A comparative study between methylprednisolone versus dexamethasone as an initial anti-inflammatory treatment of moderate COVID-19 pneumonia: an open-label randomized controlled trial.

Background: The most appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment for moderate COVID-19 pneumonia remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of a high-dose methylprednisolone versus a high-dose dexamethasone in hospitalized moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, regarding the WHO clinical progression scales, mortality, and the length of hospitalization.

Methods: In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, we enrolled patients with age > 18 years old who were diagnosed moderate COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by real-time PCR, evidence of pneumonia by chest imaging and resting oxygen saturation between 90 and 94%.

Predictive factors and outcomes of respiratory syncytial virus infection among patients with respiratory failure.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is an emerging infectious disease. However, the impacts of RSV infection among patients with respiratory failure have not been identified.

Objective: This study investigated the 28-day mortality and clinical outcomes of RSV infection in patients with respiratory failure.

Rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia associated with anti-NXP2 antibody secondary to malignancy.

The diagnosis of a diffuse lung disease is challenging for physicians and it requires a multidisciplinary team approach to solve this problem. Herein, we present a case of common bile duct obstruction from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after biliary stent placement, which developed a rapidly progressive bilateral lung infiltration after oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. After a diagnostic evaluation based on clinical, radiographic, and pathological findings, a diagnosis of rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia associated with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody secondary to malignancy was made.