Higher comorbidities and early death in hospitalized African-American patients with Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: African-Americans/Blacks have suffered higher morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 than all other racial groups. This study aims to identify the causes of this health disparity, determine prognostic indicators, and assess efficacy of treatment interventions. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of clinical features and laboratory data of COVID-19 patients admitted over a 52-day period at the height of the pandemic in the United States. This study was performed at an urban academic medical center in New York City, declared a COVID-only facility, serving a majority Black population. RESULTS: Of the 1103 consecutive patients who tested positive for COVID-19, 529 required hospitalization and were included in the study. 88% of patients were Black; and a majority (52%) were 61-80 years old with a mean body mass index in the "obese" range. 98% had one or more comorbidities. Hypertension was the most common (79%) pre-existing condition followed by diabetes mellitus (56%) and chronic kidney disease (17%). Patients with chronic kidney disease who received hemodialysis were found to have lower mortality, than those who did not receive it, suggesting benefit from hemodialysis Age > 60 years and coronary artery disease were independent predictors of mortality in multivariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards modeling for time to death demonstrated a significantly high ratio for COPD/Asthma, and favorable effects on outcomes for pre-admission ACE inhibitors and ARBs. CRP (180, 283 mg/L), LDH (551, 638 U/L), glucose (182, 163 mg/dL), procalcitonin (1.03, 1.68 ng/mL), and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (8.3:10.0) were predictive of mortality on admission and at 48-96 h. Of the 529 inpatients 48% died, and one third of them died within the first 3 days of admission. 159/529patients received invasive mechanical ventilation, of which 86% died and of the remaining 370 patients, 30% died. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients in our predominantly Black neighborhood had higher in-hospital mortality, likely due to higher prevalence of comorbidities. Early dialysis and pre-admission intake of ACE inhibitors/ARBs improved patient outcomes. Early escalation of care based on comorbidities and key laboratory indicators is critical for improving outcomes in African-American patients.

Evaluation of the incidence and clinical significance of WT-1 expression in uterine serous carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1) expression is a hallmark of ovarian serous carcinoma and considered to be diagnostic marker of these tumors, differentiating them from uterine serous carcinoma (USC), historically thought to rarely express WT1. However, more recent data indicates a significant percentage of USC may express WT1. The clinical implications of WT1 positivity in USC remain unclear. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with USC was conducted from 2000 to 2019. Inclusion criteria were patients who had undergone comprehensive surgical staging/tumor debulking with archival tissue available for WT1 assessment via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Chemosensitive patients were defined as those recurring >6 months from last platinum-based chemotherapy. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was performed using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: WT1 status was evaluated in 61 patients with USC. 13 (21.3%) were positive for WT1 by IHC. Stage distribution included 32% stage I, 5% stage II, 25% stage III and 38% stage IV. There was no difference in the stage (p = 0.158), race (p = 0.227) or distribution of recurrence sites (p = 0.581) between WT1 positive and WT1 negative tumors. The majority of patients were chemosensitive (63%). Chemosensitivity was significantly improved in WT1 positive (92.3%) vs. WT1 negative tumors (55.8%) (p = 0.016). We observed a trend towards improved PFS among WT1 positive tumors (21 vs. 16-months, respectively) (p = 0.544). On MVA, stage (p < 0.001) and chemosensitivity (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of PFS. CONCLUSIONS: WT1 positivity is observed in over 20% of USC. WT1 expression is associated with improved chemosensitivity which may contribute to improvements in PFS.

Prognostic significance of histomorphologic features of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy: A single center study.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prognostic value of histomorphologic features of lymph node (LN) metastases in patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the effect of the features of LN metastasis on the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in 280 LN-positive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2006 to 2018. LN specific parameters recorded included number of metastatic LNs, size of the largest metastatic focus, Gleason Grade (GG) of the metastatic focus, and extranodal extension (ENE). RESULTS: A solitary positive LN was found in 166/280 (59%), 95/280 (34%) patients had 2-4 positive LNs, and 19/280 (7%) had 5 or more positive LNs. The size of the largest metastatic focus > 2 mm (macrometastasis) in 154/261 (59%). GG of the metastatic focus was as follows: GG 1-2: 29/224 (13%); GG 3: 27/224 (12%); and GG 4-5: 168/224 (75%). ENE was identified in 99/244 (41%). We found the number of LNs positive (2-4 vs. 1 Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.5; P = 0.04) and GG of the metastatic focus (GG 4&5 vs. 1-3 HR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.14-3.2; P= 0.014) to be independent predictors of the risk of BCR after surgery on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the number of LNs positive and GG of the LN metastatic focus to be significant independent predictors of BCR after radical prostatectomy. We recommend reporting histomorphologic parameters of LN metastasis as they may help in defining BCR risk categorization.

Administration of high titer convalescent anti-SARS-CoV-2 plasma: From donor selection to monitoring recipient outcomes.

Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) therapy was proposed as a treatment for severely ill patients. We conducted a CP treatment protocol under the Mayo Clinic Extended Access Program at University Hospital Brooklyn (UHB). Potential donors were screened with a lateral flow assay (LFA) for IgM and IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Volunteers that were LFA positive were tested with an ELISA to measure IgG titers against the RBD. Subjects with titers of at least 1:1024 were selected to donate. Most donors with positive LFA had acceptable titers and were eligible to donate. Out of 171 volunteers, only 65 tested positive in the LFA (38.0%), and 55 (32.2%) had titers of at least 1:1024. Before our donation program started, 31 CP units were procured from the New York Blood Center (NYBC). Among the 31 CP units that were obtained from the NYBC, 25 units (80.6%) were positive in the LFA but only 12 units (38.7%) had titers of at least 1:1024. CP was administered to 28 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients who received low titer CP, high titer CP and patients who did not receive CP were followed for 45 days after presentation. Severe adverse events were not associated with CP transfusion. Death was a less frequent outcome for patients that received high titer CP (>1:1024) 38.6% mortality, than patients that received low titer CP (≤1:1024) 77.8% mortality.

Three metachronous primary lung cancers in a chronic smoker: A case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Smoking is major risk factor for initial and subsequent lung cancer especially in active smokers. Treatment of subsequent lung cancer depends on whether it is synchronous or metachronous. We report a rare case of triple metachronous lung cancer and review of literature of patients with triple metachronous cancers. This will be the second case reported of triple metachronous lung cancer. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 60-year-old male, active smoker with diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and peripheral arterial disease presented with cough and hemoptysis. Initial computed tomography (CT) scan showed right upper lobe spiculated mass. DIAGNOSIS: He underwent transthoracic needle biopsy for right upper lobe mass, showing primary lung adenocarcinoma (ADC)-Stage-IIIA. He continued to smoke and 9-years later had new left upper lobe spiculated nodule, which on surgical resection showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)-Stage-IA1. Despite counselling on smoking cessation, he was unable to quit. Six months later, he presented with shortness of breath and CT chest showing right hilar adenopathy in right upper and lower lobes. He underwent transbronchial biopsies of lesion which showed small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). INTERVENTIONS: His initial lung ADC-Stage-IIIA, was treated with chemotherapy, weekly thoracic radiation and additional chemotherapy cycles. Nine years later, his left upper lobe mass showing SCC-Stage-IA1 was deemed curative after apical resection and he was kept on surveillance. Six months later, after diagnosis of SCLC in right upper and lower lobe, patient was not a candidate for systemic chemotherapy due to poor performance status and opted for hospice care. OUTCOMES: His initial lung ADC-Stage-IIIA showed complete radiological response with chemotherapy and radiation. Subsequent SCC-Stage-IA1 was deemed curative after resection. Due to his poor performance status, he was not a candidate for chemotherapy for SCLC and patient opted for hospice care. LESSONS: Smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer and with continued smoking, patients are at higher risk for developing subsequent primary lung cancers. We recommend, patients with lung cancer must quit smoking, and those who do not, should remain on long-term surveillance.

Warfarin Dosing and Time Required to Reach Therapeutic International Normalized Ratio in Patients with Hypercoagulable Conditions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference in duration of anticoagulation and dose of warfarin required to reach a therapeutic international normalized ratio [(INR) of 2 to 3] in patients with hypercoagulable conditions as compared to controls. To our knowledge, this study is the first in the literature to delineate such a difference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in a tertiary care hospital. The total study population was 622. Cases (n=125) were patients with a diagnosis of a hypercoagulable syndrome who developed venous thromboembolism. Controls (n=497) were patients with a diagnosis of venous thromboembolism in the absence of a hypercoagulable syndrome and were matched for age, sex, and race. RESULTS: The total dose of warfarin required to reach therapeutic INR in cases was higher (50.7±17.6 mg) as compared to controls (41.2±17.7 mg). The total number of days required to reach therapeutic INR in cases was 8.9±3.5 days as compared to controls (6.8±2.9 days). Both of these differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with hypercoagulable conditions require approximately 10 mg of additional total warfarin dose and also require, on average, 2 extra days to reach therapeutic INR as compared to controls.