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A 44-year-old Polish man attended the emergency department complaining of cough and pleuritic chest pain. He had a fever of 38.6°C and his oxygen saturation (SpO2) was 97%. His medical history included childhood asthma. He took no medication or over-the-counter remedies. He was a smoker with a 60-pack year history and consumed 200 units of alcohol a week for 16 years, but reported he stopped drinking 1 month ago. He migrated from Poland 15 years ago and worked as a manual labourer. He denied any recent foreign travel. A chest X-ray (CXR) showed a cavitating lung lesion, and a subsequent urgent CT scan of the chest performed to rule out malignancy demonstrated a cavitating consolidation in the left posterior upper lobe and consolidation of the right lateral middle lobe (figures 1–4). Cavitating pneumonia in those with alcohol excess usually occurs in the posterior segments of the upper lobes. He was prescribed a 1-week course of co-amoxiclav for suspected bacterial pneumonia and was referred to the respiratory outpatient clinic to investigate these lesions further. At that time, his full blood count was normal. Figure 1 Coronal CT chest image showing cavitating consolidation in the left posterior upper lobe. Figure 2 Coronal CT chest image showing consolidation in the right lateral middle lobe. Figure 3 Axial CT chest image showing cavitating consolidation in the left posterior upper lobe. Figure 4 Axial CT chest image showing consolidation in the right lateral middle lobe. We met this patient 1 month later when he re-presented to the emergency department, with a 1-day history of moderate-volume haemoptysis and epistaxis on a background of left lateral chest pain, dry cough and exertional dyspnoea. He was apyrexic and his SpO2 was 95% at rest. He reported loss of appetite and 40 kg weight loss over the past year. Weighing 93 kg on admission with new onset lethargy …

Funder: Cancer Research UK (CRUK); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000289, Funder: DH | National Institute for Health Research (NIHR); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000272

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and osteoporotic fracture are both more common in older patients. Exposure to R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) is likely to increase the risk of fracture, but evidence is lacking to define fracture incidence in this group. Data on consecutive patients with DLBCL aged ≥70 years treated with 1 to 8 cycles of full or attenuated R-CHOP were retrospectively collected across 10 UK centers (2009-2019). Patients were followed up from starting R-CHOP for a minimum of 6 months and censored at 18 months; at last follow-up if

Objectives We sought to characterise the outcomes of patients with haematological malignancy and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in hospital in our regional network of 7 hospitals. Methods Consecutive hospitalised patients with haematological malignancy and SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified from 01/03/2020 to 06/05/2020. Outcomes were categorised as death, resolved or ongoing. The primary outcome was preliminary case fatality rate (pCFR), defined as the number of cases resulting in death as a proportion of all diagnosed cases. Analysis was primarily descriptive. Results 66 Patients were included, overall pCFR was 51.5%. Patients ≥ 70 years accounted for the majority of hospitalised cases (42, 63%) and fatalities (25, 74%). Mortality was similar between females (52%) and males (51%). Immunosuppressive or cytotoxic treatment within 3 months of the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a significantly higher pCFR of 70%, compared with 28% in those not on active treatment (P = .0013, 2 proportions z test). Conclusions Mortality rates in patients with haematological malignancy and SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital are high supporting measures to minimise the risk of infection in this population.

SummaryThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to unprecedented disruption to the normal way of life for people around the globe. Social distancing, self-isolation or shielding have been strongly advised or mandated in most countries. We suggest evidence-based ways that people can maintain or even strengthen their mental health during this crisis.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a common therapy for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The initial response rate for IVIg is 80%[1][1] and is typically rapid, with some patients responding in 24 hours, although usually in 2–4 days.[2][2] When IVIg is used alone, the response is

Artificial neural networks are machine-learning algorithms designed to analyse data without a pre-existing hypothesis as to any associations that may exist. This technique has not previously been applied to the risk stratification of patients referred with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Current assessment is usually with a points-based clinical score, which may be combined with a D-dimer blood test. A neural network was trained to risk-stratify patients presenting with suspected DVT and its performance compared with existing tools. Data from 11 490 cases of suspected DVT presenting consecutively between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017 were analysed, and 7080 for whom all components of the Wells' score, a D-dimer and an ultrasound result were available were included in the analysis. The data were broken into a training set of 5270 patients, used to develop the algorithm, and a testing set of 1810 patients to assess performance of the trained algorithm. This network was able to exclude DVT without the need for ultrasound in significantly more patients than existing risk assessment scores, whilst retaining very low false negatives rates. More generally, this approach may improve the analysis of complex data to support decision-making in other areas of clinical medicine.

Introduction Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and osteoporotic fracture are commoner in older patients (pts). Steroids and chemotherapy are recognised as a risk factor (RF) for fragility-related fracture and its associated morbidity. A small randomised trial (RCT) (Westin 2013) showed bisphosphonates stabilize bone mineral density (including all ages / histologies) in NHL pts. Despite this, there is a lack of data defining the specific incidence and fracture risk in older DLBCL pts post R-CHOP. We aimed to better define this risk in this specific cohort. Methods Data on consecutive DLBCL pts ≥70 years (y) treated with R-CHOP were retrospectively collected across 7 UK centres (2009-2019). Follow up was censored in 07/2019. All pts had untreated, de novo DLBCL or untreated transformed (to DLBCL) indolent B cell NHL. PTLD, HIV and pre-treated NHL pts were excluded. All pts received 1-9 cycles of full or attenuated R-CHOP with curative intent. Pts were excluded if they had progressive disease (PD) or died < 6 months (m) of cycle 1 R-CHOP (RCHOP1). A detailed anonymised database included ECOG performance status (PS), body mass index (BMI), history of osteoporosis / osteopenia, documented steroid pre-phase, vitamin D supplementation, calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels, and sites of bone DLBCL involvement. Fractures at diagnosis (DLBCL-related/unrelated) and pre diagnosis were collected. Fractures (including bone site) occurring during 18m from RCHOP1 were identified from radiology records. Pts were followed for a minimum of 6m and censored at 18m from RCHOP1, or at their last follow up if < 18m or at PD or death if between 6-18m. Baseline pt characteristics were descriptive. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan Meier methods and Cox regression with comparisons between categories using the log-rank test. Time to event analyses were measured from RCHOP1 until fracture event. Primary end point was 18m cumulative fracture incidence censoring pts at death or relapse. Univariable and multivariable analyses (UVA; MVA) of potential influencing RFs for fracture was assessed by Cox regression (Final stepwise model; p=0.1 for inclusion). Results Of 589 pts identified, 92 pts had PD or died prior to 6m and were excluded. 20 pts were excluded due to short follow up. Across 477 pts, the median age was 77 (range 70-93) y. 66% had an ECOG PS 0-1. The median cycles given was 6 (range 1-9). 27.3% received pre-phase steroids. The median BMI was 25.5 (range 14.2-48.1). 8.1% had a fracture prior to DLBCL, and 9.1% had a history of osteopenia or osteoporosis. 5.7% were current smokers, 3% had rheumatoid arthritis, 13.5% had type (T) 2 diabetes (DM), and 4.5% had a history of excess alcohol. At baseline, 25.2% had PET or CT-assessed cortical bone involvement. Overall, there were 52 fractures, including 50 within 18m follow up. Cumulative fracture incidence was 6.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4 - 8.9) at 6m, 9.5% (95% CI 7.1 - 12.6) at 12m and 11.5% (95% CI 8.8 - 14.9) at 18m (Fig A). 6 pts had multiple fracture sites (2; n=5, 3; n=1). 32 (62%) had vertebral fracture(s). Thoracic (34% 20/59) and lumbar vertebral (27% 16/59) were dominant sites (Fig C). 7/52 fractures were at the site of DLBCL involvement, 17/52 were at a different site from initial bone DLBCL involvement, 27/52 were in pts without bone involvement and 1/52 was unknown. Univariable RFs included female sex (hazard ratio (HR) 1.89 (95% CI 1.05 - 3.28)), known osteopenia or osteoporosis (HR 2.64 (95% CI 1.32 - 5.29)), DLBCL-related fracture at diagnosis (HR 4.05 (95% CI 2.07 - 7.92) (Fig B). Initial bone involvement was only associated with an increased risk in pts with a DLBCL-related baseline fracture (95% CI HR 4.56 (2.27 - 9.17)) (Table 1). MVA showed that DLBCL-related baseline fracture (HR 4.32 (1.97 - 9.47)) was the only significant independent RF for fracture with low BMI (p=0.051) and smoking history (p=0.052) of borderline significance (Table 2). Conclusions This is the largest series to date to show there is a clinically relevant fracture risk in older DLBCL pts specifically receiving R-CHOP in early follow up. Our data have limitations inherent to a retrospective study including the potential for unknown confounders, missing data, and medical record misinterpretation. Prospective data is required to validate RFs identified which could enable targeting a high-risk population. An RCT is needed to determine the value of prophylactic intervention(s) in high risk pts. Figure Disclosures Gibb: Takeda: Research Funding. Collins:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria. Eyre:Janssen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: commercial research support; Roche: Honoraria.

Background: Ibrutinib has transformed the clinical approach to relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with those receiving ibrutinib at first relapse obtaining the greatest benefit encouraging use earlier in the treatment algorithm (Rule et al, 2019). However, the general applicability of clinical trial findings is not established and concerns regarding ibrutinib tolerability persist, especially in non-trial populations enriched for frailer patients with multiple co-morbidities. In the United Kingdom, ibrutinib is funded as standard of care at first relapse. This study has analysed the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of this approach in a non-clinical trial real world population. Method: 23 centres across the United Kingdom contributed data from consecutive patients treated with ibrutinib for MCL at first relapse. Patients received standard dose 560 mg OD, unless documented, and commenced treatment between August 2014 and April 2019. Response to therapy was defined as per Lugano classification (Cheson et al, 2014), although CR assessment by bone marrow biopsy was not always undertaken. Data was collected on baseline characteristics, including response to prior therapy, and MIPI at time of relapse. The study primary outcome was PFS. Predictors of progression were determined using univariate Cox regression. Results: 169 patients were included in the study. Median age at start of ibrutinib was 72 years (range 33 to 97) and 122 (72.2%) were male. At diagnosis 13.5% had blastoid histology; 59.3% Ki67 ≥30%; 32.0% received cytarabine based induction and 27.8% HSCT consolidation; 11.2% received low intensity frontline therapy (i.e. not fit for R-CHOP) due to frailty. Median PFS following frontline therapy was 21.4 months (95% CI 14.6 to 28.3) and 52.1% progressed within 2 years. At start of ibrutinib 52.2% were MIPI high risk; 23.9% were ECOG 2 or higher and 2.4% had CNS involvement. Overall response rate (ORR) to ibrutinib was 71.6% with 30.4% achieving CR/CRu. Estimated median PFS from start of ibrutinib was 16.5 months (95% CI 11.5 to 21.5) and estimated OS 23.9 months (95% CI 13.0 to 34.8), with median follow up 26 months. Median PFS for patients with early relapse to frontline therapy (progression of disease 1 were also negative predictors of PFS (see table 1 for univariate analysis). 10 patients (5.9%) received attenuated dose from start of therapy due to frailty and 20 patients (11.8%) underwent dose reductions while on therapy due to drug toxicity. Of 109 patients to discontinue ibrutinib 72 (66.1%) were due to progressive disease, 15 for consolidation alloHSCT (13.8%), 13 due to medical co-morbidities and unrelated death (11.9%), and 9 due to drug toxicity (8.3%), including 1 bleed. Only 5.3% of all patients stopped therapy due to drug toxicity. Patients ≥80 yrs were more likely to stop therapy early for reasons other than progressive disease or alloHSCT (OR 2.92, p=0.02), but frailer patients who received low intensity frontline therapy also showed a trend for more durable response with second-line ibrutinib (PFS 10.0 months versus 4.0 months, p=0.36) justifying use in this patient group. Conclusion: This study population is enriched for several recognised adverse prognostic markers, including older age and poor performance status, which is likely to explain differences in PFS relative to clinical trial data. Despite these features response rates were similar, and it is notable that 46.7% of evaluable pts achieved longer PFS with ibrutinib than preceding front-line therapy. It is reassuring that the proportion of patients stopping ibrutinib due to toxicity was similar to trial data and bleeding events that required alterations to therapy were rare (3 cases, 1.8%). Although ibrutinib represents a significant breakthrough with clear benefit to most patients the results also highlight that outcome for many remains poor. 40% of patients progressed within 1 year of starting ibrutinib and median OS post ibrutinib was only 3.6 months. 35.2% of patients died within 1 month of documented relapse suggesting many, predominantly older patients, were not fit for further therapy. Of the 53 pts surviving beyond 1 month median OS was 7.5 months and 21.9% lived beyond 1 year. Improved treatment strategies in the post-ibrutinib setting remains a priority. Disclosures Rule: Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Napp: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy. Eyre:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: commercial research support; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria. Furtado:Abbvie: Honoraria. Shah:ABBVIE: Consultancy. Campbell:Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Educational support; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Educational support; Bristol Myers-Squibb: Other: Educational support; Roche: Other: Educational support; Celgene: Other: Educational support. McCarthy:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Educational grant to attend meetings . Lambert:Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Other: Funding to attend a scientific conference in 2018. McKay:Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Osborne:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy; MSD: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy. Bishton:Takeda: Other: Travel support, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel support; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Crosbie:Janssen: Honoraria.

Diagnosis and management of myeloma in the very elderly patient is challenging. Treatment options have vastly improved for elderly myeloma patients but still require the clinician to personalize therapy. In this paper, we offer evidence-based, pragmatic advice on how to overcome six of the main challenges likely to arise: 1) diagnosis of myeloma in this age group, 2) assessment of the need for treatment, and the fitness for combination chemotherapy, 3) provision of the best quality of supportive care, 4) choice of combination chemotherapy in those fit enough for it, 5) treatment of relapsed myeloma, and 6) provision of end of life care. With an increased burden of comorbidities and a reduced resilience to treatment and its associated toxicities, the management of myeloma in this age group requires a different approach to that in younger patients to maximize both quality and length of life.

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) introduces mutations throughout the mouse genome at relatively high efficiency. Successful high-throughput phenotype screens have been reported and alternative screens using sequence-based approaches have been proposed. For the purpose of generating an allelic series in selected genes by a sequence-based approach, we have constructed an archive of over 4000 DNA samples from individual F1 ENU-mutagenized mice paralleled by frozen sperm samples. Together with our previously reported archive, the total size now exceeds 6000 individuals. A gene-based screen of 27.4 Mbp of DNA, carried out using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), found a mutation rate of 1 in 1.01 Mbp of which 1 in 1.82 Mbp were potentially functional. Screening of whole or selected regions of genes on subsets of the archive has allowed us to identify 15 new alleles from 9 genes out of 15 tested. This is a powerful adjunct to conventional mutagenesis strategies and has the advantage of generating a variety of alleles with potentially different phenotypic outcomes that facilitate the investigation of gene function. It is now available to academic collaborators as a community resource.

Mammalian sex determination depends on the presence or absence of SRY transcripts in the embryonic gonad. Expression of SRY initiates a pathway of gene expression resulting in testis development. Here, we describe a novel gene potentially functioning in this pathway using a cDNA microarray screen for genes exhibiting sexually dimorphic expression during murine gonad development. Maestro (Mro) transcripts are first detected in the developing male gonad before overt testis differentiation. By 12.5 days postcoitus (dpc), Mro transcription is restricted to the developing testis cords and its expression is not germ cell-dependent. No expression is observed in female gonads between 10.5 and 14.5 dpc. Maestro encodes a protein containing HEAT-like repeats that localizes to the nucleolus in cell transfection assays. Maestro maps to a region of mouse chromosome 18 containing a genetic modifier of XX sex reversal. We discuss the possible function of Maestro in light of these data. Developmental Dynamics 227:600–607, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The mammalian gonad arises as a bipotential primordium from which a testis or ovary develops depending on the chromosomal sex of the individual. We have previously used DNA microarrays to screen for novel genes controlling the developmental fate of the indifferent embryonic mouse gonad. Maestro (Mro), which encodes a HEAT-repeat protein, was originally identified as a gene exhibiting sexually dimorphic expression during mouse gonad development. Wholemount in situ hybridisation analysis revealed Mro to be expressed in the embryonic male gonad from approximately 11.5 days post coitum, prior to overt sexual differentiation. No significant expression was detected in female gonads at the same developmental stage. In order to address its physiological function, we have generated mice lacking Maestro using gene targeting. Male and female mice homozygous for a Mro null allele are viable and fertile. We examined gonad development in homozygous male embryos in detail and observed no differences when compared to wild-type controls. Immunohistochemical analysis of homozygous mutant testes of adult mice revealed no overt abnormalities. Expression profiling using DNA microarrays also indicated no significant differences between homozygote embryonic male gonads and controls. We conclude that Maestro is dispensable for normal male sexual development and fertility in laboratory mice; however, the Mro locus itself does have utility as a site for insertion of transgenes for future studies in the fields of sexual development and Sertoli cell function.

Investigations of humans with disorders of sex development (DSDs) resulted in the discovery of many of the now-known mammalian sex-determining genes, including SRY, RSPO1, SOX9, NR5A1, WT1, NR0B1, and WNT4. Here, the locus for an autosomal sex-determining gene was mapped via linkage analysis in two families with 46,XY DSD to the long arm of chromosome 5 with a combined, multipoint parametric LOD score of 6.21. A splice-acceptor mutation (c.634-8T>A) in MAP3K1 segregated with the phenotype in the first family and disrupted RNA splicing. Mutations were demonstrated in the second family (p.Gly616Arg) and in two of 11 sporadic cases (p.Leu189Pro, p.Leu189Arg)—18% prevalence in this cohort of sporadic cases. In cultured primary lymphoblastoid cells from family 1 and the two sporadic cases, these mutations altered the phosphorylation of the downstream targets, p38 and ERK1/2, and enhanced binding of RHOA to the MAP3K1 complex. Map3k1 within the syntenic region was expressed in the embryonic mouse gonad prior to, and after, sex determination. Thus, mutations in MAP3K1 that result in 46,XY DSD with partial or complete gonadal dysgenesis implicate this pathway in normal human sex determination.