BACKGROUND Cronkhite-Canada syndrome(CCS)is a rare disease of unknown etiology.The optimal treatment for CCS remains unknown.Treatment with corticosteroids is considered the mainstay treatment because of its high effi...BACKGROUND Cronkhite-Canada syndrome(CCS)is a rare disease of unknown etiology.The optimal treatment for CCS remains unknown.Treatment with corticosteroids is considered the mainstay treatment because of its high efficacy,but the therapeutic strategy for steroid-resistant CCS is not yet established.CASE SUMMARY This is the case of an 81-year-old woman who was diagnosed with CCS.Given her severe diarrhea,nausea,vomiting,and hypoproteinemia,hormone therapy(40 mg/d)was administered,and the symptoms improved within 1 wk.After 3 mo,the patient had no obvious symptoms.The polyps were significantly reduced on review gastroscopy and colonoscopy,thus hormone reduction gradually began.The hormone level was maintained at 10 mg/d after 6 mo.Despite the age of the patient and the side effects of hormones,the patient had no obvious discomfort.However,hormone drugs were discontinued,and mesalazine was administered orally at 3 g/d.The patient's symptoms continued to improve after a follow-up of 5 years.CONCLUSION Corticosteroids and mesalazine are potential treatment options for CCS.展开更多
Introduction: The severity of Sars-Cov-2 infection is associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The progression to ARDS appears to be driven by a major inflammatory mechanism poten...Introduction: The severity of Sars-Cov-2 infection is associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The progression to ARDS appears to be driven by a major inflammatory mechanism potentially sensitive to corticosteroids. Observation: This article describes the case of an elderly patient was admitted to emergency departments for intense asthenia, accompanied by motor diarrhoea, dyspnoea with desaturation in ambient air, in a context of strong suspicion of infection linked to COVID-19. The article also reviews the existing literature on the diagnosis and treatment of this severe form of the disease. Conclusion: Corticosteroids, and in particular dexamethasone, have been shown to be effective in the management of patients with COVID-19, an oxygen-releasing disease.展开更多
Infantile hemangiomas(IHs) are the most common benign soft-tissue tumors in infancy;about 10%–15% of them may result in various complications that require active management. The current first-line treatment for IH is...Infantile hemangiomas(IHs) are the most common benign soft-tissue tumors in infancy;about 10%–15% of them may result in various complications that require active management. The current first-line treatment for IH is oral propranolol;however, some studies recommend intralesional corticosteroid injections for small, limited, deep, or prominent tumors because of concern regarding serious systemic complications related to propranolol. This review summarizes and analyzes the current clinical studies on corticosteroid injections in IHs, discusses treatment norms, and explores future research directions.展开更多
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction may lead to the occurrence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency can easily occur after traumati...Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction may lead to the occurrence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency can easily occur after traumatic brain injury,but few studies have examined this occurrence.A multicenter,prospective,cohort study was performed to evaluate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury.One hundred and forty patients with acute traumatic brain injury were enrolled from the neurosurgical departments of three tertiary-level hospitals in China,and the critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency incidence,critical-illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency-related risk factors,complications,and 28-day mortality among these patients was recorded.Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency was diagnosed in patients with plasma total cortisol levels less than 10μg/dL(275.9 nM)on post-injury day 4 or when serum cortisol was insufficiently suppressed(less than 50%)during a dexamethasone suppression test on post-injury day 5.The results demonstrated that critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency occurred during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury in 5.6%of patients with mild injury,22.5%of patients with moderate injury,and 52.2%of patients with severe injury.Traumatic brain injury-induced critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency was strongly correlated to injury severity during the sub-acute stage of traumatic brain injury.Traumatic brain injury patients with critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency frequently presented with hemorrhagic cerebral contusions,diffuse axonal injury,brain herniation,and hypotension.Differences in the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia,gastrointestinal bleeding,and 28-day mortality were observed between patients with and without critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury.Hypotension,brain-injury severity,and the types of traumatic brain injury were independent risk factors for traumatic brain injury-induced critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.These findings indicate that critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency is common during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury and is strongly associated with poor prognosis.The dexamethasone suppression test is a practical assay for the evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and for the diagnosis of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in patients with traumatic brain injury,especially those with hypotension,hemorrhagic cerebral contusions,diffuse axonal injury,and brain herniation.Sub-acute infection of acute traumatic brain injury may be an important factor associated with the occurrence and development of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University,China in December 2011(approval No.201189).展开更多
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a complex"whole joint"disease pursued by inflammatory mediators,rather than purely a process of"wear and tear".Besides cartilage degradation,synovitis,subchondral bone remodeli...Osteoarthritis(OA)is a complex"whole joint"disease pursued by inflammatory mediators,rather than purely a process of"wear and tear".Besides cartilage degradation,synovitis,subchondral bone remodeling,degeneration of ligaments and menisci,and hypertrophy of the joint capsule take parts in the pathogenesis.Pain is the hallmark symptom of OA,but the extent to which structural pathology in OA contributes to the pain experience is still not well known.For the knee OA,intraarticular(IA)injection(corticosteroids,viscosupplements,blood-derived products)is preferred as the last nonoperative modality,if the other conservative treatment modalities are ineffective.IA corticosteroid injections provide short term reduction in OA pain and can be considered as an adjunct to core treatment for the relief of moderate to severe pain in people with OA.IA hyaluronic acid(HA)injections might have efficacy and might provide pain reduction in mild OA of knee up to 24 wk.But for HA injections,the costeffectiveness is an important concern that patients must be informed about the efficacy of these preparations.Although more high-quality evidence is needed,recent studies indicate that IA platelet rich plasma injections are promising for relieving pain,improving knee function and quality of life,especially in younger patients,and in mild OA cases.The current literature and our experience indicate that IA injections are safe and have positive effects for patient satisfaction.But,there is no data that any of the IA injections will cause osteophytes to regress or cartilage and meniscus to regenerate in patients with substantial and irreversible bone and cartilage damage.展开更多
Diabetic macular edema(DME)is a common cause of visual impairment in diabetic patients.It is caused by an increase in the permeability of the perifoveal capillaries and a disruption of the blood retinal-barrier.The pa...Diabetic macular edema(DME)is a common cause of visual impairment in diabetic patients.It is caused by an increase in the permeability of the perifoveal capillaries and a disruption of the blood retinal-barrier.The pathogenesis of DME is multifactorial.Several therapeutic modalities have been proposed for the treatment of DME.Corticosteroid treatments have emerged as an alternative therapy for persistent DME or refractory to conventional laser photocoagulation and other modalities,due to anti-inflammatory,anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and anti-proliferative effects.Many studies have demonstrated the beneficial therapeutic effect of corticosteroids with improvement to both retinal thickness and visual acuity in short-term on the treatment of DME.Peribulbar and intravitreal injections have been used to deliver steroids for DME with frequent injections due to the chronic and recurrent nature of the disease.Steroid-related side effects include elevated intraocular pressure,cataract,and injection related complications such as endophthalmitis,vitreous hemorrhage,and retinal detachment particularly with intravitreal steroid injections.In order to reduce the risks,complications and frequent dosing of intravitreal steroids,intravitreal implants have been developed recently to provide sustained release of corticosteroids and reduce repeated intravitreal injections for the management of DME.展开更多
There is uncertain result with regard to the use of inhalation or instillation steroids to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ...There is uncertain result with regard to the use of inhalation or instillation steroids to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early airway administration (within 2 days after birth) of corticosteroids and pulmonary surfactant (PS) for preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). The related studies were retrieved in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Clinical Trial, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP Database from inception to August 2018. Two reviewers independently screened the studies to ensure that all patients with diagnosis of NRDS were enrolled to studies within 1 day after birth, assessed the quality of included studies by GRADEpro system and extracted the data for review. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2 software. A subgroup analysis about inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) delivery method was made between ICS inhalation subgroup [inhalation of ICS by nebulizer or metered dose inhaler (MDI)] and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup (PS used as a vehicle). Eight randomized controlled trials were enrolled in the meta-analysis, 5 trials of which stated the randomized method, grouping and blinded method, and the follow-up procedures were reported. GRADEpro system showed high quality of 4 trials (5 articles), and the rest 4 trials had moderate quality. Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of BPD was decreased in ICS group, the relative risk (RR) was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.42-0.76), and similar trends were found in ICS inhalation subgroup and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup, with the corresponding RR being 0.58 (95% CI: 0.41-0.82) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.24-0.95) respectively. ICS could also significantly reduce the mortality risk as compared with placebo control group (RR: 0.67;95% CI: 0.45-0.99), with RR of ICS inhalation subgroup and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup being 0.81 (95% CI: 0.34-1.94) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.41-0.99) respectively. Moreover, the percentage of infants using PS more than one time was lower in ICS group than in the placebo control group, with the RR and 95% CI being 0.55 (95% CI: 0.45-0.67), and that in ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup lower than in ICS inhalation subgroup (RR: 0.56;95% CI: 0.45-0.69, and RR: 0.35;95% CI:0.08-1.52 respectively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of infection or retinopathy of prematurity and neuro-motor system impairment between ICS group and placebo control group, with the corresponding RR being 0.95 (95% CI:0.59-1.52), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.62-1.38) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.92-1.39), respectively. It was concluded that early administration of ICS and PS is an effective and safe option for preterm infants with NRDS in preventing BPD and reducing mortality, decreasing the additional PS usage, especially for the ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup. Furthermore, the appropriate dose and duration of ICS, combined use of inhalation or instillation of ICS with PS and the long-term safety of airway administration of corticosteroids need to be assessed in large trials.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a necrotizing inflammatory process caused by alcoholic liver injury. It carries a significant short-term mortality. The management of AH is challenging. Although corticosteroids...BACKGROUND: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a necrotizing inflammatory process caused by alcoholic liver injury. It carries a significant short-term mortality. The management of AH is challenging. Although corticosteroids have been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, their efficacy for the treatment of AH remains debatable. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was performed of MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink and Wiley InterScience using the key words "alcoholic hepatitis", "alcoholic liver disease", and "corticosteroids". The available data reported in the relevant literature were analyzed. RESULTS: More than 17 controlled trials and at least 13 meta-analyses have reported the efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of AH in the past 40 years. Many were poorly designed and used different inclusion/exclusion criteria, making it difficult to reach a consensus. In this review, we summarized all the controversial data in the past decade and analyzed the potential causes for the varying therapeutic effects of corticosteroids in AH. The focus of the controversy has changed from "whether steroids are beneficial or harmful for AH patients" to "how to accurately identify responders to steroids early and rationalize corticosteroid treatment". An early response to glucocorticoids, as determined by calculating the Lille score after 7 days of treatment, has been shown to be a clinically useful indicator. Moreover, down-regulation of steroid sensitivity, risk of infection, and a rational therapeutic strategy of corticosteroids in AH patients are all crucial for therapeutic effect.CONCLUSIONS: An early and accurate determination of steroid sensitivity is important. Besides, we need to overcome the down-regulation of steroid sensitivity, reduce the infection risk and rationalize the therapeutic strategy of corticosteroids. A fresh perspective is needed on the use of corticosteroids in AH patients.展开更多
Opportunistic viral infections are a well-recognized complication of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Cases of severe or atypical varicella zoster virus infection, both pr...Opportunistic viral infections are a well-recognized complication of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Cases of severe or atypical varicella zoster virus infection, both primary and latent reactivation, have been described in association with immunosuppression of Crohn's disease (CD) patients. However, central nervous system varicella zoster virus infections have been rarely described, and there are no previous reports of varicella zoster virus meningitis associated with anti-TNF therapy among the CD population. Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old male with severe ileocecal-CD who developed a reactivation of dermatomal herpes zoster after treatment with prednisone and adalimumab. The reactivation presented as debilitating varicella zoster virus meningitis, which was not completely resolved despite aggressive antiviral therapy with prolonged intravenous acyclovir and subsequent oral valacyclovir. This is the first reported case of opportunistic central nervous system varicella zoster infection complicating anti-TNF therapy in the CD population. This paper also reviews the literature on varicella zoster virus infections of immunosuppressed IBD patients and the importance of vaccination prior to initiation of anti-TNF therapy.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate clinical response to initial corticosteroid(CS) treatment in Chinese ulcerative colitis patients(UC) and identify predictors of clinical response.METHODS:Four hundred and twenty-three UC patients who w...AIM:To evaluate clinical response to initial corticosteroid(CS) treatment in Chinese ulcerative colitis patients(UC) and identify predictors of clinical response.METHODS:Four hundred and twenty-three UC patients who were initially treated with oral or intravenous CS from 2007 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed at eight inflammatory bowel disease centers in China,and 101 consecutive cases with one-year follow-up were analyzed further for clinical response and predictors.Short-term outcomes within one month were classified as primary response and primary non-response.Longterm outcomes within one year were classified as prolonged CS response,CS dependence and secondary non-response.CS refractoriness included primary and secondary non-response.Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors associated with clinical response.RESULTS:Within one month,95.0%and 5.0%of the cases were classified into primary response andnon-response,respectively.Within one year,41.6%of cases were assessed as prolonged CS response,while49.5%as CS dependence and 4.0%as secondary nonresponse.The rate of CS refractoriness was 8.9%,while the cumulative rate of surgery was 6.9%within one year.After multivariate analysis of all the variables,tenesmus was found to be a negative predictor of CS dependence(OR=0.336;95%CI:0.147-0.768;P=0.013)and weight loss as a predictor of CS refractoriness(OR=5.662;95%CI:1.111-28.857;P=0.040).After one-month treatment,sustained high Sutherland score(≥6)also predicted CS dependence(OR=2.347;95%CI:0.935-5.890;P=0.014).CONCLUSION:Tenesmus was a negative predictor of CS dependence,while weight loss and sustained high Sutherland score were strongly associated with poor CS response.展开更多
The treatment of choice for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is use of corticosteroids.Many randomized well designed studies have been reported from all over the world on the use of corticosteroids in the...The treatment of choice for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is use of corticosteroids.Many randomized well designed studies have been reported from all over the world on the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of AH.However,the data on the efficacy of corticosteroids in these patients have been conflicting.Initial meta-analyses also failed to show beneficial effects of corticosteroids.Based on individual data meta-analysis showing clear benefit of corticosteroids amongst patients with severe AH (modified discriminant function of 32 or more),led American College of Gastroenterology to recommend use of corticosteroids as the first line treatment option amongst patients with severe AH.However,corticosteroids are relatively contraindicated amongst patients with severe AH and coexistent sepsis,gastrointestinal bleeding,and acute pancreatitis.These patients may be candidates for second line treatment with pentoxifylline.Further,specific treatment of AH with corticosteroids far from satisfactory with as many as 40%-50% of patients failing to respond to steroids,thus classified as nonresponsive to steroids.The management of these patients is a continuing challenge for physicians.Better treatment modalities need to be developed for this group of patients in order to improve the outcome of patients with severe AH.This article describes at length the available trials on use of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline with their current status.Route of administration,dosage,adverse effects,and mechanisms of action of these two drugs are also discussed.Finally,an algorithm with clinical approach to management of patients who present with clinical syndrome of AH is described.展开更多
Pneumocystis pneumonia(PCP) is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. It is relatively uncommon in patients with lung cancer. We report a case of PCP in a 59-year-old man with a past medical histo...Pneumocystis pneumonia(PCP) is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. It is relatively uncommon in patients with lung cancer. We report a case of PCP in a 59-year-old man with a past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with formoterol and a moderate daily dose of inhaled budesonide. He had also advanced stage non-small lung cancer treated with concurrent chemo-radiation with a cisplatin-etoposide containing regimen. The diagnosis of PCP was suspected based on the context of rapidly increasing dyspnea, lymphopenia and the imaging findings. Polymerase chain reaction testing on an induced sputum specimen was positive for Pneumocystis jirovecii. The patient was treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and systemic corticotherapy and had showed clinical and radiological improvement. Six months after the PCP diagnosis, he developed a malignant pleural effusion and expired on hospice care. Through this case, we remind the importance of screening for PCP in lung cancer patients under chemotherapeutic regimens and with increasing dyspnea. In addition, we alert to the fact that long-term inhaled corticosteroids may be a risk factor for PCP in patients with lung cancer. Despite intensive treatment, the mortality of PCP remains high, hence the importance of chemoprophylaxis should be considered.展开更多
Currently immunosuppressive and biological agentsare used in a more extensive and earlier way in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic or dermatologic diseases. Although these drugs have shown a signific...Currently immunosuppressive and biological agentsare used in a more extensive and earlier way in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic or dermatologic diseases. Although these drugs have shown a significant clinical benefit, the safety of these treatments is a challenge. Hepatitis B virus(HBV) reactivations have been reported widely, even including liver failure and death, and it represents a deep concern in these patients. Current guidelines recommend to preemptive therapy in patients with immunosuppressants in general, but preventive measures focused in patients with corticosteroids and inflammatory diseases are scarce. Screening for HBV infection should be done at diagnosis. The patients who test positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, but do not meet criteria for antiviral treatment must receive prophylaxis before undergoing immunosuppression, including corticosteroids at higher doses than prednisone 20 mg/d during more than two weeks. Tenofovir and entecavir are preferred than lamivudine because of their better resistance profile in long-term immunosuppressant treatments. There is not a strong evidence, to make a general recommendation on the necessity of prophylaxis therapy in patients with inflammatory diseases that are taking low doses of corticosteroids in short term basis or low systemic bioavailability corticosteroids such as budesonide or beclomethasone dipropionate. In these cases regularly HBV DNA monitoring is recommended, starting early antiviral therapy if DNA levels begin to rise. In patients with occult or resolved hepatitis the risk of reactivation is much lower, and excepting for Rituximab treatment, the prophylaxis is not necessary.展开更多
BACKGROUND:There are confl icting results regarding whether corticosteroids have better effi cacy than placebo in acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients.Therefore,we aim to further evaluate the effi cacy an...BACKGROUND:There are confl icting results regarding whether corticosteroids have better effi cacy than placebo in acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients.Therefore,we aim to further evaluate the effi cacy and safety of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients.METHODS:The databases,including Medline,EMBASE,and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL)in the Cochrane Library,were searched from their inception to May 2,2020.Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and observational cohort studies were selected to assess the use of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients.The quality of the results was judged by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)methodology.The inverse-variance method with random or fixed effects modeling was used to compute pooled odds ratio(OR),standardized mean diff erence(SMD),and their 95%confi dence interval(CI).RESULTS:Eight eligible RCTs and six cohort studies were included.The use of corticosteroids was associated with reduced mortality(OR 0.57,95%CI 0.43-0.76,I2=35.1%,P=0.148)in ARDS patients,and the result was confirmed in the included cohort studies(OR 0.51,95%CI 0.27-0.95,I2=66.7%,P=0.010).The subgroup analysis stratified by the initiation time and duration of corticosteroid use showed that early ARDS and prolonged corticosteroid use had signifi cant survival benefits in the RCTs.The low-dose corticosteroid use was also associated with significantly more ventilator-free days and a reduced rate of new infections in ARDS patients.CONCLUSIONS:The low-dose corticosteroid therapy may be safe and reduce mortality,especially in patients with prolonged treatment and early ARDS.展开更多
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of critical illness-related corticosteroid insuffi ciency(CIRCI) and the effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on prognosis of CIRCI in patients with acute e...BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of critical illness-related corticosteroid insuffi ciency(CIRCI) and the effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on prognosis of CIRCI in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).METHODS: Since January 2010 to December 2012, 385 patients, who met the criteria of AECOPD, were enrolled in the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of the First People's Hospital and Municipal Central Hospital of Xiangtan City. The AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI screened by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test within 12 hours after admission to ICU were divided into a treatment group(n=32) and a control group(n=31) for a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial. Hydrocortisone(150 mg/d) or normal saline was injected intravenously for 7 days. The patients were followed up for 28 days after injection. The endpoint included 28-day survival time, non-shock time, ICU stay and the period of non-mechanical ventilation. The markers ofinfl ammation C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and procalcitonin were measured at baseline and 7 days after treatment. The variables were analyzed by Student's t test, the non-parametric statistical test, the Chi-square test or the Kaplan-Meier method with SPSS18.0 statistic software. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically signifi cant.RESULTS: Totally 63 patients were diagnosed with CIRCI by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test and the prevalence rate was 16.4%. The shock rate of the AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI was higher than that of the AECOPD patients without CIRCI(23.8% vs. 8.7%, P<0.01). KaplanMeier analysis revealed that the 28-day survival time of the treatment group was obviously longer than that of the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, shock-free days within 28 days was longer in the treatment group(18.2±9.5 vs. 25.8±4.1, P<0.05). Treatment with low-dose glucocorticoid obviously decreased the markers ofinfection and inflammation(P<0.01), such as C-reactive protein(13.2±5.5 mg/L vs. 8.3±3.1 mg/L for the control group; 13.5±5.9 mg/L vs. 5.1±2.3 mg/L for the treatment group), tumor necrosis factor-α(26.1±16.2 g/L vs. 17.5±11.7 g/L for the control group; 25.0±14.8 g/L vs. 10.4±7.8 g/L for the treatment group) and procalcitonin(3.88 g/L vs. 2.03 g/L for the control group; 3.77 g/L vs. 1.26 g/L for the treatment group). Furthermore, the markers in the treatment group decreased more obviously than those in the control group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of CIRCI was higher in the patients with AECOPD in the department of critical medicine, and low-dose glucocorticoid treatment for one week reduced the 28-day mortality, shock time and markers ofinfection and infl ammation.展开更多
BACKGROUND: The use of corticosteroids in septic shock has been studied for many decades but yielded conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of corticosteroids in ...BACKGROUND: The use of corticosteroids in septic shock has been studied for many decades but yielded conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of corticosteroids in immunocompetent patients with septic shock.METHODS: Medline via Pub Med, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched from inception to March 2020. Two reviewers independently identified randomized controlled trials(RCTs) comparing corticosteroids with a control group for immunocompetent patients with septic shock. Data were abstracted and reported following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Intervention and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) statement. The efficacy outcome included mortality and shock reversal. The safety outcomes were infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hyperglycemia.RESULTS: Nine RCTs with a total of 1,298 patients were included. Compared with the control group, corticosteroid group did not lower the short-term(28 or 30 days) mortality(risk ratio [RR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval(CI) 0.85 to 1.06, inconsistency [I2]=0%, trial sequential analysis [TSA]-adjusted CI 0.83 to 1.09, moderate-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids significantly shortened the time to shock reversal compared with the control group(mean difference [MD] –21.56 hours;95% CI –32.95 to –10.16, I2=0%;TSA-adjusted CI –33.33 to –9.78, moderate-certainty evidence). The corticosteroid treatment was associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia but not the infection or gastrointestinal bleeding.CONCLUSIONS: The corticosteroid treatment is not associated with lower short-or longterm mortality compared with placebo in immunocompetent patients with septic shock. However, corticosteroids significantly shorten the time to shock reversal without increasing the risk of infection. The patient's immune status should also be considered during clinical treatment and clinical trials in future.展开更多
Background: Pneumonia is the most common cause of community-acquired infection requiring ICU admission. 60-87% of patients with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to the ICU develops respiratory failur...Background: Pneumonia is the most common cause of community-acquired infection requiring ICU admission. 60-87% of patients with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to the ICU develops respiratory failure and require mechanical ventilation (MV). Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of adjunctive low dose hydrocortisone infusion treatment in Egyptian ICU patients with CAP. Methods: Hospitalized patients, clinically and radiologically diagnosed with CAP, were randomized to receive hydrocortisone 12.5 mg/h IV infusion for 7 days or placebo, along with antibiotics. The end-points of the study were improvement in PaO2:FIO2 (PaO2:FIO2 > 300 or ≥100 increase from study entry) and SOFA score by study day 8 and the development of delayed septic shock. Results: 80 patients were recruited, 40 of them received hydrocortisone and the remaining 40 received placebo. By study day 8, hydrocortisone treated patients showed a significant improvement in PaO2:FIO2 and chest radiograph score, and a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and delayed septic shock compared to the control group. Hydrocortisone treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of MV. However, hydrocortisone infusion did not show significant difference in the ICU mortality. Conclusions: adjunctive 7-day course of low dose hydrocortisone IV in patients with CAP hastens recovery of pneumonia and prevents the development of sepsis related complications with a significant reduction in duration of the mechanical ventilation.展开更多
It is well known that the safety and efficacy profile of an inhaled cortocosteroid(ICS) is influenced by the pharmacokinetic properties and associated pharmacodynamic effects of the drug. Freely circulating,protein un...It is well known that the safety and efficacy profile of an inhaled cortocosteroid(ICS) is influenced by the pharmacokinetic properties and associated pharmacodynamic effects of the drug. Freely circulating,protein unbound, and active ICS can cause systemic adverse effects. Therefore, a detailed investigation of drug-protein interaction could be of great interest to understand the pharmacokinetic behaviour of corticosteroids and for the design of new analogues with effective pharmacological properties. In the present work, the interaction between some corticosteroids and human serum albumin(HSA) has been studied by spectroscopic approaches. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed that all the investigated corticosteroids can bind to HSA forming a protein-drug complex. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by all the investigated drugs, which was rationalized in terms of a static quenching mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters determined by the Van't Hoff analysis of the binding constants(negative ΔH and ΔS values) clearly indicate thathydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces play a major role in the binding process between albumin and betamethasone, flunisolide and prednisolone, while hydrophobic forces may play a major role in stabilizing albumin-triamcinolone complexes.展开更多
This article reviews the effectiveness of intratympanic corticosteroids for vertigo control in Meniere's disease at 2-years follow-up according to the guidelines expressed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology...This article reviews the effectiveness of intratympanic corticosteroids for vertigo control in Meniere's disease at 2-years follow-up according to the guidelines expressed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Despite the increased use of intratympanic corticosteroids for vertigo control in Meniere's disease there is debate as to their effectiveness, particularly compared to gentamicin. Even so,after just a single course of injections, corticosteroids can reliably provide complete vertigo control(Class A) at 2-years in about 50% of cases as indicated in a recent double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial(Patel et al., 2016). But the effectiveness of intratympanic corticosteroids truly increases when treatment is provided 'as-needed', whereby complete vertigo control is established in up to 91% of cases. On the basis of available literature, there is good evidence to recommend the use of intratympanic steroid treatment for vertigo control in Meniere's disease, but patients must be monitored for non-response. The rationale for treating patients as-needed and the possible reasons for corticosteroid nonresponse are discussed.展开更多
AIM: To compare the effects of bevacizumab and pazopanib with corticosteroids on wound healing after trabeculectomy. METHODS: In the study, 35 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Apart fr...AIM: To compare the effects of bevacizumab and pazopanib with corticosteroids on wound healing after trabeculectomy. METHODS: In the study, 35 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Apart from the first group, limbus-based trabeculectomy was performed for the eyes of rabbits. No postoperative treatment was administered for group Ⅰ. Topically administered saline, prednisolone acetate(1%), bevacizumab 5 mg/mL, pazopanib 5 mg/mL for group Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ respectively were applied for groups 6 h daily for 28 d. On day 28 of the experiment, eyes were enucleated and histologically and immunohistochemically analyzed.RESULTS: The fibroblast counts of groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ were determined to be lower than those of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P<0.05). In the mononuclear cell(MNC) count evaluation, no statistically significant difference was determined between the treatment groups(P>0.05). The immunohistochemical staining intensity of fibroblast growth factor β(FGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) was determined to be lower in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ than in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ in respect of fibroblast count, MNC count, FGF-β and VEGF staining intensity(P>0.05). The platelet derived growth factor β(PDGF-β) intensity was lower in group Ⅴ than in groups Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ(P<0.05). While the PDGF-β staining intensity was significantly lower in group Ⅳ thanin group Ⅱ, the difference compared with group Ⅲ was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab and pazopanib might be good alternatives of corticosteroid treatment on delaying wound healing in glaucoma surgery.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Cronkhite-Canada syndrome(CCS)is a rare disease of unknown etiology.The optimal treatment for CCS remains unknown.Treatment with corticosteroids is considered the mainstay treatment because of its high efficacy,but the therapeutic strategy for steroid-resistant CCS is not yet established.CASE SUMMARY This is the case of an 81-year-old woman who was diagnosed with CCS.Given her severe diarrhea,nausea,vomiting,and hypoproteinemia,hormone therapy(40 mg/d)was administered,and the symptoms improved within 1 wk.After 3 mo,the patient had no obvious symptoms.The polyps were significantly reduced on review gastroscopy and colonoscopy,thus hormone reduction gradually began.The hormone level was maintained at 10 mg/d after 6 mo.Despite the age of the patient and the side effects of hormones,the patient had no obvious discomfort.However,hormone drugs were discontinued,and mesalazine was administered orally at 3 g/d.The patient's symptoms continued to improve after a follow-up of 5 years.CONCLUSION Corticosteroids and mesalazine are potential treatment options for CCS.
文摘Introduction: The severity of Sars-Cov-2 infection is associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The progression to ARDS appears to be driven by a major inflammatory mechanism potentially sensitive to corticosteroids. Observation: This article describes the case of an elderly patient was admitted to emergency departments for intense asthenia, accompanied by motor diarrhoea, dyspnoea with desaturation in ambient air, in a context of strong suspicion of infection linked to COVID-19. The article also reviews the existing literature on the diagnosis and treatment of this severe form of the disease. Conclusion: Corticosteroids, and in particular dexamethasone, have been shown to be effective in the management of patients with COVID-19, an oxygen-releasing disease.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant no. 82272288)。
文摘Infantile hemangiomas(IHs) are the most common benign soft-tissue tumors in infancy;about 10%–15% of them may result in various complications that require active management. The current first-line treatment for IH is oral propranolol;however, some studies recommend intralesional corticosteroid injections for small, limited, deep, or prominent tumors because of concern regarding serious systemic complications related to propranolol. This review summarizes and analyzes the current clinical studies on corticosteroid injections in IHs, discusses treatment norms, and explores future research directions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81671902(to XC)81501704(to YC)+3 种基金the Project of Tianjin Applied Basic and Cutting-edge Technological Research of China,No.17JCYBJC25200(to XC)15JCQNJC44900(to YC)Tianjin Health Care Elite Prominent Young Doctor Development Program(to XC)the Young and Middle-aged Backbone Innovative Talent Program(to XC)
文摘Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction may lead to the occurrence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency can easily occur after traumatic brain injury,but few studies have examined this occurrence.A multicenter,prospective,cohort study was performed to evaluate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury.One hundred and forty patients with acute traumatic brain injury were enrolled from the neurosurgical departments of three tertiary-level hospitals in China,and the critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency incidence,critical-illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency-related risk factors,complications,and 28-day mortality among these patients was recorded.Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency was diagnosed in patients with plasma total cortisol levels less than 10μg/dL(275.9 nM)on post-injury day 4 or when serum cortisol was insufficiently suppressed(less than 50%)during a dexamethasone suppression test on post-injury day 5.The results demonstrated that critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency occurred during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury in 5.6%of patients with mild injury,22.5%of patients with moderate injury,and 52.2%of patients with severe injury.Traumatic brain injury-induced critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency was strongly correlated to injury severity during the sub-acute stage of traumatic brain injury.Traumatic brain injury patients with critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency frequently presented with hemorrhagic cerebral contusions,diffuse axonal injury,brain herniation,and hypotension.Differences in the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia,gastrointestinal bleeding,and 28-day mortality were observed between patients with and without critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury.Hypotension,brain-injury severity,and the types of traumatic brain injury were independent risk factors for traumatic brain injury-induced critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.These findings indicate that critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency is common during the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury and is strongly associated with poor prognosis.The dexamethasone suppression test is a practical assay for the evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and for the diagnosis of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in patients with traumatic brain injury,especially those with hypotension,hemorrhagic cerebral contusions,diffuse axonal injury,and brain herniation.Sub-acute infection of acute traumatic brain injury may be an important factor associated with the occurrence and development of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University,China in December 2011(approval No.201189).
文摘Osteoarthritis(OA)is a complex"whole joint"disease pursued by inflammatory mediators,rather than purely a process of"wear and tear".Besides cartilage degradation,synovitis,subchondral bone remodeling,degeneration of ligaments and menisci,and hypertrophy of the joint capsule take parts in the pathogenesis.Pain is the hallmark symptom of OA,but the extent to which structural pathology in OA contributes to the pain experience is still not well known.For the knee OA,intraarticular(IA)injection(corticosteroids,viscosupplements,blood-derived products)is preferred as the last nonoperative modality,if the other conservative treatment modalities are ineffective.IA corticosteroid injections provide short term reduction in OA pain and can be considered as an adjunct to core treatment for the relief of moderate to severe pain in people with OA.IA hyaluronic acid(HA)injections might have efficacy and might provide pain reduction in mild OA of knee up to 24 wk.But for HA injections,the costeffectiveness is an important concern that patients must be informed about the efficacy of these preparations.Although more high-quality evidence is needed,recent studies indicate that IA platelet rich plasma injections are promising for relieving pain,improving knee function and quality of life,especially in younger patients,and in mild OA cases.The current literature and our experience indicate that IA injections are safe and have positive effects for patient satisfaction.But,there is no data that any of the IA injections will cause osteophytes to regress or cartilage and meniscus to regenerate in patients with substantial and irreversible bone and cartilage damage.
文摘Diabetic macular edema(DME)is a common cause of visual impairment in diabetic patients.It is caused by an increase in the permeability of the perifoveal capillaries and a disruption of the blood retinal-barrier.The pathogenesis of DME is multifactorial.Several therapeutic modalities have been proposed for the treatment of DME.Corticosteroid treatments have emerged as an alternative therapy for persistent DME or refractory to conventional laser photocoagulation and other modalities,due to anti-inflammatory,anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and anti-proliferative effects.Many studies have demonstrated the beneficial therapeutic effect of corticosteroids with improvement to both retinal thickness and visual acuity in short-term on the treatment of DME.Peribulbar and intravitreal injections have been used to deliver steroids for DME with frequent injections due to the chronic and recurrent nature of the disease.Steroid-related side effects include elevated intraocular pressure,cataract,and injection related complications such as endophthalmitis,vitreous hemorrhage,and retinal detachment particularly with intravitreal steroid injections.In order to reduce the risks,complications and frequent dosing of intravitreal steroids,intravitreal implants have been developed recently to provide sustained release of corticosteroids and reduce repeated intravitreal injections for the management of DME.
文摘There is uncertain result with regard to the use of inhalation or instillation steroids to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early airway administration (within 2 days after birth) of corticosteroids and pulmonary surfactant (PS) for preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). The related studies were retrieved in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Clinical Trial, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP Database from inception to August 2018. Two reviewers independently screened the studies to ensure that all patients with diagnosis of NRDS were enrolled to studies within 1 day after birth, assessed the quality of included studies by GRADEpro system and extracted the data for review. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2 software. A subgroup analysis about inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) delivery method was made between ICS inhalation subgroup [inhalation of ICS by nebulizer or metered dose inhaler (MDI)] and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup (PS used as a vehicle). Eight randomized controlled trials were enrolled in the meta-analysis, 5 trials of which stated the randomized method, grouping and blinded method, and the follow-up procedures were reported. GRADEpro system showed high quality of 4 trials (5 articles), and the rest 4 trials had moderate quality. Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of BPD was decreased in ICS group, the relative risk (RR) was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.42-0.76), and similar trends were found in ICS inhalation subgroup and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup, with the corresponding RR being 0.58 (95% CI: 0.41-0.82) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.24-0.95) respectively. ICS could also significantly reduce the mortality risk as compared with placebo control group (RR: 0.67;95% CI: 0.45-0.99), with RR of ICS inhalation subgroup and ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup being 0.81 (95% CI: 0.34-1.94) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.41-0.99) respectively. Moreover, the percentage of infants using PS more than one time was lower in ICS group than in the placebo control group, with the RR and 95% CI being 0.55 (95% CI: 0.45-0.67), and that in ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup lower than in ICS inhalation subgroup (RR: 0.56;95% CI: 0.45-0.69, and RR: 0.35;95% CI:0.08-1.52 respectively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of infection or retinopathy of prematurity and neuro-motor system impairment between ICS group and placebo control group, with the corresponding RR being 0.95 (95% CI:0.59-1.52), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.62-1.38) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.92-1.39), respectively. It was concluded that early administration of ICS and PS is an effective and safe option for preterm infants with NRDS in preventing BPD and reducing mortality, decreasing the additional PS usage, especially for the ICS intratracheal instillation subgroup. Furthermore, the appropriate dose and duration of ICS, combined use of inhalation or instillation of ICS with PS and the long-term safety of airway administration of corticosteroids need to be assessed in large trials.
基金supported by a grant from the General Project Foundation of the Education Department of Liaoning Province (2009A809)
文摘BACKGROUND: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a necrotizing inflammatory process caused by alcoholic liver injury. It carries a significant short-term mortality. The management of AH is challenging. Although corticosteroids have been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, their efficacy for the treatment of AH remains debatable. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was performed of MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink and Wiley InterScience using the key words "alcoholic hepatitis", "alcoholic liver disease", and "corticosteroids". The available data reported in the relevant literature were analyzed. RESULTS: More than 17 controlled trials and at least 13 meta-analyses have reported the efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of AH in the past 40 years. Many were poorly designed and used different inclusion/exclusion criteria, making it difficult to reach a consensus. In this review, we summarized all the controversial data in the past decade and analyzed the potential causes for the varying therapeutic effects of corticosteroids in AH. The focus of the controversy has changed from "whether steroids are beneficial or harmful for AH patients" to "how to accurately identify responders to steroids early and rationalize corticosteroid treatment". An early response to glucocorticoids, as determined by calculating the Lille score after 7 days of treatment, has been shown to be a clinically useful indicator. Moreover, down-regulation of steroid sensitivity, risk of infection, and a rational therapeutic strategy of corticosteroids in AH patients are all crucial for therapeutic effect.CONCLUSIONS: An early and accurate determination of steroid sensitivity is important. Besides, we need to overcome the down-regulation of steroid sensitivity, reduce the infection risk and rationalize the therapeutic strategy of corticosteroids. A fresh perspective is needed on the use of corticosteroids in AH patients.
文摘Opportunistic viral infections are a well-recognized complication of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Cases of severe or atypical varicella zoster virus infection, both primary and latent reactivation, have been described in association with immunosuppression of Crohn's disease (CD) patients. However, central nervous system varicella zoster virus infections have been rarely described, and there are no previous reports of varicella zoster virus meningitis associated with anti-TNF therapy among the CD population. Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old male with severe ileocecal-CD who developed a reactivation of dermatomal herpes zoster after treatment with prednisone and adalimumab. The reactivation presented as debilitating varicella zoster virus meningitis, which was not completely resolved despite aggressive antiviral therapy with prolonged intravenous acyclovir and subsequent oral valacyclovir. This is the first reported case of opportunistic central nervous system varicella zoster infection complicating anti-TNF therapy in the CD population. This paper also reviews the literature on varicella zoster virus infections of immunosuppressed IBD patients and the importance of vaccination prior to initiation of anti-TNF therapy.
基金Supported by Grants from the Ministry of Public Health,No.201002020Hubei Provincial Outstanding Medical Academic Leader Program(2013)
文摘AIM:To evaluate clinical response to initial corticosteroid(CS) treatment in Chinese ulcerative colitis patients(UC) and identify predictors of clinical response.METHODS:Four hundred and twenty-three UC patients who were initially treated with oral or intravenous CS from 2007 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed at eight inflammatory bowel disease centers in China,and 101 consecutive cases with one-year follow-up were analyzed further for clinical response and predictors.Short-term outcomes within one month were classified as primary response and primary non-response.Longterm outcomes within one year were classified as prolonged CS response,CS dependence and secondary non-response.CS refractoriness included primary and secondary non-response.Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors associated with clinical response.RESULTS:Within one month,95.0%and 5.0%of the cases were classified into primary response andnon-response,respectively.Within one year,41.6%of cases were assessed as prolonged CS response,while49.5%as CS dependence and 4.0%as secondary nonresponse.The rate of CS refractoriness was 8.9%,while the cumulative rate of surgery was 6.9%within one year.After multivariate analysis of all the variables,tenesmus was found to be a negative predictor of CS dependence(OR=0.336;95%CI:0.147-0.768;P=0.013)and weight loss as a predictor of CS refractoriness(OR=5.662;95%CI:1.111-28.857;P=0.040).After one-month treatment,sustained high Sutherland score(≥6)also predicted CS dependence(OR=2.347;95%CI:0.935-5.890;P=0.014).CONCLUSION:Tenesmus was a negative predictor of CS dependence,while weight loss and sustained high Sutherland score were strongly associated with poor CS response.
文摘The treatment of choice for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is use of corticosteroids.Many randomized well designed studies have been reported from all over the world on the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of AH.However,the data on the efficacy of corticosteroids in these patients have been conflicting.Initial meta-analyses also failed to show beneficial effects of corticosteroids.Based on individual data meta-analysis showing clear benefit of corticosteroids amongst patients with severe AH (modified discriminant function of 32 or more),led American College of Gastroenterology to recommend use of corticosteroids as the first line treatment option amongst patients with severe AH.However,corticosteroids are relatively contraindicated amongst patients with severe AH and coexistent sepsis,gastrointestinal bleeding,and acute pancreatitis.These patients may be candidates for second line treatment with pentoxifylline.Further,specific treatment of AH with corticosteroids far from satisfactory with as many as 40%-50% of patients failing to respond to steroids,thus classified as nonresponsive to steroids.The management of these patients is a continuing challenge for physicians.Better treatment modalities need to be developed for this group of patients in order to improve the outcome of patients with severe AH.This article describes at length the available trials on use of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline with their current status.Route of administration,dosage,adverse effects,and mechanisms of action of these two drugs are also discussed.Finally,an algorithm with clinical approach to management of patients who present with clinical syndrome of AH is described.
文摘Pneumocystis pneumonia(PCP) is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. It is relatively uncommon in patients with lung cancer. We report a case of PCP in a 59-year-old man with a past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with formoterol and a moderate daily dose of inhaled budesonide. He had also advanced stage non-small lung cancer treated with concurrent chemo-radiation with a cisplatin-etoposide containing regimen. The diagnosis of PCP was suspected based on the context of rapidly increasing dyspnea, lymphopenia and the imaging findings. Polymerase chain reaction testing on an induced sputum specimen was positive for Pneumocystis jirovecii. The patient was treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and systemic corticotherapy and had showed clinical and radiological improvement. Six months after the PCP diagnosis, he developed a malignant pleural effusion and expired on hospice care. Through this case, we remind the importance of screening for PCP in lung cancer patients under chemotherapeutic regimens and with increasing dyspnea. In addition, we alert to the fact that long-term inhaled corticosteroids may be a risk factor for PCP in patients with lung cancer. Despite intensive treatment, the mortality of PCP remains high, hence the importance of chemoprophylaxis should be considered.
文摘Currently immunosuppressive and biological agentsare used in a more extensive and earlier way in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic or dermatologic diseases. Although these drugs have shown a significant clinical benefit, the safety of these treatments is a challenge. Hepatitis B virus(HBV) reactivations have been reported widely, even including liver failure and death, and it represents a deep concern in these patients. Current guidelines recommend to preemptive therapy in patients with immunosuppressants in general, but preventive measures focused in patients with corticosteroids and inflammatory diseases are scarce. Screening for HBV infection should be done at diagnosis. The patients who test positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, but do not meet criteria for antiviral treatment must receive prophylaxis before undergoing immunosuppression, including corticosteroids at higher doses than prednisone 20 mg/d during more than two weeks. Tenofovir and entecavir are preferred than lamivudine because of their better resistance profile in long-term immunosuppressant treatments. There is not a strong evidence, to make a general recommendation on the necessity of prophylaxis therapy in patients with inflammatory diseases that are taking low doses of corticosteroids in short term basis or low systemic bioavailability corticosteroids such as budesonide or beclomethasone dipropionate. In these cases regularly HBV DNA monitoring is recommended, starting early antiviral therapy if DNA levels begin to rise. In patients with occult or resolved hepatitis the risk of reactivation is much lower, and excepting for Rituximab treatment, the prophylaxis is not necessary.
基金the United Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004110)the Leading Talent Fund in Science and Technology Innovation in Henan Province(194200510017)+3 种基金the Science and Technology People-Benefit Project of Zhengzhou(2019KJHM0001)the Special Fund for Young and Middle-Aged Medical Research from China International Medical Foundation(Z-2018-35)the Integrated Thinking Research Fund from China International Medical Foundation(Z-2016-23-2001)the Fund for Mechanism Study on Gabexate Mesilate in Treating Sepsis and Septic Shock(2019-hx-45).
文摘BACKGROUND:There are confl icting results regarding whether corticosteroids have better effi cacy than placebo in acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients.Therefore,we aim to further evaluate the effi cacy and safety of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients.METHODS:The databases,including Medline,EMBASE,and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL)in the Cochrane Library,were searched from their inception to May 2,2020.Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and observational cohort studies were selected to assess the use of corticosteroids in adult ARDS patients.The quality of the results was judged by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)methodology.The inverse-variance method with random or fixed effects modeling was used to compute pooled odds ratio(OR),standardized mean diff erence(SMD),and their 95%confi dence interval(CI).RESULTS:Eight eligible RCTs and six cohort studies were included.The use of corticosteroids was associated with reduced mortality(OR 0.57,95%CI 0.43-0.76,I2=35.1%,P=0.148)in ARDS patients,and the result was confirmed in the included cohort studies(OR 0.51,95%CI 0.27-0.95,I2=66.7%,P=0.010).The subgroup analysis stratified by the initiation time and duration of corticosteroid use showed that early ARDS and prolonged corticosteroid use had signifi cant survival benefits in the RCTs.The low-dose corticosteroid use was also associated with significantly more ventilator-free days and a reduced rate of new infections in ARDS patients.CONCLUSIONS:The low-dose corticosteroid therapy may be safe and reduce mortality,especially in patients with prolonged treatment and early ARDS.
文摘BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of critical illness-related corticosteroid insuffi ciency(CIRCI) and the effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on prognosis of CIRCI in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).METHODS: Since January 2010 to December 2012, 385 patients, who met the criteria of AECOPD, were enrolled in the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of the First People's Hospital and Municipal Central Hospital of Xiangtan City. The AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI screened by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test within 12 hours after admission to ICU were divided into a treatment group(n=32) and a control group(n=31) for a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial. Hydrocortisone(150 mg/d) or normal saline was injected intravenously for 7 days. The patients were followed up for 28 days after injection. The endpoint included 28-day survival time, non-shock time, ICU stay and the period of non-mechanical ventilation. The markers ofinfl ammation C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and procalcitonin were measured at baseline and 7 days after treatment. The variables were analyzed by Student's t test, the non-parametric statistical test, the Chi-square test or the Kaplan-Meier method with SPSS18.0 statistic software. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically signifi cant.RESULTS: Totally 63 patients were diagnosed with CIRCI by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test and the prevalence rate was 16.4%. The shock rate of the AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI was higher than that of the AECOPD patients without CIRCI(23.8% vs. 8.7%, P<0.01). KaplanMeier analysis revealed that the 28-day survival time of the treatment group was obviously longer than that of the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, shock-free days within 28 days was longer in the treatment group(18.2±9.5 vs. 25.8±4.1, P<0.05). Treatment with low-dose glucocorticoid obviously decreased the markers ofinfection and inflammation(P<0.01), such as C-reactive protein(13.2±5.5 mg/L vs. 8.3±3.1 mg/L for the control group; 13.5±5.9 mg/L vs. 5.1±2.3 mg/L for the treatment group), tumor necrosis factor-α(26.1±16.2 g/L vs. 17.5±11.7 g/L for the control group; 25.0±14.8 g/L vs. 10.4±7.8 g/L for the treatment group) and procalcitonin(3.88 g/L vs. 2.03 g/L for the control group; 3.77 g/L vs. 1.26 g/L for the treatment group). Furthermore, the markers in the treatment group decreased more obviously than those in the control group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of CIRCI was higher in the patients with AECOPD in the department of critical medicine, and low-dose glucocorticoid treatment for one week reduced the 28-day mortality, shock time and markers ofinfection and infl ammation.
基金supported by the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(2020-I2M-C&T-B-014)CAMS Teaching Reform Research Fund(2018zlgc0101)CAMS Online Open Course Construction Fund(J2009022861)。
文摘BACKGROUND: The use of corticosteroids in septic shock has been studied for many decades but yielded conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of corticosteroids in immunocompetent patients with septic shock.METHODS: Medline via Pub Med, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched from inception to March 2020. Two reviewers independently identified randomized controlled trials(RCTs) comparing corticosteroids with a control group for immunocompetent patients with septic shock. Data were abstracted and reported following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Intervention and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) statement. The efficacy outcome included mortality and shock reversal. The safety outcomes were infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hyperglycemia.RESULTS: Nine RCTs with a total of 1,298 patients were included. Compared with the control group, corticosteroid group did not lower the short-term(28 or 30 days) mortality(risk ratio [RR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval(CI) 0.85 to 1.06, inconsistency [I2]=0%, trial sequential analysis [TSA]-adjusted CI 0.83 to 1.09, moderate-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids significantly shortened the time to shock reversal compared with the control group(mean difference [MD] –21.56 hours;95% CI –32.95 to –10.16, I2=0%;TSA-adjusted CI –33.33 to –9.78, moderate-certainty evidence). The corticosteroid treatment was associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia but not the infection or gastrointestinal bleeding.CONCLUSIONS: The corticosteroid treatment is not associated with lower short-or longterm mortality compared with placebo in immunocompetent patients with septic shock. However, corticosteroids significantly shorten the time to shock reversal without increasing the risk of infection. The patient's immune status should also be considered during clinical treatment and clinical trials in future.
文摘Background: Pneumonia is the most common cause of community-acquired infection requiring ICU admission. 60-87% of patients with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to the ICU develops respiratory failure and require mechanical ventilation (MV). Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of adjunctive low dose hydrocortisone infusion treatment in Egyptian ICU patients with CAP. Methods: Hospitalized patients, clinically and radiologically diagnosed with CAP, were randomized to receive hydrocortisone 12.5 mg/h IV infusion for 7 days or placebo, along with antibiotics. The end-points of the study were improvement in PaO2:FIO2 (PaO2:FIO2 > 300 or ≥100 increase from study entry) and SOFA score by study day 8 and the development of delayed septic shock. Results: 80 patients were recruited, 40 of them received hydrocortisone and the remaining 40 received placebo. By study day 8, hydrocortisone treated patients showed a significant improvement in PaO2:FIO2 and chest radiograph score, and a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and delayed septic shock compared to the control group. Hydrocortisone treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of MV. However, hydrocortisone infusion did not show significant difference in the ICU mortality. Conclusions: adjunctive 7-day course of low dose hydrocortisone IV in patients with CAP hastens recovery of pneumonia and prevents the development of sepsis related complications with a significant reduction in duration of the mechanical ventilation.
基金supported by a grant from the University of Torino(Ricerca Locale ex-60%,Bando 2015)
文摘It is well known that the safety and efficacy profile of an inhaled cortocosteroid(ICS) is influenced by the pharmacokinetic properties and associated pharmacodynamic effects of the drug. Freely circulating,protein unbound, and active ICS can cause systemic adverse effects. Therefore, a detailed investigation of drug-protein interaction could be of great interest to understand the pharmacokinetic behaviour of corticosteroids and for the design of new analogues with effective pharmacological properties. In the present work, the interaction between some corticosteroids and human serum albumin(HSA) has been studied by spectroscopic approaches. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed that all the investigated corticosteroids can bind to HSA forming a protein-drug complex. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by all the investigated drugs, which was rationalized in terms of a static quenching mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters determined by the Van't Hoff analysis of the binding constants(negative ΔH and ΔS values) clearly indicate thathydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces play a major role in the binding process between albumin and betamethasone, flunisolide and prednisolone, while hydrophobic forces may play a major role in stabilizing albumin-triamcinolone complexes.
基金supported by the National Institute for Health Research(NIHR)Imperial Biomedical Research Centre
文摘This article reviews the effectiveness of intratympanic corticosteroids for vertigo control in Meniere's disease at 2-years follow-up according to the guidelines expressed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Despite the increased use of intratympanic corticosteroids for vertigo control in Meniere's disease there is debate as to their effectiveness, particularly compared to gentamicin. Even so,after just a single course of injections, corticosteroids can reliably provide complete vertigo control(Class A) at 2-years in about 50% of cases as indicated in a recent double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial(Patel et al., 2016). But the effectiveness of intratympanic corticosteroids truly increases when treatment is provided 'as-needed', whereby complete vertigo control is established in up to 91% of cases. On the basis of available literature, there is good evidence to recommend the use of intratympanic steroid treatment for vertigo control in Meniere's disease, but patients must be monitored for non-response. The rationale for treating patients as-needed and the possible reasons for corticosteroid nonresponse are discussed.
文摘AIM: To compare the effects of bevacizumab and pazopanib with corticosteroids on wound healing after trabeculectomy. METHODS: In the study, 35 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Apart from the first group, limbus-based trabeculectomy was performed for the eyes of rabbits. No postoperative treatment was administered for group Ⅰ. Topically administered saline, prednisolone acetate(1%), bevacizumab 5 mg/mL, pazopanib 5 mg/mL for group Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ respectively were applied for groups 6 h daily for 28 d. On day 28 of the experiment, eyes were enucleated and histologically and immunohistochemically analyzed.RESULTS: The fibroblast counts of groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ were determined to be lower than those of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P<0.05). In the mononuclear cell(MNC) count evaluation, no statistically significant difference was determined between the treatment groups(P>0.05). The immunohistochemical staining intensity of fibroblast growth factor β(FGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) was determined to be lower in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ than in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ in respect of fibroblast count, MNC count, FGF-β and VEGF staining intensity(P>0.05). The platelet derived growth factor β(PDGF-β) intensity was lower in group Ⅴ than in groups Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ(P<0.05). While the PDGF-β staining intensity was significantly lower in group Ⅳ thanin group Ⅱ, the difference compared with group Ⅲ was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab and pazopanib might be good alternatives of corticosteroid treatment on delaying wound healing in glaucoma surgery.
