Inflammation dynamically regulates steroid hormone metabolism and action within macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis

RATIONALE

In inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), steroid metabolism is a central component mediating the actions of immuno-modulatory glucocorticoids and sex steroids. However, the regulation and function of cellular steroid metabolism within key leukocyte populations such as macrophages remain poorly defined. In this study, the inflammatory regulation of global steroid metabolism was assessed in RA macrophages.

METHODS

Bulk RNA-seq data from RA synovial macrophages was used to assess transcripts encoding key enzymes in steroid metabolism and signalling. Changes in metabolism were assessed in synovial fluids, correlated to measures of disease activity and functionally validated in primary macrophage cultures.

RESULTS

RNA-seq revealed a unique pattern of differentially expressed genes, including changes in genes encoding the enzymes 11β-HSD1, SRD5A1, AKR1C2 and AKR1C3. These correlated with disease activity, favouring increased glucocorticoid and androgen levels. Synovial fluid 11β-HSD1 activity correlated with local inflammatory mediators (TNFα, IL-6, IL-17), whilst 11β-HSD1, SRD5A1 and AKR1C3 activity correlated with systemic measures of disease and patient pain (ESR, DAS28 ESR, global disease activity). Changes in enzyme activity were evident in inflammatory activated macrophages in vitro and revealed a novel androgen activating role for 11β-HSD1. Together, increased glucocorticoids and androgens were able to suppress inflammation in macrophages and fibroblast-like-synoviocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the significant increase in androgen and glucocorticoid activation within inflammatory polarized macrophages of the synovium, contributing to local suppression of inflammation. The diminished profile of inactive steroid precursors in postmenopausal women may contribute to disturbances in this process, leading to increased disease incidence and severity.

Creation and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Workflow for CBCT-Based Online Adaptive Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

CBCT-based online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) is an emerging treatment strategy to replan based on the anatomy of the day while the patient remains on the couch. OART is not just an add-on to the current workflow; it necessitates a new approach across the patient's path of care, from CT simulation to treatment delivery. OART requires the addition of duties to clinical personnel, strategies to create auto-plan templates, and monitoring the "black box" adaptation process. Studies have shown that OART implementation is limited by its resource-intensive nature and the risks associated with the treatment approach. We hypothesized that the implementation of an interdisciplinary, streamlined workflow and checklists would enhance the OART treatment efficiency, prevent medical errors from the adaptation, and minimize the burden on clinicians.

MATERIALS/METHODS

An interdisciplinary OART working group comprising radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, and therapists was created to enable weekly knowledge sharing, workflow design, implementation, and continuous process improvement. 213 adaptive sessions from 5 treatment sites (pancreas, bladder, prostate, rectum, anus) were treated on a CBCT-based OART platform in a single institutional study. An evaluation of the treatment safety and workflow time was performed for each adaptive session.

RESULTS

The OART workflow was divided into four sub-workflows: 1) pre-treatment site-specific template preparation, 2) pre-treatment initial planning and verification, 3) on-treatment procedure, and 4) post-treatment evaluation. The sub-processes involved 4, 8, 13, and 4 separate, sequentially tasks, respectively, and a total of 11 task checklists. The template preparation is a new process developed for site-specific, standardized physician template directives, automated planning template development, and testing for its accuracy and robustness. The planning templates generated high-quality initial plans automatically within minutes once structures were segmented on the planning CT. This process was replicated during treatment using the CBCT. The median (interquartile range) online procedure time, defined as the time from initial CBCT to plan approval, of the five treatment sites (pancreas, bladder, prostate, rectum, anus) was 22.1 (19.2-24.8) min, 16.5 (15.3-17.5) min, 14.7 (13.9-17.4) min, 17 (15.3-19.7) min, and 24 (21.4-25.8) min, respectively. Safety assessment determined that no treatment deviations were observed.

CONCLUSION

Creating an interdisciplinary, standardized workflow and checklists allowed the safe delivery of OART with clinically feasible online procedure time and significantly reduced initial planning time compared with traditional EBRT. The unique workflow is essential to minimize the burden on the care team, increase patient safety, and access to OART.

CT-Guided Online Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Pancreas Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Dosimetric and Initial Clinical Experience

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Retrospective analysis suggests that dose escalation to a biologically effective dose of more than 70 Gy may improve overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but such treatments in practice are limited by proximity of organs at risk (OARs). We hypothesized that CT-guided online adaptive radiotherapy (OART) can account for interfraction movement of OARs, reduce dose to OARs, and improve coverage of targets.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This is a single institution retrospective analysis of patients with PDAC treated with OART on a CBCT-based OART platform. All patients were treated to 40 Gy in 5 fractions. PTV overlapping with a 5 mm planning risk volume expansion on the stomach, duodenum and bowel received 25 Gy. Initial treatment plans were created conventionally. For each fraction, PTV and OAR volumes were recontoured with AI assistance after initial cone beam CT (CBCT). The adapted plan was calculated, underwent QA, and then compared to the scheduled plan. A second CBCT was obtained prior to delivery of the selected plan. Total treatment time (first CBCT to end of radiation delivery) and active physician time (first to second CBCT) were recorded. PTV_4000 V95%, PTV_2500 V95%, and D0.03 cc to stomach, duodenum and bowel were reported for scheduled (S) and adapted (A) plans. CTCAEv5.0 toxicities were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-sided T test and α of 0.05.

RESULTS

Seven patients with unresectable or locally-recurrent PDAC were analyzed, with a total of 35 fractions. Average total time was 33:00 minutes (22:25-49:40) and average active time was 22:48 minutes (14:15-39:34). All fractions were treated with adapted plans. All adapted plans met PTV_4000 V95.0% > 95.0% coverage goal and OAR dose constraints. Dosimetric data for scheduled and adapted plans per fraction are in Table 1. Median follow up was 1.7 months. 5 (71%) patients experienced either Grade 1 or 2 toxicities. No patients experienced Grade 3+ toxicities.

CONCLUSION

Daily OART significantly reduced dose OARs while achieving superior PTV coverage. Treatment was generally well tolerated with no grade 3+ acute toxicity, and required only 22:48 minutes on average of active physician time. Our initial clinical experience demonstrates OART allows for safe dose escalation in the treatment of PDAC.

Clinical Evaluation of an Automated Iterative Optimization System for Radiation Oncology

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Automation of radiotherapy treatment planning improves efficiency and consistency, while reducing planning time and errors. The objective of this study was to validate an Iterative Optimization Engine (IOE) within an existing automated IMRT/VMAT planning framework. The IOE was designed to reduce remaining manual intervention within the automation framework through measuring and codifying common user intervention within a commercial planning system.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The IOE was developed for external beam IMRT/VMAT treatment planning on the Monaco Treatment Planning System. The IOE was built on an existing automation framework, utilizing the Application Programming Interface (API) to create completely automated treatment plans. A network of 40 centers in Australia evaluated automated treatment plans for head and neck disease sites where users decided manual intervention was required post automated planning to achieve clinician approval. The modifications to automated plans were recorded, analyzed, and codified into the API to remove the requirement for manual intervention. A subset of the automated plans was then retrospectively processed by the IOE with resulting plans being scored in three categories of 1) superior, 2) equivalent and 3) inferior based on DVH assessment with the original clinician approved plan as the baseline.

RESULTS

The automation framework generated 546 head and neck plans from January 1 to February 1, 2023, of which 45% required manual intervention to achieve dosimetric criteria. After being processed by the IOE, 86% of plans showed equivalent or superior coverage and maximum dose, and 95% of plans demonstrated equivalent homogeneity or improved homogeneity. Multi-target plans showed equivalent or improved target dose for 67% of intermediate dose targets and 39% of low dose targets when multiple targets were treated simultaneously. Analysis of organs at risk showed 38% of plans with reduced Parotid mean dose, 92% improved Larynx mean dose, 43% reduced Spinal Cord maximum dose, 57% decreased Brainstem maximum dose, 85% reduced Oral Cavity mean dose and 56% reduced Pharynx mean dose.

CONCLUSION

The addition of an IOE achieved a clinical improvement to target and OAR metrics in the assessed clinical plans. The automation framework will incorporate this work into clinical production to improve the overall effectiveness of the automated planning framework.

The effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on swimming interval performance in trained competitive swimmers

The use of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation to improve repeated high-intensity performance is recommended; however, most swimming performance studies examine time trial efforts rather than repeated swims with interspersed recovery that are more indicative of training sessions. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of 0.3 g.kg-1 BM NaHCO3 supplementation on sprint interval swimming (8 × 50 m) in regionally trained swimmers. Fourteen regionally competitive male swimmers (body mass (BM): 73 ± 8 kg) volunteered for this double-blind, randomised, crossover designed study. Each participant was asked to swim 8 × 50 m (front crawl) at a maximum intensity from a diving block, interspersed with 50 m active recovery swimming. After one familiarisation trial, this was repeated on two separate occasions whereby participants ingested either 0.3 g.kg-1 BM NaHCO3 or 0.05 g.kg-1 BM sodium chloride (placebo) in solution 60 min prior to exercise. Whilst there were no differences in time to complete between sprints 1-4 (p > 0.05), improvements were observed in sprint 5 (p = 0.011; ES = 0.26), 6 (p = 0.014; ES = 0.39), 7 (p = 0.005; ES = 0.60), and 8 (p = 0.004; ES = 0.79). Following NaHCO3 supplementation, pH was greater at 60 min (p < 0.001; ES = 3.09), whilst HCO3- was greater at 60 min (p < 0.001; ES = 3.23) and post-exercise (p = 0.016; ES = 0.53) compared to placebo. These findings suggest NaHCO3 supplementation can improve the latter stages of sprint interval swimming performance, which is likely due to the augmentation of pH and HCO3- prior to exercise and the subsequent increase in buffering capacity during exercise.

The search for a unifying diagnosis involving neurological, endocrine and immune dysfunction: a case report of a novel presentation of DAVID syndrome

BACKGROUND

We report a novel presentation of deficit in anterior pituitary function with variable immune deficiency (DAVID) syndrome in a healthy young girl presenting in Addisonian crisis with raised intracranial pressure. Nearly all cases of DAVID syndrome described in the literature have presented with recurrent infections and variable immunodeficiency. Pseudotumour cerebri has not been reported in DAVID syndrome to date.

CASE PRESENTATION

A four-year-old girl represented to hospital with vomiting, confusion and diplopia after ten days of tiredness, neck and abdominal pain, and headache. Her cranial nerve examination demonstrated a right abducens nerve palsy and papilloedema, and she was found to have ketotic hypoglycaemia and hypocortisolaemia secondary to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. Her neuroimaging was consistent with pseudotumour cerebri, and her lumbar puncture opening pressure confirmed raised intracranial pressure (30-40 cmH₂O). Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal. The patient's symptoms improved with hydrocortisone replacement and acetazolamide, but the raised intracranial pressure recurred after acetazolamide was discontinued. She was subsequently found to have panhypogammaglobulinaemia, and DAVID syndrome was diagnosed. Genetic testing demonstrated a truncating mutation in the NFKB2 gene c.2557C > T, p.(Arg853*).

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrates pseudotumour cerebri as a novel neurological presentation of DAVID syndrome, highlights the rare association between adrenal insufficiency and intracranial hypertension, and shows the challenges in diagnosing isolated ACTH deficiency. We emphasise that cortisol should be checked in pre-pubertal children with pseudotumour cerebri and a diagnosis of DAVID syndrome considered in those presenting with low cortisol and neurological symptoms.

P95 PERI–PROCEDURAL COMPLICATIONS AND LONG–TERM OUTCOMES IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PATIENTS STRATIFIED FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE SEVERITY UNDERGOING LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE OCCLUSION: RESULTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL, MULTICENTER REGISTRY

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist and share an increased risk of thromboembolic events. CKD concomitantly contributes to several pathophysiological changes predisposing towards a pro–haemorrhagic state.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of kidney function on peri–procedural complications and clinical outcomes in AF patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with a Watchman device.

Methods

2124 consecutive AF patients undergoing Watchman implantation at 8 different centers were categorized into CKD stage 1 + 2 (n = 1089), CKD stage 3 (n = 796), CKD stage 4 (n = 170), CKD stage 5 (n = 69) based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline. The primary efficacy endpoint included a composite of cardiovascular (CV) mortality, stroke, transient ischemic attack, peripheral thromboembolism (TE), and major bleeding.

Results

A non–significant higher incidence of major peri–procedural adverse events (1.7% vs. 2.3% vs. 4.1% vs. 4.3%) was observed with worsening baseline kidney function (p = 0.14). The mean follow–up period was 13 ± 7 months [2226 patient–years (PY)]. In comparison to CKD stage 1 + 2 as a reference, the incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in CKD stage 3 (log–rank p–value= 0.04), CKD stage 4 (log–rank p–value= 0.01), and CKD stage 5 (log–rank p–value= 0.001) (Fig. 1A). A non–significant increase in event rates for stroke/TIA and clinically relevant bleeding was observed among the four groups. LAAO led to a TE risk reduction of 72%, 66%, 62%, and 41% in each group (Fig. 1B). The relative risk reduction in the incidence of major bleeding was 58%, 44%, 51%, and 52%, respectively (Fig. 1C).

Conclusion

Patients with moderate–to–severe CKD had a higher incidence of the primary composite endpoint. The relative risk reduction in the incidence of TE and major bleeding was consistent across CKD groups, irrespective of the very different risk profiles at baseline.

POS0303 PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES DUE TO INFLAMMATION IN INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS: RESULTS OF A DELPHI PROCESS TO SELECT CARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD (EMR) INTERVENTION

Background:

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) predisposes patients to several chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes (DM), osteoporosis (OP) and infections, likely due to systemic effects of inflammation. Studies have found that patients with IA often receive suboptimal care for screening and managing these conditions.

Objectives:

This is the first phase of a study which will develop and pilot test automated EMR reminders for family physicians. The reminders will prompt family physicians to screen for and address risk factors for these conditions. We conducted a Delphi process to select care recommendations to be addressed by the EMR reminders.

Methods:

We conducted a review of current BC, Canadian and international guidelines for screening and addressing risk factors for CVD, DM, OP and infection. A list of 22 care recommendations, including their level of evidence and risks/benefits of implementation, was reviewed by a panel of six family physicians, three rheumatologists and three IA patients, in a three-round online modified Delphi process. Panelists rated each care recommendation, using 9-point scales, on 1) their clinical importance, 2) their likelihood of improving outcomes, and 3) implementation feasibility. Results were discussed in an online forum. Panelists then rated slightly revised care recommendations, modified based on feedback from the discussion. Care recommendations were retained if the median rating was ≥7 with no disagreement as defined by the RAND/UCLA Method handbook.

Results:

A list of 15 care recommendations was selected by the Delphi process for EMR integration, including recommendations that address CVD risk assessment (1), hypertension screening (1), DM screening (2), fracture risk assessment (1), BMD testing (1), osteoporosis prevention (1) and treatment (1) with bisphosphonates, preventing infections through immunization (2), minimizing steroids (1) and hepatitis screening (1), screening for hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity (1), and counselling for lifestyle modifications (2). We excluded 7 recommendations which addressed lipid testing (1), BMD testing in steroid users (1), immunizations (2), weight management (1), and DMARD laboratory test monitoring (2). Recommendations were excluded on the basis of importance (1) or feasibility (6).

Conclusion:

The results of the Delphi process will inform the development of reminders, integrated in EMRs, that will support family physicians in their efforts to engage IA patients in addressing risk factors for chronic diseases related to inflammation. We hope to improve the prevention of these diseases, which represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Acknowledgements:

Iman Sheriff’s work on this project was funded by the CRA summer studentship programme. Dr. Lacaille is supported by the Mary Pack Chair in Arthritis Research from UBC and The Arthritis Society of Canada. Thank you to all who participated in the Delphi survey.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Gender interaction effect on coronary lumen volume to mass ratio after administration of sublingual GTN powder compared to tablet in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Nitroglycerin (GTN) results in improved CCTA image quality and diagnostic accuracy due to vasodilation and improved contrast density. Although studies have shown that sublingual (SL) GTN spray has greater vasodilation and faster onset and duration of action compared to SL tablet, it is not commonly used due to cost. The comparative efficacy of SL GTN powder in CCTA is unknown.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether SL GTN powder can increase the coronary lumen volume (V) and the coronary lumen volume to left myocardial mass ratio (V/M) compared to SL GTN tablet.

Methods

34 patients (17 females) with 0.8 mg SL GTN powder and 34 patients (17 females) with 0.8 mg SL GTN tablet administration were included in this retrospective case-control study.  GTN was given 5 minutes pre-CCTA on a 256 slice single-heartbeat CT. Inclusion criteria: CAD-RADS 0 or 1, precontrast LM + LAD AJ-130 CAC &lt; 100, heart rate less than 75, phase of the cardiac cycle diastole, successful motion correction, Likert score 4 or 5, right- or co-dominance. The primary outcome assessed was left main plus left anterior descending (LM + LAD) V between GTN powder vs tablet. The secondary outcomes were LM + LAD V divided by 1) length of LM + LAD (derived mean area, A), and  2) M (V/M). The outcomes were measured by blinded PI with 17 yrs CCTA experience on GE workstation, 2020 version.  Categorical variables were compared by Chi-Squared tests and continuous variables were compared between powder and tablet groups by unpaired t-tests if normally distributed, and Mann-Whitney U tests otherwise. Exploratory outcome analyses tested route of administration by sex interactions and main effects by Two-Way ANOVA’s. Further covariate-adjusted analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression models. 

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar between powder and tablet administration. No statistically significant difference in median V, LM + LAD derived A , or median V/M  was observed. A sex main effect demonstrated that females had significantly smaller V (630.6 mm3 vs 951.7 mm3, p&lt; 0.0001) and A (4.2 mm2 vs 6.4 mm2, p&lt; 0.0001) compared to males. These V and A sex differences were also observed when BMI or weight were included as covariates. When V and A were normalized by M, both revealed sex interactions depending on formulation. While males had higher normalized V and A in powder vs tablet (p &lt; 0.04), females had the opposite with higher normalized V and A with tablet compared to powder (p &lt; 0.04). 

Conclusions

SL administration of the GTN powder 5 minutes before CCTA did not result in greater vasodilatory effect compared to the GTN tablet.  However, gender interaction effects were observed, with greater V/M and A/M ratio in males with powder and greater V/M and A/M in women with tablet. These results suggest a potential differential gender effect based on the formulation of GTN.  Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate these findings.

Abstract Figure. LM + LAD Lumen Volume to LV Mass by Sex

Sexual Risk Behaviors Associated with Sexually Transmitted Infections in a US Military Population Living with HIV After the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Risk behaviors associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people living with HIV (PLWH) have not been well characterized in the US military. We identified risk behaviors associated with a new STI in this population after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." US Military HIV Natural History Study participants who completed the risk behavior questionnaire (RBQ) between 2014 and 2017 and had at least 1 year of follow-up were included (n = 1589). Logistic regression identified behaviors associated with incident STI in the year following RBQ completion. Overall, 18.9% acquired an STI and 52.7% reported condom use at last sexual encounter. Compared with those with no new sex partners, participants with between one and four or five or more new partners were 1.71 [1.25-2.35] and 6.12 [3.47-10.79] times more likely to get an STI, respectively. Individuals reporting low or medium/high perceived risk of STI were 1.83 [1.23-2.72] and 2.65 [1.70-4.15] times more likely to acquire a new STI than those reporting no perceived risk, respectively. Participants who preferred not to answer about sexual preference, number of new partners, or perceived STI risk were also more likely to acquire a new STI. Our study illustrates that despite regular access to health care and accurate perceptions of risk, rates of STI among PLWH remain high in the US military setting, as in others. Given the potential individual and public health consequences of STI coinfection after HIV, more work is needed to assess interventions aimed at sexual behavior change for PLWH.

Can Linked Electronic Medical Record and Administrative Data Help Us Identify Those Living with Frailty?

Introduction

Frailty is a complex condition that affects many aspects of patients’ wellbeing and health outcomes.

Objectives

We used available Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and administrative data to determine definitions of frailty. We also examined whether there were differences in demographics or health conditions among those identified as frail in either the EMR or administrative data.

Methods

EMR and administrative data were linked in British Columbia (BC) and Manitoba (MB) to identify those aged 65 years and older who were frail. The EMR data were obtained from the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN) and the administrative data (e.g. billing, hospitalizations) was obtained from Population Data BC and the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository. Sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, prescribed medications, use and costs of healthcare are described for those identified as frail.

Results

Sociodemographic and utilization differences were found among those identified as frail from the EMR compared to those in the administrative data. Among those who were >65 years, who had a record in both EMR and administrative data, 5%-8% (n=191 of 3,553, BC; n=2,396 of 29,382, MB) were identified as frail. There was a higher likelihood of being frail with increasing age and being a woman. In BC and MB, those identified as frail in both data sources have approximately twice the number of contacts with primary care (n=20 vs. n=10) and more days in hospital (n=7.2 vs. n=1.9 in BC; n=9.8 vs. n=2.8 in MB) compared to those who are not frail; 27% (BC) and 14% (MB) of those identified as frail in 2014 died in 2015.

Conclusions

Identifying frailty using EMR data is particularly challenging because many functional deficits are not routinely recorded in structured data fields. Our results suggest frailty can be captured along a continuum using both EMR and administrative data.

The validity and reproducibility of perceptually regulated exercise responses during combined arm + leg cycling

PURPOSE

Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is a reliable method of assessing exercise intensity during isolated arm and leg cycling. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reproducibility of perceptually regulated exercise responses during combined arm + leg cycling.

METHODS

Twelve males (age; 24.6 ± 5.3 years, height; 1.81 ± 0.7 m, mass; 83.1 ± 8.4 kg) initially undertook incremental exercise tests to volitional exhaustion for arm cycling (133 ± 14 W) and leg cycling (253 ± 32 W). On three subsequent occasions, participants undertook combined arm + leg cycling trials using two modified Monark ergometers involving three bouts of exercise at RPE 9, 13 and 17, in that order. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) and pulmonary ventilation ([Formula: see text]) were recorded continuously.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed for HR (P = 0.086), [Formula: see text] (P = 0.525) and [Formula: see text] (P = 0.899) between trials, whilst significant differences were observed between each level of RPE (all P < 0.001). For % peak [Formula: see text], the ICC increased with successive trials for all RPE levels. For % maximal HR the ICC generally decreased with successive trials.

CONCLUSION

RPE can be used as a reliable frame of reference for the production of exercise intensity during combined arm + leg cycling without any formal familiarisation. Since combined arm + leg cycling elicits a greater energy expenditure than arm or leg work alone, this novel mode of non-weight bearing exercise might prove effective for aerobic conditioning and weight control.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disability during the first 100 days of the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA

BACKGROUND

It is unknown how the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the current acute respiratory illness COVID-19 pandemic that has infected millions of people, affects people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). The aim of this study is to describe how individuals with IDD have been affected in the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Shortly after the first COVID-19 case was reported in the USA, our organisation, which provides continuous support for over 11 000 individuals with IDD, assembled an outbreak committee composed of senior leaders from across the health care organisation. The committee led the development and deployment of a comprehensive COVID-19 prevention and suppression strategy, utilising current evidence-based practice, while surveilling the global and local situation daily. We implemented enhanced infection control procedures across 2400 homes, which were communicated to our employees using multi-faceted channels including an electronic resource library, mobile and web applications, paper postings in locations, live webinars and direct mail. Using custom-built software applications enabling us to track patient, client and employee cases and exposures, we leveraged current public health recommendations to identify cases and to suppress transmission, which included the use of personal protective equipment. A COVID-19 case was defined as a positive nucleic acid test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

RESULTS

In the 100-day period between 20 January 2020 and 30 April 2020, we provided continuous support for 11 540 individuals with IDD. Sixty-four per cent of the individuals were in residential, community settings, and 36% were in intermediate care facilities. The average age of the cohort was 46 ± 12 years, and 60% were male. One hundred twenty-two individuals with IDD were placed in quarantine for exhibiting symptoms and signs of acute infection such as fever or cough. Sixty-six individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and their average age was 50. The positive individuals were located in 30 different homes (1.3% of total) across 14 states. Fifteen homes have had single cases, and 15 have had more than one case. Fifteen COVID-19-positive individuals were hospitalised. As of 30 April, seven of the individuals hospitalised have been discharged back to home and are recovering. Five remain hospitalised, with three improving and two remaining in intensive care and on mechanical ventilation. There have been three deaths. We found that among COVID-19-positive individuals with IDD, a higher number of chronic medical conditions and male sex were characteristics associated with a greater likelihood of hospitalisation.

CONCLUSIONS

In the first 100 days of the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA, we observed that people with IDD living in congregate care settings can benefit from a coordinated approach to infection control, case identification and cohorting, as evidenced by the low relative case rate reported. Male individuals with higher numbers of chronic medical conditions were more likely to be hospitalised, while most younger, less chronically ill individuals recovered spontaneously at home.