The absolute counts of lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and their subsets decreased during the acute phase in COVID-19 patients, especially in the severe/critical group. The T-lymphocyte count reached the lowest point on the 14th day in the severe/critical group. It rose with fluctuations to the normal level in the improved group as the immune function recovered; in the unimproved group, however, the T-lymphocyte count remained at a low level or even continued to decrease. The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes showed no visible change in the improved group; however, the percentage of CD8+ T cells dropped in the unimproved group, resulting in higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio.

T lymphocytes count, and their subsets can be used for monitoring the immune functions and predicting the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
T lymphocytes count, and their subsets can be used for monitoring the immune functions and predicting the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
We aimed to analyze the value of metal clip markers guided and placed by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the delineation of gross tumor volume (GTV) for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

From September 2016 to September 2018, patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were recruited in the prospective trial, NCT02959385. They underwent titanium clips placement on tumor superior and inferior boundaries under EUS by a single expert endosonographer before radiotherapy computed tomography (CT) simulation. According to the clip markers, the reference GTVs were contoured by one experienced radiation oncologist. With the help of the Eclipse treatment planning system, clip markers on CT were concealed. Afterward, two other radiation oncologists with expertise in esophageal cancer delineated GTVs, defined as conventional GTVs, based on endoscopy and barium radiography findings. The two GTVs were compared and analyzed. Subgroudy confirmed that EUS-placed titanium clips could correct contouring of GTVs in thoracic esophageal cancer in different T stages, tumor locations, and lengths.
This study confirmed that EUS-placed titanium clips could correct contouring of GTVs in thoracic esophageal cancer in different T stages, tumor locations, and lengths.
This retrospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of concurrent anti-tuberculosis (TB) and chemotherapy treatment in patients with advanced lung cancer and active TB.

We retrospectively analyzed patients who were first diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and received first-line chemotherapy in Guangzhou Chest Hospital from 2015 to 2017. Patients were categorized into two groups (21) lung cancer patients without active TB (Group A), and lung cancer patients with active TB (Group B). Primary endpoints included adverse events (AEs), objective response rate (ORR), time to treatment failure, and overall survival (OS).

A total of 99 patients were eligible (Group A, n=66; Group B, n=33). Grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs, primarily hematologic toxicity, occurred in 39.4% and 51.5% of patients in Groups A and B, respectively. The hypohepatia in both groups was generally at grade 1 or 2, with similar incidences (26% and 27%, respectively). After two cycles of chemotherapy, the ORR was 42.4% and 33.3% in Group A and B, respectively (P=0.383). The median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 7.0 and 5.6 months for Groups A and B, respectively (P=0.175). The median OS was 17.0 and 14.0 months for Groups A and B, respectively (P=0.312). After 3 months of anti-TB treatment, all patients achieved sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear conversion and absorption on imaging, and the end of follow-up observed no recurrence.

Concurrent anti-TB and chemotherapy treatment did not increase hematological toxicity or hypohepatia in lung cancer patients with pulmonary TB.
Concurrent anti-TB and chemotherapy treatment did not increase hematological toxicity or hypohepatia in lung cancer patients with pulmonary TB.
Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays a non-redundant role in innate immunity against fungal diseases. Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 are associated with a higher risk of invasive aspergillosis among the immunosuppressed population and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, it is unknown whether PTX3 genetic variants influence the risk of pulmonary fungal disease in immunocompetent patients.

To investigate the association between
gene polymorphisms and pulmonary mycosis in non-neutropenic patients, we conducted a case-control study in a tertiary hospital department. Forty-five patients were identified using the criteria of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC-MSG) and enrolled in the case group. Of these patients, 15 had allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), 10 had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), 18 had pul. No genotypic distribution differences were observed for the other two SNPs (rs2305619 and rs1840680). When it came to the comparison between ABPA subgroup and control group, no difference in single nucleotide polymorphism was observed.

This study showed that the SNP rs3816527 is associated with IPA in non-neutropenic patients. Further investigations in large populations are needed to validate this genetic predisposition. Functional studies are also required.
This study showed that the SNP rs3816527 is associated with IPA in non-neutropenic patients. MK-2206 Further investigations in large populations are needed to validate this genetic predisposition. Functional studies are also required.
Whilst there are effective techniques for the recanalization of central venous occlusions, recanalization of chronic total occlusions remains particularly challenging. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of recanalization using a transseptal needle in chronic total occlusions of the right brachiocephalic vein (RBV) in long-term hemodialysis patients.

In this single-center, retrospective study, maintenance hemodialysis patients with chronic total occlusion of the RBV were enrolled between February 2017 to March 2019 from West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Refractory lesions were defined as complete vascular occlusions with failed recanalization using conventional techniques. Occlusions were approached using a transseptal needle to penetrate which offers an alternative strategy with firm support force. Patient data, treatment outcomes and patency rates were collected and analyzed to assess the safety and efficacy of the technique.

A total of 16 eligible patients were analyzed. The operation was successful in 13 of the 16 patients and the success rate was 81.MK-2206