Chest
-
Observational Study
Tocilizumab treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: survival and clinical outcomes.
Tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antagonist, can be used to treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with observed improvements in a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case series. ⋯ A treatment algorithm that included tocilizumab to target CRS may influence MV and survival outcomes. In tocilizumab-treated patients, oxygenation and inflammatory biomarkers improved, with higher than expected survival. Randomized trials must confirm these findings.
-
In patients with bronchiectasis, airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are important management strategies. ⋯ In patients with bronchiectasis and a productive cough, ACTs are used more often if the patients have experienced a prior exacerbation, hospitalization for pulmonary illness, or had P aeruginosa. There is a significant reduction in the use of ACTs at 1-year follow up. The odds of the development of a bronchiectasis exacerbation are higher in those patients who use ACTs continuously, which suggests more frequent use in an ill bronchiectasis population.
-
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is sweeping the globe. Despite multiple case-series, actionable knowledge to tailor decision-making proactively is missing. ⋯ Prediction of a COVID-19 positive test is possible and could help direct health-care resources. We demonstrate relevance of age, race, sex, and socioeconomic characteristics in COVID-19 susceptibility and suggest a potential modifying role of certain common vaccinations and drugs that have been identified in drug-repurposing studies.
-
The prognosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is poor. A mortality risk score model is needed to predict survival in patients with ADM-ILD and to guide clinical treatment. ⋯ The FLAIR risk score model could help to predict survival in patients with ADM-ILD and to guide further clinical research on risk-based treatment.
-
Adherence to annual low-dose CT was 95% in the National Lung Screening Trial and must be replicated to achieve mortality benefit from screening. ⋯ Despite a centralized program design with dedicated navigator and registry to assist with adherence to annual lung cancer screening, variations between sites suggest that active follow-up strategies are needed to optimize adherence. For the mortality benefit from lung cancer screening to be recognized, adherence to annual screening must achieve higher rates.