Preemptive treatment increased the incidence of invasive fungal disease, without increasing mortality, and decreased the costs of antifungal drugs. Empirical treatment may provide better survival rates for patients receiving induction chemotherapy.

Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.

Patients with hypopituitarism have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. GH treatment could modify the cardiovascular risk in adults with GH deficiency, but most published clinical trials involved few patients and the results are variable. We conducted a systematic review of blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of GH treatment in adult patients with GH deficiency published up to August 2003. Thirty-seven trials were identified. We combined the results for effects on lean and fat body mass; body mass index; triglyceride and cholesterol [high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total] levels; blood pressure; glycemia; and insulinemia. Overall effect size was used to evaluate significance, and weighted differences between GH and placebo were used to appreciate the size of the effect. GH treatment significantly reduced LDL cholesterol [-0.5 (SD 0.3) mmol/liter], total cholesterol [-0.3 (0.3) mmol/liter], fat mass [-3.1 (3.3) kg], and diastolic blood pressure [-1.8 (3.8) mm Hg] and significantly increased lean body mass [+2.7 (2.6) kg], fasting plasma glucose [+0.2 (0.1) mmol/liter], and insulin [+8.7 (7.0) pmol/liter]. All effect sizes remained significant in trials with low doses and long-duration GH treatment. Thus, GH treatment has beneficial effects on lean and fat body mass, total and LDL cholesterol levels, and diastolic blood pressure but reduces insulin sensitivity. The global cardiovascular benefit remains to be determined in large trials with appropriate clinical endpoints.