Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Durable Response To Brentuximab Vedotin Plus Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, And Prednisone (Bv-Chp) In A Patient With Cd30-Positive Ptcl Arising As A Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (Ptld), Jennifer Hong, William T Johnson, Saritha Kartan, Anitha S Gonsalves, Jonathan M. Fenkel, Jerald Z. Gong, Pierluigi Porcu

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

T-cell PTLDs are lymphoid proliferations that develop in recipients of SOT or allogeneic HSCT. They carry an extremely poor prognosis with a reported median survival of only 6 months. The infrequency with which they are encountered makes treatment a challenge due to the lack of prospective trials to guide management. The significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality in T-cell PTLD, compared to B-cell PTLD, underscores the challenge of treating these patients and the need for new therapeutic options. Brentuximab vedotin, an ADC targeting CD30, is FDA-approved in combination with CHP as front-line treatment for patients with CD30 expressing PTCL. …

Therapeutic Resistance In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Current Challenges And Future Opportunities, Aditi Jain, Phd, Vikas Bhardwaj

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancerrelated deaths in the United States. Although chemotherapeutic regimens such as gemcitabine+ nab-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX (FOLinic acid, 5-Fluroruracil, IRINotecan, and Oxaliplatin) significantly improve patient survival, the prevalence of therapy resistance remains a major roadblock in the success of these agents. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms that play a crucial role in PDAC therapy resistance and how a better understanding of these mechanisms has shaped clinical trials for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, we have discussed the metabolic alterations and DNA repair mechanisms observed in PDAC and current approaches in targeting …

Severely Impaired Gastric Emptying In The Setting Of An Extensive Malignancy History: A Case Of Paraneoplastic Gastroparesis, Gregory Habig, Md, Justin Robbins, Md

The Medicine Forum

Gastroparesis is a disorder of the stomach involving a delay in the emptying of gastric contents that typically presents with nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and weight loss. Though commonly associated with diabetes or as a complication of surgical procedures, etiologies stemming from paraneoplastic processes are important to consider despite often being overlooked. The case presented here describes a patient with a significant malignancy history and evidence of severely impaired gastric emptying concerning for paraneoplastic gastroparesis and highlights the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the condition.

Risk Factors For Recurrence Of Clostridioides Difficile In Hospitalized Patients, Diaa Alrahmany, Benjamin J Ereshefsky, Wasim S El Nekidy, Gehan Harb, Laura Pontiggia, Islam M Ghazi

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Background: Diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis associated with Clostridioides difficile - a spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus - is a major infection in hospitalized patients with a profound impact on clinical and economic outcomes. Recurrence (rCDI) is common and predisposes to further episodes with poor outcomes.

Method: We aimed to identify a wide range of risk factors for recurrence to guide stewardship initiatives. After ethical approval, we commenced collecting demographic and clinical data of patients older than 18 years with clinically and microbiologically confirmed C. difficile infection. Data were statistically analyzed using R software.

Results: Of 204 patients included in the analysis, …

Characterization Of Gut Microbiome And Metabolome In Helicobacter Pylori Patients In An Underprivileged Community In The United States, Brian White, John Sterrett, Zoya Grigoryan, Lauren Lally, Jared Heinze, Hyder Alikhan, Christopher Lowry, Lark Perez, Joshua Desipio, Sangita Phadtare

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that infects approximately half of the world's population, is associated with various gastrointestinal diseases, including peptic ulcers, non-ulcer dyspepsia, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric lymphoma. As the burden of antibiotic resistance increases, the need for new adjunct therapies designed to facilitate H. pylori eradication and reduce negative distal outcomes associated with infection has become more pressing. Characterization of the interactions between H. pylori, the fecal microbiome, and fecal fatty acid metabolism, as well as the mechanisms underlying these interactions, may offer new therapeutic approaches.

AIM To characterize the gut microbiome and metabolome in H. …

Ischemic Bowel Disease In 2021, Monjur Ahmed

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Ischemic bowel disease (ISBODI) includes colon ischemia, acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). Epidemiologically, colon ischemia is the most common type followed by AMI and CMI. There are various risk factors for the development of ISBODI. Abdominal pain is the common presenting symptom of each type. High clinical suspicion is essential in ordering appropriate tests. Imaging studies and colonoscopy with biopsy are the main diagnostic tests. Treatment varies from conservative measures to surgical resection and revascularization. Involvement of multidisciplinary team is essential in managing ISBODI. Although open surgery with revascularization plays an important role, recently there is …

Gender Disparity In Host Responses To Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series, Rukaiya Bashir-Hamidu, Divya Chalikonda, Hie-Won Hann

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common causes of hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC), a malignant tumor with high mortality worldwide. One remarkable clinical feature of HBV-related HCC is that the risk of development is higher in males and post-menopausal females compared to other females. Increasing evidence also indicates that the prognosis of HBV-associated HCC may involve gender disparity, with females having more favorable out-comes. The proposed mechanism of this gender disparity is thought to be complex and multifactorial. Attributions have been made to gender differences in behavioral risk factors, host stress, immune response, psychology, metabolic risk …

Exploiting The Power Of Information In Medical Education., William B. Cutrer, W. Anderson Spickard, Marc M. Triola, Bradley L. Allen, Nathan Spell, Steven K. Herrine, John L. Dalrymple, Paul N. Gorman, Kimberly D. Lomis

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

The explosion of medical information demands a thorough reconsideration of medical education, including what we teach and assess, how we educate, and whom we educate. Physicians of the future will need to be self-aware, self-directed, resource-effective team players who can synthesize and apply summarized information and communicate clearly. Training in metacognition, data science, informatics, and artificial intelligence is needed. Education programs must shift focus from content delivery to providing students explicit scaffolding for future learning, such as the Master Adaptive Learner model. Additionally, educators should leverage informatics to improve the process of education and foster individualized, precision education. Finally, attributes …

Review Article: Diagnosis, Management And Patient Perspectives Of The Spectrum Of Constipation Disorders., Amol Sharma, Satish S C Rao, Kimberly Kearns, Kimberly D Orleck, Scott A Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation is a common, heterogeneous disorder with multiple symptoms and pathophysiological mechanisms. Patients are often referred to a gastroenterology provider after laxatives fail. However, there is limited knowledge of the spectrum and management of constipation disorders.

AIM: To discuss the latest understanding of the spectrum of constipation disorders, tools for identifying a pathophysiologic-based diagnosis in the specialist setting, treatment options and the patient's perspective of constipation.

METHODS: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed for constipation diagnostic criteria, diagnostic tools and approved treatments. The authors provided insight from their own practices.

RESULTS: Clinical assessment, stool diaries and Rome IV …

Introduction Of Gi Wellness Committee To Reduce Gi Fellow Burnout And Improve Wellness., Richard P. Denicola, Md, Melissa A. Vitolo, Md, Ritu Nahar, Md, Jorge Prieto, Md, Stephanie Moleski, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Gastroenterology (GI) fellowship is an arduous process which predisposes fellows to fatigue and burnout.

Our baseline survey showed a large number of our fellows to be in danger of burnout.

Aims for Improvement

• To improve the overall wellness of GI fellows, identify stressors and reduce incidence of burnout.
• The goal for the first 6 months of operation is to demonstrate improvement in Mini ReZ survey scores by 25% at starting from Sept 1st, 2020.

A Safety Assessment Of The Re-Opening Of An Academic Medical Center Outpatient Endoscopy Unit During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Scott Manski, Christopher Schmoyer, Alice Pang, Richard Denicola, Amy Javia, Melissa Vitolo, Linda Yan, Christopher Cao, Brianna Shinn, Divya Chalikonda, Giselle Mahoro, Ritu Nahar, Joshua Lieberman, Micaela Gernhardt, Neveda Murugesan, Alexandra Leto, Ryan Erwin, Taylor Kavanagh, Stephanie Moleski, Robert Coben, Mitchell Conn

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

• This study aimed to assess outcomes and satisfaction among patients undergoing outpatient endoscopic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Identifying the rates of COVID-19 symptom development and post procedure testing would provide critical information on patient safety
• Assessment of patient experiences would serve as a guide for potential areas of improvement
• We predicted that with proper protocols in place, outpatient endoscopy was a safe and positive experience

Presence And Implications Of Sarcopenia In Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis., Gregory Habig, Christa Smaltz, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle strength, mass, and functionality, confers a poor prognosis in the setting of cirrhosis. Given its clinical significance, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to cirrhosis, sarcopenia, and their co-occurrence may improve these patients' outcomes. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) shares many of the same etiologies as sarcopenia, including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and ectopic adipocyte deposition, which are hallmarks of metabolic syndrome (MS). NASH thus serves as a prime candidate for further exploration into the underlying pathophysiology and relationship between these three conditions. In this review, we discuss the natural history of NASH …

Novel And Emerging Therapies For Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Badr Al-Bawardy, Raina Shivashankar, Deborah D Proctor

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic, relapsing and remitting disorders of intestinal inflammation with potential systemic manifestations. Despite the availability of current biologics, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), anti-integrins, anti-interleukins and small molecules such as tofacitinib, the rates of primary and secondary treatment failure remain high in IBD. This highlights the importance of continued development of new therapeutic targets and modifications of existing ones to improve the treatment response rates and to also improve the safety profile and tolerability of these medications. In this review we will discuss novel treatment target agents …

Coronary Artery Disease And Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Clinical Correlation Using Ct Coronary Calcium Scans, Richard S. Kirby, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio

Phase 1

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) have been explored with coronary angiography which showed a link between severe NAFLD and CVD risk. This study’s aim is to determine if CT coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores used to determine CAD severity in asymptomatic populations can help predict presence of NAFLD.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of positive CT CAC scores and liver imaging with either CT, ultrasound, or MRI of the abdomen or CT of the chest. Drinking 7 or 14 drinks per week for a woman or man respectively and chronic viral hepatitis diagnosis …