Evidence is mounting that much of the concern about waning immunity to COVID-19 is overstated and that vaccines provide high levels of protection against the respiratory disease and its variants over the long-term. Immunologically, plasmablast and B-cell response after mRNA vaccination is long-lived and memory B cells increase over at least six months. And in the field, the evidence is that vaccination is doing what it is intended to do: reduce the severity and spread of the infection.

Our understanding of lipid pathology is shifting from what might be called the “LDL hypothesis” to the “atherogenic lipoprotein hypothesis.” LDL is just a surrogate of the actual process of lipoprotein interaction with the arterial wall. This shift in understanding is driving a host of budding therapies with novel approaches to targeting key atherogenesis players like lipoprotein(a) and triglycerides.

In this series from Blood that tackles four cases studies, the outcomes of AML pediatric patients compared to children with ALL is explored, focusing on the emerging new treatments venetoclax (Venclexta; AbbVie/Genentech), CD33- and CD123-directed CAR T-cell therapy, CD123-directed antibody therapy, and menin inhibitors.

The FDA has required that Amgen compare its approved KRAS-targeted therapy sotorasib (Lumakras) 960-mg dose with a 240-mg dose as one of its accelerated approval post-marketing requirements, a paradigm-shifting event that signals new scrutiny around determining the labeled dose for targeted oncology drugs, which still follow outdated maximum tolerated dose (MTD) principles in cytotoxic agents.

Publication: ASH Clinical NewsOriginal Source: Journal of the National Care InstituteDesign: Assessment of longitudinal changes in memory, attention, and executive function in men and women with lymphoma (n=248; 62.5% male) prior to and six months after initiation of chemotherapy. A group of age- and sex-matched people without cancer was used as a control arm (n=212; 59% male).Results: At baseline, patients with lymphoma self-reported significantly more issues on the FACT-Cog scale (perceived cognitive impairment [PCI] and total scores) compared with sex-matched controls (p<0.05). In addition, patients with lymphoma reported significantly more attentional difficulty (p=0.01) and significantly greater PCI (p<0.03).

As a physician, you improvise every day but may not even realize it. From interpreting non-verbal cues to dealing with unexpected twists in a case, improv is critical. And research shows that taking some classes for the skill enhances communication, improves diagnostic accuracy, boosts patient satisfaction, and reduces physicians’ stress. So, what are you waiting for?