scholarly journals High Incidence of Tuberculosis Infection in Rheumatic Diseases and Impact for Chemoprophylactic Prevention of Tuberculosis Activation during Biologics Therapy

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 842-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongyi He ◽  
Fengmin Bai ◽  
Shu Zhang ◽  
Ting Jiang ◽  
Jie Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

ABSTRACTWe conducted a long-term follow-up study in patients with rheumatic diseases who were candidates for biologics treatment to evaluate the effects of biologic agents on the risk of tuberculosis infection and the effect of prophylactic treatment on tuberculosis activation. One hundred one patients with rheumatic diseases who were candidates for biologics treatment were recruited, and 57 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. Tuberculin skin test (TST) and the T-SPOT.TB test were performed for all subjects at baseline. Follow-up testing by the T-SPOT.TB assay was performed every 6 months in patients with rheumatic diseases and at 2 years of recruitment in the healthy controls. In patients with rheumatic diseases and healthy controls, the TST-positive (induration, ≥10 mm) rates were 37.6% (38/101) and 34.0% (18/53), respectively (P> 0.05), while the T-SPOT.TB-positive rates were 46.5% (47/101) and 21.1 (12/57), respectively (P= 0.0019). Fifty-two patients were followed up at month 6 with a T-SPOT.TB-positive rate of 40.4%, and 49 were followed up for ≥12 months with a T-SPOT.TB-positive rate of 36.7%, with no significant difference in the positive rate at different time points including baseline (P> 0.05). Long-term follow-up revealed that conversion to T-SPOT.TB positivity occurred only in the biologics treatment group, with a positive conversion rate of 11.2% (4/38). Most importantly, no latent tuberculosis developed into active tuberculosis during follow-up with T-SPOT.TB screening and preemptive treatment with isoniazid. Biologics treatment appears to increase the risk of tuberculosis infection. However, tuberculosis activation could be prevented by preemptive isoniazid treatment in patients with latent tuberculosis infection while receiving biologics therapy.

scholarly journals The Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Cystine Stones: A Single-Center Experience for 13 Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1336
Author(s):  
Toshifumi Takahashi ◽  
Shinya Somiya ◽  
Katsuhiro Ito ◽  
Toru Kanno ◽  
Yoshihito Higashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Age At Diagnosis ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Cystine Stones

Introduction: Cystine stone development is relatively uncommon among patients with urolithiasis, and most studies have reported only on small sample sizes and short follow-up periods. We evaluated clinical courses and treatment outcomes of patients with cystine stones with long-term follow-up at our center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 22 patients diagnosed with cystine stones between January 1989 and May 2019. Results: The median follow-up was 160 (range 6–340) months, and the median patient age at diagnosis was 46 (range 12–82) years. All patients underwent surgical interventions at the first visit (4 extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, 5 ureteroscopy, and 13 percutaneous nephrolithotripsy). The median number of stone events and surgical interventions per year was 0.45 (range 0–2.6) and 0.19 (range 0–1.3) after initial surgical intervention. The median time to stone events and surgical intervention was 2 years and 3.25 years, respectively. There was a significant difference in time to stone events and second surgical intervention when patients were divided at 50 years of age at diagnosis (p = 0.02, 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: Only age at a diagnosis under 50 was significantly associated with recurrent stone events and intervention. Adequate follow-up and treatment are needed to manage patients with cystine stones safely.

scholarly journals POS1157 CONCORDANCE BETWEEN THE QUANTIFERON-TB GOLD IN-TUBE AND TUBERCULIN TEST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 857.1-857
Author(s):  
C. Pávez Perales ◽  
A. Quiles Roger ◽  
E. Grau García ◽  
M. De la Rubia Navarro ◽  
S. Leal Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculin Test ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Ltbi Screening ◽  
Kappa Test ◽  
Receive Treatment

Background:Patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) are at higher risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) reactivation. To detect and treat it before starting treatment, especially with biological therapies, decrease the reactivation risk. Diagnosis is carried out by the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), IGRAs might be more specific and sensitive.Objectives:We aim to analyze the concordance between QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QTF) and TST for the diagnosis of LTBI in patients with rheumatic diseases.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted including patients diagnosed with RD screened for LTBI with both TST and QTF (2014-2018). Demographical and clinical variables at screening and at follow-up were collected. The concordance between both tests has been estimated as categorical variables using Cohen´s Kappa test, considering “poor” if it is ≤ 0,20; “low” if 0,20 < k ≤ 0,40, “moderate” if 0,40 < k ≤ 0,60, “substantial” if 0,60 < k ≤ 0,80 and “optimal” if k > 0,80.Results:167 patients were included (57% women) with a mean age of 52±16 years. 42% of them had systemic autoimmune diseases, 22% spondyloarthropathies and 36% other RD. 2 had history of past active tuberculosis (TB). At the time of screening, 46.11% were treated with GC.LTBI was diagnosed in 35 patients: 15 had both QTF and TST positive, 16 only QTF positive and 4 only TST positive. 12 from 31 QTF positive patients were treated with GC at the time of screening. 3 from 19 TST positive patients were treated with GC at the time of screening.After LTBI screening 62 patients received biological treatment, 4 of them had both test positive, 6 only QTF positive and 2 only TST positive. 11 received LTBI treatment according to the hospital protocol (isoniazid for 6 to 9 months). 10 completed treatment, 1 did not because of intolerance and did not receive other treatment. 1 patient with only TST positive was considered a false positive and did not receive treatment. During follow-up no TB reactivation was reported.23 patients with LBTI received treatment other than biological therapy during follow-up, of them 8 received LBTI treatment. There was no TB reactivation during follow up.The Kappa concordance between QTF and TST was estimated: moderated in the whole sample, poor in the patients treated with GC at screening, and substantial when the patients treated with GC at screening were excluded. Results are shown in Table 1.Table 1.Kappa concordance between QTF and TST.Conclusion:QTF seems to be the most appropriate LTBI screening test in patients with RD treated with GC. Screening and treatment of LTBI in patients with RD treated with or without biological agents was effective in reducing TB reactivation.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

A randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as adjuvant therapy in malignant melanoma.

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 736-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Spitler
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Melanoma ◽  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Disease Free Interval ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
And Control

We conducted a long-term follow-up (median, 10.5 years) of patients included in a randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as surgical adjuvant therapy in 203 patients with malignant melanoma. Of the patients randomized, 104 received levamisole, and 99 received placebo. The results show that there is no difference between the treatment and control groups with regard to any of the three end points analyzed. These included disease-free interval, time to appearance of visceral metastasis, and survival. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups after adjusting for age, sex, or stage of disease.

scholarly journals Impact of Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus on the Long-Term Follow-Up in Patients after Retrograde Recanalization of the Femoropopliteal Arterial Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Wojtasik-Bakalarz ◽  
Zoltan Ruzsa ◽  
Tomasz Rakowski ◽  
Andreas Nyerges ◽  
Krzysztof Bartuś ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
The Impact

The most relevant comorbidities in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). However, data of long-term follow-up of patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) are scarce. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CAD and DM on long-term follow-up patients after superficial femoral artery (SFA) CTO retrograde recanalization. In this study, eighty-six patients with PAD with diagnosed CTO in the femoropopliteal region and at least one unsuccessful attempt of antegrade recanalization were enrolled in 2 clinical centers. Mean time of follow-up in all patients was 47.5 months (±40 months). Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence of CAD (CAD group: n=45 vs. non-CAD group: n=41) and DM (DM group: n=50 vs. non-DM group: n=36). In long-term follow-up, major adverse peripheral events (MAPE) occurred in 66.6% of patients with CAD vs. 36.5% of patients without CAD and in 50% of patients with DM vs. 55% of non-DM subjects. There were no statistical differences in peripheral endpoints in both groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality: in the DM group, there were 6 deaths (12%) (P value = 0.038). To conclude, patients after retrograde recanalization, with coexisting CTO and DM, are at higher risk of death in long-term follow-up.

scholarly journals Long-term follow-up of therapeutic efficacy of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold in comparison to everolimus-eluting stent in treatment of chronic total occlusion guided by intracoronary imaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdallah Eltahlawi ◽  
Abdel-Aziz Fouad Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Abdel-Salam Sherif ◽  
Khalid Abdel-Azeem Shokry ◽  
Islam Elsayed Shehata
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Total Occlusion ◽  
Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold ◽  
Total Occlusion ◽  
Intracoronary Imaging ◽  
Group I ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Vascular Scaffold ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Abstract Background We hypothesized that 1st generation everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) stent associated with less complication and less restenosis rate than everolimus-eluting stent (EES) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization guided by intracoronary imaging. Therefore, we aimed to assess the safety and performance of BVS stent in CTO revascularization in comparison to EES guided by intracoronary imaging. Our prospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 CTO patients divided into two groups according to type of stent revascularization: group I (EES group): 40 (66.7%) patients and group II (BVS group): 20 (33.3%) patients. All patients were subjected to history taking, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, laboratory investigation, stress thallium study to assess viability before revascularization. Revascularization of viable CTO lesion guided by intracoronary imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Then, long-term follow-up over 1 year clinically and by multi-slice CT coronary angiography (MSCT). Our clinical and angiographic endpoints were to detect any clinical or angiographic complications during the follow-up period. Results At 6 months angiographic follow-up, BVS group had not inferior angiographic parameters but without statistically significant difference (p = 0.566). At 12 months follow-up, there was no difference at end points between the two groups (p = 0.476). No differences were found at angiographic or clinical follow-up between BVS and EES. Conclusion This study shows that 1st generation everolimus-eluting BVS is non-inferior to EES for CTO revascularization. Further studies are needed to clearly state which new smaller footprint BVS, faster reabsorption, magnesium-based less thrombogenicity, and advanced mechanical properties is under development. We cannot dismiss the efficacy and safety of new BVS technology. Trial registration ZU-IRB#2498/3-12-2016 Registered 3 December 2016, email: [email protected]

scholarly journals Outcome and Complications of MR Guided Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohit Agrawal ◽  
Kanwaljeet Garg ◽  
Raghu Samala ◽  
Roopa Rajan ◽  
Vikas Naik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Tremor ◽  
Focused Ultrasound ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Post Procedure ◽  
Standard Mean Difference ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Background: Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a relatively novel technique to treat essential tremor (ET). The objective of this review was to analyze the efficacy and the safety profile of MRgFUS for ET.Methods: A systematic literature review was done. The post procedure changes in the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST) score, hand score, disability and quality of life scores were analyzed.Results: We found 29 studies evaluating 617 patients. DTI based targeting was utilized in six cohorts. A significant difference was observed in the pooled standard mean difference between the pre and postoperative total CRST score (p-value &lt; 0.001 and 0.0002), hand score (p-value 0.03 and 0.02); and the disability at 12 months (p-value 0.01). Head pain and dizziness were the most in procedure complications. The immediate pooled proportion of ataxia was 50%, while it was 20% for sensory complications, which, respectively, declined to 31 and 13% on long term follow up. A significant reduction (p = 0.03) in immediate ataxia related complications was seen with DTI targeting.Conclusion: MRgFUS for ET seems to be an effective procedure for relieving unilateral tremor. Use of DTI based targeting revealed a significant reduction in post procedure ataxia related complications as compared to traditional targeting techniques. Analysis of other complications further revealed a decreasing trend on follow up.

scholarly journals Management of appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic; short-term outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 144-148
Author(s):  
Radhakrishnan Ganesh ◽  
James Lucocq ◽  
Neville Ogbonnia Ekpete ◽  
Noor Ul Ain ◽  
Su Kwan Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservative Management ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mri Scan ◽  
Operative Outcomes ◽  
Uncomplicated Appendicitis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Surgical Conditions

Background and aim COVID-19 pandemic has predisposed patients undergoing surgery to post-operative infection and resultant complications. Appendicitis is frequently managed by appendicectomy. After the onset of the pandemic, selected cases of appendicitis were managed with antibiotics which is a recognised treatment option. Our objective was to compare the management of appendicitis and post-operative outcomes between pre- and post-COVID-19. Methods Ninety-six patients were identified from before the onset of the pandemic (November 2019) to after the onset of the pandemic (May 2020). Data were collected retrospectively from electronic records including demographics, investigations, treatment, duration of inpatient stay, complications, readmissions and compared between pre- and post-COVID-19 groups. Results One hundred percent underwent surgical treatment before the onset of pandemic, compared with 56.3% from the onset of the pandemic. A greater percentage of patients were investigated with imaging post-COVID-19 (100% versus 60.9%; p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in the outcomes between the two groups. Conclusion CT/MRI scan was preferred to laparoscopy in diagnosing appendicitis and conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis was common practice after the onset of pandemic. Health boards can adapt their management of surgical conditions during pandemics without adverse short-term consequences. Long term follow-up of this cohort will identify patients suitable for conservative management.

Hydroxyurea versus misonidazole with radiation in cervical carcinoma: long-term follow-up of a Gynecologic Oncology Group trial.

1993 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1523-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
F B Stehman ◽  
B N Bundy ◽  
G Thomas ◽  
H M Keys ◽  
G d'Ablaing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Hypoxic Cell ◽  
Gynecologic Oncology Group ◽  
Advanced Carcinoma ◽  
Free Interval ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

PURPOSE Long-term follow-up data of a randomized trial that compared hydroxyurea and the hypoxic-cell radiosensitizer to misonidazole as adjuncts to standard radiation therapy in locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix are reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred eight women were entered, and all 294 eligible patients are assessable as randomized. Eighty-one percent of patients have been monitored for 5 years or to death. RESULTS There was an advantage for hydroxyurea in progression-free interval and survival (P = .05 and P = .066, respectively). There was no significant difference in the distribution of sites of failure between the regimens. For the 39% of patients with stages III to IVA disease, the advantage in progression-free interval for hydroxyurea was significant (47.8% v 33.6%). More leukopenia occurred on the hydroxyurea regimen than on the misonidazole regimen. CONCLUSION In summary, these data provide stronger evidence than our previous analysis that hydroxyurea is superior to misonidazole as an adjunct to radiation therapy. For patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix, hydroxyurea continues to be the adjunct of choice with radiation.

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