Validated machine learning tools to distinguish immune checkpoint inhibitor, radiotherapy, COVID-19 and other infective pneumonitis.

Background: Pneumonitis is a well-described, potentially disabling, or fatal adverse effect associated with both immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and thoracic radiotherapy. Accurate differentiation between checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) radiation pneumonitis (RP), and infective pneumonitis (IP) is crucial for swift, appropriate, and tailored management to achieve optimal patient outcomes. However, correct diagnosis is often challenging, owing to overlapping clinical presentations and radiological patterns.

Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a narrative review.

The role of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in the management of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis has come under the spotlight following the development of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) technique. Previous indications for BAV were limited to symptom palliation and as a bridge to definitive therapy for patients undergoing conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). In the TAVI era, BAV may also be undertaken to assess the 'therapeutic response' of a reduction in aortic gradient in borderline patients often with multiple comorbidities, to assess symptomatic improvement prior to consideration of definitive TAVI intervention.

Outcomes of primary lymphoma of the ocular adnexa (orbital lymphoma) treated with radiotherapy.

Aims: Low-grade ocular adnexal lymphoma is a rare disease and often treated with local radiotherapy to varying doses. Most previously reported studies have a very heterogeneous patient population and treatments. We report the outcomes from a 10 year cohort of patients at our institution treated with primary radiation therapy.

Introduction of a nurse-led sexual health service for HIV-positive men.

A nurse-led clinic offering screening for sexual infections to men within an existing HIV outpatient service was created. A retrospective case-note review was undertaken of those having a sexual health (SH) screen between May and December 2007. A total of 125 men had an SH screen, 117 identified as men who have sex with men and 84 were asymptomatic.

MRI demonstration of the effect of neoadjuvant radiotherapy on rectal carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: In patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant long course (45-54 Gy in 25-30 fractions) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) may reduce tumour size and result in downstaging. In patients with primary resectable tumour short course (25 Gy in 5 fractions) radiotherapy (SCRT) reduces local recurrence but downstaging the disease or altering tumour size has not been described. We aimed to assess change in tumour size on MRI after SCRT or CRT.

Measuring tumor pharmacodynamic response using PET proliferation probes: the case for 2-[(11)C]-thymidine.

[(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming accepted as a diagnostic tool for cancer, but the potential uses of PET in oncology extend beyond the imaging of glucose metabolism. The development of a PET proliferation probe would be a useful pharmacodynamic tool. [(11)C]-thymidine PET has been assessed in man as a specific measure of tumor proliferation.

Arterial cannulation: how to do it.

The use of arterial lines is now common in the care of critically ill patients. Intra-arterial cannulation with continuous blood pressure transduction and display remains the accepted standard for comprehensive arterial blood pressure monitoring. This article will illustrate a technique for percutaneous radial artery cannulation as well as outlining the indications, contraindications and possible complications of arterial cannulation.

Localization of neuroendocrine tumours and insulinomas using radiolabelled somatostatin analogues, 123I-Tyr3-octreotide and 111In-pentatreotide.

Objective: A number of neoplasms are known to express somatostatin receptors; the use of somatostatin receptor imaging in their localization has recently been described, but the resolution and discrimination of the isotopes used remains sub-optimal. We have looked at the use of a new 111In-labelled analogue of somatostatin, pentatreotide, in the visualization and functional characterization of a number of neoplastic conditions.

Patients: Thirteen patients with proven neoplasms were scanned using this agent.