Rheumatoid arthritis with pulmonary accelerated rheumatoid nodules treated by baricitinib: a case-based review.

Pulmonary accelerated rheumatoid nodules (ARN) represent a rare occurrence within the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with conventional treatment typically involving corticosteroids. In this report, we present a unique case of pulmonary ARN managed with baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor. The patient, a 46-year-old woman diagnosed with RA, initially displayed no evident pulmonary nodules upon pulmonary imaging. Her treatment regimen encompassed corticosteroids, methotrexate, and leflunomide. Nevertheless, a chest computed tomography (CT) scan conducted after a year unveiled the presence of multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules. A thoracoscopic biopsy of these nodules confirmed the presence of rheumatoid nodules. Treatment with baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor or synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), effectively reduced the size of the nodules. Our review of 45 articles on ARN published since 1986 found that nine of them reported 13 cases of pulmonary ARN. These nodules may be caused by certain synthetic and biological DMARDs and often present with respiratory symptoms. CT scans typically reveal multiple solid nodules or ground-glass opacities, some of which may have cavities. Treatment customarily involves discontinuing the suspected drugs and administering corticosteroids. This case suggests that Janus kinase inhibitors may be an effective treatment option for ARN.

The effects of bloodstream infection control quality improvement program in premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of the quality-improving program on reducing the bloodstream infection of preterm infants in NICU.The program included emphasizing hand hygiene,strictly controlling the use of antibiotics and following the extubation indications of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).Method From October 2016 to March 2017,preterm infants admitted to NICU after the implementation of quality improvement program were assigned into the intervention group,and the infants admitted from April 2016 to September 2016 without the program were in the control group.The x2 test and t test were used to analyse the effects of the program,the rate of bloodstream infection and related complications.Result A total of 432 cases were enrolled in this study.Among them,221 cases were in the intervention group and 211 cases the control group.The rate of hand hygiene in the intervention group was significantly higher and the duration of antibiotic use per 1 000 hospitalization days and the average days of retaining the PICC were significantly shorter than the control group (P ＜ 0.001).The incidence of bloodstream infection in the intervention group was lower than the control group (5.9％ vs.11.4％,P =0.047),and the duration of non-invasive ventilation,parenteral nutrition,average hospitalization days,and the incidence of stage 11 and above necrotizing enterocolitis were lower than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The evidence-based quality improvement program has positive effects on reducing the bloodstream infections and related complications of preterm infants in NICU.

Early targeted therapy treatment of patent ductus arteriosus with ibuprofen and hydrocortisone in premature infants with low cortisol level / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To evaluate the role of ibuprofen and hydrocortisone in early treatment of patent ductus arteriosus ( PDA ) in premature infants with low cortisol level . Method A prospective randomized controlled trial on 144 very low birth weight infants in the Hospital within 24 hours after birth with gestational age of 28~32 weeks and birth weight of 1000~1499 grams,who had asymptomatic PDA diagnosed by echocardiography , introducing early administration of drugs including ibuprofen and /or hydrocortisone within the first 24 ~48 hours after birth.According to the baseline of serum cortisol level measured prior to the administration of drugs , the preterm were assigned into two groups .The low cortisol level group ( the cortisol level <150μg/L) were further subdivided into four groups each being allocated to hydrocortisone or ibuprofen or both of hydrocortisone and ibuprofen combined or placebo treatment .The high cortisol level group ( the cortisol level≥150μg/L) were allocated to either ibuprofen or placebo treatment in randomization.Diameter of ductus arteriosus and cortisol value were measured again after treatment , and the follow-ups were undertaken till discharge .All data was collected and analyzed by statistical software .Result A total of 91 cases were in low cortisol level group ( 22 cases of hydrocortisone , 23 cases of ibuprofen , 21 cases of both hydrocortisone and ibuprofen , and 25 cases of placebo ) and 53 cases in high cortisol level group (26 cases of placebo and 27 cases of Ibuprofen ).Low cortisol level group , combined therapy , closure of the ductus at a rate of 81.0%, was higher than other methods of therapy ( P<0.05);high cortisol level group, the ductus arteriosus closed in 20 patients of ibuprofen therapy ( 74.1%) and in 13 patients of placebo treatment (50.0%) (P<0.05).Early treatment did not significantly increase the drug adverse effects, including impaired renal function , gastrointestinal bleeding , hyperglycemia and others. After comparisons between laboratory changes in early targeted groups and non-early targeted groups after treatment, findings were as follows: decrease in the incidence of apnea , myocardial damage , feeding intolerance , intraventricular hemorrhage and reduce the duration of phototherapy .Conclusion This trial proved the efficacy and safety of early therapy with ibuprofen and hydrocortisone for closure of ductus arteriosus in premature infants with low cortisol level and the decreasing incidence of complications due to PDA without increasing the risk of adverse effects .