Exploring the Correlation Between Splenomegaly and Lung Involvement in COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting from the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has not only shown substantial effects on the respiratory system but also on extrapulmonary systems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematological, and immune responses, notably spleen enlargement. The connection between the enlargement of the spleen and pulmonary complications in individuals with COVID-19 is still not well elucidated, with current studies offering divergent conclusions. Objective This study aims to elucidate the correlation between splenomegaly, as assessed by computed tomography (CT) imaging, and the extent of lung involvement (LI) in COVID-19 patients, thereby offering insights into potential prognostic indicators. Methodology A hospital-based, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted involving 1058 symptomatic COVID-19 patients confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), aged 18 years and above. CT imaging was utilized to evaluate spleen size and LI. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and simple linear regression, were performed to explore the relationship between spleen size and LI. Results The study cohort exhibited a mean spleen size of 9.49 cm and a mean LI score of 0.272. The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated at 0.0495, indicating a marginal positive correlation between spleen size and LI. Regression analysis demonstrated a minimal impact of spleen size on LI, with spleen size accounting for only 0.2% of the variance in LI scores. Conclusions The study found a slight, statistically non-significant correlation between splenomegaly and LI in COVID-19 patients, suggesting that while splenic enlargement may reflect systemic disease involvement, it is not a strong independent predictor of lung damage extent. The findings highlight the complexity of extrapulmonary manifestations and highlight the need for additional research to fully understand the implications of splenic involvement in COVID-19.

Myositis-associated antibodies predict the severity of lung involvement in adult patients with inflammatory myositis - a cohort study of 70 adult patients with myositis in a single center.

Introduction: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) encompass a diverse group of diseases characterized by considerable variability in clinical manifestations, antibody profiles, and responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapies. This study aimed to investigate the association between organ involvement and distinct myositis autoantibodies in individuals with IIM in a single-center cohort. Methods: Patients with ICD diagnoses M33.1, M33.2, M33.9, or M609 who (1) had been tested with Euroline blot assay for myositis autoantibodies and (2) met the classification criteria of definite/probable polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM), anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS), or inclusion body myositis (IBM) were included. Medical journals were retrospectively examined with respect to clinical disease features. Results: Seventy patients (median age 58 years; 66% females) were included and represented the following diagnosis: PM (n = 23), DM (n = 21), ASS (n = 23), and IBM (n = 3). Most of the patients (87%) presented a muscle biopsy indicative of myositis. The presence of autoantibodies was as follows: myositis-specific antibodies, MSA (n = 53), myositis-associated antibodies, MAA (n = 33), both MSA + MAA (n = 24), MSA only (n = 29), MAA only (n = 9), no MSA, or MAA (n = 8). Anti-Jo-1 was the most common MSA (19%), whereas the most common MAA was anti-Ro/SSA52 (31%). We observed a significant association between antibody patterns and lung disease. In our cohort, 47% of the patients in the whole study group, 86% of patients with anti-SSA52, and 100% with anti-Jo-1 had pulmonary involvement. Patients with both MSA and MAA had a higher incidence of lung disease and decreased CO-diffusion capacity. This was especially prominent in anti-Ro/SSA52-positive patients. Interestingly, none of the patients suffered from lung disease if only antibodies against Mi-2α, Mi-2ß, NXP2, HMGCR, and TIF1γ were present or no MSA/MAA were detected. Discussion: The simultaneous presence of both MAA and MSA indicates an increased risk of lung involvement in patients with inflammatory myopathies. The presence of any MAA, and especially anti-Ro/SSA52, is associated with more severe pulmonary disease. Our data suggest that MAA antibodies might be relevant markers for early detection and treatment of lung involvement in IIM.

Pulmonary Involvement in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: A Systematic Review.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a non-malignant disease, characterized by the production of wart-like growths in the respiratory tract, affecting both young people and adults (juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, JORRP, and adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, AORRP, respectively). Infection caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is known as the main factor involved in RRP development. Complications of RRP may rarely occur, including lung involvement and malignant transformation. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of severe complications, such as lung involvement and lung tumor in JORRP and AORRP patients, and assess the role of HPV genotypes in the progression of disease severity following the guideline for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA Statement). A total of 378 studies were found on PubMed and Scopus using the following MESH terms: "recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and lung tumor" and "pulmonary tumor and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis". Basing on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 11 studies were included in the systematic review. We found a pooled prevalence of 8% (95% CI: 4-14%; I2: 87.5%) for lung involvement in RRP patients. In addition, we found a pooled risk difference of 5% in lung involvement between JORRP and AORRP (95% CI: -7-18%; I2: 85.6%, p-value: 0.41). Among patients with lung involvement, we observed a pooled prevalence of lung tumor of 4% (95% CI:1-7%; I2: 67.1%) and a pooled prevalence mortality for this group of 4% (95% CI:2-6%; I2: 0%). Overall, the positivity rate for HPV-6 and -11 in patients with RRP was 91%. Considering only cases with pulmonary involvement, the pooled prevalence for HPV-11 was 21% (95% CI: 5-45%; I2: 77.2%). Our results evidenced a low/middle risk of pulmonary involvement and lung tumor in JORRP and AORRP patients, with an increased risk for HPV-11-positive patients. Further studies should be performed to improve knowledge and adopt preventive measures to contrast the progression to severe diseases in RRP patients.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest computer tomography (CT) insights: a study on intensive care unit (ICU) admittance trends in 78 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Background: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed substantial challenges for healthcare systems, notably the increased demand for chest computed tomography (CT) scans, which lack automated analysis. Our study addresses this by utilizing artificial intelligence-supported automated computer analysis to investigate lung involvement distribution and extent in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, we explore the association between lung involvement and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, while also comparing computer analysis performance with expert radiologists' assessments. Methods: A total of 81 patients from an open-source COVID database with confirmed COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Three patients were excluded. Lung involvement was assessed in 78 patients using CT scans, and the extent of infiltration and collapse was quantified across various lung lobes and regions. The associations between lung involvement and ICU admission were analysed. Additionally, the computer analysis of COVID-19 involvement was compared against a human rating provided by radiological experts. Results: The results showed a higher degree of infiltration and collapse in the lower lobes compared to the upper lobes (P<0.05). No significant difference was detected in the COVID-19-related involvement of the left and right lower lobes. The right middle lobe demonstrated lower involvement compared to the right lower lobes (P<0.05). When examining the regions, significantly more COVID-19 involvement was found when comparing the posterior vs. the anterior halves and the lower vs. the upper half of the lungs. Patients, who required ICU admission during their treatment exhibited significantly higher COVID-19 involvement in their lung parenchyma according to computer analysis, compared to patients who remained in general wards. Patients with more than 40% COVID-19 involvement were almost exclusively treated in intensive care. A high correlation was observed between computer detection of COVID-19 affections and the rating by radiological experts. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the extent of lung involvement, particularly in the lower lobes, dorsal lungs, and lower half of the lungs, may be associated with the need for ICU admission in patients with COVID-19. Computer analysis showed a high correlation with expert rating, highlighting its potential utility in clinical settings for assessing lung involvement. This information may help guide clinical decision-making and resource allocation during ongoing or future pandemics. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings.

Lung Involvement Patterns in COVID-19: CT Scan Insights and Prognostic Implications From a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

Background COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has presented an unparalleled challenge and a profound learning curve globally. Among the myriad of investigative tools, CT scans of the chest have become instrumental in assessing the magnitude of lung involvement in the pathogenesis of this disease. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the distribution and patterns of lung involvement depicted in the CT chest scans of COVID-19 patients admitted to a specialized tertiary care center located in a southern state of India. Methods With clearance secured from the Institutional Ethics Committee, an analytical cross-sectional study was conducted. It encompassed CT chest images from all symptomatic COVID-19 patients within the designated study center during the specified study timeline. Subsequent data analysis ensued. Results Among the 1066 COVID-19 patients evaluated, ground-glass opacities (GGO) were the predominant lung involvement pattern. Distinct patterns, such as GGOs combined with solid consolidation or atelectasis, were noted, with the highest mortality linked to GGOs paired with pneumomediastinum (PM). Data underscored a direct correlation between the extent of lung involvement and patient prognosis, with specific lung regions, namely the right apical, right posterior, right superior basal, left superior lingular, and left inferior lingular segments, showing frequent involvement. Conclusion Amidst the pandemic, our study emphasizes that ground-glass opacities on CT scans are robust indicators of COVID-19 in RT-PCR-positive patients. Early identification can enhance patient management, with findings highlighting a strong link between lung involvement and prognosis. This insight aids in refining patient triage, while further research is warranted to delve deeper into variations in lung involvement and guide treatment advancements.

Differentiating Viral from Bacterial Pneumonia in Children: The Diagnostic Role of Lung Ultrasound-A Prospective Observational Study.

This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the utility of lung ultrasound (LUS) in diagnosing and managing pediatric respiratory infections, specifically focusing on viral, bacterial, and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Conducted over a period of 1 year and 8 months, this research involved 85 pediatric patients (showcasing a median age of 14 months) recruited based on specific criteria, including age, confirmed infection through multiplex PCR tests, and willingness to undergo LUS imaging. This study employed a 12-area scoring system for LUS examinations, utilizing the lung ultrasound score (LUSS) to evaluate lung abnormalities. The PCR examination results reveal diverse respiratory pathogens, with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and bacterial co-infections being prominent among the cases. As an observational study, this study was not registered in the registry. Distinct LUS patterns associated with different pathogens were identified, showcasing the discriminatory potential of LUS in differentiating between viral and bacterial etiologies. Bacterial infections demonstrated more severe lung involvement, evident in significantly higher LUSS values compared with viral cases (p < 0.0001). The specific abnormalities found in bacterial superinfection can be integrated into diagnostic and management protocols for pediatric respiratory infections. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into optimizing LUS as a diagnostic tool in pediatric pneumonia, facilitating more informed and tailored healthcare decisions.

Elevated hyaluronic acid levels in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in the post-COVID-19 era.

Objective: Human identical sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) promoted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression by upregulating hyaluronic acid (HA) via NamiRNA-enhancer network, based on previous experimental research. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of HA for the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the post-COVID-19 era. Methods: A total of 217 consecutive patients with COVID-19 were enrolled at Beijing Ditan Hospital between July 2023 and October 2023. HA levels were analyzed using biochemical detector. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent factors for severe COVID-19. The predictive performance of HA for severe infection was assessed by ROC curve. Furthermore, the relationship between HA levels and COVID-19 severity was investigated using multivariate logistic regression models after adjustment for potential confounders. Results: According to the cut-off value of HA, COVID-19 patients were divided into HA < 90 ng/mL group (80 cases) and HA ≥ 90 ng/mL group (137 cases). High HA levels were positively associated with the severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, including elevated inflammatory indicators, severe lung involvement, prolonged clinical course, and higher incidence of respiratory failure and death (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that HA was an independent predictor of severe COVID-19 (OR = 4.540, 95% CI = 2.105-9.790, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of HA for severe infection was 0.724. HA levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 cases compared to the healthy population (123.9 (82.6, 174.1) vs. 50.5 (37.8, 66.8), P < 0.001), but similar to those with non-SARS-CoV-2 lung infection (121.6 (78.5, 175.6) vs. 106.0 (66.5, 149.7), P = 0.244). We also found that the first COVID-19 infections had higher HA levels (118.8 (79.5, 174.3) vs. 85.0 (61.1, 128.8), P < 0.001) and a higher proportion of severe infection (37.1% vs. 21.3%, P = 0.043) than re-infections. However, HA expression failed to fully return to normal levels with infection recovery (204.7 (152.9, 242.2) vs. 97.0 (69.3, 137.3), P < 0.001). Conclusion: HA was associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and could be used as a novel serum biomarker to predict the risk of COVID-19 progression in the post-COVID-19 era.

Lung abnormalities on computed tomography of Vietnamese patients with COVID-19 and the association with medical variables.

Objectives: Patients with COVID-19 may experience a lung injury without presenting clinical symptoms. Early detection of lung injury in patients with COVID-19 is required to enhance prediction and prevent severe progression. Methods: Lung lesions in patients with COVID-19 were defined using the Fleischner Society terminology. Chest computed tomography lesions and their correlation with demographic characteristics and medical variables were identified. Results: Patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 had up to 45% lung injuries, whereas critical patients had 55%. However, patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 typically had low-level lung injuries. Ground-glass (68.1%), consolidation (48.8%), opacity (36.3%), and nodular (6.9%) lung lesions were the most prevalent in patients with COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 infected with the Delta variant had worse lung injury than those infected with the Alpha and Omicron. People vaccinated with ≥2 doses showed a lower risk of lung injury than those vaccinated with <1 dose. Patients <18 years old were less likely to have a lung injury than patients >18 years old. The treatment outcomes were unaffected by the severity of the lung injury. Conclusion: Patients with mild COVID-19 had a similar risk of lung injury as patients with severe COVID-19. Thus, using chest computed tomography to detect lung injury can enhance the treatment outcomes and reduce the patient's risk of pulmonary complications.

HRCT imaging of pulmonary involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis at disease onset and during follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary involvement in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is well known at disease onset but data during follow-up (after the induction regimen and when the first relapse occurs) are limited. Our goal was to analyze chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of (ANCA)-associated vasculitis patients. METHOD: All consecutive unselected AAV patients over eighteen with positive ANCA status and with HRCT chest performed at the diagnosis were retrospectively enrolled between 2004 and 2019 at the Toulouse University Hospital (France). Two experienced pulmonologists and one expert respiratory radiologist reviewed independently HRCT chest scans. RESULTS: A total of 157 AAV patients were included in the study. Two-thirds of AAV patients had pulmonary involvement at diagnosis. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) was observed in 31.2 % of cases, nodules and masses in 18.5 %, bronchial airway involvement in 13.4 %, and interstitial involvement in 12.7 %. Following the induction regimen, chest HRCT scans over a two-year period demonstrated significant improvement in DAH and nodular manifestations, whereas bronchial airway involvement exhibited variability and half of cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD) had progressive course. Outcomes and survival rates are better for nodular and bronchial involvement. DAH was the most frequent cause of deaths. Progressive fibrotic changes in ILD over time could impact prognosis despite AAV remission. CONCLUSION: Employing a pattern-based approach with HRCT chest scans to assess lung involvement could be valuable in predicting treatment response, relapse, mortality, and could improved the management of AAV patients.

[The profile of serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: how well do they reflect the presence of pulmonary involvement?] / A gyulladásos biomarkerek profilja SARS-CoV-2-fertozésben szenvedo betegekben: mennyire tükrözik a tüdoérintettséget?

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with inflammatory and imaging alterations that vary depending on the disease severity. OBJECTIVE: Monitoring changes in inflammatory biomarkers may offer insights into the extent of pulmonary alterations observed in chest-CT. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of different inflammatory biomarkers, widely available and routinely measured in COVID-19 patients, and to determine whether alterations in their activity at admission and discharge correlate with lung involvement assessed through CT scans. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study, wherein chest-CT scans were performed upon admission, and blood tests were conducted at admission and discharge. Treatment and monitoring adhered to national and international guidelines. RESULTS: The profile of serum inflammatory markers (including values at admission and discharge, as well as their evolution during hospitalization) demonstrated a correlation with lung involvement as assessed by the total severity score. The high activity of serum inflammatory markers upon admission, accompanied by minimal changes during hospitalization, indicated a severe form of COVID-19 with notable lung involvement. While statistically significant differences were observed in C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein emerged as the most reliable marker for assessing pulmonary involvement. CONCLUSION: Changes in serum inflammatory markers during hospitalization exhibited a weak to moderate negative correlation with the severity of lung involvement. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(41): 1607-1615.

Lung Involvement in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Shared Pathways and Unwanted Connections.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, frequently associated with extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) that can severely affect IBD patients' quality of life, sometimes even becoming life-threatening. Respiratory diseases have always been considered a rare and subsequently neglected extraintestinal manifestations of IBD. However, increasing evidence has demonstrated that respiratory involvement is frequent in IBD patients, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Airway inflammation is the most common milieu of IBD-related involvement, with bronchiectasis being the most common manifestation. Furthermore, significant differences in prevalence and types of involvement are present between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The same embryological origin of respiratory and gastrointestinal tissue, in addition to exposure to common antigens and cytokine networks, may all play a potential role in the respiratory involvement. Furthermore, other causes such as drug-related toxicity and infections must always be considered. This article aims at reviewing the current evidence on the association between IBD and respiratory diseases. The purpose is to raise awareness of respiratory manifestation among IBD specialists and emphasize the need for identifying respiratory diseases in early stages to promptly treat these conditions, avoid worsening morbidity, and prevent lung damage.

Undiagnosed Primary Sjögren's Syndrome With Pleural Involvement.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in the dryness of the eyes and mouth. However, Sjögren's syndrome is not limited to glandular involvement, as it can also affect various other organ systems, leading to a wide range of extraglandular manifestations and delaying the diagnosis. In this scenario, a high level of suspicion is required.

Is Pulmonary Involvement a Distinct Phenotype of Post-COVID-19?

(1) Background: COVID-19 infection often provokes symptoms lasting many months: most commonly fatigue, dyspnea, myalgia and mental distress symptoms. In this study, we searched for clinical features of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and differences between patients with and without pulmonary involvement. (2) Methods: A total of 282 patients with a mean age of 57 years (SD +/- 12 years) underwent assessment up to 12 weeks after COVID-19 recovery. The course of acute disease, past medical history and clinical symptoms were gathered; pulmonary function tests were performed; radiographic studies were assessed and follow-up examinations were conducted. Patients with and without detectable pulmonary lesions were divided into separate groups. (3) Results: Patients within the pulmonary group were more often older (59 vs. 51 y.o.; p < 0.001) males (p = 0.002) that underwent COVID-19-related hospitalization (p < 0.001) and were either ex- or active smokers with the median of 20 pack-years. We also managed to find correlations with hypertension (p = 0.01), liver failure (p = 0.03), clinical symptoms such as dyspnea (p < 0.001), myalgia (p = 0.04), headache (p = 0.009), sleeplessness (p = 0.046), pulmonary function tests (such as FVC, TLCO, RV and TLC; p < 0.001) and several basic laboratory tests (D-dimer, cardiac troponin, WBC, creatinine and others). (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that initial pulmonary involvement alters the PCC, and it can be used to individualize clinical approaches.

The evaluation of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue changes by computed tomography in coronavirus disease 2019 and comparison with quantitative analysis of lung involvement.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to reveal the relationship between lung involvement and visceral adipose tissue changes between chest-computed tomography (CT) scans taken in short intervals in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: The retrospective study included 52 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. All patients had two chest CT exams. Lung involvement measurements were calculated by using an artificial intelligence tool. Visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue was measured at the level of the first lumbar vertebra on chest CT. Additionally, demographic and laboratory data were collected. RESULTS: 52 patients were included (36.5 % female, mean age 50). Visceral fat area and visceral fat thickness changes were significantly positive predictors of total lung involvement changes (p=0.033, p=0.00024). Subcutaneous fat area and subcutaneous fat thickness changes were not associated with lung involvement change (p>0.05). CRP, IL-6, d-dimer, and ferritin levels were higher in patients who need intensive care units. CONCLUSION: Visceral adipose tissue changes may indicate that it can have a role as a reservoir of virus involvement.

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm with Lung Involvement and Cytopenia: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a hostile cutaneous malignancy with dismal prognosis and unknown etiology with rarity. Most patients received traditional chemotherapy only has one year of median survival time. This article reports an 81-year-old male patient with BPDCN who presented with skin manifestations and was diagnosed with positive CD4, CD56, and CD123 immunohistochemical results. Systematic examination revealed lung involvement and cytopenia.

Development of a radiomics nomogram to predict the treatment resistance of Chinese MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement: a two-center study.

Background: Previous studies from our group and other investigators have shown that lung involvement is one of the independent predictors for treatment resistance in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). However, it is unclear which image features of lung involvement can predict the therapeutic response in MPO-AAV patients, which is vital in decision-making for these patients. Our aim was to develop and validate a radiomics nomogram to predict treatment resistance of Chinese MPO-AAV patients based on low-dose multiple slices computed tomography (MSCT) of the involved lung with cohorts from two centers. Methods: A total of 151 MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement (MPO-AAV-LI) from two centers were enrolled. Two different models (Model 1: radiomics signature; Model 2: radiomics nomogram) were built based on the clinical and MSCT data to predict the treatment resistance of MPO-AAV with lung involvement in training and test cohorts. The performance of the models was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). The better model was further validated. A nomogram was constructed and evaluated by DCA and calibration curves, which further tested in all enrolled data and compared with the other model. Results: Model 2 had a higher predicting ability than Model 1 both in training (AUC: 0.948 vs. 0.824; p = 0.039) and test cohorts (AUC: 0.913 vs. 0.898; p = 0.043). As a better model, Model 2 obtained an excellent predictive performance (AUC: 0.929; 95% CI: 0.827-1.000) in the validation cohort. The DCA curve demonstrated that Model 2 was clinically feasible. The calibration curves of Model 2 closely aligned with the true treatment resistance rate in the training (p = 0.28) and test sets (p = 0.70). In addition, the predictive performance of Model 2 (AUC: 0.929; 95% CI: 0.875-0.964) was superior to Model 1 (AUC: 0.862; 95% CI: 0.796-0.913) and serum creatinine (AUC: 0.867; 95% CI: 0.802-0.917) in all patients (all p< 0.05). Conclusion: The radiomics nomogram (Model 2) is a useful, non-invasive tool for predicting the treatment resistance of MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement, which might aid in individualizing treatment decisions.

From Voxels to Prognosis: AI-Driven Quantitative Chest CT Analysis Forecasts ICU Requirements in 78 COVID-19 Cases.

Background: The aim of the current study was to investigate the distribution and extent of lung involvement in patients with COVID-19 with AI-supported, automated computer analysis and to assess the relationship between lung involvement and the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. A secondary aim was to compare the performance of computer analysis with the judgment of radiological experts. Methods: A total of 81 patients from an open-source COVID database with confirmed COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Three patients were excluded. Lung involvement was assessed in 78 patients using computed tomography (CT) scans, and the extent of infiltration and collapse was quantified across various lung lobes and regions. The associations between lung involvement and ICU admission were analyzed. Additionally, the computer analysis of COVID-19 involvement was compared against a human rating provided by radiological experts. Results: The results showed a higher degree of infiltration and collapse in the lower lobes compared to the upper lobes (p < 0.05) No significant difference was detected in the COVID-19-related involvement of the left and right lower lobes. The right middle lobe demonstrated lower involvement compared to the right lower lobes (p < 0.05). When examining the regions, significantly more COVID-19 involvement was found when comparing the posterior vs. the anterior halves of the lungs and the lower vs. the upper half of the lungs. Patients, who required ICU admission during their treatment exhibited significantly higher COVID-19 involvement in their lung parenchyma according to computer analysis, compared to patients who remained in general wards. Patients with more than 40% COVID-19 involvement were almost exclusively treated in intensive care. A high correlation was observed between computer detection of COVID-19 affections and expert rating by radiological experts. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the extent of lung involvement, particularly in the lower lobes, dorsal lungs, and lower half of the lungs, may be associated with the need for ICU admission in patients with COVID-19. Computer analysis showed a high correlation with expert rating, highlighting its potential utility in clinical settings for assessing lung involvement. This information may help guide clinical decision-making and resource allocation during ongoing or future pandemics. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings.

Epidemiology, characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of adult-onset Still's disease in Afro-Caribbeans: Results from a population-based study in Martinique, French West Indies.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, characteristics, response to initial treatment, and outcomes of Adult-Onset Still's disease (AOSD) in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique with free and easy access to specialised care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 2004 to 2022 in the island of Martinique, French West-Indies which total population was 354 800 in 2021. Patients were identified from multiple sources including standardised databases. To be included, patients had to be residents of the island and fulfilled Yamaguchi and/or Fautrel's criteria for AOSD, or have a compatible disease course, without a diagnosis of cancer, auto-immune disease or another auto-inflammatory disorder. Date of diagnosis, clinical and biological characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence was 7.6/100 000 inhabitants in 2021. The mean incidence was 0.4/100 000 during study period. Thirty-three patients (70.6% females) with a median follow-up of 35 months [7.5 to 119] were included. Twenty-six patients (78.8%) had a systemic pattern. Patients with a systemic monocyclic pattern had significantly more polyarticular involvement than patients with systemic polycyclic pattern (p = 0.016). Pulmonary involvement occurred in 51.5% of patients at diagnosis and systemic Pouchot score has been identified as an independent predictive factor for pulmonary involvement; OR of 3.29 [CI 95% 1.20; 9.01]. At first flare, all patients but one received oral glucocorticoids, 11 patients (32.4%) received intravenous glucocorticoids pulse and 12 patients (33%) received anti-IL1 therapy. Nineteen patients (57%) relapsed in a median time of 9 months [6 to 12] Three patients (9%) developed hemophagocytosis lymphohistiocytosis, fatal in 1 case. All deceased patients (n = 4, 11.76%) belonged to the systemic polycyclic pattern, with an event-free survival of 13.6 months [IQR 5.7; 29.5] CONCLUSION: AOSD in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique shares some similarities with other ethnic groups, but exhibit differences, such as a high proportion of lung involvement. Comparative studies are needed to confirm these results.

Quantitative analysis of lung parenchymal involvement in Behçet's disease by the novel automatic program.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to quantitatively analyze lung parenchymal changes in Behçet's patients and to detect early parenchymal quantitative changes that occur in the absence of positive visual radiological findings. METHODS: In our study, a total of 31 patients with Behçet's disease, 17 with positive radiological findings and 14 patients without positive radiological findings, and a control group of 33 individuals were evaluated. The automatic program determined lung volumes, lung densities, and opacity volume percentages by evaluating the contrast-enhanced lung computed tomography scans. RESULTS: The total lung volume was 3632.98 ± 1100.53 mL in the Behçet's disease patient group and 4925.70 ± 1098.88 mL in the control group, and there was a significant decrease in the total lung volume in Behçet's disease patients (P < 0.0001). The mean lung density was -723.73 ± 65.16 in the Behçet's disease patient group and -767.35 ± 41.17 in the control group, and there was a significant increase in the mean density in the Behçet's patients (P = 0.0023). A significantly higher correlation was observed between lung density and lung volume in Behçet's patients (P < 0.0001, r = -0.795). The lung volume of Behçet's disease patients with negative radiological findings was significantly lower than that of the control group (P = 0.0342). CONCLUSIONS: Lung volumetric changes in Behçet's disease patients are the quantitative data most affected by the disease. In addition, lung volume decreases in Behçet's patients who do not have visual parenchymal involvement.

Clinical Presentation and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Combined with Lung Disease: A Narrative Review.

Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a common rheumatic disorder in children that can cause multiple systems to be affected simultaneously, leading to severe clinical symptoms and a high mortality rate in those with pulmonary involvement. Pleurisy is the most common manifestation of pulmonary involvement. At the same time, other conditions, such as pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, occlusive bronchiectasis, and alveolar protein deposition, have been increasingly reported in recent years. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical manifestations of JIA lung damage and the current treatment options to assist in identifying and treating JIA lung involvement.