Ramathibodi Hospital Research Articles

1812. Impact of removing ESBL testing report on the selection of antibiotics for the treatment and 30-day mortality of patients infected with ESBL-producing organisms

Abstract Background The rising burden of carbapenem-resistant organisms is well recognized as a global crisis. Several studies have identified preceding carbapenem use as a risk factor for the subsequent development of infections with carbapenem-resistant, gram- negative organisms. We characterized the impact of removal of the ESBL designation from microbiology reports on inpatient antibiotic prescribing. Methods A historical control study, interventional analysis study was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital) to compared 1 year before removal ESBL designation (period1, August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020) and 1 year post removal ESBL designation (period 2, August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021) on inpatient antibiotic prescribing. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher exact test. Continuous variables were evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. All statistical tests were 2-tailed, and a P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results The primary outcome definitive prescribing of carbapenems decreased from 56.5% to 41.3% afterward (P= .01). Prescription of cefepime was also decreased from 13.6% to 3.5% (P< .05), respectively. Whereas piperacillin-tazobactam use significantly increased from 10.4% to 28.7% (P< .05). Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was prescribed more frequently, i.e., increased from 0 to 2.8%, but this change was not statistically significant. The secondary outcome 30-day mortality from any cause was no different between the two groups, with 22 of 154 patients (14.3%) in group 1 and 24 of 143 (16.8%) in group 2 (P = .55). Conclusion Definitive prescribing of carbapenems was decreased and β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combination was increased after removal ESBL report. Our findings confirm the importance of collaboration between microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship programs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

501. Interferon-gamma Release Assays for Diagnosis of Latent TB Infection in Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis Patients

Abstract Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), are at risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Due to their relatively immunosuppresses condition, reactivation from latent TB infection (LTBI) is the core pathogenesis in these populations. However, the prevalence of LTBI among Thai CKD patients, assessed by a high sensitivity and specificity test such as interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), has never been thoroughly explored. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors for LTBI among Thai CKD patients, including ESKD individuals receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) either by hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods All CKD patients who underwent an investigation for LTBI status at Ramathibodi hospital were prospectively recruited from September 2020 to November 2021 and retrospectively reviewed from December 2020 to November 2021. Those with positive or borderline IGRA results using T SPOT®.TB without clinical or radiological findings compatible with active TB was diagnosed with LTBI. The LTBI prevalence was determined by CKD staging and type of dialysis. Predictors for LTBI were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 199 CKD patients were enrolled; 102 prospectively and 97 retrospectively. There were 173 evaluable patients included with a mean (SD) age of 53 (16) years, and 44% were male. Of those, 95 (55%) had ESKD and maintained on RRT. Overall, 39 (22.5%) CKD patients had LTBI with the prevalence of 25%, 12.5%, 25%, 25% and 24.2% in those with CKD stage 1, 2, 3a, 3b and ESKD, respectively (p=0.89). Among ESKD patients, those who were maintained on HD had a higher proportion of LTBI than those on PD (28.9% vs. 5.3%, p=0.03). In multivariate analysis, drinking alcohol was significantly associated with LTBI (OR 8.51; [95%CI 1.24-58.38]; p=0.029), and HD therapy was marginally associated with LTBI (OR 8.14; [95%CI 0.95-69.91]; p=0.056) among ESKD patients. Conclusion In TB endemic settings, one-fifth of patients with CKD and a quarter of ESKD patients could carry LTBI status. Alcohol consumption and HD therapy could better identify high-risk ESKD patients and potentially screen for LBTI. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

A lightweight deep learning approach to mouth segmentation in color images

PurposeMouth segmentation is one of the challenging tasks of development in lip reading applications due to illumination, low chromatic contrast and complex mouth appearance. Recently, deep learning methods effectively solved mouth segmentation problems with state-of-the-art performances. This study presents a modified Mobile DeepLabV3 based technique with a comprehensive evaluation based on mouth datasets.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a novel approach to mouth segmentation by Mobile DeepLabV3 technique with integrating decode and auxiliary heads. Extensive data augmentation, online hard example mining (OHEM) and transfer learning have been applied. CelebAMask-HQ and the mouth dataset from 15 healthy subjects in the department of rehabilitation medicine, Ramathibodi hospital, are used in validation for mouth segmentation performance.FindingsExtensive data augmentation, OHEM and transfer learning had been performed in this study. This technique achieved better performance on CelebAMask-HQ than existing segmentation techniques with a mean Jaccard similarity coefficient (JSC), mean classification accuracy and mean Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.8640, 93.34% and 0.9267, respectively. This technique also achieved better performance on the mouth dataset with a mean JSC, mean classification accuracy and mean DSC of 0.8834, 94.87% and 0.9367, respectively. The proposed technique achieved inference time usage per image of 48.12 ms.Originality/valueThe modified Mobile DeepLabV3 technique was developed with extensive data augmentation, OHEM and transfer learning. This technique gained better mouth segmentation performance than existing techniques. This makes it suitable for implementation in further lip-reading applications.

Real world safety of CT-P10 (anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibodies biosimilar) in rheumatic and autoimmune diseases

BackgroundRituximab (RTX), anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibodies, has been approved for many rheumatic and autoimmune diseases, the use of RTX is still limited due to financial constrain. Biosimilar RTX may increase access by offering patients a more affordable option, lead to improved patient outcomes. However, real-world data related to its immediate and short-term safety is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world immediate and short-term safety profiles of CT-P10, a biosimilar of Rituximab, in patients with rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.MethodsThis prospective study included patients diagnosed with rheumatic or autoimmune diseases, aged ≥ 18 years, who were treated with biosimilar RTX at Siriraj or Ramathibodi Hospital during February 2019 to May 2019. Patients were followed up through 6 months after the infusions.ResultsOf the 74 patients, with 124 infusions, 84% were females with mean age (SD) of 49.4 (15.7) years. The most common rheumatic and autoimmune disease included in this study was systemic lupus erythematosus (26%). All immediate adverse events (AEs) (15 out of 124 infusions) were mild requiring only symptomatic and supportive treatment. Short-term AEs included infection (N = 35), hematologic abnormalities (N = 33), chylous ascites (N = 1), and others (N = 10). Two deaths were related to serious bacterial and viral infection. Hematologic AEs comprised anemia (N = 5), neutropenia (N = 10), lymphopenia (N = 15), and thrombocytopenia (N = 3).ConclusionIn this real-world study, biosimilar RTX (CT-P10) has favorable immediate and short-term safety profiles. However, further studies with large sample size and long-term follow-up in real-world practice are still required to confirm the result.

External validation and comparison of IPI, R-IPI, and NCCN-IPI in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with R-CHOP to predict 2-year progression-free survival

ABSTRACT Background Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive lymphoma. The standard first-line therapy for DLBCL consists of rituximab cyclophosphamide doxorubicin vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP). About 50–70% of patients may be cured by R-CHOP. There was no data on external validation and comparison of the international prognostic index, revised-IPI (R-IPI), and enhanced-IPI (NCCN-IPI) to predict treatment outcomes in the middle-income country with a resourced-limited setting. Objectives We aimed to externally validate and compare IPI, R-IPI, and NCCN-IPI in predicting 2-year progression-free survival (2-y PFS) of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP. Methods This ambispective observational study recruited consecutive patients diagnosed between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2020, with the last follow-up on 1 July 2022 from Thammasat University Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital. We assessed discrimination by Harrell‘s concordance index (c-index), calibration by calibration plot, and absolute difference in survival (ADS) between the lowest-and the highest-risk groups. Results The cohort of 292 patients (median age 63 years and median follow-up 3.6 years) had 131 progressions and 96 deaths. The 2-y PFS was 63%. The c-indices were NCCN-IPI 0.6216, R-IPI 0.6004 (P = 0.215), and IPI 0.6104 (P = 0.463). The calibration plots of NCCN-IPI and R-IPI showed nearly perfect agreement (moderate strength), while IPI had miscalibrations. The ADSs were NCCN-IPI 52%, R-IPI 42%, and IPI 25%. Conclusion NCCN-IPI is the best prognostic index compared to IPI and R-IPI in prior studies. However, the prognostic model for DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP requires updating or integrating biomarkers to improve discrimination to the acceptable level (c-index 0.7).

Interactive 3D Force/Torque Parameter Acquisition and Correlation Identification during Primary Trocar Insertion in Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: 5 Cases.

Laparoscopic procedures have become indispensable in gastrointestinal surgery. As a minimally invasive process, it begins with primary trocar insertion. However, this step poses the threat of injuries to the gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels. As such, the comprehension of the insertion process is crucial to the development of robotic-assisted/automated surgeries. To sustain robotic development, this research aims to study the interactive force/torque (F/T) behavior between the trocar and the abdomen during the trocar insertion process. For force/torque (F/T) data acquisition, a trocar interfaced with a six-axis F/T sensor was used by surgeons for the insertion. The study was conducted during five abdominal hernia surgical cases in the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. The real-time F/T data were further processed and analyzed. The fluctuation in the force/torque (F/T) parameter was significant, with peak force ranging from 16.83 N to 61.86 N and peak torque ranging from 0.552 Nm to 1.76 Nm. The force parameter was observed to positively correlate with procedural time, while torque was found to be negatively correlated. Although during the process a surgeon applied force and torque in multiple axes, for a robotic system, the push and turn motion in a single axis was observed to be sufficient. For minimal tissue damage in less procedural time, a system with low push force and high torque was observed to be advantageous. These understandings will eventually benefit the development of computer-assisted or robotics technology to improve the outcome of the primary trocar insertion procedure.

Effects of second-line antihyperglycemic drugs on the risk of chronic kidney disease: applying a target trial approach to a hospital-based cohort of Thai patients with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundThe reno-protective effect of second-line treatments in type 2 diabetes has been assessed by clinical trials but generalizability to routine clinical practice is still uncertain. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of these treatments, when added to metformin, on the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).MethodsA real-world, hospital-based, type 2 diabetes cohort was retrospectively assembled at Ramathibodi Hospital from 2010 to 2019. Patients who received sulfonylureas (SU), thiazolidinediones (TZD), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), as second-line antihyperglycemic treatment were included. Treatment effect models with inverse probability weighting and regression adjustment were used to estimate CKD risk according to treatment.ResultsCKD was identified in 4,132 of the 24,777 patients with type 2 diabetes (16.7%). The CKD incidence (95% CI) was 4.1% (2.2%, 6.9%), 13.5% (12.5%, 14.6%), 14.8% (13.5%, 16.1%), and 18.0% (17.4%, 18.5%) for patients receiving SGLT2i, DPP4i, TZD, and SU treatment, respectively. The average treatment effects (i.e., the difference in CKD risk) for SGLT2i, DPP4i, and TZD compared to SU were − 0.142 (− 0.167, − 0.116), − 0.046 (− 0.059, − 0.034), and − 0.004 (− 0.023, 0.014), respectively, indicating a significant reduction in CKD risk of 14.2% and 4.6% in the SGLT2i and DPP4i groups, respectively, compared to the SU group. Furthermore, SGLT2i significantly reduced CKD risk by 13.7% (10.6%, 16.8%) and 9.5% (6.8%, 12.2%) when compared to TZD and DPP4i, respectively.ConclusionsOur study identified 14.2%, 13.7%, and 9.5% reduced CKD risk in Thai patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with SGLT2i compared to those treated with SU, TZD, and DPP4i, respectively, in real-world clinical data. Previous evidence of a reno-protective effect of SGLT2i reported in other populations is consistent with our observations in this Southeast Asian cohort.

Corticosteroid nasal irrigation as early treatment of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroid irrigation compared to saline to no nasal irrigation in COVID-19 patients with olfactory loss. A randomised controlled study was conducted at the Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Department, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University. Two hundred thirty-seven COVID-19 participants with a new-onset smell loss were recruited into the study. Two hundred twenty-two participants met the inclusion criteria and were randomised into three groups: corticosteroid irrigation, saline irrigation and no treatment. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the smell sensation score among the groups after treatment at 1, 2 and 6 weeks. The secondary outcomes measurements included (1) a self-rating quality of life (QOL)-related smell dysfunction score, (2) the change over time in smell sensation score and self-rating QOL-related smell dysfunction score and (3) the median time to complete recovery of smell loss. The mean differences in smell sensation scores among the three groups were not statistically significant at any follow-up period. The mean score of self-rating QOL-related smell dysfunction in the corticosteroid group was significantly better than the other groups at 1 week. The change of outcome scores showed significant improvement over time, regardless of the treatments. The median time to complete smell recovery was similar: 3 weeks. This study emphasised that corticosteroid nasal irrigation is not superior to saline or no nasal irrigation in restoring the sense of smell in COVID-19-associated olfactory loss.

Impact of gender mismatch on corneal graft rejection and rejection-related graft failure in repeat penetrating keratoplasty.

To explore the impact of gender mismatch on corneal allograft rejection and rejection-related graft failure in patients with repeat penetrating keratoplasty (PK). A retrospective cohort was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Patients with repeat PK and follow-up period of at least 6 months were recruited. Demographic data, pre-operative ocular findings and donor information were collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to gender mismatch between donor and recipient (male to female vs others). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The association between risk factors and the outcomes of graft rejection and rejection-related graft failure were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Of 68 patients with repeat PK, 26 patients (38.2%) were gender mismatched. There was no difference in 3-year rejection-free survival and graft survival between patients with gender mismatch and others (p = 0.698 and p = 0.402, respectively). Younger recipients (< 40 years) showed a significantly higher rejection rate compared to older recipients (hazard ratio; HR = 3.14, 95% confidence interval; CI 1.15 to 8.58), while patients with multiple PK (> 2 times) were found to be significantly associated with higher rejection-related graft failure compared to patients with 2 times or less PK (HR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.03 to 7.21). After multivariate analysis, only younger recipients demonstrated a statistical significance on graft rejection (adjusted HR = 2.86, 95% CI 1.04 to 7.84). Gender mismatch might not impact corneal graft rejection or rejection-related graft failure in patients with repeat PK. Younger age was found to be a strong factor associated with graft rejection. Gender matching might not be compulsory for repeat PK.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Caregivers' Hesitancy in Immunizing Dependent Older Adults with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations have been proven to prevent hospitalization and mortality. However, some caregivers may be hesitant to authorize COVID-19 vaccination of people under their care. Our study aimed to evaluate factors associated with caregiver hesitancy to authorize vaccination of dependent older adults. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of dependent older patients in the geriatric clinic of Ramathibodi Hospital. Caregivers were contacted and interviewed by trained interviewers from 20 June to 25 July 2021. Results: The study enrolled 318 participants with a mean age of 55.9 years. The majority of the participants were the patients’ children (86.5%). In total, 39.9% of participants were hesitant to authorize COVID-19 vaccination of the older adults under their care. Factors associated with caregiver vaccine hesitation were uneasiness, anxiety, agitation, sadness, and worry in association with social distancing, refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and concern about vaccine manufacturers. Conclusion: The prevalence of caregiver hesitancy to allow older adults to undergo COVID-19 vaccination was relatively high, and several factors associated with this vaccine hesitancy were identified. These findings may aid efforts toward COVID-19 vaccination of dependent older adults.

Early postoperative serum aspartate aminotransferase for prediction of post-hepatectomy liver failure

BackgroundPost-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a serious complication of hepatectomy. The current criteria for PHLF diagnosis (ISGLS consensus) require laboratory data on or after postoperative day (POD) 5, which may delay treatment for patients at risk. The present study aimed to determine the associations between early postoperative (POD1) serum aminotransferase levels and PHLF.MethodsThe medical records of patients who underwent hepatectomy at Ramathibodi Hospital from January 2008 to December 2019 were retrospectively examined. Patients were classified into PHLF and non-PHLF groups. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative findings, and early postoperative laboratory data (serum AST, ALT, bilirubin, and international normalized ratio (INR) on POD0 to POD5) were analyzed.ResultsA total of 890 patients were included, of whom 31 (3.4%) had PHLF. Cut-off points for AST of 260 U/L and ALT of 270 U/L on POD1 were predictive of PHLF. In multivariate analysis, AST > 260 U/L on POD1, ICG-R15, major hepatectomy, blood loss, and INR were independently associated with PHLF.ConclusionsEarly warning from elevated serum AST on POD1, before a definitive diagnosis of PHLF is made on POD5, can help alert physicians that a patient is at risk, meaning that active management and vigilant monitoring can be initiated as soon as possible.

Comparative efficacy of novel drugs as an addition to guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract Background Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is the global public health burden with a prevalence of 1% of adults. The current guidelines suggest the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), beta-blockers (BB), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) to reduce mortality. Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and omecamtiv mecarbil (OMM) have also been studied in HFrEF. However, there has been no head-to-head comparison of the efficacy and cumulative incidence interpretation of the outcome of the novel drugs. Purpose To compare all drugs and possible combinations of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) including ACEI, ARB, BB, and MRA, and novel drugs including ivabradine (IVA), ARNI, SGLT2i, sGC and OMM to find the best additional novel drug to the GDMT. Methods This network meta-analysis (MA) is part of the study registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021262029). A systematic search of MAs and randomised controlled trials (RCT) was performed on biomedical databases from inception to June 2021. All MAs and RCTs were selected against eligibility criteria. A primary composite outcome or a composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation was the outcome of focus. In addition, secondary outcomes, i.e., cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation were analysed. Individual patient data was constructed from Kaplan-Meier-extracted data; then data from all studies were combined. A mixed-effect parametric survival model with accelerated failure time was used, considering individual study as random effects and treatments as a fixed-effect. Median failure time for each regimen and hazard ratios (HR) comparing between regimens with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were then estimated from KM data. Results Cumulative incidence of the primary outcome from each regimen is displayed in Figure 1. Compared to the GDMT or ACEI+BB+MRA, BB+MRA+ARNI (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74–0.88), ACEI+BB+MRA+IVA (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75–0.90), ACEI+BB+MRA+SGLT2i (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.82), ACEI+BB+MRA+sGC (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83–0.99), and ACEI+BB+MRA+OMM (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86–0.99) showed superior benefits. However, ACEI+BB (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59–0.79) and ACEI+BB+ARB (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67–0.98) were both statistically significantly inferior to the GDMT. The treatment combination of ACEI+BB+MRA+SGLT2i showed the highest risk reduction of 25%. More details are provided in Figure 2. The analysis of secondary outcomes showed a corresponding trend with ACEI+BB+MRA+SGLT2i combination reducing the risk of cardiovascular death by 25% (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.82) and heart failure hospitalisation by 25% (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.82) versus the GDMT. Conclusion The network MA showed that the SGT2i is currently the best additional drug to the GDMT in the treatment of HFrEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University

Current state of antimicrobial stewardship and organ transplantation in Thailand.

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a coherent set of actions to optimize antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thailand's national strategic plan has included AMS since 2017. Due to an increased risk of infection and AMR, solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients can benefit from antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). However, the AMS in SOT has not been well defined. Balancing ASPs with the need for early and frequent antimicrobial treatment in this population is challenging. This review assesses the barriers and potential strategies of AMS in SOT in the setting of Thailand. We used PubMed to identify published articles on AMS in organ transplantation in Thailand from January 2013 to January 2022. We also searched local literature and local data from Google Scholar and Google. Finally, we described the AMS experience at Ramathibodi hospital as a proxy for transplant centers in Thailand. There was no specific article on AMS in SOT in Thailand. At our hospital, ASPs have been part of the hospital's routine patient care, including the practice in the transplant unit. Modifiable challenges to AMS in SOT include prescriber opposition, diagnosis uncertainty, and lack of high quality. Both systems and individualized approaches should be implemented to overcome these barriers. The potential interventions include shortening antibiotic time-out, updating clinical guidelines, continuing education, handshake ASP, adopting new technology, and further research. There are limited data on AMS in organ transplantation in Thailand. Strategic priorities should focus on modifiable barriers tailored to organ transplantation. Quality improvement should be ensured by process and outcome measures.

MicroRNA Expression of Primary and Metastatic Colorectal and Breast Carcinoma

Background: Colorectal and breast carcinoma are frequently diagnosed cancers. At advanced stages, cancers metastasize to certain organs resulting in loss of function of these organs, and eventually death. Therefore, there is a specific need for the prognosis of these cancers. Currently, microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as a new target of cancer-specific biomarker. Objective: To examine the expression of miRNA in primary and metastatic breast and colorectal cancers. Methods: This study investigated the expression of 6 miRNAs (miR-10b, miR-21, miR-145, miR-155, miR-200c, and miR-373) in formalin fixed paraffin embed tissues from pairs of normal tissues with primary and metastatic tumor samples of breast and colorectal carcinoma cases in Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Among 6 miRNAs, miR-145 decreased significantly in all samples of primary and metastatic colorectal and breast carcinoma. There was significantly decreased expression of miR-145 in metastatic colorectal carcinoma compared to their primary colorectal carcinoma (P &lt; .05). Whereas miR-10b, miR-155, and miR-200c showed a decreased expression; miR-21, and miR-373 showed an increased expression in the majority of cases. Unlike miR-145, other miRNAs showed no significant difference of expression (P &gt; .05). Conclusions: This finding indicates that miR-145 may be the potential metastatic biomarker. Decrease of miR-145 could be applied to the prognosis and target for therapy of breast and colorectal carcinoma.

Characteristics and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

BackgroundOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and bystander CPR with public-access defibrillation improves OHCA survival outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for emergency medical services (EMS), including the suggestion of compression-only resuscitation and recommendations for complete personal protective equipment, which have created operational difficulties and prolonged response time. However, the risk factors affecting OHCA outcomes during the pandemic are poorly defined. This study aimed to assess the characteristics and outcomes of OHCA patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.MethodsThis single-center, retrospective cohort study used data from electronic medical records and EMS paper records. All OHCA patients who visited Ramathibodi Hospital’s emergency department before COVID-19 (March 2018 to December 2019) and during COVID-19 (March 2020-December 2021) were identified, and the number of emergency department returns of spontaneous circulation (ED-ROSC) and characteristics in OHCA patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand were collected.ResultsA total of 136 patients were included (78 men [59.1%]; mean [SD] age, 67.9 [18] years); 60 of these were during the COVID-19 period (beginning March 2020), and 76 were before the COVID-19 period. The overall baseline characteristics that differed significantly between the two groups were bystander witness and mode of chest compression (p-values < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). The ED ROSC during the COVID-19 period was significantly lower than before the COVID-19 period (26.67% vs. 46.05%, adjusted OR 0.21, p-value < 0.001). There were significant differences in survival to admission between the COVID-19 period and before (25.00% and 40.79%, adjusted OR 0.26, p-value 0.005). However, 30-day survivals were not significantly different (3.3% during the COVID-19 period and 10.53% before the COVID-19 period).ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, ED ROSC and survival to admission in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were significantly reduced. Additionally, the witness responses and mode of chest compression were very different between the two groups.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on 7 December 2021 in the Thai Clinical Trial Registry, identification number TCTR20211207006.

Central nervous system involvement and thrombocytopenia as predictors of mortality in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

IntroductionHemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially life-threatening condition. This study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and identify prognostic-related factors in Thai children with HLH.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 76 pediatric patients with HLH who were treated at Ramathibodi Hospital between January 2004 and December 2019. Treatment outcomes were defined as early mortality (death within 30 days after diagnosis) and early treatment response (resolution of all clinical features and normalization of at least one HLH-related laboratory parameter within 4 weeks).ResultsThe overall mortality rate was 38% (29/76), with an early mortality rate of 45% (13/29). Malignancy-associated HLH had the highest mortality rate (88%), followed by primary HLH (56%). The predictors of early mortality were central nervous system (CNS) involvement [OR 13 (95%CI 2–83), p = 0.007] and platelet counts <44 × 106/mm3 [OR 8 (95%CI 1.3–49), p = 0.024]. The predictors of early treatment response were no CNS involvement [OR 6.6 (95%CI 1.5–28.8), p = 0.011], platelet counts more than 44 × 106/mm3 [OR 8 (95%CI 2.1–30.9), p = 0.003], and total bilirubin levels <1.8 mg/dL [OR 4 (95%CI 1.1–14.8), p = 0.036]. In the mixed-model analysis, platelet counts in non-survivors increased significantly less than those in survivors, with a mean difference in platelet changes between the two groups of 94.6 × 106/mm3 (p = 0.003).ConclusionThe independent predictors of early mortality in children with HLH were CNS involvement and low baseline platelet counts. A slow rate of platelet increases during the first week after diagnosis was also associated with mortality.

Efficacy of time-restricted eating and behavioural economic interventions in reducing fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and cardiometabolic risk factors compared with time-restricted eating alone or usual care in patients with impaired fasting glucose: protocol for an open-label randomised controlled trial

IntroductionImpaired fasting glucose (IFG) is a significant risk factor for diabetes mellitus. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is one type of diet showing positive effects on metabolic signal pathways. However, effects of...

Latent profile analysis identified COVID-19 ARDS phenotypes in Thai patients: Research protocol and preliminary report

Background: Clinical heterogeneity was observed among COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS). The heterogeneity of disease was contributed to different clinical progression, responses to treatment, and mortality. Objective: We aim to study the phenotype and associated mortality of COVID-19 respiratory failure in Thai patients. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study. The data were collected in CARDS who received an invasive mechanical ventilator in ICU. Patient-related data were collected at admission before the onset of respiratory failure. The main features include demographics data, SOFA score, laboratory, CXR severity score, treatment during hospitalization, and the following data at the onset of respiratory failure during invasive mechanical ventilator. We also collected patients’ status at 28-day, in-hospital complications, and ventilator-free days at 28-day after intubation. The latent profile analysis was performed to identify distinct phenotypes. After identifying phenotypes, characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between phenotypes. The primary outcome was the phenotype and associated mortality of COVID-19 respiratory. Secondary outcomes include characteristics of phenotype, ventilator-free days, response to treatment, and complications in each phenotype. Discussion: This study aims to identify the phenotype of COVID-19SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Failure in Thai Patients The different phenotypes may be associated with varying responses to treatment and outcomes that the result of this study may be useful for determining treatment and predicted prognosis of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Failure In Thai Patients. Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the Institution Review Board of Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand (No. MURA2021/740). We plan to disseminate the results in peer-reviewed critical care medicine or pulmonology related journal, conferences nationally and internationally.

A study to translate and validate the Thai version of the Victoria Respiratory Congestion Scale

PurposeFew clinical tools are available to objectively evaluate death rattles in palliative care. The Victoria Respiratory Congestion Scale (VRCS) was adapted from the Back's scale, which has been widely utilized in research and clinical practice. The VRCS will be translated into Thai and research will be conducted to determine its validity and reliability in assessing death rattles in palliative care.MethodsTwo qualified language specialists converted the original tool into Thai and then back to English. Between September 2021 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was undertaken at a palliative care unit at Ramathibodi Hospital to determine the Thai VRCS's validity and reliability. Two evaluators independently assessed the volume of secretion noises using the Thai VRCS. The criterion-related validity of VRCS was determined by calculating the correlation between the sound level obtained with a standard sound meter and the VRSC scores using Spearman's correlation coefficient method. To assess inter-rater reliability and agreement measurement on ratings, we utilized a two-way random-effects model with Cohen's weighted kappa agreement.ResultsForty patients enrolled in this study with a mean age of 75.3 years. Fifty-five percent had a cancer diagnosis. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient was found to be 0.8822, p < 0.05, indicating a highly significant link. The interrater reliability analysis revealed that the interrater agreement was 95% and the Cohen's weighted kappa agreement was 0.92, indicating near-perfect agreement.ConclusionsThai VRCS demonstrated excellent criteria-related validity and interrater reliability. Using the Thai VRCS to assess adult palliative care patients' death rattles was recommended.

Development of a "Scissor-Tip-Separator" for adjustment of scissor blade separation and prevention of scissor blade damage during steam sterilization

BackgroundReprocess reusable surgical instruments during steam sterilization; damage occurs to sharp scissor blades in close position, so steam cannot reach the blades. Surgical instruments' management requires standards to ensure patient safety and prevent harmful pathogens, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic. Although various devices can separate scissor blades, they do not prevent damage to cutting edges. To address the above problem, we developed a new scissor protector, the "Scissor-Tip-Separator," and evaluated its efficacy.MethodsThe "Scissor-Tip-Separator" design follows the steam sterilization guideline that instrument tips must be separated. The locking handles and V groove mechanism keep the scissor blades separated while preventing damage to the cutting edges. For efficacy assessment, purposive sampling was performed to select 44 Thai perioperative nurses at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, to evaluate the "Scissor-Tip-Separators" in 450 sterile instrument containers. All participants evaluated surgical scissors placed in the "Scissor-Tip-Separators" during instrument setup, following a problem record checklist. At the end of the fifth use, participants were asked to complete the "Scissor-Tip-Separator" Effectiveness Scale, which was used to test the structural design of the "Scissor-Tip-Separator" in terms of function, usability, and safety. The Adenosine Triphosphate surface test was also used to validate the "Scissor-Tip-Separator" cleanliness. Data were collected from August 2020 to November 2020, then analyzed via descriptive statistics.ResultsThe "Scissor-Tip-Separator" met the cleaning validation criteria, and in 44 uses, the physical property remained the same. The scissor shank was discovered loose from the handle before it had been unlocked (0.2–0.4%) at the 45th use. Based on participants' opinions, the overall instrument effectiveness was high in terms of function, usability, and safety.ConclusionThe "Scissor-Tip-Separator" regulates scissor blade separation under sterilization guidelines; it prevents damage to cutting edges, thus ensuring patient safety. It protects against losses in a sterile field and can prevent hand injuries.