Faculty Bibliography

Introduction Apnea is recognized as a serious and potentially life-threatening complication associated with Respiratory Syncope Virus (RSV). The literature reports a wide range of apnea rates for infants with comorbid factors. Prematurity and young chronological age have been historically associated with the risk of apnea in hospitalized infants. Few studies have specifically examined the risk of apnea in healthy infants presenting to the emergency department. Methods This is a retrospective review of infants diagnosed with RSV using a PCR assay. Patients were divided into "mild" and "severe" cohorts based on symptoms at presentation. This study occurred in the NYU Langone Long Island (NYULI) pediatric emergency department (ED), a midsize academic hospital in the Northeast United States. The study included infants <6 months of age, born full term without comorbid conditions such as chronic lung or cardiac conditions, seen in NYULI ED over three consecutive RSV seasons (2017-2020). The primary outcome was the risk of apneic events. Secondary outcomes included hospital admission, ICU admission, length of stay, and supplemental oxygen support. Results The risk of apnea was <2%, regardless of disease severity. There were no significant differences in demographics between mild and severe disease. Cohorts differed significantly in the number of hospitalizations (41 milds vs. 132 severe), ICU admissions (2 milds vs. 27 severe), need for oxygen support (17 milds vs. 92 severe), hospital readmissions (2 milds vs. 42 severe), and length of stay (2 days milds vs. 3 days severe). Conclusions Apnea does not pose a significant risk for healthy full-term infants with RSV disease of any severity. The decision to admit this population to the hospital should be based on clinical presentation and not solely on the perceived risk of apnea.

BACKGROUND:In the United States, uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been exceptionally low as compared with other vaccines. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, routine vaccinations were deferred or delayed, further exacerbating HPV vaccine hesitancy. The specific effect of the pandemic on HPV vaccination rates in the United States has not been yet described. METHODS:We aimed to determine the percentage of children achieving full HPV vaccination (2 doses) by age 15 years and to compare prepandemic to pandemic rates of HPV vaccination at pediatric practices across our institution. A retrospective chart review was performed to compare HPV vaccination rates in the "prepandemic" and "pandemic" periods for all children 9 through 14 years of age. Additionally, peaks in COVID-19 positivity were compared with HPV vaccination rates. RESULTS:Of children 9-14 years old, 49.3% received at least 1 dose of HPV vaccine in the prepandemic period, compared with 33.5% during the pandemic ( P < 0.0001). Only 33.5% of patients received the full 2-dose series of HPV prepandemic, compared with 19.0% of patients during the pandemic ( P < 0.0001). When COVID-19 positivity rates peaked, HPV vaccination also declined. CONCLUSIONS:The issue of low HPV vaccination rates was amplified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as illustrated by the correlation between peaks in COVID-19 positivity and low rates of HPV vaccination.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to examine the use and outcomes of perioperative anticoagulation (AC) in obese patients with a known history of venous thromboembolism event (VTE). METHOD/METHODS:A retrospective review of a prospective database for patients with a VTE history undergoing bariatric and general surgery at a single center (1/2008-12/2017) was performed. Factors assessed included demographics, surgical details, and outcomes. RESULTS:Sixty-five patients underwent 76 procedures: 46 females (71%); mean age 51 years (range 26-73), mean weight 284 pounds (range 110-558), mean body mass index 45 (range 19-87). Comorbidities include hypertension (60%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (54%), osteoarthritis (49%), obstructive sleep apnea (45%), and diabetes (37%). Operations: 22 general surgeries (29%), 20 sleeve gastrectomies (26%), 12 revisions/conversions (16%), 12 Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (16%), and 10 gastric bands (13%). Modalities: 67% laparoscopic, 28% robotic, and 5% open. Twenty-two patients (34%) had a pre-operative inferior vena cava filter placed with no complications. The mean length of stay was 4.4 days (range 1-31). Complications: seven 30-day readmissions (9%), one 30-day reoperation (1%), and two 90-day VTEs (3%). Thirty-day readmissions: four for inability to tolerate PO, two for small bowel obstruction, and one for symptomatic anastomotic ulcer. CONCLUSIONS:In our patients, post-operative AC could be started without an increased risk of bleeding in patients with a history of VTE undergoing bariatric surgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Historically, toxicity concerns have existed in patients with large prostate glands treated with radiation therapy, particularly brachytherapy. There are questions whether this risk extends to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). In this retrospective review, we examine clinical outcomes of patients with prostate glands ≥100 cc treated curatively with SBRT. METHODS AND MATERIALS/METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed a large institutional database to identify patients with histologically confirmed localized prostate cancer in glands ≥100 cc, who were treated with definitive-robotic SBRT. Prostate volume (PV) was determined by treatment planning magnetic resonance imaging. Toxicity was measured using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Many patients received the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Quality of Life questionnaires. Minimum follow-up (FU) was 2 years. RESULTS:Seventy-one patients were identified with PV ≥100 cc. Most had grade group (GG) 1 or 2 (41% and 37%, respectively) disease. All patients received a total dose of 3500 to 3625 cGy in 5 fractions. A minority (27%) received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which was used for gland size downsizing in only 10% of cases. Nearly half (45%) were taking GU medications for urinary dysfunction before RT. Median toxicity FU was 4.0 years. Two-year rates of grade 1+ genitourinary (GU), grade 1+ gastrointestinal (GI), and grade 2+ GU toxicity were 43.5%, 15.9%, and 30.4%, respectively. Total grade 3 GU toxicities were very limited (2.8%). There were no grade 3 GI toxicities. On logistic regression analysis, pretreatment use of GU medications was significantly associated with increased rate of grade 2+ GU toxicity (odds ratio, 3.19; P = .024). Furthermore, PV (analyzed as a continuous variable) did not have an effect on toxicity, quality of life, or oncologic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:With early FU, ultra large prostate glands do not portend increased risk of high-grade toxicity after SBRT but likely carry an elevated risk of low-grade GU toxicity.

PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:Modern literature has demonstrated improvements in long-term biochemical outcomes with the use of prophylactic pelvic nodal irradiation followed by a brachytherapy boost in the management of high-risk prostate cancer. However, this comes at the cost of increased treatment-related toxicity. In this study, we explore the outcomes of the largest cohort to date, which uses a stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) boost following pelvic nodal radiation for exclusively high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS/UNASSIGNED:A large institutional database was interrogated to identify all patients with high-risk clinical node-negative prostate cancer treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy to the pelvis followed by a robotic SBRT boost to the prostate and seminal vesicles. The boost was uniformly delivered over three fractions. Toxicity was measured using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Oncologic outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were created to evaluate associations between pretreatment characteristics and clinical outcomes. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:A total of 440 patients with a median age of 71 years were treated, the majority of whom were diagnosed with a grade group 4 or 5 disease. Pelvic nodal irradiation was delivered at a total dose of 4,500 cGy in 25 fractions, followed by a three-fraction SBRT boost. With an early median follow-up of 2.5 years, the crude incidence of grade 2+ genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was 13% and 11%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed grade 2+ GU toxicity was associated with older age and a higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Multivariate analysis revealed overall survival was associated with patient age and posttreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Utilization of an SBRT boost following pelvic nodal irradiation in the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer is oncologically effective with early follow-up and yields minimal high-grade toxicity. We demonstrate a 5-year freedom from biochemical recurrence (FFBCR) of over 83% with correspondingly limited grade 3+ GU and GI toxicity measured at 3.6% and 1.6%, respectively. Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate oncologic outcomes and late toxicity.

e18681Background: Patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment are at risk for bacterial infection during their period of neutropenia. However, not all neutropenic patients are at high risk for developing infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic oral levofloxacin in high, intermediate, and low infection risk patients with cancer in the ambulatory care setting. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 100 cancer patients with high, intermediate, and low overall infection risk who were prescribed outpatient oral levofloxacin prophylaxis between October 2019 and July 2020. This quality improvement project included adults with a history of malignancy and presence of neutropenia who have received chemotherapy treatment and oral levofloxacin therapy for overall infection prophylaxis. The primary efficacy outcome was the rate of hospital admission due to febrile neutropenia. The primary safety outcome was the occurrence of side effects of levofloxacin therapy. Secondary outcomes evaluated the duration of levofloxacin therapy, the rate of fluoroquinolone resistance in positive bacterial cultures, progression to sepsis in hospitalized patients and the rate of death due to mult-idrug resistance including fluoroquinolones. Results: Hospital admission due to febrile neutropenia after a chemotherapy cycle occurred in 18% of patients prescribed levofloxacin. Among hospitalized patients due to febrile neutropenia, 2% had low to intermediate overall infection risk and 16% had high overall infection risk. The primary safety outcome occurred in 25% of patients. The incidence of QTc prolongation occurred in 8% of patients; dermatologic side effects occurred in 9% of patients; the rate of Clostridioides difficile infection was 6%, and the rate of tendon rupture was 2%. Median duration of levofloxacin prophylaxis in the low overall infection risk group was 7 days, compared to the intermediate overall infection risk group (8.5 days) and the high overall infection risk group (14 days) with Kruskal-Wallis test p-value of 0.0009. The rate of fluoroquinolone resistance in positive bacterial cultures was 10%. Progression to sepsis in hospitalized patients occurred in 17% of patients. The rate of death due to multi-drug resistance including fluoroquinolone was 2%. Conclusions: Our findings signify preserved efficacy of levofloxacin prophylaxis in the ambulatory setting. Our findings should be considered to develop rational strategies to reduce fluoroquinolone overprescribing or limit duration of levofloxacin prophylaxis. If patients present with solid tumors and experience neutropenia, the use of antibacterial prophylaxis is not recommended because in general, patients recover from neutropenia quickly.

BACKGROUND:The 2021 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis' (ISTH) recommends standard doses of apixaban and rivaroxaban regardless of high body mass index (BMI) and weight, but had not compare DOACs head-to-head in obesity or address underweight patients. METHODS:Our aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DOACs in underweight and obese patients compared to warfarin. The primary endpoints include incidence of thromboembolic and bleeding events. Descriptive statistics was used for continuous variables. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the four-groups for continuous measures and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze categorical data. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, was used for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney test (the non-parametric counterpart to the two-sample t-test) for continuous data. RESULTS:Of 2940 patients receiving anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment or atrial fibrillation (AF), 492 met eligibility criteria. Within each group, 248 patients received warfarin, 101 received apixaban, 100 received rivaroxaban and 43 received dabigatran. Patients were characterized in 4 body mass index (BMI) categories, in which 80 were underweight and 412 were obese. CONCLUSIONS:When each DOAC was compared to warfarin in rates of VTE, apixaban showed statistically significant lower rate of VTE (p = 0.0149). However, no statistical significance was identified in the rate of VTE between DOACs combined vs. warfarin (p = 0.1529). When each DOAC was compared to warfarin, apixaban showed the lowest rate of overall bleeding (p = 0.0194). However, no statistical difference in the rate of bleeding was observed between DOACs combined vs. warfarin (p = 0.3284). Patients with extreme body weights requiring anticoagulation for VTE and AF may safety benefit from DOAC therapy. This evaluation showed apixaban with the lowest rate of VTE and bleeding compared to warfarin, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran. These results provide experience for the clinician to use DOACs, particularly apixaban, in underweight and obese populations.

The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of using serum gonadotropin levels to predict optimal luteinizing hormone (LH) response to gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) trigger. A retrospective cohort study was performed of all GnRH-antagonist controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles at an academic fertility center from 2017-2020. Cycles that utilized GnRHa alone or in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for trigger were included. Patient and cycle characteristics were collected from the electronic medical record. Optimal LH response was defined as a serum LH ≥ 40 mIU/mL on the morning after trigger. Total sample size was 3865 antagonist COH cycles, of which 91% had an optimal response to GnRHa trigger. Baseline FSH (B-FSH) and earliest in-cycle LH (EIC-LH) were significantly higher in those with optimal response. Multivariable logistic regression affirmed association of optimal response with EIC-LH, total gonadotropin dosage, age, BMI and Asian race. There was no difference in the number of oocytes retrieved (p = 0.14), maturity rate (p = 0.40) or fertilization rates (p = 0.49) based on LH response. There was no difference in LH response based on use of combination vs. GnRHa alone trigger (p = 0.21) or GnRHa trigger dose (p = 0.46). The EIC-LH was more predictive of LH trigger response than B-FSH (p < 0.005).The optimal B-FSH and EIC-LH values to yield an optimal LH response was ≥ 5.5 mIU/mL and ≥ 1.62 mIU/mL, respectively. In an era of personalized medicine, utilizing cycle and patient characteristics, such as early gonadotropin levels, may improve cycle outcomes and provide further individualized care.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1132777.].