Mortality Index Research Articles

Contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality.

The quick sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment (qSOFA) acts as a prompt to consider possible sepsis. The contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality remain unknown. A total of 3974 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were recruited to an observational prospective cohort study. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), odds ratio, relative risk and Youden's index were employed to assess discrimination. Respiratory rate ≥22/min demonstrated the most superior diagnostic value, indicated by largest odds ratio, relative risk and AUROC, and maximum Youden's index for mortality. However, the indices for altered mentation and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤100 mm Hg decreased notably in turn. The predictive validities of respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg were good, adequate and poor for mortality, indicated by AUROC (0.837, 0.734 and 0.671, respectively). Respiratory rate ≥22/min showed the strongest associations with SOFA scores, pneumonia severity index, hospital length of stay and costs. However, SBP ≤100 mm Hg was most weakly correlated with the indices. Respiratory rate ≥22/min made the greatest contribution to parsimonious qSOFA to assess severity and predict mortality. However, the contributions of altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg decreased strikingly in turn. It is the first known prospective evidence of the contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality, which might have implications for more accurate clinical triage decisions.

Abstract 4123849: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Cases Involving Hospitalization Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Myocardial Infarction and All−Cause Mortality Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older

Background: Older adults and adults with comorbidities are at increased risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and related complications. Aims: To estimate the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and all−cause mortality among adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized with RSV compared to those with no recent acute respiratory illness (ARI) and those hospitalized with influenza. Methods: Data from Optum’s de−identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database were analyzed (October 2015–June 2023) in this retrospective cohort study. Adults aged ≥50 years with ≥12 months of continuous enrollment were assigned to cohorts based on RSV or influenza hospitalization (from ICD−10 codes; RSV and flu cohorts) or no recent ARI (control cohort). Index dates for RSV and flu cohorts were the start of an ARI that included hospitalization. Baseline characteristics were measured in the 12 months pre−index. MI (from ICD−10 codes) and all−cause mortality were measured during follow−up and compared between cohorts using time−varying coefficient multivariable adjusted Cox models (MI results accounted for the competing risk of death). Results: In the RSV cohort (n=14,759), mean age (76.5 years) and mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; 3.3) were higher than the flu (n=77,468; 75.4 years, CCI=2.9) and control (n=73,795; 69.5 years, CCI=1.0) cohorts. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) for MI and all−cause mortality risk were significantly higher in the RSV vs control cohort across follow−up, ranging from 30.96 (26.22–36.54) within 30 days post−index to 2.26 (2.04–2.51) >365 days post−index for MI and 10.77 (9.19–12.63) within 30 days post−index to 2.29 (2.18–2.42) >365 days post−index for mortality. Compared to the flu cohort, adjusted MI and mortality risk in the RSV cohort were lower during the 30 days post−index (MI: 0.87 [0.82–0.92]; mortality: 0.84 [0.78–0.90]) but higher >365 days post−index (MI: 1.11 [1.01–1.22]; mortality: 1.05 [1.01–1.10]). Conclusion: MI and all−cause mortality risk were higher for hospitalized RSV cases compared to controls. Smaller differences in outcomes were observed when comparing hospitalized RSV cases with hospitalized influenza cases, with varying direction over time. With existing evidence of increased MI and mortality risk after influenza and these findings on MI and mortality risk after RSV, future research should aim to further understand the impact of RSV on cardiovascular outcomes and assess the role of RSV prevention in lowering the risk of MI and mortality.

Broiler Chicken Performance with The Addition of Moringa Leaf Flour (Moringa oleifera) and Garlic Flour (Allium sativum L)

This study aims to determine the effect of giving Moringa leaf flour at 1, 2.5% and 5% and garlic flour at 2% on the performance of broiler chickens. The materials used are 64 broiler chickens. Moringa leaf flour and garlic flour. This study used a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications. P0 = 100% commercial feed, P1 = 1% Moringa leaf flour and 2% garlic flour, P2 = 2.5% Moringa leaf flour and 2% garlic flour, P3 = 5% Moringa leaf flour and 2% garlic flour for 35 days. The variables observed were feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality and performance index. The data obtained were analyzed using variance analysis, and the Duncan test was continued. The results showed that the treatment had no significant effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, weight gain, FCR, mortality and IP. Based on the study results, it can be concluded that administering Moringa leaf flour at up to 5% and garlic flour at 2% yielded good results on weight gain, FCR, and mortality.

Maternal Mortality Indices in Tertiary Care Center of Central India

Maternal Mortality Indices in Tertiary Care Center of Central India

Prediction of 90-day mortality risk after unplanned emergency department visits of advanced stage cancer patients

PurposeCancer represents the leading cause of mortality in high-income countries. In the last years, the rate of emergency department (ED) visits by cancer patients has increased 5.5-fold. These ED visits impose a significant economic burden and may indicate the progression of the oncologic disease. The goal of this retrospective study was to identify patient-derived risk factors, especially focusing on serum albumin and body mass index (BMI) for 90-day mortality following unplanned ED visits by cancer patients.MethodsA retrospective chart review of all patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis for cancer undergoing palliative treatment presenting at the ED between 2016 and 2018 at the General Hospital of Vienna was performed. Laboratory values, emergency severity index (ESI), and BMI were collected at the ED presentation. 90-day mortality (90MM) was calculated from the ED presentation.ResultsA total of 448 cancer patients were included. Lung cancer (19.2%) and pancreaticobiliary cancer (15.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. The main reasons for ED visits were pain (20.5%) and fever (17.4%). Sixty-nine percent of patients had to be admitted and 17.5% of patients died during hospitalization. 90MM was highest for patients with low albumin (< 35 g/L vs. > 35 g/L: 60.4% vs. 31.4%; p < .0001). When incorporating albumin levels and BMI, patients with both values below the cutoff had the highest risk for death (HR 4.01, 95% CI 2.30–7.02).ConclusionCancer patients face a high risk for hospitalization when presenting at the ED. The 90MM rate is highest in patients with low BMI and albumin levels. This highlights an especially vulnerable cohort of cancer patients for whom supportive care and palliative care have to be optimized.

The associations of the triglyceride-glucose index and its combination with blood pressure on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertension: a national study.

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable surrogate biomarker of insulin resistance (IR), is highlighted recently as related to cardiac disorders. However, the associations of the TyG index and its combination with blood pressure (BP) on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertension remain unclear. In this study, we included 9,635 hypertension patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018. During a median follow-up of 8.00 years, a total number of 853 and 2,489 in cardiovascular and all-cause deaths occurred, respectively. After full adjustments, the individual TyG index was positively associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality with J-shaped dose-response relationships. The lowest risk thresholds of the TyG index for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 9.5551 and 9.3405, respectively. In joint analyses, the highest risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were observed among those with elevated levels of both BP and IR [1.64 (1.18, 2.28), P = 0.0031; 1.39 (1.14, 1.70), P = 0.0011; respectively]. In sensitivity and subgroup analyses, the results were generally robust. Our data appeal a hypothesis that future treatments for hypertension may require a combination of BP controlled and IR improvement.

Predictive Value of Life's Crucial 9 for Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study From the NHANES 2007 to 2018.

The predictive value of Life's Crucial 9 (LC9), a recently proposed cardiovascular health risk score combining psychological health and Life's Essential 8 (LE8), remains unclear. In this cohort study, we included 16 290 adults without cardiovascular disease from the 2007 to 2018 cycles of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The LC9 was the mean of the LE8 score and the depression score, which represented a dimension of psychological health. The study outcomes were cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to estimate the association of LC9 and LE8 scores with outcomes. The differences in Harrell's concordance index, net reclassification improvement index, and integrated discrimination improvement were calculated to assess the predictive ability of the depression score in addition to the LE8 score. During a median follow-up of 7.08 years, 879 (5.40%) participants died, and 242 (1.49%) died from cardiovascular disease. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of per LE8 10-score increase for cardiovascular mortality was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.72-0.88; P<0.001) and the adjusted HR of per LC9 10-score increase was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.69-0.86; P<0.001). Adding the depression score to the LE8 score, the improvement in concordance index for cardiovascular mortality was 0.001 (95% CI, -0.001 to 0.003; P=0.30), the net reclassification improvement index was 10.6% (95% CI, -7.6% to 18.9%; P=0.073), and the IDI was 0.002 (95% CI, 0.000-0.007; P=0.033). The results for all-cause mortality showed similar patterns. Compared with the LE8, the improvement in the predictive value of LC9 was negligible. It may not be necessary to add a depression score to the current cardiovascular health score.

Prognostic Nutritional Index is Related to All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Treated With Capecitabine: Single-Center 24-Month Observational Study in Vietnam.

To determine the mortality rate and the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for all-cause mortality during the 24 months in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer treated with capecitabine. We conducted a study on 87 stage IV colorectal cancer patients treated with capecitabine. Before the day of treatment, all patients were measured CEA and CRP-hs levels and calculated neutrophil/lympho ratio (NLR) and PNI. Patients were monitored and collected drug side effects and mortality for 24 months. The mortality rate of study subjects was 60.9%. CRP-hs, NLR, and PNI were independent factors associated with 24-month mortality in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). At a cut-off value of 38.51, PNI was a predictor for mortality, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 and p < 0.001. PNI was a good predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer treated with capecitabine for 24 months.

The triglyceride-glucose index, blood glucose levels, and metabolic syndrome are associated with all-cause mortality in obesity

BackgroundThe Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TYG) has been proposed as a prognostic index for mortality in the general population, in T2DM, and in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, data on the respective predictive roles of TYG, glucose tolerance (GT), and metabolic syndrome (MS) for mortality in obesity are lacking. MethodsWe analyzed 1359 obese patients (371 men and 988 women), aged 44.1 ± 12.64 years, followed for 14.3 ± 4.44 years. They were subdivided according to glucose tolerance, in normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We analyzed the risk of death associated with blood glucose (BG) quartiles, TYG quartiles and MS quartiles. Cox proportional-hazard models were used to evaluate the risk of death associated with independent variables that were highly statistically significant at univariate analysis. ResultsDifferent degrees of glucose tolerance were associated with a progressive deterioration of clinical outcomes, and increased all-cause mortality (6.3 %, 10.1 %, and 20.4 %, respectively). In all groups, age and male sex were associated with increased mortality. Higher TYG or TYG quartiles, BG or BG quartiles, and MS or MS quartiles were all associated with increased all-cause mortality in the whole cohort. ConclusionTYG, blood glucose and MS are risk factors for mortality in obesity, with a progressively stronger value in IFG and T2DM as compared to NGT.

A critical review of neonatal parent support programme in United Kingdom: the effect of kangaroo mother care in NHS.

It has become critically important to provide a thorough understanding of the effects of the Kangaroo mother care (KMC) phenomenon on infants in the neonatal stage within the United Kingdom (UK). The current body of knowledge suggests numerous research publications globally, but the UK has yet to scale up its KMC practice. This study provides a critical review of the subject for a more nuanced understanding of the subject effect and to identify the current stage of KMC research in the UK. The findings were consistent with the body of knowledge on KMC with slight variations. Specifically, the UK has limited primary study in KMC. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) in KMC are minimal hence the UK is dependent on MedTech like an infant incubator which is a potential threat to KMC scale-up. Breastfeeding figures in the UK suggest depleting practice of KMC. The National and local policies captured KMC components but have impacted morbidity and mortality indices. It also showed three areas of divergence in practice and standardization. To enhance UK national and local policies uniformized guidelines and standardization of postnatal follow-up and community-based supervision are necessary.

Toxoplasma Gondii infection and cardiovascular mortality: sex-specific differences in a United States population-based cohort study

BackgroundAlthough Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection has been linked to cardiac injury, the extent to which it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between T. gondii infection and CVD mortality in the United States population.MethodsThis study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2009 and 2014 to investigate the association between T. gondii infection and CVD mortality. The T. gondii infection status was determined by measuring serum T. gondii IgG antibody levels. CVD mortality outcomes were ascertained through linkage with the national mortality index records. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of T. gondii infection on CVD mortality.ResultsA total of 10,237 (Male, n = 5010; Female, n = 5227) individuals aged ≥ 20 years were included in the analysis, of which 1,632 were positive for T. gondii serum IgG antibodies. After a median follow-up of eight years, there were 312 deaths due to CVD. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, the risk of death from CVD was 40% higher in T. gondii-seropositive men compared with seronegative men (HR: 1.40; 95%CI: 1.02–1.93), but not in women (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.57–1.34). These results remained consistent in further stratified and sensitivity analyses.ConclusionIn this large population-based cohort study, T. gondii infection was associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality in men, but not in women. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential sex-specific differences in the effects of T. gondii infection on CVD mortality. Future investigations should focus on validating these results and exploring the potential implications for cardiovascular risk assessment and management.

Assessing a revised-risk analysis index for morbidity and mortality after spine surgery for metastatic spinal tumors.

Risk Analysis Index (RAI) has been increasingly used to assess surgical frailty in various procedures, but its effectiveness in predicting mortality or in-patient hospital outcomes for spine surgery in metastatic disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive values of the revised RAI (RAI-rev), the modified frailty index-5 (mFI-5), and advanced age for extended length of stay, 30-day readmission, complications, and mortality among patients undergoing spine surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. A retrospective cohort study was performed using the 2012-2022 ACS NSQIP database to identify adult patients who underwent spinal surgery for metastatic spinal pathologies. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and multivariable analyses, we compared the discriminative thresholds and independent associations of RAI-rev, mFI-5, and greater patient age with extended length of stay (LOS), 30-day complications, hospital readmission, and mortality. A total of 1,796 patients were identified, of which 1,116 (62.1%) were male and 1,008 (70.7%) were non-Hispanic White. RAI-rev identified 1,291 (71.9%) frail and 208 (11.6%) very frail patients, while mFI-5 identified 272 (15.1%) frail and 49 (2.7%) very frail patients. In the ROC analysis for extended LOS, both RAI-rev and mFI-5 showed modest predictive capabilities with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.5477 and 0.5329, respectively, and no significant difference in their predictive abilities (p = 0.446). When compared to age, RAI-rev demonstrated superior prediction (p = 0.015). With respect to predicting 30-day readmission, no significant difference was observed between RAI-rev and mFI-5 (AUC 0.5394 l respectively, p = 0.354). However, RAI-rev outperformed age (p = 0.001). When assessing the risk of 30-day complications, RAI-rev significantly outperformed mFI-5 (AUC: 0.6016 and 0.5542 respectively, p = 0.022) but not age. Notably, RAI-rev demonstrated superior ability for predicting 30-day mortality compared to mFI-5 and age (AUC: 0.6541, 0.5652, and 0.5515 respectively, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed RAI-rev as a significant predictor of extended LOS [aOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.13-3.38, p = 0.016] and 30-day mortality [aOR: 5.27, 95% CI: 1.73-16.06, p = 0.003] for very frail patients. Similarly, the RAI-rev significantly predicted 30-day complications for frail [aOR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.21-5.72, p = 0.015] and very frail [aOR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.60-8.51, p = 0.002] patients. However, the RAI did not significantly predict 30-day readmission [Very Frail aOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.75-3.07, p = 0.245; Frail aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.79-2.68, p = 0.225]. Our study demonstrates the utility of RAI-rev in predicting morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing spine surgery for metastatic spinal pathologies. Particularly, the superiority that RAI-rev has in predicting 30-day mortality may have significant implications in multidisciplinary decision making.

Abstract A135: Social disparities in breast cancer screening: Up-to-date screening versus overscreening

Abstract Objective: The United States Preventative Services Task Force breast cancer (BC) screening guidelines in 2022 recommended biennial mammography for women aged 50-74 and cited insufficient evidence to assess mammography’s benefits vs. harms in women aged ≥75. Other guidelines recommend screening cessation for women with &amp;lt;10 years of life expectancy. We examined how racial/ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic patterns observed in up-to-date screening (UTDS) for age-eligible women differ from women aged out of these guidelines or those with limited life expectancy (i.e. overscreening). Methods: We used nationally representative data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for women aged 50+. Women screened in the past 1-2 years were considered UTDS in age group 50-74 and ‘overscreened’ if 75+ or with a high mortality risk of any age (≥8 score using modified Lee mortality index). We used multivariable logistic regressions to examine UTDS and overscreening in relation to self-identified race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, having a personal health care provider, highest education level, and marital status, stratified by age group and mortality risk. Results: 19.2% of 99601 women aged 50-74 did not have UTDS, while 73.7% of 34545 women 75+ and 60.2% of 22225 women with limited life expectancy continued to receive screening (overscreened). Among those aged 50-74, compared to non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH American Indian/Alaskan Native women (OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.45–0.82) and NH women of unknown race (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.45–0.82) were less likely to have UTDS while NH Black (OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.60–2.03) and Hispanic (OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.05–1.46) women were more likely to have UTDS. Lower socioeconomic resources were consistently associated with lower likelihood of UTDS (e.g. not having vs. having a personal health care provider (OR=0.22, 95% CI=0.19–0.26) or high school or less education vs. higher than high school (OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.67–0.79)). In ages 75+, compared to NH White, NH Black women were more likely to be overscreened (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.06–1.65), and NH women of unknown race were less likely to be overscreened (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.29–0.83). Low socioeconomic indicators were also associated with lower likelihood of overscreening (e.g. not having vs. having a personal health care provider (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.36–0.63) or high school or less education vs. higher than high school (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.67–0.86)). Among women with a higher mortality risk, NH Black women (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.64–2.56) and Hispanic women (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.09– 2.38) were more likely to be overscreened than NH White women. Conclusion: The findings reveal racial/ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic disparities in UTDS. NH Black and Hispanic women, who are more likely to have UTDS, may be at risk of overscreening as they age or if they have limited life expectancy. These patterns in UTDS and overscreening are critical considerations for implementing equitable BC screening guidelines and optimizing the benefits while minimizing the harms of screening in diverse populations. Citation Format: Michelle L. Lui, Erica Lee Argov, Anita G. Karr, Rebecca D. Kehm, Parisa Tehranifar. Social disparities in breast cancer screening: Up-to-date screening versus overscreening [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A135.

Mortality Risk Assessment Using Deep Learning-Based Frequency Analysis of EEG and EOG in Sleep

Abstract Study Objectives To assess whether the frequency content of electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) during nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) can predict all-cause mortality. Methods Power spectra from PSGs of 8,716 participants, included from the MrOS Sleep Study and the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS), were analyzed in deep learning-based survival models. The best-performing model was further examined using SHapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) for data-driven sleep-stage specific definitions of power bands, which were evaluated in predicting mortality using Cox Proportional Hazards models. Results Survival analyses, adjusted for known covariates, identified multiple EEG frequency bands across all sleep stages predicting all-cause mortality. For EEG, we found an all-cause mortality hazard ratio (HR) of 0.90 (CI95% 0.85–0.96) for 12–15 Hz in N2, 0.86 (CI95% 0.82–0.91) for 0.75–1.5 Hz in N3, and 0.87 (CI95% 0.83–0.92) for 14.75–33.5 Hz in REM sleep. For EOG, we found several low-frequency effects including an all-cause mortality HR of 1.19 (CI95% 1.11–1.28) for 0.25 Hz in N3, 1.11 (CI95% 1.03–1.21) for 0.75 Hz in N1, and 1.11 (CI95% 1.03–1.20) for 1.25–1.75 Hz in Wake. The gain in the concordance index (C-index) for all-cause mortality is minimal, with only a 0.24% increase: The best single mortality predictor was EEG N3 (0-0.5 Hz) with C-index of 77.78% compared to 77.54% for confounders alone. Conclusion Spectral power features, possibly reflecting abnormal sleep microstructure, are associated with mortality risk. These findings add to a growing literature suggesting that sleep contains incipient predictors of health and mortality.

Design of a Phase 3, Global, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study of Nipocalimab in Pregnancies at Risk for Severe Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn.

Nipocalimab is a neonatal fragment crystallizable (Fc) receptor (FcRn)-blocking monoclonal antibody that inhibits placental immunoglobulin G (IgG) transfer and lowers circulating maternal IgG levels. In an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study, nipocalimab demonstrated evidence of safety and efficacy that support further investigation in a pivotal phase 3 trial of recurrent hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The phase 3 AZALEA study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nipocalimab in a larger population at risk for severe HDFN, defined as HDFN associated with poor fetal outcomes or neonatal death. AZALEA is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 study enrolling alloimmunized pregnant individuals (N ≈ 120) at risk for severe HDFN based on obstetric history. Participants are randomized 2:1 to receive intravenous 45 mg/kg nipocalimab or placebo weekly from 13-16 to 35 weeks gestational age (GA). During the double-blind treatment period, participants receive standard-of-care weekly monitoring for fetal anemia until planned delivery at 37 to 38 weeks of GA. Postnatal follow-up periods are 24 weeks for maternal participants and 104 weeks for neonates/infants. The primary endpoint is the proportion of pregnancies that do not result in intrauterine transfusion (IUT), hydrops fetalis, or fetal loss/neonatal death from all causes. Key secondary endpoints include the severity of HDFN as measured by a composite HDFN severity index, the earliest time to occurrence of IUT or hydrops fetalis, the modified neonatal mortality and morbidity index in liveborn neonates, and the number of IUTs received. Other endpoints are safety, patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (e.g., IgG, FcRn receptor occupancy), and immunogenicity of nipocalimab. AZALEA, the first placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter, prospective trial in severe HDFN, is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nipocalimab, a potential preventive and noninvasive intervention, in at-risk HDFN pregnancies. · Severe HDFN leads to poor fetal/neonatal outcomes.. · IUTs are associated with complications and fetal loss.. · Nipocalimab blocks IgG recycling and placental transfer.. · Nipocalimab reduces fetal anemia and IUTs in early-onset severe HDFN.. · The phase 3 AZALEA study evaluates nipocalimab in severe HDFN..

Significance of detecting cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase MB in critically Ill children without primary cardiac illness.

To investigate the incidence of myocardial injury in children with critically ill children without primary cardiac disease and the association between elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnl) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) concentrations and disease progression and prognosis to guide early treatment. The serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations of 292 children with critically ill children without primary cardiac disease in Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital between January 2021 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed within 24 h after entering the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The children were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to the myocardial marker results. The abnormal group was further divided into the cTnI-elevated, CK-MB-elevated, single-elevated (cTnI- or CK-MB-elevated) and double-elevated (cTnI- and CK-MB-elevated) groups. The differences in the clinical indicators and their relationships with prognosis for the groups were compared. The incidence of myocardial injury among the critically ill children without primary cardiac disease was 55.1%. The incidence of myocardial injury in children with infectious diarrhea combined with moderate and severe dehydration reached 85.19%. The pediatric critical illness score; frequency of use of vasoactive drugs; hypotension, shock, heart failure, respiratory failure, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; and mortality indexes differed significantly for the normal and abnormal myocardial marker groups (P < 0.05). The single-elevated and normal groups only showed a difference in mortality (P < 0.017). The cTnI and CK-MB concentrations were negatively correlated with prognosis (P < 0.01). Myocardial injury, as evidenced by elevated cardiac biomarkers, is common in critically ill children without primary cardiac illness. cTnI and CK-MB are associated with outcomes. Shock, heart failure, and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes are independently associated with simultaneous elevations of CK-MB and cTnI concentrations. Further prospective studies are needed to elucidate the clinical utility of these biomarkers.

Prognostic and diagnostic utility of pancreatic stone protein in pediatric sepsis and mortality.

Early detection and prognosis of sepsis in critically ill children is crucial. The aim of this research was to investigate the prognostic ability of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) in validating sepsis and predicting mortality in a prospective observational study. In a single-center study, pediatric intensive care unit patients were divided into cohorts of confirmed and suspected sepsis, as well as survivors and nonsurvivors. Patients with positive blood culture growth were considered to have confirmed sepsis, while their negative counterparts were considered to have suspected sepsis. Comparisons were made between complete blood counts, laboratory parameters, mortality indices, and C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and PSP levels. The correlations between PSP and alternative inflammatory markers and mortality indices were then analyzed. The diagnostic and prognostic applicability of PSP for sepsis confirmation and mortality prediction was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. PSP levels were significantly elevated in patients with confirmed sepsis and within the nonsurvivor segment. In confirming sepsis and predicting mortality, PSP outperformed CRP and PCT in terms of sensitivity. It had sensitivity of 95% in diagnosing sepsis at a cut-off level of 50 ng/L, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52-0.81), and sensitivity of 92% in predicting mortality, with an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.56-0.83). In addition, PSP showed significant correlations with CRP, PCT, and mortality scores. PSP is emerging as a highly sensitive marker for confirming sepsis and predicting mortality in critically ill pediatric patients. Incorporating the PSP biomarker into routine clinical practice could potentially improve the management of pediatric sepsis.

Predictive value of the triglyceride-glucose index for short- and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with critical coronary artery disease: a cohort study from the MIMIC-IV database

BackgroundTriglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is linked to a poor prognosis for cardiovascular condition and is a valid indicator of insulin resistance. This study evaluated the potential predicting usefulness of the TyG index for all-cause mortality, both short- and long-term, for those concerning critical coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsIn this study, information from 5452 critically-ill individuals with CAD in intensive care units were gathered from the Medical Information Marketplace in Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database. Depending on the TyG index degree, the patients were categorized into three categories. Clinical outcomes included short-term (30-day) and long-term (365-day) all-cause mortality. The corresponding relationships involving the TyG index and clinical outcomes were examined by deploying restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analysis and Cox proportional risk regression.ResultsAn increased TyG index was associated with increased 30-day (Tertile 1: 6.1%, Tertile 2: 7.3%, Tertile 3: 9.2%, P = 0.001) and 365-day (Tertile 1: 15.2%, Tertile 2: 17.0%, Tertile 3: 19.6%, P = 0.002) death rates across all causes. Cox regression with multiple variables indicates that higher TyG indices were linked to higher all-caused mortality hazard ratios throughout the short and long terms, with a larger predictive value for the former. RCS regression analyses suggested that the risk of death was notably and linearly that is associated with TyG index.ConclusionsThe TyG index is a reliable predictor of all-cause mortality at different stages in critically ill CAD patients, with a higher predictive ability for short-term mortality. Early intervention in patients with elevated TyG index may improve their survival outcomes. Future research should delve into understanding its pathophysiological mechanisms and develop intervention strategies based on the TyG index, providing new insights and strategies to enhance the outlook for critically ill CAD patients.

Kondisi Terumbu Karang Di Perairan Leato Selatan Kecamatan Dumbo Raya Provinsi Gorontalo

Coral reefs are one of the tropical aquatic ecosystems which have a very important function both for the organisms that build this ecosystem and the surrounding ecosystems, namely seagrass ecosystems and mangrove ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystems are coastal area resources that are very vulnerable to damage, especially caused by human behavior/surrounding communities. The aim of the research is to determine the percentage of coral cover and coral reef mortality index in South Leato waters. This research was carried out from February to March 2024, located in South Leato Waters, Dumbo Raya District, Gorontalo Province. The research uses the Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) method, where the data is processed and analyzed with CPCe software. Based on the percentage of live coral cover from each station, namely Station I of 48.53% is in the medium category, Station II of 27.56% is in the medium category, Station III of 39.97% is in the medium category. With an average live coral cover of 38.69%, it is in the medium category, referring to the Decree of the Minister of Environment No. 4 of 2001 concerning Standard Criteria for Coral Reef Damage. The percentage level of coral reef damage calculated using the Mortality Index is station I at 0.46, station II at 0.66, station III at 0.67. The average mortality index for coral reefs in South Leato waters is 0.59, falling into the high mortality index category.

Measuring spatial inequalities in maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan: evidence from geographically weighted regression

BackgroundIn developing countries, the death probability of a child and mother is more significant than in developed countries; these inequalities in health outcomes are unfair. The present study encompasses a spatial analysis of maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan. The study aims to estimate the District Mortality Index (DMI), measure the inequality ratio and slope, and ascertain the spatial impact of numerous factors on DMI scores across Pakistani districts.MethodThis study used micro-level household datasets from multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) to estimate the DMI. To find out how different the DMI scores were, the inequality ratio and slope were used. This study further utilized spatial autocorrelation tests to determine the magnitude and location of the spatial dependence of the clusters with high and low mortality rates. The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model was also applied to examine the spatial impact of socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing attributes on DMI.ResultsThe inequality ratio for DMI showed that the upper decile districts are 16 times more prone to mortalities than districts in the lower decile, and the districts of Baluchistan depicted extreme spatial heterogeneity in terms of DMI. The findings of the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) and Moran's test confirmed spatial homogeneity in all mortalities among the districts in Pakistan. The H–H clusters of maternal mortality and DMI were in Baluchistan, and the H–H clusters of child mortality were seen in Punjab. The results of GWR showed that the wealth index quintile has a significant spatial impact on DMI; however, improved sanitation, handwashing practices, and antenatal care adversely influenced DMI scores.ConclusionThe findings reveal a significant disparity in DMI and spatial relationships among all mortalities in Pakistan's districts. Additionally, socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing variables have an impact on DMI. Notably, spatial proximity among individuals who are at risk of death occurs in areas with elevated mortality rates. Policymakers may mitigate these mortalities by focusing on vulnerable zones and implementing measures such as raising public awareness, enhancing healthcare services, and improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.