PFT can be performed with reliability in patients with tracheostomies, and they are useful for detecting and classifying types of lung dysfunction.

To describe overall survival (OS) in 90 days and to evaluate the prognostic factors in patients with advanced cancer and COVID-19.

This is a retrospective cohort study carried out at the Palliative Care Unit of the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. Patients with advanced cancer and COVID-19 confirmed by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction were included. Kaplan-Meier’s curves, log-rank test, and Cox regression were performed.

Eighty-three inpatients were selected. The average age was 61.4 (±12.6) years, with a higher proportion of women (73.4%). The most prevalent tumor type was breast (36.7%), followed by gastrointestinal tract (20.3%). The OS was 32 [interquartile range (IQR) 6-70] days, and at the end of the follow-up period, 17 patients (20.5%) were alive and 66 (79.5%) had died. Ras inhibitor Patients with advanced cancer and COVID-19 and who were 60-74 years old [hazard ratio (HR) 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-3.78], with lung tumors (HR 17.50; 95% CI 1.70-28.34), with lung metastasis (HR 4.21; 95% CI 2.17-8.15), and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR 4.92; 95% CI 1.01-24.69) had higher risk of death in 90 days.

The age of 60-74 years old, lung tumors (primary or metastases), and the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were considered independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced cancer and COVID-19.

The age of 60-74 years old, lung tumors (primary or metastases), and the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were considered independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced cancer and COVID-19.

The aim of our research was to investigate the reliability and clinical applicability of a modern tear film imaging tool by comparing the inter- and intragrader difference. The further goal was to compare the non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) measured with the LacryDiag® device with traditional tear film break-up time (TBUT).

Comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed, including LacryDiag® (Quantel Medical, France) (lower tear meniscus height measuring (LTMH), superior and inferior eyelid meibography (MeibS MeibI), interferometry (INT), NIBUT), slit lamp examination, and TBUT. Two independent, well-trained graders selected and analyzed the LTMH, MeibI, MeibS, and INT. The second grader reanalyzed the data 1 month later. Intra- and inter-examiner reliabilities were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), while for categorical variable, Cohen’s kappa statistics were provided. The Bland-Altman plot was used for visualization of the agreement between measurements.

Fifty healthy volunteers were examined. For LTMH both the inter- and intragrader variabilities were excellent. Between two graders, the ICC of MeibI was poor; however, between two graders, the ICC of MeibS was good, and the intragrader variability in MeibI and MeibS was excellent. For the INT, both intra- and intergrading were in fair and moderate agreement, although the intragrader agreement was higher. Comparing the NIBUT and TBUT, the agreement was slight.

Based on our results, examination of a patient during follow-up should be performed by the same examiner, because of the slight agreement. The LacryDiag® is a non-invasive, easy-to-use device, which can examine the tear film and save the recordings for easier follow-up.

Based on our results, examination of a patient during follow-up should be performed by the same examiner, because of the slight agreement. The LacryDiag® is a non-invasive, easy-to-use device, which can examine the tear film and save the recordings for easier follow-up.

To study the association of clinical factors and optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal imaging with axial length (AL) and AL growth in preterm infants METHODS Among a subgroup of infants from the prospective BabySTEPS study who were screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and had both AL measured and OCT imaging performed, we analyzed data collected prior to 42 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and prior to ROP treatment. Using linear mixed effects models, we evaluated associations between AL and AL growth with gestational age (GA), birthweight, PMA, sex, race, multiparity, maximum ROP stage, and OCT features.

We included 66 infants (132 eyes), mean GA = 27.6 weeks (SD = 2.3; range 23.0-34.4) and mean birthweight = 961 g (SD = 269, range 490-1580). In the final predictive model, longer AL was associated with earlier GA, higher birthweight, later PMA, non-White race, and thicker subfoveal choroid (all p values ≤ 0.01). AL increased linearly up to 42 weeks PMA. There was no difference in AL growth rate by GA, sex, race, multiparity, maximum ROP severity, central foveal thickness, or subfoveal choroidal thickness (all p values > 0.05); but AL growth rate was slower in infants with lower birthweight (p = 0.01).

Among preterm infants, those with earlier GA, higher birthweight, later PMA, non-White race, and thicker subfoveal choroid had the longest AL. AL increased linearly up to 42 weeks PMA and lower birthweight was associated with slower AL growth. These findings may improve the accuracy of measurements taken on preterm infants using imaging techniques affected by AL (e.g., measuring lateral dimensions on OCT).

https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02887157 , date of registration August 25, 2016.

https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02887157 , date of registration August 25, 2016.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assesses pulmonary hypoplasia in fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Neonatal mortality may occur with CDH.

To quantify MRI parameters associated with neonatal survival in fetuses with isolated CDH.

Fetal MRI for assessing CDH included region of interest (ROI) measurements for total lung volume (TLV), herniated liver volume, herniated other organ volume and predicted lung volume. Ratios of observed lung volume and liver up volume to predicted lung volume (observed to predicted TLV, percentage of the thorax occupied by liver) were calculated and compared to neonatal outcomes. Analyses included Wilcoxon rank sum test, multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Of 61 studies, the median observed to predicted TLV was 0.25 in survivors and 0.16 in non-survivors (P=0.001) with CDH. The median percentage of the thorax occupied by liver was 0.02 in survivors and 0.22 in non-survivors (P<0.001). The association of observed to predicted TLV and percentage of the thorax occupied by liver with survival for gestational age (GA) >28weeks was greater compared to GA ≤28weeks.