Inadequate Dose Research Articles

Veterinary Vaccines: Unlocking the Power of Immunization for Livestock Health — A Review

Vaccines are all biological substances produced from living things and administered to trigger the host’s body defense system to develop immunity against a specific pathogen from which they were produced. They work by stimulating either humoral or cell-mediated immunity, or both, to differentiate. There are several types of vaccines, like live attenuated, killed, or inactivated vaccines, cell membrane compounds, or toxoids. Vaccines are important for disease prevention, enhancing the efficiency of food production, and reducing or preventing transmission of zoonotic and foodborne infections to people. Even though vaccination is the most powerful and cost-effective weapon of disease prevention, there are several factors such as alterations in the vaccines, maternal antibodies, immunosuppression, wrong timing of vaccination, missing booster vaccination, inadequate dosage, and adjuvants used in the vaccine that can cause vaccine failure. Therefore, Care should be taken in vaccine handling, storing, transporting, and administering; care should be taken in the timing of vaccination; serotypes of agents should be identified before preparing vaccines; and there should be a training program for people who are involved in vaccination, vaccine storage, and handling activities to ensure vaccine potency and maximize effectiveness.

Phenotype versus genotype to optimize cancer dosing in the clinical setting-focus on 5-fluorouracil and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Cancer medicines often have narrow therapeutic windows; toxicity can be severe and sometimes fatal, but inadequate dose intensity reduces efficacy and survival. Determining the optimal dose for each patient is difficult, with body-surface area used most commonly for chemotherapy and flat dosing for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, despite accumulating evidence of a wide range of exposures in individual patients with many receiving a suboptimal dose with these strategies. Therapeutic drug monitoring (measuring the drug concentration in a biological fluid, usually plasma) (TDM) is an accepted and well validated method to guide dose adjustments for individual patients to improve this. However, implementing TDM in routine care has been difficult outside a research context. The development of genotyping of various proteins involved in drug elimination and activity has gained prominence, with several but not all Guideline groups recommending dose reductions for particular variant genotypes. However, there is increasing concern that dosing recommendations are based on limited data sets and may lead to unnecessary underdosing and increased cancer mortality. This Review discusses the evidence surrounding genotyping and TDM to guide decisions around best practice.

Treatment and diagnostics of gout: Unsolved problems in clinical practice

The possibilities for diagnosing and treating gout have expanded significantly. However, this did not lead to solving the problem of timely diagnosis of gout, nor to improving control over it, nor to reducing mortality in patients with gout. In the article possible reasons of absence of the progress in gout control connected with the lack of usage of contemporary capabilities in diagnosis and mistakes in usage of drugs therapy is discussed. These should include the lack of conversance of medical stuff about sonography high informativity for gout diagnosis, low availability of polarizing microscopy and dual energy computer tomography; causeless ignore of prescribing prophylactic symptomatic therapy, usage of inadequate doses of drugs. Another reason may be the absence of unified concept regarding specific indications of prescribing urate-lowering drugs and choice of specific medicine.

Financial impact of medication reviews by clinical pharmacists to reduce in-hospital adverse drug events: a return-on-investment analysis

BackgroundAdverse drug events contribute to rising health care costs. Clinical pharmacists can reduce their risks by identifying and solving drug-related problems (DRPs) through medication review.AimTo develop an economic model to determine whether medication reviews performed by clinical pharmacists could lead to a reduction in health care costs associated with the prevention of potential adverse drug events.MethodTwo pharmacists performed medication reviews during ward rounds in an internal medicine setting over one year. Avoided costs were estimated by monetizing five categories of DRPs (improper drug selection, drug interactions, untreated indications, inadequate dosages, and drug use without an indication). An expert panel assessed potential adverse drug events and their probabilities of occurrence for 20 randomly selected DRPs in each category. The costs of adverse drug events were extracted from internal hospital financial data. A partial economic study from a hospital perspective then estimated the annual costs avoided by resolving DRPs identified by 3 part-time clinical pharmacists (0.9 full-time equivalent) from 2019 to 2020. The return on investment (ROI) of medication review was calculated.ResultsThe estimated annual avoided costs associated with the potential adverse drug events induced by 676 DRPs detected was € 304,170. The cost of a 0.9 full-time equivalent clinical pharmacist was € 112,408. Extrapolated to 1 full-time equivalent, the annual net savings was € 213,069 or an ROI of 1–1.71. Sensitivity analyses showed that the economic model was robust.ConclusionThis economic model revealed the positive financial impact and favorable return on investment of a medication review intervention performed by clinical pharmacists. These findings should encourage the future deployment of a pharmacist-led adverse drug events prevention program.

Guideline-directed medical therapy in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction in Palestine: Retrospective clinical audit study

ObjectivesTo assess the characteristics of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF), as well as the current application of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in Palestine. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study involved a population of heart failure (HF) patients who visited cardiology clinics at An-Najah National University Hospital and the National Hospital, Palestine. The primary outcome measures of interest were the proportions of patients prescribed guideline-based cardiovascular medications (GBCMs), such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and the corresponding optimized doses at ≥ 50 % of targets and the reasons underlying the non-prescription of GDMT. ResultsA total of 70.5%, 56.6%, and 88.6% of patients were on ACEIs/ARBs, MRAs, and β-blockers, respectively. Of all patients, 38.7% were on the triple GDMT regimen. ConclusionLess than half the patients received the triple combination treatment. Age, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, and admission to the hospital for HF all had significant independent relationships with the reduced utilization and inadequate dosage of GDMT.

Model-Based Benefit/Risk Analysis for the Copanlisib Intermittent Dosing Regimen.

Copanlisib is an intravenously administered phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, which is approved as monotherapy for relapsed follicular lymphoma in adult patients who have received at least two systemic therapies. In an April 2022 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC), the benefit-risk profile of the class PI3K inhibitors were scrutinized for use in hematological malignancies. Specifically, their unique toxicities may contribute to the high incidences in reported serious and high-grade treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), thereby reducing their overall tolerability and potentially limiting their successful use. These tolerability concerns may be contributed by or compounded by inadequate dose optimization. The recommended dosing regimen of copanlisib 60 mg administered on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle was selected as the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) during phase I. Thus, this analysis sought to justify the copanlisib dose regimen selection. Copanlisib exposure-efficacy relationships were considered from its large phase III trial, CHRONOS-3, whereas copanlisib safety was investigated by pooling data across its two large clinical trials to comprehensively assess its exposure-safety relationships. Results demonstrated a statistically significant positive linear exposure-efficacy relationship at the MTD. Exposure-safety analyses revealed a borderline significant linear relationship for grade ≥3 TEAEs and no significant exposure-safety relationships for other investigated safety end points. The model-based benefit/risk framework considered the established exposure-response models and defined clinical utility function which confirmed the appropriateness of the copanlisib dosing regimen across the range of its achieved exposures.

The pharmacists' interventions after a Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare systems in developing countries faced significant challenges during COVID-19, grappling with limited resources and staffing shortages. Assessment of the impact of pharmaceutical care expertise, particularly in critical care units during the pandemics, in developing countries remains poorly explored. The principal aim of our study was to assess the impact of the Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC), comprising clinical pharmacists, on the incidence, types, and severity of medication errors and associated costs in using COVID-19 medications, especially antibiotics. An interventional pre-post study was carried out at a public isolation hospital in Egypt over 6 months. Out of 499 medication orders, 238 (47.7%) had medication errors, averaging 2.38 errors per patient. The most frequent were prescribing errors (44.9%), specifically incorrect drug choice (57.9%), excessive dosage (29.9%), treatment duplication (4.5%), inadequate dosage (4.5%), and overlooked indications (3.6%). Linezolid and Remdesivir were the most common medications associated with prescribing errors. Pharmacists intervened 315 times, primarily discontinuing medications, reducing doses, introducing new medications, and increasing doses. These actions led to statistically significant cost reductions (p < 0.05) and better clinical outcomes; improved oxygen saturation, decreased fever, stabilised respiratory rates, and normalised white blood cell counts. So, clinical pharmacist interventions made a notable clinical and economic difference (66.34% reduction of the expenses) in antibiotics usage specifically and other medications used in COVID-19 management during the pandemic. Crucially, educational initiatives targeting clinical pharmacists can foster judicious prescribing habits.

Designing Future Clinical Trials for Sepsis-associated Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.

Defining success in a clinical trial is not necessarily a straightforward task, especially when the target population is critically ill patients where few agents have demonstrated effectiveness. This has been the case for trials of anticoagulation in patients with sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which have generally examined patients with severe sepsis but not specifically DIC. Limitations of existing studies include inadequate anticoagulant doses and delayed initiation of treatment. Furthermore, 28-day mortality has been adopted as the primary endpoint but is affected by a panoply of factors other than anticoagulant therapies and may not be the most relevant measure. Future trials must address several current limitations in order to improve our understanding of the role of anticoagulation in patients with sepsis-associated DIC.

Identifikacija terapijskih problema tokom uvođenja usluga farmaceuta na Odeljenju gerijatrije Kliničko-bolnickog centra

Introduction: Patients with multiple comorbidities and undergoing polypharmacy are at a high risk of experiencing drug-related problems (DRPs). These DRPs can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objective: This study aims to identify the prevalence and causes of DRPs in geriatric inpatients, as well as the factors that contribute to them. Additionally, the study intends to evaluate the implementation of ward-based pharmacy services in the geriatric department. Method: The pharmacist analyzed inpatient therapy, identified DRPs, and formulated recommendations. DRPs were categorized according to the PCNE-DRP classification, version 9. A total of 100 patients, of which 52% were men, average age of 79.7±7.88 years, were included in the study. Results: Our study found that on average, each patient had 2.36 drug-related problems (DRPs). The most common DRP was related to treatment safety, accounting for 44.9% of cases, followed by treatment effectiveness (33.1%) and unnecessary drug treatment (22%). The main cause of DRPs was inadequate drug selection (61%) and inadequate dose selection (38.1%). Patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic renal failure had more DRPs than those without these conditions. In total, we identified 229 interventions to address these DRPs. However, the acceptance rate of these recommended interventions was low at 25.9%. Conclusion: The rate of drug-related issues in elderly hospital patients was found to be high, but the rate of acceptance of interventions to address these issues was low. In order to enhance the implementation of pharmaceutical services and improve healthcare for elderly patients, it is crucial to improve the collaboration between healthcare providers and pharmacists. Recognizing the unique skills and expertise that pharmacists bring to the table can facilitate their integration as a valuable member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Is the application of bioactive anti‐stress substances with a seaweed‐derived biostimulant effective under adequate growth conditions?

AbstractThe use of biostimulants in agriculture is currently emerging as a resource to increase crop productivity and quality. Additionally, the concurrent application of other bioactive materials or bioregulators alongside biostimulants can prove valuable in mitigating oxidative stress induced by various abiotic stresses. However, in some cases, these compounds applied at inadequate doses produce toxic effects under non‐stressful conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of applying various doses of a seaweed‐derived biostimulant containing additional bioactive compounds (Cytolan® Stress) under optimal growth conditions. Lettuce plants were grown under control conditions without biostimulants (control plants) and with two biostimulants Cytolan® (seaweed‐derived biostimulant with proline) and Cytolan® Stress applied foliarly at three doses (150, 300, and 500 mL/hL). Growth and quality parameters and physiological processes within primary and secondary metabolism were analyzed. The results identified the 300 mL/hL dose of Cytolan® Stress as the best treatment. Thus, it improved biomass production, induced photosynthetic activity, increased phytohormone, amino acids (AAs), and mineral nutrient profiles, and stimulated N assimilation. Besides, it substantially enhanced the antioxidant capacity and the concentration of various antioxidant compounds, leading to increased lettuce quality and potential stress tolerance. However, the 500 mL/hL Cytolan® Stress caused phytotoxic effects, underscoring the importance of applying the biostimulant at the proper dose.

Medication Errors in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Enhancing Medication Safety.

This systematic review aims to investigate the prevalence, preventability, and severity of medication errors in pediatric emergency departments (P-EDs). It also aims to identify common types of medication errors, implicated medications, risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in preventing these errors. A systematic review analyzed 6 primary studies with sample sizes ranging from 96 to 5000 pediatric patients in P-EDs. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and included observational studies and randomized controlled trials involving patients aged 18 years and younger. Comprehensive searches in biomedical databases were conducted, and conflicts in record screening were resolved by a third reviewer using systematic review software. Medication errors in P-EDs are prevalent, ranging from 10% to 15%, with dosing errors being the most common, accounting for 39% to 49% of reported errors. These errors primarily stem from inaccurate weight estimations or dosage miscalculations. Inadequate dosing frequency and documentation also contribute significantly to medication errors. Commonly implicated medications include acetaminophen, analgesics, corticosteroids, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and intravenous fluids. Most errors are categorized as insignificant/mild (51.7% to 94.5%) or moderate (47.5%). Risk factors associated with medication errors in P-EDs include less experienced physicians, severely ill patients, and weekend/specific-hour ordering. Human factors such as noncompliance with procedures and communication failures further contribute to medication errors. Interventions such as health information technology solutions like ParentLink and electronic medical alert systems, as well as structured ordering systems, have shown promise in reducing these errors, although their effectiveness varies. Overall, this systematic review provides valuable insights into the complexity of medication errors in the P-ED, emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, and offers recommendations to enhance medication safety and reduce preventable errors in this critical health care setting.

Validity of the current anti-D immunoglobulin doses for the prevention of hemolytic disease of the newborn in Duhok/Iraq

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The current study was initiated to evaluate the comparability of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) measurement using flow cytometry (FCM) and Kleihauer–Betke test (KBT) and also to evaluate the validity of the current anti-D immunoglobulin doses for the prevention of hemolytic disease of the newborn in Duhok/Iraq. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study included 101 pregnant women with Rh(D)-negative blood group who had Rh (D)-positive husbands. Their blood was tested for blood groping, FMH by FCM and KBT, and indirect Coombs test, 1 h following sensitizing events and 72 h after giving anti-D. Furthermore, blood from newborns was examined for blood group and direct Coombs test. RESULTS: The main sensitizing event was parturition (62.4%) followed by cesarean section (32.7%). The indirect Coombs was positive in 32 cases while the direct Coombs test was positive in 19 cases. In 63.4% of cases, the ABO blood groups were incompatible between mothers and their babies. When FMH was checked by KBT method, it was found that 16 (15.8%) participants had FMH ranging 1.2–51 mL (median 4.35 mL), while FMH was positive in 27 (26.7%) participants by FCM method ranging 1.2–54.4 ml (median 9.5 mL). About 4–5 patients had FMH (measured by KBT and FCM, respectively) of &gt;12 mL and only 1% had a volume of &gt;30 mL. The difference between KBT and FCM for FMH measurement was statistically significant with P &lt; 0.001 when assessed by paired t-test and has a highly significant positive correlation with each other. The correlation of FMH was statistically significant with maternal gravidity, number of anti-D received before (moderate positive correlation), gestational age, and newborn hemoglobin (negative correlation). However, the correlation was not significant between FMH and the following factors: maternal parity, maternal hematological parameters, and ABO compatibility of mother and their babies with P &gt; 0.05. CONCLUSION: Inadequate doses of anti-D had been given previously that resulted in sensitization in at least one-quarter of the cases, and this necessitated proper measurement of FMH in all Rh (D) mothers following sensitizing events.

Modelling the Impact of Vaccination on the Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 in the Presence of Environmental Factor

The emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), originating from Wuhan, China in late 2019, poses a significant and formidable challenge to worldwide public health. As a result, more than 20 nations experienced the impact of this lethal illness. This research introduces a mathematical model, namely SEIQRV, which incorporates the SEIR model to analyse the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in Nigeria. The model incorporates nonlinear forces of infection. The present model takes into account the many modes of transmission involved in the dynamics of infection, as well as the influence of the environmental reservoir on the dissemination of this particular illness to human populations. The establishment of the area in which the model is epidemiologically viable has been confirmed. A comprehensive numerical simulation of the model was performed using the data given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The findings from our analysis and simulation suggest that administering an inadequate dose of vaccination will result in an elevated number of persons who are exposed to and infected by the virus. Additionally, this incomplete dosage is also likely to contribute to an increase in the concentration of the virus within the environmental reservoir. Hence, the need for effective vaccination with a zero-wane-off vaccine and compliance with vaccination dose, which can be achieved through educational campaign and public awareness of the need to be vaccinated, and not to be vaccinated alone but to complete the dose as incomplete dosage is dangerous to the community and the country at large. This will help a great deal in eradicating the spread of the COVID-19.

Modelling ozone disinfection of secondary effluents in presence of scavengers and metal catalyst: Synergistic effect and regrowth

The variation in the matrix composition can lead to the use of inadequate oxidant dose and disturb a correct ozone treatment. The aim of this study was to model the ozone disinfection process of secondary effluents in presence of carbonate and nitrate using metal ozonation catalysts. The biological indicator used was the Escherichia coli. The ROH,O3 concept was applied to quantify and compare the E. coli inactivation by the radical pathway. The metals Fe and Zn caused a significative improvement on ROH values (p < 0.05) even in the presence of the •OH radical scavengers (carbonate and nitrate). The modelling results based on ROH values demonstrate that E. coli inactivation can be predicted satisfactory (R2 > 0.94–0.99), being a useful tool for the generalized prediction of disinfection by ozone. The presence of metals inhibited significantly bacterial regrowth (p < 0.05) even in the scavengers presence.

Effects of an Exercise Program to Reduce Falls in Older People Living in Long-Term Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of an exercise program on falls in intermediate and high-level long-term care (LTC) residents and to determine whether adherence, physical capacity, and cognition modified outcomes. DesignRandomized controlled trial. Setting and ParticipantsResidents (n = 520, aged 84 ± 8 years) from 25 LTC facilities in New Zealand. MethodsIndividually randomized to Staying UpRight, a physical therapist–led, balance and strength group exercise program delivered for 1 hour, twice weekly over 12 months. The control arm was dose-matched and used seated activities with no resistance. Falls were collected using routinely collected incident reports. ResultsBaseline fall rates were 4.1 and 3.3 falls per person-year (ppy) for intervention and control groups. Fall rates over the trial period were 4.1 and 4.3 falls ppy respectively [P = .89, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.76, 1.27]. Over the 12-month trial period, 74% fell, with 63% of intervention and 61% of the control group falling more than once. Risk of falls (P = .56, hazard ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.85, 1.36) and repeat falling or fallers sustaining an injury at trial completion were similar between groups. Fall rates per 100 hours walked did not differ between groups (P = .42, IRR 1.15, 95% CI 0.81, 1.63). Program delivery was suspended several times because of COVID-19, reducing average attendance to 26 hours over 12 months. Subgroup analyses of falls outcomes for those with the highest attendance (≥50% of classes), better physical capacity (Short Physical Performance Battery scores ≥8/12), or cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ≥ 18/30) showed no significant impact of the program. Conclusions/ImplicationsIn intermediate and high-level care residents, the Staying UpRight program did not reduce fall rates or risk compared with a control activity, independent of age, sex, or care level. Inadequate exercise dose because of COVID-19–related interruptions to intervention delivery likely contributed to the null result.

2795. Cefepime Versus Meropenem for Infections Due to HECCcK-YeS-MAm Organisms with Cefepime MICs of 4-8 mCg/mL (S-DD)

Abstract Background Recent guidance from IDSA recommends meropenem for treatment of organisms at moderate-high risk for inducible chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase hyperproduction (AmpC organisms) with a cefepime minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4-8 mCg/mL (susceptible dose-dependent or S-DD).1 This runs contrary to pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M100 guidance, which considers organisms ≥ 16 mCg/mL resistant.2 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of cefepime versus meropenem for the treatment of infections caused by AmpC organisms with a S-DD cefepime MIC. Methods This was a retrospective study evaluating patients treated within Indiana University Health from 2015-2022. All cefepime S-DD AmpC isolates were included. Exclusion criteria were &amp;lt; 48 hours of treatment, multiple days of therapy with another active agent, inadequate dosing, extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) co-production, and carbapenem resistance. The primary endpoint of this study was a composite of in-hospital all-cause mortality and antibiotic escalation due to clinical worsening. Secondary endpoints include positive repeat blood cultures within 7 days of treatment initiation, and ESBL or carbapenem resistant organism isolation during or following treatment. Results 355 isolates were screened. 71 patients were included in the final analysis, 43 in the cefepime group and 28 in the meropenem group. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different. Enterobacter cloacae made up 79% of cases. The primary endpoint occurred in 13/43 (30%) of patients on cefepime and 7/28 (25%) of patients on meropenem (P=0.63). Treatment escalation and escalation due to clinical worsening was higher in the cefepime group with 7 (16%) and 6 (14%) incidents respectively compared to none in the meropenem group (P=0.03; P=0.04). No other endpoints, including all-cause mortality, were significantly different between groups. Conclusion Cefepime remains a viable treatment option for ESBL-negative, AmpC organisms with MICs in the S-DD range. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Higher Rates of Inadequate Adjuvant Radiation Dose Among Older Adults with Head and Neck Cancer.

To determine the rate of inadequate radiotherapy and identify risk factors associated with inadequate adjuvant radiotherapy for head and neck cancer among older adults. A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was performed to identify patients diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck between 2004 and 2017. Patients with a single malignancy, negative surgical margins, no extranodal extension, and receipt of adjuvant radiation without systemic therapy were included in the study cohort. The main outcome of interest was the adjuvant radiation dose received. Participant data were compared using univariable, multivariable, and correlation analyses to evaluate risk factors for inadequate radiation therapy (RT) dosing. Among 7608 patients, 1010 patients (13.3%) received an inadequate radiation dose and 6598 (86.7%) received an adequate dose. Patients living in a higher income zip-code, younger age, and those who received intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) were more likely to receive an adequate radiation dose (p < 0.05). Patients older than 70 and 80 years old had a greater likelihood of receiving an inadequate radiation dose (≥70 vs. <70: 16.9% vs. 12.5%; p < 0.05 and ≥80 vs. <80: 20.6% vs. 13.0%%; p < 0.05). Similarly, increasing age was negatively correlated with radiation dose (correlation coefficient: -0.05; p < 0.001). A substantial proportion of older patients receiving adjuvant radiation do not complete the full treatment. Older age, year of diagnosis, non-IMRT, and living in a lower-income zip code were associated with early termination of RT. Future studies should examine strategies to improve tolerance of adjuvant RT so that more patients complete the full treatment. 3; Cohort Study Laryngoscope, 134:2206-2211, 2024.

Variation in coagulation factor activity levels cause discrepancies between activated partial thromboplastin time and anti-Xa activity for heparin monitoring: a retrospective observational study

BackgroundUnfractionated heparin (UFH) is primarily monitored using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). However, the recent introduction of anti-activated factor X (anti-Xa) activity testing has provided a direct evaluation of Xa inhibition by anticoagulants. This study aimed to investigate discrepancies between APTT and anti-Xa activity during UFH monitoring in critically ill patients and explore their underlying causes.MethodsThis study analyzed 271 pairs of laboratory test results from blood samples of 99 critically ill patients receiving continuous intravenous UFH. Theoretical APTT values were calculated using fitted curve equations from spiked sample measurements with anti-Xa activity. Samples were categorized into three groups based on the measurement of the APTT/theoretical APTT ratio: the lower group (< 80%), the concordant group (80–120%), and the upper group (> 120%).ResultsThe overall concordance rate between APTT and anti-Xa activity was 45%, with a 55% discrepancy rate. The lower group frequently showed apparent heparin overdoses, while coagulation factor activities in the lower and upper groups were higher and lower, respectively, than those in the concordant group. Particularly, the lower group exhibited higher factor VIII activity levels than the upper and concordant groups.ConclusionsDiscrepancies between APTT and anti-Xa activity were frequently observed, influenced by changes in coagulation factors activity levels. The lower and upper groups were classified as pseudo-heparin-resistant and coagulopathy types, respectively. Accurate monitoring of heparin in critically ill patients is crucial, especially in cases of pseudo-heparin resistance, where APTT values may wrongly indicate inadequate heparin dosing despite sufficient anti-Xa activity. Understanding these discrepancies is important for managing heparin therapy in critically ill patients.Trial registration: Not applicable.

Corticosteroid and antibiotic use in hospitalized patients in Lebanon with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with 90% of these deaths reported in low- and middle-income countries. In Lebanon, the prevalence of COPD is 9.7%. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids in inpatients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The studies examining the level of conformity with the GOLD recommendations are rare, which increases the need for the current study.MethodsA 3-month cross-sectional study was done. Patients included were those diagnosed with acute exacerbations of COPD and admitted to one of the selected hospitals in Beirut, of various nationalities and sexes, aged 18 to 89. Data were selected from patient files admitted between January 2020 and June 2022 using a data collection sheet. The SPSS version 24 statistics software was used to conduct statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 260 patients were recruited, with 86.7% receiving systemic corticosteroids, 24.3% respecting dose, and 81.8% respecting the appropriate duration of corticosteroid intake. 80% exhibited pulmonary indications for receiving antibiotics, and 56.53% had the necessary cardinal symptoms. Around 74.5% of patients use antibiotics for the recommended time of 5 to 7 days. Age (p value = 0.006), gender (p value = 0.049), alcohol consumption (p value = 0.018), and use of psychiatric medications (p value = 0.049) are correlated with the conformity index of corticosteroid administration. A correlation was observed between the duration of use of antibiotics with cardinal symptoms (p value = 0.003), CRP-value (p value = 0.007), and type of hospital (p value = 0.00).ConclusionThis investigation revealed a need for correction in a deviation from the guidelines, shed light on existing clinical procedures, and emphasized the growing concern about the uncontrollable rate of antibiotic use and inadequate corticosteroid dosing.

Abstract 14872: A Nationwide Telehealth Heart Failure Program: Can Remote Patient Monitoring and Guideline Directed Treatment Protocols Benefit HFpEF Management?

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) patients experience unnecessary morbidity and mortality due to inadequate use and dose of GDMT. While RPM has proven to help HFrEF patients achieve higher rates of GDMT, its value in optimizing comorbidities and GDMT in HFpEF patients is less clear. Hypothesis: A team of multi-disciplinary HF clinicians can leverage RPM and guideline directed treatment protocols to bridge the gaps in HFpEF management. Methods: Cadence enrolled Medicare patients with HFpEF across 11 states into a virtual HF program from December 2021 to April 2023. Eligible patients had either an ICD-10 code for diastolic HF, diastolic dysfunction on TTE, or an EF&gt;50% and a prior HFH or active treatment for HF by their clinician. Patients were given a cellular enabled BP cuff and weight scale to measure vitals. Coupling a technology enabled vitals and symptoms tracker with a guideline directed clinical protocol algorithm, symptom, vital and medication optimization was achieved. Results: Two-hundred fifteen patients (mean (SD) values: age 76 (9); white 64%, women 49%; BP 141/79 (9/6) mmHg; EF 60% (0.1)) were followed for a mean of 223 (82) days. Comorbidities, including DM (41%), AF (53%) and HTN (92%), were highly prevalent. There was a statistically significant reduction in BP and weight, but not heart rate (BP: -11/6 mmHg, Wt -4 lbs; p&lt;0.001). Patient engagement information, including number of vitals recorded, clinical visits and phone calls completed, and high acuity clinical alerts resolved, is depicted in Figure 1A. There was a 286% and 71% increase in percentage of patients on a SGLT2i and MRA, respectively, at follow-up compared to baseline (SGLT2i: 15 (7%) vs. 44 (20%); p&lt;0.001, MRA: 30 (14%) vs. 50 (24%); p&lt;0.05). Additional changes in use and dose of GDMT are shown in Figure 1B. Conclusion: A telehealth HF program that utilizes RPM and technology enabled treatment protocols can meaningfully improve HF-specific vitals and rates of GDMT in patients with HFpEF.