Harness risk stratification of diabetic patients with dengue in a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Identifying predictors of severe dengue (SD) is key for triage and management of patients as well as for advising travellers to countries where dengue is endemic. In this, meta-analyses have raised diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for SD and a prognostic factor for dengue-related mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess whether diabetic patients (DPs) are at increased risk for SD in comparison to non-diabetic patients (NDPs) in a setting of high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and increasing endemicity for dengue.

METHODS

In a cohort study conducted during the 2019 dengue epidemic on Reunion Island, we estimated the risk ratios (RR) of DPs for SD (WHO 2009 definition), hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, critical care need or death in the ICU, and scales rating severity or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), among confirmed cases of dengue (positive RT-PCR or NS1 antigen).

RESULTS

In a Poisson regression model adjusted for age, gender and comorbidity, DPs were more likely to develop SD (adjusted RR: 1.46, 95%CI 1.10-1.95), to be hospitalised, admitted to the ICU, and need critical care or die in the ICU. Subgroup analyses identified female DPs, non-elderly DPs (< 65 years) and DPs with low Charlson score (< 3) to be at higher risk for SD, the two first subgroups trough more severe presentation (higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score-2 values; higher MODS scores, respectively). Male gender, age less than 65 years and mixed comorbidity were identified as prognostic factors for critical care need or death in the ICU, male and non-elderly DPs being more likely to develop MODS than their non-diabetic counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data highlight the role of diabetes mellitus in the progression from dengue to SD through higher severity per se or the event of MODS.

Associated risk factors of severe dengue in Reunion Island: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Since 2018, a dengue epidemic has been raging annually in Reunion Island, which poses the major problem of its morbidity and mortality. However, there is no consensus in the literature on factors associated with severity of illness. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of severe dengue (SD) according to the criteria adopted in 2009 by the World Health Organization (WHO), during the 2019 epidemic.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

A total of 163 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed dengue were included in a multicenter prospective cohort study in Reunion Island between January and June 2019. Of these, 37 (23%) were classified as SD, which involves presentation dominated by at least one organ failure, and 126 (77%) classified as non-SD (of which 90 (71%) had warning signs). Confusion, dehydration, and relative hypovolemia were significantly associated with SD in bivariate analysis (p < 0.05). The factors associated with SD in multivariate analysis were a time from first symptom to hospital consultation over 2 days (OR: 2.46, CI: 1.42-4.27), a history of cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.75, 95%CI: 1.57-4.80) and being of Western European origin (OR: 17.60, CI: 4.15-74).

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

This study confirms that SD is a frequent cause of hospitalization during dengue epidemics in Reunion Island. It suggests that cardiovascular disease, Western European origin, and delay in diagnosis and management are risk factors associated with SD fever, and that restoration of blood volume and correction of dehydration must be performed early to be effective.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01099852; clinicaltrials.gov.

C-reactive protein: An easy marker for early differentiation between leptospirosis and dengue fever in endemic area

In tropical regions, leptospirosis and dengue fever (DF) are infectious diseases of epidemiological importance and have overlapping symptomatic features. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated to diagnosing leptospirosis that differentiate it to DF at the initial hospital evaluation. A multicenter retrospective study was conducted comparing confirmed leptospirosis to DF cases. Clinical/laboratory findings were compiled at hospital admission on Reunion Island between 2018 and 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of leptospirosis. In total, 98 leptospirosis and 673 DF patients were included with a mean age of 47.8 (±17.1) and 48.9 (±23.3) years, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, the main parameters associated with leptospirosis were: i) increased neutrophil counts, ii) C-reactive protein values, iii) the absence of prolonged partial thromboplastin time, and iv) a decrease of platelets. The most discriminating parameter was C-reactive protein (CRP). With a threshold of 50mg/L, CRP taken alone had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 93.5%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 14.5 and 0.06, respectively. In the setting of an early presumptive diagnosis, we found that an increased CRP value (>50 mg/L) could help diagnose leptospirosis and aid the decision process for hospital surveillance and/or a potential antibiotic treatment regimen.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia in Reunion Island: Epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics, 2016–2018

Purpose

No data are available on severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the French overseas department of Reunion Island. This is unfortunate as the microorganisms responsible for the disease are likely to differ from those in temperate regions due to a tropical climate and proximity to other islands of the Indian Ocean region. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological, clinical, prognosis, and microbiological characteristics of patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study evaluated all patients with CAP aged >18 years and hospitalized in one of the two intensive care units of Reunion Island between 2016 and 2018. Microorganisms were identified by culture from blood and respiratory samples, multiplex polymerase chain reaction from respiratory samples, urinary antigen tests, and serology.

Results

Over the study period, 573 cases of severe CAP were recorded, with a mean incidence of 22 per 100,000 person-years. The most frequently isolated microorganism was influenza (21.9%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%). The influenza virus was detected in affected patients all year round. Twenty-four patients with severe CAP came from another island of the Indian Ocean region (4.2%), mainly Madagascar (>50%). Two of these patients presented with melioidosis and 4 were infected with Acinetobacter spp.

Conclusions

Our findings have major implications for the management of severe CAP in tropical regions. The most frequently isolated microorganism in patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island is influenza followed by S. pneumoniae. Physicians should be aware that influenza is the main cause of severe CAP in patients living in or returning from Reunion Island, where this virus circulates all year round.

Comparison of a preventive or curative strategy of fluid removal on the weaning of mechanical ventilation: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised open-label parallel-group trial

INTRODUCTION

Fluid overload is associated with a poor prognosis in the critically ill patients, especially at the time of weaning from mechanical ventilation as it may promote weaning failure from cardiac origin. Some data suggest that early administration of diuretics would shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation. However, this strategy may expose patients to a higher risk of haemodynamic and metabolic complications. Currently, there is no recommendation for the use of diuretics during weaning and there is an equipoise on the timing of their initiation in this context.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing two strategies of fluid removal during weaning in 13 French intensive care units (ICU). The preventive strategy is initiated systematically when the fluid balance or weight change is positive and the patients have criteria for clinical stability; the curative strategy is initiated only in case of weaning failure documented as of cardiac origin. Four hundred and ten patients will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation, defined as the number of days between randomisation and successful extubation (alive without reintubation nor tracheostomy within the 7 days after extubation) at day 28. Secondary outcomes include daily and cumulated fluid balance, metabolic and haemodynamic complications, ventilator-associated pneumonia, weaning complications, number of ventilator-free days, total duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of stay in ICU and mortality in ICU, in hospital and, at day 28. A subgroup analysis for the primary outcome is planned in patients with kidney injury (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes class 2 or more) at the time of randomisation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the ethics committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Paris 1) and patients will be included after informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04050007.

PROTOCOL VERSION

V.1; 12 March 2019.

Liver transplantation in patients with liver failure related to exertional heatstroke

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Severe acute liver injury is a grave complication of exertional heatstroke. Liver transplantation (LT) may be a therapeutic option, but the criteria for LT and the optimal timing of LT have not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to define the profile of patients who require transplantation in this context.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, retrospective study of patients admitted with a diagnosis of exertional heatstroke-related severe acute liver injury with a prothrombin time (PT) of less than 50%. A total of 24 male patients were studied.

RESULTS

Fifteen of the 24 patients (median nadir PT: 35% [29.5-40.5]) improved under medical therapy alone and survived. Nine of the 24 were listed for emergency LT. At the time of registration, the median PT was 10% (5-12) and all had numerous dysfunctional organs. Five patients (nadir PT: 12% [9-12]) were withdrawn from the list because of an elevation of PT values that mainly occurred between day 2 and day 3. Ultimately, 4 patients underwent transplantation as their PT persisted at <10%, 3 days (2.75-3.25) after the onset of exertional heatstroke, and they had more than 3 organ dysfunctions. Of these 4 patients, 3 were still alive 1 year later. Histological analysis of the 4 explanted livers demonstrated massive or sub-massive necrosis, and little potential for effective mitoses, characterised by a "mitonecrotic" appearance.

CONCLUSION

The first-line treatment for exertional heatstroke-related severe acute liver injury is medical therapy. LT is only a rare alternative and such a decision should not be taken too hastily. A persistence of PT <10%, without any signs of elevation after a median period of 3  days following the onset of heatstroke, was the trigger that prompted LT, was the trigger adopted in order to decide upon LT.

LAY SUMMARY

Acute liver injury due to heatstroke can progress to acute liver failure with organ dysfunction despite medical treatment; in such situations, liver transplantation (LT) may offer a therapeutic option. The classic criteria for LT appear to be poorly adapted to heatstroke-related acute liver failure. We confirmed thatmedication is the first-line therapy acute liver injury caused by heatstroke, with LT only rarely necessary. A decision to perform LT should not be made hastily. Fluctuations in prothrombin time and the patient's clinical status should be considered even in the event of severe liver failure.

Atomic force microscopy imaging using a tip-on-chip: opening the door to integrated near field nanotools

We describe in detail how atomic force microscopy (AFM) images can be routinely achieved with macroscopic silicon-based chips integrating mesoscopic tips, paving the way for the development of new near field devices combining AFM imaging with any kind of functionality integrated on a chip. The chips have been glued at the end of the free prong of 100 kHz quartz tuning forks mounted in Qplus configuration. Numerical simulations by modal analysis have been carried out to clarify the nature of the vibration modes observed in the experimental spectra. It is shown that two low frequency modes can be used to drive the system and scan the surface with a great stability in amplitude modulation as well as in frequency modulation AFM under ultrahigh vacuum. The AFM capabilities are demonstrated through a series of examples including phase and dissipation contrast imaging, force spectroscopy measurements, and investigations of soft samples in weak interaction with the substrate. The lateral resolution with the tips grown by focused ion beam deposition already matches the one achieved in standard amplitude modulation mode AFM experiments.

Experimental three-dimensional description of the liquid hexadecane/graphite interface

By using an atomic force microscope based on a quartz tuning fork sensor, a 3-dimensional description of the interface between liquid hexadecane and a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface can be achieved at room temperature. The C16H34 monolayer in contact with the substrate surface exhibits a lamellar structure whereas no observation at the liquid/graphite interface by scanning tunnelling microscopy was reported for this alkane. The second layer shows very weak corrugations corresponding to lamella boundaries. Force/distance curves show at least four oscillations separated by 0.4 nm except for the first period with a 0.38 nm distance that corresponds to the layer closer the substrate. Such a description agrees well with molecular dynamics results obtained on alkane/solid interfaces.

Molecule length-induced reentrant self-organization of alkanes in monolayers adsorbed on Au(111)

We report the observation by scanning tunneling microscopy of the reentrant self-organization of n-alkanes (C(n)H(2n+2)) in monolayers adsorbed on Au(111) induced by a variation of the chain length. In the investigated range of lengths ( 10</=n</=38 with even n values), the presence of self-assembled monolayers which consist of a close-packed arrangement of molecules lying flat on the surface is evidenced except for alkanes with 18</=n</=26. The unexpected transition between ordered and disordered phases is related to the mismatch between Au(111) lattice and the CH2-group period along the chain.