Showing results by author "Annenberg Center for Health Sciences" in All Categories

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed oncology but IV administration can cause infusion reactions, require line access, and add staff and chair-time burden. Recently, atezolizumab and nivolumab were approved for subcutaneous use, with more in development. In this podcast, oncologists Lucio Gordan, MD, and Saby George, MD, discuss the burden of IV ICIs, how subcutaneous options address these issues, compare efficacy and safety, and highlight the role of multidisciplinary teams in treatment decisions and workflow optimization.

The management of persons with obesity is challenging, made even greater due to the numerous myths and misconceptions among patients and clinicians. For example, “Obesity is a choice, not a disease.” “Weight loss of at least 10% is needed for any health benefit.” “Drugs should not be used because weight will only be regained once they are discontinued.” Science and clinical experience, however, tell us otherwise.

An interprofessional faculty of gastroenterology clinicians discuss real-world issues in managing patients with primary biliary cholangitis. Two mini-lectures serve as the foundation for understanding the diagnostic evaluation and risk factors of primary biliary cholangitis.

Survival outcomes for patients with HR+/HER2- mBC remain suboptimal, despite first-line treatment strategies with endocrine therapy (ET). Greater understanding of the biology of HR+/HER2- mBC, including the role of biomarkers like ESR1 mutations, and the development of biopsy techniques for early mutation detection, have paved the way for personalized treatment approaches. In this activity, medical oncologists discuss integrating these evidence-based advancements into practice.

Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness, greatly impacts patients’ functioning and activities of daily living. Important treatment advances continue to be made to reduce patient burden of disease and overcome safety, efficacy, and other limitations of available therapies. Join Nicholas Silvestri, MD, as he reports on research results of some of these advances presented at the 2024 American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting.

An indolent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, follicular lymphoma is characterized by eventual relapse of disease and the need for multiple lines of therapy, adding to the significant disease burden experienced by patients. Novel targeted agents in the relapsed/refractory setting have afforded new treatment options, but important clinical challenges exist, including optimal treatment sequencing, therapy evaluation and patient selection, transitions of care requirements, as well as toxicity management.

These case studies are part of a continuing education activity that provides an update on the epidemiology, monitoring, and treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented by Diane Kamen, MD, and Anca Askanase, MD.

In this activity, case studies commonly encountered in cardiology practice are utilized to prompt reflection on opportunities for reducing cardiovascular risk. Drawing on seminal research and their own experience, cardiologist Jorge Plutzy, MD, and endocrinologist Helena Rodbard, MD, navigate through a series of ‘clinical questions’ to inform regarding the clinical pharmacology of the GLP-1RAs and their evidence-based role in cardiovascular risk reduction, particularly in patients with secondary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Pruritus occurs in up to 70% of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), can be severe, and lead to increased morbidity-including worsening fatigue and quality of sleep. Standard of care treatment has relied on a variety of medications with limited effectiveness and tolerability adding to the patient disease burden. Alan Bonder, MD, and Kris Kowdley, MD, discuss unmet patient needs, pruritus assessment tools, and guideline-based therapy provided by an interprofessional care team.

The treatment of patients with NK, a rare disease of the eye that can lead to blindness, has evolved beyond treating symptoms to treatment that targets the root cause of the disease – nerve damage. Thus, early diagnosis is critical. Faculty discuss the etiology, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of patients with NK. In addition to an overview of symptomatic care and emerging treatments, the safety, efficacy, storage, and administration of cenegermin are explained in detail. Clinical and real-world questions are discussed, related to patient education, provided by multidisciplinary faculty.

This activity, developed by family medicine and mental health clinicians, discusses team-based screening recommendations, along with strategies for overcoming barriers in diagnosis, are applied to primary care practice. The risks and benefits of treatment, including nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic options, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and neuroactive steroid gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulators, are discussed, to enable the development of a personalized care plan using a collaborative care model.

Patients with long-chain fatty oxidation disorders (LC-FAODs) have historically been treated with diet modification and even-carbon medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation. In this 45-minute, case-based, modular activity, Sandra van Calcar, PhD, RD, LD, and Jerry Vockley, MD, PhD, address key topics, including disease presentation, historical treatment, emerging treatment with triheptanoin, and nutritional planning specific to patients with LC-FAODs.

Definition of excessive crying in infancy (ie, infant colic) Short- and long-term consequences of infant colic Connections between gut immaturity, dysbiosis, and colic Clinical management of infant colic Support for caregivers of infants with colic

Differentiating GER from GERD in infants The challenges of obtaining a definitive diagnosis of GERD Nonpharmacologic and nutritional management of GERD Practice pearls for thickened feeds Risks of acid-suppressive medications in infants GER and GERD case studies

The care of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease requires a multidisciplinary approach; hence, this activity takes a multidisciplinary approach to educate clinicians of various disciplines.

This education is about: - Overcoming challenges to optimal preterm infant nutrition - Strategic use of donor milk - Human milk fortification timing and clinical practice strategies - Influence of feeding types on the preterm microbiome - Emerging evidence on human milk bioactives - Interprofessional collaboration in the NICU

- Guidelines for complementary feeding - Early allergen introduction for food allergy prevention - Best practices and clinical considerations for early introduction of allergenic foods - Utilizing allergenic foods to help increase diversity during the complementary feeding period

Greater understanding and implementation of molecular biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have led to improved patient outcomes. However, optimizing therapeutic strategies for patients with a molecular alteration continues to be challenging for the multidisciplinary team. Among these alterations, ROS1 rearrangements are rare, but have important clinical implications.