Journal of internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of intravenous bevacizumab on severe bleeding associated with hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia: A national, randomized multicenter trial.
Bevacizumab-a humanized monoclonal antibody-has been widely used to treat patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), but no randomized trial has yet been conducted. ⋯ Though the present trial was underpowered, patients with HHT receiving bevacizumab required numerically fewer red blood cell transfusions than those receiving placebo, particularly those with high exposure.
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Sarcoma subtype classification is currently mainly based upon histopathological morphology. Molecular analyses have emerged as an efficient addition to the diagnostic workup and sarcoma care. Knowledge about the sarcoma genome increases, and genetic events that can either support a histopathological diagnosis or suggest a differential diagnosis are identified, as well as novel therapeutic targets. ⋯ With the exploding availability of sequencing technologies, it becomes increasingly important to understand the strengths and limitations of those methods and their context in sarcoma diagnostics. It is reasonable to believe that most sarcoma treatment centers will increase the use of massive-parallel sequencing soon. We conclude that the context in which the genetic findings are interpreted is of importance, and the interpretation of genomic findings requires considering tumor histomorphology.
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Millions of workers are exposed to substances known to cause occupational interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), particularly in developing countries. However, the burden of the disease is likely to be underestimated due to under-recognition, under-reporting or both. ⋯ In this article, we provide an overview of the 'traditional' inorganic dust-related ILDs but also address idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the immunologically mediated chronic beryllium disease, sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, with emphasis on the importance of surveillance and prevention for reducing the burden of these conditions. To this end, health-care professionals should be specifically trained about the importance of occupational exposures as a potential cause of ILD.
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Abnormal remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has generally been linked to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and may also play a role in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. To further elucidate the role of ECM remodelling and excessive fibrogenesis in severe COVID-19, we examined circulating levels of mediators involved in various aspects of these processes in COVID-19 patients. ⋯ Our findings highlight changes to ECM remodelling and particularly a possible role of OPN, S100A12 and YKL-40 in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19.
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COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but there is great variation among reported incidence rates. Most previous studies have focused on hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and only a few reports are from population-based registries. ⋯ The 90-day incidence of VTE in hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19 was in the lower end compared with previous reports, with considerably higher rates in hospitalized than nonhospitalized patients. Risk factors for VTE were consistent with previously reported studies.