441 Background: Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel has been reported to prolong survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. This drug combination was studied in such patients in the MPACT trial with an average age of enrolled patients being 63. Pancreatic cancer, however, is a disease of the aging with a median age at diagnosis of 70. Reductions in dosing by 20% or more in one or both components and has been shown to improve the tolerability of this regimen, thereby increasing treatment exposure. Our study aims to examine the efficacy and tolerability of this drug combination in an elderly population and how this is affected by schedule and dosing modifications. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 83 patients over the age of 70 with a median age of 79 who received this drug combination as first-line treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma at a single institution. Overall survival and progression-free survival were assessed as well as schedule modification, dose reduction, and rates of adverse events. Results: For patients with metastatic or non-metastatic disease, the mean overall survival and progression-free survival were found to be 10.57 months and 6.63 months, respectively. When only patients with metastatic disease are analyzed, these values were found to be 9.26 months and 6.05 months, respectively, which are similar to those observed in the MPACT trial. The most common adverse events of grade 3 or greater were fatigue in 34.9% of patients and hematologic adverse events including neutropenia in 27.7% and leukopenia in 25.3% of patients. Dose reductions were commonly used to mitigate adverse events. Reductions in either one or both drugs by at least 20% occurred in 84.3% of patients. Conclusions: Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in treatment of pancreatic cancer is well tolerated in an elderly population with similar rates of adverse effects when compared with previous studies, though this population experienced a significantly higher rate of fatigue. Dose reductions were used frequently in this population to improve tolerability, which may have contributed to the observed increase in overall survival in this population.

A 47-year-old Haitian male with no known past medical history was admitted to the hospital for gradually progressive dyspnea, nonproductive cough, and weight loss. He also endorsed a one-year history of joint pains. He was febrile and tachycardic and in mild respiratory distress. Other pertinent physical examination findings included diffuse inspiratory crackles, digital ulcers, and symmetric swelling of the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and knees. He was found to have a right basilar consolidation on chest computed tomography (CT) and was placed on antibiotics for presumptive pneumonia. His CD4 count was 158 cells per microliter despite testing negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A thorough infectious workup was unrevealing, and he did not improve with antibiotics. He had a weakly positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) with an otherwise negative rheumatologic workup. Creatinine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were mildly elevated in the absence of overt muscle weakness. A myositis panel, including melanoma differentiation-associated protein five (anti-MDA5) antibody, was negative at the time. He was discharged on a short course of prednisone without a definitive diagnosis. He returned several months later with worsening respiratory symptoms. At this time, a lung biopsy revealed interstitial lung disease. Repeat myositis panel demonstrated anti-MDA5 positivity. The patient was also found to have new-onset non-ischemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. A diagnosis of hypomyopathic dermatomyositis was made based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. The patient was restarted on prednisone, and mycophenolate mofetil was subsequently initiated for maintenance therapy.

We describe a 74-year-old female who presented with thrombocytopenia 20 days after receiving her first dose of the novel mRNA vaccine. After an exhaustive workup, Immune Thrombocytopenia was diagnosed secondary to her recent mRNA vaccine administration. She was treated aggressively with high-dose steroids and IVIG, with adequate response.

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Cardiovascular diseases can probably considered among the most important threat for population health in the 21 st Century. Healthy lifestyle and diet are key factors for a life free of chronic diseases. Prevention through diet and lifestyle is consequently a health priority. The accepted notion that diet has a significant influence on the development and prevention of cardiovascular disease triggers the studies supporting the benefits of healthy foods (e.g. fruits and vegetables), compared to foods considered less healthy (e.g. saturated fat). In general, for cardiovascular health is considered beneficial to add in daily diet food and nutrients which can have positive cardio protective effect. Nonetheless, the diet's success relies on the patient's ability to adhere to the diet regimen, and aspects like social setting, and ability to accommodate to lifestyle changes when giving dietary recommendations are a challenge to face with for prevention of the onset of cardiovascular and lifestyle related health conditions, which are becoming more and more common in recent years.