Jul 1st, 2020 - CAR T-cell therapy with BCMA-targeting idecabtagene-vicleucel (ide-cel) has emerged to be a game-changer as shown by this first pivotal phase II trial of CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma (MM). Ide-cel is a first-in-class BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy, with 4-1BB costimulatory domain and CD3Z T-cell activation domain.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of levodopa therapy-induced complications on the quality of life (QoL) of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients in Singapore over a 1-year follow-up period. 274 PD patients were prospectively recruited, of which 78 patients completed the follow-up. Patients were evaluated on: (1) motor symptoms, (2) non-motor symptoms, (3) levodopa therapy-i...

Individuals with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) are at very high risk of cardiovascular disease, which is associated with poor outcomes from coronavirus infections. COVID-19 puts strain on healthcare systems and may impair access to routine FH services. On behalf of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP) and the European FH Patient Network (FH Europe), we present brief recommendations...

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in late December 2019, in Wuhan, China. There are over 1,800,000 confirmed cases worldwide.1 The pathological process of severe COVID-19 pneumonia is an inflammation reaction characterized by the destruction of the deep airway and alveolar.2 It is currently considered that lung injury is not only associated with the direct virus-induced da...

In March 2020, the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial was established as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, including low-dose dexamethasone (a steroid treatment). Over 11,500 patients have been enrolled from over 175 NHS hospitals in the UK.

Elevated D-dimer is a predictor of severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients and heparin use during in-hospital stay has been associated with decreased mortality. COVID19 patient autopsies have revealed thrombi in the microvasculature, suggesting intravascular coagulation as a prominent feature of organ failure in these patients. Interestingly, in COVID19, pulmonary compliance is preserved ...

Health care workers across the country are facing unprecedented challenges as they work to contain COVID-19. I'm Stephanie Zerwas, a psychologist in private practice at Flourish Chapel Hill as well as an Associate Professor at UNC Psychiatry. In cooperation with Eleos Health, we aim to provide pro-bono therapy for front line health care professionals.

The treatment of motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) is essentially a trade-off between adequate relief of motor symptoms and prevention and control of motor complications, particularly levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Progression of PD is paralleled by a progressive difficulty in achieving the balance. Functional neurosurgical procedures provide sustained relief of LID in carefu...

n March 2020, the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial was established as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, including low-dose dexamethasone (a steroid treatment). Over 11,500 patients have been enrolled from over 175 NHS hospitals in the UK. On 8 June, recruitment to the dexamethasone arm was halted since, in the view of ...

Jun 23rd, 2020 - For patients with stage IV metastatic breast cancer and an intact primary tumor (ITP), the early initiation of locoregional treatment (LRT) was not associated with longer survival or improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with systemic therapy alone, according to a phase III clinical trial (Abstract LBA2). These findings appear to add to a robust evidence base that sugg...

Jun 23rd, 2020 - A switch maintenance therapy approach using the immune checkpoint inhibitor avelumab in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) who had not progressed after induction platinum-based chemotherapy offered significantly improved survival outcomes, according to results of the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (Abstract LBA1). The study, which was the first UC study ever presented during an ASCO An...

Jun 23rd, 2020 - Awaited results of the ENDURANCE trial showed equivalency between a regimen of carfilzomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd) and bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRd) as an initial therapy for patients with standard- or intermediate-risk multiple myeloma (Abstract LBA3). KRd failed to improve progression-free survival compared with VRd, according to data presented by Shaji K...

Levodopa‐induced dyskinesia (LID) is a recognized motor response complication affecting 30% to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease on chronic levodopa (l‐dopa) therapy.1, 2 It is typically choreiform, and involves all parts of the body, especially the head and neck. Besides chorea, rarer types of LIDs include myoclonic dyskinesia, ocular dyskinesia, and respiratory dyskinesia.1 Oromandibul...

Jun 26th, 2020 - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant morbidity and mortality for patients and stressed healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 among immunosuppressed patients, who are at presumed risk for more severe disease but who may also have decreased detrimental inflammatory responses, are no...

Jul 7th, 2020 - In a small sample, retreatment of patients with large B-cell lymphoma showed good response, notably in patients who had complete response on initial treatment, according to a poster presented at ASCO 2020 Virtual Scientific Program.

Jul 5th, 2020 - A novel CAR T-cell therapy targeting both CD19 and CD22 showed less toxicities than current CAR T-cell therapies while producing complete response with accepted regimens, according to a study presented at ASCO2020 Virtual Scientific Program.

We investigated the association between herpes zoster (HZ) and dementia, and the effects of antiviral therapy on the risk of dementia. We used the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort in South Korea to identify individuals that were followed from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2013. Occurrences of HZ and dementia were identified using the relevant diagnostic codes. Shing...

Generally, it's best to avoid alcohol during shingles treatment. Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. An episode of shingles usually heals on its own within a few weeks. However, immediate shingles treatment — often including an antiviral drug, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) — can reduce pain, speed healing and...

Herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, results from reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which commonly causes chickenpox in childhood. Greater than 90% of adults are infected with this virus, putting them at risk for reactivation. HZ presents as a painful, vesicular rash distributed in a unilateral and dermatomal pattern along dorsal root or cranial nerve ganglia. The ...

The purpose of this guidance is to support education, public health, local leadership, and pediatricians collaborating with schools in creating policies for school re-entry that foster the overall health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities and are based on available evidence. Schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development and well-being and provide our children and ado...