Chest Medicine
Systematic Review: Antibiotics for the treatment of COVID‐19 – “We are certain that risk of death in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients is not reduced by treatment with azithromycin after 28 days”.
26 Oct, 2021 | 02:07h | UTCAntibiotics for the treatment of COVID‐19 – Cochrane Library
Commentary on Twitter
JUST PUBLISHED – Are #antibiotics an effective treatment for #COVID19 & do they cause unwanted effects? https://t.co/EVHduxmtdD New Cochrane Review looked at evidence from 11 studies: ❌ antibiotic azithromycin is not an effective treatment, 🤔not enough research on other types.
— The Cochrane Library (@CochraneLibrary) October 22, 2021
Case Series: Toxic effects from ivermectin use associated with prevention and treatment of Covid-19.
26 Oct, 2021 | 02:02h | UTC
Cohort Study: Bacterial Superinfection Pneumonia in Patients Mechanically Ventilated for COVID-19 Pneumonia – “Bacterial superinfection within 48 hours of intubation was detected in 21 percent of patients”.
26 Oct, 2021 | 01:59h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Bacterial Superinfection Pneumonia in Patients Mechanically Ventilated for COVID-19 Pneumonia
🔓 Open Access
🔗 https://t.co/MaCZkKrQdQ pic.twitter.com/sscICvqYjS— ATS Blue Journal (@ATSBlueEditor) October 19, 2021
COVID: how worried should we be about the new AY.4.2 lineage of the coronavirus?
26 Oct, 2021 | 02:01h | UTCCOVID: how worried should we be about the new AY.4.2 lineage of the coronavirus? – The Conversation
What It Means To Be Fully Vaccinated.
26 Oct, 2021 | 01:57h | UTCWhat It Means To Be Fully Vaccinated – Think Global Health
Review: Thoracic involvement and imaging patterns in IgG4-related disease.
26 Oct, 2021 | 01:22h | UTCThoracic involvement and imaging patterns in IgG4-related disease – European Respiratory Review
Commentary on Twitter
Thoracic and lung involvement of IgG4-RD are heterogeneous and underevaluated. Peribronchovascular involvement and lymph node enlargement are most frequent patterns. Interstitial disease pattern seems to be associated with lower rate of treatment response. https://t.co/AMuLjPByut pic.twitter.com/ZmDrz6nK6g
— ERS publications (@ERSpublications) October 13, 2021
Opinion | COVID STEROID-2: Double the steroid, double the fun? – “Dexamethasone 6 mg/day alone is likely suboptimal for most patients with severe COVID pneumonia. Dexamethasone 12 mg/day may provide a reasonable intensity of immunomodulation”.
25 Oct, 2021 | 00:01h | UTCCOVID STEROID-2: Double the steroid, double the fun? – PulmCrit
Commentary on Twitter
COVID-STEROID 2
🥈5% lower mortality with 12 mg dexamethasone (vs 6 mg) – which is *huge* – but p=0.09 😩
🥈RCTs with toci/bari show that 6 mg dex alone is suboptimal.
🥈If using dex monotherapy, 12 mg is now a sensible dose for sicker pts.
Fresh blog: https://t.co/oPz7vAYHGN pic.twitter.com/diDqqUxSTC— 𝙟𝙤𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙨 💊 (@PulmCrit) October 23, 2021
Review: Does infection with or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lead to lasting immunity?
25 Oct, 2021 | 00:03h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
New on our #COVID19 resource centre—Personal View: Does infection with or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lead to lasting immunity?
Read in @LancetRespirMed: https://t.co/ZOTgVQYd6w pic.twitter.com/7BwRPLzsib
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) October 23, 2021
RCT: The association of Varenicline and Nicotine patch was not better than Varenicline alone to increase smoking abstinence; there was also no difference between 24-week vs. 12-week treatment courses in abstinence rates.
24 Oct, 2021 | 23:45h | UTCEffects of Combined Varenicline With Nicotine Patch and of Extended Treatment Duration on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Is There a Role for Combined Use of Varenicline and Nicotine Patch or Extended Treatment Duration to Enhance Smoking Cessation? – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary: Varenicline Combo, Extension No Better for Quitting Smoking – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
Study findings do not support the use of combined varenicline plus nicotine patch therapy (vs varenicline monotherapy) or of extended treatment duration (24 vs 12 weeks) for smoking cessation https://t.co/XcQMQZgQb9
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) October 19, 2021
Perspective | The flawed science of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 immunity.
22 Oct, 2021 | 10:30h | UTCThe Flawed Science of Antibody Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Immunity – JAMA
[Press release – not published yet] A phase 3 trial with more than 10,000 participants showed a booster dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had an efficacy of 95.6% against disease; there were 5 cases in the booster group and 109 cases in the non-boosted group, not classified according to severity.
22 Oct, 2021 | 10:34h | UTC
Commentaries on Twitter
This will presumably mean everyone gets boosters early next year. That’s great, because they do work. Except it’s likely to be boosters for rich countries at the expense of primary vaccination for poorer countries. You won’t stop the pandemic when half the world is unvaccinated https://t.co/F31DMSI2zf
— Niall Conroy (@NICU_doc_salone) October 21, 2021
The 1st randomized trial of a booster (3rd) shot in 10,000 people, placebo-controlled, shows 95.6% efficacy, with 5 cases (Pfizer vaccine) vs 109 in placebo group, Delta variant, broad benefit across age groups https://t.co/TQpF35d8Jk pic.twitter.com/3RkqvXNfsU
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 21, 2021
RCT: In adults with Covid-19 and severe hypoxemia, 12 mg vs. 6 mg of Dexamethasone did not result in a statistically significant difference in the number of days alive without life support.
22 Oct, 2021 | 10:32h | UTCEditorial: Glucocorticoid Dose in COVID-19: Lessons for Clinical Trials During a Pandemic – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
In a randomized trial of patients with #COVID19 and severe hypoxemia, compared with 6 mg of dexamethasone, 12 mg of dexamethasone did not statistically significantly reduce the number of days alive without life support at 28 days https://t.co/BMgLTel4aU pic.twitter.com/WKwI8xCUYO
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) October 21, 2021
An analysis of Scotland’s mortality in 114,000 SARS-CoV2–infected people revealed that the vaccine effectiveness against death from the Delta variant was 90% for the Pfizer vaccine and 91% for AstraZeneca.
21 Oct, 2021 | 10:15h | UTC
Pfizer vaccine showed estimated effectiveness of 93% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infection in adolescents.
21 Oct, 2021 | 10:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
The remarkably high effectiveness (VE) of vaccination for teens vs the Delta variant in over 94,000 vaccinees and 94,000 matched controls: 93% VE vs symptomatic infection (95% CI 88,97) https://t.co/wwoXlw7PH9@NEJM pic.twitter.com/8m3fJ7avc5
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 20, 2021
FDA authorizes booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, says mix and match OK.
21 Oct, 2021 | 10:09h | UTCFDA authorizes booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, says mix and match OK – CNN
See also:
FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccines; backs Moderna, J&J boosters – Associated Press
FDA OKs Moderna, J&J boosters, along with ‘mix and match’ approach – NBC News
NCCN Guideline: Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease.
21 Oct, 2021 | 10:06h | UTCRelated:
ASH 2021 guidelines for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer
Review: venous and arterial thromboembolism in patients with cancer.
COVID-19 pneumonia: pathophysiology and management.
21 Oct, 2021 | 10:12h | UTCCOVID-19 pneumonia: pathophysiology and management – European Respiratory Review
State of the Art Review: Diagnosis and management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
21 Oct, 2021 | 09:56h | UTCDiagnosis and management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia – The BMJ
Commentary on Twitter
This new clinical review evaluates the various clinical definitions, imaging modalities, and biomarker data that are helpful in making an early diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), as well as the evidence on the prevention and treatment of BPD https://t.co/ITqe8WMkNl
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) October 20, 2021
Cohort Study: The effectiveness of heterologous AstraZeneca (AZ)/mRNA prime-boost vaccination was more significant (68%) compared to the effectiveness of homologous AZ/AZ vaccination (50%) against symptomatic Covid-19 infection in Sweden.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:27h | UTCCommentary: High effectiveness of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccines – UMEA University
Related:
A primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines.
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
Commentary on Twitter
Study from Sweden assessing heterogenous vaccination in 3,445,061 individuals who received AZ as the first dose and either #pfizer, #moderna, or #AZ as second dose showed the following vaccine effectiveness:
AZ/Pfizer- 67%
AZ/Moderna- 79%
AZ/AZ- 50%https://t.co/UN0pey2kJ2— Yan Leyfman, MD (@YLeyfman) October 19, 2021
Should You Mix and Match Your Booster Shot?
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:25h | UTCShould You Mix and Match Your Booster Shot? – The Atlantic
Related:
A primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines.
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
RCT: Interferon does not improve outcomes for hospitalized adults with COVID-19.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:28h | UTCNews release: Interferon does not improve outcomes for hospitalized adults with COVID-19 – NIH News Releases
[Preprint] Observational study in Brazil showed the J&J vaccine adjusted effectiveness was 50.9% against any symptomatic Covid-19, 72.9% for hospitalization, 92.5% for ICU admission, 88.7% for mechanical ventilation, and 90.5% for death.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:24h | UTC
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Strategy 2021 – Executive summary and rationale for key changes.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:20h | UTC
Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCCovid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK – BBC
Systematic Review: anti-interleukin-13 or anti-interleukin-4 agents may be appropriate for adults with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma who have not responded to other treatments.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:19h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Lead author David Evans said “Approximately five to ten percent of people with asthma experience symptoms that are severe or difficult-to-treat… [1/3] pic.twitter.com/Nw606oSrX0
— CochraneAirways (@CochraneAirways) October 19, 2021


