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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Hemoperfusion (HP) is employed to modulate cytokine storms in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, requiring careful attention for success and safety....
Hemoperfusion (HP) is employed to modulate cytokine storms in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, requiring careful attention for success and safety. Therefore, we investigated whether our care bundles could enhance HP performance. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on adult patients (≥20 years old) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In the first wave (Phase I), we identified HP-related issues and addressed them with care bundles in the second wave (Phase II). The care bundles included early temperature control, precise hemodynamic monitoring, and clot prevention measures for the HP membrane. The HP success rate and associated adverse events (AEs) were assessed between the two phases. The study included 60 HP (HA330) sessions from 27 cases (Phase I: 21 sessions from 9 cases; Phase II: 39 sessions from 18 cases). Patient characteristics and treatments for COVID-19 were similar, except for baseline body temperature (BT) and heart rate (HR). Phase II showed a higher success rate (67% vs. 89%, = 0.19), although it did not reach statistical significance. Phase I recorded a significantly higher frequency of AEs (3 [IQR 1, 4] events/case vs. 1 [IQR 0, 2] events/case, = 0.014). After implementing the care bundles, hypothermia significantly decreased (78% vs. 33%, = 0.037), with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.15; 95% CI 0.02-0.95, = 0.044 for baseline BT. Further exploration with a larger sample size is required to establish the advantages of care bundles. However, the bundles' implementation has significantly improved hypothermia prevention.
PubMed: 38929889
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123360 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2024Despite advancements in artificial intelligence-based decision-making, transitioning patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to low-acuity wards is challenging,...
Development of a Simple Scoring System for Predicting Discharge Safety from the Medical ICU to Low-Acuity Wards: The Role of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score, Albumin, and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width.
Despite advancements in artificial intelligence-based decision-making, transitioning patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to low-acuity wards is challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to develop a simple scoring system to predict ICU discharge safety. We retrospectively analyzed patients admitted to a tertiary hospital's medical ICU (MICU) between July 2016 and December 2021. This period was divided into two phases for model development and validation. We identified risk factors associated with unexpected death within 14 days of MICU discharge and developed a predictive scoring system that incorporated these factors. We verified the system's performance using validation data. In the development cohort, 522 patients were discharged from the MICU, and 42 (8.04%) died unexpectedly. In multivariate analysis, the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.41), red blood cell distribution width (RDW) (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07-1.36), and albumin (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.84) were predictors of unexpected death. Each variable was assigned a weighted point in the scoring system, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.788 (95% CI 0.714-0.855). The scoring system was performed using an AUC of 0.738 (95% CI 0.653-0.822) in the validation cohort of 343 patients with 9.62% of unexpected deaths. When a cut-off of 0.032 was applied, a sensitivity and a specificity of 81.8% and 55.2%, respectively, were achieved. This simple bedside predictive score for ICU discharge uses the SOFA score, albumin level, and RDW to aid in timely decision-making and optimize critical care facility allocation in resource-limited settings.
PubMed: 38929864
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060643 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024We investigated the type of blood component transfusion associated with increased postoperative delirium. Adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or...
We investigated the type of blood component transfusion associated with increased postoperative delirium. Adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) between 2017 and 2022 were included. Delirium was evaluated and treated within two days after surgery. A total of 6737 patients (4112 TKA/2625 THA) were retrospectively studied; 2.48% of patients in the TKA (n = 102) and THA (n = 65) groups had postoperative delirium. The blood transfusion (BT) and non-BT groups had similar percentages of patients who experienced postoperative delirium (3.34 vs. 2.35%, = 0.080). In the multivariable logistic regression model, BT was not associated with postoperative delirium-adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.03, confidence interval (CI): 0.62, 1.71; = 0.917. Moreover, transfusion of packed red blood cells ( = 0.651), platelets ( = 0.998), and cryoprecipitate ( = 0.999) were not associated with delirium. However, transfusion of fresh frozen plasma was associated with a 5.96-fold higher incidence of delirium-aOR: 5.96, 95% CI: 2.72, 13.04; < 0.001. In conclusion, perioperative BT was not associated with postoperative delirium in patients who underwent TKA or THA. However, FFP transfusion was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative delirium.
PubMed: 38929797
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060576 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Heart failure, stroke and death are major dangers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common abnormal heart rhythm. Having a gastrointestinal (GI) procedure puts... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Heart failure, stroke and death are major dangers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common abnormal heart rhythm. Having a gastrointestinal (GI) procedure puts patients at risk for developing AF, especially after large abdominal surgery. Although earlier research has shown a possible connection between postoperative AF and higher mortality, the exact nature of this interaction is yet uncertain.
METHODS
To investigate the relationship between AF and death after GI procedures, this research carried out a thorough meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled studies or clinical trials. Finding relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) required a comprehensive search across many databases. Studies involving GI surgery patients with postoperative AF and mortality outcomes were the main focus of the inclusion criteria. We followed PRISMA and Cochrane Collaboration protocols for data extraction and quality assessment, respectively.
RESULTS
After GI surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the AF and non-AF groups, according to an analysis of the available trials ( = 0.97). The mortality odds ratio (OR) was 1.03 (95% CI [0.24, 4.41]), suggesting that there was no significant correlation. Nevertheless, there was significant heterogeneity throughout the trials, which calls for careful interpretation.
CONCLUSION
Despite the lack of a significant link between AF and death after GI surgery in our study, contradictory data from other research highlight the intricacy of this relationship. Discrepancies may arise from variations in patient demographics, research methodology and procedural problems. These results emphasize the necessity for additional extensive and varied studies to fully clarify the role of AF in postoperative mortality in relation to GI procedures. Comprehending the subtleties of this correlation might enhance future patient outcomes and contribute to evidence-based therapeutic decision making.
PubMed: 38929792
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060571 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024We aimed to examine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, quality of life (QOL) worsening among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. This...
We aimed to examine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, quality of life (QOL) worsening among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. This population-based retrospective cohort study used data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea. A total of 325,666 COVID-19 survivors were included in this study. Among them, 106,091 (32.6%) survivors experienced worsening QOL after COVID-19. Specifically, 21,223 (6.5%) participants experienced job loss, 94,556 (29.0%) experienced decreased household income, and 559 (0.2%) acquired new disabilities. In the multivariable logistic regression model, living in rural areas (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.04; = 0.009), intensive care unit admission (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.15; = 0.028), and increase in self-payment by 100 USD (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.02; < 0.001) were associated with increased QOL worsening after COVID-19. Old age (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99; < 0.001), first vaccination (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.93; < 0.001), and second vaccination (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.96; < 0.001) were associated with decreased QOL worsening after COVID-19. Approximately one-third of COVID-19 survivors in South Korea who were admitted to hospitals or monitoring centers experienced QOL worsening.
PubMed: 38929790
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060569 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Muscle mass depletion is associated with unfavorable outcomes in many diseases. However, its relationship with cardiac arrest outcomes has not been explored. This...
Muscle mass depletion is associated with unfavorable outcomes in many diseases. However, its relationship with cardiac arrest outcomes has not been explored. This retrospective single-center study determined the relationship between muscle mass depletion and the neurological outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by measuring muscle mass at various locations. Adult patients with OHCA, who were treated with target temperature management, and who underwent abdominal or chest computed tomography (CT) within 3 months of the cardiac arrest were included. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was measured at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level, psoas muscle, fourth thoracic vertebra (T4) level, and pectoralis muscle. The Youden index was used to determine a low SMI based on sex-specific cutoff values. The outcome variables were "good neurological outcome" and "survival" at hospital discharge. Multivariable analyses revealed that patients with low T4 SMI level were significantly associated with good neurological outcomes at hospital discharge (odds ratio = 0.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.07-0.88, = 0.036). However, no significant differences were observed between good neurological outcomes and low SMI at the L3 level and psoas and pectoralis muscles; SMIs were not associated with survival at hospital discharge. T4 level SMI depletion was inversely associated with good neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA. Thoracic muscle depletion may be crucial for predicting the neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA and further investigation in larger prospective study is warranted.
PubMed: 38929664
DOI: 10.3390/life14060680 -
Serum Endocan Is a Risk Factor for Aortic Stiffness in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024: Endocan, secreted from the activated endothelium, is a key player in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and...
: Endocan, secreted from the activated endothelium, is a key player in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and angiogenesis. We aimed to investigate the link between endocan and aortic stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. : After recruiting HD patients from a medical center, their baseline characteristics, blood sample, and anthropometry were assessed and recorded. The serum endocan level was determined using an enzyme immunoassay kit, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) measurement was used to evaluate aortic stiffness. : A total of 122 HD patients were enrolled. Aortic stiffness was diagnosed in 53 patients (43.4%), who were found to be older ( = 0.007) and have a higher prevalence of diabetes ( < 0.001) and hypertension ( = 0.030), higher systolic blood pressure ( = 0.011), and higher endocan levels ( < 0.001), when compared with their counterparts. On the multivariate logistic regression model, the development of aortic stiffness in patients on chronic HD was found to be associated with endocan [odds ratio (OR): 1.566, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.224-2.002, < 0.001], age (OR: 1.040, 95% CI: 1.001-1.080, = 0.045), and diabetes (OR: 4.067, 95% CI: 1.532-10.798, = 0.005), after proper adjustment for confounders (adopting diabetes, hypertension, age, systolic blood pressure, and endocan). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.713 (95% CI: 0.620-0.806, < 0.001) for predicting aortic stiffness by the serum endocan level, at an optimal cutoff value of 2.68 ng/mL (64.15% sensitivity, 69.57% specificity). Upon multivariate linear regression analysis, logarithmically transformed endocan was proven as an independent predictor of cfPWV (β = 0.405, adjusted R change = 0.152; < 0.001). : The serum endocan level positively correlated with cfPWV and was an independent predictor of aortic stiffness in chronic HD patients.
Topics: Humans; Vascular Stiffness; Male; Proteoglycans; Female; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis; Risk Factors; Neoplasm Proteins; Aged; Adult; Pulse Wave Analysis; ROC Curve; Biomarkers; Logistic Models; Cross-Sectional Studies
PubMed: 38929601
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060984 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024This study aims to bridge these gaps by utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015), examining the nuanced associations...
This study aims to bridge these gaps by utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015), examining the nuanced associations between milk consumption's quantity, frequency, and type and the prevalence of dental caries. Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015), this study explores the association between milk consumption and the prevalence of dental caries in a sample of 4843 subjects (weighted = 15,581), including 2856 males and 1987 females; weighted sample sizes were 6656 and 8925 for men and women, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed by evaluating the number of decayed, filled, and missing teeth. The analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between increased milk consumption and the risk of developing dental caries, with an overall odds ratio of 1.653 (95% CI: 1.153-2.370, < 0.05). The association was more pronounced in females, exhibiting an odds ratio of 1.865 (95% CI: 1.157-3.006, < 0.05), and age was identified as a significant variable, particularly among participants aged 50 and above. In contrast, the relationship among the male group, though positive (odds ratio: 1.613, 95% CI: 0.991-2.625), was not statistically significant ( = 0.054). These findings suggest that milk consumption may be a potential risk indicator for dental caries, particularly among women, emphasizing the need for targeted dietary recommendations in dental health practices.
Topics: Humans; Dental Caries; Male; Republic of Korea; Female; Nutrition Surveys; Milk; Middle Aged; Adult; Animals; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Aged; Odds Ratio
PubMed: 38929584
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060967 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024Presenteeism, when employees continue to work despite being sick, may have increased among intern physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the necessity of...
Presenteeism, when employees continue to work despite being sick, may have increased among intern physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the necessity of performing unfamiliar tasks. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of presenteeism among intern physicians (IPs) in Thailand, its associated factors, and outcomes. A total of 254 IPs participated in this cross-sectional study conducted from June to July 2022. Participants completed a nationwide online questionnaire including demographics, financial status, underlying diseases, hospital location and affiliation, department, resource problems, manpower shortage, workload intensity, presenteeism, and its outcomes. IPs were recruited via various social media platforms. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable zero-inflated Poisson regression and multivariable linear regression. The average age of IPs was 25.5 years (SD 1.9), and 57.5% were female. The majority of IPs reported dealing with resource problems (74.8%), insufficient manpower (94.9%), and intense workload (83.5%). Presenteeism was prevalent among 63.8% of IPs, with the most common of the diseases being allergic rhinitis (31.3%). IPs with underlying diseases had an increased rate of presenteeism (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-4.55). IPs working in community hospitals during their rotations exhibited a lower rate of presenteeism (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.94) compared to other departments within general or regional hospitals. The IPs frequently exposed to insufficient manpower had an increased rate of presenteeism (aOR 4.35, 95% CI 1.02-20.00) compared to those not exposed. Additionally, IPs with presenteeism had more exhaustion (β 1.40, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.46), lower perceived well-being (β -0.65, 95% CI -1.26 to -0.03), and job satisfaction (β -0.33, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.03). During COVID-19, intern physicians in Thailand often exhibit presenteeism due to physical conditions, resource scarcity, and personnel shortages, impacting exhaustion, well-being, and job satisfaction. Recommendations include assessing healthcare workforces, allocating resources more effectively, enforcing policies to promote responsible use of sick leave, and implementing sick leave systems.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Male; Presenteeism; Adult; Thailand; Hospitals, Public; Surveys and Questionnaires; SARS-CoV-2; Workload; Pandemics; Internship and Residency
PubMed: 38929579
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060962 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024: Research on the impact of reduced time to emergent surgery in trauma patients has yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship...
: Research on the impact of reduced time to emergent surgery in trauma patients has yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between waiting emergent surgery time (WEST) and outcomes in trauma patients. : This retrospective, multicenter study used data from the Tzu Chi Hospital trauma database. The primary clinical outcomes were in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) of ≥30 days. : A total of 15,164 patients were analyzed. The median WEST was 444 min, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 248-848 min for all patients. Patients who died in the hospital had a shorter median WEST than did those who survived (240 vs. 446 min, < 0.001). Among the trauma patients with a WEST of <2 h, the median time was 79 min (IQR = 50-100 min). No significant difference in WEST was observed between the survival and mortality groups for patients with a WEST of <120 min (median WEST: 85 vs. 78 min, < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that WEST was not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17-6.35 for 30 min ≤ WEST < 60 min; aOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.22-5.70 for 60 min ≤ WEST < 90 min; and aOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.13-2.74 for WEST ≥ 90 min). : Our findings do not support the "golden hour" concept because no association was identified between the time to definitive care and in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, and prolonged hospital stay of ≥30 days.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Hospital Mortality; Adult; Length of Stay; Wounds and Injuries; Aged; Intensive Care Units; Time Factors; Time-to-Treatment; Logistic Models
PubMed: 38929577
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060960