Elevated peripheral blood monocyte count is associated with prolonged postoperative hospitalization and functional decline in patients with interstitial lung diseases undergoing surgical lung biopsy.

Objective: Monocyte count and red cell distribution width (RDW) have shown prognostic potential in patients with fibrotic lung diseases. Their kinetics and prognostic usefulness of peripheral blood indices in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) undergoing surgical lung biopsy for diagnostic reasons have not been studied.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively included consecutive patients with ILD who underwent surgical lung biopsy for diagnostic purposes Between 07/11/2019 and 11/10/2022.

Clinical outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with COVID-19: a population-based analysis.

Objective: Real-life data for vaccination against COVID-19 are sorely needed. This was a population-based analysis aiming at investigating the hospitalization risk for COVID-19 of 98,982 subjects and compare features of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

Patients And Methods: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 between 01/07/2021 and 11/02/2022 were included in the study.

Tocilizumab versus baricitinib in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19: an open label, randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Randomized controlled trials comparing tocilizumab and baricitinib in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are needed. This was an open-label, randomized controlled trial aiming to address this unmet need.

Methods: To determine whether baricitinib was non-inferior to tocilizumab, we assessed whether the upper boundary of the two-sided 95% CI of the hazard ratio (HR) did not exceed 1.

Tocilizumab improves 28-day survival in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19: an open label, prospective study.

Background: Data on the safety and efficacy profile of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 needs to be enriched.

Methods: In this open label, prospective study, we evaluated clinical outcomes in consecutive patients with COVID-19 and PaO/FiO < 200 receiving tocilizumab plus usual care versus usual care alone. Tocilizumab was administered at the time point that PaO/FiO < 200 was observed.

Low- Versus Moderate-Sodium Diet in Patients With Recent Hospitalization for Heart Failure: The PROHIBIT (Prevent Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure by Limiting Sodium) Pilot Study.

Background: We conducted a pilot study to assess feasibility, on-study retention, trends in natriuretic peptide levels, quality of life, and safety of a 12-week feeding trial with 1500- versus 3000-mg daily sodium meals in high-risk patients with heart failure.

Methods: Of 196 patients with recent (≤2 weeks) hospitalization for heart failure, ejection fraction ≤40%, on optimal medical therapy, functionally independent, and able to communicate, 83 (47%) consented to participate. Of these, 27 (age, 62±11 years; 22 men; 20 white; ejection fraction, 26±8%) had 24-hour urine sodium ≥3000 mg and agreed to randomly receive either 1500-mg (N=12) or 3000-mg (N=15) sodium meals.