Health-related quality of life in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in the UK: a cross-sectional study from pre- to post-infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over time among individuals in the United Kingdom, adding to the evidence base that had focussed on severe COVID-19. METHODS: A bespoke online survey was administered to individuals who self-reported a positive COVID-19 test. An amended version of a validated generic HRQoL instrument (EQ-5D-5L) was used to measure HRQoL retrospectively at different timepoints over the course of an infection: pre-COVID-19, acute COVID-19, and long COVID. In addition, HRQoL post-COVID-19 was captured by the original EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. A mixed-effects model was used to estimate changes in HRQoL over time, adjusted for a range of variables correlated with HRQoL. RESULTS: The study recruited 406 participants: (i) 300 adults and 53 adolescents with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who had not been hospitalised for COVID-19 during acute COVID-19, and (ii) 53 adults who had been hospitalised for COVID-19 in the acute phase and who had been recruited for validation purposes. Data were collected between January and April 2022. Among participants included in the base-case analysis, EQ-5D-5L utility scores were lower during both acute COVID-19 (ß=-0.080, p = 0.001) and long COVID (ß=-0.072, p < 0.001) compared to pre COVID-19. In addition, EQ-5D-5L utility scores post-COVID-19 were found to be similar to the EQ-5D-5L utility scores before COVID-19, including for patients who had been hospitalised for COVID-19 during the acute phase or for those who had experienced long COVID. Moreover, being hospitalised in the acute phase was associated with additional utility decrements during both acute COVID-19 (ß=-0.147, p = 0.026) and long (ß=-0.186, p < 0.001) COVID. CONCLUSION: Patients perceived their HRQoL to have varied significantly over the course of a mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection. However, HRQoL was found to return to pre-COVID-19 levels, even for patients who had been hospitalised for COVID-19 during the acute phase or for those who had experienced long COVID.

Immunotherapy Combined with Radiation in Malignant Melanoma without BRAF Mutations Brain Metastases-Favorable Response after Immunotherapy Continued beyond Progression.

We present the case of a patient who was diagnosed in 2018 with nodular Malignant Melanoma (MM) without BRAF V 600 mutations stage 3 C (pT4b pN1a M0), and who underwent adjuvant citokines treatment with Interferon alpha 2b-48 weeks. Immunotherapy was initiated in January 2021 for lung and lymph node metastases. In June 2021, there was a partial response of the lung and lymph node metastases, but there was also progression to brain metastases. Immunotherapy was continued and Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) was performed. In September 2023, the imaging investigations revealed a favorable response, with no lesions suggestive of secondary determinations. The combination of Radiotherapy (RT) and Immunotherapy (IT) with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) has an abscopal effect. There is a coordinated action in the combination of RT and IT in order to obtain a common result, with the antitumor effect being greater than if RT or IT acted separately.

Clinical Features and Paraclinical Findings in Patients with SARS CoV-2 Pneumonia and the Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in POST-COVID-19 Patients.

The functional sequelae grouped under the name "long COVID" most often bring the patient in front of a team of specialists in pulmonary rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features and paraclinical findings in patients with SARS CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2) pneumonia and to also evaluate the impact of rehabilitation in this category of patients. This study included 106 patients diagnosed with SARS CoV-2. The division of the patients into two groups was performed based on the presence of SAR-CoV-2 pneumonia. Clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters, and pulmonary functional and radiological examinations were recorded and analyzed. The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale was applied to all patients. Patients in group I were included in the pulmonary rehabilitation program. Among demographic characteristics, age over 50 years (50.9%; p = 0.027) and the female sex (66%; p = 0.042) were risk factors for pneumonia in patients with SARS CoV-2. Over 90% of the 26 patients included in the rehabilitation program were less able to feed, bathe, dress, and walk. After 2 weeks, approximately 50% of patients were able to eat, wash, and dress. It is important to provide longer rehabilitation programs in cases of moderate, severe, and very severe COVID-19 patients, in order to significantly improve patients' participation in daily activities and their quality of life.

The Benefits and Challenges of the Multimodal Treatment in Advanced/Metastatic Malignant Melanoma.

Currently, the treatment of malignant melanoma offers the longest and the most studied experience of innovative treatments in malignant pathology. The algorithm of the therapeutic decision in advanced or metastatic melanoma must comprise: the timing of the therapeutic initiation, the sequencing of the specific oncological treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy still being therapeutic alternatives in selected cases), the diagnosis and the management of adverse reactions. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with metastatic malignant melanoma in November 2019, who progressed successively under new systemic treatment throughout the 3 years of treatment and experienced skin reactions of various degrees of severity. The comprehensive response to secondary hilar pulmonary lymphatic determinations under subsequent chemotherapy was specific to the presented case. The occurrence of vitiligo secondary to immunotherapy is a favorable prognostic factor, but the occurrence of secondary cerebral determinations is an extremely severe prognostic factor in malignant melanoma and a challenge in making the therapeutic decision. Previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors may trigger a favorable response to systemic chemotherapy. The early and accurate diagnosis of the adverse events of the new therapies requires a multidisciplinary approach, because it can radically change the therapeutic decision.

Rare and unusual benign tumors of the sinonasal tract and pharynx: Case series and literature review.

There are a number of benign tumors of the nose and pharynx that are seldomly reported in literature but that can sometimes prove difficult to treat and extremely important for differential diagnosis. The present study presents cases of rare benign tumors localized in the pharynx, nasal and sinus cavities, as well as reviews of literature and historical references for each type of tumor. Unilateral nasal hemangioma in a 72-year-old male which, although not a rare pathology, raised problems due to auto-resection of the tumor. The surgeon was able to pull it out with ease without bleeding; it is possible that the mass would have eventually fallen out. Pilomatrixoma is a relatively uncommon ectodermal benign tumor of the skin derived from hair matrix cells. Surgical resection is curative but recurrence is possible (≤5% risk). The presented case is of a 26-year-old female with a pilomatrixoma of the left cheek who, for aesthetic reasons, refused a classical external surgical approach. Trans-oral resection was performed, which proved feasible but laborious and prone to recurrence. Inverted Schneiderian papilloma is a rare benign tumor of the nasal and sinus cavities with increased potential for invasion, recurrence and malignant transformation compared with other types of papilloma and other benign tumors of the area. The tumor represents 0.5-4.0% of all nasal tumors and has been described under different names, such as villiform cancer and cylindrical/transitional papilloma. The present study reports a rare case of bilateral papilloma in a 68-year-old male. He presented with bilateral evolving nasal obstruction and hyposmia. Following surgery, the patient was treated by a multidisciplinary team and followed by a respiratory rehabilitation program.

Quality of life study for caregivers of people with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures.

AIM: The aim of this study was to capture and measure the impact of caregiving for an adult with uncontrolled drug-resistant focal-onset seizures (FOS) on the caregivers' quality of life (QoL), and to quantify the costs of productivity losses associated with providing informal care in this patient population. METHODS: An online survey, which included the EQ-5D-5L, CarerQol-7D and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Specific-Health Problem (WPAI:SHP) questionnaires, was administered to caregivers of individuals with uncontrolled drug-resistant FOS in the United Kingdom (UK), France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. RESULTS: The study included 345 caregivers. Most were males, aged between 25 and 34 years old whose caring responsibilities took between 15 and 24 h per week. The caregivers' mean EQ-5D-5L score was 0.6, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of [0.58, 0.63], whilst the mean CarerQol-7D score was 72.61 [70.46, 74.76]. Caregivers' mental health was the most substantially affected aspect of their QoL. In addition, most caregivers reported deriving some or a lot of fulfilment out of their caregiving tasks. The WPAI:SHP showed that the mean percentage of work impairment due to caregiving responsibilities was 63%, [59.75, 66.26]. The mean annualised costs of productivity losses per caregiver were estimated at €14,872 [€11,908; €17,888]. LIMITATIONS: One limitation consisted in the use of an online survey instead of a face-to-face interview. However, the medical terms were clearly explained, and examples were provided to help participants to give accurate responses. Another limitation was that the respondents self-reported as caregivers. Efforts were made to mitigate this weakness by using screener questions. CONCLUSION: This study found that providing informal care for people with uncontrolled drug-resistant FOS had a negative impact on caregivers' QoL, with mental health being affected the most. However, caregivers found their role fulfilling and had support with their caring tasks.

Some Manifestations of Tuberculosis in Otorhinolaryngology - Case Series and a Short Review of Related Data from South-Eastern Europe.

Tuberculosis is a disease of global outreach that may affect the entire human body but is most commonly located in the lungs. Otorhinolaryngological manifestations of tuberculosis are rare, mostly occurring secondary to pulmonary disease but nevertheless represent significant diagnostic challenges. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is rare, representing around 1% of all upper air-way localizations and the most common presentation is in the form of adenoids. Tuberculous glossitis (oral tuberculosis) is even scarcer and may present in various clinical forms, usually mimicking a malignant neoplasm, or, less often, trauma or other infectious lesions. Oropharynx tuberculosis is usually misdiagnosed as hypertrophic chronic tonsillitis. We present four rare cases of ENT tuberculosis, primary adenoiditis and tonsillitis in a 13-year-old girl, a curious case of tuberculous glossitis in a 65-year-old woman, clinically diagnosed as a lingual neoplasm and two cases of tuberculous lymphadenopathy uncommonly located in the submandibular and supraclavicular regions. A comprehensive review of literature follows the case presentations. Tuberculous manifestation in the ear, nose and throat area remains a difficult diagnosis to establish, particularly because of its rarity and non-specific clinical appearance, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of pharynx lesions. An early diagnosis is essential to avoid occurrence of complications.

Estimation of Health-Related Utilities for 177Lu-DOTATATE in GEP-NET Patients Using Utilities Mapped from EORTC QLQ-C30 to EQ-5D-3L and QLU-C10D Utilities.

BACKGROUND: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET) are a rare, life-threatening type of cancer. The survival benefit of 177Lu-DOTATATE has been demonstrated in GEP-NET patients. Health technology assessment bodies require data on health-related utility impacts of treatment. A cancer-specific instrument, EORTC QLQ-C30, was used to collect the data for 177Lu-DOTATATE within clinical studies, but utility-based instruments were not included. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to compare EQ-5D-3L and QLU-C10D utilities obtained from EORTC QLQ-C30 using two different approaches. A secondary aim was to analyse the EQ-5D-3L and QLU-C10D utilities of patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE versus best supportive care. A supplementary aim was to evaluate the effect of 177Lu-DOTATATE on patients' health-related utility over time. METHODS: Three datasets were used for the analysis. NETTER-1 is a clinical trial, whilst ERASMUS and Guy's and St. Thomas (GStT) are real-world datasets. Two mapping algorithms (response mapping and ordinary least square regression) were applied to generate EQ-5D-3L utilities from EORTC QLQ-C30. An algorithm was used to obtain QLU-C10D utilities from EORTC QLQ-C30. RESULTS: In all studies, EQ-5D-3L utilities were higher than QLU-C10D utilities at most time points measured, although the magnitude of the differences was small. In NETTER-1, EQ-5D-3L and QLU-C10D utilities were higher in the 177Lu-DOTATATE arm compared with the octreotide long-acting release (LAR) arm, overall and pre-progression. In all studies, patients' health-related utilities seem to be maintained over time. CONCLUSION: There were small differences between EQ-5D-3L and QLU-C10D utilities, but these did not translate to relative differences over time or between groups. In NETTER-1, patients in the 177Lu-DOTATATE arm had higher health-related utilities than patients in the octreotide LAR arm. Health-related utility may at least remain maintained in patients with GEP-NET receiving 177Lu-DOTATATE.