Disease In Long-term Follow-up Research Articles

Laborie Optilume® Drug-coated balloon may lower the re-treatment rate post-intervention for challenging urethral stricture disease in long-term follow-up: A prospective cohort study.

Urethral stricture disease is a common and at times unsatisfying condition that can lead to complications severely impacting a patient's quality of life. Open urethroplasty remains the gold standard treatment; however, it is an invasive and highly specialized procedure. Strictures between 2 to 4 cm in length have been shown to recur at a rate of 50% within 12 months, a rate that typically decreases with each subsequent treatment. The Laborie Optilume drug-coated balloon (DCB) is the first of its kind developed for adjunct treatment of urethral strictures in men. The DCB initially treats the stricture through balloon dilatation and subsequently aims to prevent recurrence via the localized application of Paclitaxel. Our study assesses the safety and efficacy of the DCB in an Australian population with strictures exceeding 2 cm who have undergone at least two prior procedures for urethral stricture disease. Patients were prospectively recruited from November 2019 to September 2021. International prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life (QOL) and voiding parameters were collected at baseline, and again at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months. The drug coated balloon was applied by a single consultant urologist under rigid cystoscope with shallow direct vision internal urethrotomy with a cold knife prior to application of the DCB. 17 patients were recruited with an average of 7.7 prior urethral procedures for recurrent stricture disease. 76% were stricture free at 30 months follow-up. There were improvements in almost all parameters including max flow, average flow, IPSS and IPSS QOL scores at 12 and 24 months. There were no complications. The DCB is a safe and effective method at reducing the rates of recurrence for high-risk stricture disease and can delay or prevent the need for urethroplasty in what remains a very challenging cohort of patients.

The Importance of Radiological Patterns and Small Airway Disease in Long-Term Follow-Up of Postacute COVID-19: A Preliminary Study.

Postacute COVID-19 has become a relevant public health problem, and radiological and pulmonary function tests are tools that help physicians in decision-making. The objectives of this study are to characterize the findings and patterns on a chest radiograph (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) that are most important in the postacute phase and to evaluate how these changes correlate with clinical data, spirometry, and impulse oscillometry (IOS). This was a retrospective study of 29 patients who underwent CXR, CT, spirometry, and IOS. The inclusion criteria were age >18 years and persistent respiratory symptoms after four weeks. The exclusion criteria were radiological exams with low technical quality and non-COVID-19 acute lung diseases. The inferential analysis was carried out with the chi-square (χ2) or Fisher's exact test to evaluate the interrelationships between the clinical and COVID-19 variables according to spirometry, IOS, CT, and CXR. In our sample, 19 patients were women (65.5%). The predominance of abnormal spirometry was associated with CT's moderate/severe degree of involvement (p = 0.017; 69.2%, CI 95%: 44.1%–94.3%). There was no significant association between IOS and tomographic and radiographic parameters. A significant association was found between the classifications of the moderate/severe and normal/mild patterns on CT and CXRs (p = 0.003; 93.3%, CI 95%: 77.8%–100%). Patients with moderate/severe impairment on CXR were associated with a higher frequency of hospitalization (p = 0.033; 77.8%, CI 95%: 58.6%–97.0%) and had significantly more moderate/severe classifications in the acute phase than the subgroup with normal/mild impairment on CXR (p = 0.017; 88.9%, CI 95%: 74.4%–100%). In conclusion, the results of this study show that CXR is a relevant examination and may be used to detect nonspecific alterations during the follow-up of post-COVID-19 patients. Small airway disease is an important finding in postacute COVID-19 syndrome, and we postulate a connection between this pattern and the persistently low-level inflammatory state of the lung.

Abstract 13810: Diabetes versus Cardiovascular Mortality in the Context of Food Insecurity Among United States Adults

Food insecurity has become an important global concern with close associations with cardiovascular disease. However, how food insecurity affects individuals with long-term diabetes is currently unknown. In this study, we assessed the hypothesis that positive diabetes history modifies the effect of food insecurity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. We analyzed data on adults (≥ 20 years) from the 1999-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with mortality data obtained through 2015. The causes of death for adults (N=4037) were defined using the International Classification of Disease coding (ICD-10). Complex Samples Cox regression was used to assess if diabetes status modified the relationship between food insecurity and CVD-mortality. During a 11.1-year follow-up, among adults with diabetes, 184 individuals died (15%). The hazard ratio (HR) for CVD-mortality among adults with food insecurity compared with adults without food insecurity, with adjustment for age and gender only, was 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.26, 2.20]. The adjusted HR was elevated, 2.13 (CI 1.30-3.48, p < 0.05), among adults with diabetes and food insecurity but close to 1.0 (1.57 CI 0.97-2.54, p = 0.07) among adults with only food insecurity after the results were controlled for medical risk factors (chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity) and demographic risk factors (age, gender, ethnicity, education). In conclusion, individuals who are food-insecure and have diabetes have a higher probability of death from cardiovascular disease in long-term follow-up than those individuals without diabetes. Risk scoring and CVD prevention strategies should include screening and surveillance for food insecurity status. Comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to reducing cardiovascular disease-related disparities and health risks should be implemented through equity research.

Food Insecurity and Mortality in American Adults: Results From the NHANES-Linked Mortality Study.

Food insecurity is a significant public health problem in the United States leading to substantial social, economic, and health care-related burdens. While studies continue to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity, the long-term outcomes are not extensively explored. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of food insecurity on mortality. We analyzed data on adults (≥ 20 years) from the 1999-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with mortality data obtained through 2015. Among the total study participants (n = 25,247), 17.6% reported food insecurity. Food-insecure individuals were more likely to be younger in age, minorities, poorer, with lesser education, obese, smokers, and with diabetes compared to food-secure counterparts. During a 10.2-year follow-up, among the food insecure, 821 individuals died (11%). The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality among the food insecure compared with the food secure, with adjustment for age and gender only, was 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.25, 2.01]. The adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality, HR = 1.46, CI [1.23, 1.72], p < .001, and cardiovascular mortality, HR = 1.75, CI [1.19, 2.57], p < .01, were statistically significantly higher among food-insecure individuals, after adjustment for multiple demographic and health risk factors. Individuals who are food-insecure have a significantly higher probability of death from any cause or cardiovascular disease in long-term follow-up. Comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to reducing food insecurity-related disparities and health risks should be implemented. Including food insecurity in health risk assessments and addressing food insecurity as a determinant of long-term outcomes may contribute to lower premature death rates.

Is low pre-transplant parathyroid hormone a risk marker for cardiovascular disease in long-term follow-up of renal transplant recipients?

BackgroundSecondary hyperparathyroidism and altered levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) are associated with vascular events in chronic kidney disease. After renal transplantation, this association is not clear. Pre-transplant parathyroidectomy (PTX) is common, but post-transplant data are scarce. We aimed to study the effect of PTH at the time of transplantation on risk of post-transplant vascular events in renal transplant recipients with and without pre-transplant PTX.Methods258 patients from two Swedish transplant units were followed for 6 years. Separate analyses were made for patients with or without pre-transplant PTX. Patients with no pre-transplant PTX were stratified by quartiles of PTH at time of transplantation and patients with pre-transplant PTX were stratified by above and below median levels of PTH at time of transplantation. Hazard ratios for vascular events, mortality, and graft failure were calculated in adjusted Cox regression models.ResultsIn patients with no pre-transplant PTX, the lowest quartile of PTH at transplantation had a higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to quartile 3 with an adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) of 2.63 (1.04–6.67). In patients with pre-transplant PTX, the group below median of PTH had a higher risk of cardiovascular events with an adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) of 18.15 (1.62–203.82) compared to patients above median of PTH.ConclusionLow levels of parathyroid hormone before transplantation were associated with increased risk of post-transplant vascular events both in patients with and without pre-transplant parathyroidectomy. Any conclusions on causal or direct effect of PTH on outcome cannot be drawn from this observational study.

Cytomegalovirus and varicella–zoster virus vaccines in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Impairment of cellular immunity upon hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may lead to serious clinical manifestations induced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and varicella–zoster virus (VZV) infections. Although the clinical presentations, preferential organ involvement and clinical courses are different, infections with both herpesviruses are similar with respect to many pathophysiological aspects and the therapeutic strategies that are employed to combat them. Antiviral drug prophylaxis and therapy are successfully used to limit the risk of reactivated HCMV and VZV infections, but are unable to absolutely prevent episodes of virus disease in long-term follow-up after HSCT. Control of infection requires the re-establishment of protective antiviral cellular immunity in the host. Here we review the most recent developments in the field of HCMV and VZV immunotherapy with specific emphasis on the question of how vaccines against HCMV and VZV may aid in enhancing the reconstitution of antiviral immunity after HSCT, and thereby support the control of these two agents by transplant recipients.

Reoperative Surgery in Sporadic Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: Longterm Results

Most patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES), even those in whom gastrinoma is found and resected at initial operation, will suffer from persistent or recurrent disease in longterm followup. There is currently no consensus about managing patients with recurrent or persistent ZES. Our unit has historically maintained an aggressive approach toward monitoring and reoperation for patients with sporadic ZES. We performed a review of a consecutive series of patients evaluated and managed at our institution between 1970 and 2007 for ZES. "Biochemical cure" was defined as normal serum gastrin assays and negative imaging studies. Reoperations were performed for elevations in serum gastrin assays and positive findings on imaging studies. Fifty-two patients with sporadic ZES were analyzed. Median followup was 14 years. Among patients with sporadic ZES, 37 patients underwent operative management. The most common operations were resection of duodenal gastrinoma (n=8) and total gastrectomy (n=7). Nine patients underwent 15 reoperations for recurrent or persistent disease. "Biochemical cure" was obtained in four patients (44%) undergoing reoperation for ZES. Three of these patients remained without evidence of recurrence at 4, 9, and 12 years after their curative re-resection. Only one of nine patients who underwent reoperation died of metastatic gastrinoma. Primary and reoperative surgery in patients with sporadic ZES results in a significant rate of "biochemical cure." In selected patients with recurrent or persistent disease, reoperation for resection of gastrinoma is associated with excellent longterm survival and is warranted.

885-2 The burden of vascular disease in long-term follow-up of elderly myocardial infarction survivors

885-2 The burden of vascular disease in long-term follow-up of elderly myocardial infarction survivors

Laser CO 2 vaporization for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a long-term follow-up series

Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser CO 2 vaporization for conservative treatment of ectocervical high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) particularly by the evaluation of the reappearance risk of disease in long-term follow-up. Methods One hundred fifty-nine patients were submitted to CO 2 laser vaporization for high-grade CIN and followed up for a minimum of 5 years. Selection of cases, depth of ablation, complications, and cure rate (percentage of treated patients in whom there was no recurrent/persistent high-grade CIN at the 5-year follow-up examination) were retrospectively evaluated. Results Selected cases for colposcopy were submitted to a 6-mm mean depth of vaporization without intra- or postoperative complications. The cure rate for a single treatment was 97.5% and a satisfactory colposcopic follow-up was possible in 99.4% of treated patients. No case of invasive carcinoma occurred after a mean follow-up of 7.1 years. Four cases (2.5%) were high-grade CIN persistence observed after a mean time of 3.75 months, suggesting incomplete destruction of the deepest part of the lesion involving the glandular crypt base. Conclusions Long-term follow-up proves that laser CO 2 vaporization still has a place in the treatment of CIN. In selected cases it represents a safe alternative for conization in the treatment of high-grade CIN, but colposcopic expertise is essential for adequate preoperative selection of cases.

Ischemic heart disease after mantlefield irradiation for Hodgkin's disease in long-term follow-up

Background and purpose: In patients with Hodgkin's disease treated by radiotherapy with a moderate total dose and a low (mean) fraction dose to the heart, the risk of ischemic heart disease was investigated during long-term follow-up.Materials and methods: The medical records of 258 patients treated in the period 1965–1980 with radiotherapy alone as the primary treatment were reviewed. The median follow-up was 14.2 years (range 0.7–26.2). The mean total dose and fraction dose to the heart were 37.2 Gy (SD 2.9) and 1.64 Gy (SD 0.09), respectively. The impact on the development of ischemic heart disease of treatment-related parameters, such as the applied (fraction) dose, irradiation technique (one or two fields per day), and chemotherapy in case of a relapse, was investigated. The incidence of ischemic heart disease in this patient population was compared with the expected incidence based on gender, age and calendar period-specific data for the Dutch population.Results: Thirty-one patients (12%) experienced ischemic heart disease (actuarial risk at 20–25 years: 21.2% (95% C.I. 15–30). Twenty-five of them were hospitalized. When compared with the expected incidence, the relative risk (RR) of hospital admission for ischemic heart disease was 2.7 (95% C.I. 1.7–4.0). There were 12 deaths (4.7%) due to ischemic myocardial or sudden death (actuarial risk at 25 years: 10.2% (95% C.I. 5.3–19), compared to 2.3 cases that were expected to have died from these causes, yielding a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 5.3 (95% C.I. 2.7–9.3). Gender (male), pretreatment cardiac medical history and increasing age appeared to be the only significant factors for the development of ischemic heart disease.Conclusions: Despite the moderate total dose and the low (mean) fraction dose to the heart, the observed incidence of ischemic heart disease is high, especially after long follow-up periods. Treatment related cardiac disease in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease has only been reported for doses above 30 Gy. Although the optimum curative dose is still under debate, some studies recommend a dose as low as 32.5 Gy. The observed high rate of severe heart complications in this study advocates a dose reduction to this level, particularly in the regions where the coronary arteries are located.

Epithelial-myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland — A Low Grade Malignant Neoplasm? Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas (EMC) are rare neoplasms of the salivary gland with an incidence of less than 1% arising predominantly in the parotid gland. Although they are thought to be of low grade malignancy, fatal courses are described. We report a case of EMC of the parotid gland in a 58-year-old woman with an unfavorable course of this disease in long term follow-up. The malignant potential of this tumor is discussed. In addition, we include another case of EMC of the submandibular gland.

Clinical evaluation of the Makari Intradermal Test in patients with cancer of the colon and rectum.

A clinical study to evaluate the Makari Intradermal Test (MIT) involved 180 patients seen with symptoms suggestive of malignant disease, 85 of whom were subsequently shown to have carcinoma of the large bowel, and 66 asymptomatic volunteers. The prognostic value of initial and serial studies relative to patient-survival rate and the efficacy of serial studies in detecting disease in long-term follow-up of patients with resected malignant lesions were evaluated. On the basis of this study, the MIT appears to merit further investigation, not as a definitive diagnostic procedure, but as a survey for identifying patients with early malignancy or individuals at high risk to malignant epigenesis.