Risk Factors for Refractory Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-related Pneumonitis in Patients With Lung Cancer.

Checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP) is one of the most important immune checkpoint inhibitors side effects, and it is rare but fatal. Identifying patients at risk of refractory CIP before the start of CIP therapy is important for controlling CIP. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 60 patients with lung cancer who developed CIP. Refractory CIP was defined as CIP with poor response to corticosteroid treatment, including CIP not relieved with corticosteroid administration or CIP recurrence during the corticosteroid tapering period. We analyzed clinical characteristics, peripheral blood biomarkers, treatment, and outcomes in nonrefractory and refractory CIP. Risk factors associated with refractory CIP were assessed. Among 60 patients with CIP, 16 (26.7%) had refractory CIP. The median onset time for patients with nonrefractory and those with refractory CIP was 16.57 (interquartile range [IQR], 6.82-28.14) weeks and 7.43 (IQR, 2.71-19.1) weeks, respectively. The level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly higher in the refractory CIP group at baseline (255 [222, 418] vs. 216 [183, 252], P =0.031) and at CIP onset (321.5 [216.75, 487.5] vs. 219 [198. 241], P =0.019). An LDH level >320 U/L at CIP onset was an independent risk factor of refractory CIP (odds ratio [OR], 8.889; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.294-61.058; P =0.026). The incidence of refractory CIP is high among patients with CIP. An increased LDH level at CIP onset is independently associated with refractory CIP. Monitoring LDH levels during immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment is recommended.

The clinical efficacy and safety of different biliary drainages in malignant obstructive jaundice treatment.

To study the clinical efficacy and safety of different biliary drainages in malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) treatment. METHODS: 69 patients with MOJ admitted to our hospital from October 2016 to March 2019 were recruited as the study cohort and divided into an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography group (the ERCP group, n=38) and a percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage group (the PTCD group, n=31) according to the different drainage approaches each patient underwent. We compared the two groups' hepatic function indexes (total serum bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), their immune cells (CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells), surgical success rates, jaundice reduction response rates, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The surgical success rates and the jaundice reduction response rates were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the hepatic function indexes or in the immune cells before and after treatment in the two groups (all P > 0.05). Moreover, all the indexes we measured were lower post-treatment than they were pre-treatment (TB, ALT, AST, and CD8+) except for the CD3+ and CD4+ levels (all P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the ERCP group was significantly lower than the incidence in the PTCD group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both ERCP and PTCD can contribute to better clinical results in the treatment of MOJ, relieve obstructions effectively, improve hepatic function, and enhance immune function, but there are fewer complications after ERCP.

[Part of the vertebral artery in patients with sudden deafness].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of vertebral artery system in the patients with sudden deafness by using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHOD: Thirty-four cases of sudden deafness with vertebrobasilar artery ischemia confirmed by the color doppler ultrasound were undergone DSA in both side. The characteristics of vertebral artery, basal artery and before-cerebellum artery were analysis before specific therapy. RESULT: There is no related complication were occurred among 34 cases. Side vertebral artery was blocked in 2 cases, atherosclerosis was found in 5 cases. The right cerebellar artery anterior and the left cerebellar artery posterior were found filling defect or minor change in 29.4% (10/34) and 35.3% (12/34) of the patients, respectively. The right and the left arteria auditiva interna were found filling defect or minor change in 64.7% (22/34) and 73.5% (25/34) of the patients, respectively. After specific therapy, 8 cases were cured, the hearing of 9 cases were markedly improved, the hearing of 12 cases were improved efficient and 5 patients have no hearing improvement, the total effective rate was 85.3%. CONCLUSION: The arteria auditiva interna and inferior anterior arteria cerebelli caused inner ear ischemia were found in the patients with sudden deafness. The using of vasodilator may have satisfactory and positive curative effect in the therapy of sudden deafness.