J Neurointerv Surg. 2025 Mar 5:jnis-2025-023068. doi: 10.1136/jnis-2025-023068. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Newly diagnosed glioblastoma (ndGBM) remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat. Since the majority of patients experience tumor recurrence (rGBM) after first-line therapy, advancements in both initial and salvage treatments are essential.

OBJECTIVE: We report our single-center experience on the feasibility and safety of superselective intra-arterial cerebral infusion (SIACI) with bevacizumab or cetuximab after osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption (oBBBd).

METHODS: Partial results of three distinct trials (anonymized for blinded review) were analyzed. All patients were histopathologically confirmed to have either ndGBM or previously diagnosed ndGBM that progressed to rGBM despite standard therapy and had aKarnofsky Performance Status (KPS)≥70. All patients were admitted on the same day of the surgery, and the intervention followed similar steps in all included patients. Under general anesthesia, after oBBBd with mannitol, patients received SIACI.

RESULTS: Between October 2014 and March 2024, 70 patients with a mean age of 56.2±12.4 years (range: 19-78) underwent successful treatment, encompassing 139 SIACIs and 246 infusions. All planned SIACIs were completed successfully. Forty-one patients with rGBM received bevacizumab-SIACI, 7 with ndGBM bevacizumab-SIACI, and 22 with ndGBM cetuximab-SIACI. In 133 of 139 SIACIs (95.7%), patients were discharged home with a length of stay of 1 day. The incidence of patients who experienced procedure-related and drug-related adverse events was 11.4% and 8.6%, respectively. No procedure-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION: In our single-center experience, comprising the largest cohort of bevacizumab or cetuximab SIACI treatment for rGBM and ndGBM, this promising and cutting-edge intervention is highly feasible and safe.

PMID:40044413 | DOI:10.1136/jnis-2025-023068

J Affect Disord. 2025 Mar 3:S0165-0327(25)00345-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated adverse events (AEs) associated with Vortioxetine by analyzing extensive data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). We collected data from the FAERS database spanning ten years, from the first quarter of 2014 to the second quarter of 2024, focusing on drug-related AEs involving Vortioxetine. A comprehensive analysis was performed using multiple signal detection methods, including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS). Among 13,116 reports where Vortioxetine was identified as the primary suspect drug, AEs were categorized into 27 system organ classes (SOCs) and 146 preferred terms (PTs). The results highlighted significant signals for common AEs, such as psychiatric disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and nervous system disorders. Notably, feeling guilty exhibited the strongest signal strength; however, its clinical relevance requires cautious interpretation. Additionally, the study identified novel signals not listed in the drug label but potentially of clinical value, such as hyperarousal and alcoholic, which were significantly associated with Vortioxetine. Of particular note, AEs related to sexual dysfunction were the most diverse, while suicidal ideation was the most frequently reported. The study also uncovered rare but noteworthy signals, including hallucination and olfactory disorders, dermatillomania, and bruxism, which warrant further attention. In conclusion, while Vortioxetine demonstrates multifaceted benefits in alleviating symptoms of depression, its clinical use requires a comprehensive evaluation of potential risks. Developing safe and rational treatment strategies is essential to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

PMID:40044085 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.007

BMJ Open Respir Res. 2023 Apr 6;10(1):e001342. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001342.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have improved outcomes for patients with many malignancies. However, these treatments are associated with immune-related adverse events, including pulmonary toxicity (pneumonitis). Pneumonitis is associated with significant short-term morbidity and mortality, but long-term outcomes are not well described.

METHODS: We used the Vanderbilt Synthetic Derivative, a deidentified electronic health record database of >2.5 million patients seen at Vanderbilt, to identify patient charts that included treatment with pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, ipilimumab and nivolumab, atezolizumab or durvalumab by keyword search and ICD-10 codes for acute respiratory failure and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. We manually reviewed these charts and identified 78 subjects who met criteria for probable pneumonitis which included patients presenting with symptoms (dyspnoea, hypoxia, cough) and/or CT imaging consistent with this diagnosis. We collected data on demographics, ICI regimen, hospital admissions and long-term survival.

RESULTS: Of the 78 patients (48 males; median age 64 (range 28-81)), 52 patients required at least 1 hospital admission related to pneumonitis. A total of 25 patients experienced poor short-term outcomes (including 6 referred to hospice, 11 discharged to rehabilitation and 9 deaths). There was no association with these outcomes by patient age (p=0.96), sex (p=0.60), smoking status (p=0.63) or cancer type (p=0.13). Median duration of follow-up was 8.3 months (range 0.2-110.6 months), and 29 patients (37%) were alive at last follow-up. Patients admitted to the hospital were more likely to die (p=0.002) and less likely to receive additional treatment (p<0.0001) or survive for ≥12 months with no evidence of disease (p=0.02). There were no differences in long-term outcomes for patients with underlying pulmonary comorbidities.

DISCUSSION: ICI-pneumonitis has a high likelihood of causing hospitalisation and poor outcomes, including death. While there appears to be no difference in outcomes for patients with underling pulmonary comorbidities, those requiring admission have worse outcomes.

PMID:40042935 | DOI:10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001342

Front Immunol. 2025 Feb 18;16:1508512. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1508512. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of all-grade, grade ≥ 3, and onset time of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.

METHODS: This retrospective analysis included cancer patients treated with ICIs at Chongqing Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital from 2018 to 2024. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were used to identify predictors of all-grade and grade ≥ 3 irAEs and the time of irAE onset.

RESULTS: Among the 3,795 patients analyzed, 1,101 (29.0%) developed all-grade irAEs, and 175 (4.6%) experienced grade ≥ 3 irAEs. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that female (OR = 1.37, p < 0.001), combination therapy (OR = 1.87, p < 0.001), pre-existing autoimmune diseases (AIDs) (OR = 5.15, p < 0.001), pre-existing cirrhosis (OR = 1.34, p = 0.001), antibiotic use during ICIs treatment (OR = 1.51, p < 0.001), and a higher baseline prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (OR = 1.23, p = 0.01) were significant predictors for the development of all-grade irAEs. The predictors for grade ≥ 3 irAEs included age ≥ 60 (OR = 1.49, p = 0.023) and pre-existing AIDs (OR = 2.09, p = 0.005), For the onset time, predictors included female (HR = 1.26, p = 0.001), combination therapy (HR = 1.80, p < 0.001), pre-existing AIDs (HR = 2.25, p < 0.001), and pre-existing infection (HR = 1.20, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS: Females, combination therapy, pre-existing AIDs and cirrhosis, antibiotics, and a higher baseline PNI are associated with a higher risk of developing all-grade irAEs. Those aged ≥ 60 and with pre-existing AIDs face a higher risk of severe irAEs. Females, undergoing combination therapy, with pre-existing AIDs and infection generally experience a shorter time to irAEs onset. Multicentric prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.

PMID:40040713 | PMC:PMC11876122 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1508512

BMC Geriatr. 2025 Mar 4;25(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-05732-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Older adults are vulnerable to adverse drug events given the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes that coming with ageing, as well as they often take multiple medications for their chronic health conditions, especially older co-morbidities. ADEs can cause unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalization, which contribute to financial burden and decreased quality of life. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of adverse drug events in elderly co-morbid patients in Liaoning province and explore its risk factors, in order to ensure medication safety in elderly patients.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled elderly patients with co-morbidities, and the data were collected by nurses using a structured interview method for elderly patients with multimorbidity. Risk factors for patient-reported adverse drug events were identified by univariate and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 329 elderly patients were enrolled, among whom 169 were females, with an age ranging from 61 to 90 years. 205 participants (62.3%) had 462 "possible-probable-certain" adverse drug events, and 156 (47.4%) experienced two or more self-reported adverse drug events concurrently. The logistic regression analysis included four variables: female (OR = 2.194, 95% confidence interval 1.281-3.760, P = 0.004), numbers of daily drugs > 12 (OR = 2.257, 95% confidence interval 1.254-4.061, P = 0.007), history of fall within 1 year (OR = 3.106, 95% confidence interval 1.112-8.674, P = 0.031), and medication noncompliance (OR = 3.768, 95% confidence interval 1.535-9.249, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION: Patient-reported adverse drug events are more prevalent in older co-morbid patients in Liaoning province. Female, numbers of daily drugs, fall history with 1 year and poor medication compliance were significantly and independently associated with adverse drug events. These findings may provide informative interventions for the medication management in elderly patients living with multimorbidity.

PMID:40038590 | DOI:10.1186/s12877-025-05732-z

Int J Psychiatry Med. 2025 Mar 4:912174251326009. doi: 10.1177/00912174251326009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is prevalent among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those undergoing dialysis, with significant impacts on morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis was done to evaluate the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in managing depressive symptoms in patients with CKD.

METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases from January 2007 to July 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating psychosocial interventions in CKD patients (Stage 4 or 5 or on hemodialysis) were included. The primary outcome was the change in depressive symptoms, measured by standardized clinical tools. Quality of life was a secondary outcome. Data extraction and bias assessment were conducted using ROB-2 and GRADEpro GDT tools.

RESULTS: Twelve studies with a total of 792 participants (420 in the intervention group and 372 in the control group) were included. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was the most common intervention. Psychosocial interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to routine care (mean difference [MD]: -4.22; 95% CI: -6.67, -1.76; P = 0.0008). High heterogeneity (I2 = 89%) was noted. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. The impact on quality of life was not statistically significant (MD: 0.94; 95% CI: -0.61, 2.49; P = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-quality evidence suggests that psychosocial interventions effectively reduce depressive symptoms in CKD patients. While no significant improvement in quality of life was observed, these interventions provide an alternative to pharmacological treatments, potentially minimizing drug-related side effects.

PMID:40037371 | DOI:10.1177/00912174251326009

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2024 Dec 30:1-5. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2448830. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Antineoplastic drug-associated adverse cardiovascular events (ACEs) are a concern; however, information on new antineoplastic drugs is limited. In this situation, signal detection and hypothesis building by analyzing the pharmacovigilance database are useful. However, increased numbers of reports on COVID-19 vaccine-related ACEs in the pharmacovigilance database have affected the results of the disproportionality analysis. Therefore, examining the effect of increased reports on COVID-19 vaccine-related ACEs on detecting anticancer drug-related ACEs is critical.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Disproportionality analysis was performed using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. Reporting odds ratio and information components were used as indicators to detect potential associations between drugs and adverse events. The analysis was performed in two situations: using all data in the JADER database and excluding cases with the COVID-19 vaccine.

RESULTS: Various antineoplastic drugs were associated with diverse ACEs. Additionally, safety signals for ACEs of some antineoplastic drugs were masked by reports on COVID-19 vaccine-related ACEs.

CONCLUSIONS: The rapid increased reports on COVID-19 vaccine-related ACEs in the JADER database had an impact on signal detection activities for antineoplastic drug-associated ACEs. Therefore, the impact of reporting COVID-19 vaccine-related ACEs on current signal detection activities should be evaluated over time.

PMID:40035831 | DOI:10.1080/14740338.2024.2448830

Ceska Slov Farm. 2025;73(2):93-102. doi: 10.36290/csf.2024.015.

ABSTRACT

Drug-related hospitalizations - insights from the Czech Republic Background and objective: Drug-related hospitalizations represent a significant burden on healthcare. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations and identify medications and clinical manifestations associated with drug-related hospitalizations in patients admitted to hospital through the emergency department.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined unplanned hospitalizations at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove through the Department of Emergency Medicine between August and November 2018. Data were obtained from electronic health records. The methodology for identifying drug-related hospitalizations was based on the guideline of the European project OPERAM. This article focuses on a subgroup of drug-related problems related to the medication safety.

RESULTS: Of the total 1252 hospitalizations analyzed, 145 cases were identified as drug-related. The prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations was 12% (95% confidence interval 10-13). In 62% of cases, medications only contributed to the cause of hospitalization. Antithrombotics, cytostatics, diuretics, and systemic corticosteroids were the most common medication classes leading to drug-related hospitalizations. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common cause of drug-related hospitalizations. The potential preventability of drug-related hospitalizations was 34%.

CONCLUSION: Drug-related hospitalizations remain relatively common, while some of them could be potentially prevented. Pharmacists can contribute to enhancing patient safety by detecting drug-related problems and proposing measures to minimize risks.

PMID:40035300 | DOI:10.36290/csf.2024.015

World J Mens Health. 2025 Feb 27. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.240295. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) is the only pharmacological intervention approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating interstitial cystitis (IC) to date. However, PPS may induce an adverse event, maculopathy, which can be a significant challenge. To determine the risk of PPS-induced maculopathy in patients with IC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched through July 2024. Two authors also independently and manually searched all relevant studies. We included national level cohort studies using healthcare claim big data or real-world data with the following criteria: (1) patients diagnosed with IC; (2) interventions included PPS as an active treatment; (3) comparisons were specified as non-PPS interventions; and (4) the primary outcome of interest was the risk of maculopathy. The pairwise meta-analysis was performed to compare the PPS treatment group with control used in IC. The primary outcome measure was the hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR), and proportional report ratio (PRR) of maculopathy after receiving the PPS treatment, as compared to non-PPS interventions.

RESULTS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and identified 6 studies with 411,098 patients. The pooled risk for maculopathy due to PPS in patients with IC was significant (HR, 1.678; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.066-2.642]). The heterogeneity test produced a Higgins' I-squared statistic, which was 83.6%. In the subgroup analysis of follow-up period of less than 5 years (HR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.139-1.449) and more (HR, 1.341; 95% CI, 1.307-1.375) were statistically significant, indicating that the patients with IC who had a long-term PPS treatment were more likely to have maculopathy than the control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the relationship between PPS and its association with the risk of maculopathy in patients with IC through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PMID:40034025 | DOI:10.5534/wjmh.240295

IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2025 Mar;29(3):1759-1770. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2024.3510297. Epub 2025 Mar 6.

ABSTRACT

Investigating the inhibitory effects of compounds on cardiac ion channels is essential for assessing cardiac drug safety. Consequently, researchers have developed computational models to evaluate combined cardiotoxicity (CCT) on cardiac ion channels. However, limitations in experimental data often cause issues like uneven data distribution and scarcity. Additionally, existing models primarily emphasize atomic information flow within graph neural networks (GNNs) while overlooking chemical bonds, leading to inadequate recognition of key structures. Therefore, this study integrates optimal transport (OT), structure remapping (SR), and Kolmogorov-Arnold networks (KANs) into a GNN-based CCT prediction model, CardiOT. First, the proposed CardiOT model employs OT pooling to optimize sample-feature joint distribution using expectation maximization, identifying "important" sample-feature pairs. Additionally, SR technology is used to emphasize the role of chemical bond information in message propagation. KAN technology is integrated to greatly enhance model interpretability. In summary, the model mitigates challenges related to uneven data distribution and scarcity. Multiple experiments on public datasets confirm the model's robust performance. We anticipate that this model will provide deeper insights into compound inhibition mechanisms on cardiac ion channels and reduce toxicity risks.

PMID:40030556 | DOI:10.1109/JBHI.2024.3510297

Malar J. 2025 Mar 3;24(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s12936-025-05295-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance involves systematically monitoring patients to seek detailed information about the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) following drug administration. The Seta technology was developed to improve active surveillance of AEs or pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries and geographically challenging areas. Seta actively solicits responses from participants via WhatsApp messages. The study aimed to determine whether Seta facilitated reporting of AEs and pregnancies to the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

METHODS: Malaria patients participating in the Tafenoquine Roll-out STudy (TRuST) in Brazil's Amazon region were invited to participate in this observational pilot study evaluating Seta. The study was conducted at two sites from 27 July 2022 to 28 October 2022. Seta sent messages to all participants on Day 7 and in Week 8 asking if they had experienced an AE or if they had become pregnant during the time since they took the malaria medication. If a participant responded "yes", a pharmacovigilance coordinator (PVC) called them to collect further details, which the PVC was then encouraged to report to ANVISA.

RESULTS: This pilot study included 149 participants, 50 from Manaus and 99 from Porto Velho. On Day 7, 117 (79%) of 149 participants responded to WhatsApp messages generated by Seta asking whether they had experienced an AE or become pregnant; 45 participants responded "yes". At Week 8, 64 (55%) of the Day 7 responders also responded, 10 of whom indicated that they had experienced an AE or become pregnant. A total of 55 follow-up calls were therefore attempted by PVCs, of which, 25 (45%) were answered and allowed for reporting of AEs and pregnancies, as appropriate, to ANVISA.

CONCLUSIONS: This observational pilot study provides insights into how digital reporting tools such as Seta can enhance pharmacovigilance in remote areas and build upon existing signal detection methodologies. Twenty-five AEs or pregnancies were reported to ANVISA that were unlikely to have been reported otherwise.

PMID:40033382 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-025-05295-9

Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 3;15(1):7411. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91753-y.

ABSTRACT

Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are at risk of progressing to active tuberculosis (TB), which remains a significant cause of death globally. Although various antiTB medications-rifampin and isoniazid-exist for treating for both LTBI and active TB, pharmacovigilance studies evaluating their adverse effects are especially scare for LTBI. Given the continued status of South Korea as having the highest TB incidence among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, this study examines drug-related adverse events (AEs) and identifies novel signals associated with rifampin or isoniazid in TB prevention and treatment in South Korea using the national AE reporting system. Analyzing data from the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management-Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database (KIDS-KAERS DB, 2301A0006) between 2017 and 2021, we observed that rifampin was frequently listed as a suspected drug in AE reports. Serious adverse events (SAEs), including life-threatening events and hospitalizations, were observed in LTBI as well as active TB cases when rifampin was the suspected drug. Novel signals, including QT prolongation and acne, were also identified, underscoring the importance of AE monitoring in LTBI or active TB treatment.

PMID:40032948 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-91753-y

BMJ Open Qual. 2025 Mar 3;14(1):e003022. doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-003022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Access to reliable data about patient's medications before surgery represents a challenge for reducing the risk of postoperative adverse events (AE) potentially related to preoperative treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact on AE of a nationwide ambulatory electronic pharmaceutical record (EPR) used by a pharmacist for best possible medication history (BPMH), associated with the preoperative evaluation.

METHODS: This quasi-experimental comparative interventional study included 750 adult patients with an available EPR, admitted to the preoperative clinic for elective orthopaedic surgery, between April 2014 and April 2017. Data analysis was completed in September 2022. In the intervention group, a pharmacist performed the BPMH using the EPR, before the patient's medical evaluation. In the control group, there was conventional preoperative evaluation. The primary outcome was the number of patients with at least one AE collected by using the trigger tool method, within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes were the number of medications reported in the medical record and the number of patients with at least one documented adverse drug event (ADE) by an independent committee within 30 days after surgery.

RESULTS: Of 1924 patients admitted to the preoperative clinic, 750 patients who had a record (39%) were included (153 (41%) men; median age 61 (49-71 and 50-70) years in both groups), 375 in each group. There was a 29% reduction in the proportion of patients with at least one AE in the intervention group (110/374 patients (29%) with 165 AE vs 156/372 patients (42%) with 233 AE) (OR 0.58 (0.43-0.78), p<0.01). There were significantly more drugs reported on the medical record in the intervention group (3 (1-5) vs 2 (1-4), p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of patients with ADE (71/374 patients (19%) with 96 ADE vs 80/372 patients (22%) with 108 ADE, p=0.44).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A BPMH performed by a pharmacist using a nationwide EPR at the time of preoperative evaluation contributed to reducing AE, potentially preventing harm to patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02071472.

PMID:40032596 | DOI:10.1136/bmjoq-2024-003022

Drug Ther Bull. 2025 Mar 3;63(3):34. doi: 10.1136/dtb.2025.000007.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40032363 | DOI:10.1136/dtb.2025.000007

J Vitreoretin Dis. 2025 Feb 27:24741264251322213. doi: 10.1177/24741264251322213. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the early real-world clinical outcomes regarding the safety and efficacy after administration of a ranibizumab biosimilar (Ranieyes). Methods: This multicenter retrospective uncontrolled observational study incorporated data from 7 centers in India. All patients were treated with at least 1 intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg of ranibizumab biosimilar between July 2022 and July 2023 for various indications. Results: A total of 474 ranibizumab biosimilar injections were given in 268 eyes of 254 patients. Indications were diabetic macular edema (DME) (n = 112), macular neovascularization (MNV) (n = 92), retinal vein occlusion (RVO) (n = 54), cystoid macular edema (n = 4), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage (n = 6). The mean logMAR BCVA (±SD) improved significantly from baseline to the last follow-up as follows: DME cases, from 0.77 ± 0.37 (Snellen equivalent, 6/36) to 0.43 ± 0.25 (6/15) (z = -8.0; r = -0.8); MNV cases, from 0.95 ± 0.53 (6/60) to 0.59 ± 0.42 (6/24) (z = -7.1; r = -0.8); RVO cases, from 0.83 ± 0.40 (6/45) to 0.44 ± 0.32 (6/15) (z = -5.5; r = -0.8) (all P < .001). All groups also had significant improvement in the central subfield thickness (all P < .001). No site reported drug-related adverse events (eg, inflammation, vasculitis, systemic adverse effects). Conclusions: The preliminary real-world data from this limited early series suggest that Ranieyes has clinical efficacy and is safe as a ranibizumab biosimilar across the approved indications.

PMID:40028177 | PMC:PMC11869221 | DOI:10.1177/24741264251322213

Cureus. 2025 Jan 29;17(1):e78185. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78185. eCollection 2025 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction A combination of ipilimumab/nivolumab has demonstrated a median overall survival (mOS) of 71.9 months in advanced melanoma, establishing it as the standard first-line (1L) therapy. However, the approval of this combination by the Portuguese Regulatory Authority occurred 76 months after its approval by the European Authority, leaving tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the only 1L option available for the BRAF-mutated melanoma population. Our study aims to evaluate real-world data from patients with advanced melanoma and assess the potential prognostic impact of the delayed availability of ipilimumab/nivolumab combination therapy on this population. Methods This was an observational, retrospective cohort study conducted at a Portuguese Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study included adult patients with melanoma who received innovative therapies in the 1L between May 2016 and December 2021 and who would meet the criteria for treatment with ipilimumab/nivolumab. The primary outcome measure was mOS; secondary outcome measures included median progression-free survival (mPFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety data. Results Our study included 172 patients, of which 50% were male, and 32.6% (n = 56) had BRAF-mutated melanoma. In 1L setting, 70.9% received anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) monotherapy, while the rest were treated with targeted therapies. The median follow-up time was 57 months. Patients treated with anti-PD-1 had ORR of 36.0%, mPFS of seven months (95% CI 2.9-11.1), and mOS of 19 months (95% CI 7.5-30.4). Among patients treated with targeted therapies, the ORR was 56.0%, mPFS seven months (95% CI 5.1-8.9), and mOS 14 months (95% CI 5.9-22.1). In our population, 10% presented grade 3 or higher adverse events, with no drug-related deaths reported. Conclusion These findings underscore significant disparities in access to innovative therapies in Portugal, which may have adversely impacted patients' outcomes. The delay raises ethical concerns regarding equity in healthcare access and highlights the need for policy measures to expedite the approval and availability of life-extending treatments.

PMID:40027067 | PMC:PMC11870778 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.78185

Respir Med Case Rep. 2025 Feb 10;54:102179. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2025.102179. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) of programmed cell death-1 category, used for treating various types of cancer. ICIs can sometimes result in immune-related adverse events. Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) induced by ICI has rarely been reported. We hereby report the case of an 83-year-old woman who experienced non-Aspergillus ABPM with eosinophilia induced by pembrolizumab that had been prescribed for treating bladder cancer. Steroid monotherapy with prednisone was successful and pembrolizumab could be resumed. Through the present case report, we urge the clinicians to be aware of the potential risk of ABPM as a T-helper type 2-associated immune-related adverse event.

PMID:40026847 | PMC:PMC11871464 | DOI:10.1016/j.rmcr.2025.102179

Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2025 Feb 17;5(1):e53. doi: 10.1017/ash.2025.24. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of patients with lower limb osteomyelitis (LLOM) and negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cultures treated with anti-MRSA therapy (AMT) versus those treated with no-anti-MRSA therapy (NAMT).

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

PATIENTS: Hospitalized adult (≥18 yr of age) patients admitted to multiple tertiary referral centers in a single healthcare system between April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2023, with LLOM and planned intravenous antibiotics for at least four weeks.

METHODS: Electronic medical records were queried for demographic information, admission dates, treatment strategies, imaging and culture results, and discharge diagnoses. Descriptive statistics measured baseline characteristics, imaging, and culture results.

RESULTS: Out of 473 patients, 64 met the inclusion criteria and 409 were excluded. Of the 64 patients, 26 (40%) had AMT and 38 (59%) had NAMT. A larger but statistically insignificant portion of patients in the NAMT cohort failed therapy (23% AMT vs 32% NAMT, P = 0.325). However, hospital readmission for LLOM within 180 days of antibiotic completion (46.2% vs 47%, P = 0.92), hospital length of stay (median (IQR): 6 (5-9) d vs 7 (5-12.5) d, P = 0.285), incidence of new renal replacement therapy initiation (0% vs 2.6%, P = 0.594), creatinine kinase levels (0 vs 2.6%, P = 0.594), and drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (0% vs 5.3% P = 0.349) were comparable between the two cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment failure rates and adverse events did not differ significantly among patients with LLOM treated with AMT or NAMT. Further investigation of determinants of clinical failures in LLOM may help optimize overall treatment.

PMID:40026767 | PMC:PMC11869046 | DOI:10.1017/ash.2025.24

J Brown Hosp Med. 2024 Oct 1;3(4):21-24. doi: 10.56305/001c.122729. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

Turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, has gained popularity as an herbal supplement due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the lack of standardized regulation for herbal supplements raises concerns about potential side effects and toxicity. This case report presents a 53-year-old woman with Behçet disease who developed biopsy-proven drug-induced liver injury (DILI) after initiating a turmeric supplement, with resolution of laboratory abnormalities after a positive supplement de-challenge. This case highlights the importance of noting herbal supplementation during medication reconciliation and underscores the need for rigorous regulatory oversight to ensure the safety of such products.

PMID:40026546 | PMC:PMC11864403 | DOI:10.56305/001c.122729

Cardiovasc Ther. 2025 Feb 21;2025:5711316. doi: 10.1155/cdr/5711316. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) encompass a group of diseases that affect the heart and/or blood vessels, making them the leading cause of global mortality. In our study, we performed proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses to identify novel therapeutic protein targets for CVDs and evaluate the potential drug-related protein side effects. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive proteome-wide MR study to assess the causal relationship between plasma proteins and the risk of CVDs. Summary-level data for 4907 circulating protein levels were extracted from a large-scale protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) study involving 35,559 individuals. Additionally, genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for CVDs were extracted from the UK Biobank and the Finnish database. Colocalization analysis was utilized to identify causal variants shared between plasma proteins and CVDs. Finally, we conducted a comprehensive phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) using the R10 version of the Finnish database. This study was aimed at examining the potential drug-related protein side effects in the treatment of CVDs. A total of 2408 phenotypes were included in the analysis, categorized into 44 groups. Results: The research findings indicate the following associations: (1) In coronary artery disease (CAD), the plasma proteins A4GNT, COL6A3, KLC1, CALB2, KPNA2, MSMP, and ADH1B showed a positive causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). LAYN and GCKR exhibited a negative causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). (2) In chronic heart failure (CHF), PLG demonstrated a positive causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05), while AZGP1 displayed a negative causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). (3) In ischemic stroke (IS), ALDH2 exhibited a positive causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05), while PELO showed a negative causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). (4) In Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the plasma proteins MCL1, SVEP1, PIP4K2A, RFK, HEXIM2, ALDH2, RAB1A, APOE, ANGPTL4, JAG1, FGFR1, and MLN demonstrated a positive causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). PTPN9, SNUPN, VAT1, COMT, CCL27, BMP7, and MSMP displayed a negative causal relationship (p-fdr < 0.05). Colocalization analysis conclusively identified that AZGP1, ALDH2, APOE, JAG1, MCL1, PTPN9, PIP4K2A, SNUPN, and RAB1A share a single causal variant with CVDs (PPH3 + PPH4 > 0.8). Further phenotype-wide association studies have shown some potential side effects of these nine targets (p-fdr < 0.05). Conclusions: This study identifies plasma proteins with significant causal associations with CVDs, providing a more comprehensive understanding of potential therapeutic targets. These findings contribute to our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and offer insights into potential avenues for treatment.

PMID:40026415 | PMC:PMC11870767 | DOI:10.1155/cdr/5711316