To describe severe infection, foci of infection, microorganisms, associated factors, and impact on mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).
The ...study was based on a multicenter prospective cohort of patients with RA-ILD followed up from 2015 to 2023. The main outcome measures were incident severe infection and fatal infection. We evaluated infectious foci, etiologic agents, vaccination status, variables associated with lung function, and clinical-therapeutic variables in RA. The incidence rate (IR) for infection and mortality was calculated per 100 person-years, and 3 multivariate models were constructed to explore factors associated with infection.
We followed up 148 patients with RA-ILD for a median 56.7 months (699.3 person-years). During this period, 142 patients (96%) had at least 1 infection. A total of 368 infectious episodes were recorded, with an IR of 52.6 per 100 person-years. Of the 48 patients who died, 65% did so from infection. Respiratory infections were the most common first infection (74%), infection overall (74%), and fatal infection (80%) and were caused mostly by SARS CoV-2
, and influenza A virus. The factors associated with an increased risk of infection and death in patients with RA-ILD were age, inflammatory activity, and therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
Patients with RA-ILD have a high risk of serious infection, especially respiratory infection. Infection develops early, is recurrent, and is frequently fatal. The presence of associated factors such as advanced age, joint inflammation, and treatment highlight the importance of integrated and preventive medical care.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) patients who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can suffer acute lung injury, or even death. Early identification of severe disease is essential in order to ...control COVID-19 and improve prognosis. Oxidative stress (OS) appears to play an important role in COVID-19 pathogenesis; we therefore conceived a study of the potential discriminative ability of serum biomarkers in patients with ARDS and those with mild to moderate disease (non-ARDS). 60 subjects were enrolled in a single-centre, prospective cohort study of consecutively admitted patients: 29 ARDS/31 non-ARDS. Blood samples were drawn and marker levels analysed by spectrophotometry and immunoassay techniques. C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ferritin were significantly higher in ARDS versus non-ARDS cases at hospital admission. Leukocytes, LDH, ferritin, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were also significantly elevated in ARDS compared to non-ARDS patients during the hospital stay. Total thiol (TT) was found to be significantly lower in ARDS. Conversely, D-dimer, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and advanced glycosylated end products (AGE) were elevated. Leukocytes, LDH, CRP, ferritin and IL-6 were found to be significantly higher in non-survivors. However, lymphocyte, tumour necrosis factor beta (TGF-β), and TT were lower. In summary, our results support the potential value of TT, ferritin and LDH as prognostic biomarkers for ARDS development in COVID-19 patients, distinguishing non-ARDS from ARDS (AUCs = 0.92; 0.91; 0.89) in a fast and cost-effective manner. These oxidative/inflammatory parameters appear to play an important role in COVID-19 monitoring and can be used in the clinical management of patients.
Incidental Finding of Right Pulmonary Artery Agenesis in an Adult César, Eva Cabrera; Aguirre, M. Carmen Fernández; Jiménez, Lorena Piñel
Archivos de bronconeumología (English ed.),
December 2017, 2017-Dec, 2017-12-00, Letnik:
53, Številka:
12
Journal Article
The use of novel tobacco products, particularly the electronic cigarette (EC) and partial tobacco combustion devices (HnB systems: Heat not Burn), has increased exponentially, particularly among ...adolescents and young people. The health authorities and scientific societies have shown concern about issues surrounding safety and effectiveness (as a method of smoking cessation). A study of the available scientific evidence has concluded that the safety of the vapor or fumes inhaled by the users of these devices cannot be guaranteed. Contradictory results from various clinical trials and meta-analyses also mean that these devices cannot be recommended for their effectiveness in cessation, especially when safe and effective treatments are available to help quit smoking (varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy, and bupropion, combined with psychological counseling).
El uso de productos del tabaco novedosos, en especial el cigarrillo electrónico (CE) y los dispositivos de combustión parcial de tabaco (sistemas HnB: Heat not Burn), ha aumentado de forma exponencial, sobre todo en jóvenes y adolescentes. Las autoridades sanitarias y las sociedades científicas han mostrado preocupación ante las dudas que existen sobre su seguridad y eficacia (como método de abandono del tabaco). Tras el estudio de la evidencia científica disponible, no es posible asegurar la inocuidad de los vapores o humos que inhalan los usuarios de estos dispositivos. Respecto a la eficacia, no pueden recomendarse, tras los resultados contradictorios, de diferentes ensayos clínicos y metanálisis; máxime cuando existen tratamientos seguros y eficaces para ayudar a dejar de fumar (vareniclina, terapia sustitutiva con nicotina y bupropion, unido a asesoramiento psicológico).
The health damage caused by passive smoking is well known in closed public spaces such as workplaces, inside homes and restaurants. However, at present, the number of smokers in open public spaces ...such as terraces has increased and consequently a loss of the quality of the air breathed, increasing the concentration of particles and other contaminating agents, affecting the health of workers and customers, of these spaces. Multiple studies show that high exposure to tobacco smoke in these environments augments the risk of developing cardiorespiratory diseases, especially in the vulnerable population, but also respiratory infections. Tobacco smoke can be an excellent vehicle for transmitting viral particles, favoring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Es bien conocido el daño sobre la salud que provoca el tabaquismo pasivo en espacios públicos cerrados como los lugares de trabajo, domicilios y restaurantes. No obstante, en la actualidad, el número de fumadores en espacios públicos abiertos como como terrazas ha aumentado y como consecuencia esto ha generado una pérdida de la calidad del aire respirado, incrementándose la concentración de partículas y otros agentes contaminantes, afectando la salud de trabajadores y clientes de estos espacios. Múltiples estudios muestran que la alta exposición al humo del tabaco en estos ambientes aumenta el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiorrespiratorias, especialmente en la población vulnerable, pero también de infecciones respiratorias. El humo del tabaco puede ser un excelente vehículo de transmisión de partículas virales, favoreciendo enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Objectives: To describe the characteristics and progression of interstitial lung disease in patients with associated systemic autoimmune disease (ILD-SAI) and to identify factors associated with ...progression and mortality. Patients and methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective, observational study of patients with ILD-SAI followed between 2015 and 2020. We collected clinical data and performed pulmonary function testing and high-resolution computed tomography at diagnosis and at the final visit. The main outcome measure at the end of follow-up was forced vital capacity (FVC) >10% or diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide >15% and radiological progression or death. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with worsening of ILD. Results: We included 204 patients with ILD-SAI: 123 (60.3%) had rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 58 had (28.4%) systemic sclerosis, and 23 (11.3%) had inflammatory myopathy. After a median (IQR) period of 56 (29.8–93.3) months, lung disease had stabilized in 98 patients (48%), improved in 33 (16.1%), and worsened in 44 (21.5%). A total of 29 patients (14.2%) died. Progression and hospitalization were more frequent in patients with RA (p = 0.010). The multivariate analysis showed the independent predictors for worsening of ILD-SAI to be RA (HR, 1.9 95% CI, 1.3–2.7), usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (HR, 1.7 95% CI, 1.0–2.9), FVC (%) (HR, 2.3 95% CI, 1.4–3.9), and smoking (HR, 2.7 95%CI, 1.6–4.7). Conclusion: Disease stabilizes or improves after a median of 5 years in more than half of patients with ILD-SAI, although more than one-third die. Data on subgroups and risk factors could help us to predict poorer outcomes.
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