Propensity score methods to control for confounding in observational cohort studies: a statistical primer and application to endoscopy research

Psoriasis increases the risk of Sjögren's syndrome: evidence from a propensity score-matched cohort study and transcriptomic analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the well-documented immune dysregulation in both psoriasis and Sjögren's syndrome (SS), the specific link between these two autoimmune diseases has not been extensively explored. The present study aims to investigate the impact of psoriasis on the risk of SS.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study using TriNetX data compared SS development in patients with psoriasis and controls using propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox models. Transcriptome data were analyzed to identify shared differentially expressed genes and pathways between the two diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 293,905 patients with psoriasis and an equal number of individuals without psoriasis were included. After propensity score matching, the baseline characteristics of both groups were balanced. During the follow-up period, 3339 patients with psoriasis and 1937 individuals without psoriasis developed SS. The Kaplan-Meier curves indicated a significantly higher risk of developing SS in the psoriasis group compared to the non-psoriasis group. Upon adjustment for multiple confounding factors, the risk of developing SS in the psoriasis group was 50% higher in the psoriasis group than the non-psoriasis group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-1.58). Subgroup analyses confirmed the elevated risk of SS associated with psoriasis. Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and those treated with biological agents had an even higher risk of developing SS. Transcriptomic analysis revealed potential shared pathogenesis of psoriasis and SS involving cellular proliferation, immune cell recruitment, cytokine secretion, and the interferon response to viral infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Psoriasis might increase the risk of developing SS, which is augmented by PsA. The overlapping immunological mechanisms may underlie the co-occurrence of psoriasis and SS.

Belimumab in early systemic lupus erythematosus: A propensity score matching analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of belimumab in patients with early systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), defined as having a disease duration of less than 6 months.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with SLE in the early stage who received belimumab and standard of care (belimumab group) or standard of care alone (control group) since September 2020. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce potential bias. The primary endpoint was lupus low disease activity status (LLDAS) at weeks 12 and 24. The secondary endpoints were remission and the proportion of glucocorticoid dose tapering to 7.5 mg/day. The efficacy of belimumab in patients with lupus nephritis was also assessed.

RESULTS

Out of 111 eligible patients, 16 patients in the belimumab group and 31 patients in the control group were identified by 1:2 PSM. At week 24, a significantly higher proportion of individuals achieved low disease activity state (LLDAS) in the belimumab group compared to the control group (56.3% vs. 19.4%, OR = 5.357, 95% CI = 1.417 to 20.260, p = 0.013). Furthermore, more patients in the belimumab group were reduced to low-dose glucocorticoid ( ≤ 7.5 mg/day) at week 24 (75.0% vs. 35.5%, OR = 5.182, 95%CI = 1.339 to 20.058, p = 0.017). Significant improvements in Patient Global Assessment scores were observed at Week 12 and 24 for those treated with belimumab compared to controls. In a subgroup analysis evaluating the efficacy of belimumab in patients with lupus nephritis, 42.9% of the seven individuals treated with belimumab achieved a complete renal response (CRR) by Week 24, and no instances of disease relapse were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In SLE patients with a disease duration of less than 6 months, belimumab treatment can promote LLDAS achievement and reduce glucocorticoid dose, leading to a better prognosis. Introducing belimumab in the early stage of SLE may be a beneficial decision.

Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia Following Hormone-Modulating Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer

Importance

Hormone-modulating therapy (HMT) is a widely accepted treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, although its cognitive effects, including a potential link to Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), remain understudied.

Objective

To investigate the association between HMT for breast cancer treatment and risk of developing ADRD in women aged 65 years or older.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used a comprehensive dataset from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database to identify patients who did and did not receive HMT treatment within 3 years after the initial diagnosis of breast cancer and assessed their risk of developing ADRD in later life. Individuals with a preexisting diagnosis of ADRD or receiving HMT before the diagnosis of breast cancer were excluded. This study was performed from June 2022 through January 2024.

Exposure

Receipt of HMT.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Risk of ADRD associated with HMT; associations of risk with age, self-identified race, and HMT type. Risk was measured using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs and adjusted for potential confounders such as demographic, sociocultural, and clinical variables.

Results

Among 18 808 women aged 65 years and older diagnosed with breast cancer between 2007 and 2009 (1266 Black [6.7%], 16 526 White [87.9%], 1016 other [5.4%]), 12 356 (65.7%) received HMT within 3 years after diagnosis, while 6452 (34.3%) did not. The most common age group in both samples was the 75 to 79 years age group (HMT, 2721 women [22.0%]; no HMT, 1469 women [22.8%]), and the majority of women in both groups self-identified as White (HMT, 10 904 women [88.3%]; no HMT, 5622 women [87.1%]). During an average of 12 years of follow-up, 2926 (23.7%) of HMT users and 1802 (27.9%) of non-HMT users developed ADRD. HMT was associated with a 7% lower relative risk of ADRD overall (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98; P = .005). The association decreased with age and varied by race. The reduction in ADRD risk associated with HMT was greatest for women aged 65 to 74 years who self-identified as Black (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62-0.92). This association decreased among women aged 75 years or older (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.98). Women aged 65 to 74 years who self-identified as White had an 11% relative risk reduction (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97), but the association disappeared for women aged 75 years or older (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.90-1.02). Other races showed no significant association between HMT and ADRD. Age- and race-based associations also varied by HMT type.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this retrospective cohort study, hormone therapy was associated with protection against ADRD in women aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed breast cancer; the decrease in risk was relatively greater for Black women and women under age 75 years, while the protective effect of HMT diminished with age and varied by race in women. When deciding to use HMT for breast cancer in women aged 65 years or more, clinicians should consider age, self-identified race, and HMT type in treatment decisions.

Impact of mobile application and outpatient follow-up on renal endpoints and physiological indices in patients with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study in Southwest China

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern, and patient self-management is an effective approach to manage the condition. Mobile applications have been used as tools to assist in improving patient self-management, but their effectiveness in long-term outpatient follow-up management of patients with CKD remains to be validated. This study aimed to investigate whether using a mobile application combined with traditional outpatient follow-up can improve health outcomes of patients with CKD .

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study recruited CKD patients with stage 1-5 who were not receiving renal replacement therapy from a CKD management center. Two groups were established: the APP + outpatient follow-up group and the traditional outpatient follow-up group. Baseline data was collected from January 2015 to December 2019, followed by a three-year long-term follow-up until December 2022. Laboratory data, all-cause mortality, and renal replacement treatment were then collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

5326 patients were included in the study, including 2492 in the APP + outpatient group and 2834 in the traditional outpatient group. After IPTW virtualization matching, the final matched the APP + outpatient group consisted of 2489 cases (IQR, 33-55) and 2850 (IQR, 33-55) in the traditional outpatient group. By the end of the study, it was observed that the laboratory data of Phosphorus, Sodium, Triglyceride, Hemoglobin showed significant improvements, Furthermore the APP + outpatient group demonstrated superior results compared to the traditional outpatient group (P < .05). And it was observed that there were 34 deaths (1.4%) in the APP + outpatient group and 46 deaths (1.6%) in the traditional outpatient group(P = .49). After matching for renal replacement therapy outcomes, the two groups were found to be comparable (95% CI [0.72-1.08], P = .23), with no significant difference. However, it was noted that the traditional outpatient group had a lower incidence of using temporary catheters during initial hemodialysis (95% CI [8.4-29.8%], P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The development and application of an app combined with outpatient follow-up management can improve patient health outcomes. However, to ensure optimal preparation for kidney replacement therapy, patients in CKD stages 4-5 may require more frequent traditional outpatient follow-ups, and further develop an information-based decision-making support tool for renal replacement therapy.

Impact of endoprosthesis type on inflammatory response in patients undergoing endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections

OBJECTIVE

To study the impact of endoprosthesis type on inflammatory response in patients undergoing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC).

METHODS

Patients undergoing EUS-guided PFC drainage and treated using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) or plastic endoprostheses constituted the study cohort. The primary outcome was the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) after index intervention. Secondary outcomes were persistent organ failure, new onset organ failure, duration of hospitalization, and treatment success.

RESULTS

In all, 303 patients were treated using LAMS (n = 247) or plastic stents (n = 56). At 48 h postintervention, the presence of SIRS (25.0 vs. 14.2%, P = 0.047), new onset SIRS (10.0 vs. 1.8%, P = 0.017), and new organ failure (5.4 vs. 0.4%, P = 0.003) were significantly higher in the plastic stent cohort compared to LAMS. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the use of plastic stents (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-6.0, P = 0.014), patients receiving high-acuity care (OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.5-10.4, P < 0.001) and the presence of ≥33% of necrosis (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.0-10.0, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the presence of SIRS or new organ failure. While there was no significant difference in treatment success (96.4 vs. 95.5%, P = 0.77), duration of hospitalization was significantly longer for the plastic stent cohort (mean [standard deviation] 12.5 [17.8] vs. 7.9 [10.1] days, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of plastic stents as compared to LAMS was associated with a higher proportion of SIRS and new organ failure that prolonged hospital stay. Therefore, placement of LAMS is recommended in sick patients and those with ≥33% necrosis to minimize inflammatory response.

Propensity score matched analysis and risk stratification of donors with G6PD deficiency in living donor liver transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (G6PDd) can trigger hemolysis following surgical stress. Differentiating G6PDd-related post-operative hemolytic episodes (PHE) and post-hepatectomy liver failure may be challenging especially in living donors where donor safety is paramount. We analysed outcomes of our cohort of G6PDd liver donors.

METHODS

G6PDd individuals with no evidence of hemolysis were considered as living donors if there was no alternative family donor. Outcomes of G6PDd donors undergoing left lateral/left lobe donation (Group LL) and right lobe donation (Group RL) were compared with non-G6PDd donors matched in a 1:3 ratio using propensity score matching.

RESULTS

59 G6PDd donors (5.8% of 1011) underwent living donor hepatectomy (LiDH) during the study period. LL-G6PDd donors (22.37%) had higher post-operative peak bilirubin level compared to matched controls, but no difference in morbidity or need for post-operative blood transfusion.RL-G6PDd donors (37.63%) had higher peak bilirubin level, morbidity (16.2% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.017) and more post-operative blood transfusion (21.6% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.023) as compared to matched non-G6PDd cohort. Four RL-G6PDd donors (10.8%) developed PHE. Low G6PD activity (15% vs. 40%, p = 0.034) and lower future liver remnant (FLR) (34.3% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.05) were identified as risk factors for PHE.

CONCLUSION

We report the largest to-date series of G6PDd individuals undergoing LiDH and confirm the safety of LL donation in G6PDd. Our analysis identifies specific risk factors for PHE and suggests that right lobe LiDH be avoided in individuals with less than 25% G6PD activity when the FLR is less than 36%.

Comparison of outcomes of EUS-guided ablation and surveillance only for pancreatic cystic lesions: a propensity score-matching study (with videos)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

EUS-guided ethanol ablation is a recently introduced treatment approach for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs), including branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs). However, the utility of this procedure is limited because of its relatively low efficacy in treating PCLs.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with PCLs, including those with enlarging suspected BD-IPMNs or those with PCLs measuring >3 cm, who were suboptimal candidates for surgery and had been managed using EUS-guided rapid ethanol lavage (EUS-REL; immediate ethanol lavage performed 4 times, 2015-2022) or surveillance only (SO; 2007- 2022). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to minimize bias. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence rate of BD-IPMN progression. Secondary outcomes were the efficacy and safety of EUS-REL, surgical resection rate (SR), overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) in both groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 169 and 610 patients were included in the EUS-REL and SO groups, respectively. PSM created 159 matched pairs. The radiologic complete resolution rate after EUS-REL was 74%. Procedure-related pancreatitis in the EUS-REL group was 13.0% (n = 22; 19 mild and 3 moderate grade); no severe adverse events were reported. The 10-year cumulative incidence rate of BD-IPMN progression was significantly lower in the EUS-REL group than in the SO group (1.6% vs 21.2%; hazard ratio, 12.35; P = .003). EUS-REL showed a lower tendency of SR compared with that associated with SO. The rates of 10-year OS and 10-year DSS were comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-REL was associated with a significantly lower 10-year cumulative incidence rate of BD-IPMN progression and a lower tendency of SR, whereas its 10-year OS and DSS rates were similar to those of SO for PCLs. EUS-REL may be a viable alternative to SO for managing patients with enlarging suspected BD-IPMNs or those with PCLs >3 cm who are suboptimal candidates for surgery.

Association between periodontitis and postoperative complications in hospital medical surgical procedures: a systematic review

Background

Periodontitis is potentially harmful in the perioperative period due to biofilm generating a environment for bacteria to spread and colonize other anatomical areas, which can generate a potential risk of infection, delayed healing, increased morbidity, and even induce avulsion in intubated patients, and subsequent aspiration or ingestion of teeth with increased mobility.

Objective

Associate the presence of periodontitis and postoperative complications in patients who underwent an in-hospital medical surgical procedure.

Methods

A systematic review based on studies extracted from PubMed and Scopus was carried out on June 10, 2020, based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Result search strategy. As inclusion criteria, the studies had to include all the disaggregated terms of the research question, have a publication date of less than 15 years, and the target population had to have undergone elective hospital medical-surgical interventions. The exclusion criteria corresponded to not presenting an analytical or experimental observational study design, not having made a periodontal clinical diagnosis of the study subjects, and not expressing in the results the presence of postoperative medical-hospital complications. Articles were assessed for quality by supplementing the STROBE guideline and Newcastle Ottawa, for risk of bias by supplementing the STROBE guideline and the Cochrane Collaboration handbook tool.

Results

A total of 131 articles were obtained, which were subjected to a selection process, resulting in 5 final analytical observational studies. A meta-analysis was performed and determined that periodontitis was a risk factor to postoperative complications after surgical procedures with an OR = 4,76; 95%CI [1,11-20,41].

Conclusions

Optimize the guidelines for assessing quality and risk of bias can make their comparison with other studies complex, however it was determined in a statistically significant way that patients with periodontitis have a higher risk of generating postoperative complications after a medical hospital surgery.

Short-term efficacy of additional laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate short-term efficacy of direct laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy (LAG) versus non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plus additional LAG for early gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

286 patients were retrospectively assigned into two groups: direct LAG group (n = 255) and additional LAG (ESD plus LAG, n = 31) group. A 1:2 propensity score matching was performed to equalize relevant confounding factors between two groups for analysis.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were successfully matched, including 62 in the direct LAG group and 31 in the additional LAG group. A significant (P = 0.013) difference existed in the drainage removal time between the additional LAG and direct LAG group (7 d vs. 6 d). Age, sex, tumor location and surgical approach were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with complications, with age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.002) and total gastrectomy (P = 0.011) as significant independent risk factors. A significant (P = 0.023) difference existed in the surgical time between the early and late groups (193.3 ± 37.6 min vs. 165.5 ± 25.1 min).

CONCLUSION

Additional LAG (D1 + lymphadenectomy) after ESD may be safe and effective even though non-curative ESD may prolong the drainage removal time and increase the difficulty of surgery.

Association between smoking status and inpatient outcomes of acute cholangitis in the United States: a propensity matched analysis

Background

Acute cholangitis (AC) is an infection of the biliary tract superimposed on stasis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of smoking on inpatient outcomes of AC.

Methods

We identified primary AC hospitalizations using the National Inpatient Sample database (2017-2020). Using a 1:1 matching method, we created a matched comparison cohort of AC patients who were non-smokers, based on demographics, hospital characteristics and comorbidities.

Results

We matched 3960 smoker patients with 3960 non-smoker patients within the AC population. Non-smokers were older than smokers (70 vs. 59 years, P<0.001). Smokers had a stronger association with bile duct calculi (74.37% vs. 69.29%, P<0.001) and other bile duct disorders (clots, parasites, extrinsic compression and other rare disorders) (6.82% vs. 5.05%, P=0.011). No significant difference in inpatient mortality, median length of stay (LOS), or median inpatient cost (MIC) was found between the matched cohorts (P>0.05). However, smoking was associated with higher odds of complications, including sepsis without shock (0.88% vs. 0.51%, P=0.042), sepsis with shock (1.26% vs. 0.51%, P<0.001), biliary pancreatitis (6.57% vs. 4.42%, P<0.001) and myocardial infarction (6.19% vs. 3.54%, P<0.001), as well as a greater need for inpatient endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (72.85% vs. 63.76%, P<0.001) and early ERCP (50.76% vs. 42.32%, P<0.001) compared to non-smokers.

Conclusions

This study found no difference in mortality, LOS, or MIC in acute cholangitis-related hospitalizations associated with smoking. However, smoking was associated with a higher risk of complications and a greater need for ERCP and early ERCP.

Birth order, sibship size, and risk of atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and atopy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis and food allergy are two frequently concomitant manifestations of the presence of atopy. A substantial number of studies have been published on the association of birth order and sibship size (number of siblings) with atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and atopy. The present work is the first systematic synthesis of the existing literature on this topic.

METHODS

Fifteen databases were searched. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by independent pairs. Comparable numerical data were statistically synthesized using random-effects robust variance estimation.

RESULTS

In total, 114 studies were included out of 8819 papers obtained from database searches. Birth order ≥2 versus 1 was associated with lower risk of ever atopic dermatitis (pooled risk ratio [RR] 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98), current food allergy (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.66-0.90), and positive skin prick test (SPT) to common aeroallergens (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.97). Sibship size ≥2 versus 1 was associated with decreased risk of current atopic dermatitis (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.98), ever atopic dermatitis (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.97), and positive SPT to common aeroallergens (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83-0.92). No putative associations were seen regarding atopy assessed through allergen-specific immunoglobulin E with common allergens.

CONCLUSION

The presence of siblings and being second-born or later may decrease the lifetime risk of atopic dermatitis and food allergy, albeit marginally. Similar association was seen with SPT sensitization. However, significant protection was not found for IgE sensitization.

Controlling for Differential Regression-To-The-Mean via Propensity Scores: A Simulation Study

Purpose

Regression-to-the-mean (RTM) is a statistical phenomenon that may occur in epidemiologic studies where inclusion in the study cohort is contingent upon experiencing a laboratory/clinical measurement beyond a defined threshold. When differential across treatment groups, RTM could bias the final study estimate. This poses substantial challenges in observational studies that index patients upon experiencing extreme laboratory or clinical values. Our objective was to investigate propensity score-based methods as a tool for mitigating this source of bias via simulation.

Methods

We simulated a noninterventional comparative effectiveness study, comparing treatment with romiplostim to standard-of-care therapies for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a disease characterized by low platelet counts. Platelet counts were generated from normal distributions according to the underlying ITP severity, a strong confounder of treatment and outcome. Patients were assigned treatment probabilities based upon ITP severity, which created varied levels of differential and non-differential RTM. Treatments were compared via the difference in median platelet counts during 23 weeks of follow-up. We calculated four summary metrics of the platelet counts measured prior to cohort entry and built six propensity score models to adjust for those variables. We adjusted for these summary metrics using inverse probability of treatment weights.

Results

Across all simulated scenarios, propensity score adjustment reduced bias and increased precision of the treatment effect estimator. Adjusting for combinations of the summary metrics was most effective at reducing bias. Adjusting for the mean of prior platelet counts or the difference between the cohort-qualifying platelet count and the largest prior count eliminated the most bias when assessed individually.

Conclusion

These results suggest that differential RTM could be reasonably addressed by propensity score models with summaries of historical laboratory values. This approach can be easily applied to any comparative effectiveness or safety study, though investigators should carefully consider the best summary metric for their data.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict which patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases would benefit from primary tumor resection

PURPOSE

The use of primary tumor resection (PTR) in the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients has become increasingly controversial. Our goal is to establish a nomogram to screen for the candidates that would benefit from PTR in CRLM patients.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was searched for 8366 patients with colorectal liver cancer metastases (CRLM) from 2010 to 2015. Overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier curve. After propensity score matching (PSM), predictors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, and a nomogram was created to predict for survival benefit of PTR using R software.

RESULTS

After PSM, there were 814 patients in both PTR group and non-PTR group, respectively. The median OS time in the PTR group was 26 months (95%CI = 23.33 ~ 28.67) and the median OS time in the non-PTR group was 15 months (95%CI = 13.36 ~ 16.64). The Cox regression analysis found that PTR was an independent predictive factor (HR = 0.46, 0.41 ~ 0.52) for OS. Additionally, logistic regression was used to study the factors impacting PTR benefit, and the results showed that CEA (P = 0.016), chemotherapy (P < 0.001), N stage (P < 0.001), histological grade (P < 0.001), and lung metastasis (P = 0.001) are independent predictive factors affecting the therapeutic outcome of PTR in patients with CRLM. The developed nomogram displayed good discriminative ability in predicting the beneficial probability of PTR surgery, with the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.801 in training set and 0.739 in validation set respectively.

CONCLUSION

We developed a nomogram that predicts the survival benefits of PTR in CRLM patients with relatively high accuracy, and quantifies the predictive factors for PTR-related benefits.

Comparison of EUS-guided ablation and surgical resection for nonfunctioning small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a propensity score-matching study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Treatment strategies for small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) <2 cm in size are still under debate. The feasibility and safety of EUS-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) have been demonstrated. However, sample sizes in previous studies were small with no comparative studies on surgery. Therefore, we aimed to compare the safety and long-term outcomes of EUS-EA with those of surgery for the management of nonfunctioning small PNETs.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with PNETs who were managed by EUS-EA (from 2011 to 2018) and surgery (from 2000 to 2018) at Asan Medical Center. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to increase comparability. The primary outcome was early and late major adverse events (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III) after treatment. Secondary outcomes were 10-year overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates, length of hospital stay, and development of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

RESULTS

Of all patients, 97 and 188 patients were included in the EUS-EA and surgery groups, respectively. PSM created 89 matched pairs. EUS-EA was associated with a significantly lower rate of early major adverse events (0% vs 11.2%, P = .003). Late major adverse events occurred more frequently after surgery, with no significant difference between groups (3.4% vs 10.1%, P = .07). Both treatment modalities showed comparable 10-year OS and DSS rates. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the EUS-EA group (4 days vs 14.1 days, P < .001), and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency was less common after EUS-EA than after surgery (33.3% vs 48.6%, P = .121).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-EA had fewer adverse events and a shorter hospital stay with similar OS and DSS rates compared with surgery, suggesting that EUS-EA may be a preferred alternative to surgical resection in selected patients with nonfunctioning small PNETs.

Adjuvant radiation therapy and health-related quality of life among older women with early-stage endometrial cancer: an analysis using the SEER-MHOS linkage

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy (RT) has been associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in clinical trials of early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), but few studies have examined the association in real-world settings. We assessed HRQOL associated with adjuvant RT for older women with early-stage EC within a large U.S. population-based registry resource.

METHODS

The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results and the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey linkage (1998-2017) was used to identify women with early-stage EC aged ≥ 65 years at survey who received surgery and were diagnosed ≥ 1-year prior (n = 1,140). HRQOL was evaluated with the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) until 2006 and the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) post 2006. Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate mean difference (MD) in T scores and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing treatment groups (surgery alone, adjuvant external beam radiation therapy [EBRT], or adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy [VBT]) after accounting for confounders using propensity score weighting.

RESULTS

Overall, RT was not associated with physical health (MD = 0.97; 95% CI = - 1.13, 3.07) or mental health (MD = - 0.78; 95% CI = - 2.60, 1.05) relative to surgery alone. In analyses by RT type, adjuvant VBT was associated with better general health on the SF-36/VR-12 subscale (MD = 3.59; 95% CI = 0.56, 6.62) relative to surgery alone. No statistically significant associations were observed for adjuvant VBT and physical or mental health, or for adjuvant EBRT and any HRQOL domain.

CONCLUSION

Older women with early-stage EC treated with adjuvant RT did not report worse physical and mental HRQOL scores compared to those treated with surgery alone, though relevant symptoms should be evaluated further to fully understand the disease and treatment specific aspects of the HRQOL.

Different clinical characteristics and outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with and without hypertension: seeking the truth

OBJECTIVE

To determine the different clinical characteristics and outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with and without hypertension (HT).

METHODS

A total of 696 HCM patients were included in this study and all HCM diagnoses were confirmed by the genetic test. Patients were analyzed separately in the septal reduction therapy (SRT) cohort and the non-SRT cohort. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death and the secondary endpoint was all-cause death. Outcome analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between HT and outcomes in HCM. Medications before enrollment and at discharge were collected in the post-hoc analyses.

RESULTS

HCM patients without HT were younger, had a lower body mass index, were more likely to have a family history of HCM, and had a smaller left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameter than those with HT in both cohorts. A thicker LV wall, a higher level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and a higher extent of LV late gadolinium enhancement were additionally observed in patients without HT in the non-SRT cohort. The presence of HT did not alter the distribution pattern of late gadolinium enhancement, as well as the constituent ratio of eight disease-causing sarcomeric gene variants in both cohorts. Outcome analyses showed that in the non-SRT cohort, patients without HT had higher risks of cardiovascular death (HR = 2.537, P = 0.032) and all-cause death (HR = 3.309, P = 0.032). While such prognostic divergence was not observed in the SRT cohort. Further post-hoc analyses in the non-SRT cohort found that patients without HT received fewer non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers before enrollment and at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

HCM patients without HT had worse clinical conditions and higher mortality than patients with HT overall, which may result from active medical therapy in HT patients. Active SRT may have a substantial de-risking effect on patients meeting the indications.

A non-randomised controlled study to assess the effectiveness of a new proactive multidisciplinary care intervention for older people living with frailty

Background

Integrated care may improve outcomes for older people living with frailty. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a new, anticipatory, multidisciplinary care service in improving the wellbeing and quality of life (QoL) of older people living with severe frailty.

Methods

A community-based non-randomised controlled study. Participants (≥65 years, electronic Frailty Index ≥0.36) received either the new integrated care service plus usual care, or usual care alone. Data collection was at three time points: baseline, 2-4 weeks, and 10-14 weeks. The primary outcome was patient wellbeing (symptoms and other concerns) at 2-4 weeks, measured using the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS); the secondary outcome was QoL, measured using EQ-5D-5L. To test duration of effect and safety, wellbeing and QoL were also measured at 10-14 weeks. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise and compare intervention and control groups (eligible but had not accessed the new service), with t-test, Chi-Square, or Mann-Whitney U tests (as appropriate) to test differences at each time point. Generalised linear modelling, with propensity score matching, was used for further group comparisons. Data were analysed using STATA v17.

Results

199 intervention and 54 control participants were recruited. At baseline, intervention and control groups were similar in age, gender, ethnicity, living status, and body mass index, but not functional status or area deprivation score. At 2-4 weeks, wellbeing had improved in the intervention group but worsened in the control (median IPOS -5 versus 2, p<0.001). QoL improved in the intervention group but was unchanged in the control (median EQ-5D-5L 0.12, versus 0.00, p<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, and living status, the intervention group had an average total IPOS score reduction at 2-4 weeks of 6.34 (95% CI: -9.01: -4.26, p<0.05); this improvement was sustained, with an average total IPOS score reduction at 10-14 weeks of 6.36 (95% CI: -8.91:-3.80, p<0.05). After propensity score matching based on functional status/area deprivation, modelling showed similar results, with a reduction in IPOS score at 2-4 weeks in the intervention group of 7.88 (95% CI: -12.80: -2.96, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the new, anticipatory, multidisciplinary care service may have improved the overall wellbeing and quality of life of older people living with frailty at 2-4 weeks and the improvement in wellbeing was sustained at three months.

Ethics approval

NHS Research Ethics Committee 18/YH/0470 and IRAS-250981.

Trial registration

The trial was retrospectively registered at the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry (registration date: 01/08/2022, registration number: ISRCTN10613839).

Applications of propensity score matching: a case series of articles published in Annals of Coloproctology

Propensity score matching (PSM) is an increasingly applied method of ensuring comparability between groups of interest. However, PSM is often applied unconditionally, without precise considerations. The purpose of this study is to provide a nonmathematical guide for clinicians at the stage of designing a PSM-based study. We provide a seed of thought for considering whether applying PSM would be appropriate and, if so, the scope of the list of variables. Although PSM may be simple, its results could vary substantially according to how the propensity score is constructed. Misleading results can be avoided through a critical review of the process of PSM.

Contralateral advanced radiographic knee osteoarthritis predicts radiographic progression and future arthroplasty in ipsilateral knee with early-stage osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

To explore whether the severity of contralateral knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with OA progression in ipsilateral knee with early OA.

METHODS

Knees in early OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KLG):1-2) with intact baseline demographic and clinical data were retrieved from OAI database and defined as target knees. The target knees were divided into the exposure group (contralateral knees KLG 3 to 4) and the control group (contralateral knees KLG 0 to 2). Both groups underwent propensity score matching (PSM) concerning demographic data, as well as radiographic and clinical outcomes at the baseline. The primary outcome was the upgrade of KLG in the target knee in the first 12 and 24 months. The secondary outcome was the incidence of knee arthroplasty in ipsilateral knee during the first 108 months.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred fifty-two knees were included, with 449 in the exposure cohort and 1276 in the control cohort. Four hundred thirty-four knees in each group were matched after PSM. Target knees in the exposure cohort showed a significantly higher rate of radiographic progression in the first 12 months (12.9% vs. 5.1%, P < 0.001) and 24 months (19.6% vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001). As for the risk of future arthroplasty, a significant difference was also found between the two groups (7.8% vs. 4.0%, P = 0.02). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 108-month accumulated knee survival rate was significantly lower in the exposure group (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The ipsilateral knee with early-stage OA is prone to have worse early to mid-, and long-term prognosis in the circumstance of contralateral radiographic advanced knee OA. Key Points •Identifying early knee osteoarthritis (OA) with a high risk of radiographic progression and future arthroplasty enables early personalized intervention. •This is a novel study to investigate the relationship between the risk of future arthroplasty and contralateral knee status. •Propensity score matching holds promise to minimize selection bias in observational studies. •Knees with early OA are prone to have a high risk of radiographic progression and future arthroplasty in the circumstance of contralateral advanced knee OA.

The Role of Physical Activity and Depression on Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Using Propensity Score Matching Approaches

This study examined the association between achieving the recommended physical activity level and quality of life after controlling for depression. Health information from adults aged 65 years and older, who had participated in the seventh 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, was used. Five covariate adjustment models were used to derive robust estimates of the association between physical activity practice levels, depression, and older adults' quality of life. A total of 1,336 older adults was extracted from the seventh 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and 31% of the older adults achieved the recommended physical activity level, whereas 69% did not. We found that the achievement of physical activity practice levels is significantly associated with the quality of life of the older adults (β = 0.024-0.031, all p < .05). Our results could be used for advocating for welfare policy changes that promote physical activity to prepare for the upcoming super-aging society.

Change of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the growth and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has attracted widespread attention.

AIM

To evaluate the feasibility of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) for massive HCC by exploring the role of TIL in the tumor microenvironment.

METHODS

Fifteen massive HCC patients who underwent ALPPS treatment and 46 who underwent hemi-hepatectomy were selected for this study. Propensity score matching was utilized to match patients in ALPPS and hemi-hepatectomy groups (1:1). Quantitative analysis of TILs in tumor and adjacent tissues between the two groups was performed by immunofluorescence staining and further analyses with oncological characteristics. In the meantime, trends of TILs in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups during the perioperative period.

RESULTS

Continuous measurement of tumor volume and necrosis volume showed that the proportion of tumor necrosis volume on the seventh day after stage-I ALPPS was significantly higher than the pre-operative value (P = 0.024). In the preoperative period of stage-I ALPPS, the proportion of tumor necrosis volume in the high CD8⁺ T cell infiltration group was significantly higher than that in the low group (P = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

TIL infiltration level maintained a dynamic balance during the preoperative period of ALPPS. Compared with right hemi-hepatectomy, the ALPPS procedure does not cause severe immunosuppression with the decrease in TIL infiltration and pathological changes in immune components of peripheral blood. Our results suggested that ALPPS is safe and feasible for treating massive HCC from the perspective of immunology. In addition, high CD8⁺ T cell infiltration is associated with increasing tumor necrosis in the perioperative period of ALPPS.

Correlation between serum methotrexate-polyglutamate 3 (MTX-PG3) level and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A prospective cohort study

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, characterized by systemic inflammation, joint destruction and disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is used as the primary treatment for RA patients. However, the response to MTX therapy is highly varied and difficult to predict. This study sought to determine the role of MTX by measuring the MTX polyglutamate 3 (MTX-PG3) levels and the disease activity score 28 based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) of RA patients. Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Rheumatology Polyclinic of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. Thirty-four patients with RA were included and followed up to 12 weeks. The RA patients were treated with MTX 10 mg per week and an increased dose of 5 mg per week every month. DAS28-CRP and MTX-PG3 level were assessed at week 8 and 12. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between MTX-PG3 and DAS28-CRP. Result: A total of 34 RA patients were followed and the MTX was well tolerated in which no increase of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were observed. The mean scores of DAS28-CRP decreased following the MTX-treatment: 3.93, 3.22 and 2.82 at week 0, 8 and 12, respectively. In contrast, the median concentration of MTX-PG3 increased from week 8 to week 12 followed by increasing the dose of MTX. Our analysis suggested there was a moderate positive correlation between MTX-PG3 levels and DAS28-CRP score at week 8 and week 12 post-MTX treatment. Conclusion: The level of MTX-PG3 is correlated with DAS28-CRP score suggesting that MTX-PG3 could be used as an indicator to assess the disease activity in RA patients. Nevertheless, a prospective study with a higher number of patients is needed to confirm this finding.

Exploratory Compatibility Regularity of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Osteoarthritis Treatment: A Data Mining and Random Walk-Based Identification

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degressive and complex disease which is a growing public health problem on a global scale. On basis of an in-house database consisting of clinical records of 13,083 OA patients, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was divided into 4 categories of medicines on the basis of the curative properties of herbs. Due to the lack of depth and internal relationship in the calculation results of TCM compatibility law data mining methods such as statistics and frequency analysis, we use a variety of multidimensional complex network methods that can efficaciously find the compatibility law of TCM, including similarity measure, graphical visualization of network diagram, random walking, and propensity score methods. We summarize common couplet medicines utilized for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The similarity measure method was used to investigate the commonly used drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The method of association rule analysis is used to recognize the compatibility between the components. On basis of the propensity score methods, the evaluation displayed that, compared with single drug, the drug group increased ESR, CRP, C3, C4, IgG, and IgA more efficiently. Concluding, a random walk model was constructed to assess drug efficacy. After applying a random walk model, while revealing the compatibility among different components of TCM, their therapeutic efficacy against OA is analyzed. We obtained four groups of drug combination clusters by similarity measure and 11 pairs of highly connected drugs by association rules, which are cardinal drug combinations in the prescription for the treatment of OA. We also found that different traditional drug pairs were associated with different laboratory indexes, and drug combinations could better optimize laboratory indexes. This study presented that the TCM constituents complement one another. Besides, the therapeutic effects resulting from a variety of combinations of these constituents are quite different.

Pharmacoepidemiology, Machine Learning, and COVID-19: An Intent-to-Treat Analysis of Hydroxychloroquine, With or Without Azithromycin, and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Hospitalized US Veterans

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was proposed as an early therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after in vitro studies indicated possible benefit. Previous in vivo observational studies have presented conflicting results, though recent randomized clinical trials have reported no benefit from HCQ amongst hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We examined the effects of HCQ alone, and in combination with azithromycin, in a hospitalized COVID-19 positive, United States (US) Veteran population using a propensity score adjusted survival analysis with imputation of missing data. From March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2020, 64,055 US Veterans were tested for COVID-19 based on Veteran Affairs Healthcare Administration electronic health record data. Of the 7,193 positive cases, 2,809 were hospitalized, and 657 individuals were prescribed HCQ within the first 48-hours of hospitalization for the treatment of COVID-19. There was no apparent benefit associated with HCQ receipt, alone or in combination with azithromycin, and an increased risk of intubation when used in combination with azithromycin [Hazard Ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 1.55 (1.07, 2.24)]. In conclusion, we assessed the effectiveness of HCQ with or without azithromycin in treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19 using a national sample of the US Veteran population. Using rigorous study design and analytic methods to reduce confounding and bias, we found no evidence of a survival benefit from the administration of HCQ.

Robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty: an economic analysis

Aim: To evaluate 90-day episode-of-care (EOC) resource consumption in robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (RATHA) versus manual total hip arthroplasty (mTHA). Methods: THA procedures were identified in Medicare 100% data. After propensity score matching 1:5, 938 RATHA and 4,670 mTHA cases were included. 90-day EOC cost, index costs, length of stay and post-index rehabilitation utilization were assessed. Results: RATHA patients were significantly less likely to have post-index inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility admissions and used fewer home health agency visits, compared with mTHA patients. Total 90-day EOC costs for RATHA patients were found to be US$785 less than those of mTHA patients (p = 0.0095). Conclusion: RATHA was associated with an overall lower 90-day EOC cost when compared with mTHA. The savings associated with RATHA were driven by reduced utilization and cost of post-index rehabilitation services.

Impact of overweight/obesity on clinical outcomes after reduction for intussusception in children

PURPOSE

Childhood obesity is a worsening epidemic. Little is known about the impact of overweight and obesity (OV-OB) on clinical outcomes after reduction for intussusception in children. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes after primarily air enema reduction for intussusception in grouped OV-OB (body mass index-for-age percentile ≥ 85) pediatric patients compared with no OV-OB patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 564 children who had undergone intussusception reduction via pneumatic reduction (PR) from April 2018 to January 2020 was conducted with assessments of demographic data, clinical symptoms, pre-reduction examination, and reduction results. One-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare clinical outcomes between patients with and without OV-OB, and the risk factors affecting recurrence and surgical reduction were analyzed in the PSM population.

RESULTS

Of the 564 patients, 132 cases (23.4%) were OV-OB (overweight: 95 cases; obesity: 37 cases). In the propensity-matched analysis, the OV-OB group showed a significant increase in surgical reduction (10.2% versus 0.9%, P = 0.005) and recurrence (47.2% versus 10.2%, P < 0.001), excretion time of carbon powder after PR (median: 11.2 h versus 8.4 h, P < 0.001), higher maximum pressure of PR (median: 10.2 kPa versus 7.8 kPa, P < 0.001), and number of PR attempts (mean: 2.0 versus 1.4, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the reasons for surgery (PR failure or bowel perforation), time to recurrence (early or late), and the times of recurrences ≥ 2. After applying the multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that OV-OB and white blood cell count ≥ 20 × 10⁹/L were risk factors for both surgical reduction and the recurrence of intussusception.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that childhood OV-OB was associated with the failure of PR and recurrence of intussusception after reduction, which should be paid more attention in clinical practice.

Comparison of Peripheral Nerve Block and Spinal Anesthesia in Terms of Postoperative Mortality and Walking Ability in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients - A Retrospective, Propensity-Score Matched Study

Purpose

To compare the effects of peripheral nerve block (PNB) and spinal anesthesia (SA) on one-year mortality and walking ability of elderly hip fracture patients after hip arthroplasty.

Methods

Patients ≥65 years who underwent unilateral hip arthroplasty due to femoral neck fracture, using either PNB or SA from 2014 to 2019, were included. Demographic data, comorbidities, and results of preoperative screening were retrospectively collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in a ratio of 1:1 for PNB and SA groups. The primary outcomes were 30-day, 90-day, and one-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included walking ability in the first postoperative year, major complications, length of stay, and the cost of hospitalization. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Three hundred and sixteen patients were included, of whom 200 received SA and 116 received PNB. Eighty-nine patients in each group were matched after PSM. Patients in the PNB group showed significantly lower risks of death in 30 days (2.2% vs 10.1%, P=0.029) and 90 days (3.4% vs 12.4%, P=0.026) after hip arthroplasty, when compared to the SA group. There was no significant difference in one-year mortality, walking ability, major complications, and length of stay. Higher hospitalization cost was found in the PNB group (53,828.21 CNY vs 59,278.83 CNY, P=0.024). One-year accumulated survival rate was higher in the PNB group without reaching a significant level.

Conclusion

PNB was related to lower 30- and 90-day mortality but higher hospitalization cost in elderly hip fracture patients after hip arthroplasty. However, the anesthesia types were not associated with one-year mortality, one-year walking ability, major complications, and length of stay.

Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcome of Fixed-Dose Combination vs. Free Combination of Angiotensin Receptor Blocker and Statin

BACKGROUND

Non-compliance with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) or statin is one of the major hurdles to optimal medical treatment. This study investigated whether fixed-dose combination (FDC) improved compliance to medication compared with traditional free combination (FC).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this retrospective nationwide cohort study, medication persistency, medication adherence measured by proportion of days covered (PDC), and all-cause death of 123,992 patients who started ARB and stain were investigated for 540 days. Patients had a mean age of 63 years and 48% were male. Persistency, PDC, and proportion of PDC ≥80% of FDC (N=34,776) were higher than those for FC (N=89,216) in both unadjusted analysis (54.5% vs. 27.8%; 84.1% vs. 63.1%; 75.5% vs. 48.1%) and propensity-score matched analysis (P<0.001, all). Death risk for the investigation period (0-540 days) was lower in FDC in unadjusted (1.8% vs. 2.6%, P<0.001) and adjusted cohort (P<0.05). In landmark analyses at days 180 and 360, there was no significant difference of death risk between FDC and FC (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world data analysis, patients taking FDC of ARB and statin showed higher medication persistence and adherence compared to patients taking FC of ARB and statin up to 540 days. The risk of all-cause death was not different between FDC and FC despite better medication compliance in the FDC patients.

The protective role of statins in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate and determine the protective role of statins in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted across five hospitals in India. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized with existing and valid medical documentation were included.

RESULTS

This study comprised 3252 COVID-19 patients, of whom 1048 (32.2%) were on statins, with 52.4% being males. The comorbidity prevalence of hypertension was 75%, followed by diabetes 62.51% and coronary artery disease being 47.5%. At the time of hospitalization, statin users had a higher incidence of dyspnea, cough, and fatigue (95.8, 93.3, and 92.7%). The laboratory results revealed a lower mean of WBC count (7.8 × 10³/μL), D-dimer (2.4 μg/mL), and C-reactive protein (103 mg/L) among statin users. They also had lower mortality rates (17.1%), a lesser requirement for mechanical ventilation (20%), and hemodialysis (5.4%).

CONCLUSION

This observation study elaborates on the beneficial effects of statins in COVID-19 patients. However, the inferences from this study should be viewed with caution due to the impending effect of confounding factors on its statistical results.

Clinical and Economic Impact of Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Infection or Colonization Caused by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Multicenter Study in China

Quantifying economic and clinical outcomes for interventions could help to reduce third-generation cephalosporin resistance and Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. We aimed to compare the differences in clinical and economic burden between third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3GCREC) and third-generation cephalosporin-susceptible E. coli (3GCSEC) cases, and between third-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae (3GCRKP) and third-generation cephalosporin-susceptible K. pneumoniae (3GCSKP) cases. A retrospective and multicenter study was conducted. We collected data from electronic medical records for patients who had clinical samples positive for E. coli or K. pneumoniae isolates during 2013 and 2015. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to minimize the impact of potential confounding variables, including age, sex, insurance, number of diagnoses, Charlson comorbidity index, admission to intensive care unit, surgery, and comorbidities. We also repeated the PSM including length of stay (LOS) before culture. The main indicators included economic costs, LOS and hospital mortality. The proportions of 3GCREC and 3GCRKP in the sampled hospitals were 44.3% and 32.5%, respectively. In the two PSM methods, 1804 pairs and 1521 pairs were generated, and 1815 pairs and 1617 pairs were obtained, respectively. Compared with susceptible cases, those with 3GCREC and 3GCRKP were associated with significantly increased total hospital cost and excess LOS. Inpatients with 3GCRKP were significantly associated with higher hospital mortality compared with 3GCSKP cases, however, there was no significant difference between 3GCREC and 3GCSEC cases. Cost reduction and outcome improvement could be achieved through a preventative approach in terms of both antimicrobial stewardship and preventing the transmission of organisms.

[Positive lymph node ratio ≥0.16 is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of positive lymph node ratio (LNR) in predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We retrieved the data of a total of 862 patients with esophageal cancer with complete clinical pathology data archived in SEER database in 2010 to 2015. The best cutoff point of LNR was selected using X-tile software. Univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazard models were used to assess the value of LNR in predicting the prognosis of patients after propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

The best cut-off point of LNR determined using X-tile 3.6.1 software was 0.16. The patients with LNR < 0.16 and those with LNR≥0.16 showed significant differences in the number of positive lymph nodes, pathological type, T stage and M stage. After 1:1 propensity score matching, the two groups showed no significant difference in the clinical data or pathological parameters. Matched univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses showed that LNR, primary tumor site and M staging were all independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients, and among them LNR had the most significant predictive value (LNR < 0.16 vs LNR≥0.16: HR=1.827, 95% CI: 1.140-2.929; P=0.000). The median survival time of patients with LNR < 0.16 was 31 months (95%CI: 22.556-39.444 months), as compared with 16 months (95%CI: 12.989-19.011) in patient with LNR≥0.16 (Log Rank χ2=27.392, P < 0.0001). LNR had a better accuracy than N stage for assessing the patients' prognosis with an area under the ROC curve of 0.617 (95%CI: 0.567-0.666), as compared with 0.515 (95%CI: 0.463-0.565) of N stage (z=3.008, P=0.0026).

CONCLUSIONS

LNR≥0.16 is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer and has better prognostic value than N stage.

How the science of practice will improve evidence-based care

This review article analyzes the present evidence-based medicine (EBM) algorithm, compares it to the science of practice (SOP) algorithm, and demonstrates how the SOP can evolve from a quality assurance and quality improvement tool into a clinical research tool. Using appropriately constructed prospective observational databases (PODs), the SOP algorithm can be used to draw causal inferences from nonrandomized data, perform innovative comparative effectiveness research, and generate reliable information that can be used to guide treatment decisions.

Exposure to Hyperchloremia Is Associated with Poor Early Recovery of Kidney Graft Function after Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis

The effects of hyperchloremia on kidney grafts have not been investigated in patients undergoing living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). In this study, data from 200 adult patients undergoing elective LDKT between January 2016 and December 2017 were analyzed after propensity score (PS) matching. The patients were allocated to hyperchloremia and non-hyperchloremia groups according to the occurrence of hyperchloremia (i.e., ≥110 mEq/L) immediately after surgery. Poor early graft recovery was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² during the first 48 hours after surgery. After PS matching, no significant differences in perioperative recipient or donor graft parameters were observed between groups. Although the total amount of crystalloid fluid infused during surgery did not differ between groups, the proportions of main crystalloid fluid type used (i.e., 0.9% normal saline vs. Plasma Solution-A) did. The eGFR increased gradually during postoperative day (POD) 2 in both groups. However, the proportion of patients with eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m² on POD 2 was higher in the non-hyperchloremia group than in the hyperchloremia group. In this PS-adjusted analysis, hyperchloremia was significantly associated with poor graft recovery on POD 2. In conclusion, exposure to hyperchloremia may have a negative impact on early graft recovery in LDKT.