Outcomes with COVID-19 in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cellular therapy: A systemic review and meta-analysis

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Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 has caused over 100 million infections and over 2 million deaths globally. Patients who have received a hematogenic stem cell transplant or cellular therapy (HCT) have a high risk of mortality and morbidity with COVID-19 due to severe immune dysregulation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the outcomes of COVID-19 in HCT patients. Methods: A literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA) guidelines was performed on 3 databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Clinical trials.gov) from the date of inception to Jan 2021. MeSH terms included ‘hematological malignancies’, ‘hematopoietic stem cell transplantation’, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, and ‘COVID 19’. We screened 99 articles and 6 studies (4 retrospective studies, 2 prospective) were included after excluding review, duplicate, and non-relevant articles. Quality evaluation was done using the NIH quality assessment tool. The Inter-study heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the Q statistic proposed by Cochrane and the I2 index introduced by Higgins and Thompson. Pooled analysis was done using the ‘metaXL’, and the random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% CI. Results: Of 1619 patients in 6studies, 646 HCT patients were analyzed (Table ). The median age of patients was 63 years and 59% were males. Median days since HCT for autologous (auto) HCT and allogeneic (allo) HCT patients were 690 and 450 days respectively. The average follow-up duration after COVID-19 was 24 days. COVID-19 mortality in HCT patients was 20% (95%CI 0.17 to 0.23, I2=0). Roedl et al (n=6) reported a mortality of 83% and was excluded from the pooled analysis. The mortality rate was 19% (95% CI 0.15 to 0.24, I2=0%) in auto HCT patients and 21% (95% CI 0.17 to 0.25, I2=0%) in allo HCT patients. Conclusions: The HCT patients are at significant risk of increased mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19. There is a need to prioritize HCT patients for COVID-19 vaccination, close surveillance, and aggressive management.[Table: see text]

The Dilemma of Renal Involvement in COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has posed a serious threat to global health since December 2019. It has spread worldwide and is consuming healthcare resources rapidly. Published literature suggests that people with advanced age and comorbidities are affected more severely. It is crucial to uncover the underlying pathogenesis of acute kidney insufficiency in COVID-19 patients to understand better the reasoning behind the grave outcomes in these patients. In this review, we have included articles stating the prevalence and specific mortality rates of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney insufficiency. Our study included 1098 COVID-19 positive patients, of whom 66 (6%) developed acute kidney insufficiency and 62 patients died, showing a mortality rate of 94%. Patients with acute kidney insufficiency showed a more severe disease course, and these patients ended up more in intensive care units. Particular attention should be paid to those with already established kidney disease, such as chronic kidney disease, or renal transplant recipients, as these patients are already on immunosuppressive therapy. Our review focuses on the prevalence of acute kidney insufficiency in COVID-19 patients and mortality rates in this subset of patients.

Surgical interventions for age-related cataract

BACKGROUND

Cataract accounts for 50% of blindness globally and remains the leading cause of visual impairment in all regions of the world, despite improvements in surgical outcomes (WHO 2005). This number is expected to rise due to an aging population and increase in life expectancy. Although cataracts are not preventable, their surgical treatment is one of the most cost-effective interventions in healthcare.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of different surgical interventions for age-related cataract.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE up to July 2006, NRR Issue 3 2005, the reference lists of identified trials and we contacted investigators and experts in the field for details of published and unpublished trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTS).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and discrepancies were resolved by discussion. Where appropriate, risk ratios, odds ratios and weighted mean differences were summarised after assessing heterogeneity between the studies.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 17 trials that randomised a total of 9627 people. Phacoemulsification gave a better visual outcome than extracapsular surgery but similar average cost per procedure in Europe but not in poorer countries. Extracapsular surgery with posterior chamber lens implant and ICCE with or without an anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implant gave acceptable visual outcomes but extracapsular surgery had less complications. Manual small incision surgery provides better visual outcome than ECCE but slightly inferior unaided visual acuity compared to phacoemulsification.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review provides evidence from seven RCTs that phacoemulsification gives a better outcome than ECCE with sutures. We also found evidence that ECCE with a posterior chamber lens implant provides better visual outcome than ICCE with aphakic glasses. The long term effect of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) needs to be assessed in larger populations. The data also suggests that ICCE with an anterior chamber lens implant is an effective alternative to ICCE with aphakic glasses, with similar safety. Phacoemulsification provides the best visual outcomes but will only be accessible to the poorer countries if the cost of phacoemulsification and foldable IOLs decrease. Manual small incision cataract surgery provides early visual rehabilitation and comparable visual outcome to PHACO. It has better visual outcomes than ECCE and can be used in any clinic that is currently carrying out ECCE with IOL. Further research from developing regions are needed to compare the cost and longer term outcomes of these procedures e.g. PCO and corneal endothelial cell damage.

Type 1 procollagen as a marker of severity of scarring after sternotomy: effects of topical corticosteroids

AIMS

To determine whether the abundance of newly formed collagen in healing surgical wounds correlated with scar severity, and whether topical application of steroid cream reduced new collagen formation in patients who have undergone median sternotomy.

METHODS

Thirty three patients six weeks after sternotomy, and 12 controls were studied. Scars were photographed, and biopsy specimens from scars at sites treated or untreated with topical corticosteroids (clobetasol proprionate 0.5%) were examined using immunohistochemical staining for type 1 procollagen (PCP 1) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and in situ hybridisation for type 1 procollagen messenger RNA (mRNA).

RESULTS

The degree of hypertrophy of the scar and the abundance of PCP 1 immunostaining were ranked independently, blind, and a correlation between these two variables was observed (r = 0.604, p < 0.001). The PCP 1 immunostaining was accompanied by a great abundance of PCP 1 mRNA and only a slight increase in TGF-beta immunostaining, when compared with normal skin or mature scars. Following the application of topical corticosteroids, for either 48 hours or twice daily for seven days, there was no reduction in PCP 1 immunostaining nor the abundance of PCP 1 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the extent of new collagen formation as assessed by PCP 1 immunohistochemistry may be a useful marker of the exuberance of the scarring process following sternotomy, and that topical corticosteroids are ineffective in reducing this component of the fibrotic response.