Personalized Management of Fatigue in Individuals With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Using a Smart Digital mHealth Solution: Protocol for a Participatory Design Approach.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is the most common symptom in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, impacting patients' quality of life; however, there is currently a lack of evidence-based context-aware tools for fatigue self-management in these populations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) address fatigue in ME/CFS and long COVID through the development of digital mobile health solutions for self-management, (2) predict perceived fatigue severity using real-time data, and (3) assess the feasibility and potential benefits of personalized digital mobile health solutions. METHODS: The MyFatigue project adopts a patient-centered approach within the participatory health informatics domain. Patient representatives will be actively involved in decision-making processes. This study combines inductive and deductive research approaches, using qualitative studies to generate new knowledge and quantitative methods to test hypotheses regarding the relationship between factors like physical activity, sleep behaviors, and perceived fatigue in ME/CFS and long COVID. Co-design methods will be used to develop a personalized digital solution for fatigue self-management based on the generated knowledge. Finally, a pilot study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptance, and potential benefits of the digital health solution. RESULTS: The MyFatigue project opened to enrollment in November 2023. Initial results are expected to be published by the end of 2024. CONCLUSIONS: This study protocol holds the potential to expand understanding, create personalized self-management approaches, engage stakeholders, and ultimately improve the well-being of individuals with ME/CFS and long COVID. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/50157.

Quantitative assessment of interstitial lung disease in Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent manifestation of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease of salivary and lacrimal glands, and affects approximately 20% of patients. No clinical or serological features appear to be useful to predict its presence, severity or progression, and chest high-resolution computed tomography (CT) remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Semiquantitative CT (SQCT) based on visual assessment (Goh and Taouli scoring) can estimate ILD extent, although it is burdened by relevant intra- and interobserver variability. Quantitative chest CT (QCT) is a promising alternative modality to assess ILD severity. AIM: To determine whether QCT assessment can identify extensive or limited lung disease in patients with SS and ILD. METHODS: This multi-center, cross-sectional and retrospective study enrolled patients with SS and a chest CT scan. SQCT assessment was carried out in a blinded and centralized manner to calculate both Goh and Taouli scores. An operator-independent analysis of all CT scans with the open-source software platform Horos was used to evaluate the QCT indices. Patients were classified according to the extent of ILD and differences in QCT index distribution were investigated with non-parametric tests. RESULTS: From a total of 102 consecutive patients with SS, the prevalence of ILD was 35.3% (36/102). There was a statistically significant difference in QCT index distribution between the SS with ILD and SS without ILD groups (p<0.001). Moreover, SS-ILD patients with ILD >20% (by Goh score) had a QCT index statistically different from those with limited ILD extent (p<0.001). Finally, QCT indices showed a moderate-to-good correlation with the Goh and Taouli scores (from 0.44 to 0.65; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: QCT indices can identify patients with SS and ILD and discriminate those with lesser or greater lung disease.

Intermittent Courses of Corticosteroids Also Present a Risk for Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Non-HIV Patients.

Introduction. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is rising in the non-HIV population and associates with higher morbidity and mortality. The aggressive immunosuppressive regimens, as well as the lack of stablished guidelines for chemoprophylaxis, are likely contributors to this increased incidence. Herein, we have explored the underlying conditions, immunosuppressive therapies, and clinical outcomes of PCP in HIV-negative patients. Methods. Retrospective analysis of PCP in HIV-negative patients at Mayo Clinic from 2006-2010. The underlying condition, immunosuppressive therapies, coinfection, and clinical course were determined. PCP diagnosis required symptoms of pneumonia and identification of the organisms by visualization or by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. A total of 128 cases of PCP were identified during the study period. Hematological malignancies were the predisposing condition for 50% of the patients. While 87% had received corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive therapies for >4 weeks prior to the diagnosis, only 7 were receiving PCP prophylaxis. Up to 43% of patients were not on daily steroids. Sixty-seven patients needed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 53 received mechanical ventilation. The mortality for those patients requiring ICU was 40%. Conclusions. PCP diagnosis in the HIV-negative population requires a high level of suspicion even if patients are not receiving daily corticosteroids. Mortality remains high despite adequate treatment.

Bacterial flora in the sputum and comorbidity in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

OBJECTIVE: To determine in patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) the association between the isolation of potential pathogens in a conventional sputum culture and comorbidities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ESMI study is a multicenter observational study. Patients with AE-COPD admitted to the Internal Medicine departments of 70 hospitals were included. The clinical characteristics, treatments, and comorbidities were gathered. The results of conventional sputum cultures were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 536 patients were included, of which 161 produced valid sputum and a potentially pathogenic microorganism was isolated from 88 subjects (16.4%). The isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (30.7%) was associated with a greater severity of the lung disease (previous admissions [P= 0.026], dyspnea scale [P=0.047], post-broncodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) [P=0.005], and the BODEx index [P=0.009]); also with higher prevalence of cor pulmonale (P=0.017), heart failure (P=0.048), and cerebrovascular disease (P=0.026). Streptococcus pneumoniae (26.1%) was associated with more comorbidity according to number of diseases (P=0.018); notably, peripheral artery disease (P=0.033), hypertension (P=0.029), dyslipidemia (P=0.039), osteoporosis (P=0.0001), and depression (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Patients with AE-COPD and P. aeruginosa present higher severity of COPD, while those with S. pneumoniae present greater comorbidity. The potentially pathogenic microorganism obtained in the sputum culture depends on the associated comorbidities.

Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients treated with rituximab.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is an opportunistic fungal infection. Although T-cell immunity is classically related to Pneumocystis defense, recent data support roles for B lymphocytes in the development of PcP in animals, and we have observed several cases of PcP in patients receiving rituximab. These observations prompted a systematic review of our experience to define the spectrum of clinical presentations in which PcP has occurred in the setting of rituximab therapy. METHODS: Using a computer-based search, we reviewed the records of patients who received rituximab and developed PcP at Mayo Clinic Rochester over the years 1998 to 2011 to establish the underlying conditions, clinical course, possible risk factors, and potential association between this drug and the development of PcP. RESULTS: Over this period, 30 patients developed PcP during treatment with rituximab. The underlying diseases included hematologic malignancies in 90% of cases. Glucocorticoids were used in 73% of these patients, under different chemotherapeutic regimens. Three patients (10%) developed PcP in the setting of rituximab without concomitant chemotherapy or significant glucocorticoid exposure. Of these 30 patients, 88% developed acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and 53% required ICU admission. The clinical course was fatal in 30%. CONCLUSION: PcP can occur in association with rituximab, with the majority of cases having also received cytotoxic chemotherapy or significant doses of glucocorticoids. The clinical course of cases of PcP in patients treated with rituximab can be quite fulminant, with significant mortality. Primary prophylaxis should be considered in patients at risk, and secondary prophylaxis provided unless immune reconstitution is well assured.

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in patients treated with infliximab.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab, a chimeric antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibody, has become an established effective therapy for inflammatory rheumatic disease. However, TNF is a critical factor in host defence, and the suppression of its biological activity may be associated with the increased risk of opportunistic infections. The frequent use of infliximab in clinical practice has identified Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) as a serious complication. Individuals colonized with Pneumocystis may be at high risk of development of PcP when they have undergone immunosuppression. Hence, we addressed the question of the frequency of Pneumocystis colonization among patients treated with infliximab. DESIGN: We examined 125 oropharyngeal washes collected from 78 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, 30 with ankylosing spondylitis and 17 with psoriatic arthritis, half of them underwent infliximab therapy, using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay that employs specific primers from a portion of the mitochondrial large-subunit rRNA gene of P. jirovecii. RESULTS: Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization was detected in 32 (25·6%) patients. In a multivariate regression model, only duration of infliximab treatment for more than 3 years and use of corticosteroid were significantly and independently associated with risk of Pneumocystis colonization. However, the effect of corticosteroid on P. jirovecii colonization rate was not linearly dose dependent as showed other logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of P. jirovecii colonization among patients with rheumatologic diseases treated with infliximab. The identification of patients colonized by P. jirovecii before starting the treatment with infliximab could be a strategy for PcP prevention.

High prevalence of Pneumocystis jiroveci colonization among young HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis colonization in young HIV-infected patients has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in a cohort of young HIV-infected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We designed a basal cross-sectional study in 20 young HIV-infected patients to determine the prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in oropharyngeal wash samples studied by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, patients were followed up during 50 weeks to observe the development of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). RESULTS: P jiroveci colonization was detected in eight (40%) of the 20 oropharyngeal wash samples. Genotype 85C/248C was the most frequent. After 50 weeks of follow-up, one colonized patient with advanced immunodepression developed PCP. CONCLUSIONS: We have found a high prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in young HIV-infected patients with a major prevalence of genotype 1 (85C/248C). Further studies are necessary to clarify if Pneumocystis colonization could be a potential risk factor of developing PCP in young HIV infected patients.

Antiphospholipid antibodies investigation in Pneumocystis jirovecii carriers.

It is well documented that antiphospholipid antibodies are increased in patients with HIV-1 infection and these are most commonly seen in those with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Therefore it has been proposed that this could be the cause of its presence. Recently, P. jirovecii subclinical infection has been described in non-immunodeficient patients. We report here our experience concerning the possible relationship between P. jirovecii infection in non-immunocompromized adults and the production of antiphospholipid antibodies. Circulating lupus anticoagulant and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies were negative in all patients. IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in 2 out of 5 (40%) P. jirovecii carriers and 2 out of 10 (20%) subjects with no evidence of pulmonary infection by this microorganism (p=0.4).