Understanding Associations Between Patient-Level Factors and Participation in a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial.

Background: Although breast cancer (BC) clinical trials offer novel treatments, participating patients often do not represent populations seen in clinics. This study assessed how patient sociodemographics, attitudes, and knowledge about clinical trials may be associated with participation.

Methods: This cross sectional analysis used survey data collected August-September 2021 by Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC) and December 2022 by Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) among women with a BC diagnosis.

System-Level Transformations to Increase Patient Participation in Clinical Trials.

Purpose: Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration allowed cancer clinical trials to make modifications. As policymakers consider sustaining these modifications, understanding patient perspectives on impact is critical.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected between August 2021 and September 2021 by the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium and December 2022 by Patient Advocate Foundation among female breast cancer survivors.

Evaluating Billing Code Distributions in the Emergency Department Following the Implementation of the New Documentation Guidelines.

Objectives: Changes to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) evaluation and management (E/M) documentation guidelines implemented on January 1, 2023, were primarily meant to address dissatisfaction with the prior system; however, it was not known how the changes might alter billing distributions. In this study, we compare the proportion of visits for each E/M code before and after the enactment of the changes across 5 emergency departments (EDs) to determine the effects on billing.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational analysis of all ED visits for patients over 18 years across 5 EDs from January 1 to March 31 in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The Johns Hopkins Hope at Hopkins Clinic: supporting the comprehensive needs of individuals with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Individuals with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) may live with their disease for many years. We initiated the Johns Hopkins Hope at Hopkins Clinic to assess the needs and optimize the care of these patients.

Patients And Methods: Patients with MBC who agreed to participate in the Clinic in addition to usual care completed patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys.

Synovial Chondromatosis of the Hand and Wrist: A 35-Year Retrospective Case Review.

Synovial chondromatosis is a condition that rarely occurs in the hand and wrist. Recurrence and malignant transformation are two potential complications of the disease. We set out to retrospectively review 35 years of practice within our sarcoma and tertiary hand unit and identify recurrence or malignant transformation.

TBCRC 057: Survey about willingness to participate in cancer clinical trials during the pandemic.

Background: Breast cancer patients experienced heightened anxiety during the pandemic. Also, modifications to clinical trial activities allowing for virtual platforms, local assessments, and greater flexibility were introduced to facilitate participation. We sought to evaluate the association between pandemic-related anxiety and willingness to participate in trials and how pandemic-era modifications to trial activities affect the decision to participate.

Attempted replication of pharmacogenetic association of variants in PPP1R14C and CCDC148 with aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms.

Third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AI) are the standard treatment for patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer. While effective, AI can lead to severe adverse events, including AI-induced musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS). Genetic predictors of AIMSS have the potential to personalize AI treatment and improve outcomes.

Incorporation of emergent symptoms and genetic covariates improves prediction of aromatase inhibitor therapy discontinuation.

Objectives: Early discontinuation is common among breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Although several predictors have been identified, it is unclear how to simultaneously consider multiple risk factors for an individual. We sought to develop a tool for prediction of AI discontinuation and to explore how predictive value of risk factors changes with time.

Adjuvant platinum versus capecitabine for residual, invasive, triple-negative breast cancer: Patient-reported outcomes in ECOG-ACRIN EA1131.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are a better tool for evaluating the experiences of patients who have symptomatic, treatment-associated adverse events (AEs) compared with clinician-rated AEs. The authors present PROs assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and treatment-related neurotoxicity for adjuvant capecitabine versus platinum on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) EA1131 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02445391).

Outcomes of patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest transported to an ECMO centre compared with transport to non-ECMO centres.

To compare the outcomes of patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) transported to a hospital that provides extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) with patients transported to hospitals without ECPR capability. Retrospective review of patient care records in a pre-hospital and hospital setting. Adult patients with OHCA who left the scene and arrived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in progress at 16 hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, between January 2016 and December 2019.

Feasibility of Symptom Monitoring During the First Year of Endocrine Therapy for Early Breast Cancer Using Patient-Reported Outcomes Collected via Smartphone App.

Purpose: Treatment-associated symptoms drive early discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer. We hypothesized that symptom monitoring with electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) during adjuvant ET will enhance symptom detection, symptom management, and persistence.

Methods: Eligible patients were initiating ET for stage 0-III breast cancer.

Rethinking, reducing, and refining the classical oral tyramine challenge test of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.

The oral tyramine challenge evaluates the safety of novel monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors when taken with tyramine-containing food or drinks. In its current design, it comprises an extensive series of tyramine escalation steps until a blood pressure threshold is met. Due to the high variation in tyramine bioavailability, and thereby in blood pressure effect, this classical design has various limitations, including safety concerns.

Cardiac evaluation of hospitalized children with 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) infection at a single large quaternary center.

Background: Cardiac complications of serious SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C) are well described, however current studies have not considered pediatric patients hospitalized with no cardiac concerns. We established a protocol for cardiac evaluation of all admitted COVID-19 patients three weeks post-discharge, irrespective of cardiac concerns. We assessed cardiovascular outcomes and hypothesized that patients with absent cardiac concerns are at lower risk for cardiac abnormalities.

Factors associated with weight gain in pre- and post-menopausal women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

Purpose: Weight gain after breast cancer poses health risks. We aimed to identify factors associated with weight gain during adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET).

Methods: Women initiating AET enrolled in a prospective cohort.

Interrupting Endocrine Therapy to Attempt Pregnancy after Breast Cancer.

Background: Prospective data on the risk of recurrence among women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer who temporarily discontinue endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a single-group trial in which we evaluated the temporary interruption of adjuvant endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy in young women with previous breast cancer. Eligible women were 42 years of age or younger; had had stage I, II, or III disease; had received adjuvant endocrine therapy for 18 to 30 months; and desired pregnancy.

Characterization of pain-, anxiety-, and cognition-related behaviors in the complete Freund's adjuvant model of chronic inflammatory pain in Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Introduction: Chronic pain is often associated with comorbid anxiety and cognitive dysfunction, negatively affecting therapeutic outcomes. The influence of genetic background on such interactions is poorly understood. The stress-hyperresponsive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat strain, which models aspects of anxiety and depression, displays enhanced sensitivity to noxious stimuli and impaired cognitive function, compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) counterparts.

Kappa opioid activation changes protein profiles in different regions of the brain relevant to depression.

Depression is a widespread disorder with a significant burden on individuals and society. There are various available treatments for patients with depression. However, not all patients respond adequately to their treatment.

Phase I Study and Cell-Free DNA Analysis of T-DM1 and Metronomic Temozolomide for Secondary Prevention of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastases.

Purpose: Preclinical data showed that prophylactic, low-dose temozolomide (TMZ) significantly prevented breast cancer brain metastasis. We present results of a phase I trial combining T-DM1 with TMZ for the prevention of additional brain metastases after previous occurrence and local treatment in patients with HER2+ breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had HER2+ breast cancer with brain metastases and were within 12 weeks of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery, and/or surgery.

Organizational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study across four healthcare settings.

Objective: Organizational responses that support healthcare workers (HCWs) and mitigate health risks are necessary to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand how HCWs and key personnel working in healthcare settings in Melbourne, Australia perceived their employing organizations' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: In this qualitative study, conducted May-July 2021 as part of the longitudinal Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged Care Workers (COVIC-HA) study, we purposively sampled and interviewed HCWs and key personnel from healthcare organizations across hospital, ambulance, aged care and primary care (general practice) settings.

Factors associated with worsening sexual function during adjuvant endocrine therapy in a prospective clinic-based cohort of women with early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose: Sexual function problems are common but under-reported among women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Worsening scores on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) may identify those at risk for sexual function problems during treatment. We performed a secondary analysis of prospectively collected PROs in women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy to identify factors associated with worsening sexual function.

Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: the COVID-19 pandemic has incurred psychological risks for healthcare workers (HCWs). We established a Victorian HCW cohort (the Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers (COVIC-HA) cohort study) to examine COVID-19 impacts on HCWs and assess organisational responses over time.

Methods: mixed-methods cohort study, with baseline data collected via an online survey (7 May-18 July 2021) across four healthcare settings: ambulance, hospitals, primary care, and residential aged-care.

Late Recurrence Following Early Breast Cancer.

Journal Journal of Clinical Oncology,