Efficacy of immunotherapy and sequencing of checkpoint inhibition for metastatic ocular melanoma

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Background: Ocular melanoma (OM) is the most common intraocular tumor in adults. However, it is still rare as compared to other subtypes of melanoma. Treatment of primary OM is certainly successful, but most therapies assessed in treatment of metastatic OM have not shown promise. Immunotherapy (IO), which has otherwise held prospect for durable remissions in other metastatic melanoma has shown no evidence in metastatic OM. Our study aims at narrowing the gap in knowledge in the treatment of OM with IO. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic OM treated during the period 2017-2021 at the University of Louisville. Patients aged 18 years or more with treatment-naïve metastatic (Stage IV) OM were included. Data was censored according to date of last recorded clinical follow up or death. The primary outcome of interest was overall survival (OS). Subgroup analysis was done to examine survival based on initial treatment with dual versus single checkpoint inhibition. After progression on initial therapy, patients previously on dual inhibition went on to receive single inhibition, and vice versa. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were generated using all-cause mortality as the competing outcome event and log-rank testing to evaluate differences between groups with alpha set at 0.05 for significance. Results: A total of 21 patients with Stage IV OM were identified with 4 excluded due to lack of data. The majority were male (10/17) and median age was 66 years, ranging from 30 to 89 years. More than half (10/17) received dual checkpoint inhibition as initial IO, with ipilimumab and nivolumab. The remainder received pembrolizumab or Nivolumab monotherapy (7/17). IO was well tolerated with no treatment related mortality and incidence of immune-related adverse effects similar to cutaneous melanoma. The median follow-up time overall was 56 months using the reverse Kaplan-Meier method with a median OS of 15 months. Estimated 2-year OS was 41%. No significant difference was found between single and dual checkpoint inhibition as the initial treatment regimen. Conclusions: While IO has markedly improved survival in advanced melanomas, OM continues to have inferior survival. Consistent with the literature by Zimmer et al, survival in this cohort is better than that reported with ipilimumab monotherapy. The median survival of 15 months is consistent with that reported by Heppt et al in the German multicenter study. IO for Stage IV OM was well tolerated, resulting in median survival of 15 months and 2-year OS of 41%. There was no survival advantage to initial treatment with single versus dual checkpoint inhibition, allowing for crossover at progression. Further research with novel agents and enrollment in clinical trials are needed in ocular melanoma.

Diclofenac versus tramadol for mucositis related pain in head and neck cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation-a phase 3 study

Background

Oral mucositis related pain during CTRT in head and neck cancers is a common problem. Unfortunately, in spite of it being common, there is limited evidence for selection of systemic analgesic in this situation. Hence, this study was designed to compare the analgesic effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac) versus a weak opioid (tramadol).

Patients and methods

This was an open-label, parallel design, superiority randomised controlled study. In this study, head and neck cancer patients undergoing radical or adjuvant chemoradiation, who had grade 1 or above mucositis (in accordance with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03) and had pain related to it were randomly assigned to either diclofenac or tramadol for mucositis related pain control. The primary endpoint was analgesia after the first dose. The secondary endpoints were the rate of change in analgesic within 1 week, adverse events and quality of life.

Results

One hundred and twenty-eight patients were randomised, 66 in diclofenac and 62 in tramadol arm. The median area under the curve for graph of pain across time after first dose of pain medication for the diclofenac arm and the tramadol arm was 348.936 units (range: 113.64–1,969.23) and 420.87 (101.97–1,465.96), respectively, (p = 0.05619). Five patients (8.1%) in the tramadol arm and 11 patients (16.7%) in the diclofenac arm required a change in analgesic within 1 week of starting the analgesic (p = 0.184). There was no statistically significant difference in any adverse events between the two arms. However, the rate of any grade of renal dysfunction was numerically higher in the diclofenac arm (10.6% versus 4.8%, p = 0.326).

Conclusion

In this phase 3 study, evaluating diclofenac and tramadol for chemoradiation induced mucositis pain, there was no statistical difference in analgesic activity of these two drugs.

Effect of Early Palliative Care on Quality of Life of Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Phase III Trial

BACKGROUND

Early palliative care (EPC) is an important aspect of cancer management but, to our knowledge, has never been evaluated in patients with head and neck cancer. Hence, we performed this study to determine whether the addition of EPC to standard therapy leads to an improvement in the quality of life (QOL), decrease in symptom burden, and improvement in overall survival.

METHODS

Adult patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region planned for palliative systemic therapy were allocated 1:1 to either standard systemic therapy without or with comprehensive EPC service referral. Patients were administered the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for head and neck cancer (FACT-H&N) questionnaire at baseline and every 1 month thereafter for 3 months. The primary endpoint was a change in the QOL measured at 3 months after random assignment. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were randomly assigned to each arm. There was no statistical difference in the change in the FACT-H&N total score (P = .94), FACT-H&N Trial Outcome Index (P = .95), FACT-general total (P = .84), and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale scores at 3 months between the 2 arms. The median overall survival was similar between the 2 arms (hazard ratio for death = 1.01, 95% confidence interval = 0.74 to 1.35). There were 5 in-hospital deaths in both arms (5.6% for both, P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In this phase III study, the integration of EPC in head and neck cancer patients did not lead to an improvement in the QOL or survival.

Association of PIK3CA, PTCH1, FGF6, and NRAS mutations with venous thromboembolism in advanced lung and gastrointestinal cancer

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Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is common and increases morbidity and mortality. In advanced GI and NSCLC, molecular subtyping has increased use of next-generation sequencing (NGS). The association between tumor mutation profile and VTE risk remains undetermined. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive GI/NSCLC patients from 2014-2019 with NGS and follow‐up at Brown Cancer Center. The NGS platform detected substitutions, indels, copy number alterations and select rearrangements in 324 genes. Patients with thrombophilia, anticoagulation use or >1 malignancy were excluded. VTE was defined as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or visceral vein thrombosis within 6 months prior to diagnosis or any time after. For statistical analysis SAS 9.5 was used with significance at alpha=0.05. Multinomial logistic regression was performed, in which the log odds of VTE was modeled as a linear combination of the genes. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for VTE were generated. Results: A total of 364 patients were reviewed; after exclusions 326 patients were included comprising Stage III/IV NSCLC (58%), metastatic colorectal (33%) and other metastatic GI cancers - gastric, duodenal, esophageal, pancreatic and cholangiocarcinoma (9%). Approximately half (53%) were males with mean age of 59.1 yrs and 76.4% current/former smokers. There was a low level of microsatellite instability (0.9%). VTE occurred in 75 patients (23%) during a mean follow‐up of 24.5 months. Only 1 patient had surgery within 90 days prior to VTE. Of 248 genes mutated in the VTE group, 9 were more prevalent compared to those without VTE (Table). Statistical analysis showed PIK3CA, PTCH1, FGF6, and NRAS mutations significantly increased odds of VTE, with PIK3CA the most prevalent of these (Table). Conclusions: Patients with PIK3CA, PTCH1, FGF6 and NRAS mutations had significantly higher VTE risk. These tumor mutations and associated pathways may provide novel insight into risk stratification, prevention and targeted treatment of VTE in cancer. [Table: see text]

Reverse swing-M, phase 1 study of repurposing mebendazole in recurrent high-grade glioma

BACKGROUND

Relapsed high-grade glioma has dismal outcomes. Mebendazole has shown promising activity against glioma in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Hence, we undertook a phase 1 study to repurpose mebendazole in the treatment of glioblastoma.

METHODS

We conducted a phase 1 study (accelerated titrated design 4) of mebendazole in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Patients eligible for re-irradiation were enrolled in arm A1 (radiation with concurrent temozolomide 75 mg/m2 daily during the course of radiation+mebendazole) while patients who were ineligible were enrolled in either arm B1 (CCNU 110 mg/m2 day 1, every 6 weekly + mebendazole) or arm C1 (temozolomide 200 mg/m2 day 1-5, every 4 weekly + mebendazole). The primary endpoint of phase 1 was to identify the MTD of mebendazole in each combination.

FINDINGS

11 patients were enrolled in the whole study. MTD of mebendazole was not reached in arm A1 and C1 and hence the recommended dose for phase 2 was 1600 mg TDS (4800 mg) per day. The MTD of mebendazole in combination with CCNU was 1600 mg TDS (4800 mg) per day and the dose recommended for phase 2 was 800 mg TDS (2400 mg) per day. The three most common adverse events seen in the study were anemia (n = 9, 81.8%), nausea (n = 7, 63.6%), and fatigue (n = 6, 55.5%).

INTERPRETATION

The recommended phase 2 dose of mebendazole is 1600 mg TDS with temozolomide and temozolomide-radiation combination while the dose of 800 mg TDS needs to be used with single-agent CCNU.

Meta-analysis: the impact of disease activity at conception on disease activity during pregnancy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

The rate of exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during pregnancy varies in the published literature.

AIM

We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of disease activity at conception on disease course during pregnancy in women with IBD.

METHODS

Published studies and abstracts from standard sources were screened for appropriate studies. Data were pooled and analysed using funnel and forest plots. Quality assessment scores were given using GRADE criteria.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were eligible for inclusion; ten studies contained patients with UC (N = 1130), and six studies contained patients with CD (N = 590). In patients with UC there was a significantly higher risk ratio of active disease during pregnancy in patients who commenced pregnancy with active disease (55%), when compared with those in remission at conception (36%) (RR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.5-3, P < 0.001). This risk was also higher in patients with CD (RR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2-3.4, P = 0.006). Thirteen of the studies rated 'low' in all domains of a quality assessment, and there was significant statistical heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IBD who conceive when their disease is active are more likely to have active disease during pregnancy than those who conceive when in remission. All studies used in this analysis had a high risk of bias therefore further studies are required.

Early vascular healing with biodegradable polymer coated sirolimus-eluting coronary stent implantation: assessed by optical coherence tomography results at 4-month follow-up

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the strut apposition and neointimal coverage of Supralimus-Core stent struts at 4 months after implantation using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

The Supralimus-Core OCT study is a retrospective, single-center study evaluating strut apposition and neointimal coverage with OCT at 4 months after stent implantation. A total of 12 patients, who had 15 stents implanted were included in the study. The OCT was obtained using a C7-XR FD-OCT (frequency-domain OCT) intravascular imaging system. Strut apposition, neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) thickness and stent coverage on each stent strut were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 2870 struts and 1950 frames were analyzed from 15 stents. Average stent length was 29.3 mm. Average reference vessel diameter was 2.64 mm. Among 12 patients, 3 (25.0%) patients were with diabetes, 4 (26.7%) type B2 and 10 (66.7%) type C lesions. The apposed and covered struts were 2787 (97.11%), whereas malapposed and covered struts were 3 (0.10%), apposed and uncovered 49 (1.71%) and malapposed and uncovered 31 (1.08%). Mean NIH thickness was 155.1±55.2 µm.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that Supralimus-Core stent has a favorable vascular healing pattern at 4 months after stent implantation in terms of stent-strut coverage and strut apposition. This information indicates that the Supralimus-Core stent is a promising solution for decreasing late stent restenosis and preventing stent thrombosis.

Laparoscopy-assisted surgery for neonatal intestinal atresia: single-center experience(*)

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal intestinal atresia surgery requires careful assessment of bowel patency, resection of the affected bowel and a diligent anastomosis. Traditional anastomosis with sutures via a laparoscopic approach would lengthen the surgical time. Various minimally invasive techniques have been reported for neonatal surgery. Our technique offers improved benefits of laparoscopy while observing good principles of surgery.

MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Using a three-port approach to aid careful laparoscopic inspection of the bowel, we performed laparoscopy-assisted neonatal intestinal atresia repair in three term neonates with no cardiorespiratory compromise. Anastomosis was manually performed after exteriorzation of the bowel via the umbilical port site without any extension of the original port-site incision. There were no complications or conversions to open approach.

DISCUSSION

Our technique is an improvement over previously reported limited/umbilical laparotomy approaches and blends the benefits of laparoscopy and open surgery most effectively. Careful bowel inspection and assessment of patency could be safely and systematically performed laparoscopically with limited exteriorization of the bowel for rapid hand-sewn anastomosis and without compromising bowel viability. A multicenter randomized trial will be useful to compare the open laparotomy approach with our technique.

Beta-catenin is involved in alterations in mitochondrial activity in non-transformed intestinal epithelial and colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Alteration in respiratory activity and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription seems to be an important feature of cancer cells. Leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) is a proinflammatory mediator implicated in the pathology of chronic inflammation and cancer. We have shown earlier that LTD(4) causes translocation of beta-catenin both to the mitochondria, in which it associates with the survival protein Bcl-2 identifying a novel role for beta-catenin in cell survival, and to the nucleus in which it activates the TCF/LEF transcription machinery.

METHODS

Here we have used non-transformed intestinal epithelial Int 407 cells and Caco-2 colon cancer cells, transfected or not with wild type and mutated (S33Y) beta-catenin to analyse its effect on mitochondria activity. We have measured the ATP/ADP ratio, and transcription of the mtDNA genes ND2, ND6 and 16 s in these cells stimulated or not with LTD(4).

RESULTS

We have shown for the first time that LTD(4) triggers a cellular increase in NADPH dehydrogenase activity and ATP/ADP ratio. In addition, LTD(4) significantly increased the transcription of mtDNA genes. Overexpression of wild-type beta-catenin or a constitutively active beta-catenin mutant mimicked the effect of LTD(4) on ATP/ADP ratio and mtDNA transcription. These elevations in mitochondrial activity resulted in increased reactive oxygen species levels and subsequent activations of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB.

CONCLUSIONS

The present novel data show that LTD(4), presumably through beta-catenin accumulation in the mitochondria, affects mitochondrial activity, lending further credence to the idea that inflammatory signalling pathways are intrinsically linked with potential oncogenic signals.

Is there a positive effect of participation on a clinical trial for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

BACKGROUND

There is general belief that patients who enrolled on a clinical trial have better outcomes compared to those who are treated outside of a trial. We analyzed if there was a 'trial effect' for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of cohorts of patients with advanced NSCLC who received chemotherapy inside and outside of a clinical trial were analyzed for response rates (RR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), 1 and 2 year survival.

RESULTS

There were 194 patients who received chemotherapy of which, 54 were on a clinical trial and 140 outside of it. For the whole group, the RR, median PFS, OS, one and two-year survivals were 35.4%, six months (range, 2-70), seven months (range, 2-72), 29.8% and 9.7% respectively. The differences in RR and PFS of patients who were treated inside and outside of a clinical trial were not significant (P=0.6164, 0.0881). The differences in median OS and one-year survivals between the groups were significant (P=0.0052, 0.022). For the whole group, patients who received II line chemotherapy had better OS (P< or = 0.0001). More patients in the trial group received II line chemotherapy (P=0.0004).The difference in the median OS between the groups continued to be significant even after patients who received II line chemotherapy were censored (P=0.0437).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated inside of a clinical trial had better OS compared to those who were treated outside of it.

Fusogenic peptide as diagnostic marker for detection of flaviviruses

BACKGROUND

Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis, yellow fever are the common flaviviral diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality. The initial symptoms of most of the flaviviral infections are similar to each other as well as to some other viral diseases. Making clinical diagnosis, therefore, becomes a challenging task for the clinician. Several studies have been reported on using detection of serum antibodies against flavivirus for the diagnosis of specific flaviviral disease; no field-based pan-flavi virus detection system is available, which can be used in low-endemicity areas for differentiation of flaviviral disease from other viral diseases.

AIM

To identify a conserved amino acid sequence among all flaviviruses and evaluate the antibody formed against the conserved peptide to develop pan-flavivirus detection system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study we have compared amino acid sequences of several flaviviruses and identified a conserved amino acid sequence lying in domain II of envelope protein.

RESULTS

A peptide having the conserved amino acid sequence was used to generate polyclonal antibodies and these antibodies were used to detect several flaviviruses. Anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies selectively recognized flaviviruses and did not detect non-flaviviruses. Anti-peptide antibodies detected presence of virus in serum spiked with pure virus preparations.

CONCLUSION

The study offers a rationale for development of pan-flavivirus capture assay suitable for low endemic areas.

Simvastatin maintains steady patterns of GFR and improves AER and expression of slit diaphragm proteins in type II diabetes

The factors determining the course of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albumin excretion rate (AER) and the expression of mRNA of slit diaphragm (SD) and podocyte proteins in microalbuminuric, hypertensive type II diabetic patients are not fully understood. GFR, AER, and SD protein mRNA were studied in 86 microalbuminuric, hypertensive, type II diabetics at baseline and after 4-year random double-blind treatment either with 40 mg simvastatin (Group 1) or with 30 g cholestyramine (Group 2) per day. Both groups had at baseline a GFR decay per year in the previous 2-4 years of 3 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Both Groups 1 and 2 showed a significant decrease of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels after simvastatin and cholestyramine treatment (P<0.01). No change from base line values was observed as for hs-C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. A significant decrease of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine urinary excretion was observed after simvastatin treatment. GFR did not change from baseline with simvstatin, whereas a decrease was observed with cholestyramine treatment (simvastatin vs cholestyramine: -0.21 vs -2.75 ml/min/1.73 m(2), P<0.01). AER decreased in Group 1 (P<0.01), but not in Group 2 patients. Real-time polymerase chain reaction measurement of mRNA SD proteins (CD2AP, FAT, Actn 4, NPHS1, and NPHS2) significantly increased in kidney biopsy specimens after simvastatin, but not cholestyramine treatment. Simvastatin, but not cholestyramine, 4-year treatment maintains steady patterns of GFR, and improves AER and expression of SD proteins in type II diabetes, despite similar hypocholesterolemic effects in circulation.

Use of a tissue expander and a polyglactic acid (Vicryl) mesh to reduce radiation enteritis: case report and literature review

Management of stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma comprises systemic chemotherapy with local control by conservative surgery and radiotherapy. Abdominal radiotherapy may lead to radiation enteritis causing such serious morbidity as malabsorption, fistulae or stricture formation. The risk increases with the dose of radiation and length of bowel involved. Various methods have been utilised to displace the bowel from the radiation field. Usually these are applied in patients requiring pelvic irradiation. We report a case of metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma requiring radiotherapy to the right renal bed. Effective displacement of small bowel from the tumour site was achieved by a combined use of a tissue expander and Vicryl mesh. There were no complications from the surgery. This is the first report discussing combined use of a tissue expander and Vicryl mesh to aid radiotherapy to the renal fossa in a paediatric patient.

Congenital malformations of the diaphragm: findings of the West Midlands Congenital Anomaly Register 1995 to 2000

OBJECTIVES

To describe trends in incidence, associated anomalies, clinical outcomes and sensitivity of prenatal diagnosis for congenital malformations of the diaphragm in the West Midlands Region between 1995 and 2000.

METHODS

Information was retrieved from a population-based register of major congenital malformations in a health region of England, the West Midlands Congenital Anomaly Register (WMCAR), between 1995 and 2000.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-one confirmed cases of congenital malformations of the diaphragm were notified from 396 577 births. This gives an incidence of 4.1 per 10,000 births. After natural losses and terminations, the incidence at birth was 2.9 per 10,000 registered births. For live-born cases, the infant mortality rate was 317 per 1000 births. 47% of the cases had additional structural or chromosomal anomalies; the infant mortality rate for these complex cases was 533 per 1000, an increased relative risk of 2.37 compared with isolated lesions. 66% of the cases were diagnosed prenatally, 51% of isolated lesions and 84% of complex cases. Fourteen prenatally diagnosed cases (12%) were false-positives; however, 11 of these cases had other significant pathology. These 14 cases were not included in the 161 confirmed cases.

CONCLUSION

Congenital malformations of the diaphragm remain associated with considerable infant mortality. Most cases are now diagnosed before birth and the prognosis is adversely affected by the presence of other structural or chromosomal anomalies. This presents significant challenges for those involved in counselling the parents of affected fetuses.

Postoperative pneumatosis intestinalis in infants does not automatically preclude enteral feeding

BACKGROUND

A degree of feed intolerance after neonatal abdominal surgery is common but in an otherwise well baby enteral feeding usually is continued at the highest tolerated level. However, the presence of rectal bleeding, pneumatosis intestinalis, or portal vein gas seen on plain abdominal x-rays suggest the possibility of postoperative necrotising enterocolitis. When this happens feedings usually are stopped for 7 to 10 days, and intravenous antibiotics and total parental nutrition are commenced.

METHODS

The authors report 12 episodes of rectal bleeding and 11 episodes of pneumatosis intestinalis in 3 infants who previously had undergone neonatal abdominal surgery for intestinal malformations. In 7 of these episodes, feedings were neither stopped nor were antibiotics given. At the time of these 7 episodes, the infants were more than 3 kg in weight, had no significant cardiac or respiratory pathology, were all clinically stable, had no evidence of peritonitis, had no thrombocytopenia, and were greater than 37 weeks postconception.

RESULTS

The 3 infants were monitored closely. There were no early or late problems observed attributable to this management.

CONCLUSION

Carefully selected clinically stable patients that have postoperative pneumatosis intestinalis or exhibit rectal bleeding may be successfully managed by reduced enteral feedings with no antibiotics. J Pediatr Surg 36:1820-1823.

Transcatheter closure of a large coronary artery fistula with Amplatzer duct occluder: a new approach

We report a new retrograde approach for the successful closure of a large right coronary artery fistula in a 27-year-old man using the Amplatzer duct occluder. The device was deployed through a coronary angioplasty-guiding catheter that had been advanced through the aorta and the dilated right coronary artery into the fistula. This method simplified the procedure by eliminating the need for making a femoral artery-to-femoral vein wire loop.

Massive rectal bleeding due to jejunal and colonic tuberculosis

A case of massive rectal bleeding due to colonic tuberculosis in advanced pregnancy with intrauterine foetal death is reported. Patient was treated with resection of the left colon and left transverse end colostomy with closure of the rectal stump. Hysterotomy for the removal of the dead foetus was performed. The patient improved in health with antitubercular treatment. The colorectal anastomosis was performed after 4 months. Massive rectal bleeding in intestinal tuberculosis, though rare should be kept in mind.

Angioplasty through a stent side door

Angioplasty was performed by entering a Gianturco-Roubin stent from the side through the coils of a previously-implanted hanging stent in an ostial lesion in a saphenous vein graft. No complications and no visible damage occurred to the stent. Although this method carries a possible risk of entrapment or damage to the stent, it is feasible when other options have failed.

Six month follow-up of fourteen victims with short-term exposure to chlorine gas

Fourteen cases, 5 with pre-existing COAD, exposed to up to 30 p.p.m. chlorine gas in an accidental leakage, were followed up clinically, radiologically and by spirometry at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 6 months. All the patients were asymptomatic by 2 weeks and did not reveal any radiological abnormality. The FVC, FEV1 and FVC observed/predicted improved at 4 weeks (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01) and the improvement in FEF0.25-0.75 reached statistical significance (p less than 0.05) at 6 months. The mean improvement in FVC was 0.84 l and FEV1 was 0.6 l at 4 weeks. The 5 patients with pre-existing COAD did not show any evidence of additional lung damage. The observations have been consistent with acute tracheobronchitis with trends towards complete recovery.