Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. In these patients, such risk factors as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity are important modifiers of CVD risk. However, the period when HCT survivors are at greatest risk of developing these risk factors, and in turn CVD, coincides with a drop in engagement in survivorship care. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of a 4-week remote risk-based monitoring (blood pressure monitor, weight scale, pulse oximeter, glucometer) and management program in 18 (11 allogeneic and 7 autologous) HCT survivors at intermediate-high risk of CVD. The median patient age was 66 years (range, 53 to 74 years), 67% had hypertension, 22% had diabetes, 11% were obese (body mass index 30 kg/m 2 ), 56% were at intermediate risk of CVD, and 44% were at high risk of CVD. Weekly compliance with the remote monitoring schedule (3 readings/week using all devices) ranged from 72% in week 1 to 83% in weeks 2 to 4. Fifteen participants (83%) generated 86 alerts that were outside the predetermined range of normal; 63 of these readings (73%) normalized without intervention, and 23 (27%) necessitated triage by the study research nurse. Nearly all participants reported that the study kept them motivated and involved in their healthcare, and >85% agreed that the study supported their healthcare goals, helped them learn and manage their health conditions, and increased their access to healthcare. These findings may set the foundation for innovative risk-based and remote interventions to reduce the burden of CVD in this growing population of patients.

PURPOSE To examine the incidence and risk factors for de novo atrial fibrillation (AF) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and to describe the impact of AF on HCT-related outcomes. METHODS A retrospective cohort study design was used to examine AF and associated outcomes in 487 patients who underwent allogeneic HCT from 2014 to 2016 and to characterize patient- and HCT-related risk factors. A nested case-control study design was used to describe the association between pre-HCT echocardiographic measures and future AF events. RESULTS The median age at HCT was 52.4 years (18.1-78.6); the median time to AF was 117.5 days (4.0-1,405.0). The 5-year cumulative incidence of AF was 10.6%. Older (≥ 50 years) age (hazard ratio [HR], 2.76; 95% CI, 1.37 to 5.58), HLA-unrelated donor (HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.18 to 4.12), dyslipidemia (HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.23 to 4.68), and pre-HCT prolonged QTc interval (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.38 to 4.72) were independent risk factors for AF. Despite having comparable left ventricular systolic function, patients who developed AF were significantly more likely to have lower left atrial ejection fraction, left atrial reservoir function, and elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity prior to HCT, compared with patients who did not. The incidence rate of stroke after AF was 143 per 1,000 person-years. In adjusted analyses, AF was associated with a 12.8-fold (HR, 12.76; 95% CI, 8.76 to 18.57) risk of all-cause mortality and 15.8-fold (HR, 15.78; 95% CI, 8.70 to 28.62) risk of nonrelapse mortality. CONCLUSION The burden of AF after allogeneic HCT population is substantial, and the development of AF is associated with poor survival. We identified important associations between patient demographics, pre-HCT cardiac parameters, HCT-related exposures, and risk of AF, setting the stage for targeted prevention strategies during and after HCT.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are rare in pediatric and adolescent gliomas. We recently identified three adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients with IDH‐mutant low grade gliomas of the brainstem with several key clinicopathologic and molecular features in common. We discuss these three cases and review the current literature.

IDH-mutant astrocytomas are well-recognized in the adult population and while increasingly identified, are rare in children and young adults. These tumors typically arise in cortical locations, however cases of these tumors occurring in the brainstem have been reported in the adult literature. Here we present two cases of young adults with IDH-mutant astrocytomas of the brainstem. Patient 1 was initially diagnosed with an infiltrative low grade glioma (LGG) of the brainstem at 19 years of age based on conventional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy characteristics. She was treated with LGG therapy and had stable disease for over three years. At the time of disease progression she underwent biopsy and pathology was consistent with an anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH1 R132S mutant. Despite treatment she experienced rapid disease progression and died six months later. Patient 2 is a 17-year-old male who underwent up-front biopsy of an infiltrating brainstem lesion; pathology was consistent with diffuse astrocytoma, IDH1 R132H mutant. He was treated with focal irradiation and chemotherapy and continues to have stable disease 26 months post diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of IDH-mutant astrocytomas occurring the brainstem in young adult patients. Both patients’ tumors harbored accompanying TP53 mutations, but not ATRX mutations. These two cases reveal the importance of obtaining biopsies for brainstem tumors to perform molecular characterization and appropriate prognostication.

Objectives: To demonstrate in vitro that changes in ultrasound cavitation threshold might be used for non-invasively distinguishing high viscosity mucinous fluid from low viscosity serous fluid in cystic masses, based on the facts that cavitation threshold increases with increasing viscosity and that cavitation microbubbles are observable with diagnostic ultrasound. Methods: An in vitro model of a cyst was designed using dilutions of ultrasonic gel, and the cavitation threshold of this model was determined using focused and unfocused ultrasound for bubble initiation and clinical ultrasound b-scan for detection. Results: Viscosities of dilutions between 0% and 30% gel were had viscosities measuring between 1.05 ± 0.08 cP and 6600 ± 875 cP. Inertial cavitation in the latter was determined to require an order of magnitude greater intensity, at 1 MHz and 100% duty cycle, than the former (>2.2 W/cm 2 vs. <0.19 W/cm 2) using unfocused ultrasound. A four-fold increase in the peak negative pressure was required to initiate significant bubble activity using 1.1 MHz and 50% duty cycle focused ultrasound in the 6600 cP fluid compared with the 1 cP fluid. Based on these results, it was estimated that a threshold could be defined that would result in no bubbles in 99.9% of mucinous cysts and just 22% of serous cysts. The remaining 78% of patients presenting with serous cysts would be positively identified by detection of bubbles, and would be spared an unnecessary biopsy. Conclusions: The cavitation threshold may be used non-invasively to distinguish between high viscosity and low viscosity fluids in cysts and reduce biopsies on serous cysts.