Background and Aims New methods to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by DEXA may help discern sex, race and phenotype differences in the role of VAT in cardiometabolic risk. This study was designed to: a) compare relationships between cardiometabolic risk factors and DEXA-VAT, anthropometric and body composition measures; b) determine thresholds for DEXA-VAT by race; and c) determine the most robust predictors of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and metabolic syndrome (MetSx) in obese women. Methods VAT area (cm2) was measured using Lunar iDXA scanner in 229 obese (BMI 30-49.9) women age 21–69 years of European American (EA = 123) and African American (AA = 106) descent. Linear regression modeling and areas under the curve (AUC) compared relationships with cardiometabolic risk. Bootstrapping with LASSO regression modeling determined thresholds and predictors of IGT and MetSx. Results DEXA-VAT explained more of the variance in triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose and HOMA-IR compared to anthropometric and body composition variables. DEXA-VAT had the highest AUC for IGT (0.767) and MetSx (0.749). Including race and interactionXrace terms in modeling did not significantly change results. Thresholds at which probability was ≥ 50% for IGT or MetSx were lower in AA women (IGT: 2120cm2 AA vs 2550cm2 EA; MetSx: 1320cm2 AA vs 1713cm2 EA). The odds for IGT or MetSx was 3-fold greater with each standard deviation increase in DEXA-VAT. Conclusion DEXA-VAT provides robust clinical information regarding cardiometabolic risk in AA and EA women and has great potential in risk reduction efforts.

FIg. 1. Histology of liver biopsy showing ischemic necrosis of hepatocytes intermixed with macrophages.

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Background and objective: CAR T-cell therapy has significantly improved the outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). However, most clinical trials excluded patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement due to uncertain efficacy and safety. Material and methods: On January 1, 2022, we searched PubMed to identify all published literature associated with current commercial CAR T-cell therapies for B-NHL, including tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel), axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi- cel), brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel), and lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel). Studies that involved patients with either primary or secondary CNS lymphoma, and evaluated response rate, adverse events (AEs), or survival were included and summarized. Result: Herein, we summarize the results of 11 studies qualified for our inclusion criteria, reporting 58 lymphoma patients with CNS Involvement with 44 evaluable for clinical response, 25 for immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and 48 for Cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Objective response was achieved in 62% (16/26) of patients, and CR was achieved in 52% (23/44) of patients. Forty-four percent (11/25) developed ICANS, and 35% (17/48) developed severe ICANS (grade≥3). CRS was reported in 63% (15/24) of patients, while severe CRS (grade>3) was reported in 7% (3/42) of patients. Conclusion: Based on our PubMed literature review, we conclude that CAR T-cell therapy may benefit patients with CNS lymphoma with promising response rates and acceptable AE. However, definite conclusions cannot be drawn until data with a larger sample size is available.

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