Good Clinical Outcome Research Articles

Functional Outcomes After Decompressive Surgery in Patients with Malignant Space-Occupying Cerebellar Infarction

Background and Purpose: Decompressive surgery is a potentially life-saving treatment in patients with malignant space-occupying cerebellar infarction. However, there is only limited literature on functional outcomes and complications after surgery. Our aim was to establish markers which predict poor outcome. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of all patients who underwent surgery due to malignant swelling of a space-occupying cerebellar infarction in our hospital between 2005 and 2023. Statistical analyses were conducted on multiple parameters to identify predictors of poor functional outcome (mRS 4–6) 90 days after surgery. Complications during hospitalization were reviewed for each patient. Results: In total, 58 patients received decompressive surgery. The 90-day mortality rate was 27.6% (n = 16). A good functional outcome (mRS 0–3) 90 days after surgery was achieved in 24 patients (41.4%). Multivariable analysis revealed multiple factors associated with a poor outcome on day 90 (mRS 4–6): a higher premorbid mRS score (OR 2.715 [95% CI, 1.166–6.323]; p = 0.021), higher NIHSS score on admission (OR 1.088 [95% CI, 1.014, 1.168]; p = 0.019) and the presence of an additional brainstem infarction (OR 7.035, [95% CI, 1.255, 39.424], p = 0.027). Hyperactive delirium was associated with good clinical outcome (OR 0.020 [95%CI, 0.001–0.623]; p = 0.026). Aspiration pneumonia (n = 22, 37.9%), urinary tract infection (n = 15, 25.9%), and hyperactive delirium (n = 8, 13.8%) were the most common complications during hospitalization. Conclusions: Decompressive surgery is a safe, life-saving treatment for malignant space-occupying cerebellar infarction. Higher premorbid mRS, higher NIHSS score on admission and the presence of brainstem infarction are associated with a poor functional outcome.

Successful surgical repair of aortic root rupture during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report

BackgroundAortic root rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Herein, we report a case of aortic root rupture during TAVI that was successfully managed with partial aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement.Case presentationAn 83-year-old woman with severe bicuspid aortic stenosis underwent transfemoral TAVI using a 26 mm SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA valve. Soon after valve implantation, transesophageal echocardiography detected pericardial effusion, which was accompanied by immediate hemodynamic instability. Subxiphoid pericardial drainage was performed, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was promptly initiated. Owing to the eruptive hemorrhage, we converted to open-heart surgery. Direct visualization enabled the detection of the aortic root rupture and the performance of partial aortic root repair using bovine pericardium and aortic valve replacement using a 19 mm INSPIRIS RESILIA valve. The patient was transferred to a different hospital 60 days after surgery without complications and is currently doing well as an outpatient.ConclusionsIn the present case, prompt treatment decisions and smooth cooperation among the institutional heart team led to the successful repair of aortic root rupture during TAVI and good clinical outcomes.

Case report: The first known case of male retroperitoneal mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma

AimWe aimed to analyze the clinico-pathological and molecular features of mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) to enhance understanding of this tumor type.MethodsThis is the first case of MLA occurring in the retroperitoneum of a male patient. Clinico-pathological and molecular characteristics were analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed.ResultsA 65-year-old elderly male was admitted to the hospital with mild bilateral dull pain in the lumbar region for more than 1 month, accompanied by a feeling of dysuria. CT tomography revealed a retroperitoneal tumor. While tumor immuno-histochemistry was positive for CK, CK7, Vimentin, PAX-8, CD10, GATA-3, EMA, and CR to varying degrees, it was negative for P53, WT-1, HMB45, MelanA, CD117, DOG-1, CD34, S-100, ER, PR, AR, CEA, α-inhibin and TTF-1. Ki67 index was <10% in most areas and was approximately 30% in the hotspot areas in the glandular ductal region. Molecular detection (Next-generation sequencing method, 425-gene panel from NanjingShihe Gene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. for targeted DNA enrichment): No clinically significant variants detected. The final pathological diagnosis was a retroperitoneal malignant tumor consistent with a well-moderately differentiated MLA.ConclusionMLA in the retroperitoneum of men has not been reported yet. The diverse morphology and unclear molecular characteristics of this tumor mandate careful diagnosis for good clinical outcomes.

Arterial floating mural thrombi are a characteristic imaging pattern in SARS-CoV-2-related ischemic stroke.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We aimed to explore neurovascular imaging patterns in patients with SARS-CoV-2-related AIS. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiological data of patients hospitalized with AIS and a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 prior to AIS onset. The control group comprised of AIS patients from a pre-COVID-19 pandemic period matched for gender and age. Thirty-five SARS-CoV-2-related stroke patients, and 35 controls were included. Fifty-seven percent of SARS-CoV-2 patients had either mild or asymptomatic disease. A distinctive imaging pattern of floating arterial mural thrombus was detected in 5 patients of the SARS-CoV-2 group. In 4 patients thrombus was attached to a stenotic atherosclerotic plaque in the proximal internal carotid artery. In the 5th patient a cardiac CTA showed multiple floating thrombi in the descending aorta. In the control group, floating thrombus was only detected in one patient. Treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with thrombus dissolution and good clinical outcome. Patients with floating thrombi had a longer time from SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis to stroke onset (mean 7.4 versus 3.4 days). Floating arterial mural thrombi attached to atherosclerotic plaques are unique characteristic source of AIS in SARS-CoV-2 patients. They may lead to ischemic stroke in patients with mild or asymptomatic infection up to 1-2 weeks from SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Patients with embolic AIS and SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis should perform high resolution cranio-cervical vascular imaging to evaluate floating thrombi as a potential embolic source.

How to determine the course of preoperative chemotherapy for spinal tuberculosis: A single-center clinical study.

This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and feasibility of preoperative 1-week chemotherapy for patients with spinal tuberculosis (STB) undergoing complete lesion removal. Clinical data of 76 patients with STB who underwent complete focal debridement in our hospital were collected from June 2020 to September 2023. The patients were divided into 38 cases of preoperative 1-week chemotherapy group (Group A) according to the length of preoperative chemotherapy, and 38 cases of preoperative 2 to 4-week chemotherapy group (Group B). Perioperative related, imaging, and laboratory examination indices as well as postoperative neurological function recovery, postoperative pain recovery, related complications, and clinical efficacy were analyzed to compare the clinical efficacy of the 2 groups. All patients successfully completed the treatment of stage I complete lesion removal combined with bone grafting fusion and internal fixation. The difference in erythrocyte setting rate and C-reactive protein at the same postoperative observation time between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P > .05). The visual analogue scale scores of patients in the 2 groups decreased significantly with prolonged time, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). All patients achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy (P < .05). All patients achieved good clinical outcomes, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P > .05). The difference in incision healing rate at 3 months postoperatively and bone graft fusion rate at 6 months postoperatively was not statistically significant between the 2 groups (P > .05). The dissemination and recurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were not statistically significantly different between the 2 groups after surgery (P > .05). In summary, with complete lesion clearance, 1 week of preoperative chemotherapy is feasible in patients with STB with varying degrees of neurological dysfunction.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas at the craniocervical junction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The management for craniocervical junction dural arteriovenous fistulas (CCJ-DAVFs) remains controversial and clinically challenging. We systemically summarized the clinical and angiographic outcomes of microsurgery, embolization, and conservative management. Relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, following PRISMA guidelines. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and clinical and angiographic outcomes. We included 13 articles (166 patients). The weighted mean age was 58.9 years (95%CI: 53.2-64.5), 58.8 years (95%CI: 48.4-69.2), and 63.8 years (95%CI: 60.1-67.5), in microsurgery, embolization, and conservative groups respectively, with an overall male sex predominance (microsurgery [n = 51/77, 66.2%], embolization [n = 44/56, 78.6%], and conservative management [n = 6/8, 75.0%]). Patients were managed with microsurgery (n = 80/172, 46.5%), embolization (n = 79/172, 45.9%), and conservative treatment (n = 13/172, 7.6%). Foramen magnum was the most common location (microsurgery [n = 34/77, 44.2%], embolization [n = 31/56, 55.4%], and conservative treatment [n = 3/8, 37.5%]). Vertebral artery was the primary feeder (microsurgery [n = 58/84, 69.1%], embolization [n = 41/86, 47.6%], and conservative treatment [n = 4/7, 57.1%]). Complete fistula obliteration rates were 74.1% (95%CI:52.3-88.2%) in the microsurgery group and 54.9% (95%CI:30.7-77.0%) in the embolization group. Complications rates were 16.2% (95%CI:6.7-34.5%) in the embolization group, 11.6% (95%CI:3.8-30.4%) in the microsurgery group, and 7.7% (95%CI:1.1-39.1%) in the conservative group. Different rates of good clinical outcomes were observed [microsurgery: 66.4% (95%CI:48.1-80.8%), embolization: 51.9% (95%CI:30.8-72.4%), and conservative: 11.6% (95%CI:4.4-27.4%)]. In patients with CCJ-DAVFs, each management approach has its own merits based on the fistula and patient characteristics.

Androgen production, uptake, and conversion (APUC) genes define prostate cancer patients with distinct clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUNDProstate cancer (PC) is driven by aberrant signaling of the androgen receptor (AR) or its ligands, and androgen deprivation therapies (ADTs) are a cornerstone of treatment. ADT responsiveness may be associated with germline changes in genes that regulate androgen production, uptake, and conversion (APUC).METHODSWe analyzed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data from prostate tissues (SU2C/PCF, TCGA, GETx). We also interrogated the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance (POA) DNA (592-gene/whole exome) and RNA (whole transcriptome) next-generation sequencing databases. Algorithm for Linking Activity Networks (ALAN) was used to quantify all pairwise gene-to-gene associations. Real-world overall survival was determined from insurance claims data using Kaplan-Meier estimates.RESULTSSix APUC genes (HSD3B1, HSD3B2, CYP3A43, CYP11A1, CYP11B1, CYP17A1) exhibited coalescent gene behavior in a cohort of metastatic tumors (n = 208). In the Caris POA dataset, the 6 APUC genes (APUC-6) exhibited robust clustering in primary prostate (n = 4,490) and metastatic (n = 2,593) biopsies. Surprisingly, tumors with elevated APUC-6 expression had statically lower expression of AR, AR-V7, and AR signaling scores, suggesting ligand-driven disease biology. APUC-6 genes instead associated with the expression of alternative steroid hormone receptors, ESR1/2 and PGR. We used RNA expression of AR or APUC-6 genes to define 2 subgroups of tumors with differential association with hallmark pathways and cell surface targets.CONCLUSIONSThe APUC-6-high/AR-low tumors represented a subgroup of patients with good clinical outcomes, in contrast with the AR-high or neuroendocrine PCs. Altogether, measuring the aggregate expression of APUC-6 genes in current genomic tests identifies PCs that are ligand (rather than AR) driven and require distinct therapeutic strategies.FUNDINGNCI/NIH 1R37CA288972-01, NCI Cancer Center Support P30 CA077598, DOD W81XWH-22-2-0025, R01 CA249279.

Combination of nusinersen and rehabilitation using hybrid assistive limb for type 3 spinal muscular atrophy

AbstractAn antisense oligonucleotide drug nusinersen can improve motor function of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) is a wearable robot assisting the wearers' movements in real time. Gait rehabilitation using HAL is useful for SMA. However, the efficacy of combined treatment has never been reported before. We have investigated the efficacy of combining both therapies. A 21‐year‐old man, genetically diagnosed with type 3 SMA, was treated by combining nusinersen and five sessions of gait rehabilitation using HAL over 2 years. Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale‐Expanded (HFMSE) score improved by 12 points after treatment. Electrophysiological parameters of the tibial nerves improved. Muscle volume also increased by 8% at 39 months. The combined therapy resulted in a good clinical outcome. This may be due to promotion of nerve regeneration and recovery of muscle volume by a synergy of nusinersen and motor learning correctly guided by HAL.

Utilisation of the minimally invasive chevron akin (mica) osteotomy for severe hallux valgus: a systematic review.

Hallux valgus is the most common forefoot disease that can cause pain and be disabling for the patient. Many surgical procedures have been described to correct this deformity; over the last years, the minimally invasive Chevron and Akin osteotomies (MICA) technique has become very popular. The aim of this review was to assess if MICA technique is a reliable procedure for treating severe hallux valgus. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The keywords were searched in PubMed Medline and Cochrane library. To minimise the number of missed studies, no filters were applied to the search strategy. To be considered for this review, the articles needed to comply with the following inclusion criteria: Minimally invasive Chevron and Akin osteotomy (MICA) for severe hallux valgus (HVA > 40°, IMA > 16°), patient age over 18years and minimum follow-up of 6months. Following the PRISMA flow chart 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and were taken into consideration in the review. We reached a population of 582 patients for a total of 676 feet. Males and females were 64 and 518, respectively. The mean age was 54.15 ± 8.25. The mean follow-up was 23.74 ± 9.60months. All the studies reported an improvement in clinical results, in terms of function and quality of life. Radiological variables, mostly IMA and HVA, assessed pre- and postoperatively showed significant improvement in all studies included. Despite the limited number of published studies in the literature, the available evidence reveals good clinical outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction. Percutaneous surgery for severe hallux valgus can achieve great deformity correction with reasonable rates of residual deformity. Patient satisfaction and quality of life following third-generation MICA surgery is very high.

Internal Fixation With Cannulated Screws for Stable Femoral Neck Fractures in High-Risk Patients: Good Clinical Outcomes and Evaluation of Postoperative Complications

Internal Fixation With Cannulated Screws for Stable Femoral Neck Fractures in High-Risk Patients: Good Clinical Outcomes and Evaluation of Postoperative Complications

Clinical and radiological comparisons between oblique lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for adult isthmic spondylolisthesis: a 2-year follow-up study

Adult isthmic spondylolisthesis(AIS) results in the anterior translation of the vertebral body with neural encroachment. Although oblique lumbar interbody fusion(OLIF) is minimally invasive technique that use a retroperitoneal plane to achieve indirect decompression compared to transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF), research on OLIF for AIS remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of these two surgical techniques for AIS. We analyzed the details of 62patients with AIS who were treated with either OLIF(n=26) or TLIF(n=36) between 2019 and 2022, with a minimum 2-year follow-up. The two surgical techniques were compared in terms of perioperative surgical, radiological, and clinical outcomes. The correlation between the severity of foraminal stenosis and clinical outcomes was evaluated. The OLIF group experienced significantly less blood loss, shorter operative times, and shorter hospital stay than the TLIF group. Radiological assessments showed no significant preoperative differences in disc height or slippage ratios, but postoperative slippage correction was significantly greater in the OLIF group than in the TLIF group(13.5±8.0 versus 5.0±8.9; p<0.001). The clinical outcome improvement ratios did not differ significantly between the two groups. The correlation between preoperative severity of foraminal stenosis and clinical outcomes in the OLIF group was not significant. OLIF is more advantageous than TLIF in terms of blood loss, operative time, hospital stay and anterolisthesis correction. In addition, good clinical outcomes were obtained with indirect decompression alone, regardless of the severity of foraminal stenosis. Therefore, OLIF is a good surgical option for the treatment of AIS.

Hemorrhagic hepatic infarction in a pregnant woman with severe preeclampsia: A case report

Introduction and importance: Severe preeclampsia is a medical condition that affects women during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. Hemorrhagic hepatic infarction is a hepatic complication and is rarely encountered in women with severe preeclampsia. This case report aims to present the characteristics of hemorrhagic hepatic infarction in a pregnant woman with severe preeclampsia. Case presentation: A 27-year-old pregnant woman with a 30-week gestation of amenorrhea was admitted with a blood pressure of 160/100 millimeters of Mercury (mm Hg), headaches, dizziness and oedema in the lower limbs. Clinical discussion: These complaints with clinical and paraclinical examinations led to the diagnosis of severe preeclampsia and she underwent an emergency cesarean section but 6 hours later, she presented with hypovolemic shock and this led to a new surgery. A surgery which made it possible to develop or discover a diffuse hepatic infarction with hemorrhagic infiltration of the gallbladder and the falciform ligament without active bleeding in the liver. Emergency management of preeclampsia was adopted and the postoperative course was simple with a good clinical outcome when the patient was discharged. Conclusion: Severe preeclampsia and hemorrhagic hepatic infarction are complications of pregnancy which require emergency treatment and above all these medical conditions require the termination of the pregnancy.

Clinical and radiological assessment of the Polish modification of the Ilizarov external fixator for the treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

There is currently no established gold standard for the treatment of calcaneal fractures. To conduct a clinical and radiological evaluation of patients following intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with the Polish modification of the Ilizarov method. This was a 2-center retrospective study. We evaluated 27 patients (2 women and 25 men) aged 28-73 years (mean age 50.5 years) after treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures with the Polish modification of the Ilizarov method. We assessed pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, patient satisfaction with treatment, use of analgesics, duration of Ilizarov treatment, length of hospital stay, duration of surgery, patient's declared willingness to choose the same treatment again, complications, degenerative changes, Böhler angle, inflection angle, and Gissane angle. The mean follow-up period was 3 years and 2 months. Following treatment, the mean VAS pain score was 2.3. Prior to surgery, all patients were taking analgesics in comparison with only 2 patients (7.4%) at long-term follow-up. The treatment was rated as satisfactory by 11 patients, with 16 patients rating it as highly satisfactory. The mean post-treatment AOFAS score was 76.6 points. The Ilizarov fixator was removed after a mean period of 88 days. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7.4 days. The mean duration of the procedure was 44 min. All patients would choose the same treatment again. Complications were observed in 5 patients. The long-term follow-up visit revealed degenerative changes in the talocalcaneal joint in 8 patients. The median Böhler angle was 5.5° preoperatively and 28.5° postoperatively, p < 0.001. The median preoperative inflection angle of 160° decreased to 145°, p < 0.001. The median preoperative Gissane's angle of 119° increased significantly to a median postoperative value of 143°, p < 0.001. The patients achieved good clinical and radiological outcomes.

Short-term Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Administration in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Feasibility, Safety, and Outcome.

The practice of administration of intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapy in outpatient settings (OPAT) is a low-cost alternative to in-patient admission and treatment. There is, however, limited evidence supporting OPAT management protocols for children. The primary objective of this study was to describe the use of pediatric emergency-based OPAT, as well as the safety of this practice. The study was a prospective, observational study conducted in pediatric emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. Children younger than 14 years who required pediatric emergency department-based OPAT were included in the study. Three hundred and ninety-two children were included in the study. The mean duration of OPAT was 3.5 days. Ceftriaxone was the most frequently used antimicrobial. Chest infection was the commonest indication, followed by sickle cell disease with fever and soft tissue infections. There were no major intravenous line-related complications over course of treatment. Most of the patients (89.5%) completed the OPAT course successfully. Only 10.4% patients required subsequent hospital admission, with failure to improve on the OPAT protocol being the main reason patients for admission. None of the admitted patients required intensive care settings or faced unexpected morbidity. Our results affirm that pediatric emergency-based OPAT is a safe yet effective practice in children with good clinical outcome. We believe that a reduction in admissions translates to better hospital resource utilization.

Effects of reperfusion grade and reperfusion strategy on the clinical outcome: Insights from ESCAPE-NA1 trial.

We evaluated the association of reperfusion quality and different patterns of achieved reperfusion with clinical and radiological outcomes in the ESCAPE NA1 trial. Data are from the ESCAPE-NA1 trial. Good clinical outcome [90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2], excellent outcome (90-day mRS0-1), isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage, symptomatic hemorrhage (sICH) on follow-up imaging, and death were compared across different levels of reperfusion defined by expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) Scale. Comparisons were also made between patients with (a) first-pass eTICI 2c3 reperfusion vs multiple-pass eTICI 2c3; (b) final eTICI 2b reperfusion vs eTICI 2b converted-to-eTICI 2c3; (c) sudden reperfusion vs gradual reperfusion if >1 pass was required. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test associations of reperfusion grade and clinical outcomes. Of 1037 included patients, final eTICI 0-1 was achieved in 46 (4.4%), eTICI 2a in 76 (7.3%), eTICI 2b in 424 (40.9%), eTICI 2c in 284 (27.4%), and eTICI 3 in 207 (20%) patients. The odds for good and excellent clinical outcome gradually increased with improved reperfusion grades (adjOR ranging from 5.7-29.3 and 4.3-17.6) and decreased for sICH and death. No differences in outcomes between first-pass versus multiple-pass eTICI 2c3, eTICI 2b converted-to-eTICI 2c3 versus unchanged eTICI 2b and between sudden versus gradual eTICI 2c3 reperfusion were observed. Better reperfusion degrees significantly improved clinical outcomes and reduced mortality, independent of the number of passes and whether eTICI 2c3 was achieved suddenly or gradually.

Surgical correction of pes varus deformity in dachshunds using three-dimensional-printed patient-specific guide system: nine tibiae in seven cases (2018-2022).

To describe the use of a three-dimensional-printed patient-specific guide system for the treatment of distal tibial varus deformity in Dachshunds and retrospectively report the clinical and radiographic outcome. Pes varus deformity in nine limbs of seven dachshunds was treated with corrective osteotomy using a three-dimensional-printed patient-specific guide system. Data from computed tomography were processed to obtain virtual 3D-models of the tibias, which were used for computer-aided design-based surgical planning, three-dimensional-printed patient-specific guide system design and evaluation of planned versus achieved tibial correction. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by lameness score and post-operative owner-reported questionnaire at a minimum of 15 months. The gait abnormality resolved in all limbs. The osteotomy healed uneventfully in eight tibiae. Implant failure occurred in one tibia but was successfully revised. There was good correlation between planned and achieved deformity correction, with mean translational error <1 mm in all planes, and mean angulation correction error <2° in all planes. A 3D-printed patient-specific osteotomy and reduction guide system facilitates the accurate correction of tibial pes varus deformity with very good clinical outcomes. Opening osteotomy, stabilised with orthogonal locking plates and without the application of bone graft led to satisfactory bone healing in all cases.

The Spectrum of Pathogens Associated with Infections in African Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Scoping Review.

Understanding the interplay between infections and severe acute malnutrition is critical in attaining good clinical outcomes when managing malnourished children. However, review studies describing the profile of the associated pathogens in the malnourished African paediatric population are sparse in the literature. We aimed to identify the spectrum of pathogens from studies reporting infections in severely malnourished African children, as well as the antibiotic resistance pattern and clinical outcomes. A systematic literature review of the PubMed database was conducted following PRISMA guidelines from January 2001 to June 2024. The search algorithm was ((marasmus) OR (kwashiorkor) OR (severe acute malnutrition) OR (protein energy malnutrition)) AND (Africa). For a more comprehensive retrieval, an additional search algorithm was deployed: ((HIV) OR (tuberculosis)) AND (severe acute malnutrition). We included 60 studies conducted between 2001 and 2024. Most of the studies were from East Africa (n = 45, 75%) and Southern Africa (n = 5, 8.3%). A total of 5845 pathogens were identified comprising 2007 viruses, 2275 bacteria, 1444 parasites, and 119 fungal pathogens. The predominant pathogens were HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and malaria parasites accounting for 33.8%, 30%, and 24.2% of pathogens identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was documented in only three studies. Fatality rates were reported in 45 studies and ranged from 2% to 56% regardless of the category of pathogen. This review affirms the deleterious effect of infections in malnourished patients and suggests a gross underdiagnosis as studies were found from only 17 (31.5%) African countries. Moreover, data on fungal infections in severely malnourished African children were nearly absent despite this population being at risk. Thus, there is an urgent need to prioritize research investigating African children with severe acute malnutrition for fungal infections besides other pathogens and improve the availability of diagnostic tools and the optimized usage of antibiotics through the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

Use of sirolimus-coated balloon in de novo coronary lesions; long-term clinical outcomes from a multi-center real-world population.

Sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB), a relatively novel technology appears attractive due to the drug properties (safety and efficacy) and sirolimus remains the drug of choice in stents. However, there is limited data long-term data on SCB. In this study, we have explored the clinical outcomes following the use of SCB in de-novo lesions from a real-world practice. To report long-term clinical outcomes following the use of Siroliumus coated balloon in de novo lesions. We analyzed all patients treated with an SCB in de novo lesions between 2016 and 2023 at four high-volume centers in UK and Italy. The outcomes measured included cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). During the study period, 771 patients had SCB in de novo lesions. Diabetes mellitus was noted in 36% of patients (n = 280), of which 14% (n = 108) were insulin dependent. Fifteen percent (n = 117) had chronic kidney disease, Fifty-two percent (n = 398) of cases were in the setting acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and of which 51 cases (7%) were ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Small vessels (<3.0 mm) accounted for 78% (n = 601) of cases and 76% (n = 584) were long lesions ( 20 mm). The mean diameter of SCB was 2.6 ± 0.4 mm and the mean length was 25 ± 10.39 mm. Bailout stenting following SCB was required in 9% lesions (n = 67). During the median follow-up 640 days, total death occurred in 39 (5%) patients and of which, cardiac death occurred in 10 patients (1.3%). TVMI occurred in 20 patients (2.6%). TLR and TVR were 5.6% and 5.8% respectively. The overall MACE rate was 8%. We had no documented case of acute vessel closure. The results from this long-term follow-up in a real-world population are encouraging with low rates of hard endpoints and acceptable rates of TLR and MACE despite a complex group of patients. Our data suggest that SCBs are safe in coronary intervention with good clinical outcomes in the long term.

Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to evaluate the written exposure therapy training program in the Veterans Health Administration.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has rolled out evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, reach has remained low, and there is a need for briefer interventions. The National Center for PTSD conducted a facilitated learning collaborative to train clinicians and support VHA PTSD teams in their adoption of an emerging best practice, written exposure therapy (WET). Guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) evaluation framework, the present study utilized longitudinal data from 178 clinicians and 556 patients across seven training cohorts to evaluate key clinical and implementation outcomes and whether clinic (i.e., implementation climate) or clinician factors (i.e., treatment attitudes) were associated with effectiveness and implementation. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated WET was effective in reducing PTSD (d = 0.54) and depression symptoms (d = 0.39). Data indicated that 87.60% of clinicians reported using WET 6 months postconsultation. Clinic-wide reach was modest after training (14.53% of individuals with PTSD); however, WET-trained clinicians continued to offer WET to an average of 87.38% of their patients. Fidelity remained high after training, with essential session elements most often being offered "always" (M = 6.65 on a scale from 1 to 7). More positive postconsultation clinician treatment attitudes predicted higher posttraining rates of having patients engaged in WET. Clinician treatment attitudes and implementation climate did not predict any other implementation or effectiveness outcomes examined. Results suggest that WET implementation is advancing in VHA, with good clinical outcomes. Data provide evidence that a facilitated learning collaborative can be used to support and scale EBPs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Reexamining Transplant Outcomes in Acute Kidney Injury Kidneys Through Machine Learning.

Despite many people awaiting kidney transplant, kidney allografts from acute kidney injury (AKI) donors continue to be underutilized. We aimed to cluster kidney transplant recipients of AKI kidney allografts using an unsupervised machine learning (ML) approach. Using Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network-United Network for Organ Sharing (OPTN/UNOS) data, a consensus clustering cohort analysis was performed in 12356 deceased donor kidney transplant recipients between 2015 and 2019 in whom donors had a terminal serum creatinine ≥1.5mg/dL. Significant cluster characteristics were determined, and outcomes were compared. The median donor terminal creatinine was 2.2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.7-3.3) mg/dL. Cluster analysis was performed on 12356 AKI kidney recipients, and three clinically distinct clusters were identified. Young, sensitized kidney re-transplant patients characterized Cluster 1. Cluster 2 was characterized by first-time kidney transplant patients with hypertensive and diabetic kidney diseases. Older diabetic recipients characterized Cluster 3. Clusters 1 and 2 donors were young and met standard kidney donor profile index (KDPI) criteria; Cluster 3 donors were older, more likely to have hypertension or diabetes, and meet high KDPI criteria. Cluster 1 had a higher risk of acute rejection, 3-year patient death, and graft failure. Cluster 3 had a higher risk of death-censored graft failure, patient death, and graft failure at 1 and 3 years. Cluster 2 had the best patient-, graft-, and death-censored graft survival at 1 and 3 years. Compared to non-AKI kidney recipients, the AKI clusters showed a higher incidence of delayed graft function (DGF, AKI: 43.2%, 41.7%, 45.3% vs. non-AKI: 25.5%); however, there were comparable long-term outcomes specific to death-censored graft survival (AKI: 93.6%, 93.4%, 90.4% vs. non-AKI: 92.3%), patient survival (AKI: 89.1%, 93.2%, 84.2% vs. non-AKI: 91.2%), and overall graft survival (AKI: 84.7%, 88.2%, 79.0% vs. non-AKI: 86.0%). In this unsupervised ML approach study, AKI recipient clusters demonstrated differing, but good clinical outcomes, suggesting opportunities for transplant centers to incrementally increase kidney utilization from AKI donors.