administration and the first clinical and laboratory signs of hemolysis. This is typical and must be remembered or else hemolysis may be missed during a short hospital admission.

The Benefits and Harms of Systemic Testosterone Therapy in Postmenopausal Women With Normal Adrenal Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT The use of T has been suggested to improve womens health during the postmenopausal period. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials to summarize the best available evidence regarding the benefits and harms of systemic T in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function. METHODS A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EBSCO CINAHL, and Scopus was conducted through January 2014. We conducted study selection, data extraction, and appraisal in duplicate. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool results. RESULTS We identified 35 randomized trials (n = 5053) at a moderate risk of bias. T use was associated with statistically significant improvement in various domains of sexual function and personal distress in postmenopausal women, although the majority of the trials did not have specific or contemporary diagnostic criteria for androgen deficiency in women. T use was also associated with a reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein and an increase in low-density lipoprotein and in the incidence of acne and hirsutism. No significant effect was noted on anthropometric measures and bone density. Long-term safety data were sparse, and the quality of such evidence was low. CONCLUSION Despite the improvement in sexual function associated with T use in postmenopausal women, long-term safety data are lacking.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical interventions versus conservative therapy for venous ulcers

OBJECTIVE This goal of this study was to systematically review the literature to determine if surgical intervention (open or endovascular) is superior to compression alone with respect to ulcer healing, ulcer recurrence, and time to ulcer healing in patients with lower extremity venous ulcer disease. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies from 1990 to December 2013. The interventions of interest were any open or endovascular surgical interventions on the venous system in the lower extremity compared with compression alone. RESULTS We included 11 studies (seven RCTs and four observational studies) with moderate to increased risk of bias. The meta-analysis of all studies demonstrated increased healing rate (pooled risk ratio [RR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.13; I(2) = 10%) and lower risk of recurrence (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.85; I(2) = 27%) with open surgical procedures compared with compression. However, the meta-analysis of only RCTs showed no difference, possibly due to imprecision. The meta-analysis of three RCTs showed no difference in time to ulcer healing, -0.41 (95% CI, -0.89 to 0.07). Two studies of endovascular surgical procedures compared with compression showed no significant difference in ulcer healing (RR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.43-6.32). One study of open surgical venous ligation and stripping compared with endovenous laser also showed no significant difference in ulcer recurrence (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.21-3.27). CONCLUSIONS Open surgical interventions may improve lower extremity venous ulcer healing. The quality of this evidence is low because the analysis was dominated by the results of observational studies. The current evidence does not definitively support the superiority of endovascular surgical interventions compared with compression alone.

Elevated soluble IL-2Rα, IL-8, and MIP-1β levels are associated with inferior outcome and are independent of MIPI score in patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a unique type of lymphoma with a prognosis intermediate between indolent and aggressive types. The purpose of this study was to study blood cytokine levels in newly diagnosed and relapsed MCL patients with respect to patterns of abnormalities and relationship to the MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI) score. We analyzed blood levels of 30 cytokines using a multiplex ELISA in 88 patients with newly diagnosed MCL (pre‐treatment levels) and 20 with relapsed MCL and compared them with controls without known lymphoma. Elevated cytokine levels were compared with clinical outcome and the MIPI score. In the 88 newly diagnosed MCL patients, we found significantly elevated levels compared with controls of IL‐12, IP‐10, sIL‐2Rα, MIG, IL‐1RA, IL‐8, MIP‐1α, and MIP‐1β (all P < 0.05). Of these elevated cytokines, sIL‐2Rα, IL‐8, MIG, MIP‐1α, and MIP‐1β were predictive of inferior event‐free survival, and sIL‐2Rα (HR = 1.94; P = 0.038), IL‐8 (HR = 2.17; P = 0.015), and MIP‐1β (HR = 2.10; P = 0.016) were independent of MIPI score; only sIL‐2Rα (HR = 2.35; P = 0.041) was associated with overall survival after adjustment for MIPI. In the relapsed MCL patient group, the only significantly elevated plasma cytokines that predicted EFS were sIL‐2Rα (HR = 2.90; P = 0.04) and IL‐8 (HR = 3.75; P = 0.02). Elevated blood levels of sIL‐2Rα and the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐8 and MIP‐1β are poor prognostic factors in MCL patients and independent of MIPI score. These factors, if validated, will provide important additions to the MIPI and guide the development of new therapies for patients with elevated levels of these cytokines. Am. J. Hematol. 89:E223–E227, 2014.

A clinical trial protocol paper discussing the BRIGHTER study

Napabucasin is a novel oral first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor. Preclinical and early phase clinical trials showed promising antitumor efficacy signals for napabucasin in a variety of malignancies. In this article, we describe the design and rationale for the now completed BRIGHTER trial, a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III study designed to determine the efficacy and safety of combining napabucasin with paclitaxel in previously treated patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (NCT02178956). Patients were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive weekly paclitaxel with either napabucasin or placebo. The study failed to achieve its primary end point of overall survival in the intention to treat population. Ongoing analysis of the secondary end points includes progression-free survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, the safety of the combination therapy and evaluation of efficacy in the biomarker-positive subpopulation.

Second-line treatment in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A meta-analysis

There are limited therapeutic options for treatment‐refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with a paucity of data to support the best option after progression on gemcitabine‐based regimens. The authors performed a meta‐analysis to determine the effectiveness of adding oxaliplatin (OX) or various irinotecan formulations to a fluoropyrimidine (FP) after first‐line treatment progression in patients with PDAC.

Immunotherapies in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The majority of patients present with advanced disease. Thus, most of the focus has been on implementing new drugs and therapeutic approaches in the metastatic setting. As the effect of cytotoxic agents has plateaued, immunotherapeutic interventions have emerged, in an attempt to improve the prognosis in this dismal disease. A better understanding of the microenvironment in pancreatic cancer has led to identifying multiple immunological targets that are currently under investigation. In this chapter, we focus on immunotherapies that are being investigated in pancreatic cancer.

A phase 2 study of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (R-CyBorD) in relapsed low grade and mantle cell lymphoma

Abstract In this phase 2 trial, we sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (R-CyBorD) in patients with low-grade NHL. The regimen included rituximab on day 1 with weekly cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, and bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 IV in a 28-day cycle. Twenty one patients were enrolled on the study. Median age was 69 years (range 51–80) and 17 (81%) patients had two or more prior treatments. Histologies included FL (n = 8), MCL (n = 8), and LPL/WM (n = 5). Hematologic toxicity and peripheral sensory neuropathy were the most common adverse events. With a median follow-up of 38.1 months, ORR was 13/21 (62%), with 4 (19%) CR. The ORR was 7/8 (88%) in FL and was 4/5 (80%) in LPL/WM. Median PFS and OS were 11.6 months and 54.8 months, respectively. R-CyBorD is an effective regimen in relapsed FL and LPL/WM patients with an acceptable safety profile.