Monoclonal Antibody Infusions for Outpatient Management of Mild-Moderate COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid, exponential increase in hospitalizations and morbidity/mortality. In November 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) permitting administration of the first monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for outpatient treatment of COVID-19. Early data showed a reduction in COVID-19-related hospitalizations with few adverse events. However, since these treatments are only authorized under an EUA, real-world data are minimal. OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of mAbs in a veteran population. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed veterans at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Health Care System with mild-moderate COVID-19 and screened for mAb eligibility between December 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021. The primary outcome was hospitalizations and/or emergency department (ED) visits within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality and post-COVID-19 conditions. Adverse events were also evaluated. Outcomes were compared between mAb-treated patients and eligible veterans who were not treated. RESULTS: There were 296 and 275 veterans in the mAb and control groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found for the primary outcome overall (25.7% vs 25.1%; P = 0.87), nor for COVID-19-related return visits or hospitalizations (13.9% v. 16%; P = 0.4). However, the mAb group had more return ED visits (P = 0.35), and the control group had significantly more hospitalizations (P = 0.02). Vaccinated veterans who received an mAb had fewer return visits and hospitalizations (P = 0.01). More mAb-treated veterans experienced post-COVID-19 conditions. No difference in mortality was found. Four nonsevere adverse events occurred after the mAb therapy. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Overall, the mAbs appeared safe and effective. Sicker, higher-risk mAb-treated veterans faired similarly to less-sick, high-risk veterans not treated. Those who were vaccinated seemed to benefit the most from mAb therapy. Future prospective studies with more matched groups are needed to assess full benefits and risks of mAbs shown to neutralize the predominant variants.

Effective intervention for expressive grammar in children with specific language impairment.

BACKGROUND: Children with specific language impairment are known to struggle with expressive grammar. While some studies have shown successful intervention under laboratory conditions, there is a paucity of evidence for the effectiveness of grammar treatment in young children in community settings. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention programme for expressive grammar in 5-year-olds with specific language impairment. METHOD & PROCEDURES: Thirty-four 5-year-old children attending a specialized school for children with language impairment participated in the study. Nineteen children received treatment for expressive grammar (experimental group) and 15 children received a control treatment. Treatment consisted of weekly 1-h sessions of small group activities in a classroom setting for 8 weeks. Techniques included direct instruction, focused stimulation, recasting and imitation. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Results were analysed at the group level and as a case series with each child as their own control in a single-subject design. There was a significant difference in grammatical performance pre- and post-treatment for children who received grammar treatment (Cohen's d = 1.24), but not for a group of children who received a control treatment. Further, no difference in performance was found in the equivalent time period prior to treatment, nor for an untreated target. Treatment success was more pronounced in children without articulation difficulties which interfered with their ability to produce the grammatical targets (Cohen's d = 1.66). Individual analyses indicated the treatment effect was significant for the majority of children. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Individually targeted intervention delivered in small groups in a classroom setting was effective in improving production of expressive grammatical targets in 5-year-old children with specific language impairment.

Daily or weekly? The role of treatment frequency in the effectiveness of grammar treatment for children with specific language impairment.

This study compared the effectiveness of a school-based treatment for expressive grammar in 5-year-olds with specific language impairment delivered in two different dose frequencies: eight sessions delivered daily over 8 consecutive school days or eight sessions delivered weekly over 8 consecutive weeks. Eighteen children received treatment daily and 13 children received treatment weekly. In both groups, treatment consisted of eight 1-hour sessions of small group activities in a classroom setting. Techniques included explicit instruction, focused stimulation, recasting, and imitation. Results were analysed at the group level and as a case series with each child as their own control in a single-subject design. The 8-weeks group showed significantly greater gain in test scores over the treatment period than in an equal time period prior to treatment, whereas the 8-days group did not (Cohen's d = 1.64 for 8-weeks group). Single-subject analyses indicated that 46% of children in the 8-week group and 17% of children in the 8-day group showed a significant treatment effect. It is concluded that expressive grammar treatment was most effective when dose frequency was weekly over 8 weeks rather than daily over 8 days for 5-year-old children with specific language impairment.

Rapid development of sarcoid tenosynovitis.

We report a case of acute tenosynovitis from sarcoidosis and review previously reported cases of this entity. A woman with known pulmonary sarcoidosis rapidly developed painless nodules in the tendon sheaths of the dorsum of both hands and wrists. Sarcoid tenosynovitis is almost exclusively found in the upper extremity. The flexor and extensor tendons are equally affected. The condition may respond to medical therapy including corticosteroids and other immunomodulating medications. Surgical debulking and tendon sheathectomy have also been curative. The disease has also been reported to spontaneously resolve. Our patient dramatically improved while on methotrexate.

Vaginitis: making sense of over-the-counter treatment options.

BACKGROUND: The FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) use of vaginal antifungals in 1990. Subsequently, a plethora of OTC products have become available to women on drugstore shelves. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of OTC products marketed for the treatment of vaginitis and to determine if their efficacy had been confirmed by published prospective randomized control trials (RCTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors chose four retail locations frequented by women seeking vaginitis treatment. All products deemed a viable treatment option were purchased. Results. All intravaginal imidazoles purchased, regardless of treatment duration or active ingredient, were found to be of proven efficacy. We were unable to find an RCT confirming the effectiveness of vaginal anti-itch creams and homeopathic treatments for vaginitis. CONCLUSION: 45% of products available to women in the feminine hygiene section of the stores surveyed could not be confirmed to be effective for treating infectious vaginitis.

Nonenhancing spinal subdural metastatic tumor.

We describe a case of a spinal subdural metastatic tumor that became rapidly symptomatic after a minor trauma, as a result of severe cord compression and cord hemorrhage. On MR imaging, the lesion was oval, hyperintense with a dark rim on T2-weighted fast spin-echo images, isointense to the cord on T1-weighted images, and had dark and bright areas on gradient-echo T2*-weighted images, consistent with a hyperacute-to-acute hematoma. The hemorrhagic tumor showed no evidence of contrast enhancement.