Patients younger than 70 undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Procedural outcomes and mid-term survival

INTRODUCTION

Based on recent data, the indication for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is expanding to individuals at lower surgical risk, who are generally younger than subjects historically treated for severe aortic stenosis. Indeed, younger patients have traditionally been under-represented in current TAVI literature. The aim of the present study is to report about clinical features, procedural outcomes and mid-term outcomes of patients younger than 70 who underwent TAVI in a single high-volume center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients younger than 70 years of age who underwent TAVI for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis between 2007 and 2019 at a single, tertiary referral center have been included in this retrospective study. Procedural and mid-term outcomes were analyzed, comparing 1st generation with 2nd generation devices.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2019, 1740 TAVI procedures were performed in our center. Among these, one hundred twenty-nine (7.4%) patients were younger than 70 years at the time of the intervention and were included in the present analysis. Fifty-eight patients (45%) were implanted with a 1st generation prosthesis while seventy-one patients (55%) were implanted with a 2nd generation device. Reasons which lead to a transcatheter approach in this population were: previous CABG (27.9%); porcelain aorta (24%); severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (21.7%); prior chest radiation (19.4%); severe lung disease (8.5%); hemodynamic instability (7.0%); advanced liver disease (4.6%) and active cancer (3.9%). Overall device success rate was 89%, with no differences among 1st and 2nd generation devices. Threeyears all-cause mortality was 34%, with no difference among the two groups. Low incidence of aortic-valve re-intervention was observed at mid-term follow-up (late valve re-intervention = 2.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

TAVI in young patient with appropriate indication for intervention is a safe procedure, associated with low rate of in hospital mortality and low rate of severe complications both with 1st and with 2nd generation devices. When considering long term durability, more data are needed; in our case series long-term follow up shows a good survival and also an extremely low rate of valve re-intervention.

High-risk surgeries, anesthetic challenges, and real benefits of peripheral regional techniques revisited

Patients with high-risk conditions for surgery may benefit from some form of regional block when neuroaxial regional blocks may be life threatening. Despite the increased use of ultrasound-guided peripheral regional blocks internationally, local infiltration and targeted nerve blocks aided by knowledge of anatomical landmarks remain helpful in these two patients presented. A 48-year old woman, presented with bleeding left breast mass, mild respiratory distress, and radiological features of lung metastases (Carcinoma of the breast stage 4). Her American Society of Anesthesiologist risk assessment (ASA) was grade 4. Anesthetic technique was mainly local infiltration and intercostal nerve block with 1% lignocaine (10 mg) and 2.5% bupivacaine (62.5 mg) and a 1 in 100,000 dilution of adrenaline in cardiac position with mild sedation with good analgesia and outcome. Another 24-year-old pregnant woman with dilated cardiomyopathy was being managed by a multidisciplinary team. Her cardiac state deteriorated as pregnancy progressed. Caesarean section was done successfully at 35 weeks gestation under local infiltration and rectus sheath block with local anesthetic agents, sedation, and oxygen masks in the cardiac position with good outcome. The good outcomes in these two patients showed the benefit of peripheral regional blocks in high risk patients. Early recognition of high-risk patients and appropriate anesthetic and clinical assessment with the formulation of right techniques can help salvage lives. This thought is more apt in equipment challenged environments like ours in Nigeria, when resources for ultrasound assisted peripheral nerve blocks are not always available.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy versus emergency cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review

The present meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) versus emergency cholecystectomy (EC) for the treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) in high-risk surgical patients. Literature searches for eligible studies were performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Quality assessment was conducted in each study. Meta-analyses were performed to demonstrate the pooled effects of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 8960 patients from 6 studies were finally included. PC resulted in increased risks of mortality (RR = 2.87; CI = 1.33-6.18; p = 0.007) and readmission rate (RR = 4.70; CI = 3.30-6.70; p < 0.00001) as compared with EC. No significant difference was detected between PC and EC in terms of morbidity, severe complication rate or hospitalization length. Moreover, PC was associated with significantly higher risks of mortality (RR = 7.47; CI = 1.88-29.72; p = 0.004), morbidity (RR = 3.71; 95% CI = 1.78-7.75; p = 0.0005), readmission rate (RR = 7.91; CI = 3.80-16.49; p < 0.00001), and hospitalization length (WMD = 6.92; CI = 5.89-7.95; p < 0.00001) when directly compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Therefore, EC is superior to PC for the treatment of ACC in high-risk surgical patients, and LC is the preferred surgical strategy.

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) serum levels in preeclampsia pregnant women and pregnant women at risk with preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in pregnant women with the risk of preeclampsia and those who have preeclampsia.

METHOD

This research was a cross-sectional study and conducted in two maternal and child hospitals in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, that is Pertiwi and Fatimah hospitals. As many as 86 pregnant women; 31 normal blood pressure, 26 high-risk preeclampsia and 29 preeclampsia pregnant women checked their blood pressure and then gave informed consent. TNF-α level was examined used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in Hasanuddin University laboratorium. Pregnant women with antiplatelet therapy, infectious, and inflammatory diseases were excluded from the study. Data presented in the form of tables and narratives. The bivariate analysis presented in the form of a cross table between variables TNF-α levels with pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia and preeclampsia and analyzed used Kruskal Wallis Test.

RESULTS

TNF-α levels in normal patients are 24.47pg/ml, whereas those at the risk of preeclampsia appear two times higher than preeclampsia (57.052pg/ml), pregnant women with preeclampsia have approximately five times higher levels than normal pregnant women (327.330pg/ml).

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of TNF have begun to occur during the high-risk phase and have increased very high during preeclampsia.

Use of the Arabin pessary in women at high risk for preterm birth: long-term experience at a single tertiary center in Malaysia

Background

Spontaneous preterm birth is a global issue that contributed to perinatal morbidities and mortalities worldwide. The study aimed to describe the experience at UKM Medical Center in managing women at high risk for spontaneous preterm birth using the Arabin pessary.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study involving 58 pregnancies from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2019. Inclusion criteria were previous mid-trimester miscarriage and/or preterm birth, previous cervical surgery or short cervical length on routine sonogram. The demographic data, characteristics of each pregnancy and details of outcomes and management were described.

Results

The majority of women were Malay with mean age and body mass index of 32.9 ± 4.2 years and 27.1 ± 6.3 kg/m² respectively. The most frequent indications for Arabin pessary insertion were previous mid-trimester miscarriage (46.4%) and early preterm birth (17.2%). A total of 73.4% of these women had the pessary inserted electively at a mean cervical length of 31.6 ± 9.1 mm at median gestation of 15.0 weeks. They were managed as outpatient (56.9%), inpatient (24.1%) or mixed (19.0%) with combination of progestogen (81.0%) and 53.4% received antenatal corticosteroids. Spontaneous preterm birth at or more than 34 weeks gestation occurred in 74.1% with birthweight at or more than 2000 g (82.4%). Despite cervical funneling in 12 women (20.7%), 66.7% delivered at or later than 34 weeks gestation and 2 (16.7%) resulted in miscarriage.

Conclusions

Insertion of the Arabin pessary is beneficial to prevent spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women who are at high risk. In particular, early insertion and close monitoring allows the best possible outcomes.

Trial registration

This study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04638023) on 20/11/2020.

Pattern of Biopsy Gleason Grade Group 5 (4 + 5 vs 5 + 4 vs 5 + 5) Predicts Survival After Radical Prostatectomy or External Beam Radiation Therapy

BACKGROUND

Previous cancer-specific mortality (CSM) analyses for different Gleason patterns in Gleason grade group (GGG) 5 cancer were limited by sample size.

OBJECTIVE

To test for differences in CSM according to biopsy GG 5 patterns (4 + 5 vs 5 + 4 vs 5 + 5) among patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database treated with RP and EBRT (2004-2016) were identified and stratified according to Gleason 4 + 5 versus 5 + 4 versus 5 + 5.

INTERVENTION

RP or EBRT.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES

Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression models predicting CSM were constructed.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of 17 263 eligible patients with GG 5 cancer at biopsy (RP: n = 7208; EBRT: n = 10 055), 12 705 had Gleason 4 + 5, 3302 had Gleason 5 + 4, and 1256 had Gleason 5 + 5 disease. Median age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at diagnosis, and advanced cT and cN stages significantly differed by Gleason pattern (Gleason 4 + 5 vs 5 + 4 vs 5 + 5; all p < 0.001). The 10-yr CSM rate was 18.2% for Gleason 4 + 5, 28.0% for Gleason 5 + 4, and 39.1% for Gleason 5 + 5 (p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses for the entire cohort adjusted for PSA, age at diagnosis, and cT and cN stage, Gleason 5 + 4 and Gleason 5 + 5 were associated with 1.6- and 2.2-fold higher CSM, respectively, relative to Gleason 4 + 5. In addition, Gleason 5 + 4 and Gleason 5 + 5 were associated with 1.6- and 2.5-fold, and 1.5- and 2.1-fold higher CSM rates in the RP and EBRT subgroups, respectively, relative to Gleason 4 + 5 (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with biopsy GG 5 prostate cancer treated with RP or EBRT, there are important CSM differences by Gleason pattern (4 + 5 vs 5 + 4 vs 5 + 5). Ideally, the individual Gleason pattern should be considered in pretreatment risk stratification.

PATIENT SUMMARY

For patients with grade 5 prostate cancer, we found differences in cancer-specific death rates according to the pattern of abnormal cells in the prostate, called the Gleason score. The highest death rate was found for a Gleason pattern score of 5 + 5, followed by Gleason 5 + 4 and then Gleason 4 + 5. These differences were observed for both patients who were treated with prostate removal and patients who underwent radiotherapy.

Trimodal therapy with high-dose-rate brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiation combined with long-term androgen deprivation for unfavorable-risk prostate cancer

Purpose

To assess the outcomes of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) combined with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in very-high-risk (VHR) versus high-risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa), as defined in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria.

Methods

Data from 338 consecutive HR or VHR PCa patients who had undergone this tri-modal therapy between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free, progression-free, overall, and cancer-specific survival (BCRFS/PFS/OS/CSS) rates were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Wilcoxon test. Cox regression models were used to evaluate candidate prognostic factors for survival. C‑indexes were used to assess model discrimination.

Results

Within a median follow-up of 84 months, 68 patients experienced BCR, 58 had disease progression including only 3 with local progression, 27 died of any cause, and 2 died from PCa. The 5‑year BCRFS, PFS, OS, and CSS rates were 82.2% (HR 86.5%; VHR 70.0%), 90.0% (HR 94.3%; VHR 77.6%), 95.7% (HR, 97.1%; VHR, 91.8%), and 99.6% (HR, 100%; VHR, 98.0%), respectively. In multivariable analyses that adjusted for standard clinicopathologic features, the risk subclassification was associated both PFS and OS (p = 0.0003 and 0.001, respectively). Adding the risk subclassification improved the accuracy of models in predicting BCRFS, PFS, and OS.

Conclusion

While the outcome of this trimodal approach appears favorable, VHR PCa patients had significantly worse oncological outcomes than those with HR PCa. The NCCN risk subclassification should be integrated into prognostic tools to guide risk stratification, treatment, and follow-up for unfavorable PCa patients receiving this trimodal therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00066-021-01784-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Anxiety and facial self-contacts: possible impact on COVID-19 transmission in dental practice

Background

The purpose was to analyse the associations between dental and trait anxiety, fear of COVID-19 and the duration and frequency of spontaneous hand-to-face contact (self-contact).

Methods

A cross-sectional design was carried out with 128 adult patients from four dental clinics in Madrid, during the confinement, from March 15 to May 15. The patients’ movements in the waiting room were monitored with Microsoft Kinect Software, also completed the Trait anxiety subscale of the STAI, the COVID-19 Fear and the S-DAI questionnaire.

Results

Associations were observed between the duration and frequency of facial, mask and eye contact with trait anxiety and dental fear was determined only by the frequency of this self-contact. Trait anxiety is associated with dental anxiety and with fear of COVID-19. Although facial self-contact is higher in women, it also rises in men as dental fear increases. Moreover, dental anxiety is a good predictor of trait anxiety and the incidence of facial self-contact.

Conclusions

Understanding the possible associations between biopsychosocial factors, such as trait anxiety, dental anxiety and self-contact is important. It may help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the population as well as enabling the formulation of effective interventions to improve oral health care through the implementation of dental care programmes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-021-01564-6.

Resting-state functional hypoconnectivity of amygdala in clinical high risk state and first-episode schizophrenia

Resting-state functional hypoconnectivity of the amygdala with several brain regions has been identified in patients with schizophrenia. However, little is known about it in individuals at clinical high risk state. Treatment-seeking, drug-naive young adults were recruited for the study. The participants included 33 adults at Clinical High Risk (CHRs), 31 adults with first-episode schizophrenia (FSZs), and 37 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls. All the participants were subjected to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Seed-based voxel-wise amygdala/whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) was calculated and compared. In the CHR group, the right amygdala showed decreased FC with clusters located in the left orbital, right temporal, insular, and bilateral frontal and cingulate areas. In the FSZ group, the right amygdala showed decreased FC with clusters located in the right temporal, insular, cingulate, and frontal areas. Exactly 30% of the voxels showing decreased FC in the FSZ group coincided with those in the CHR group. No difference in FC was identified between the CHR and FSZ groups. Voxel-wise FC values with the left or right amygdala in the bilateral occipital cortex were negatively correlated with the PANSS total score in the FSZ group. Resting-state functional hypoconnectivity of the amygdala is a valuable risk phenotype of schizophrenia, and its distribution, rather than degree, distinguishes CHR state from schizophrenia. This particular hypoconnectivity in CHRs and FSZs is relatively independent of the symptomatology and may reflect a dysfunctional dopamine system.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients after Primary Local Therapy: Recurrence, Metastasis, and Survival - A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have recently tested adjuvant chemotherapy to high-risk prostate cancer patients (PCA) after primary local therapy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating the adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer patients after primary local therapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS).

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify relevant studies published in English up to March 2020. Six trials were selected for inclusion.

RESULTS

There were 7 studies included in the present study. The meta-analysis did not show a significant OS benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-1.05; p = 0.15). But docetaxel in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy was associated with a slightly OS improvement (HR: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.98; p = 0.03). It also did not show a significant benefit in DFS and BRFS in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (HR: 0.89, 95% CI, 0.75-1.06, p = 0.18; HR: 0.85, 95% CI, 0.69-1.06, p = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis shows a slightly OS benefit from docetaxel in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy. It did not show a significant benefit in DFS and BRFS from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Analyze and compare the predictors of ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with cT1a and cT1b stage

PURPOSE

Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is common in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this study was to compare the cT1a and cT1b stages of PTC and to analyze the predictive factors of ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (CLNM).

METHODS

In total, 212 PTC (cT1N0) patients underwent hemi-thyroidectomy with ipsilateral central lymph node dissection (CLND) between 2019 and 2020 in our hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the predictive factors for CLNM of PTC (cT1aN0 and cT1bN0), and compared the differences between the two stages.

RESULTS

The total rate of ipsilateral CLNM was 31.13% (66/212), and the ipsilateral CLNM rate in cT1b stage was higher than that in cT1a stage (48.84% vs. 26.63%), with significant differences (p = 0.005). cT1b stage was more prone to capsule invasion than cT1a stage (41.86% vs. 2.37%), with significant differences (p‹0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that tumor size (n > 5 mm) was an independent predictive factor for CLNM in cT1a stage (p = 0.002), with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.228 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.079-0.655). Capsular invasion (p = 0.048) and tumors located in the middle and lower parts (p = 0.022) were independent predictive factors for CLNM in cT1b stage, with ORs of 0.157 (95% CI: 0.034-0.724) and 0.075 (95% CI: 0.007-0.847), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of CLNM increases with increase of tumor size. Patients in cT1b stage are more prone to capsule invasion and CLNM. For the cT1b stage of PTC, predictive factors should be correctly evaluated to guide surgical treatment for PTC patients.

Is Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging Cost-effective in Prostate Cancer: An Analysis Informed by the proPSMA Trial

BACKGROUND

Before integrating prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) into routine care, it is important to assess if the benefits justify the differences in resource use.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cost-effectiveness of PSMA-PET/CT when compared with conventional imaging.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A cost-effectiveness analysis was developed using data from the proPSMA study. proPSMA included patients with high-risk prostate cancer assigned to conventional imaging or 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT with planned health economics data collected. The cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from an Australian societal perspective.

INTERVENTION

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT compared with conventional imaging (CT and bone scan).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary outcome from proPSMA was diagnostic accuracy (nodal and distant metastases). This informed a decision tree analysis of the cost per accurate diagnosis.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The estimated cost per scan for PSMA PET/CT was AUD$1203, which was less than the conventional imaging cost at AUD$1412. PSMA PET/CT was thus dominant, having both better accuracy and a lower cost. This resulted in a cost of AUD$959 saved per additional accurate detection of nodal disease, and AUD$1412 saved for additional accurate detection of distant metastases. The results were most sensitive to variations in the number of men scanned for each 68Ga-PSMA-11 production run. Subsequent research is required to assess the long-term costs and benefits of PSMA PET/CT-directed care.

CONCLUSIONS

PSMA PET/CT has lower direct comparative costs and greater accuracy compared to conventional imaging for initial staging of men with high-risk prostate cancer. This provides a compelling case for adopting PSMA PET/CT into clinical practice.

PATIENT SUMMARY

The proPSMA study demonstrated that prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) better detects disease that has spread beyond the prostate compared with conventional imaging. Our analysis shows that PSMA PET/CT is also less costly than conventional imaging for the detection of disease spread. This research was presented at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine Scientific Meeting in October 2020.

Comparative Survival Outcomes of High-risk Prostate Cancer Treated with Radical Prostatectomy or Definitive Radiotherapy Regimens

Background

Observational data has indicated improved survival after radical prostatectomy (RP) compared with definitive radiotherapy (RT) in men with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

Objective

To compare PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) and overall mortality (OM) in men with high-risk PCa treated with RP or RT, providing information on target doses and fractionations.

Design, setting, and participants

This is an observational study from the Cancer Registry of Norway. Patients were diagnosed with high-risk PCa during 2006–2015, treated with RP ≤12 mo or RT ≤15 mo after diagnosis, and stratified according to RP or RT modality; external beam radiotherapy (EBRT; 70–<74, 74–<78, or 78 Gy), hypofractionated RT or EBRT combined with brachytherapy (BT-RT).

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Competing risk and Kaplan-Meier methods estimated PCSM and OM, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression models evaluated hazard ratios (HRs) for PCSM and OM.

Results and limitations

In total, 9254 patients were included (RP 47%, RT 53%). RT patients were older, had poorer performance status and more unfavorable disease characteristics. With a median follow-up time of seven and eight yrs, the overall 10-yr PCSM was 7.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4–8.0) and OM was 22.9% (95% CI 21.8–24.1). Compared with RP, EBRT 70–<74 Gy was associated with increased (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.33–2.65, p < 0.001) and BT-RT with decreased (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24–0.96, p = 0.039) 10-yr PCSM. Patients treated with EBRT 70–78 Gy had higher adjusted 10-yr OM than those treated with RP.

Conclusions

In men with high-risk PCa, treatment with EBRT <74 Gy was associated with increased adjusted 10-yr PCSM and OM, and BT-RT with decreased 10-yr PCSM, compared with RP.

Patient summary

In this study, we compared mortality after radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) in men with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa); the results suggest that men receiving lower-dose RT have higher, and patients receiving brachytherapy may have lower, risk of death from PCa than patients treated with prostatectomy.

Application of the Electronic Nose in Predicting Preeclampsia in High-risk Pregnancies. Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is a syndrome that affects 2-8 % of pregnancies worldwide and is the leading cause of maternal death. Therefore, early detection is crucial to identify women who require clinical monitoring during pregnancy and to evaluate new preventive therapies before clinical symptoms occur.

METHODS

The chemical fingerprints of the urine from three study groups pregnant with Preeclampsia, Healthy Pregnant (HP) and pregnant at High Risk of Preeclampsia (HRP) were evaluated using an electronic nose and the data obtained were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), Canonical Analysis of Principal Coordinates (CAP), Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and ROC curves to determine the diagnostic power of the test.

RESULTS

A separation was found between the patients with preeclampsia and HP explaining 99% of the variability of the data. Subsequently, a CAP was obtained with a correct classification of 100%, and the PLS-DA was obtained an accuracy of 88%. With the results of axis CAP1, a ROC curve was performed resulting in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95.5%. Based on the CAP model it was found that 36% (n=9) of the HRP patients would develop preeclampsia based on the metabolites found in urine.

CONCLUSION

metabolomics can be used as a tool for early detection of preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women, using portable olfactory technology.

Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients

Background

Staff and patient safety are of paramount importance while performing a surgical tracheostomy (ST) during the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim was to assess the incidence of COVID-19 infection among the healthcare personnel (HCP) performing ST on COVID-19 patients.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-two HCP participating in 71 ST procedures performed at our institution between 26th March 2020 and 27th May 2020 were identified. A COVID-19 health questionnaire was distributed among staff with their consent. Data related to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms (new onset continuous cough, fever, loss of taste and/or loss of smell) among HCP involved in ST as well as patient related data were collected.

Results

Of the HCP who responded, eleven (15%,11/72) reported key COVID-19 symptoms and went into self-isolation. Ten members from this group underwent a COVID-19 swab test and three tested positive. Only one HCP attended hospital for symptomatic treatment, none required hospitalisation. Sixty percent (43/72) of the responders had a COVID-19 antibody test with a positive rate of 18.6% (8/43).

Among the patients undergoing a ST, 67% (37/55) required a direct intensive care unit (ICU) admission; the mean age was 58 years (29–78) with a male preponderance (65.5%). The median time from intubation to ST was 15 days (range 5–33,IQR = 9). The overall mortality was 11% (6/55).

Conclusions

ST can be carried out safely with strict adherence to both, personnel protective equipment and ST protocols which are vital to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19 to the HCP.

[Analysis of early death factors and prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia]

目的

总结初诊急性早幼粒细胞白血病（APL）早期死亡患者的临床特征，分析早期死亡的危险因素和直接死亡原因，同时对患者进行生存分析。

方法

回顾性分析2011年1月至2017年12月苏州大学附属第一医院、苏州大学附属第一医院广慈分院、苏州弘慈血液病医院收治的368例初诊APL患者的临床特征，分析早期死亡的独立危险因素，比较出血性早期死亡与非出血性早期死亡患者的临床特征，并对所有APL患者进行生存分析。

结果

368例初诊APL患者中早期死亡31例，早期病死率为8.4%，从诊断至死亡的中位时间为7（0~29）d。比较早期死亡患者与非早期死亡患者的临床特征，应用Logistic回归模型进行多因素分析显示，年龄≥50岁和初诊时WBC≥10×10⁹/L为初诊APL患者发生早期死亡的独立危险因素（P值均<0.01）。31例早期死亡患者中有27例（87.1%）的直接死亡原因为出血，出血是<50岁患者的唯一死亡原因，≥50岁患者的主要死亡原因。比较出血性早期死亡患者与非出血性早期死亡患者的临床特征，提示出血性早期死亡患者的中位年龄和间接胆红素水平较非出血性早期死亡患者低（P<0.05）。所有患者中位随访时间为41.0（0.3~101.4）个月。2年总生存（OS）率为（93.5±1.3）%，5年OS率为（91.0±1.5）%。2年无病生存（DFS）率为（98.8±0.6）%，5年DFS率为（97.1±0.9）%。≥50岁与<50岁患者的2年OS率分别为79.3%和94.2%（P=0.000）；2年DFS率分别为92.3%和98.1%（P=0.023）。高危患者与非高危患者的2年OS率分别为77.3%和96.7%（P=0.000）；2年DFS率分别为94.0%和98.4%（P=0.139）。

结论

年龄≥50岁和WBC≥10×10⁹/L是APL患者早期死亡的独立危险因素；高危和低危APL的早期病死率有差异而DFS率差异无统计学意义。

Impact of high-risk features for stage II adenocarcinoma of the appendix

BACKGROUND

Clinico-pathological high-risk features are frequently utilized in adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) decisions in stage II colorectal cancer and their utility in stage II appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) is not established. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of high-risk features in clinical outcomes and whether high risk features are predictive of AC benefit in stage II AA.

METHODS

Patients with pathological stage II AA between 2010 and 2015 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) using ICD-O-3 morphology and topography codes: 8140, 8480 and C18.1. High risk stage II AA was defined as having at least one of the following clinicopathological features: T4 tumor, <12 lymph nodes examined, poorly differentiated histology, positive margins, or lymphovascular invasion. Patients with none of these features were defined as low-risk.

RESULTS

A total of 1040 patients with pathological stage II AA were identified. 51.0% males, 84.5% Caucasian; median age 61 (range, 19-90). 46.4% were determined to have high-risk stage II AA. High-risk status was associated with worse OS compared to low-risk in univariate (HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.18-2.02; p = 0.001) and multivariable analyses (HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.03-1.79; p = 0.028). High-risk stage II AA patients had significantly worse 5-year OS compared to low-risk patients (67.1% vs. 74.5%, p = 0.0013). AC was administered in 34.4% (n = 166) of high-risk patients and in 36.5% (n = 203) of low-risk patients. Among high-risk patients, AC was not associated with better OS in univariate (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.59-1.26; p = 0.448) and multivariable analyses (HR 1.35; 95% CI 0.90-2.04; p = 0.151) compared to no AC. Similarly, among low-risk patients, AC was not associated with better OS in univariate (HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.60-1.39; p = 0.679) and multivariable analyses (HR 1.27; 95% CI 0.81-2.02; p = 0.299) compared to no AC. For high-risk patients, 5-year OS was 68.3% in patients that received AC vs. 66.5% in patients that did not (p = 0.722). For low-risk patients, 5-year OS was 74.0% in patients that received AC vs. 76.3% in patients that did not (p = 0.813).

CONCLUSION

High-risk stage II AA patients had significantly worse 5-year OS compared to low-risk patients. AC did not improve survival regardless of high-risk features in stage II AA in this retrospective study. A prospective randomized clinical trial would be required to determine the impact of high-risk features on AC in stage II AA.

Adaptability and cohesion in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis: A multi-informant approach

BACKGROUND

Families can play a critical role in the development of psychosis. Adaptability (i.e., flexibility) and cohesion (i.e., emotional bonding) are important markers of family functioning, but have rarely been studied in youth at clinical high risk for developing psychosis (CHR), especially not from a multi-informant perspective.

METHODS

The current study examined adaptability and cohesion (using youth and mother reports) and clinical symptoms (in youth) among 75 youth at CHR and their mothers (N = 48) and 79 matched healthy controls and their mothers (N = 42).

RESULTS

Findings showed that (1) youth at CHR and their mothers reported lower adaptability and cohesion than their healthy control counterparts. (2) All youth reported lower adaptability than mothers, but only youth at CHR (not control youth) reported lower cohesion than their mothers. (3) There were no significant links between CHR youth and mother reports of adaptability and cohesion and clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support existing literature that families with a youth at CHR are at risk for poorer functioning and demonstrate pronounced youth-mother discrepancies with youth at CHR (but not controls) reporting lower emotional bonding than their mothers. Future studies may further probe multi-informant perspectives of family environment as a clinical marker in the clinical high risk state.

Brain areas associated with resilience to depression in high-risk young women

Previous structural brain-imaging studies in first-degree relatives of depressed patients showed alterations that are generally accepted as vulnerability markers for depression. However, only half of the relatives had depression at follow-up, while the other half did not. The aim of this study was to identify the brain areas associated with resilience to depression in high-risk subjects with familial depression. We recruited 59 young women with a history of depressed mothers. Twenty-nine of them (high-risk group [HRG]) had no depression history, while 30 (depressive group) had at least 1 depressive episode in adolescence. The brain structures of the groups were compared through voxel-based morphometry and analysis of cortical thickness. Individual amygdala nuclei and hippocampal subfield volumes were measured. The analysis showed larger amygdala volume, thicker subcallosal cortex and bilateral insula in the women in the HRG compared with those in the depressive group. In addition, we detected more gray matter in the left temporal pole in the HRG. The larger gray matter volume and increased cortical thickness in the key hub regions of the salience network (amygdala and insula) and structurally connected regions in the limbic network (subcallosal area and temporal pole) might prevent women in the HRG from converting to depression.

Co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza A in a hemodialysis patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus that was first discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. With the growing numbers of community spread cases worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Like influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is thought to be mainly transmitted by droplets and direct contact, and COVID-19 has a similar disease presentation to influenza. Here we present a case of influenza A and COVID-19 co-infection in a 60-year-old man with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60-year-old man with ESRD on hemodialysis presented for worsening cough, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. The patient first developed a mild fever (37.8 °C) during hemodialysis 3 days prior to presentation and has been experiencing worsening flu-like symptoms, including fever of up to 38.6 °C, non-productive cough, generalized abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and liquid green diarrhea. He lives alone at home with no known sick contacts and denies any recent travel or visits to healthcare facilities other than the local dialysis center. Rapid flu test was positive for influenza A. Procalcitonin was elevated at 5.21 ng/mL with a normal white blood cell (WBC) count. Computed tomography (CT) chest demonstrated multifocal areas of consolidation and extensive mediastinal and hilar adenopathy concerning for pneumonia. He was admitted to the biocontainment unit of Nebraska Medicine for concerns of possible COVID-19 and was started on oseltamivir for influenza and vancomycin/cefepime for the probable bacterial cause of his pneumonia and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal (GI) pathogen panel and Clostridioides difficile toxin assay were negative. On the second day of admission, initial nasopharyngeal swab came back positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The patient received supportive care and resumed bedside hemodialysis in strict isolation, and eventually fully recovered from COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

We presented a case of co-infection of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in a hemodialysis patient. The possibility of SARS-CoV-2 co-infection should not be overlooked even when other viruses including influenza can explain the clinical symptoms, especially in high-risk patients.

Knowledge, attitude and perceptions about Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) among occupationally high-risk healthcare professionals of Pakistan

Background

Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a tropically neglected infectious disease caused by Nairovirus, is endemic in low middle-income countries like Pakistan. Emergency health care professionals (HCPs) are at risk of contracting nosocomial transmission of CCHF. We, therefore, aim to analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of at-risk physicians, nurses, and pharmacists in Pakistan and the factors associated with good KAP.

Method

A validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha 0.71) was used to collect data from HCPs in two CCHF endemic metropolitan cities of Pakistan by employing a cross-sectional study design. For data analysis percentages, chi-square test and Spearman correlation were applied by using SPSS version 22.

Results

Of the 478 participants, 56% (n = 268) were physicians, 37.4% (n = 179) were nurses, and 6.5% (n = 31) were pharmacists. The proportion of HCPs with good knowledge, attitude, and perception scores was 54.3%, 81, and 69%, respectively. Being a physician, having more work experience, having a higher age, working in tertiary care settings, were key factors for higher knowledge (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlation between attitude- perception (r = 0.560, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

We have observed average knowledge of HCPs. Therefore, we recommend time to time education campaigns and workshops in highly endemic CCHF regions to be launched by health ministries and HCPs, in particular nurses, encouraged to follow authentic academic sources of information to prevent nosocomial transmission.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-020-05714-z.

Development of a Risk Score and Nomogram to Predict Individual Benefit Attained from the Addition of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines recommend considering adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for stage II colon cancer (CC) with poor prognostic clinicopathologic and molecular features. However, the relative impact of individual or constellations of high-risk features remains undefined. We developed an individualized point-of-care tool to predict survival benefit attained from the addition of AC.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for all patients with resected stage II CC from 2004 to 2015. A prognostic risk score and nomogram were constructed using twelve clinicopathologic and molecular prognostic factors associated with outcomes for CC. Overall survival (OS) was compared between surgery alone and AC groups. The nomogram was validated for discrimination and calibration using bootstrap-adjusted Harrell's concordance index (C-index). For population-level estimation, OS was compared based on quartiles.

RESULTS

Of 132,666 patients with stage II CC, 16.8% received AC. The calibration curve of the constructed nomogram showed a good agreement between predicted and observed median and 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival (bootstrap-adjusted C-index 0.699, CI: 0.698-0.703). Population-level risk score analysis (median [Q1, Q3]; 4.9 [4.6, 5.5]) demonstrated that patients with scores > 3.34 had significantly decreased risk of death with the addition of AC (all p < 0.001). No survival advantage was associated with AC among patients with low risk scores (risk score < 3.34: HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.80-1.11, p = 0.47).

DISCUSSION

A composite weighted risk score is critical to individualizing AC in select high-risk patients. Our nomogram provides individualized prognostication and estimation of benefit attained from AC. This may better inform treatment decisions and aid future trial design.

Molecular Determinants of Antibiotic Resistance in the Costa Rican Pseudomonas aeruginosa AG1 by a Multi-omics Approach: A Review of 10 Years of Study

Pseudomonas aeruginosa AG1 (PaeAG1) is a Costa Rican strain that was isolated in 2010 in a major Hospital. This strain has resistance to multiple antibiotics such as β-lactams (including carbapenems), aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. PaeAG1 is considered critical (Priority 1) due to its resistance to carbapenems, and it was the first report of a P. aeruginosa isolate carrying both VIM-2 and IMP-18 genes encoding for metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) enzymes (both with carbapenemase activity). Owing to these traits, we have studied this model for 10 years using diverse approaches including multi-omics. In this review, we summarize the main points of the different steps that we have studied in PaeAG1: preliminary analyses of this strain at the genomic and phenomic levels revealed that this microorganism has particular features of antibiotic resistance. In the multi-omics approach, the genome assembly was the initial step to identify the genomic determinants of this strain, including virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes, as well as a complex accessory genome. Second, a comparative genomic approach was implemented to define and update the phylogenetic relationship among complete P. aeruginosa genomes, the genomic island content in other strains, and the architecture of the two MBL-carrying integrons. Third, the proteomic profile of PaeAG1 was studied after exposure to antibiotics using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-GE). Fourth, to study the central response to multiple perturbations in P. aeruginosa, i.e., the core perturbome, a machine learning approach was used. The analysis revealed biological functions and determinants that are shared by different disturbances. Finally, to evaluate the effects of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on PaeAG1, a growth curve comparison, differential expression analysis (RNA-Seq), and network analysis were performed. Using the results of the core perturbome (pathways that also were found in this perturbation with CIP), it was possible to identify the “exclusive” response and determinants of PaeAG1 after exposure to CIP. Altogether, after a decade of study using a multi-omics approach (at genomics, comparative genomics, perturbomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and phenomics levels), we have provided new insights about the genomic and transcriptomic determinants associated with antibiotic resistance in PaeAG1. These results not only partially explain the high-risk condition of this strain that enables it to conquer nosocomial environments and its multi-resistance profile, but also this information may eventually be used as part of the strategies to fight this pathogen.

Differential prognostic impact of different Gleason patterns in grade group 4 in radical prostatectomy specimens

INTRODUCTION

There are questions regarding whether grade group (GG) 4 prostate cancer (PC) is heterogeneous in terms of prognosis. We assessed prognostic differences in PC patients within GG 4 treated with radical prostatectomy (RP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were analyzed in 787 PC patients with GG 4 based on RP pathology (Gleason score (GS) 3 + 5: 189, GS 4 + 4: 500, and GS 5 + 3: 98). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors predictive of high-risk surgical pathological features. Cox regression models were used to evaluate potential prognostic factors of survival.

RESULTS

Within a median follow-up of 86 months, 378 patients (48.0%) experienced BCR and 96 patients (12.2%) died, 42 of whom (5.3%) died of PC. GS 5 + 3 was significantly associated with worse BCR-free and cancer-specific survival, as well as higher positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates, than GS 3 + 5 and higher positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates than GS 4 + 4 (P < 0.05). GS 4 + 4 was significantly associated with worse BCR-free survival and higher extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates than GS 3 + 5 (P < 0.05). Inclusion of the different Gleason patterns improved the discrimination of a model for prediction of all survival outcomes compared to standard prognosticators.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable heterogeneity within GG 4 in terms of oncological and surgical pathological outcomes. Primary and secondary Gleason patterns should be considered to stratify high-risk PC patients after RP.

High-Risk "Protected" Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Mechanical Circulatory Support in a Non-Surgical Center - An Early Asian Experience

High-risk "protected" percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, particularly the Impella axial pump, has emerged as a viable treatment option for high-risk patients with satisfactory clinical outcomes. High-risk and complex interventions have mostly remained within the domain of surgical centers. We report on an early "protected" PCI experience using MCS with the Impella flow pump at a high-volume PCI hospital without on-site surgery. A total of 5 patients underwent elective "protected" PCI utilizing MCS with Impella at our institution. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 28 ± 10% and all patients had triple vessel coronary artery disease with the majority having a high SYNTAX score. Device implantation and procedural success were achieved in all cases with no intraprocedural or access site complications. All patients were alive at 30 days and clinically well. The Impella unloads the ventricle, improves forward cardiac output and lowers myocardial oxygen demand, thereby improving mean arterial pressure and coronary perfusion. Device insertion is relatively quick and the "learning curve" is short, centering mainly around managing large bore access. Our limited experience suggests that not only is high-risk PCI with Impella support feasible in a non-surgical center, but that it may be crucial to enable success.