Short- and long-term effects of imatinib in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized trial.

Objectives: We studied the short- and long-term effects of imatinib in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive standard of care (SoC) or SoC with imatinib. Imatinib dosage was 400 mg daily until discharge (max 14 days).

Circulating SMRP and CA-125 before and after pleurectomy decortication for pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Tumor recurrence remains the main barrier to survival after surgery for pleural mesothelioma (PM). Soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) are established blood-based biomarkers for monitoring PM. We prospectively studied the utility of these biomarkers after pleurectomy decortication (PD).

Long COVID-associated symptoms prevalent in both SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative individuals: A prospective follow-up study.

Background: Research into persistent symptoms among SARS-CoV-2-positive i.e. CoV(+) patients mostly focuses on hospitalized individuals.

Contemporary issues in the surgical management of pleural mesothelioma.

The surgical management of pleural mesothelioma (PM) can be divided into diagnostic, staging, palliation, and cytoreductive surgery. In the cytoreductive surgical setting, the combination of different treatment modalities has led to better outcomes than surgery alone. The scarcity of high-quality studies has led to heterogeneity in management of PM across the mesothelioma treatment centers.

The Rocky Road from Preclinical Findings to Successful Targeted Therapy in Pleural Mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a rare and aggressive disease that arises from the mesothelial cells lining the pleural cavity. Approximately 80% of PM patients have a history of asbestos exposure. The long latency period of 20-40 years from the time of asbestos exposure to diagnosis, suggests that multiple somatic genetic alterations are required for the tumorigenesis of PM.

Effect of remdesivir post hospitalization for COVID-19 infection from the randomized SOLIDARITY Finland trial.

We report the first long-term follow-up of a randomized trial (NCT04978259) addressing the effects of remdesivir on recovery (primary outcome) and other patient-important outcomes one year after hospitalization resulting from COVID-19. Of the 208 patients recruited from 11 Finnish hospitals, 198 survived, of whom 181 (92%) completed follow-up. At one year, self-reported recovery occurred in 85% in remdesivir and 86% in standard of care (SoC) (RR 0.

Prognostic Role of Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Pleural Epithelioid Mesothelioma.

Background: Pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy with an average patient survival of only 10 months. Interestingly, about 5%-10% of the patients survive remarkably longer. Prior studies have suggested that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has potential prognostic value in MPM.

Scent dogs in detection of COVID-19: triple-blinded randomised trial and operational real-life screening in airport setting.

Objective: To estimate scent dogs' diagnostic accuracy in identification of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We conducted a randomised triple-blinded validation trial, and a real-life study at the Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, Finland.

Methods: Four dogs were trained to detect COVID-19 using skin swabs from individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR.

Successful treatment with a short course of remdesivir in a case of prolonged COVID-19 in a lymphoma patient.

Background: Patients with haematological malignancies have an increased susceptibility for COVID-19 and higher mortality. They may also have prolonged symptoms and viral shedding. Clinical trials have not specifically addressed the management of this patient group.

Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland.

Background: Substantial variation in health care costs for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has previously been identified.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the changes in health care costs in MPM in Finland during 2002-2012. Finland has low-threshold public health care and a mandatory Workers' Compensation scheme that covers all occupational-related disease expenses.

Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemoperfusion for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy of the pleural lining with exceptionally poor survival. Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemoperfusion (HITHOC) is commonly used with surgery in limited disease. However, data on its effect on survival are limited.

Acute epiglottitis after COVID-19 infection.

In patients with acute epiglottitis, the possibility of COVID-19 should be ruled out. Repeated nasofiberoscopy examinations or a tracheostomy, which may produce infectious aerosols, may be required.

High tumor cell platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta expression is associated with shorter survival in malignant pleural epithelioid mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has a rich stromal component containing mesenchymal fibroblasts. However, the properties and interplay of MPM tumor cells and their surrounding stromal fibroblasts are poorly characterized. Our objective was to spatially profile known mesenchymal markers in both tumor cells and associated fibroblasts and correlate their expression with patient survival.

Clinical Features in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma With 5-Year Survival and Evaluation of Original Diagnoses.

Introduction: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a fatal malignancy strongly associated with previous asbestos exposure. Overall survival remains dismal, partly owing to poor response to available treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in a group of patients with MPM with an unusually long survival time and to assess the factors related to this prolonged survival.

Histopathological features of epithelioid malignant pleural mesotheliomas in patients with extended survival.

Diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM) of the pleura is a rare and aggressive disease, wherein the long-term survival (LTS) rate is low. The epithelioid subtype is the most prevalent form of DMM with the best prognosis. To study prognostic histopathologic factors associated with extended survival in epithelioid DMM, we examined 43 tumors from patients with survival more than five years (LTSs) and compared the findings with 84 tumors from a reference group (RG) with average survival.

Elevated Circulating Activin A Levels in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Are Related to Cancer Cachexia and Reduced Response to Platinum-based Chemotherapy.

Background: Previous preclinical studies have shown that activin A is overexpressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), associates with cancer cachexia, and is observed in in vitro resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. We evaluated circulating activin levels and their endogenous antagonists' follistatin/follistatin-like 3 in intrathoracic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Patients suspected of thoracic malignancy were recruited prior to surgery.

Disseminated central nervous system infection after lung transplantation: A case report with successful recovery.

species are fungal opportunistic pathogens frequently seen in chronic lung diseases such as in cystic fibrosis (CF). They can cause a wide spectrum of diseases mainly in immunodeficient patients. Invasive, disseminated infections with poor prognosis have been described after lung transplantation.

Computed tomography in the evaluation of malignant pleural mesothelioma-Association of tumor size to a sarcomatoid histology, a more advanced TNM stage and poor survival.

Objectives: Appropriate clinical staging of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is critical for correct treatment decisions. Newly revised TNM staging protocol has been released for MPM. We investigated baseline computed tomography (CT) characteristics of MPM patients, the new staging system and a simple tumor size (TS) assessment in terms of survival.

Impact of obesity and associated diseases on outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Obesity is a risk factor for operative treatment. This study examined the impact of obesity and associated comorbidities on complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Altogether, 1581 consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstones underwent LC between the years 1995 and 2008.