Project description:Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy characterized by aggressive biology and potential endocrine activity. Surgery can offer cure for localized disease but more than half of patients relapse and primary unresectable or metastasized disease is frequent. Prognosis of metastatic ACC is still limited, with less than 15% of patients alive at 5 years. Recent advances in understanding the molecular profile of ACC underline the high complexity of this disease, which is characterized by limited drugable molecular targets as well as by a complex interplay between a yet scarcely understood microenvironment and potential endocrine activity. Particularly steroid-excess further complicates therapeutic concepts such as immunotherapy, which have markedly improved outcome in other disease entities. To date, mitotane remains the only approved drug for adjuvant and palliative care in ACC. Standard chemotherapy-based protocols with cisplatin, doxorubicin and etoposide offer only marginal improvement in long-term outcome and the number of clinical trials conducted is low due to the rarity of the disease. In the current review, we summarize principles of oncological management for ACC from localized to advanced disease and discuss novel therapeutic strategies, including targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibodies, immunotherapy with a focus on checkpoint inhibitors, individualized treatment concepts based on molecular characterization by next generation sequencing methods, the role of theranostics and evolvement of adjuvant therapy.
Project description:Despite several clinical practice guidelines, there remains a considerable gap in prevention and management of obesity in primary care. To address the need for changing provider behaviour, a randomized controlled trial with convergent mixed method evaluation, the 5As Team (5AsT) study, was conducted. As part of the 5AsT intervention, the 5AsT tool kit was developed. This paper describes the development process and evaluation of these tools. Tools were co-developed by the multidisciplinary research team and the 5AsT, which included registered nurses/nurse practitioners (n = 15), mental health workers (n = 7) and registered dieticians (n = 7), who were previously randomized to the 5AsT intervention group at a primary care network in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The 5AsT tool development occurred through a practice/implementation-oriented, need-based, iterative process during learning collaborative sessions of the 5AsT intervention. Feedback during tool development was received through field notes and final provider evaluation was carried out through anonymous questionnaires. Twelve tools were co-developed with 5AsT. All tools were evaluated as either 'most useful' or 'moderately useful' in primary care practice by the 5AsT. Four key findings during 5AsT tool development were the need for: tools that were adaptive, tools to facilitate interdisciplinary practice, tools to help patients understand realistic expectations for weight loss and shared decision-making tools for goal setting and relapse prevention. The 5AsT tools are primary care tools which extend the utility of the 5As of obesity management framework in clinical practice.
Project description:To describe the treatment of obesity from ancient times to present day.Articles reporting the development of anti-obesity therapies were identified through a search for 'anti-obesity' AND 'pharmacotherapy' AND 'development' within the title or abstract on PubMed and 'obesity' in ClinicalTrials.gov. Relevant articles and related literature were selected for inclusion.Stone-age miniature obese female statuettes indicate the existence and cultural significance of obesity as long as 30,000 years ago. Records from Ancient Egyptian and Biblical eras through Greco-Roman to Medieval times indicate that obesity was present throughout the major periods of history, although peoples of previous centuries would probably have experienced overweight and obesity as exceptional rather than normal. Health risks of obesity were noted by the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) when the earliest anti-obesity recommendations on diet, exercise, lifestyle and use of emetics and cathartics were born. These recommendations remained largely unchanged until the early 20th century, when spreading urbanisation, increasingly sedentary jobs and greater availability of processed foods produced a sharp rise in obesity. This led to the need for new, more effective, ways to lose weight, to address comorbidities associated with obesity, and to attain the current cultural ideal of slimness. Drug companies of the 1940s and 1950s produced a series of anti-obesity pharmacotherapies in short succession, based largely on amphetamines. Increased regulation of drug development in the 1960s and new efficacy requirements for weight-loss drugs led to rapid reduction in anti-obesity therapies available by the early 1990s.In the last two decades, several new and emerging therapies have been approved or are in development to provide safe, long-term pharmacological agents for the treatment of obesity.
Project description:BackgroundObesity is increasingly common in the obstetric population. Maternal obesity and excess gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with increased perinatal risk. There is limited published data demonstrating the level of pregnant women's knowledge regarding these problems, their consequences and management strategies.We aimed to assess the level of knowledge of pregnant women regarding: (i) their own weight and body mass index (BMI) category, (ii) awareness of guidelines for GWG, (iii) concordance of women's own expectations with guidelines, (iv) knowledge of complications associated with excess GWG, and (v) knowledge of safe weight management strategies in pregnancy.Methods364 pregnant women from a single center university hospital antenatal clinic were interviewed by an obstetric registrar. The women in this convenience sample were asked to identify their weight category, their understanding of the complications of obesity and excessive GWG in pregnancy and safe and/or effective weight management strategies in pregnancy.ResultsNearly half (47.8%) of the study population were overweight or obese. 74% of obese women underestimated their BMI category. 64% of obese women and 40% of overweight women overestimated their recommended GWG. Women's knowledge of the specific risks associated with excess GWG or maternal obesity was poor. Women also reported many incorrect beliefs about safe weight management in pregnancy.ConclusionsMany pregnant women have poor knowledge about obesity, GWG, their consequences and management strategies. Bridging this knowledge gap is an important step towards improving perinatal outcomes for all pregnant women, especially those who enter pregnancy overweight or obese.
Project description:ObjectivesPrevious research with participants in weight management has primarily focused on participant weight-loss expectations. The purpose of this study was to explore participant expectations and strategies for measuring progress during a community-based weight management program.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were completed with 22 participants with overweight or obesity, who were currently enrolled in a 2-year weight management program in order to understand their expectations and strategies for measuring their progress.ResultsAside from weight loss, participants' expectations included improved health, fitness, and mood, gaining support, and developing new habits. Participants discussed measuring their success by focusing on weight loss and changes to their body, improved health, mood, and fitness, creation of new habits, and gaining additional support.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that participant's in a weight management program expected benefits beyond just weight loss.
Project description:Purpose of reviewComprehensive lifestyle programs are cornerstones of obesity management, but clinician referrals may be limited by program availability. Commercial weight loss programs may be an alternative, but clinicians may be unaware of their efficacy and safety. This review describes the evidence for commercial programs, particularly 12-month weight loss, among individuals with obesity.Recent findingsSeveral programs are concordant with evidence-based recommendations (i.e., lower-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and behavioral strategies). Among the guideline-concordant programs, National Diabetes Prevention Program, WW, Jenny Craig, Medifast, and OPTIFAST have demonstrated 12-month weight loss efficacy and safety. While other programs show promise, more evidence is needed before clinician referral may be recommended. Clinical practice guidelines support referrals to commercial weight loss programs that have peer-reviewed evidence to support their efficacy and safety. Clinicians should consider the available evidence, patient preference, and cost when considering referrals to these programs for weight management.