Spectrum and management of rare Candida/yeast infections in Kuwait in the Middle East.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are associated with high mortality rates and mostly affect patients with compromised immunity. The incidence of IFIs is increasing worldwide with the expanding population of susceptible patients. Candida and other yeast infections represent a major component of IFIs. Rare Candida/yeast infections have also increased in recent years and pose considerable diagnostic and management challenges as they are not easily recognized by routine phenotypic characteristic-based diagnostic methods and/or by the automated yeast identification systems. Rare Candida/yeasts also exhibit reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs making proper management of invasive infections challenging. Here, we review the diagnosis and management of 60 cases of rare Candida/yeast IFIs described so far in Kuwait, an Arabian Gulf country in the Middle East. Interestingly, majority (34 of 60, 56.7%) of these rare Candida/yeast invasive infections occurred among neonates or premature, very-low-birth-weight neonates, usually following prior bacteremia episodes. The clinical details, treatment given, and outcome were available for 28 of 34 neonates. The crude mortality rate among these neonates was 32.2% as 19 of 28 (67.8%) survived the infection and were discharged in healthy condition, likely due to accurate diagnosis and frequent use of combination therapy. Physicians treating patients with extended stay under intensive care, on mechanical ventilation, receiving broad spectrum antibiotics and with gastrointestinal surgery/complications should proactively investigate IFIs. Timely diagnosis and early antifungal treatment are essential to decrease mortality. Understanding the epidemiology and spectrum of rare Candida/yeast invasive infections in different geographical regions, their susceptibility profiles and management will help to devise novel diagnostic and treatment approaches and formulate guidelines for improved patient outcome.

Clinicopathological characteristics, survival outcomes and prognostic factors in pleomorphic carcinoma: a SEER population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is a rare tumor, and it usually has an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. We aim to analyze the clinicopathological features, management and prognostic factors of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database, we identified 461 patients of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma from 2004 to 2014 including clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities and outcome data. RESULTS: The mean age of all PPC patients was 66 years and 58% of the patients were male. Most patients (80%) were white people, 53% were found in the right lung, and lesions were mostly observed in upper lobe (56%). The median overall survival was 9 months and overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 45%, 29%, 23%. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, age, marital status, tumor primary site, gender, laterality, SEER summary stage, chemotherapy and surgery were associated with overall survival. Patients received surgery or chemotherapy had a better OS for patients with PPC. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that SEER summary stage, age, surgery and chemotherapy were found to be independently associated with the OS. Surgery could significantly prolong survival in patients with localized stage and regional stage (HR = 0.120, 95% CI 0.038-0.383, p < 0.001; HR = 0.351, 95% CI 0.212-0.582, p < 0.001) while it did not have great impact on survival in patients with distant stage (p = 0.192). Chemotherapy decreased risk of death by 46% (HR = 0.544, 95% CI 0.393-0.752, p < 0.001) for patients with distant stage, whereas chemotherapy did not confer survival benefits to patients with localized stage and regional stage. But radiation did not have great impact on survival of patients with different stages in this study. CONCLUSIONS: PPC mostly occurred in white people, with a median age of 66 years, and men were more susceptible to this disease. The SEER summary stage, age, surgery and chemotherapy were independently associated with prognosis. Surgery should be considered for the PPC patients with localized stage or regional stage, and chemotherapy should be recommended for the treatment of patients with distant stage.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures on Oral Hygiene, Periodontal Health, and Treatment Satisfaction of Orthodontic Retention Patients up to Ten Years after Treatment-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This cross-sectional study evaluated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on (1) oral hygiene, (2) periodontal health, (3) retainer failure, (4) orthodontic treatment satisfaction, and (5) outcome satisfaction in orthodontic retention patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether orthodontic retention treatment is associated with patient-reported outcome measures on oral hygiene, periodontal health, and treatment satisfaction. Methods: A ten-item questionnaire on the five PROMs was conducted among 211 consecutive retention patients up to ten years following orthodontic treatment. Linear regression models were computed to detect possible associations between the PROMs and retention treatment or patient characteristics. Results: The presence of a fixed lingual retainer was not associated with the reduced ability to perform oral hygiene, self-perceived periodontal health, or orthodontic outcome satisfaction. Older patients were more content with the orthodontic treatment result (p < 0.05). Patients with fixed lingual retainers in the mandible were less satisfied with the course of orthodontic treatment (p < 0.05). Smokers more often reported gingival bleeding (p < 0.05). Females reported increased gingival recessions (p < 0.05) and perceived their teeth as longer than before treatment (p < 0.05). Longer orthodontic treatment duration corresponded to retainer failure (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In general, long-term orthodontic retention patients were satisfied with orthodontic treatment. These patients reported the satisfactory ability to perform adequate oral hygiene and periodontal health, and they communicated a high degree of treatment and outcome contentment. However, patients with a retainer in the mandible were less satisfied with orthodontic treatment.

Monitoring non-small cell lung cancer progression and treatment response through hyaluronic acid in sputum

We evaluated whether hyaluronan (HA) levels in the sputum could be used as a noninvasive tool to predict progressive disease and treatment response, as detected in a computed tomography scan in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Sputum samples were collected from 84 patients with histological confirmation of NSCLC, 33 of which were in early-stage and 51 in advanced-stage disease. Patients received systemic chemotherapy (CT) after surgery (n=36), combined CT and immunotherapy (IO) (n=15), or targeted therapy for driver mutation and disease relapse (N=4). The primary end-point was to compare sputum HA levels in two different concentrations of hypertonic saline solution with overall survival (OS) and the secondary and exploratory end-points were radiologic responses to treatment and patient outcome. Higher concentrations of HA in the sputum were significantly associated to factors related to tumor stage, phenotype, response to treatment, and outcome. In the early stage, patients with lower sputum HA levels before treatment achieved a complete tumor response after systemic CT with better progression-free survival (PFS) than those with high HA levels. We also examined the importance of the sputum HA concentration and tumor response in the 51 patients who developed metastatic disease and received CT+IO. Patients with low levels of sputum HA showed a complete tumor response in the computed tomography scan and stable disease after CT+IO treatment, as well as a better PFS than those receiving CT alone. HA levels in sputum of NSCLC patients may serve as a candidate biomarker to detect progressive disease and monitor treatment response in computed tomography scans.

Pattern and Outcome of Stab Injuries in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Stab injury is a variant of penetrating injury which can occur on any part of the body. AIM: To determine the pattern, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of stab injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients with stab injuries carried out over 19-month period, from November 2018 to May 2020 at the Accident and Emergency Department of Universityof Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. The case files of all patients with stab injuries were retrieved from the Medical Records Department. Information obtained included age, sex, gender, injury to arrival time, time of the day that stab occurred, body region involved, type of weapon used, injury sustained, reason for the stab, symptoms and signs, treatment, duration of hospital stay and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients had stab injuries. There were 27 males and two females with a male to female ratio of approximately 13.5: 1. The age range was 17-59 years. The mean age was 31 ± 10 years. Most stabs occurred in the third decade with chest being the most common body region. Conflict/fight was the most common reason for stab with broken bottle being the most common weapon. The average duration of hospital stay was 6 ± 3.99 days. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: Stab injuries occur predominantly in the males in their third decade of life resulting from conflict/fight with broken bottle being the most common weapon. The chest was the most involved body region. The outcome following treatment was good with no mortality.

CONTEXTE RÉSUMÉ: Les blessures par couteau sont une variante des blessures pénétrantes qui peuvent survenir sur n'importe quelle partie du corps. BUT: Déterminer le modèle, les caractéristiques cliniques, le traitement et l'issue des blessures par arme blanche. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive rétrospective de patients blessés par arme blanche réalisée sur une période de 19 mois, de novembre 2018 à mai 2020 au département des accidents et des urgences de l'hôpital universitaire de l'Université du Bénin, à Benin City, au Nigéria. Les dossiers de tous les patients blessés par arme blanche ont été récupérés auprès du service des dossiers médicaux. Les informations obtenues comprenaient l'âge, le sexe, le sexe, la blessure à l'heure d'arrivée, l'heure du jour où le coup de couteau a eu lieu, la région du corps impliquée, le type d'arme utilisée, la blessure subie, la raison du coup de couteau, les symptômes et signes, le traitement, la durée du séjour résultat. RÉSULTATS: Un total de 29 patients ont subi des coups de couteau. Il y avait 27 hommes et deux femmes avec un ratio homme / femme d'environ 13,5: 1. La tranche d'âge était de 17 à 59 ans. L'âge moyen était de 31 ± 10 ans. La plupart des coups de couteau ont eu lieu au cours de la troisième décennie, la poitrine étant la région du corps la plus courante. Le conflit / combat était la raison la plus courante de poignarder, la bouteille cassée étant l'arme la plus courante. La durée moyenne d'hospitalisation était de 6 ± 3,99 jours. Il n'y a pas eu de mortalité. CONCLUSION: Les blessures par coups de couteau surviennent principalement chez les hommes dans leur troisième décennie de vie résultant d'un conflit / combat avec une bouteille cassée étant l'arme la plus courante. La poitrine était la région du corps la plus impliquée. Le résultat après le traitement était bon sans mortalité.

Neuronal Surface Antibody-Medicated Autoimmune Encephalitis (Limbic Encephalitis) in China: A Multiple-Center, Retrospective Study.

Objective: The epidemiological characteristics of patients with antibody-medicated autoimmune encephalitis in China remain unclear, and a large-scale epidemiological survey is necessary. Methods: A multiple-center retrospective study was performed. We collected 1,047 patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis and ultimately enrolled 778 defined patients across centers in China. All patients were positive for serum [or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] antibodies. Demographic information and clinical data from January 2014 to January 2019 from 22 centers in China were reviewed. Results: A total of 778 patients with autoimmune encephalitis were enrolled in the study. In general, the ratio of males to females was ~1.2:1. The main subtypes of autoimmune encephalitis were NMDAR-AE (61.35%), LGI-1-AE (20.61%), and GABAbR-AE (12.40%). According to the characteristics of age of onset, the incidence of autoimmune encephalitis showed a "double peak" distribution entailing a 20-year-old age group and a 60-year-old age group. We next analyzed the proportion of patients with tumors in this cohort. More specifically, there were 34 patients with tumors and 85 with tumor marker positivity. Relapse occurred in 81 patients within at least 1 year's follow up study: 52 with NMDAR-AE (18.2%); 19 with LGI-1-AE (16.8%); 5 with GABAbR-AE (9%); and 3 with CASPR2-AE. Interpretation: Due to the vast differences in demographic features, the incidence of cancer and the genetic characteristics between the populations in China and Western countries, the demographics, sex distribution, concomitant tumor rate, clinical features, and relapse characteristics associated with autoimmune encephalitis in China shows a similar profile with Western countries with some minor differences.

Efficacy and safety of long-term immunotherapy in adult patients with MOG antibody disease: a systematic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarise the evidence of the efficacy and safety of current long-term immunotherapies in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOG-AD). METHODS: We performed a sensitive literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE for selected studies or case series discussing the long-term treatments and outcomes in adult patients with MOG-AD and conducted a qualitative analysis of each therapy. RESULTS: A total of 33 articles, including 712 patients with MOG-AD, matched our inclusion criteria, and seven kinds of drugs were analysed accordingly. Efficacy was mainly reflected by the change in the annual relapse rate before and after treatment. First, maintenance steroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab were demonstrated to be effective in multiple studies. However, relapses could still happen after therapy especially under specific circumstances. Second, regular intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) and tocilizumab might be effective. IVIG reduced annual relapse rate and expanded disability status scale in five adult patients, and tocilizumab succeeded in preventing relapse in four refractory patients, though with scant evidence. Finally, multiple sclerosis-disease-modifying therapy seemed ineffective for patients with MOG-AD. As for safety, six patients experienced severe neutropenia during rituximab therapy. No other serious adverse events were reported for these treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Several preventive immunotherapies have been demonstrated to be effective and safe for adult patients with MOG-AD; however, large controlled studies for subgroups with specific manifestations are still needed in the future.

Comparative analysis of the Sokal, Euro and European Treatment and Outcome Study score in prognostication of Indian chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase patients on imatinib.

INTRODUCTION: The ultimate goal for CML management is risk stratification of the patients to design the appropriate treatment approach. The Sokal, Euro and EUTOS risk scores were established to prognosticate the patients on therapy. AIM: To perform a comparative assessment of the Sokal, Euro and EUTOS prognostic score in Indian CML-CP patients on imatinib. METHODS: This is a retrospective study performed in 260 Ph+ CML-CP patients who were administered oral imatinib (400 mg/day). RESULTS: 166/260 were males and 94/260 were females (M: F::1.6:1) with median age 35 years (range 20-70). 92 (35.38%), 125 (48.07%) and 43 (16.5%) patients were divided into low, intermediate and high risk Sokal score respectively. 102 (39.23%), 106 (40.76%) and 52 (20%) patients were discriminated into low, intermediate and high risk Euro score respectively. 210 (80.7%) and 50 (19.2%) patients were divided into low and high risk EUTOS score. Cumulative incidence of MMR for low, intermediate and high-risk Sokal score was 87%, 76% and 84% respectively (P = 0.016). Incidence of MMR in low, intermediate and high-risk Euro score was 93%, 85% and 68% respectively (P = 0.001). Incidence of MMR was 80 % and 81% for low and high risk EUTOS score (P = 0.764). Both EFS and OS are significantly correlated with Sokal score (P = 0.004, P = 0.007) and Euro score (P = 0.009, P = 0.001) but not with EUTOS score (P = 0.581, P = 0.927). CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the significant prognostic role of Sokal and Euro score in predicting the treatment outcome of the CML- CP patients on imatinib.

Effectiveness of Three Prognostic Scoring Systems in Predicting the Response and Outcome in Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Chronic Phase on Frontline Imatinib.

INTRODUCTION: The Sokal and Hasford (Euro) scores were developed in the chemotherapy and interferon eras and are widely used as prognostic indicators in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recently, European Treatment and Outcome Study (EUTOS) scoring system was introduced. Data on risk stratification in pediatric CML population was lacking due to its rarity (<3%). OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness in predicting the response and outcome with three prognostic scores in pediatric CML-chronic phase patients on front line Imatinib. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the hospital records of newly diagnosed CML CP patients (aged ≤18 years) from 2006 to 2010 for their risk score, cytogenetic response at 18 months and event free survival (EFS) at the end of 4 years. Events include loss of hematological response, loss of cytological response, progression to accelerated/blast phase (AP/BC). All received free Imatinib under Gleevac international patient assistance program. RESULTS: Data of 106 children was analyzed with median age of 13.5 (ranged 5-18 years) and male preponderance (M:F = 1.14:1). The distribution of children was 63%, 32% and 5% in Sokal low, intermediate and high risk respectively, 50%, 43% and 5% in Hasford/Euro low, intermediate and high risk respectively, 71% and 29% in EUTOS low and high risk respectively. The overall cumulative complete hematological response at the end of 3 month was 94%, and complete cytogenetic response at 12 months was 75%. The CCyR at 18 month was seen in 90%,74% and 83% among Sokal low, intermediate and high risk groups respectively, 83%, 86% and 83% among Hasford/Euro low, intermediate and high risk groups respectively, 84% and 86% EUTOS low and high risk groups respectively. The EFS at the end of 48 months was seen in 87%,79% and 83% among Sokal low, intermediate and high risk groups respectively, 83%, 86% and 83% among Hasford/Euro low, intermediate and high risk groups respectively, 86% and 80% EUTOS low and high risk groups respectively. CONCLUSION: None of the scoring systems predicted the response and outcome effectively in children with CML CP on front line Imatinib.

Prognostic Factors and Outcome of Management of Ischemic Priapism in Zaria, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the nuances of management, prognostic factors, and outcome of ischemic priapism in patients seen at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the case notes of all patients managed for ischemic priapism in the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, over a period of 10 years (2006-2015). The data extracted included patients' age, occupation, duration of painful penile erection, and previous episodes. Addition information including precipitating factors, hemoglobin genotype, treatment, and complications was also retrieved. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The records of a total of forty patients managed for priapism over the period under review were retrieved. Thirty-three (82.5%) of these patients had an operative intervention. The mean age was 23.7 years with a range of 8-53 years. Sixty percent of patients were young adults in their third decade of life. The minimum duration of erection at presentation was 18 h and a maximum period of 10 days with a mean of 105.5 h (4 days). Thirty-three patients (82.5%) had sickle cell anemia (HbSS). Erectile dysfunction (ED) accounted for 60% of all forms of postpriapism complications. Five patients (12.5%) had residual tumescence from fibrosis, and three patients had recurrence outside the immediate postoperative period. Duration of symptoms before surgical intervention, SSA and previous episodes were the most important prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Priapism is a disease of the young, mostly sickle cell anemic patients. Late presentation remains the norm in our environment, hence a higher incidence of ED. The distal penile shunt is an effective means of achieving detumescence even with failed conservative management. Favorable outcome is highly dependent on the duration of erection and early intervention.

Impact of risk score calculations in choosing front-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase.

The approval of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting BCR-ABL has broadened the number of available therapeutic options for chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP). This provides an impetus for optimizing prognostic risk score systems that can guide treatment decisions. Presently, three risk scores-the Sokal, Hasford, and European Treatment and Outcome Study (EUTOS) metrics-have been implemented clinically in CML-CP. While these three formulations all endeavor to gauge likely disease course, they differ from one another in several important respects, with potential implications for prognosis and therapy. Here, we review these risk scores and propose how prognostic systems in CML-CP might be refined to direct patients to optimally effective therapies as efficiently and accurately as possible.

European Treatment and Outcome Study score does not predict imatinib treatment response and outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

The Sokal and Hasford scores were developed in the chemotherapy and interferon era and are widely used as prognostic indicators in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recently, a new European Treatment and Outcome Study (EUTOS) scoring system was developed. We performed a multicenter retrospective study to validate the effectiveness of each of the three scoring systems. The study cohort included 145 patients diagnosed with CML in chronic phase who were treated with imatinib. In the EUTOS low- and high-risk groups, the cumulative incidence of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at 18 months was 86.9% and 87.5% (P = 0.797) and the 5-year overall survival rate was 92.6% and 93.3% (P = 0.871), respectively. The cumulative incidence of CCyR at 12 months, 5-year event-free survival and 5-year progression-free survival were not predicted using the EUTOS scoring system. However, there were significant differences in both the Sokal score and Hasford score risk groups. In our retrospective validation study, the EUTOS score did not predict the prognosis of patients with CML in chronic phase treated with imatinib.