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CIC‐rearranged sarcoma is a recently established, ultra‐rare, molecularly defined sarcoma subtype. We aimed to further characterise clinical features of CIC‐rearranged sarcomas and explore clinical management including systemic treatments and outcomes. Methods: A multi‐centre retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed between 2014–2019. Results: Eighteen patients were identified. The median age was 27 years (range 13–56), 10 patients were male (56%), 11 patients (61%) had localised disease and 7 patients had advanced (metastatic or unresectable) disease at diagnosis. Of 11 patients with localised disease at diagnosis, median overall survival (OS) was 40.6 months and the 1‐, 2‐ and 5‐year OS estimates were 82%, 64% and 34% respectively. Nine patients (82%) underwent surgery (all had R0 resections), 8 (73%) patients received radiotherapy to the primary site (median dose 57Gy in 28 fractions), and 8 (73%) patients received chemotherapy (predominantly Ewing‐based regimens). Metastases developed in 55% with a median time to recurrence of 10.5 months. In patients with advanced disease at diagnosis, median OS was 12.6 months (95% CI 5.1–20.1), 1‐year OS was 57%. Median progression‐free survival was 5.8 months (95% CI 4.5–7.2). Durable systemic therapy responses occurred infrequently with a median duration of systemic treatment response of 2.1 months. One durable complete response of metastatic disease to VDC/IE chemotherapy was seen. Responses to pazopanib (n = 1) and pembrolizumab (n = 1) were not seen. Conclusion: In this series, CIC‐rearranged sarcomas affected young adults and had a high incidence of presenting with, or developing, metastatic disease. The prognosis overall was poor. In advanced disease, durable systemic therapy responses were infrequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antipsychotic medication use for nursing home residents with dementia poses major patient safety challenges. This article investigates health professionals' experiences with decision-making during changes under the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes (National Partnership) and its companion state coalitions. These programs were introduced in 2012 to encourage reductions in antipsychotic use and increased use of nonpharmacological treatments for dementia. Interviews with 40 nursing home physicians and staff in seven states found that reducing antipsychotics is more time and resource-intensive than relying on medication, because it requires a person-centered approach. However, respondents supported reductions in antipsychotic use, and indicated that with sufficient staffing, effective communications, and training, they could create or implement individualized treatments. Their positive attitudes suggest that the National Partnership has been a catalyst in reducing antipsychotic medications, and their perspectives can inform further research, policy and practice in nursing homes toward achieving quality dementia care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Leventhal's common sense model of self-regulation highlights how specific beliefs about illness influence psychological outcomes. Little is known on how such beliefs relate to BRCA1/2 adjustment. Furthermore, beliefs about one's self-concept may be relevant to genetic conditions and may relate to psychological wellbeing.Methods: One-hundred and eighteen female BRCA1/2 carriers from an Irish University Hospital completed questionnaires for this cross-sectional study. Outcomes measured were state anxiety and physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Explanatory variables included sociodemographics, health anxiety, illness perceptions, coping and self-concept. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted.Results: Then, 44% of participants had clinically significant state anxiety and 12% had clinically significant health anxiety. Vulnerability, stigma, mastery and health anxiety explained 42% of the variance in state anxiety. Previous mental health difficulty, vulnerability, stigma, mastery and health anxiety explained 40% of the variance in mental HRQOL. Dysfunctional coping strategies were strongly related to the physical functioning aspect of quality of life.Conclusion: BRCA-specific beliefs related to self and health anxiety are important factors to consider in the adjustment to BRCA1/2 confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The association between pathological complete response (pCR) in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer and Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) is not clear. The aim of this study was to assess whether CTC enumeration could be used to predict pathological response to NAC in breast cancer as measured by the Miller–Payne grading system. Methods: Twenty-six patients were recruited, and blood samples were taken pre- and post-NAC. CTCs were isolated using the ScreenCell device and stained using a modified Giemsa stain. CTCs were enumerated by 2 pathologists and classified as single CTCs, doublets, clusters/microemboli and correlated with the pathological response as measured by the Miller–Payne grading system. χ2 or ANOVA was performed in SPSS 24.0 statistics software for associations. Results: 89% of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 11% invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). At baseline 85% of patients had CTCs present, median 7 (0–161) CTCs per 3 ml of whole blood. Post-chemotherapy, 58% had an increase in CTCs. This did not correlate with the Miller–Payne grade of response. No significant association was identified between the number of CTCs and clinical characteristics; however, we did observe a correlation between pre-treatment CTC counts and body mass index, p < 0.05. Conclusions: Patients with a complete response to NAC still had CTCs present, suggesting enumeration is not sufficient to aid surgery stratification. Additional characterisation and larger studies are needed to further characterise CTCs isolated pre- and post-chemotherapy. Long-term follow-up of these patients will determine the significance of CTCs in NAC breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]