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CHICAGO – The investigational oral Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor pacritinib may offer a new myelofibrosis treatment option for patients with baseline thrombocytopenia.

Analyses from an ongoing phase III trial of pacritinib, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, indicate that the JAK2 inhibitor is superior to best available therapy for alleviating splenomegaly and other symptoms of myelofibrosis.

“In the very short term, it very clearly identifies a therapy that’s very impactful for those individuals with significant thrombocytopenia and potentially those with anemia,” noted lead study author Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In a video interview, Dr. Mesa discussed the study findings so far and the potential implications for patients with myelofibrosis.

CHICAGO – The investigational oral Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor pacritinib may offer a new myelofibrosis treatment option for patients with baseline thrombocytopenia.

Analyses from an ongoing phase III trial of pacritinib, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, indicate that the JAK2 inhibitor is superior to best available therapy for alleviating splenomegaly and other symptoms of myelofibrosis.

“In the very short term, it very clearly identifies a therapy that’s very impactful for those individuals with significant thrombocytopenia and potentially those with anemia,” noted lead study author Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In a video interview, Dr. Mesa discussed the study findings so far and the potential implications for patients with myelofibrosis.

CHICAGO – The investigational oral Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor pacritinib may offer a new myelofibrosis treatment option for patients with baseline thrombocytopenia.

Analyses from an ongoing phase III trial of pacritinib, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, indicate that the JAK2 inhibitor is superior to best available therapy for alleviating splenomegaly and other symptoms of myelofibrosis.

“In the very short term, it very clearly identifies a therapy that’s very impactful for those individuals with significant thrombocytopenia and potentially those with anemia,” noted lead study author Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In a video interview, Dr. Mesa discussed the study findings so far and the potential implications for patients with myelofibrosis.

ROME – The European League Against Rheumatism introduced an update to its 2009 recommendations on assessing and managing cardiovascular-disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

The update features an expanded evidence base for the recommendations, especially for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, Dr. Michael T. Nurmohamed said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology. One new element in the revision included a scaling down of the previously suggested annual assessment to a more flexible approach to the timing of serial assessments based on the risk level of individual patients. Another addition is the possible use of carotid ultrasound to measure atherosclerotic burden as a complement to more routinely-measured risk factors such as blood pressure and serum lipids, said Dr. Nurmohamed, convener of the current task force as well as the panel that formulated the first version (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2010;69:325-31).

A second EULAR task force recently developed new recommendations on assessing and managing other comorbidities in patients with rheumatologic diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, peptic ulcers, and renal dysfunction. Chronic kidney disease is an important modifier of cardiovascular-disease risk, and hence the new comorbidity recommendations complement the new cardiovascular-disease statement, said Dr. Nurmohamed, professor and head of the rheumatology research department at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Dr. Nurmohamed had no disclosures.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

ROME – The European League Against Rheumatism introduced an update to its 2009 recommendations on assessing and managing cardiovascular-disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

The update features an expanded evidence base for the recommendations, especially for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, Dr. Michael T. Nurmohamed said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology. One new element in the revision included a scaling down of the previously suggested annual assessment to a more flexible approach to the timing of serial assessments based on the risk level of individual patients. Another addition is the possible use of carotid ultrasound to measure atherosclerotic burden as a complement to more routinely-measured risk factors such as blood pressure and serum lipids, said Dr. Nurmohamed, convener of the current task force as well as the panel that formulated the first version (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2010;69:325-31).

A second EULAR task force recently developed new recommendations on assessing and managing other comorbidities in patients with rheumatologic diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, peptic ulcers, and renal dysfunction. Chronic kidney disease is an important modifier of cardiovascular-disease risk, and hence the new comorbidity recommendations complement the new cardiovascular-disease statement, said Dr. Nurmohamed, professor and head of the rheumatology research department at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Dr. Nurmohamed had no disclosures.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

ROME – The European League Against Rheumatism introduced an update to its 2009 recommendations on assessing and managing cardiovascular-disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

The update features an expanded evidence base for the recommendations, especially for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, Dr. Michael T. Nurmohamed said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology. One new element in the revision included a scaling down of the previously suggested annual assessment to a more flexible approach to the timing of serial assessments based on the risk level of individual patients. Another addition is the possible use of carotid ultrasound to measure atherosclerotic burden as a complement to more routinely-measured risk factors such as blood pressure and serum lipids, said Dr. Nurmohamed, convener of the current task force as well as the panel that formulated the first version (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2010;69:325-31).

A second EULAR task force recently developed new recommendations on assessing and managing other comorbidities in patients with rheumatologic diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, peptic ulcers, and renal dysfunction. Chronic kidney disease is an important modifier of cardiovascular-disease risk, and hence the new comorbidity recommendations complement the new cardiovascular-disease statement, said Dr. Nurmohamed, professor and head of the rheumatology research department at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Dr. Nurmohamed had no disclosures.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @mitchelzoler

ROME – Patients with systemic sclerosis who have a range of gastointestinal symptoms and severity have higher amounts of pathogenic bacteria than do normal healthy control patients, according to Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann and her colleagues.

They examined the bacterial populations found in the cecal and sigmoid portion of the colon in 17 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and found a large increase in bacteria known to perpetuate inflammation in other autoimmune diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease, as well as a decrease in healthy commensal bacteria that are thought to decrease inflammation. The levels of both commensal and pathogenic bacteria also correlated with the severity of symptoms that patients described, said Dr. Volkmann, a rheumatologist and clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, two species normally found at lower levels in chronic inflammatory conditions, were increased in SSc. “This was a rather unique feature of systemic sclerosis,” she said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

ROME – Patients with systemic sclerosis who have a range of gastointestinal symptoms and severity have higher amounts of pathogenic bacteria than do normal healthy control patients, according to Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann and her colleagues.

They examined the bacterial populations found in the cecal and sigmoid portion of the colon in 17 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and found a large increase in bacteria known to perpetuate inflammation in other autoimmune diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease, as well as a decrease in healthy commensal bacteria that are thought to decrease inflammation. The levels of both commensal and pathogenic bacteria also correlated with the severity of symptoms that patients described, said Dr. Volkmann, a rheumatologist and clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, two species normally found at lower levels in chronic inflammatory conditions, were increased in SSc. “This was a rather unique feature of systemic sclerosis,” she said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

ROME – Patients with systemic sclerosis who have a range of gastointestinal symptoms and severity have higher amounts of pathogenic bacteria than do normal healthy control patients, according to Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann and her colleagues.

They examined the bacterial populations found in the cecal and sigmoid portion of the colon in 17 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and found a large increase in bacteria known to perpetuate inflammation in other autoimmune diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease, as well as a decrease in healthy commensal bacteria that are thought to decrease inflammation. The levels of both commensal and pathogenic bacteria also correlated with the severity of symptoms that patients described, said Dr. Volkmann, a rheumatologist and clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, two species normally found at lower levels in chronic inflammatory conditions, were increased in SSc. “This was a rather unique feature of systemic sclerosis,” she said in an interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

ROME – Tenosynovitis on ultrasound might be the next criterion added to the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis if it is confirmed as a valid marker for early disease detection, according to Dr. Andrew Filer.

He and his colleagues performed ultrasound assessments of 16 tendon regions in 107 patients in the Birmingham Early Arthritis Cohort Study (BEACON) who had clinically apparent synovitis involving at least one joint with a symptom duration of 3 months or less. They examined patient outcomes at 18 months.

Tenosynovitis in either the extensor carpi ulnaris tendons or the hand flexor tendons independently predicted early RA, and both were still significant independent predictors of early RA in seronegative patients, Dr. Filer of the University of Birmingham (England) said in this video interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

ROME – Tenosynovitis on ultrasound might be the next criterion added to the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis if it is confirmed as a valid marker for early disease detection, according to Dr. Andrew Filer.

He and his colleagues performed ultrasound assessments of 16 tendon regions in 107 patients in the Birmingham Early Arthritis Cohort Study (BEACON) who had clinically apparent synovitis involving at least one joint with a symptom duration of 3 months or less. They examined patient outcomes at 18 months.

Tenosynovitis in either the extensor carpi ulnaris tendons or the hand flexor tendons independently predicted early RA, and both were still significant independent predictors of early RA in seronegative patients, Dr. Filer of the University of Birmingham (England) said in this video interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

ROME – Tenosynovitis on ultrasound might be the next criterion added to the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis if it is confirmed as a valid marker for early disease detection, according to Dr. Andrew Filer.

He and his colleagues performed ultrasound assessments of 16 tendon regions in 107 patients in the Birmingham Early Arthritis Cohort Study (BEACON) who had clinically apparent synovitis involving at least one joint with a symptom duration of 3 months or less. They examined patient outcomes at 18 months.

Tenosynovitis in either the extensor carpi ulnaris tendons or the hand flexor tendons independently predicted early RA, and both were still significant independent predictors of early RA in seronegative patients, Dr. Filer of the University of Birmingham (England) said in this video interview at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

TORONTO – Consistent public education about the importance of treating first-episode psychosis in people aged 15-25 years results in better outcomes and quality of life for those on the schizophrenia spectrum, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne.

When the duration between the first episode and treatment-seeking is minimized, the time to the next episode is longer, according to Dr. O’Donoghue, who spoke at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

In this video, Dr. O’Donoghue shares his experiences in creating public awareness about the frequency of first-episode psychosis in young people and the improved quality of life that results when communities ensure that support for this cohort is available.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Consistent public education about the importance of treating first-episode psychosis in people aged 15-25 years results in better outcomes and quality of life for those on the schizophrenia spectrum, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne.

When the duration between the first episode and treatment-seeking is minimized, the time to the next episode is longer, according to Dr. O’Donoghue, who spoke at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

In this video, Dr. O’Donoghue shares his experiences in creating public awareness about the frequency of first-episode psychosis in young people and the improved quality of life that results when communities ensure that support for this cohort is available.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Consistent public education about the importance of treating first-episode psychosis in people aged 15-25 years results in better outcomes and quality of life for those on the schizophrenia spectrum, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne.

When the duration between the first episode and treatment-seeking is minimized, the time to the next episode is longer, according to Dr. O’Donoghue, who spoke at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

In this video, Dr. O’Donoghue shares his experiences in creating public awareness about the frequency of first-episode psychosis in young people and the improved quality of life that results when communities ensure that support for this cohort is available.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Less than 10% of adults with any form of substance use disorders ever receive treatment, according to Dr. Shelly F. Greenfield, director of the division of alcohol and drug abuse at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.

“Most patients won’t disclose their substance use unless they are asked,” Dr. Greenfield says in this video, recorded at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Screening all patients is particularly important, according to Dr. Greenfield, who says the patients you are least likely to suspect are often the ones who need help the most.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Less than 10% of adults with any form of substance use disorders ever receive treatment, according to Dr. Shelly F. Greenfield, director of the division of alcohol and drug abuse at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.

“Most patients won’t disclose their substance use unless they are asked,” Dr. Greenfield says in this video, recorded at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Screening all patients is particularly important, according to Dr. Greenfield, who says the patients you are least likely to suspect are often the ones who need help the most.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Less than 10% of adults with any form of substance use disorders ever receive treatment, according to Dr. Shelly F. Greenfield, director of the division of alcohol and drug abuse at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.

“Most patients won’t disclose their substance use unless they are asked,” Dr. Greenfield says in this video, recorded at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Screening all patients is particularly important, according to Dr. Greenfield, who says the patients you are least likely to suspect are often the ones who need help the most.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Communities that emphasize early behavioral and mental health prevention and employ the resources to make early treatment and intervention possible see greatly improved mental health outcomes, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a speaker at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

“With early psychosis, when it is treated intensively and holistically, the outcomes can be much more positive for young people who are experiencing a first-episode psychosis,” Dr. O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne, said in a video interview. Also discussed are how to create, develop, and run community health clinics for young people aged 15-24 years who are experiencing some form of psychosis.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Communities that emphasize early behavioral and mental health prevention and employ the resources to make early treatment and intervention possible see greatly improved mental health outcomes, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a speaker at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

“With early psychosis, when it is treated intensively and holistically, the outcomes can be much more positive for young people who are experiencing a first-episode psychosis,” Dr. O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne, said in a video interview. Also discussed are how to create, develop, and run community health clinics for young people aged 15-24 years who are experiencing some form of psychosis.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Communities that emphasize early behavioral and mental health prevention and employ the resources to make early treatment and intervention possible see greatly improved mental health outcomes, according to Dr. Brian O’Donoghue, a speaker at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

“With early psychosis, when it is treated intensively and holistically, the outcomes can be much more positive for young people who are experiencing a first-episode psychosis,” Dr. O’Donoghue, a clinical research fellow with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health near Melbourne, said in a video interview. Also discussed are how to create, develop, and run community health clinics for young people aged 15-24 years who are experiencing some form of psychosis.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Managing a diagnosis along the schizophrenia spectrum can be difficult not only for the patient, but also for the patient’s friends and loved ones. “It’s also hard on the clinician,” says Dr. Ira D. Glick, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford (Calif.) University and a presenter at the annual American Psychiatric Association meeting. In this video, Dr. Glick outlines strategies for making life with schizophrenia less disruptive and even rewarding.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Managing a diagnosis along the schizophrenia spectrum can be difficult not only for the patient, but also for the patient’s friends and loved ones. “It’s also hard on the clinician,” says Dr. Ira D. Glick, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford (Calif.) University and a presenter at the annual American Psychiatric Association meeting. In this video, Dr. Glick outlines strategies for making life with schizophrenia less disruptive and even rewarding.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

TORONTO – Managing a diagnosis along the schizophrenia spectrum can be difficult not only for the patient, but also for the patient’s friends and loved ones. “It’s also hard on the clinician,” says Dr. Ira D. Glick, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford (Calif.) University and a presenter at the annual American Psychiatric Association meeting. In this video, Dr. Glick outlines strategies for making life with schizophrenia less disruptive and even rewarding.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight