Yeap discusses the study by Kumar et al which demonstrates the power of relatively small but well-designed clinical trials to inform understanding of mechanisms underlying biological aging by testing ...a potential intervention. The results reported by Kumar et al are an informative advance in the quest to extend the healthy life span of aging population. Many of the endpoints studied by Kumar et al. were related to muscle, inviting comparison with other interventions involving muscle with multisystem effects. Testosterone is the classical anabolic hormone, increasing muscle mass and strength in older as well as younger men.
One risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is postulated to be vitamin D deficiency. To better understand the role of vitamin D deficiency in the ...disease course of COVID-19, we undertook a retrospective case-control study in North West England.
To examine whether hospitalization with COVID-19 is more prevalent in individuals with lower vitamin D levels.
The study included individuals with test results for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) between April 1, 2020, and January 29, 2021, from 2 districts in North West England. The last 25(OH)D level in the previous 12 months was categorized as "deficient" if less than 25 nmol/L and "insufficient" if 25 to 50 nmol/L.
The study included 80 670 participants. Of these, 1808 were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, of whom 670 died. In a primary cohort, median serum 25(OH)D in nonhospitalized participants with COVID-19 was 50.0 nmol/L (interquartile range IQR, 34.0-66.7) vs 35.0 nmol/L (IQR, 21.0-57.0) in those admitted with COVID-19 (P < 0.005). In a validation cohort, median serum 25(OH)D was 47.1 nmol/L (IQR, 31.8-64.7) in nonhospitalized vs 33.0 nmol/L (IQR, 19.4-54.1) in hospitalized patients. Age-, sex-, and season-adjusted odds ratios for hospital admission were 2.3 to 2.4 times higher among participants with serum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L compared with those with normal serum 25(OH)D levels, without excess mortality risk.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization. Widespread measurement of serum 25(OH)D and treatment of insufficiency or deficiency may reduce this risk.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard therapies for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥50%. ...Tumor mutation burden (TMB) also predicts response to ICIs but is often not available in real time for decision making in the first-line setting. Smoking exposure can be a proxy for TMB in NSCLC. The impact of smoking status on efficacy of PD-1 blockade in NSCLC patients with PD-L1 TPS ≥50% has not been well defined.
To investigate the relationship between smoking and activity of ICIs in NSCLC, we retrospectively studied 315 patients with NSCLC and PD-L1 TPS ≥50% at five USA academic medical centers. Objective response rates (ORRs), progression-free survival (PFS), and duration of response (DOR) were compared between never (<100 lifetime cigarettes), light (≤10 pack-years), and heavy (>10 pack-years) smokers. A subset of patients underwent next-generation sequencing to estimate TMB.
We identified 36 (11%) never, 42 (13%) light, and 237 (75%) heavy smokers with NSCLC and PD-L1 TPS ≥50% treated with ICIs. Objective responses were observed in 27%, 40%, and 40% of never, light, and heavy smokers, respectively (P = 0.180 never versus heavy; P = 1.000 light versus heavy). Median PFS and median DOR were numerically shorter in never and light smokers compared with heavy smokers (PFS 3.0 versus 4.0 versus 5.4 months; median DOR 6.9 versus 10.8 versus 17.8 months), but were not statistically different PFS: hazard ratio (HR) 1.37, P = 0.135 and HR 1.24, P = 0.272; DOR: HR 1.92, P = 0.217 and HR 1.79, P = 0.141.
PD-(L)1 inhibitors are associated with antitumor activity in NSCLC with PD-L1 TPS ≥50% regardless of smoking status. Nevertheless, there is a signal of potentially decreased durability among never and light smokers that should be further evaluated. Distinct immunobiologic features may affect initial response versus durability of antitumor immunity to programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade.
•In patients with NSCLC and PD-L1 ≥50%, TMB is lower in never and light smokers compared with heavy smokers.•PD-(L)1 inhibitors are active in a significant subset of never and light smokers with NSCLC and PD-L1 ≥50%.•Nonetheless, we observed numerically shorter PFS/DOR among never and light smokers compared to heavy smokers.•Distinct immunobiologic features may underlie initial response versus durability of response to PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly responsive to crizotinib. To determine whether ALK-positive NSCLC is also sensitive to pemetrexed, we ...retrospectively evaluated progression-free survival (PFS) of ALK-positive versus ALK-negative patients who had been treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC.
We identified 121 patients with advanced, ALK-positive NSCLC in the USA, Australia, and Italy. For comparison, we evaluated 266 patients with advanced, ALK-negative, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-wild-type NSCLC, including 79 with KRAS mutations and 187 with wild-type KRAS (WT/WT/WT). We determined PFS on different pemetrexed regimens.
Among 70 ALK-positive patients treated with a platinum/pemetrexed regimen, the median PFS (mPFS) was 7.3 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5–9.5). The mPFS of 51 ALK-positive patients treated with single-agent pemetrexed or nonplatinum/pemetrexed combinations was 5.5 months (2.8–9.0). For ALK-negative patients, PFS on all pemetrexed-based regimens was similar to that of ALK-positive patients, except in the specific setting of first-line platinum/pemetrexed where the mPFS was only 4.2 and 5.4 months in KRAS and WT/WT/WT patients, respectively. However, among patients with a never/light-smoking history (0–10 pack-year smoking history) treated with first-line platinum/pemetrexed, there was no difference in PFS between ALK-positive and ALK-negative patients.
PFS on pemetrexed or nonplatinum/pemetrexed combinations was similar in ALK-positive and ALK-negative patients. PFS on first-line platinum/pemetrexed may be prolonged in never/light-smoking patients regardless of ALK status.
Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the most commonly acquired skeletal muscle disease of older adults involving both autoimmune attack and muscle degeneration. As exercise training can improve outcomes ...in IBM, this study assessed whether a combination of testosterone supplementation and exercise training would improve muscle strength, physical function and quality of life in men affected by IBM, more than exercise alone.
This pilot study was a single site randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Testosterone (exercise and testosterone cream) and placebo (exercise and placebo cream) were each delivered for 12 weeks, with a two-week wash-out between the two periods. The primary outcome measure was improvement in quadriceps isokinetic muscle strength. Secondary outcomes included assessment of isokinetic peak flexion force, walk capacity and patient reported outcomes, and other tests, comparing results between the placebo and testosterone arms. A 12-month Open Label Extension (OLE) was offered using the same outcome measures collected at 6 and 12-months.
14 men completed the trial. There were no significant improvements in quadriceps extension strength or lean body mass, nor any of the secondary outcomes. Improvement in the RAND Short Form 36 patient reported outcome questionnaire 'emotional wellbeing' sub-category was reported during the testosterone arm compared to the placebo arm (mean difference 95% CI: 6.0 points, 95% CI 1.7,10.3). The OLE demonstrated relative disease stability over the 12-month period but with a higher number of testosterone-related adverse events.
Adding testosterone supplementation to exercise training did not significantly improve muscle strength or physical function over a 12-week intervention period, compared to exercise alone. However, the combination improved emotional well-being over this period, and relative stabilisation of disease was found during the 12-month OLE. A longer duration trial involving a larger group of participants is warranted.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
As men grow older, circulating testosterone declines while the incidence of cardiovascular disease increases. Thus, the role of sex hormones as biomarkers, and possibly contributing factors to ...clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease in the increasing demographic of aging men, has attracted considerable interest. This review focuses on observational studies of endogenous androgens, namely circulating testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which have examined their associations with cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Studies which have examined the associations of endogenous estrogens, namely circulating estradiol, with these outcomes are also discussed. In large prospective cohort studies of predominantly middle-aged and older men, lower circulating testosterone consistently predicts higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Of note, both lower circulating testosterone and lower dihydrotestosterone are associated with higher incidence of stroke. These associations are less apparent when myocardial infarction is considered as the outcome. Results for estradiol are inconsistent. Lower circulating testosterone has been shown to predict higher cardiovascular disease-related mortality, as has lower circulating dihydrotestosterone. It is possible that the relationship of circulating androgens to cardiovascular events or mortality outcomes may be U-shaped rather than linear, with an optimal range defining men at lowest risk. Epidemiological studies are observational in nature and do not prove causality. Associations observed in studies of endogenous androgens need not necessarily translate into similar effects of exogenous androgens. Rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the effects of testosterone treatment on cardiovascular risk in men.
Recent advances have indicated that osteocalcin, and in particular its undercarboxylated form (ucOC), is not only a nutritional biomarker reflective of vitamin K status and an indicator of bone ...health but also an active hormone that mediates glucose metabolism in experimental studies. This work has been supported by the putative identification of G protein-coupled receptor, class C, group 6, member A (GPRC6A) as a cell surface receptor for ucOC. Of note, ucOC has been associated with diabetes and with cardiovascular risk in epidemiological studies, consistent with a pathophysiological role for ucOC in vivo. Limitations of existing knowledge include uncertainty regarding the underlying mechanisms by which ucOC interacts with GPRC6A to modulate metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes, technical issues with commonly used assays for ucOC in serum, and a paucity of clinical trials to prove causation and illuminate the scope for novel health interventions. A key emerging area of research is the role of ucOC in relation to expression of GPRC6A in muscle, and whether exercise interventions may modulate metabolic outcomes favorably in part via ucOC. Further research is warranted to clarify potential direct and indirect roles for ucOC in human health and cardiometabolic diseases.
Highlights • Psychiatric disturbance and impaired cognitive function are features of overt hypothyroidism. • Free thyroxine in the high-normal range has been associated with cognitive decline and ...incidence of dementia. • Subclinical hyperthyroidism has been associated with impairment of cognition and dementia risk. • Mood disorders, psychosis and cognitive impairment can accompany overt hyperthyroidism.
Summary Background Compared with traditional photon radiotherapy, proton radiotherapy irradiates less normal tissue and might improve health outcomes associated with photon radiotherapy by reducing ...toxic effects to normal tissue. We did a trial to assess late complications, acute side-effects, and survival associated with proton radiotherapy in children with medulloblastoma. Methods In this non-randomised, open-label, single-centre, phase 2 trial, we enrolled patients aged 3–21 years who had medulloblastoma. Patients had craniospinal irradiation of 18–36 Gy radiobiological equivalents (GyRBE) delivered at 1·8 GyRBE per fraction followed by a boost dose. The primary outcome was cumulative incidence of ototoxicity at 3 years, graded with the Pediatric Oncology Group ototoxicity scale (0–4), in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary outcomes were neuroendocrine toxic effects and neurocognitive toxic effects, assessed by intention-to-treat. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00105560. Findings We enrolled 59 patients from May 20, 2003, to Dec 10, 2009: 39 with standard-risk disease, six with intermediate-risk disease, and 14 with high-risk disease. 59 patients received chemotherapy. Median follow-up of survivors was 7·0 years (IQR 5·2–8·6). All patients received the intended doses of proton radiotherapy. The median craniospinal irradiation dose was 23·4 GyRBE (IQR 23·4–27·0) and median boost dose was 54·0 GyRBE (IQR 54·0–54·0). Four (9%) of 45 evaluable patients had grade 3–4 ototoxicity according to Pediatric Oncology Group ototoxicity scale in both ears at follow-up, and three (7%) of 45 patients developed grade 3–4 ototoxicity in one ear, although one later reverted to grade 2. The cumulative incidence of grade 3–4 hearing loss at 3 years was 12% (95% CI 4–25). At 5 years, it was 16% (95% CI 6–29). Pediatric Oncology Group hearing ototoxicity score at a follow-up of 5·0 years (IQR 2·9–6·4) was the same as at baseline or improved by 1 point in 34 (35%) of 98 ears, worsened by 1 point in 21 (21%), worsened by 2 points in 35 (36%), worsened by 3 points in six (6%), and worsened by 4 points in two (2%). Full Scale Intelligence Quotient decreased by 1·5 points (95% CI 0·9–2·1) per year after median follow-up up of 5·2 years (IQR 2·6–6·4), driven by decrements in processing speed and verbal comprehension index. Perceptual reasoning index and working memory did not change significantly. Cumulative incidence of any neuroendocrine deficit at 5 years was 55% (95% CI 41–67), with growth hormone deficit being most common. We recorded no cardiac, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal late toxic effects. 3-year progression-free survival was 83% (95% CI 71–90) for all patients. In post-hoc analyses, 5-year progression-free survival was 80% (95% CI 67–88) and 5-year overall survival was 83% (95% CI 70–90). Interpretation Proton radiotherapy resulted in acceptable toxicity and had similar survival outcomes to those noted with conventional radiotherapy, suggesting that the use of the treatment may be an alternative to photon-based treatments. Funding US National Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital.
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