Improving awareness of several combination therapies for acute myeloid leukemia among oncology and hematology team members in Colorado, USA

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although several combination therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have emerged recently, there has been a lack of published surveys and educational projects focused on these important treatment options. We aimed to improve the oncology team members' knowledge and awareness of several FDA approved combination therapies for AML, including glasdegib (DAURISMO®), venetoclax (VENCLEXTA®), GO (MYOLOTARG®),CPX-351 (VYXEOS®), and midostaurin (RYDAPT®). Additionally, we aimed to examine these teams' perspectives, views, and attitudes towards these topics and finally identify barriers to the implementationof such therapies in clinical practice. Method: Initially, we developed booklets and then distributed them to each participating oncology and hematology office. Subsequently, all participating oncology and hematology team members were asked to complete an anonymous online survey to test their knowledge of and attitudes toward the subjects. Main results: There was a total of 52 survey respondents. The correct answer regarding various combination therapies for AML was identified by nearly 70% or more of survey takers. The level of awareness of project subjects significantly improved after reading our printing materials. Many survey respondents were motivated to learn more about combination therapies for AML as well as discuss these topics with others. Conclusions: Our booklets effectively improved understanding and awareness of combination therapies for AML. Future studies should explore awareness, knowledge, and perception of other new and emerging combination therapies for AML amongoncology and hematology team members in other areas.

Recent developments in the medicinal chemistry of single boron atom-containing compounds

Various boron-containing drugs have been approved for clinical use over the past two decades, and more are currently in clinical trials. The increasing interest in boron-containing compounds is due to their unique binding properties to biological targets; for example, boron substitution can be used to modulate biological activity, pharmacokinetic properties, and drug resistance. In this perspective, we aim to comprehensively review the current status of boron compounds in drug discovery, focusing especially on progress from 2015 to December 2020. We classify these compounds into groups showing anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and other activities, and discuss the biological targets associated with each activity, as well as potential future developments.

Uso de láser de baja potencia como coadyuvante en tratamiento con terapias combinadas en paciente con parálisis facial periférica / Use of low level laser therapy as an adjunct in treatment with combined therapies in patients with peripheral facial palsy

La parálisis facial periférica es un trastorno neurológico que tiene consecuencias motoras y sensoriales y que afecta al nervio facial. Ocasiona alteraciones en la acción de los músculos del rostro, en la secreción de saliva, lágrimas y en el sentido del gusto.El objetivo de esta publicación es dar cuenta de un caso en el que se realizó un tratamiento con terapias combinadas mínimamente invasivas junto con el uso de láserterapia de baja potencia, en un paciente femenino, 52 años de edad, con antecedentes médicos relevantes, derivada para evaluación estética. La paciente presenta una parálisis facial moderada sin resolver. Fue sometida a láserterapia con longitud de onda (808 nm) y una energía de 3 Joules por sesión en el lado afectado, complementada con toxina botulinica Tipo A, en el lado sano.El tratamiento de parálisis facial periférica con terapias combinadas mínimamente invasivas ha mostrado ser una herramienta útil terapéutica de las secuelas faciales. A su vez, la terapia de fotobiomodulación con láser de baja potencia es prometedora como coadyuvante en el proceso de reparación nerviosa lo que permitiría la recuperación funcional del nervio facial a mediano y largo plazo.

Peripheral Facial Palsy is a neurological disorder that has motor and sensory consequences and affects the facial nerve. It causes alterations in the action of the muscles of the face, in the secretion of saliva, tears, and in the sense of taste.The objective of this publication is to report a case in which a treatment with minimally invasive combined therapies was performed together with the use of low-level laser therapy, in a 52-year-old female patient. With relevant medical history, referred for aesthetic evaluation and with unresolved moderate facial paralysis. She was subjected to laser therapy with wavelength (808 nm) and an energy of 3 Joules per session on the affected side, supplemented with Botulinum Toxin Type A, on the healthy side.The treatment of peripheral facial paralysis with minimally invasive combined therapies has proven to be a useful therapeutic tool for facial sequelae. In turn, low-level laser photobiomodulation therapy is promising as an adjunct in the nerve repair process, which would allow functional recovery of the facial nerve in the medium and long term.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of three regimens of artemisinin combination therapy in the management of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a comparative study

Background: The WHO now recommends the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies for the first-line treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria to reduce the drug resistance. Hence, this study was designed to compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of three regimens of artemisinin combination therapies in malaria diagnosed patients of Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Narketpally.Methods: Total of 104 subjects had been allocated to 3 different artemisinin-based combinations regimens in a period of 2 years during December 2013 - November 2015. Out of 104 subjects, 34 received artemisinin-sulphadoxine pyrimethamine regimen, 33 subjects received artemisinin-lumefantrine regimen, and 37 subjects received artemisinin-doxycycline regimen. All the three regimens were studied for their efficacy, safety and tolerability.Results: The mean number of febrile days in artesunate-sulfadoxine pyrimethamine group (3.43±0.92) and artesunate-doxycycline group (3.51± 0.74) were comparatively less than artemether-lumefantrine group (4.33±0.77) which is statistically significant. The mean Hb%, RBC count, WBC count was not significantly different on day 7 in comparison to day 1 in all the three regimens of treatment groups. 14 subjects among the 104 had mild thrombocytopenia which was significantly improved on day 7 in all the three regimens of treatment groups.Conclusions: Artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and artesunate-doxycycline regimens showed better efficacy, safety and tolerability than artemether-lumefantrine regimen.

Advances in immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

The theory of tumor immunity has gone through more than a century of exploration and shown remarkable clinical efficacy. Therapy based on targeting immune checkpoints,especially anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody monotherapy,has made significant progress in the treatment of advanced lung cancer.Consequently,the discovery of new immune checkpoints has be-come an area of interest.Additionally,combined immunotherapy is expected to be the future direction of immunotherapy.However, at this stage,immunotherapy has not yet resulted in widespread benefit.Identifying immune resistance mechanisms will further pro-mote individualized treatment.

The impact of three combinations vildagliptin/metformin, vildagliptin/pioglitazone, and metformin/pioglitazone on glycemic control and atherogenic dyslipidemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: There are limitations of currently recommended stepwise treatment for Type 2 diabetes, especially failure with monotherapies to achieve the strict glycemic control. This has prompted the intensification of therapy with such combinations which have additive efficacy and complimentary mechanisms of action. Vildagliptin is one such agent with the above potential which does not increase the risk of hypoglycemia and does not promote weight gain. Methods: It was a prospective, open-label, randomized, and parallel group study involving 90 patients, divided into three Groups A, B, and C. Group A given vildagliptin/metformin (50/500 mg), Group B vildagliptin/pioglitazone (50/15 mg)and Group C metformin/pioglitazone (500/15 mg) combinations twice daily for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was estimated biweekly while hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile, insulin, and C-peptide levels at 0 and 12th week. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Student’s t-test. Results: At the end, mean percentage of age fall in HbA1c and FBG from baseline was maximum in Group B, which was found out to be more efficacious than Group A and C (p<0.001) on glycemic parameters. Mean percentage of age decrease in triglyceride from baseline was maximum in Group C, which was found out to be more efficacious than Group A and B (p<0.001) on lipid parameters. The adverse effects were low in all the groups. However, the incidence of peripheral edema and weight gain was more with the use of Group C while nausea, vomiting, and nasopharyngitis was more with the use of Group A. Conclusion: Vildagliptin/pioglitazone combination is of choice in patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia but normal lipid profile while metformin/pioglitazone combination in diabetic patients with dyslipidemia.