Overcoming Barriers to Remission in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Two-Year Real-World Data With Benralizumab.

Background: Benralizumab has been reported to lead to clinical remission of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) at 1 year in some patients. However, whether this is maintained over a longer term remains unclear. Additionally, the impact of pulmonary and extrapulmonary comorbidities on the ability to meet remission is poorly understood.

Impact of comorbidities on EQ-5D quality-of-life index in severe asthma.

Background: Severe asthma pathology encompasses a wide range of pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits with a high prevalence of comorbidities. Although asthma-specific health-related quality-of-life measures are most sensitive to changes in asthma control, generic measures, such as EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire), are potentially better for capturing the impact of comorbidities.

Objective: We sought to examine the impact of pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits on quality of life at initial severe asthma assessment, and to compare the characteristics of those patients whose quality of life does and does not improve during follow-up at severe asthma centers.

Impact of abdominal compression on heart and stomach motion for stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal compression (AC) as a respiratory motion management method for the heart and stomach during stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR).

Methods: 4D computed tomography (4DCT) scans of patients imaged with AC or without AC (free-breathing: FB) were obtained from ventricular-tachycardia (VT) (n = 3), lung cancer (n = 18), and liver cancer (n = 18) patients. Patients treated for VT were imaged both FB and with AC.

Stereotactic Optimized Automated Radiotherapy (SOAR): a novel automated planning solution for multi-metastatic SRS compared to HyperArc™.

Automated Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) planning solutions improve clinical efficiency and reduce treatment plan variability. Available commercial solutions employ a template-based strategy that may not be optimal for all SRS patients. This study compares a novel beam angle optimized Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) planning solution for multi-metastatic SRS to the commercial solution HyperArc.

Long term nitrofurantoin induced interstitial lung disease: a case series and literature review.

Background And Aim: In the UK, prophylactic use of nitrofurantoin is recommended in women who have 3 or more UTI per year. Reported cases of nitrofurantoin-induced pulmonary toxicity are limited and the exact mechanism of chronic nitrofurantoin induced lung reaction is unclear. In England, the national trend for prescribing Nitrofurantoin has gone up significantly in the last 10 years.

Can machine learning models improve early detection of brain metastases using diffusion weighted imaging-based radiomics?

Background: Metastatic complications are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity, with up to 40% of cancer patients experiencing at least one brain metastasis. Earlier detection may significantly improve patient outcomes and overall survival. We investigated machine learning (ML) models for early detection of brain metastases based on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) radiomics.

An examination of factorial invariance of the Asthma Control Questionnaire among adults with severe asthma.

Background: The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) is used to assess asthma symptom control. The relationship between the questionnaire items and symptom control has not been fully studied in severe asthmatic patients, and its validity for making comparisons between subgroups of patients is unknown.

Methods: Data was obtained from patients in the United Kingdom Severe Asthma Registry whose symptom control was assessed using the five-item ACQ (ACQ5) (n = 2,951).

Improving asthma care through implementation of the SENTINEL programme: findings from the pilot site.

Aim: Short-acting β-agonist (SABA) overuse adversely impacts asthma-related outcomes and the environment. The SABA rEductioN Through ImplemeNting Hull asthma guidELines (SENTINEL) programme aims to reduce SABA overuse through supported implementation of an adult asthma guideline, which advocates for a SABA-free maintenance and reliever therapy (MART)-preferred treatment where appropriate, across six primary care networks (PCNs) in the UK. We present findings on patient/disease characteristics, asthma prescribing patterns and exacerbation rates from the pilot PCN.

A phase III, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of preoperative versus postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with surgically resectable brain metastases.

Background: Postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a standard management option for patients with resected brain metastases. Preoperative SRS may have certain advantages compared to postoperative SRS, including less uncertainty in delineation of the intact tumor compared to the postoperative resection cavity, reduced rate of leptomeningeal dissemination postoperatively, and a lower risk of radiation necrosis. The recently published ASCO-SNO-ASTRO consensus statement provides no recommendation for the preferred sequencing of radiotherapy and surgery for patients receiving both treatments for their brain metastases.

It is time to end our love affair with short-acting β-agonists in asthma.

https://bit.ly/3BfwhfS.

PD-1 Blockade With Concurrent Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Inoperable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: For patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (LA-cSCC), radiotherapy alone (RT) is often the only treatment option with modest tumor response. We report the outcomes of using combination of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor and RT in the treatment of inoperable LA-cSCC. The study presents the efficacy and safety data for the patients with LA-cSCC treated with this combination.

Patterns and predictors of relapse in Merkel cell carcinoma: Results from a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Prospective data evaluating the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for Merkel Cell Carcinoma(MCC) is lacking. To better understand the efficacy of adjuvant RT, a population-based patterns of failure study was conducted.

Methods: We identified MCC patients treated from 1988 to 2018.

Implications of impacted mandibular cuspids on mental foramen position.

Objective: To determine the horizontal and vertical locations and dimensions of the mental foramen (MF) in digital panoramic images (DPI), and to evaluate the effect of impacted mandibular cuspids (IMC) on the position of the MF.

Materials And Methods: 715 Digital panoramic images were obtained from the archives of oral radiology clinics of the College of Dentistry, Jouf University. Altogether 236 DPI that met inclusion and exclusion criteria were investigated.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Postoperative Spine Malignancy: A Systematic Review and International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society Practice Guidelines.

Purpose: To determine safety and efficacy of postoperative spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the published literature, and to present practice recommendations on behalf of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society.

Methods And Materials: A systematic review of the literature was performed, specific to postoperative spine SBRT, using PubMed and Embase databases. A meta-analysis for 1-year local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and vertebral compression fracture probability was conducted.

Digital assessment of marginal accuracy in ceramic crowns fabricated with different marginal finish line configurations.

Aim: To digitally evaluate the marginal adaptation of different types of all-ceramic crowns on two different marginal configurations such as Shoulder and Chamfer of the prepared teeth.

Methods: The marginal fit of the crown specimens on the model of the prepared teeth were assessed using the dual scan replica technique. Two plastic teeth were prepared; one having a Shoulder finishing line (A), while the other with a Chamfer finish line (B).

Outcomes and characteristics of COVID-19 patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure/high-flow nasal oxygen outside the intensive care setting.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) have been used to manage hypoxaemic respiratory failure secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Limited data are available for patients treated with noninvasive respiratory support outside of the intensive care setting.

Methods: In this single-centre observational study we observed the characteristics, physiological observations, laboratory tests and outcomes of all consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia between April 2020 and March 2021 treated with noninvasive respiratory support outside of the intensive care setting.

Thecal Sac Contouring as a Surrogate for the Cauda Equina and Intracanal Spinal Nerve Roots for Spine Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): Contour Variability and Recommendations for Safe Practice.

Purpose: To present interobserver variability in thecal sac (TS) delineation based on contours generated by 8 radiation oncologists experienced in spine stereotactic body radiation therapy and to propose contouring recommendations to standardize practice.

Methods And Materials: In the setting of a larger contouring study that reported target volume delineation guidelines specific to sacral metastases, 8 academically based radiation oncologists with dedicated spine stereotactic body radiation therapy programs independently contoured the TS as a surrogate for the cauda equina and intracanal spinal nerve roots. Uniform treatment planning simulation computed tomography datasets fused with T1, T2, and T1 post gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging for each case were distributed to each radiation oncologist.

Investigating diffusion patterns of brain metastases pre- and post-stereotactic radiosurgery: a feasibility study.

Metastatic complications are responsible for 90% of cancer-associated mortality. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to observe the brain's microstructure and potentially correlate changes with metastasis occurrence. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an MRI technique that utilizes the kinetics of water molecules within the body.

Review of Stereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation Therapy for Cardiac Tachydysrhythmias.

Cardiac tachyarrhythmias are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Treatments for these tachyarrhythmias include antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation, surgical ablation, cardiac implantable electronic devices, and cardiac transplantation. Each of these treatment approaches is effective in some patients but there is considerable room for improvement, particularly with respect to the most common of the tachydysrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and the most dangerous of the tachydysrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation.

COVID-19 progression, frailty, and use of prolonged continuous positive airway pressure as a ward-based treatment: Lessons to be learnt from a case.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) poses the greatest public health threat in 100 years, with cases rising rapidly in many countries around the world. We report a case of a 78-year-old female who exhibited a biphasic course of COVID-19; showing initial clinical improvement followed by deterioration before making a full recovery. The patient was managed with prolonged continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and supportive care.

Impact of COVID-19 on COPD and asthma admissions, and the pandemic from a patient's perspective.

https://bit.ly/2Kv0O0H.

The impact of the first COVID-19 surge on severe asthma patients in the UK. Which is worse: the virus or the lockdown?

https://bit.ly/3jImUsG.