Medical Research Misconduct Need Regulatory Reforms

The medical research misconduct has become a global problem. Except from countries like the USA, China, and Germany the exact figures of misconduct are not available. The research misconduct include fabricating the data, falsifying data, and plagiarism. The irresponsible research practices are publishing research data more than once, conflicts of interest is not declared, selective reporting of data and including an author who has not contributed at all and many more. About 2% of scientists have been found to admit the fabricating the data and 33% researchers were involved in irresponsible research practices. There is no formal regulatory programs available to monitor the research projects. Few developed countries like the USA, Germany, and China tried to develop programs which can monitor the medical research misconduct. There is a need to develop a regulatory system at national and institutional level to regulate the research activity to ensure that good ethical and scientific standards are practiced by medical researchers.     

The Impact of Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Bundled Payment Program on Care Delivery

Background

Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) is a Medicare initiative to test the impact of holding a hospital accountable for services provided during an episode of care for a lower extremity joint arthroplasty on costs and quality. This study examines whether hospital participation in CJR is associated with having programs focused on improving posthospitalization care or reducing costs using a survey of orthopedic surgeons.

Second-degree Heart Block Caused by Itolizumab-induced Infusion Reaction in COVID-19

How to cite this article: Kumar A, Kumar N, Lenin D, Kumar A, Ahmad S. Second-degree Heart Block Caused by Itolizumab-induced Infusion Reaction in COVID-19. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):474–475.

Sir,Itolizumab, an anti-CD6 humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody, binds to domain-1 of CD-6 that is responsible for priming, activation, and differentiation of T-cells.^[1] It significantly reduces T-cell proliferation along with substantial downregulation of the production of cytokines/chemokines.¹ It was approved for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in 2013. However, it has recently been approved by the Drug Controller General of India for emergency use in India for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome patients due to COVID-19.² Here, we report a case of life-threatening infusion-related hypersensitivity reaction of itolizumab.A 65-year-old male COVID-19 patient got admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with complaints of shortness of breath and cough without any history of known disease. However, the baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) done in the ICU was suggestive of left bundle branch block (LBBB) (Fig. 1A). The patient was supported through noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and was started on remdesivir, dexamethasone, low-molecular-weight heparin, antibiotics, and other supportive treatment as per our institutional standard protocol. The patient was maintaining on continuous positive airway pressure mode of NIV with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) of 0.5 on the third day of ICU admission. Among the laboratory markers, the total leucocyte counts were raised (12,000/μL) with decreased lymphocytes (3.2%) and increased inflammatory markers (CRP, 320 mg/L; D dimer >20 μg/mL; LDH, 1694 U/L; IL6, 329 pg/mL). Serum electrolytes, renal function tests, liver function tests, and arterial blood gases were within acceptable limits. The patient was hemodynamically stable with a respiratory rate of 30 to 35/minute and a PO₂/FiO₂ ratio of 140. After taking informed written consent, inj. itolizumab was planned in this patient because of the increasing severity of the disease along with increased inflammatory markers. Inj. hydrocortisone 100 mg IV and inj. pheniramine 30 mg IV were given 30 minutes before itolizumab infusion. And 100 mg of itolizumab (Alzumab-L, Biocon Biologics) was diluted to 250 mL with normal saline and was started at 25 mL/hour. After about 20 minutes of infusion, the patient started complaining of shivering, sweating, and impending doom. The patient had sudden bronchospasm, and oxygen saturation dropped to 90%. ECG showed second-degree AV nodal block with an increased blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg (Fig. 1B). The drug was immediately withdrawn and the patient was given a repeat dose of hydrocortisone and pheniramine along with other supportive measures. After sometime patients became alert and their respiratory symptoms were relieved. However, the second-degree heart block in ECG was persistent. ECHO was normal and troponin I was within normal limits while there was a slight increase in CPK-MB. The patient was observed closely and the ECG reverted to its previous state only after 24 hours. The patient was weaned from the ventilator in due course of time and put on face mask on the eighth day of stay.Open in a separate windowFigs 1A and B(A) Baseline ECG showing LBBB; (B) ECG showing second-degree AV nodal block after infusion reactionMost infusion reactions related to monoclonal antibodies are IgE mediated and are mild (grade 1 or 2) in nature.³ The incidence of severe (grade 3 or 4) reactions is generally low. The reported infusion-related reactions to itolizumab are chills/rigors (common), nausea, flushing, urticaria, cough, hypersensitivity, pruritus, rash, wheezing, dyspnea, oxygen desaturation, dizziness, headache, and hypertension. In our case, itolizumab infusion leads to a grade 4 reaction causing a persistent second-degree heart block for about 24 hours. Among the monoclonal antibodies, rituximab is most notorious for causing infusion reactions.⁴ There are only a few reports of cardiac arrhythmias (monomorphic VT, supraventricular tachycardia, trigeminy, and irregular pulse) during therapeutic infusion of rituximab,⁵ and there is no reported case of cardiac arrhythmia during itolizumab infusion. In our case, the patient was having LBBB and was on a QT prolonging drug (remdesivir), which might be a predisposing factor for the occurrence of second-degree heart block during infusion reaction. Premedications (e.g., antipyretics, antihistamines, and steroids) are recommended before the administration of some chemotherapeutic agents and monoclonal antibodies. These drugs should never be given as IV bolus and should always be given slowly in an infusion. Baseline assessments including vital signs and cognition should be documented carefully before the start of treatment and all the emergency equipment and drugs should be kept ready. Grade 3 and 4 reactions should be managed promptly with epinephrine, antihistaminics, and steroids along with other symptomatic supportive measures. As itolizumab is approved for emergency use in COVID-19, risk-benefit ratio should be assessed before prescribing this and should be explained before taking consent for infusion.The patient provided written informed consent for the publication.     

Comparison of acute toxicity and mortality after two different dosing regimens of high-dose interleukin-2 for patients with metastatic melanoma

We compared acute toxicity, drug exposure, in-hospital mortality, and inpatient length of stay between two currently recommended dosing protocols (from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines) of high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma. Patients with metastatic melanoma who received high-dose IL-2 treatment between 2003 and 2010 were identified. Chemotherapy orders, electronic medical records, paper medical charts, and patient discharge summaries were reviewed retrospectively. We identified 13 patients who had received 600,000 units/kilogram (kg)/dose and 15 patients who had received 720,000 units/kg/dose. Patients in the 720,000 units/kg/dose group had a higher rate of grade 3 and 4 bilirubin elevations (34 vs. 12 %), weight gain (any grade, 96 vs. 89 %), and thrombocytopenia (any grade, 75 vs. 65 %). Patients receiving the higher dose also experienced more dose-limiting neurotoxicity (45 vs. 23 %), large-volume diarrhea (15 vs. 0 %), and hepatotoxicity (7 vs. 0 %). There was no in-hospital mortality during treatment in either group. The average length of stay was similar between both groups (5 days, SD?=?1 for both groups), and the median cumulative IL-2 exposure was similar between both groups for the first course (10.1 vs.10.5 million units/kg) and for all courses (approximately 11–12 million units/kg). Both high-dose IL-2 protocols had comparable in-hospital mortality and cumulative IL-2 exposure. The 720,000 units/kg/dose dosing scheme did not shorten the length of stay but did lead to greater acute toxicity. Therefore, as a result, we recommend 600,000 units/kg/dose when deciding between the two regimens.     

Study of a cross-linked hydrogel of Karaya gum and Starch as a controlled drug delivery system

Abstract

A cross-linked hydrogel was synthesized using a hybrid backbone of karaya gum starch and grafted with polyacrylic acid. It showed a maximum swelling ratio (SR) of 30.5?g/g at pH 10 and was explored as an oral drug delivery carrier using paracetamol and aspirin as model drugs. In vitro release experiments revealed that maximum drug release at pH 7.4 in comparison to pH 1.2 (simulated intestinal vs gastric fluid) and neutral medium. The release profiles of these drugs showed no initial burst. It also showed good hemocompatibilty and non-cytotoxicity for its employment as a site specific drug delivery agent.