Effect of Different Antitumor Regimens on Incidence and Severity of Corona Virus Disease 2019 Pneumonia in Lung Cancer Patients: A Single-center Retrospective Study / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Studies have shown that the incidence and severity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with lung cancer are higher than those in healthy people. At present, the main anti-tumor treatments for lung cancer include surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and anti-angiogenesis therapy. While the effects of different anti-tumor treatments on the occurrence and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia are not uniform. Therefore, we aimed to describe clinical characteristics and antitumor therapy of patients with lung cancer and COVID-19 pneumonia, and examined risk factors for severity in this population.@*METHODS@#From December 1, 2022 to February 15, 2023, a retrospective study was conducted in 217 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and pathologically confirmed lung cancer in the Jinling Hospital. We collected data about patients' clinical features, antitumor treatment regimen within 6 months, and the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Risk factors for occurrence and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia were identified by univariable and multivariable Logistic regression models.@*RESULTS@#(1) Among the 217 patients included, 51 (23.5%) developed COVID-19 pneumonia, of which 42 (82.4%) were classified as medium and 9 (17.6%) were classified as severe; (2) Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed overweight (OR=2.405, 95%CI: 1.095-5.286) and intrapulmonary focal radiotherapy (OR=2.977, 95%CI: 1.071-8.274) are risk factors for increasing occurrence of COVID-19 pneumonia, while other therapies are not; (3) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) history (OR=7.600, 95%CI: 1.430-40.387) was more likely to develop severe pneumonia and anti-tumor therapies such as intrapulmonary focal radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy did not increase severity.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Intrapulmonary focal radiation therapy within 6 months increased the incidence of COVID-19 pneumonia, but did not increase the severity. However, there was no safety concern for chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery and immunotherapy.

Changes of retinal microvasculature and visual acuity prognostic of aflibercept treatment in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe the changes of macular microvessels in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular edema (ME) after intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA), and analyze its correlation with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).Methods:A retrospective case study. Thirty patients (30 eyes) with monocular RVO with ME (RVO-ME) who were diagnosed in the clinical examination of Tianjin Eye Hospital from April 2019 to February 2020 were included in the study. Among them, there were 12 males (12 eyes) and 18 females(18 eyes); the average age was 54.30±13.17 years. The average course of disease was3.43±1.97 months. Both eyes were examined by BCVA and optical coherence tomography (OCTA). The on-demand injection was adopted after the first injection in IVA treatment regimen. The macular area 6 mm×6 mm in both eyes was scanned with an OCTA instrument, and the area of the foveal avascular area (FAZ), FAZ circumference (PERIM), and out-of-roundness were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Index (AI), blood flow density within 300 μm width of FAZ (FD-300), foveal retinal thickness (CMT), superficial retinal capillary plexus (SCP), deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP) blood flow density. The paired t test was used to compare the quantitative parameters of the affected eye and the contralateral healthy eye at baseline; the changes of the quantitative parameters at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between BCVA, retinal perfusion, and macular blood supply parameters at 6 months after IVA treatment. Results:At baseline, compared with the contralateral healthy eye, the FAZ area ( t=-4.091), PERIM ( t=-5.098) and AI ( t=-9.093) of the RVO-ME eye were enlarged, and FD-300 ( t=7.237) and overall SCP and DCP blood flow density ( t=8.735, 9.897) decreased, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Six months after treatment, the BCVA of RVO-ME eyes was significantly increased, CMT decreased, FAZ area expanded, and AI decreased ( t=8.566, 16.739, -6.469, 9.719; P<0.001), the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant change in the blood flow density of FD-300 and overall SCP and DCP, and the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.017, 1.197, 0.987; P>0.05). Compared with baseline, the FAZ area of RVO-ME eyes gradually expanded at 3 and 6 months after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=21.979, P<0.001). Correlation analysis results showed that BCVA at 6 months after treatment was positively correlated with the overall SCP and DCP blood flow density at baseline and 6 months after treatment ( r=-0.538, -0.484, -0.879, -0.854; P<0.05). There was a negative correlation with the area of FAZ 6 months after treatment ( r=0.544, P=0.001). The number of ME recurrences was negatively correlated with BCVA and overall SCP and DCP blood flow density 6 months after treatment ( r=0.604, -0.462, -0.528; P<0.05), it was positively correlated with FAZ area ( r=0.379, P=0.043). Conclusion:Within 6 months of IVA treatment in RVO-ME eyes, ME is significantly reduced and visual acuity is improved; SCP blood flow density decreases, and FAZ area expands.

Clinical observation of posterior staphyloma marginal retinal photocoagulation in vitrectomy for macular hole retinal detachment in high myopia / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe the outcome of posterior staphyloma (PS) marginal retinal photocoagulation in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for high myopia macular hole retinal detachment eyes accompanied with PS.Methods:From January 2017 to June 2019, 49 patients (49 eyes) with high myopia macular hole retinal detachment accompanied with PS who were undergone PPV operation from Tianjin Eye Hospital were included in this study. There were 13 males (13 eyes) and 36 females (36 eyes). All patients underwent best corrected visual acuities (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography examinations. The standard logarithmic visual acuity chart was used for BCVA examination, and the visual acuity was converted to minimum resolution angle in logarithmic (logMAR) when recorded. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to surgical options: conventional PPV with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling (group A, 24 eyes), PS marginal retinal photocoagulation in PPV with ILM peeling (group A, 25 eyes). The mean preoperative logMAR BCVA of group A and B were 1.87±0.28 and 1.80±0.37, the difference was not statistically significant ( t=0.604, P=0.551). The patients in the group A received 23G PPV, triamcinolone acetonide staining during the operation, the epiretinal membrane was peeled off, indocyanine green assisted staining, the posterior macular ILM was peeled off, and the peripheral retina was examined in detail during the operation. Areas with retinal degeneration were reinforced by laser photocoagulation, and the subretinal fluid was drained through the macular hole and filled with silicone oil. The eyes of the group B were subjected to retinal photocoagulation for 2 to 3 rows at the edge of the PS in addition to the usual surgical procedures. The average follow-up time was 8.34±3.21 months. Surgical outcome were estimated by the average number of operation, retinal reattachment rate, macular hole closure rate and BCVA. The χ2 test or Fisher exact probability was used to compare the count data. Independent sample t test was used to compare the measurement data. Results:Retinal reattachment was obtained in 17 eyes (70.8%, 17/24) and 24 eyes (96.0%, 24/25) in group A and B after first surgery respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=3.984, P=0.046). Final retinal reattachment was obtained in all 49 eyes. Final macular hole closure was in 15 eyes (62.5%, 15/24) and 19 eyes (76.0%, 19/25) in group A and B, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=1.051, P=0.305). The mean postoperative logMAR BCVA of group A (1.20±0.47) and B (1.08±0.39) were all improved than preoperative BCVA, the differences were all statistically significant ( t=2.899, 5.327; P=0.001, 0.000), the differences of mean postoperative logMAR BCVA between two groups was not statistically significant ( t=0.675, P=0.506). The mean number of operation of group A (2.63±0.88) was more than group B (2.08±0.28), the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.003, P=0.006). Conclusion:In comparison with conventional PPV, combined PS marginal retinal photocoagulation can improve retinal reattachment rate after first surgery, and reduce the number of reoperations.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in the respiratory intensive care unit / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To demonstrate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in respiratory intensive care unit (ICU), for early diagnosis and treatment. Methods The clinical features, treatment and outcome of 17 patients diagnosed as IPA in RICU from May 2015 to April 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The basic diseases of 17 patients were mostly chronic respiratory diseases (14 cases, while 11 cases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). One case was proven by IPA criteria, 13 cases were probable and 3 cases were possible. All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics during hospitalization, and 6 patients were treated with glucocorticoids (oral/intravenous) within 3 weeks of admission and during hospitalization. The main clinical symptoms included cough sputum, dyspnea and fever, among which 4 cases had hemoptysis. Infiltrates were seen in 8 cases, multiple nodules with cavitary lesions in 4 cases, multiple small nodules along the bronchi in 2 cases, and left upper lobe consolidation in the proven case. Sixteen patients were treated with voriconazole alone or in combination with caspofungin. Fourteen patients were tested for voriconazole serum concentration, while 4 were in normal range, 10 were elevated (2 cases were significantly elevated, ＞10 μg/L). Serum concentration of bilirubin did not increase significantly in all paitents after treatment. Serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were elevated in 4 cases with elevated serum concentration of voriconazole and 2 cases with normal serum concentration of voriconazole. Patients with elevated voriconazole concentration did not show significant difference in prognosis compared with those with normal concentration. Eight cases were improved and discharged and 9 gave up and died due to the worsening of the disease. Eight patients received mechanical ventilation (6 cases were invasive and 2 cases were non-invasive), 7 of them eventually gave up treatment and died. Conclusions The clinical features of chronic respiratory diseases with IPA are atypical, however, the patient is critically ill with high mortality. Elevated serum concentration of voriconazole might be more common in severe patients. For those who have a history of systemic application of glucocorticoids, clinical symptoms with hemoptysis, short of breath, radiology with infiltrates, nodular and/or with cavity, and with no response to antibiotics, clinicians should actively seeking evidence of IPA, for early diagnosis, standardized treatment, and improve the prognosis of patients with chronic respiratory diseases complicated with IPA.

The Clinical Observation on the Influence of Guo's MaQian Decoction on Joint Flexion and Extension of Elbow and Knee Joints of Moderate Skeletal Fluorosis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the degree of joint flexion and extension of elbow and knee joints of moderate skeletal fluorosis patients before and after treatment and to assess the effects of Gun's MaQian decoction in treating moderate skeletal fluorosis. Methods 54 moderate skeletal fluorosis patients were randomly recruited into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was treated with Gun's MaQian decoction initially, and changed to be treated with GuKangNing capsule after 8 weeks' treatment. The control group was treated with placebo at first, and also changed to be treated with GuKangNing capsule after 8 weeks. Results Joint flexion and extension of elbow was improved greatly in both groups after the treatment, while the treatment group showing better effects than the control group (P<0.05). The improvement of joint flexion and extension of knee had not showed a statistical significance after the treatment. A 24 weeks follow-up to the joint flexion and extension of both elbow and knee revealed obvious improvement and the difference between the two groups were significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Gun's MaQian decoction can improve the flexion and extension of elbow and knee in moderate skeletal fluorosis patients.