Battle of polymyxin induced nephrotoxicity: Polymyxin B versus colistin

OBJECTIVES

Nephrotoxicity is the most serious and common adverse effect that limits the use of polymyxins. This study compared polymyxin E (colistin) and polymyxin B regarding drug-related nephrotoxicity.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort study in a university hospital between January 2020 and July 2022. Patients older than 18 years and who received colistin or polymyxin B were identified using electronic hospital records. Kidney disease improving global outcome criteria were used for assessing nephrotoxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 190 patients, 95 in both groups, were evaluated. The incidence of acute kidney injury during the treatment was higher in the colistin group [52.6% (n = 50) and 34.7% (n = 33), P = 0.013]. In patients who were exposed to high-dose, the rate of nephrotoxicity was higher in patients receiving colistin [25% (n = 3) vs. 76.9% (n = 10); P = 0.017]. Nephrotoxicity was reversible in 64.4% (n = 38) of patients and the reversibility rate was similar (70% and 52.6% for colistin and polymyxin; P = 0.248). In the multivariable analysis, colistin treatment [odds ratio (OR): 3.882, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = (1.829-8.241)], concomitant vasopressor use (OR = 2.08, CI: 1.036-4.179), and age (OR=1.036, CI: 1.014-1.058) were found to be independent markers of nephrotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Nephrotoxicity was more common in patients receiving high-dose colistin than polymyxin B. Therefore, the use of appropriate doses of colistin is important in terms of preventing nephrotoxicity. In addition, advancing age and concomitant use of vasopressors contribute to polymyxin-related nephrotoxicity.

Understanding the dynamics of compliance to smoke-free policy regulations: Exploring the perspectives of venue owners and staff in Türkiye

INTRODUCTION

The study aims to understand the facilitators and barriers associated with enforcing and complying with Türkiye's smoke-free policy from the perspective of hospitality venue owners and employees.

METHODS

A qualitative open-ended survey was conducted in Istanbul and Ankara in 2021 with 58 respondents from 3 different districts in each city from four types of venues: restaurants, traditional coffee and waterpipe houses, and European-style cafés. The open-ended survey included questions to understand the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of respondents about Türkiye's smoke-free policy and their perceptions of the facilitators and/or barriers to smoke-free policy implementation and changes after COVID-19. The data were analyzed using an inductive approach to identify patterns and categorize the data into themes.

RESULTS

The respondents expressed that the smoke-free policy aimed to protect employees and customers from secondhand smoke (SHS), respect human health, and improve air quality. Findings suggest that the positive attitude of venue owners and staff toward the smoke-free policy serves as a facilitator. However, fear of financial impact, customers' negative attitudes, difficulties in meeting physical requirements, and insufficient enforcement were found to be barriers to implementing the smoke-free policy. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were reported as an initial increase in compliance and awareness among customers and staff, but some respondents noted negative changes due to the emotional and financial effects of prolonged restrictions. These challenges have led to decreased attention on the smoke-free policy among venue owners, staff and customers. Respondents' suggested improvements were related to building infrastructure, such as the ventilation systems and educating the public on the harmful health effects of smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the general understanding of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the smoke-free policy, this study highlights the challenges in implementing smoke-free policy measures and the continued need to raise awareness about the importance of a 100% smoke-free venue. A comprehensive approach to addressing the tobacco epidemic as a multifaceted public health issue is essential.

Long-term kidney follow-up after pediatric acute kidney support therapy for children less than 15 kg

BACKGROUND

In small children, acute dialysis (pediatric acute kidney support therapy (paKST)) is increasingly used; however, it is challenging for many reasons. We compared clinical characteristics and predictors of long-term outcomes of patients < 15 kg on peritoneal dialysis (PD), hemodialysis (HD), and continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT).

METHODS

Patients with history of paKST (CKRT, HD, PD) weighing < 15 kg and ≥ 6 months of follow-up at Hacettepe University were included. Surviving patients were evaluated at last visit.

RESULTS

109 patients (57 females) were included. Median age at paKST was 10.1 months (IQR: 2-27 months). In total, 43 (39.4%) patients received HD, 37 (34%) PD, and 29 (26.6%) CKRT. 64 (58.7%) patients died a median 3 days (IQR: 2-9.5 days) after paKST. Percentages of patients using vasopressor agents, with sepsis, and undergoing mechanical ventilation were lower in those who survived. After mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 2.1 years, 34 patients were evaluated at mean age 4.7 ± 2.4 years. Median spot urine protein/creatinine was 0.19 (IQR: 0.13-0.37) and 12 patients (35.3%) had non-nephrotic proteinuria. Three patients had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 mL/min/1.73m2 and 2 (6%) had hyperfiltration. In total 22 patients (64.7%) had ≥ 1 kidney risk factor (elevated blood pressure/hypertension, hyperfiltration, eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73m2, and/or proteinuria) at last visit. Among 28 patients on paKST < 32 months, 21 had ≥ 1 risk factor (75%), whereas among 6 patients who had paKST ≥ 32 months, one patient had ≥ 1 risk factor (16.7%), (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients on paKST who undergo mechanical ventilation and vasopressor treatment should be followed-up more closely. After surviving the acute period, patients on paKST need to be followed-up closely during the chronic stage. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Extracellular-Vesicle-Based Cancer Panels Diagnose Glioblastomas with High Sensitivity and Specificity

Glioblastoma is one of the most devastating neoplasms of the central nervous system. This study focused on the development of serum extracellular vesicle (EV)-based glioblastoma tumor marker panels that can be used in a clinic to diagnose glioblastomas and to monitor tumor burden, progression, and regression in response to treatment. RNA sequencing studies were performed using RNA isolated from serum EVs from both patients (n = 85) and control donors (n = 31). RNA sequencing results for preoperative glioblastoma EVs compared to control EVs revealed 569 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 2XFC, FDR < 0.05). By using these DEGs, we developed serum-EV-based biomarker panels for the following glioblastomas: wild-type IDH1 (96% sensitivity/80% specificity), MGMT promoter methylation (91% sensitivity/73% specificity), p53 gene mutation (100% sensitivity/89% specificity), and TERT promoter mutation (89% sensitivity/100% specificity). This is the first study showing that serum-EV-based biomarker panels can be used to diagnose glioblastomas with a high sensitivity and specificity.

The Clinical and Mutational Spectrum of 69 Turkish Children with Autosomal Recessive or Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is associated with pathogenic variants in the PKHD1 gene. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is mainly associated with pathogenic variants in PKD1 or PKD2. The present study aimed to identify the clinical and genetic features of Turkish pediatric ARPKD and ADPKD patients.

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 21 genetically confirmed ARPKD and 48 genetically confirmed ADPKD patients from 7 pediatric nephrology centers. Demographic features, clinical, and laboratory findings at presentation and during 12-month intervals were recorded.

RESULTS

The median age of the ARPKD patients at diagnosis was lower than the median age of ADPKD patients (10.5 months [range: 0-15 years] vs. 5.2 years [range: 0.1-16 years], respectively, [p = 0.014]). At the time of diagnosis, the median eGFR in the ARPKD patients was lower compared to that of ADPKD patients (81.6 [IQR: 28.7-110.5] mL/min/1.73 m2 and 118 [IQR: 91.2-139.8] mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, [p = 0.0001]). In total, 11 (52.4%) ARPKD patients had malnutrition; 7 (33.3%) patients had growth retardation at presentation; and 4 (19%) patients had both malnutrition and growth retardation. At diagnosis, 8 (16.7%) of the ADPKD patients had malnutrition, and 5 (10.4%) patients had growth retardation. The malnutrition, growth retardation, and hypertension rates at diagnosis were higher in the ARPKD patients than the ADPKD patients (p = 0.002, p = 0.02, and p = 0.0001, respectively). ARPKD patients with malnutrition and growth retardation had worse renal survival compared to the patients without (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01). Similarly, ADPKD patients with malnutrition had worse renal survival compared to the patients without (p = 0.002). ARPKD patients with truncating variants had poorer 3- and 6-year renal outcome than those carrying non-truncating variants (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Based on renal survival analysis, type of genetic variant, growth retardation, and/or malnutrition at presentation were observed to be factors associated with progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Differentiation of ARPKD and ADPKD, and identification of the predictors of the development of CKD are vital for optimal management of patients with ARPKD or ADPKD.

The outcomes of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition and immunosuppressive therapy in children with X-linked Alport syndrome

BACKGROUND

Alport syndrome (AS) is characterized by progressive kidney disease. There is increasing evidence that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition delays chronic kidney disease (CKD) while the effectiveness of immunosuppressive (IS) therapy in AS is still uncertain. In this study, we aimed to analyze the outcomes of pediatric patients with X-linked AS (XLAS) who received RAAS inhibitors and IS therapy.

METHODS

Seventy-four children with XLAS were included in this multicenter study. Demographic features, clinical and laboratory data, treatments, histopathological examinations, and genetic analyses were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Among 74 children, 52 (70.2%) received RAAS inhibitors, 11 (14.9%) received RAAS inhibitors and IS, and 11 (14.9%) were followed up without treatment. During follow-up, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreased < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 7 (9.5%) of 74 patients (M/F=6/1). In male patients with XLAS, kidney survival was not different between RAAS and RAAS+IS groups (p=0.42). The rate of progression to CKD was significantly higher in patients with nephrotic range proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome (NS), respectively (p=0.006, p=0.05). The median age at the onset of RAAS inhibitors was significantly higher in male patients who progressed to CKD (13.9 vs 8.1 years, p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

RAAS inhibitors have beneficial effects on proteinuria and early initiation of therapy may delay the progression to CKD in children with XLAS. There was no significant difference between the RAAS and RAAS+IS groups in kidney survival. AS patients presenting with NS or nephrotic range proteinuria should be followed up more carefully considering the risk of early progression to CKD.

Derivation and validation of adult Still Activity Score (SAS)

OBJECTIVES

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a multi-systemic, autoinflammatory disorder. Several activity scores have been proposed but none of them have been adopted universally. Our aim was to create a clinician-friendly activity scoring system by using simple clinical and laboratory parameters.

METHODS

AODS patients, according to Yamaguchi criteria, were included in this cross-sectional, multicenter study. Derivation and validation cohorts were constituted. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory evaluation at the study visit; patients' and physicians' global assessments of disease activity (both VAS/Likert scale) were recorded. To develop the score, an ordinal logistic regression model was used to determine independent predictors of physicians' global assessments of disease activity. Clinically and statistically significant variables were weighted according to regression coefficients. Then, performance of the score was tested on the validation cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 197 consecutive AOSD patients (125 in derivation, 72 in validation cohorts) were included. Final Still Activity Score was fever (2 points), arthralgia (2 points, plus 1 point if arthritis was present in≥2 joints), neutrophilia≥65% (1 point) and ferritin≥350ng/mL (1 point) (maximum of 7 points). The SAS yielded an AUC value of 0.98 (0.96-1.00) in the derivation cohort and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.85-0.98) in the validation cohort to discriminate high AOSD activity from moderate-inactive AOSD. The correlation of SAS with PGA was 83% for the derivation cohort and 76% for the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

SAS has shown a good test performance to distinguish active AOSD patients from others. SAS may be a useful method for evaluating the disease activity of AOSD patients in daily practice.

Extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease

OBJECTIVES

Chronic graft versus host disease (chronic GVHD) still remains the leading cause of late morbidity and mortality for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients. In this retrospective study, 53 consecutive allo-HSCT patients with chronic GVHD refractory to corticosteroids were treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP).

METHODS

This study was performed as a retrospective single-center study. Medical records of a total of 59 patients treated with ECP for chronic GVHD were reviewed.

RESULTS

Best organ responses to ECP were observed in skin, mouth mucosa, eyes and liver. Overall response rate (ORR) to ECP was 81.2% (CR 17% and PR 64.2%). Overall survival (OS) was 84.9% and 36.7%, at 1 and 3 years, respectively. Female sex appears to have an advantage on ORR. Patients achieving ORR were able to maintain their responses with a prolonged continuation of treatments for +6 and +12 months indicating the benefits of longer ECP treatment.

DISCUSSION

We found that patients with chronic GVHD who were treated with ECP for 12 months or longer had a higher response rate. Our findings in line with the data reported previously suggest that patients responding to ECP should continue longer therapy schedules to achieve a better and sustained response. In our cohort, long-term ECP therapy was safe and well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects. Best responses were observed in the patients with skin, eye, liver and oral involvement. The ECP procedure offers the advantage relative to the problems with typical immunosuppressive agents. The female sex appeared to have an advantage based on the cumulative probability of the OR after ECP for chronic GVHD.

Estimating the optimal entry point of the antegrade femoral nailing: Previous and novel morphometric measurements

OBJECTIVE

This anatomical study aimed to investigate the possible relationships between the proximal femur parameters and verify the optimal entry point in line with the medullary canal.

METHODS

Both in single image series and 3D-MPR views, 63 femur bones were evaluated. One-millimeter multidetector computed tomography scans were collected and assessed by OsiriX-Lite version 8 and Horos v3.3.5. Entry point locations, projected and true femoral neck-shaft, anteversion, and newly defined nail entrance angles were measured.

RESULTS

The entry points of 16 femurs were placed at the tip of the greater trochanter, and the remaining 47 femurs were in the trochanteric fossa (i.e., piriformis fossa). Thirty-three of the entry points found in the trochanteric fossa were overlapped by the greater trochanter. When the parameters of the right and left sides were compared, it was found that; projected neck angle, nail entrance angle, and the differences between true neck angle and nail entrance angle were found significantly different. The relationship between nail entrance angle and entry point localization was assessed, and the probability of the entry point being at the tip of the greater trochanter is 63 times greater when the NEA is below 90.

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated that the ideal entry point for straight nails, which is based on the anatomic axis of the femur, is found mainly at the trochanteric fossa, and the greater trochanter overlapped 70.21% of them.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Diagnostic Study.

Birth Weight Reference Percentiles by Gestational Age for Turkish Twin Neonates

Aims:

In clinical practice, birth weight reference percentiles for singletons are used to evaluate twin births. The utilization of singleton reference percentiles for twins is not appropriate as they experience different growth trajectories. However, Turkey still lacks such references. Our aim was to create gestational age-specific birth weight references for female and male Turkish twins.

Materials and Methods:

This is a hospital-based, multi-centered, retrospective study. In total, 2544 live-born twins between 2010 and 2019 were included in the study. Gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, gender, birth order, chorionicity, maternal age, pregnancy resulting from assisted reproduction techniques, APGAR (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration) score at 5 minutes, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), length of stay in NICU, and death during the NICU stay were recorded.

Results:

Smoothed reference curves for birth weight by gestational age and separate tables for female and male twin neonates for the 3^rd, 10^th, 50^th, 90^th, and 97^th percentiles from 26 to 39 weeks of gestational age were constructed. Overall neonatal and infant mortality rates during NICU stay in our twin cohort were 12/1000 and 16/1000, respectively.

Conclusion:

Twin-specific birth weight nomograms could be helpful as a reference for clinicians to identify high-risk neonates and fetuses who need specialized care. However, further studies with larger series are urgently needed for validation and use of these nomograms in clinical practice.

Alterations in forearm muscle activation patterns after scapholunate interosseous ligament injury: A dynamic electromyography study

STUDY DESIGN

Case control.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the alterations seen in the activation patterns of the forearm muscles and to demonstrate the associated functional outcomes, in patients with scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) injury.

METHODS

The study involved 15 patients with SLIL injury (instability group) and 11 healthy participants (control group). Both groups were evaluated with regard to their pain, grip strength, and upper extremity functional level (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand and patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaires), and they also underwent a dynamic electromyography analysis of their forearm muscle activity. The activation patterns of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), extensor carpi radialis (ECR), flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor carpi radialis muscles during wrist extension and flexion were recorded by means of surface electromyography.

RESULTS

In the instability group, the pain severity was higher and the functional level was worse than in the control group (P < .05). Furthermore, during wrist extension, the ECR activity was lower and the ECU activity was higher in the instability group than in the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Dynamic stabilization of the wrist, flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor carpi radialis muscles have been shown to play an active role with ECU and ECR. Increased ECU and decreased ECR activation may pose a potential risk in terms of enhancing the scapholunate gap. We, therefore, propose that appropriate preventive neuromuscular exercise strategies implemented as part of a physiotherapy program for patients with SLIL lesions might increase the contribution of the dynamic stability effect of the relevant muscles.

Clinical characteristics of children with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract and predictive factors of chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in childhood. Determining the clinical course, outcome, and prognostic factors of this heterogeneous disease group is important to provide appropriate management and follow-up. Therefore, we aimed to identify the risk factors of CKD in CAKUT and the differences in clinical courses between disease subgroups.

METHODS

Three hundred patients (M/F: 203/97) divided into 16 CAKUT categories were enrolled in the study. Logistic regression and survival analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for CKD that is defined as estimated GFR (eGFR) lower than 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

The median age of the study population at the time of the diagnosis was 0.6 years (IQR; 0.1-4.0 years). Among available prenatal diagnoses (n= 138), hydronephrosis (HN) (n= 83; 60.1%) and multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) (n= 39; 28.2%) were the most frequently encountered ones. A total of 24 patients had CKD, and 13 of them (54.1%) progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with posterior urethral valve (PUV) had CKD and ESRD more frequently when compared to the other diagnostic groups (p < 0.001 for CKD, and p < 0.001 for ESRD). Furthermore, the PUV subgroup progressed to ESRD (median 3.63 years) earlier than the other subgroups. The diagnosis of PUV, proteinuria on the first admission, vesicoureteral reflux, and oligohydramnios were identified as independent predictors for CKD in the multivariate logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing predictive factors for CKD in patients with CAKUT is valuable for physicians in order to determine appropriate treatment strategies and prognosis.

MO026CLINICAL AND MUTATIONAL SPECTRUM OF CHILDREN WITH AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE AND AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Background and Aims

Cystic kidney diseases are a heterogeneous group of chronic renal disease. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is generally diagnosed in utero or at birth due to mutations in PKHD1 gene. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease commonly associated with mutations in PKD1 or PKD2. In this study, we aimed to investigate clinical and genetic features of ARPKD and ADPKD in a group of Turkish patients.

Method

A total of 69 children with genetically confirmed ARPKD (10 females, 11 males) or ADPKD (28 females, 20 males) from seven pediatric nephrology centers were included in this study. Demographic features, family history, clinical and laboratory findings at presentation and during 12 months intervals were collected.

Results

For ARPKD patients, the median age at diagnosis was 10.5 (IQR; 0.75-58.5) months. Consanguinity between parents was present in 11 patients (52.4%). At the time of diagnosis, 14 (66.7%) patients had eGFR&lt;90 ml/min/1.73 m2. Mean duration of follow-up was 4.1±3,7 years. At the last visit, median eGFR was 74 (IQR; 43-126) ml/min/1.73m2. A total of 6 patients (28,6%) underwent a renal replacement therapy (RRT), 3 of them died in infancy and 2 of them had renal transplantation during follow up. All patients had bi-allelic PKHD1 mutation.

For ADPKD patients, the mean age at diagnosis was 5.5±4.6 years. At the time of diagnosis 11 (22.9%) patients had eGFR&lt;90 ml/min/1.73m2. Mean duration of follow-up was 2,7±2.3 years. At the last visit, median eGFR was 114 (IQR; 98-135) ml/min/1.73m2. Only one patient underwent a renal transplantation. A total of 42 patients (87.5%) had a heterozygous PKD1 mutation while 6 (12.5%) had a heterozygous PKD2 mutation. The rate of growth retardation, hypertension at diagnosis and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) were higher in patients with PKHD1 mutation than the patients with PKD1 or PKD2 mutation (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). In kidney survival analysis, mutation type, growth retardation at presentation, increased renal echogenity in ultrasonography were found as independent risk factors for progression to CKD.

Conclusion

Cystic kidney diseases are one of the most clinically and genetically heterogenous diseases. Differentiating them and establishing the predictors for CKD development is important to provide appropriate management including choosing appropriate donor in renal transplantation.

Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with solid tumors: Turkish National Registry Data

We present demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and outcomes of the patients with solid malignancies and novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) collected from the National COVID-19 Registry of Turkey. A total of 1523 patients with a current or past diagnosis of solid tumors and diagnosed with COVID-19 (confirmed with PCR) between 11 March and 20 May 2020 were included. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Median age was 61 (range: 18-94), and 752 (49%) were male. The most common types of cancers were breast (19.8%), prostate (10.9%) and colorectal cancer (10.8%). 65% of the patients had at least one comorbidity. At least one COVID-19-directed therapy was given in 73% of the patients.. Hospitalization rate of the patients was 56.6% and intensive care unit admission rate was 11.4%. Seventy-seven (5.1%) patients died within 30 days of diagnosis. The first multivariate model which included only the demographic and clinical characteristics showed older age, male gender and presence of diabetes and receipt of cytotoxic therapy to be associated with increased 30-day mortality, while breast and prostate cancer diagnoses were associated with lower 30-day mortality. In the second set, we further included laboratory parameters. The presence of leukocytosis (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.3-13.7, P < .001), lymphocytopenia (OR 3,1, 95% CI 1,6-6,1, P = .001) and thrombocytopenia (OR 3,4 95% CI 1,5-8,1, P = .005) were found to be associated with increased 30-day mortality. Relatively lower mortality compared to Western countries and China mainly results from differences in baseline risk factors but may also implicate the importance of intensive supportive care.

Hair diameter measurements for planning follicular unit extraction surgery (FUE): Is there a correlation between the micrometer caliper and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) findings?

BACKGROUND

Hair shaft diameter is one of the most important factors for the outcome of follicular unit extraction (FUE) surgery. In fact, the hair shaft is elliptical. Therefore, it has a long and short axis. Many hair transplantation surgeons use manual micrometer caliper for gauging hair diameter and use the results in the management of recipient and donor area.

AIM

In this study, we aimed to identify the dependability of micrometer caliper and also the hair diameter diversity pattern in the donor area.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Two hundred and seventy hairs were collected from three males with androgenetic alopecia. Hair samples were obtained from the 1 cm² boxes from superior to inferior at the mid-point of temporal, parietal, and occipital donor areas. The diameter of each hair was measured both with a micrometer caliper and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS

Average diameter measured by scanning electron microscopy was 83.01 µm for the long axis and 51.51 µm for the short axis. The average value for the micrometer caliper measurement was 53.32 µm. Comparison of micrometer caliper results with the short-axis measurements of SEM revealed a strong significant correlation. The hair diameters from superior, middle, and inferior boxes revealed a tendency to decrease toward the inferior regions.

CONCLUSIONS

A manual micrometer caliper is a dependable tool for planning FUE surgery, and it measures the short axis of the elliptical hair shaft. Hair diameter tends to decrease toward the inferior regions of the donor area.

A novel technique for prediction of preterm birth: fetal nasal flow Doppler

OBJECTIVES

Absence of fetal breathing movements (FBM) has been found to be a good predictor of preterm delivery in symptomatic patients. However, analysis of FBM patterns and Doppler measurement of them for preterm birth prediction have not been performed before. In this study, we aimed to investigate and analyze FBM patterns in symptomatic preterm labor patients by fetal ultrasonography and nasal Doppler.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Singleton pregnant patients between 24 and 37 gestational weeks diagnosed with preterm labor were included in the study. Patients were evaluated in three groups: no FBM (Group 1), regular FBM (Group 2), irregular FBM (Group3).

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients were available for the final analysis after exclusion. Preterm delivery rate in 24 h in groups were 91.7, 32.7 and 100%, respectively. The absence of FBM (Group 1) was statistically significant for preterm delivery in for both 24 (91.7 vs. 42.6%, p=0.002) and 48 h (91.7 vs. 49.2%, p=0.006) when compared with fetal breathing positive Group 2 and 3. In fetal nasal Doppler analyses in Group 2, the inspiration/expiration number rate was significantly lower in the patients who delivered in 24 h (0.98±0.2 vs. 1.25±0.57, p=0.015). By using fetal nasal Doppler, combination of absence of FBM or irregular FBM or regular FBM with inspiration number/expiration number (I/E) <1.25 detects 94.6% of patients who will eventually deliver in the first 24 h after admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Examining FBM patterns and using nasal Doppler may help the clinician to differentiate those who will deliver preterm and may be an invaluable tool for managing preterm labor patients.

COL4A3 mutation is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in children with Alport syndrome

BACKGROUND

Alport syndrome (AS) is an inherited glomerular disease caused by mutations in COL4A3, COL4A4, or COL4A5. Associations between clinical manifestations and genotype are not yet well defined. Our study aimed to define clinical and genetic characteristics, establish genotype-phenotype correlations, and determine prognosis of AS in children.

METHODS

A total of 87 children with AS from 10 pediatric nephrology centers, whom had genetic analyses performed at the Hacettepe University Nephrogenetics Laboratory between February 2017 and February 2019, were included. Data regarding demographics, family history, clinical and laboratory characteristics, histopathological and genetic test results, treatments, and yearly follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 87 patients, 16% presented with nephrotic syndrome. In patients with nephrotic syndrome, kidney biopsy findings showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 79%, and COL4A3 mutations were the leading genetic abnormality (50%). Twenty-four percent of all patients progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The rate of progression to CKD and the decline in the glomerular filtration rate of the patients with COL4A3 mutation were higher than other mutation groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). In kidney survival analysis, nephrotic syndrome presentation, histopathology of FSGS, COL4A3 mutations, and autosomal recessive inheritance were found as independent risk factors for earlier progression to CKD. Cyclosporin A treatment did not improve kidney survival.

CONCLUSIONS

We emphasize that genetic testing is important for patients suspected as having AS. Furthermore, COL4A mutations should be considered in patients with FSGS and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. This approach will shed light on the prognosis of patients and help with definitive diagnosis, preventing unnecessary and potentially harmful medications. Graphical abstract.

P0063CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH GENETICALLY CONFIRMED ALPORT SYNDROME

Background and Aims

Alport syndrome (AS) is an inherited glomerular basement membrane disease caused by mutations in COL4A3, COL4A4 or COL4A5 genes. Recently, it has been reported that focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) can be seen in AS and COL4A mutations can be detected in FSGS. In this study, we aimed to define the clinical characteristics of patients with genetically confirmed AS, in order to establish genotype-phenotype correlation and investigate the effects of different treatment regimes.

Method

A total of 87 pediatric AS patients included in this multicenter study. We retrospectively collected data from medical records and requested other centers to fill out a questionnaire, which included data regarding patient demographic features, family history, clinical and laboratory characteristics at first presentation, histopathological (if available) and genetic tests results, treatments and yearly follow-up results.

Results

A total of 87 (41 female, 46 male) genetically confirmed AS patients (COL4A5, n=43; COL4A3, n=25; COL4A4, n=19) were studied. Mean age at first presentation was 7.6±4.1 years and the median follow-up duration was 4.3 years (IQR 1.9–7.3). 14 (16.1%) of 87 patients presented with nephrotic syndrome (NS); renal biopsy findings showed FSGS in 11 (79%) of 14 patients with NS, and COL4A3 mutations were the most common (n=7, 50%) in this group. Of 14 NS patients, 12 received steroid, 11 received cyclosporine (CsA) and 4 received other immunosuppressives prior to genetic diagnosis. The inheritance pattern of the patients with NS was consistent with ARAS in 10 patients (71.4%), XLAS in 3 patients (21.4%), and ADAS in 1 patient (7.2%). During follow up, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreased below 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 24 of 87 patients (27.5%). COL4A3 mutations (n=14, 58.3%) were the leading genetic abnormality in patients who progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD). At the last visit, GFR loss was significantly higher in patients with COL4A3 mutations when compared to patients with COL4A4 and COL4A5 mutations (p=0.04). Among patients with NS, 9 of 14 (64.2%) progressed to CKD. Genetic results of patients with NS who progressed to CKD were COL4A3 in 6 (66.7%), COL4A4 in 2 (22.2%) and COL4A5 in 1 (11.1%) patients. In survival analysis, renal survival rate without CKD was 12.1 years (95% CI: 6.7-17.5). After the first presentation, the 5-year cumulative risk of CKD was 51.8%, 12.6%, and 12.9% in patients with COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5 mutations, respectively (p=0.001). We observed that patients with COL4A3 mutations, ARAS inheritance pattern, histopathology of FSGS or NS presentation progressed to CKD earlier (p&lt;0.001 for COL4A3, p=0.01 for ARAS, p=&lt;0.001 for FSGS, p=0.01 for NS presentation) when compared to those without. CsA treatment did not improve renal survival.

Conclusion

Detailed analyses of data from genetically confirmed Turkish patients with AS provided important clues regarding to the presentation, course and outcomes of the disease. COL4A3 mutations, ARAS inheritance pattern, NS presentation and FSGS finding in renal biopsy are major risk factors for progression to CKD. We recommend genetic testing for patients suspected of having AS. Furthermore, COL4A mutations should be considered in patients with FSGS and steroid resistant NS. This approach will shed light on the prognosis of patients and help with definitive diagnosis, preventing unnecessary and potentially harmful medications.

Quality of life study of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel versus gemcitabine alone: AX-PANC-SY001, a randomized phase-2 study

BACKGROUND

Combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel has superior clinical efficacy than gemcitabine alone. Nevertheless, health-related quality of life. (QoL) associated with this combination therapy when administered at first-line in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma is unknown.

METHODS

A total of 125 patients were randomized to combination therapy (1000 mg/m2 gemcitabine + 125 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel) and single-agent gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) arms to take treatment weekly for 7 of 8 weeks, and following 3 of 4 weeks, until progression or severe toxicity. Primary endpoints were three-months of definitive deterioration free percent of patients, and QoL.

RESULTS

Overall QoL analyses showed that 34 and 58.3% of cases in gemcitabine and gemcitabine+nab-P arms had no deterioration in 3rd month QoL scores (p = 0.018). These proportions were 27.3 and 36.6% in 6^th month assessments, respectively (p = 0.357). Median overall survivals in combination and single-agent arms were 9.92 months and 5.95 months, respectively (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42-0.86, p = 0.038). Median progression free survivals in these treatment arms were 6.28 and 3.22 months, respectively (HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39-0.87, p = 0.008). Median time-to-deterioration were 5.36 vs 3.68 months, and objective response rates were 37.1% vs 23.7% (p = 0.009), respectively in combination and single-agent arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy with gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel had better overall and progression-free survival than gemcitabine alone. Also, combination therapy showed increased response rate without toxicity or deteriorated QoL. Combination treatment with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel may provide significant benefit for advanced pancreatic cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03807999 on January 8, 2019 (retrospectively registered).

Infections in Pediatric Burn Patients: An Analysis of One Hundred Eighty-One Patients

Background: Infectious complications are one of the most life-threatening complications and result in substantial mortality and morbidity in children who have been burned. The goal of the study is to assess the risk factors for sepsis in pediatric burn patients in a referral hospital. Methods: This study was performed at the Pediatric Burn Unit of Ankara Child Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital during the period between January 2014 and June 2017. The patients were evaluated for age, sex, burn etiology, burned body surface area (BSA), the presence of inhalation injury, sepsis, positive cultures, the micro-organisms cultured samples, and septic focus. Results: A total of 181 patients were included in the study. The most common cause of burns was scalds in 120 patients (66.3%). Forty-one patients (22.7%) developed health-care-associated infection and sepsis. Gram-negative micro-organisms were isolated in 40 (97.6%) patients (Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia) with sepsis. Carbapenem resistance was detected in 31 (93.8%) of 40 patients. Mortality was observed in 11 patients (6.1%) in the group with sepsis. Burn surface area, burn depth, C-reactive protein (CRP) values, mortality, Garcés index, and Baux index were higher in the group with sepsis (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that mechanism of injury (flame), burned BSA ≥25%, C-reactive protein ≥6 mg/dL (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.76 p < 0.001 and AUC: 0.90, p < 0.001, respectively) at admission were independent parameters for development of sepsis in pediatric burn patients. Conclusion: Multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were important agents of blood stream infection in burned children. Burned BSA ≥25% and CRP ≥6 mg/dL were risk factors for developing sepsis in pediatric burn patients.

Smoke-free Turkey: Evaluation of outdoor areas of public places

SIGNIFICANCE

Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of smoking in outdoor areas of public places in three largest Turkish cities (Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir).

METHOD

For this cross-sectional observational study, the Turkish Statistical Institute randomly selected 10 sampling points in each city. Around each sampling point, fieldworkers visited the closest bars/nightclubs, cafes, government buildings, hospitals, restaurants, schools, shopping malls, traditional coffee houses, universities, children's playgrounds, parks and open markets. We observed smoking, ashtrays, and cigarette butts at the outdoor areas of public venues within the urban districts of each city. The fieldwork was conducted in April-May 2016.

RESULTS

477 venues were observed, covering 1017 outdoor locations in which 17,737 people were observed. Smoking in outdoor areas ranged from 3.7% around schools to 90% in open markets. Ashtrays were almost ubiquitous in hospitals (95.6%), shopping malls (92.0%), and universities (90.9%). Cigarette butts were more often observed in open markets (100%), shopping malls (96%), universities (95.5%), and parks (93.3%). Smoking at outdoor areas around schools was significantly lower than around other venues.

CONCLUSION

Smoking in outdoor areas was common in most public places in Turkey except schools. The current indoor SHS legislation should be extended to cover adjacent outdoor areas of public venues in order to effectively protect people from SHS exposure in Turkey.

Cancer chemotherapy: incidence and predictors of 30-day mortality

OBJECTIVES

Thirty-day mortality (30 DM) is a measure of quality of cancer treatment and the predictors for 30 DM are important to identify vulnerable patients who are least likely to benefit from chemotherapy. We assessed the incidence and potential predictors of 30 DM in patients receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS

All patients who received chemotherapy within an 8-month period in our hospital were assessed. Baseline prechemotherapy clinical features, vital signs, Modified Early Warning Scores (MEWS) and laboratory tests were recorded. Potential predictors of 30 DM were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 4560 patients included, 77 patients (1.7%) died within 30 days of chemotherapy. Patients who died were older (62 vs 58, p=0.002), mostly males (61% vs 43%, p=0.006), had worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scores (ECOG PS), and higher MEWS scores compared with those who survived. Multivariate analysis identified age ≥60 years (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.1, p=0.01), male gender (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.9, p=0.02), ECOG PS≥3 (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 8.8, p=0.03), pulse rate ≥90 bpm (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.0 to 7.0, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.1, p=0.02), body mass index <25 kg/m2 (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.8, p=0.02) and haemoglobin< 90 g/L (OR 14.2, 95% CI 4.3 to 46.6, p<0.01) to be associated with increased risk of 30 DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Along with well-known prognostic factors such as ECOG PS and disease stage, other simple and readily available parameters may predict early mortality after chemotherapy and produce a signal for the physicians to carefully reevaluate vulnerable patients before chemotherapy administration.

Evaluation of cancer risk in patients with periodontal diseases

Background/aim

In this study, we aimed to assess the cancer risk among patients with periodontal disease.

Materials and methods

Patients diagnosed with periodontal diseases at Hacettepe University between 2007 and 2012 were included and data on the diagnosis of any cancer after periodontal disease were collected from patient files. The age- and sex-standardized incidence rates (SIRs) were calculated using Turkish National Cancer Registry 2013 data.

Results

A total of 5199 patients were included. Median follow-up was 7.2 years. Patients with periodontal diseases had 17% increased risk of cancer compared with the expected counts for the corresponding age and sex groups (SIR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04–1.3, P = 0.006). The increased cancer risk was statistically significant in women (SIR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.05–1.45, P = 0.008) but not in men. Among women with periodontal disease, the risks of breast cancer (SIR: 2.19) and head and neck cancer (SIR: 4.71) were significantly increased. Among men, the risks of prostate cancer (SIR: 1.84), head and neck cancer (SIR: 3.55), and hematological cancers (SIR: 1.76) were significantly increased.

Conclusion

This study showed that periodontal diseases were associated with increased risk of several cancers. Besides other well-known benefits for health, the provision of oral/dental health should be considered and employed as a cancer prevention measure.

Analysis of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus gallolyticus in saliva of colorectal cancer patients

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence and amount of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Streptococcus gallolyticus (Sg) in the saliva of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and controls. Methods: PCR analyses performed in 71 CRC patients and 77 controls. Results: Saliva samples of patients had higher amounts of Fn (p = 0.001) and Sg (p < 0.001) compared with controls. Amount of Fn and Sg were lower in the microsatellite instability (+) group. Evaluation of salivary Sg amount by receiver operating characteristics analysis found to have diagnostic value for CRC (AUC: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.96). Conclusion: We found higher amounts of Fn and Sg in the saliva of CRC patients. Salivary Sg could helpful in distinction of CRC.

Evaluation of Secondhand Smoke Using PM2.5 and Observations in a Random Stratified Sample in Hospitality Venues from 12 Cities

Background: Turkey passed a law banning smoking in all indoor public places in 2008. In response to the indoor smoking restriction, many smokers may have relocated to outdoor areas of venues. The aim of this study was to evaluate air pollution related to SHS exposure in indoor and outdoor areas of hospitality venues in 12 cities in Turkey. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated hospitality venues in 12 cities in Turkey. In each visited venue, we evaluated a pre-specified number of study locations such as the outdoor area of the main entrance, indoor areas, and patios or other outdoor dining areas, completely or partially covered with window walls. We measured particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in those areas. Results: The fieldworkers visited 72 randomly selected hospitality venues and measured PM2.5 concentrations in 165 different locations (indoor, outdoor, and patios) of those venues. Overall, 2573 people were observed, 909 of them smoking. The median (IQR) PM2.5 concentrations were 95 (39–229) μg/m³ indoors, 25 (13–48) μg/m³ outdoors, and 31 μg/m³ (16–62) in the patios (p < 0.001). After adjustment, each additional smoker was associated with a 2% increase in PM2.5 concentrations in patio air (GMR (95% CI): 1.02 (1.00, 1.05), and a 4% increase in indoor air (GMR (95% CI): 1.04 (1.02, 1.05). Conclusions: There were unhealthy levels of smoking-caused PM2.5 concentrations, not only indoors, but also in the patios of hospitality venues. Legislative efforts to expand the smoke-free legislation to outdoor areas adjacent to indoor public places and an action plan to increase compliance with the smoke-free policy are urgently needed in Turkey.

Carbon Monoxide in the Expired Air and Urinary Cotinine Levels of e-Cigarette Users

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of electronic (e)-cigarette users for clarifying the causes of e-cigarette smoking and to identify the carbon monoxide (CO) and urinary cotinine levels of the volunteers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty volunteers who smoked e-cigarettes completed a questionnaire, and their exhaled CO and urinary cotinine levels were measured. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used for cotinine analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 85% of the participants were males, 60% were married, and 75% were college/university graduates. The median age of participants was 38.5 years. The participants' main reasons for starting to smoke were peer influence and curiosity. The participants' main reasons for smoking e-cigarettes were to quit and reduce smoking the conventional cigarettes and cost effectiveness. Only three people knew that smoking was harmful to health. The participants' CO levels were measured as a median of 3, lowest of 1, and highest of 22. Cotinine levels were "positive" in all samples. A moderate and statistically significant correlation was found between the amount of fluids used by the participants in 1 day (mL) and cotinine levels in urine specimens (Pearson correlation test, r=0.511, p=0.025).

CONCLUSION

The study is an important proof of the country's scientific work on e-cigarettes. Preventive strategies should be very strictly implemented for any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, as they harm individuals and the community.

Reproductive cancer risk factors among relatives of cancer patients in a tertiary oncology center

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of some gynecological cancer risk factors in a population of female relatives of cancer patients in Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital. Additionally, what are the levels of the women’s awareness /behavior toward available screening tools?

Methods

An individual cancer risk assessment questionnaire has been developed in the Department of Preventive Oncology, which questions the medical history, health behaviors and cancer awareness, as well as their behavior toward available cancer screening tools.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 45.7 ± 12.2 years. Median age at menarche was 13 years (IQR, 12–14), 6.9% of the women reported their menarche was before age of 12. About 11.1% of the women had intercourse before age of 18. The median age at first delivery was 22 years. Median BMI was 24.9, with 18.3% of population having obesity. Of the women 65% were current/past smokers. Sixty-two percent of the women had never used condom. About 8% of the women were unaware about mammography and 17.7% about the Pap test.

Conclusions

This study has documented high tobacco use, low protective condom use and low rates of physical activity. Percentage of some risk factors like early menarche was lower than what was suggested for general Turkish population. Awareness and behavior of the women were better about mammography when compared to the Pap test. Considering our results, some measures should be put in place to increase people’s awareness, and to modify their behavior toward cancer prevention.

Rituximab for Children With Difficult-to-Treat Nephrotic Syndrome: Its Effects on Disease Progression and Growth

Background: Since the early 2000s rituximab (RTX) has been thought of as an alternative treatment for steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of RTX treatment on disease outcome and growth in pediatric SSNS and SRNS patients. Materials and Methods: The medical records of pediatric SSNS and SRNS patients that began RTX treatment at the mean age of 10.8 ± 5.1 years between 2009 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Additionally, the effect of RTX on growth was evaluated based on patient height, weight, and BMI z scores. Results: The study included 41 children, of which 21 had SSNS and 20 had SRNS. Mean age at diagnosis of NS was 5.8 ± 4.7 years. Mean duration of post-RTX treatment follow-up was 2.3 ± 1.6 years. Among the SSNS patients, 6 and 11 patients were steroid free and calcineurin inhibitor free at the last follow-up visit, respectively. The 1-year cumulative steroid and calcineurin inhibitor doses both decreased after RTX treatment, as compared to before RTX (P = 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively). The median height z-score at the time of RTX initiation was -1.2 and the median height z-score at the last follow-up visit was -0.6 (P = 0.044). The median BMI z-score decreased from 1.6 (IQR; 0.9-3.0) at the time RTX was initiated to 1.1 IQR; [(-0.7)-2.5] at the last follow-up visit (P = 0.007). At the last follow-up visit 4 SRNS patients had complete remission and 4 had partial remission. The 1-year cumulative steroid dosage in the SRNS patients decreased significantly after RTX, as compared to before RTX (P = 0.001). The median height z-score at the time of RTX initiation was -0.8 and the median height z-score at the last follow-up visit was -0.7 (P = 0.81). The median BMI z-score decreased from 0.3 at the time RTX was initiated to -0.1 at the last follow-up visit (P = 0.11). Conclusion: RTX has a more positive effect on disease outcome and growth in SSNS patients than in those with SRNS.

Distribution of lymphomas in Turkey: data of 4239 cases from a single institution using the WHO classification

Background/aim: Lymphoma cases diagnosed at one of the largest tertiary reference centers in Turkey were reviewed and findings were compared to those reported from other regions of the world. Materials and methods: Lymphomas diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 in the pathology laboratory of Hacettepe University were identified. A total of 4239 cases were analyzed. The WHO 2008 classification was used. Results: Hodgkin lymphomas accounted for almost 20% of cases. T-cell lymphomas were much more frequent (23% of our non- Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases) in comparison to all other regions of the world. The reason for this difference was the high frequency of mycosis fungoides (MF) cases. We had significantly more cases of high-grade B-cell lymphoma (43.9% of NHLs) and fewer cases of low-grade B-cell lymphoma (33.5% of NHLs) in comparison to the rates of developed regions of the world and the reverse was true when compared to developing parts of the world. Burkitt lymphoma frequency (4% of NHLs) was also higher than in most parts of the world. Conclusion: Our data reveal that the frequency of MF, Burkitt lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma are considerably higher, whereas follicular lymphoma rates are considerably lower than in most other parts of the world.

Extra-Renal manifestations of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in children

BACKGROUND

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a chronic disease characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy and a high risk of end-stage kidney disease. Dysregulation and/or excessive activation of the complement system results in thrombotic microangiopathy. Interest in extrarenal manifestations of aHUS is increasing. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with extrarenal manifestations of aHUS in childhood.

METHODS

This study included 70 children with extrarenal manifestations of HUS from the national Turkish aHUS Registry. The demographics, clinical characteristics, genetic test results, all treatments, and renal/hematologic status of aHUS patients with extrarenal involvement were recorded.

RESULTS

The most common extrarenal manifestation was neurological system involvement (n = 46 [27.2%]), followed by gastrointestinal (n = 20 [11.8%]), cardiovascular (n = 12 [7%]), and respiratory (n = 12 [7%]) involvement. The patients with neurological involvement had a higher mortality rate and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than the other patients at last follow-up. Eculizumab (with or without plasma exchange/plasma infusion) treatment increased the renal and hematologic recovery rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common and serious extrarenal manifestation of aHUS is neurological involvement and treatment outcome findings presented herein are important to all relevant clinicians.

Cancer patients and oncology nursing: Perspectives of oncology nurses in Turkey

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Burnout and exhaustion is a frequent problem in oncology nursing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aspects of oncology nurses about their profession in order to enhance the standards of oncology nursing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This survey was conducted with 70 oncology nurses working at Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital. Data were collected between January-April 2012. Each participant provided a study form comprising questions about sociodemographic information; about difficulties, positive aspects and required skills for oncology nursing; and questions evaluating level of participation and clinical perception of oncology nursing.

RESULTS

Mean age of nurses was 29.9 ± 5.7 years. More than half of the participants were married (51.4%) and 30% had at least one child. Percent of nurses working in oncology for their entire work life was 75.8%. Most frequently expressed difficulties were exhaustion (58.6%), coping with the psychological problems of the patients (25.7%), and frequent deaths (24.3%); positive aspects were satisfaction (37.1%), changing the perceptions about life (30%), and empathy (14.3%); and required skills were patience (60%), empathy (57.1%), and experience (50%). For difficulties of oncology nursing, 28.3% of difficulties could be attributed to job-related factors, 30.3% to patient-related factors, and 77% of difficulties to individual factors. The independent predictors of participation level of the nurses were self-thoughts of skills and positive aspects of oncology nursing.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of this study, nurses declared that working with cancer patients increase burnout, they are insufficient in managing work stress and giving psychological care to patients, but their job satisfaction, clinical skills and awareness regarding priorities of life has increased.

Clofarabine inhibits Ewing sarcoma growth through a novel molecular mechanism involving direct binding to CD99

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive bone and soft tissue malignancy that predominantly affects children and adolescents. CD99 is a cell surface protein that is highly expressed on ES cells and is required to maintain their malignancy. We screened small molecule libraries for binding to extracellular domain of recombinant CD99 and subsequent inhibition of ES cell growth. We identified two structurally similar FDA-approved compounds, clofarabine and cladribine that selectively inhibited the growth of ES cells in a panel of 14 ES vs. 28 non-ES cell lines. Both drugs inhibited CD99 dimerization and its interaction with downstream signaling components. A membrane-impermeable analog of clofarabine showed similar cytotoxicity in culture, suggesting that it can function through inhibiting CD99 independent of DNA metabolism. Both drugs drastically inhibited anchorage-independent growth of ES cells, but clofarabine was more effective in inhibiting growth of three different ES xenografts. Our findings provide a novel molecular mechanism for clofarabine that involves direct binding to a cell surface receptor CD99 and inhibiting its biological activities.

Quality of life study in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine in combination with nab-paclitaxel versus gemcitabine alone:ax-panc-sy001: A phase II randomized study

346

Background: Although clinical efficacy of gemcitabine in combination with nabpaclitaxel has been shown to be superior to single agent gemcitabine in a randomize phase 3 trial, data are lacking on the quality of life of this combination regimen as first-line therapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: We randomly assigned 125 patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1 to receive gemcitabine, 1000 mg/m2 plus nabpaclitaxel 125 mg/m2 or gemcitabine at a dose of 1000 mg per square meter weekly for 7 of 8 weeks and then weekly for 3 of 4 weeks. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was 3-months deterioration-free rate (percentage of patients free from definitive deterioration) and quality of life of patients. Results: The median overall survival was 9.92 months in the gemcitabine plus nabpaclitaxel group as compared with 5.95 months in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio for death, 0.642, 95% confidence interval, 0.422 to 0.866; p < 0.038). Median progression-free survival was 6.28 months in the combination group and 3.22 months in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio for disease progression, 0.582; 95% CI, 0.391 to 0.866; p < 0.008). The objective response rate was 37.1% in the combination group versus 23.7% in the gemcitabine group (p < 0.009). Median time to deterioration was 3.68 months in the gemcitabine arm versus 5.36 months in the combination arm. More data on quality of life will be presented. Conclusions: As compared with gemcitabine, gemcitabine plus nabpaclitaxel was associated with an overall and progressive free survival advantage, with increased response rate, without increasing toxicity and deterioration of quality of life. Gemcitabine and nabpaclitaxel combination regimen with this form is a preferable option for the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer Clinical trial information: EudraCT: 2013-004180-32.

Factors Affecting Survival in Breast Cancer Patients following Bone Metastasis

Aims and background

The purpose of the study was to identify prognostic factors that affect survival following bone metastasis in breast cancer patients with first metastases in the skeletal system.

Methods and study design

We analyzed retrospectively the data of 248 metastatic breast cancer patients whose first distant metastasis was in the skeleton.

Results

The median age of the patients at diagnosis was 46 years (range, 23–76). Nearly half of the patients were premenopausal (52.4%). The median disease-free survival was 24 months. For most of the patients (221), bone was the sole first metastatic site, and the disease remained confined to the bone in 99 of them. The remaining patients (n = 27) had both bone and visceral metastasis at the time of first relapse. One hundred and fourteen of the patients (46%) had died by the time of analysis. With the median follow-up of 50.5 months from diagnosis, median survival after bone metastasis was 32 months. In univariate analyses, statistically significant predictors for survival after bone metastasis were axillary lymph node status, T stage of disease, hormone receptor status of the primary tumor, the presence of lymphovascular invasion, involvement of skin, the presence of additional nonosseous metastatic sites at the time of bone relapse, and disease-free interval. In multivariate analyses, the presence of additional non-osseous metastatic sites at the time of bone relapse, T stage of disease, hormone receptor status of the primary tumor, and the presence of lymphovascular invasion were found to be significant independent prognostic factors.

Conclusions

In the result of study, for patients with breast cancer, survival following bone metastasis is affected by secondary prognostic factors such as disease-free interval and extent of metastasis besides primary prognostic factors related to the primary tumor.

Increased cancer risk in patients with periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have noted a possible association between periodontal diseases and the risk of various cancers. We assessed cancer risk in a cohort of patients with moderate to severe periodontitis.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with moderate to severe periodontitis by a periodontist between 2001 and 2010 were identified from the hospital registry. Patients younger than 35 years of age or with a prior cancer diagnosis were excluded. The age- and gender-standardized incidence rates (SIR) were calculated by dividing the number of observed cases by the number of expected cases from Turkish National Cancer Registry 2013 data.

RESULTS

A total of 280 patients were included (median age 49.6, 54% female). Median follow-up was 12 years. Twenty-five new cancer cases were observed. Patients with periodontitis had 77% increased risk of cancer (SIR 1.77, 95% CI 1.17-2.58, p = .004). Women with periodontitis had significantly higher risk of breast cancer (SIR 2.40, 95% CI 0.88-5.33) and men with periodontitis had significantly higher risk of prostate cancer (SIR 3.75, 95% CI 0.95-10.21) and hematological cancers (SIR 6.97, 95% CI 1.77-18.98).

CONCLUSION

Although showing a causal association necessitates further investigation, our results support the idea that periodontitis might be associated with increased cancer risk, particularly with hematological, breast and prostate cancers.

The Effect of Total Size of Lesions in Multifocal/Multicentric Breast Cancer on Survival

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to assess the prognostic performance of determining the T stage according to the total size of lesions compared with the size of the largest lesion in the breast in patients with multifocal/multicentric (MF/MC) breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The charts of the patients with MF/MC breast cancer who were diagnosed between 2003 and 2014 were reviewed. The T stage of MF/MC tumors was determined according to the largest lesion size (T_max) as well as the sum of the longest diameters of the lesions (T_sum) in the breast.

RESULTS

Multifocal/multicentric tumors were identified in 323 of 3890 patients (8.3%) with breast cancer. Ten-year rates of overall survival (OS; 75% and 74%; P = .965) and disease-free survival (DFS; 66% and 61%; P = .817) were similar in patients with unifocal and MF/MC tumors, respectively. When the T stage was determined by summing the sizes of the lesions, the T stage of 67 (20.7%) and 63 (19.5%) patients advanced from T1 to T2 and from T2 to T3, respectively. Thus, the T stage increased in 130 patients (40.2%) according to American Joint Committee on Cancer. Discriminatory ability of T_sum was better than T_max in terms of OS and DFS, as shown with higher Royston D and Harrel C statistics and Schemper V values.

CONCLUSION

The new T classification proposed in this report stands out as a better predictive classification particularly in patients with low disease burden.

The Clinical and Mutational Spectrum of Turkish Patients with Cystinosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Infantile nephropathic cystinosis is a severe disease that occurs due to mutations in the cystinosis gene, and it is characterized by progressive dysfunction of multiple organs; >100 cystinosis gene mutations have been identified in multiple populations. Our study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and spectrum of cystinosis gene mutations in Turkish pediatric patients with cystinosis.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We identified the clinical characteristics and spectrum of cystinosis gene mutations in Turkish patients with cystinosis in a multicenter registry that was established for data collection. The data were extracted from this registry and analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 136 patients (75 men and 61 women) were enrolled in the study. The most common clinical findings were growth retardation, polyuria, and loss of appetite. None of the patients had the 57-kb deletion, but seven novel mutations were identified. The most common mutations identified were c.681G>A (p.Glu227Glu; 31%), c.1015G>A (p.Gly339Arg; 22%), and c.18_21 del (p.Thr7Phefs*7; 14%). These mutations were associated with earlier age of disease onset than the other mutations. To understand the effects of these allelic variants on clinical progression, the mutations were categorized into two major groups (missense versus deletion/duplication/splice site). Although patients with missense mutations had a better eGFR at the last follow-up visit, the difference was not significant. Patients in whom treatment began at age <2 years old had later onset of ESRD (P=0.02). Time to ESRD did not differ between the patients with group 1 and group 2 mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common cystinosis gene mutations identified in Turkey were c.681G>A (p.Glu227Glu), c.1015G>A (p.Gly339Arg), and c.18_21 del (p.Thr7Phefs*7). Patients with less severe cystinosis gene mutations tend to have better kidney outcome.

Abstract 1933: Discovery of first-in-class small molecule CD99 inhibitors for targeted therapy of Ewing sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive bone and soft tissue malignancy that affects predominantly children and adolescents with a high propensity to metastasize and poor prognosis. CD99 is a transmembrane cell surface protein that is highly expressed on ES cells, and routinely used as a marker for histological diagnosis of ES. We screened small molecule libraries for their binding to recombinant CD99 protein and subsequent selective inhibition of ES cell growth. We identified two structurally similar FDA-approved nucleoside analogues, clofarabine and cladribine that selectively inhibited the growth of ES cells in a panel of 14 ES vs. 28 non-ES cell lines. A significant negative correlation was found in human cell lines between CD99 expression and IC50 values for clofarabine and cladribine. Both drugs inhibited CD99 dimerization and its interaction with downstream signaling components cyclophilin A and PKA-RIIα as well as led to reduced ROCK2 protein expression and migration in ES cells. A membrane-impermeable analog of clofarabine showed similar cytotoxicity in ES cells, suggesting that it can function through inhibiting CD99 alone without any effect on DNA metabolism. Clofarabine and cladribine led to a significant increase in hypodiploid DNA content of ES cells, which was diminished by suppression of CD99 expression. Both drugs drastically inhibited anchorage-independent growth of ES cells, but clofarabine was more effective in inhibiting ES xenografts. Finally, the screening of a set of chemotherapy drugs revealed a synergy for the combination of anti-CD99 drugs and dasatinib in ES cells, which may translate into increased survival and reduced toxicity. Overall, our findings suggest that clofarabine is a good candidate for early phase clinical trials in children with ES.

Citation Format: Haydar Celik, Marika Sciandra, Bess Flashner, Elif Gelmez, Neslihan Kayraklıoğlu, David V. Allegakoen, Jeff R. Petro, Erin J. Conn, Sarah Hour, Jenny Han, Lalehan Oktay, Purushottam B. Tiwari, Mutlu Hayran, Maria Cristina Manara, Jeffrey A. Toretsky, Katia Scotlandi, Aykut Uren. Discovery of first-in-class small molecule CD99 inhibitors for targeted therapy of Ewing sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1933. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1933