Assessment of Plasma Vitronectin as Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Cirrhosis

Background: hepatitis C is an inflammatory liver disease caused by the hepatitis C infection (HCV), and without treatment, almost 50% will progress to liver cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of primary liver cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Aim of the study: the objective of this study was to evaluate the serum level of vitronectin (VTN) compared to AFP and determine their role as diagnostic and prognostic markers of HCV-related liver diseases. Subject and Methods: this study involved 52 HCV patients from which 26 patients were cirrhotic, and 26 patients had HCC (on top of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis) plus 10 healthy people as a control group. It was carried out in Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. All individuals in this study were subjected to physical examination, full history taking, liver function tests, assessment of serum levels of Vitronectin (VTN) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) before and after the intervention within three months. Results: serum level of vitronectin increased significantly in cirrhosis patients and HCC patients than controls (p = 0.0041), (p < 0.001), respectively, and in HCC than cirrhosis patients (p < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between levels of serum VTN and AFP in all HCV patients as well as cirrhotic patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, respectively). On the contrary, VTN and AFP didn’t show a significant correlation in HCC patients’ group. Moreover, the median serum level of VTN decreased significantly after treatment in patients with HCC (p < 0.001). At cut-off 38.5 ng/mL for AFP it shows sensitivity 80.8%, specificity 76.9% to differentiate HCC from cirrhosis cases. While VTN shows 84.6% sensitivity, 96.2% specificity at cut-off 26.5 μg/mL. Regarding clinicopathological characteristics and VTN levels, half of patients were stage B, 63.9% had tumor size >3 cm, 84.6% had more than one focal lesion. Conclusions: these results may allow one to speculate a potential role of Vitronectin in diagnosis and prognosis of HCC on top of cirrhosis related to HCV infection in addition to AFP and US and CT.

Аcute transverse myelitis and Guillain – Barre overlap syndrome in a patient with СOVID-19

We report a case of transverse myelitis and Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) overlap in the 42-year-old patient with moderate course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (СOVID-19). Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV 2 RT-PCR was positive. Severe neck pain developed in this patient on the 5-th day of СOVID-19. A few hours later weakness in the feet arised and then spread to the thighs and arms. Quadriparesis, arefl exia in all limbs, sensory loss below the level of T4 and bladder/bowel dysfunction were present. Pyramidal signs were negative. There was no increase of COVID-19 severity at the time of neurological signs development. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord showed the focal lesion in the C2-T1 segments, which was consistent with the features of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Along with the myelitis, acute motor axonal polyneuropathy was diagnosed. This diagnosis of GBS was supported by ascending weakness with arefl exia, albumin-cytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fl uid and the data of neuroelectrophysiological examination. We proposed that both myelitis and GBS had disimmune nature associated with COVID-19. The other possible causes of damage to the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system were excluded.Immunotherapy with high dose of intravenous immunoglobulins was administered. Steroids also were used taking into account the myelitis. At the follow up in 4 months the motor functions were found to be improved nonsignifi cantly, the patient was still severe disabled.

The role of BCL9 genetic variation as a biomarker for hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered one of the most common cancers related to mortality around the world, and susceptibility is related with genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Copy number variation of the Bcell CLL/lymphoma 9 (BCL9) gene is a type of structural variation which can influence gene expression and can be related with specific phenotypes and diseases and has a role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Our aims were to assess the copy number variation (CNV) in the BCL9 gene and explore its role in HCV-related HCC Egyptian patients. A total of 50 HCV-related HCC patients were enrolled in the study (including 25 early HCC and 25 late HCC cases); the copy number of the BCL9 gene was detected using quantitative polymerase reaction. Results There was a highly statistically significant difference between the two groups (early and late HCC patients) in gender, bilharziasis, performance status, child score class, child grade, focal lesion size, portal vein, and ascites. CNV was detected and represented by the gain in the BCL9 gene in 14% of patients, and all of them were males. Also, it was noticed that the ratio of gain in BCL9 copy number in late individuals was about 1.5 times than that in early HCC individuals. Moreover, our results showed that the distribution of performance status > 1, average and enlarged liver, focal lesion size, thrombosed portal vein, and AFP was higher in patients with BCL9 copy number gain. Conclusion We detected about 14% gain in BCL9 copy number in Egyptian HCC patients. But the variation in copy number of the BCL9 gene did not affect HCC development in our patients’ cohort.

Central Pontine Myelinolysis in a Child: Clinical Case

Background. Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is limited symmetric non-inflammatory demyelination in the middle part of pontine. This disease is based on electrolyte balance disorders. Although CPM was firstly described in adults, but it can also occur in children. Every new case of CPM in children has undeniable interest and high scientific and practical significance due to its low incidence. Clinical case description. The child, 7 years old, had acute development, lethargy, multiple vomiting, subfebrile fever, pains in epigastric region. It has happened after drinking an unknown herb growing in the yard and previously covered with the insecticide "Akarin", according to the mother. The child was hospitalized in the pediatric department at the place of residence. The patient developed strabismus, swallowing disorder, and muscle weakness on infusion therapy. Biochemical blood test has shown hypokalemia and hyponatremia. Head MRI has shown symmetrical focal lesion of heterogeneous structure in pontine. Conclusion. Distinctive feature of this case is the development of CPM in a child on the ongoing therapy of hypokalemia and hyponatremia. The timely provision of qualified medical care has favoured the child's recovery.

Anatomical Assessment vs. Pullback REsting full-cycle rAtio (RFR) Measurement for Evaluation of Focal and Diffuse CoronarY Disease: Rationale and Design of the “READY Register”

Background: The morphology and functional severity of coronary stenosis show poor correlation. However, in clinical practice, the visual assessment of the invasive coronary angiography is still the most common means for evaluating coronary disease. The fractional flow reserve (FFR), the coronary flow reserve (CFR), and the resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) are established indices to determine the hemodynamic significance of a coronary stenosis.Design/Methods: The READY register (NCT04857762) is a prospective, multicentre register of patients who underwent invasive intracoronary FFR and RFR measurement. The main aim of the registry is to compare the visual estimate of coronary lesions and the functional severity of the stenosis assessed by FFR, as well as the RFR pullback. Characterizations of the coronary vessel for predominantly focal, diffuse, or mixed type disease according to visual vs. RFR pullback determination will be compared. The secondary endpoint of the study is a composite of major adverse cardiac events, including death, myocardial infarction, and repeat coronary revascularization at 1 year. These endpoints will be compared in patients with non-ischemic FFR in the subgroup of cases where the local pressure drop indicates a focal lesion according to the definition of ΔRFR &gt; 0.05 (for &lt;25 mm segment length) and in the subgroup without significant ΔRFR. In case of an FFR value above 0.80, an extended physiological analysis is planned to diagnose or exclude microvascular disease using the CFR/FFR index. This includes novel flow dynamic modeling for CFR calculation (CFRp−3D).Conclusion: The READY register will define the effect of RFR measurement on visual estimation-based clinical decision-making. It can identify a prognostic value of ΔRFR during RFR pullback, and it would also explore the frequency of microvascular disease in the patient population with FFR &gt; 0.80.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04857762).

Changing Patterns of Symptomatic Myeloma after the Implementation of the 2014 IMWG Diagnostic Criteria and Reduced Early Mortality

In 2014, the IMWG updated the diagnostic criteria for symptomatic myeloma and in addition to classical "CRAB", implemented "biomarkers of malignancy" (BoM) (FLC ratio&gt;100, more than 1 focal lesion in MRI and bone marrow infiltration of at least 60%). As a result, a subset of patients previously considered as having "smoldering myeloma" were characterized as symptomatic and were eligible to start therapy; these criteria are also adopted in clinical trials. However, the impact of the 2014 IMWG criteria in the overall clinical presentation of symptomatic myeloma patients who start therapy or in the outcomes of patients who present only with biomarkers of malignancy, has not been fully appreciated. We evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients who started therapy in the past 5 years, when the 2014 IMWG criteria were implement in our clinical practice and compare their characteristics and outcomes with those of patients that started in an earlier period. To adjust for advances in diagnosis and especially imaging, the analysis included 1007 consecutive patients who started therapy in the Department of Clinical Therapeutics between 1/1/2010 and 31/12/2020. Our prospectively maintained database includes all consecutive patients who start therapy for myeloma. The patients were divided in two cohorts: those that started therapy after 1/1/2015 (after 2014 IMWG criteria implementation) and those that started therapy between 1/1/2010 and 31/12/2014. In these two chronological periods, methods for the assessment of disease were similar except for wider use of ldWBCT after 2013 and more frequent use of conventional CT before 2013. In the 2010-2014 period, 393 patients started therapy vs 614 that started between 2015-2020. Patients in the two groups had similar age (mean 67 vs 66.3, p=0.399) and similar b2-microglobulin levels (7.39 vs 7.33 mg/L, p=0.907) but hemoglobin (mean 10.2 vs 10.6 gr/dl, p=0.016), platelet counts (mean 230 vs 246 x10 9/L, p=0.021), serum albumin (3.6 vs 3.8 gr/dl, p=0.003) were higher in the 2015-2020 era. Although it did not reach statistical significance, mean bone marrow infiltration in trephine biopsy (60.5% vs 57.3%, p=0.056) and eGFR (mean 66.6 vs 62.3 ml/min/ 1.73 m2, p=0.057) were higher and mean serum calcium levels lower (9.9 vs 10.2 mg/dl, p=0.073) in 2015-2020 group, while, serum LDH &gt;ULN (19.6% vs 21.4%, p=0.513) and high risk cytogenetics (20.4% vs 20.8%) were found in similar rates. Accordingly, ISS and R-ISS stage distribution was similar (p=0.496). Per CRAB criteria, hemoglobin &lt; 10 gr/dl was present in 48.9% of patients in the 2010-14 period vs 43.6% in the 2015-2020 (p=0.1), hypercalcemia in 18.2% vs 15% (p=0.185), serum creatinine ≥2 mg/dl in 22% vs 18% (p=0.124) and lytic bone disease in 76.9% vs 76.8%, p=0.973). At least one CRAB was present in 96.4% vs 94% of patients in the two periods (p=0.603). Even in the era before the publication of the 2014 IMWG criteria, 3.6% of patients that started therapy did not fulfill the CRAB criteria of that time; in retrospect, most had at least one BoM present. In the 2015-2020 period, 6% of new patients were considered as symptomatic based on the presence of BoM only. The median follow-up of the 2010-2014 cohort is 63 months and is 25 months for the 2015-2020 group; the 1- and 2-year OS is 83% vs 90% and 75% vs 79% respectively (p=0.057) for the two groups; early mortality (within 3 months from start of therapy) was 7.4% vs 3.9% (p=0.016) respectively. The OS of patients starting therapy based on the presence of BoM only is not reached (3-year OS 87%) vs 59 months (3 year OS: 65%) for patients presenting with CRAB (p=0.051). Because there may be a lead time bias, we also compare the OS of patients with biomarkers of malignancy only vs those with CRAB and ISS-1 disease: OS was similar although with a trend towards better OS for those with BoM. In conclusion, the implementation of the 2014 IMWG diagnostic criteria has resulted in about 6% of newly diagnosed patients starting therapy based only on the presence of BoM. Although the implementation of the criteria has resulted in slightly better clinical presentation (less severe CRAB) and reduced early mortality, most patients still present with disease complications. These data point to the need to develop tools that can identify myeloma patients earlier during their disease course, before they develop devastating complications, in order to further improve their outcomes and quality of life. Disclosures Kastritis: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Genesis Pharma: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Gavriatopoulou: Karyopharm: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Genesis: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Terpos: Novartis: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; GSK: Honoraria, Research Funding. Dimopoulos: Takeda: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Beigene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria.

B-PRISM (Precision Intervention Smoldering Myeloma): A Phase II Trial of Combination of Daratumumab, Bortezomib, Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma

Background: Early therapeutic intervention with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HR-SMM) has shown to be effective by delaying time to progression to overt myeloma (Lonial J Clin Oncol 2020 Apr 10;38(11):1126-1137). Triplet and quadruplet combination therapies utilizing a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory agent and a CD38 monoclonal antibody are used extensively in patients with multiple myeloma due to far greater efficacy compared to lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. These combinations have been studied in HR-SMM, demonstrating encouraging activity, including ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone and elotuzumab, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. There are also current ongoing studies with curative intent utilizing more potent therapy in HR-SMM, including carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone with autologous stem cell transplantation (Mateos EHA 2019, abstract S871) and daratumumab, carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (NCT03289299). Daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-RVD) combination is highly effective and well-tolerated in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma at achieving high response rates as well as minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity based on results from the phase II GRIFFIN trial (Voorhees Blood 2020 Aug 20;136(8):936-945). Thus, we propose to examine the activity and safety of D-RVD in patients with HR-SMM. Study Design and Methods: This is a phase II single center, single-arm, open label study evaluating the combination of D-RVD in HR-SMM. Primary objective of this study is to determine the proportion of HR-SMM patients who are MRD negative at 2 years after receiving D-RVD. Secondary objectives include MRD negativity rate at 6 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, progression-free survival, response rates and safety. Exploratory objectives include assessment of mass spectrometry quantification of M protein, examination of molecular evolution of tumor cells and to determine role of immune cells in progression of SMM. Patients must meet criteria for HR-SMM based on bone marrow clonal plasma cells ≥10% and any one or more of the following: Serum M protein ≥3.0 gm/dL, immunoparesis with reduction of two uninvolved immunoglobulin isotypes, serum involved/uninvolved free light chain ratio ≥8 (but less than 100), progressive increase in M protein level (evolving type of SMM), bone marrow clonal plasma cells 50-60%, abnormal plasma cell immunophenotype (≥95% of bone marrow plasma cells are clonal) and reduction of one or more uninvolved immunoglobulin isotypes, high risk FISH defined as any one or several of the following: t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), del 17p or 1q gain, MRI with diffuse abnormalities or 1 focal lesion (≥5mm), PET-CT with one focal lesion (≥5mm) with increased uptake without underlying osteolytic bone destruction. Patients that meet high risk definition by the new Mayo/IMWG 2018 "20-2-20" criteria are also eligible if they have 2 out of the following 3 criteria: Bone marrow plasmacytosis ≥20% , ≥2g/dl M protein, ≥20 involved: uninvolved serum free light chain ratio. Treatment duration with D-RVD is for 2 years (24 cycles). Daratumumab is administered at a dose of 1800mg subcutaneously (SQ) weekly for cycles 1-2, biweekly for cycles 3-6 and monthly until completion of cycle 24. Bortezomib is given at a dose of 1.3mg/m2 SQ on days 1, 8, 15 for cycles 1-6 and then biweekly until completion of cycle 24. Lenalidomide is administered on days 1-21 at a dose of 25mg for cycles 1-6 and 15mg for cycles 7-24. Dexamethasone is administered weekly at 20mg cycles 1-6 and biweekly during cycles 7-24. All eligible patients will undergo stem cell collection after cycle 6 of therapy. A single-stage design will be employed with 30 eligible patients entered. If 12 or more of the 30 eligible patients are MRD negative at 2 years (observed rate of &gt;=40%), we will conclude that this treatment warrants further study. The probability of concluding that the treatment is effective if the true rate is 25% is 0.051 and is 0.90 if the true rate is 50%. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Nadeem: Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mo: Karyopharm: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Epizyme: Consultancy; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Eli Lilly: Consultancy. Sperling: Adaptive: Consultancy. Richardson: Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Secura Bio: Consultancy; Protocol Intelligence: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Regeneron: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Ghobrial: AbbVie, Adaptive, Aptitude Health, BMS, Cellectar, Curio Science, Genetch, Janssen, Janssen Central American and Caribbean, Karyopharm, Medscape, Oncopeptides, Sanofi, Takeda, The Binding Site, GNS, GSK: Consultancy.

The Relationship Between Leukocytes Numbers and Consciousness Level of Craniotomy Patients at The Jemursari Islamic Hospital Surabaya in 2018-2019

This study investigates the correlation between leukocyte number and the patient's awareness level after craniotomy surgery, both high (leukocytosis) and low (leukopenia). Several studies reveal that an increase in leukocytes affects mortality rates due to the high level of leukocytes affecting our body's functionalities, including awareness. Previous studies revealed that a leukocyte count exceeding 17.5x106/L was associated with a lower GCS score, a longer hospital stay, and worsening CT scan results, regardless of the type of focal lesion that occurred. This study uses observational methods in the form of retrospective case studies. The data was collected from the medical records of the Operation room at Jemursari Islamic Hospital in 2018-2019 with a sample size of 89. The research was conducted at Jemursari Islamic Hospital Surabaya from May 2018 to August 2019. Data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test with p <0.05. Results showed no significant relationship between the leukocyte count and the consciousness level of post-craniotomy patients. Future research could estimate the specific effects on the morphology of specific leukocyte cells that are elevated in post-craniotomy patients. This research is expected to provide insight into the effect of leukocytes on consciousness to reduce patient mortality after craniotomy.