Objective
To explore the method of radiolabeling anti-Aspergillus monoclonal antibody (WF-AF-1)with 99mTc,and evaluate the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of 99mTc labeled WF-AF-1 (99mTc-WF-AF-1).
Methods
99mTc-WF-AF-1 was prepared with indirect-labeling method.The labeled product was identified using thin layer chromatography.Suspensions of Aspergillus fumigatus,Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were incubated with 99mTc-WF-AF-1 to evaluate the specificity of the labeled antibody.Mice were injected with 3.7MBq of labeled product.The biodistribution was measured at 40min,2h,4h and 7h after injection.
Results
The labeling efficiency of 99mTc-WF-AF-1 was over 95%,and the labeled product was stable in serum and phosphate buffer solution.In vitro binding of 99mTc-WF-AF-1 revealed that the labeled Mab-WF-AF-1 preferentially binds to Aspergillus fumigatus. Biodistrbution data showed that the labeled antibody was deposited mainly in liver,kidneys and spleen.The radioactivity uptake in blood at 40min and 7h was (2.51±0.23)%ID/g and (0.53±0.13)%ID/g,respectively.
Conclusions
The labeling efficiency and stability of 99mTc-WF-AF-1 are high.The labeled antibody is excreted mainly through the liver and kidneys with fast clearance in blood in normal mice.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical features of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in intensive care unit (ICU), so as to improve the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods A total of 81 patients diagnosed as IPA from March, 2017 to March, 2022 in the ICU of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China were selected as infection group. A total of 81 non-IPA patients with pulmonary infection and Aspergillus negative sputum culture were selected as the control group. The host factors, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment Ⅱ score at admission, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms and signs, relevant laboratory test results, and lung CT findings were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of pulmonary aspergillosis in IPA patients in ICU. At the same time, the types of aspergillus in the IPA group and the outcomes of the two groups at 28 days after ICU admission were analyzed. Results Of the 81 IPA patients, 4 were proven diagnosed and 77 were putative diagnosed. IPA patients were mainly infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Symptoms and signs such as fever, cough and expectoration, dyspnea and pulmonary rales occurred in both groups. The level of procalcitonin in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.016). The positive rate of serum galactomannan antigen test (GM test) in the IPA group was higher than that in the non-IPA group, and the differences was statistically significant (P=0.000). The incidence of pulmonary imaging cavities in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.022). Univariate analysis showed that central venous catheterization, septic shock, complete parenteral nutrition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and immunosuppression were risk factors for IPA (P<0.05); Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that complete parenteral nutrition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and immunosuppression were independent risk factors for IPA (P<0.05). The 28-day fatality rate in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group (55.6% vs. 34.6%, P=0.007). Conclusions IPA patients have no specific clinical symptoms and signs, and are mainly infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus; GM test has guiding significance for the diagnosis of IPA. Serum GM test and pulmonary imaging have cavity findings that are helpful for the diagnosis of IPA. Patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, or complete parenteral nutrition need to be on high alert for the possibility of IPA during ICU stay.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Methods The clinical data of patients diagnosed with CAPA admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from December 16, 2022 to February 2, 2023 were collected and analyzed. Results Among the 43 enrolled patients,16 patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, 44.19% (19/43) of them with critical novel coronavirus pneumonia, and 86.05% (37/43) had underlying diseases. The peak period of CAPA was 14 - 28 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection (48.84%, 21/43). In the laboratory results, 86.05% (37/43) of patients had varying degrees of lymphocyte reduction, with a lymphocyte count of 0.63 (0.33, 0.96) × 109/L, the median levels of procalcitonin, CRP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were all higher than the reference values. 38.89% (14/36) of patients tested positive for serum GM test, and 75.00% (9/12) of patients tested positive for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid GM test. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common strain. Voriconazole is the most commonly used antifungal drug (86.05%), and other drugs used include caspofungin, posaconazole, isavuconazonium, and amphotericin B. Two patients received local treatment with amphotericin B under bronchoscopy. After treatment, 27 patients improved and were discharged. Conclusions The symptoms, signs, and imaging manifestations of CAPA are not significantly specific, and are prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. The mortality rate is high. For patients suspected of CAPA and those with CAPA risk factors, relevant examinations should be promptly improved to improve diagnosis and treatment efficiency.
Objective
To describe the underlying conditions of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).
Methods
A retrospective study was performed. Details of the clinical, imaging features, and the underlying conditions of CPA patients admitted to a tertiary university teaching hospital from January 2009 to December 2016 were extracted from clinical records. The classification distribution of CPA, and underlying conditions were analyzed.
Results
Among the 108 CPA patients, 87 cases had underlying conditions, 21 cases had no underlying conditions. Seventy two (66.7%) patients were engaged in agriculture, the proportion of which was significantly higher in the cases without underlying conditions (85.7% vs. 62.1%). Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) was the most common type of these CPA cases. The cases without underlying conditions had significantly more proportion of CNPA than the cases with underlying conditions (85.7% vs. 62.1%). The cases with systemic underlying conditions had significantly more proportion of CNPA than the cases only with pulmonary underlying conditions (82.8% vs. 51.7%). Chronic cavity pulmonary aspergillosis (24/108, 22.2%) only existed in the cases with pulmonary underlying conditions. Underlying conditions were identified in 87 cases of CPA, with 85.1% (74/87) pulmonary and 33.3% (29/87) systemic underlying diseases. Previous tuberculosis mycobacterial infection, bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most common pulmonary underlying conditions (40.2%, 39.1% and 35.6%, respectively). Diabetes (16.1%) and glucocorticoid using (13.8%) were the most two common systemic underlying conditions.
Conclusions
CPA can occur in patients with and without underlying diseases. CNPA is the most common type of these CPA, the proportion of which is higher in cases without underlying conditions and cases with systemic underlying conditions. Farming maybe the risk factors of CPA. Chronic pulmonary primary diseases are the most common underlying conditions. The most common systemic factors are diabetes and glucocorticoid using.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Aspergillus in the severe refractory exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsThe clinical data of two COPD patients suffering from refractory acute exacerbations were analyzed and the relevant literature were reviewed.ResultsTwo patients were male, aging 72 and 64 years respectively. Both of them had a history of frequent acute exacerbations with severe COPD recently. Meanwhile, they received intravenous use of antibiotics repeatedly, one of them took oral corticosteroids to control wheezing, but failed. Their serum Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody was weakly positive. Besides traditional treatment, they received additional antifungal therapy, and the symptoms alleviated. There was no acute exacerbation in the half a year follow-up period after appropriate therapy.ConclusionsAspergillus colonization, sensitization, infection should be considered in patients with severe COPD. When Aspergillus-associated evidence are acquired, antifungal therapy will be unexpected helpful.
Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Methods The clinical data of 26 patients diagnosed as ABPA from September 2016 to February 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 26 patients with ABPA, 15 were female, 11 were male, with a mean age of (47.6±11.7) years. Before the diagnosis of ABPA, 13 cases had been misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma, 8 as bronchiectasis, 8 as pulmonary infection, 3 as tuberculosis. All patients had cough, sputum production, wheeze in 2, fever in 5, hemoptysis in 4, chest pain in 4, dyspnea in 2. The wheezing sound were heard in 20 patients and wet rales were heard in 4 cases. All patients had increased total IgE level ［median 5 000 (654 – 5 337)IU/ml］. The eosinophil counts were increased in 23 patients ［median 0.99 (0.50 – 3.69)×109/L］ and percentages of peripheral blood eosinophil were elevated to (0.36±0.10). Skin prink test was positive in 10 cases. All patients had increased Aspergillus fumigatus specific IgE ［median 15.1 (0.4 – 29.6)kU/L). Chest X-ray showed fleeting consolidation. Chest CT showed multiple pachy, central cylindrical bronchiectasis, mucous plugging, band linear or glover-finger opacities. Sixteen cases underwent bronchoscopy, out of them 5 cases underwent transbronchial lung biopsy, 2 cases underwent CT guided percutaneous lung biopsy. Fourteen cases were treated with oral corticosteroids combined with antifungal therapy. Conclusions ABPA is a relatively rare and without specific clinical manifestations. In the early period, it is mostly misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma, so it is necessary to improve the early diagosis of ABPA and give appropriate treatment. Regular follow-up should be made to prevent the recurrence.
Co-infection with severe influenza and bacterial is well known, but in recent years, more and more studies report that aspergillus have been identified as important pathogens, secondary only to bacteria in severe influenza. Influenza-associated aspergillus (IAA) brings a high death rate and heavy burden to our country. Therefore, early diagnosis and effective treatment are needed. In order to better understand IAA, this review summarizes the available literature on the association of IAA, including epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.
