Identifying predictors for bacterial and fungal coinfection on chest computed tomography in patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia

BackgroundPneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a common opportunistic infection with high mortality in individuals with decreased immunity. Pulmonary coinfections with PCP are associated with poor prognosis. The study aims to identify radiological predictors for pulmonary coinfections in patients with PCP and risk factors for mortality.MethodsThis is a retrospective, five-year study was conducted in a medical center, enrolling patients diagnosed with PCP, who received a chest computed tomography (CT) scan. The radiological findings and medical records of all participants were reviewed carefully by 2 independent doctors. Univariable and multivariable analysis was performed to identify radiological predictors for pulmonary coinfection and clinical risk factors for poor prognosis.ResultsA total of 101 participants were included, of which 39 were HIV-infected and 62 were non-HIV-infected. In multivariable analysis, radiologic predictors on chest CT for coinfection with bacteria pneumonia included lack of ground glass opacity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.03–19.77; p = 0.001) and presence of pleural effusion (aOR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.27–10.99; p = 0.017). Predictors for fungal pneumonia included diffuse consolidation (adjusted OR, 6.27; 95% CI, 1.72–22.86; p = 0.005) and presence of pleural effusion (adjusted OR, 5.26; 95% CI, 1.44–19.17; p = 0.012). A significantly higher in-hospital mortality was associated with older age, recent corticosteroid exposure, cytomegalovirus coinfection, and acute respiratory failure.ConclusionEarly identification of pulmonary coinfections in PCP using radiological features on the CT scans, will enable appropriate treatment which is crucial to improve the prognosis.     

52例青少年骨性安氏Ⅱ类高角病例切牙区牙槽骨开窗和骨开裂的锥形束CT特点

目的 应用锥形束CT(CBCT）探讨52例青少年骨性安氏Ⅱ类高角错畸形切牙区骨开窗和骨开裂的发生率及分布情况，为临床正畸治疗提供一定的依据。 方法 自2013年7月至2018年1月于承德市口腔医院进行CBCT检查的患者中，随机选取临床诊断为骨性Ⅱ类高角错畸形青少年病例52例，将其扫描数据导入SIDEXIS XG 2.56软件，在测量平面上根据定义诊断上下切牙区牙槽骨骨开窗和骨开裂，并采用χ²检验的方法对其分布在性别、上下颌骨、牙位间的差异进行数据分析。 结果 在样本人群中牙槽骨缺损的发生率高达86.53%。其中骨开窗和骨开裂的发生率分别为65.38%和67.30%。416颗纳入牙中82颗牙齿出现骨开窗,107颗牙齿出现骨开裂。骨开裂发生率在牙位间差异显著（P<0.05)。骨开窗发生率上下颌骨差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,骨开裂则主要发生于下颌骨（P<0.05)。男性与女性切牙区牙槽骨骨开窗与骨开裂的发生率差异无显著性。 结论 青少年骨性安氏Ⅱ类高角错畸形患者在正畸治疗前切牙区即存在广泛的牙槽骨缺损，正畸治疗开始前及过程中医师应密切关注患者牙槽骨解剖形态。     

Treatment response monitoring in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor using diffusion‐weighted imaging: preliminary results in comparison with positron emission tomography/computed tomography

We compared the parameters derived from diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for treatment response evaluation and response prediction in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Seven patients with histologically proven metastatic disease were enrolled. DWI and PET/CT data were collected from all patients at diagnosis and from six at follow‐up. All 37 lesions were identifiable in DWI with a sensitivity of 100%. To achieve higher accuracy, we used the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of liver and background noise as thresholds for the measurement of the ADCs of lesions. Significant inverse correlations were found between ADC_{mean_thr} (ADC_mean with thresholds) and SUV_mean (mean standardized uptake value) (R² = 0.523, p < 0.001 at diagnosis, and R² = 0.916, p < 0.001 at follow‐up), between ADC_{mean_thr} and SUV_max (maximum SUV) (R² = 0.529, p < 0.001 at diagnosis, and R² = 0.761, p < 0.001 at follow‐up), between ΔADC_{mean_thr} (percentage change in ADC_{mean_thr}) and ΔSUV_mean (percentage change in SUV_mean) (R² = 0.384, p < 0.001), and between ΔADC_{mean_thr} and ΔSUV_max (percentage change in SUV_max) (R² = 0.500, p < 0.001). In lesion‐based analysis, pre‐treatment ADC_{mean_thr} outperformed SUV_mean and SUV_max in treatment response prediction, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.706. These results show that DWI can provide a quantitative assessment comparable with PET/CT in GIST lesion characterization, treatment response evaluation and response prediction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.