CT abnormalities 3 and 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19 and association with disease severity: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes in chest CT between 3 and 12 months and associations with disease severity in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 during the first wave in 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal cohort study of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020. Chest CT was performed 3 and 12 months after admission. CT images were evaluated using a CT severity score (CSS) (0-12 scale) and recoded to an abbreviated version (0-3 scale). We analyzed determinants of the abbreviated CSS with multivariable mixed effects ordinal regression. RESULTS: 242 patients completed CT at 3 months, and 124 (mean age 62.3±13.3, 78 men) also at 12 months. Between 3 and 12 months (n = 124) CSS (0-12 scale) for ground-glass opacities (GGO) decreased from median 3 (25th-75th percentile: 0-12) at 3 months to 0.5 (0-12) at 12 months (p<0.001), but increased for parenchymal bands (p<0.001). In multivariable analysis of GGO, the odds ratio for more severe abbreviated CSS (0-3 scale) at 12 months was 0.11 (95%CI 0.11 0.05 to 0.21, p<0.001) compared to 3 months, for WHO severity category 5-7 (high-flow oxygen/non-invasive ventilation/ventilator) versus 3 (non-oxygen use) 37.16 (1.18 to 43.47, p = 0.032), and for age ≥60 compared to <60 years 4.8 (1.33 to 17.6, p = 0.016). Mosaicism was reduced at 12 compared to 3 months, OR 0.33 (95%CI 0.16 to 0.66, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: GGO and mosaicism decreased, while parenchymal bands increased from 3 to 12 months. Persistent GGO were associated with initial COVID-19 severity and age ≥60 years.

A prospective study of pulmonary outcomes and chest computed tomography in the first year after COVID-19.

COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system. We aimed to evaluate how pulmonary outcomes develop after COVID-19 by assessing participants from the first pandemic wave prospectively 3 and 12 months following hospital discharge. Pulmonary outcomes included self-reported dyspnoea assessed with the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO), body plethysmography and chest computed tomography (CT). Chest CT was repeated at 12 months in participants with pathological findings at 3 months. The World Health Organization (WHO) ordinal scale for clinical improvement defined disease severity in the acute phase. Of 262 included COVID-19 patients, 245 (94%) and 222 (90%) participants attended the 3- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. Self-reported dyspnoea and 6MWD remained unchanged between the two time points, while D LCO and total lung capacity improved (0.28 mmol·min-1·kPa-1, 95% CI 0.12-0.44, and 0.13 L, 95% CI 0.02-0.24, respectively). The prevalence of fibrotic-like findings on chest CT at 3 and 12 months in those with follow-up chest CT was unaltered. Those with more severe disease had worse dyspnoea, D LCO and total lung capacity values than those with mild disease. There was an overall positive development of pulmonary outcomes from 3 to 12 months after hospital discharge. The discrepancy between the unaltered prevalence of self-reported dyspnoea and the improvement in pulmonary function underscores the complexity of dyspnoea as a prominent factor of long-COVID. The lack of increase in fibrotic-like findings from 3 to 12 months suggests that SARS-CoV-2 does not induce a progressive fibrotic process in the lungs.

El humo quirúrgico, riesgo laboral evaluable - revisión sistemática exploratoria de la bibliografía disponible / Surgical smoke, evaluable occupational risk - exploratory systematic review of the available literature

Revisión sistemática exploratoria para describir el conocimiento existente en la relación entre la exposición al humo quirúrgico y los efectos negativos sobre la salud de los trabajadores expuestos. Concretar los tóxicos y/o agentes biológicos que se pueden encontrar en el humo quirúrgico. Se realizó búsqueda bibliográfica de artículos científicos en las siguientes bases de datos: MEDLINE (a través de Pubmed), LILACS, IBECS, Red SCIELO, BIBLIOTECA COCHRANE. Se recuperaron un total de 312 artículos. Después de aplicar los criterios de inclusión, quedó una colección de 15. El humo quirúrgico contiene tóxicos volátiles, cancerígenos, mutágenos y microorganismos, y su inhalación constituye un potencial riesgo químico y biológico para la salud de los trabajadores involucrados en las cirugías. Se podrían generar nuevas hipótesis de investigación más profundas en algunos ámbitos de exposición crónica. (AU)

Exploratory systematic review to describe the existing knowledge of the relationship between exposure to surgical smoke and negative effects on the health of exposed workers. Specify the toxins and/or biological agents that can be found in surgical smoke. A bibliographic search of scientific articles was carried out in the following databases: MEDLINE (through Pubmed), LILACS, IBECS, Red SCIELO, LIBRARY COCHRANE. A total of 312 articles were retrieved. After applying the inclusion criteria, a collection of 15 remained. Surgery smoke contains toxic volatiles, carcinogenic, mutagenic compounds and microorganisms, and its inhalation constitutes a potential chemical and biological risk to the health of workers involved in surgeries. New deeper research hypotheses could be generated in some areas of chronic exposure. (AU)

Persistent pulmonary pathology after COVID-19 is associated with high viral load, weak antibody response, and high levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9.

The association between pulmonary sequelae and markers of disease severity, as well as pro-fibrotic mediators, were studied in 108 patients 3 months after hospital admission for COVID-19. The COPD assessment test (CAT-score), spirometry, diffusion capacity of the lungs (DLCO), and chest-CT were performed at 23 Norwegian hospitals included in the NOR-SOLIDARITY trial, an open-labelled, randomised clinical trial, investigating the efficacy of remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Thirty-eight percent had a CAT-score ≥ 10. DLCO was below the lower limit of normal in 29.6%. Ground-glass opacities were present in 39.8% on chest-CT, parenchymal bands were found in 41.7%. At admission, low pO2/FiO2 ratio, ICU treatment, high viral load, and low antibody levels, were predictors of a poorer pulmonary outcome after 3 months. High levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 during hospitalisation and at 3 months were associated with persistent CT-findings. Except for a negative effect of remdesivir on CAT-score, we found no effect of remdesivir or HCQ on long-term pulmonary outcomes. Three months after hospital admission for COVID-19, a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms, reduced DLCO, and persistent CT-findings was observed. Low pO2/FiO2 ratio, ICU-admission, high viral load, low antibody levels, and high levels of MMP-9 were associated with a worse pulmonary outcome.

Dyspnoea, lung function and CT findings 3†months after hospital admission for COVID-19.

The long-term pulmonary outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are unknown. We aimed to describe self-reported dyspnoea, quality of life, pulmonary function and chest computed tomography (CT) findings 3 months following hospital admission for COVID-19. We hypothesised outcomes to be inferior for patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), compared with non-ICU patients.Discharged COVID-19 patients from six Norwegian hospitals were enrolled consecutively in a prospective cohort study. The current report describes the first 103 participants, including 15 ICU patients. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale, the EuroQol Group's questionnaire, spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO), 6-min walk test, pulse oximetry and low-dose CT scan were performed 3 months after discharge.mMRC score was >0 in 54% and >1 in 19% of the participants. The median (25th-75th percentile) forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were 94% (76-121%) and 92% (84-106%) of predicted, respectively. D LCO was below the lower limit of normal in 24% of participants. Ground-glass opacities (GGO) with >10% distribution in at least one of four pulmonary zones were present in 25% of participants, while 19% had parenchymal bands on chest CT. ICU survivors had similar dyspnoea scores and pulmonary function as non-ICU patients, but higher prevalence of GGO (adjusted OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1-15.6) and lower performance in usual activities.3 months after admission for COVID-19, one-fourth of the participants had chest CT opacities and reduced diffusing capacity. Admission to ICU was associated with pathological CT findings. This was not reflected in increased dyspnoea or impaired lung function.

Evaluation of Image Quality for 7 Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms in Chest Computed Tomography Imaging: A Phantom Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the image quality of 7 iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in comparison to filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm. METHODS: An anthropomorphic chest phantom was scanned on 4 computed tomography scanners and reconstructed with FBP and IR algorithms. Image quality of anatomical details-large/medium-sized pulmonary vessels, small pulmonary vessels, thoracic wall, and small and large lesions-was scored. Furthermore, general impression of noise, image contrast, and artifacts were evaluated. Visual grading regression was used to analyze the data. Standard deviations were measured, and the noise power spectrum was calculated. RESULTS: Iterative reconstruction algorithms showed significantly better results when compared with FBP for these criteria (regression coefficients/P values in parentheses): vessels (FIRST: -1.8/0.05, AIDR Enhanced: <-2.3/0.01, Veo: <-0.1/0.03, ADMIRE: <-2.1/0.04), lesions (FIRST: <-2.6/0.01, AIDR Enhanced: <-1.9/0.03, IMR1: <-2.7/0.01, Veo: <-2.4/0.02, ADMIRE: -2.3/0.02), image noise (FIRST: <-3.2/0.004, AIDR Enhanced: <-3.5/0.002, IMR1: <-6.1/0.001, iDose: <-2.3/0.02, Veo: <-3.4/0.002, ADMIRE: <-3.5/0.02), image contrast (FIRST: -2.3/0.01, AIDR Enhanced: -2.5/0.01, IMR1: -3.7/0.001, iDose: -2.1/0.02), and artifacts (FIRST: <-3.8/0.004, AIDR Enhanced: <-2.7/0.02, IMR1: <-2.6/0.02, iDose: -2.1/0.04, Veo: -2.6/0.02). The iDose algorithm was the only IR algorithm that maintained the noise frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: Iterative reconstruction algorithms performed differently on all evaluated criteria, showing the importance of careful implementation of algorithms for diagnostic purposes.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. / Birt-Hogg-Dubé-syndrom.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterised by pulmonary cysts, fibrofolliculomas and renal tumours. The pulmonary cysts may lead to pneumothorax, and in cases of primary, spontaneous pneumothorax the syndrome should be excluded. The renal tumours are frequently malignant, but slow-growing. Screening and family assessment enable discovery of renal cancer at an early stage. The syndrome is underdiagnosed and little known.

A man in his forties with increasing shortness of breath. / En mann i 40-årene med økende pustevansker.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The patients are often critically ill with a variety of symptoms, but the disease is potentially curable. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy man in his forties was admitted to the local hospital feeling unwell, with dyspnoea, cough, fever and weight loss. The clinical examination was normal. Lactate dehydrogenase and sedimentation rate were elevated. Blood smear and bone marrow biopsy were normal. In the weeks that followed, the patient became critically ill with respiratory failure, exhaustion and continuous fever. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed diffuse lung infiltrates in addition to hepatosplenomegaly. High levels of ferritin, triglycerides and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were also found. Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was suspected, and the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. Biopsies confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and treatment was started immediately. INTERPRETATION: The clinical manifestations of lymphoma are diverse. In this case report the suspicion of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis led to a thorough search for a malignant disease, primarily lymphoma. Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are often critically ill, deteriorating rapidly. Histological verification of the diagnosis and immediate start of treatment are essential for the outcome.