Multicenter Retrospective Study Research Articles

Risk factors for complete uterine rupture in patients with trial of labor after cesarean delivery.

Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) attempt is promoted to reduce cesarean-related morbidity, but it carries a risk of uterine rupture, posing significant maternal and neonatal risks. This study evaluated uterine rupture incidence and risk factors in a high VBAC attempt population. This was a 16-year retrospective multicenter case-control cohort study (2002-2018). Eleven French university hospitals participated. Women were included if they had a complete uterine rupture during a VBAC attempt. Two controls, defined as a VBAC attempt without uterine rupture, were randomly included for each case. We analyzed the risk factors of uterine rupture among the overall population and then among women who had labor induction and those who had spontaneous labor. Logistic regression was used to compute crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for uterine rupture. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted ORs (aORs) and 95% CIs. Among 48 124 patients with a single prior cesarean section, 31668 (65.8%, 95% CI 65.3-66.2) had a VBAC attempt and 23 086 (72.9% 95% CI 72.4-73.4) had a successful vaginal delivery. The complete uterine rupture frequency was 0.63%. There were 199 cases of complete uterine rupture (0.63%, 95%CI 0.54-0.71) and 396 controls. Among the overall population, the odds of uterine rupture was inversely associated with prior vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.3, CI 95% 0.2-0.5) and positively with induction of labor (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.4). For women with spontaneous labor, the odds of uterine rupture was positively associated with a Bishop score<6 (aOR 1.8, 95%CI 1.0-3.0), arrest of cervical dilatation of at least 1 hr. (aOR, 1.8 95%CI 1.1-2.9) and oxytocin augmentation (aOR 2.2 95% CI 1.3-3.7). For women undergoing labor induction, no factors were significantly associated with uterine rupture. Uterine rupture frequency was low among women with high rates of VBAC attempt and successful vaginal delivery and was reduced with previous vaginal birth and increased with induction of labor, regardless of the method used. It was associated with any dystocia during spontaneous labor and suspected macrosomia in induced women, which should be managed with caution.

Utility of icobrain for brain volumetry in multiple sclerosis clinical practice

BackgroundFew studies on multiple sclerosis (MS) have explored the variability of percentage brain volume change (PBVC) measurements obtained from different clinical MRIs. In a retrospective multicentre cohort study, we quantified the variability of annualised PBVC in clinical MRIs. MethodsClinical MRIs of relapse-onset MS patients were assessed by icobrain. Volumetric data were analysed on same-scanner and different-scanner MRI pairs if they passed quality control criteria. Alignment similarity between two images had to be comparable to same-scanner scan-rescan images. ResultsOf 6826 MRIs, 85% had appropriate volumetric sequences and 4446 serial MRI pairs were analysed. 3334 (75%) MRI pairs from 1207 patients met the inclusions. The PBVC of included MRI pairs showed variance of 0.78% for same-scanner pairs and 0.80% for different-scanner pairs. Further selection of included MRI pairs with the best variance resulted in 1885 (42%) MRI pairs with PBVC variance of 0.34%. Excluded MRI pairs with poor alignment similarity had variances of 2.97% for same-scanner pairs and 20.79% for different-scanner pairs. ConclusionIcobrain should be utilised for PBVC determination only on selected MRIs with the best alignment similarity. Applying strict selection criteria for the included MRI pairs and longitudinal imaging on the same scanner remain mandatory to reduce PBVC variability.

National Cohort of Compassionate Use of Meropenem–Vaborbactam: No Benefit over Meropenem for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Meropenem–vaborbactam (MEM-VAB) is a novel carbapenem-beta-lactamase-inhibitor combination that demonstrates activity against carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria, and more specifically KPC-producers, since vaborbactam is an effective inhibitor of KPC enzymes in vitro. This study aimed to describe the initial uses and efficacy of MEM-VAB for compassionate treatment during the first 21 months following its early access in France. Method: A national multicenter retrospective study was conducted, including all patients who received at least one dose of MEM-VAB between 20 July 2020, and 5 April 2022. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were collected using a standardized questionnaire. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobials, and complete genome sequencing of bacteria were performed when bacterial isolates were available. Results: Ultimately, 21 patients from 15 French hospitals were included in the study. The main indication for MEM-VAB treatment was respiratory tract infections (n = 9). The targeted bacteria included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 12), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Enterobacter spp (n = 3), Citrobacter freundii (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 1), and Burkholderia multivorans (n = 1). Overall, no significant advantage of vaborbactam over meropenem alone was observed across all strains of P. aeruginosa in terms of in vitro susceptibility. However, MEM-VAB demonstrated a notable impact, compared to carbapenem alone, on the MIC for the two KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae and B. multivorans. Conclusions: MEM-VAB seems effective as a salvage treatment in compassionate use, but vaborbactam was shown to lack benefits compared to meropenem in treating P. aeruginosa-related infections. Therefore, it is crucial to compare meropenem to MEM-VAB MICs, particularly for P. aeruginosa, before prescribing MEM-VAB.

Redefining Calciphylaxis as a Uniquely Bone Forming Subcutaneous C5b-9-Mediated Microvascular Injury Syndrome Associated With Localized Subcutaneous and Systemic Complement Pathway Activation.

Microvascular thrombosis is key to the pathogenesis of calciphylaxis. C5b-9-mediated microvascular injury reflective of complement pathway activation could be a key pathophysiologic event. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of 24 patients who have had biopsy-supported calciphylaxis from the 2010-2022 data base from Emory where C5b-9 immunohistochemistry (IHC) had not been conducted and the 2019-2023 data base from Cornell where C5b-9 IHC was done as part of the routine calciphylaxis work up. IHC for C5b-9 on lesional biopsy specimens was assessed and correlated with routine light microscopic findings and clinical features. Most of the patients in our study had uremic calciphylaxis associated with obesity, diabetes, dialysis, hypertension, hyperparathyroidism and elevated serum phosphorus. Most patients did not have defined procoagulant and/or hyperviscosity states. The vascular pathology was predominantly limited to the subcutaneous fat and ranged from a calcific intimal arteriopathy to microvascular thrombosis with endothelial injury with or without endothelial calcification. In most cases (ie, in excess of 80%), there was prominent deposition of C5b-9 within the vasculature including the microvasculature and arteries of the fat at least localized to injured vessels suggesting a causal association. In about 40% of cases, there was evidence of systemic complement pathway activation revealed by concurrent dermal microvascular C5b-9 deposition. Calciphylaxis is characterized by subcuticular vascular changes that reflect an interplay between complement triggered endothelial cell injury, resultant vascular thrombosis, and subsequent abluminal calcification. Complement inhibition therapy defines a potential intervention that should be explored.

Incidental findings in preoperative computed tomography images of robotic-assisted total joint replacement: a multi-center retrospective study

BackgroundThe majority of robot-assisted total joint arthroplasties necessitate preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Incidental findings in these CT scans can introduce complexity into clinical treatment decisions. Consequently, this study sought to document the nature and frequency of incidental findings identified in preoperative CT imaging conducted for robot-assisted total joint arthroplasty, along with their impact on planned surgical procedures.MethodsThis investigation constitutes a retrospective review encompassing patients who underwent primary robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty between January 2020 and January 2022 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Peking University, and Nanfang Hospital. It also includes patients who underwent robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty during the same period at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Peking University, Nanfang Hospital, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University. All CT examinations were initially interpreted by proficient musculoskeletal radiologists. Subsequently, the findings in the examination reports, whether significant or non-significant, were compiled and categorized.ResultsA total of 218 patients, median age 63, were evaluated; 90 had incidental findings (41.3%), with 56 (25.7%) significant. Males were more likely to have findings (P = 0.001). Nine needed additional imaging, and five required intervention.Our study highlights the impact of unexpected CT findings on surgical planning, which can delay or cancel surgeries and affect patient outcomes. It also urges surgeons to review medical histories and perform thorough examinations before surgery to prevent serious consequences.ConclusionsRadiologists often find incidental findings in preoperative CT scans for robot-assisted joint arthroplasty, with a 41.3% incidence rate. About 25.7% of these findings need physician follow-up, and under 5% require intervention, potentially causing delays or cancellations of procedures, while undetected findings could lead to fatal outcomes.Unexpected preoperative CT findings can enhance patient management and prevent complications, necessitating their inclusion in surgical protocols. Systematic assessment improves safety and outcomes, urging surgeons to review medical history and perform thorough examinations pre-surgery.Clinical trial registrationClinical trial registration time: 19/05/2022, clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2200060115.

Inappropriate Prescribing of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in Solid Organ Transplantation With COVID-19 Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

BackgroundNirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NR) has demonstrated effectiveness in halting the progression to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. However, it has a wide range of interactions, especially with immunosuppressants. The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the Inappropriate prescribing of NR and immunosuppressants in SOTRs with COVID-19, while also highlighting the essential aspects. MethodsWe included hospitalized SOTRs who received NR at five tertiary hospitals between December 2022 and June 2023, and evaluated their prescription. ResultsA total of 211 patients were enrolled, of which 205 did not meet all criteria for appropriate prescribing (97.16%). Inappropriateness primarily stemmed from starting treatment more than 5 days after symptom onset (87.68%), followed by application in severe-to-critical cases of COVID-19 (52.13%), the inappropriate dosages based on renal function (47.87%). Contraindications encompassed 17.06% of patients with severe renal impairment and 5.69% with contraindicated drug interactions. Inappropriate resumption of immunosuppressants accounted for a larger proportion than inappropriate discontinuation or dose adjustment (30.16% vs 8.99%). More than one-third of patients neglected to monitor concentrations. About 8% experienced abnormal high concentrations. ConclusionInappropriate prescribing of NR is widespread among hospitalized SOTRs. Adjusting doses based on patients’ renal function and paying attention to concurrent use of immunosuppressive drugs are crucial, and therapeutic drug monitoring is necessary. Clinical practitioners should enhance their vigilance and attention.

Upadacitinib for Induction of Remission in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: An International Multi‑center Study.

Data on upadacitinib therapy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) or unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (IBD-U) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib as an induction therapy in pediatric UC or IBD-U. In this multicenter retrospective study, children treated with upadacitinib for induction of remission of active UC or IBD-U from 30 centers worldwide were enrolled. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data as well as adverse events (AEs) were recorded at week 8 post induction. One hundred children were included (90 UC and 10 IBD-U, median age 15.6 [interquartile range 13.3-17.1] years). Ninety-eight were previously treated with biologic therapies, and 76 were treated with ≥2 biologics. At the end of the 8-week induction period, clinical response, clinical remission, and corticosteroid-free clinical remission (CFR) were observed in 84%, 62%, and 56% of the children, respectively. Normal C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin (FC) <150 mcg/g were achieved in 75% and 50%, respectively. Combined CFR and FC remission was observed in 18/46 (39%) children with available data at 8 weeks. AEs were recorded in 37 children, including one serious AE of an appendiceal neuroendocrine tumor. The most frequent AEs were hyperlipidemia (n=13), acne (n=12), and infections (n=10, five of whom with herpes viruses). Upadacitinib is an effective induction therapy for refractory pediatric UC and IBD-U. Efficacy should be weighed against the potential risks of AEs.

Characteristics of lower respiratory tract pathogens in critically ill patients with heatstroke: a retrospective multi-center study

Characteristics of lower respiratory tract pathogens in critically ill patients with heatstroke: a retrospective multi-center study

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy of multiple tumors: a multicenter analysis.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is increasingly performed in challenging tumor constellations like multiple renal masses. The objective was to investigate influencing factors on postoperative renal function (PRF) after ipsilateral robot-assisted partial nephrectomy of multiple tumors (iRAPN-MT). In this retrospective multicenter study, perioperative data of 132 trans- or retroperitoneal iRAPN-MT for ≥ two tumors were analyzed focusing on influencing factors on PRF and acute kidney injury including RIFLE and trifecta criteria. The impact of patient-, surgery- and tumor-related factors was investigated via uni- and multivariate regression analyses. The majority of patients had two renal masses, with three or more lesions in 19%. Median operative time was 175 minutes. Eighty-five percent of the tumors were dissected on-clamp with a median cumulative warm ischemia time (WIT<inf>sum</inf>) of 15 minutes. Trifecta criteria were fulfilled in 57%. In regression analyses, WIT<inf>sum</inf>, BMI and preoperative eGFR had an impact on eGFR loss before discharge (median -11.6 mL/min). BMI and Charlson Comorbidity Index were independent predictors for the lowest RIFLE stage during hospitalization. iRAPN-MT for multiple ipsilateral renal masses is feasible with good trifecta rates. While mostly unmodifiable patient-associated parameters were independent predictors on PRF impairment, WIT<inf>sum</inf> was identified as a surgery-related independent parameter.

COVID-19 and PIMS-TS-related admissions to paediatric intensive care in the Republic of Ireland January 2020 and July 2022 and analysis of cardiovascular manifestations of their disease.

Our aim was to investigate all children admitted to paediatric intensive care units (ICU)in the Republic of Ireland between January 2020 and August 2022 with an admitting diagnosis of acute COVID-19 infection or paediatric inflammatory multi-system syndrome, temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) or associated illness. The patients were identified to catalogue the severity of illness, analyse cardiovascular manifestations of their disease, and short-term outcomes. This is a retrospective multi-centre observational study. 127 children were admitted to paediatric ICU in Ireland with a COVID-19- related illness between January 2020 and August 2022. 87 (68.5%) of patients had acute COVID-19 infection, 39 (30.7%) had PIMS-TS and 1 (0.8%) patient had post-COVID vaccine-related myocarditis. Ventilatory support was required for 47/87 (54%) in the COVID-19 group comparative to 9/39 (23%) of patients with PIMS-TS. Inotropic support was required for 13/87 (14.9%) children with COVID-19 and 29/39 (74.3%) with PIMS-TS. Evidence of any cardiac disease on ECHO was identified in 23/38 (60.5%) of the PIMS-TS cohort comparative to only 5/36 (13.9%) of patients with COVID-19. 38/39 (97.4%) of patients with PIMS-TS-related cardiac disease and 100% with COVID-19 had a normal echo at the time of discharge from hospital. Overall survival of patients was 100%. The burden of cardiac disease in children requiring paediatric ICU care for COVID-19-related disease was high in the acute phase; however, all children survived, and all cardiac investigations had normalised by short-term follow-up.

The Added Value of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography to Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Local Staging of Prostate Cancer in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

Background and objectiveThe role of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for local staging of prostate cancer (PC) has been poorly addressed so far. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of PSMA PET/CT and MRI, alone and combined, for detection of extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) in PC. MethodsWe conducted a multicenter retrospective study evaluating patients undergoing PSMA PET/CT and MRI before radical prostatectomy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for detection of EPE and SVI were calculated for MRI and PSMA PET/CT alone and combined. Key findings and limitationsWe included 550 patients, of whom 2%, had low-risk, 43% had intermediate-risk, and 55% had high-risk PC. Overall, 52% of patients had EPE and 21% had SVI at histopathology. Patient-based comparison of MRI versus PSMA PET/CT for detection of EPE revealed sensitivity of 60% versus 41% (p < 0.001), specificity of 77% versus 83% (p = 0.075), PPV of 75% versus 73% (p = 0.6), NPV of 64% versus 56% (p < 0.001), and AUC of 69% versus 62% (p = 0.01). Combining the modalities increased the sensitivity (73%; p < 0.001) and NPV (69%; p < 0.001) and decreased the specificity (67%; p < 0.001) and PPV (71%; p = 0.01) over MRI alone. Patient-based comparison of MRI versus PSMA PET/CT for detection of SVI revealed sensitivity of 36% versus 44% (p = 0.2), specificity of 96% versus 96% (p > 0.99), PPV of 71% versus 75% (p = 0.6), NPV of 85% versus 87% (p = 0.2), and AUC of 66% versus 70% (p = 0.2). Combining the modalities increased the sensitivity (60%; p < 0.001), NPV (90%; p < 0.001), and AUC (76%; p < 0.001) and decreased the specificity (92%; p < 0.001) over MRI alone. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study, selection of higher-risk cases for PSMA PET/CT, and lack of central review. Conclusions and clinical implicationsPSMA PET/CT has lower sensitivity for EPE detection in comparison to MRI. However, addition of PSMA PET information to MRI improved the sensitivity for EPE and SVI detection. Thus, the two modalities should be combined to guide treatment selection. Patient summaryCombining MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans with another type of imaging called PSMA PET/CT (prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography) for patients with prostate cancer leads to better identification of cancer growth outside the prostate in comparison to MRI alone. This could potentially improve the choice of prostate cancer treatment.

Missed opportunities for early HIV diagnosis in Greece: The MORFEAS study, 2019 to 2021.

BackgroundLate HIV diagnosis (CD4+ T-cell count < 350 cells/μL, or with an AIDS-defining event) remains a persistent challenge in Greece, indicating potential missed opportunities (MOs) for earlier testing.AimTo determine the frequency of HIV indicator conditions (ICs) preceding diagnosis and to quantify MOs for earlier testing at a nationwide level in Greece.MethodsThis multicentre retrospective study analysed data on 823 antiretroviral therapy-naive adults (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with HIV during 2019-21. Medical records were reviewed to identify pre-diagnosis healthcare contacts (HCCs) and ICs justifying HIV testing. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with ≥ 1 MO. A Bayesian model estimated the time from seroconversion to diagnosis.ResultsAmong 517 participants with HCC data, 249 had ≥ 1 HCC. Of these, 59.0% (147/249) were late presenters. These cases had 365 HCCs, and 191 (52.3%) were MOs for testing. The most common ICs were sexually transmitted infections (39.8%; 76/191) and fever (11.0%; 21/191). Non-Greek origin was associated with lower odds of experiencing ≥ 1 MO (adjusted odds ratio: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.22─1.02), while higher education increased odds of MOs for early HIV diagnosis. Median time from seroconversion to diagnosis was 3.2 years for the full sample and 3.7 years for those with HCC, with about half of the latter reporting MOs post-estimated seroconversion. Recognising MOs would have potentially spared approximately 1 year of delay in diagnosis.ConclusionMOs for earlier HIV diagnosis were prevalent in Greece. Leveraging IC-guided testing and addressing barriers could support earlier diagnosis and treatment, limiting adverse health outcomes and preventing transmission.

Prognostic role of extent of resection and adjuvant radiotherapy in de novo anaplastic meningiomas.

Grade 3 meningiomas, although rare, are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The respective impacts of extent of surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy are still debated. Moreover, anaplastic meningiomas are studied in heterogenous cohort of de novo and progressive anaplastic tumors. We conducted a retrospective multicentric study on patients operated from a de novo anaplastic meningioma between 1999 and 2021. A centralized pathological review using 2016 WHO criteria was performed for all cases. Patients with history of radiotherapy or NF2-related Schwannomatosis were excluded. Sixty-five patients were included in the study. Median progression free survival was 23months and median overall survival was 2years. Neither quality of resection nor adjuvant radiotherapy alone were predictive of better overall survival. Progression free survival were impacted by combination of gross-total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR = 0.47 CI95% = [0.24-0.92], p = 0.027) and age at diagnosis (HR = 2.92 CI95% = [1.38-6.21], p = 0.005) in univariate analyses. Within anaplastic tumors, those graded on mitosis number had a poorer prognosis than those graded on overt anaplasia. Among anaplastic tumors with high mitotic score (> 20/10HPF), progression free survival were impacted by postoperative radiotherapy (HR = 0.44 CI95% = [0.22-0.88], p = 0.020) and gross total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy association (HR = 0.44 CI95% = [0.21-0.90], p = 0.024) in univariate analyses. Simpson grade didn't show any impact on overall survival. Gross total resection + adjuvant radiotherapy favorably impacted progression free survival in our cohort of de novo anaplastic meningiomas.

Comparison of Disc Degeneration between Pyogenic Spondylitis and Noninfected Lumbar Spondylosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study with Propensity Score Matching

Comparison of Disc Degeneration between Pyogenic Spondylitis and Noninfected Lumbar Spondylosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study with Propensity Score Matching

Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: Eight-year results of a multicenter retrospective study in Turkey.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is an important public health problem due to its diverse clinical presentations, diagnostic complexities, and significant impact on patient outcomes and public health. Our study aimed to understand the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics as well as diagnostic and treatment modalities of adult patients with EPTB. This is a multicentric retrospective study that covers patients with EPTB cases followed up from January 2015 to December 2022 among tuberculosis (TB) dispensaries and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology clinics of 15 hospitals located in various regions of Turkey. The study included 64.6% women with a mean age of 44 years and a mortality rate of 3.5% within 1 year of diagnosis. Initial constitutional symptoms were predominantly fatigue (57%) and anorexia (53.7%). The most commonly affected sites were the lymph nodes (49.1%) and pleura (9.7%). The lumbar region was particularly involved in cases with spinal TB. Diagnostic findings included acid-fast bacilli positivity in 27.5% of cases, tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction positivity in 41%, elevated adenosine deaminase levels in 91.2% (especially in pleural and peritoneal fluids), and mycobacterial culture positivity in 40.9%. Pathology slides showed granulomatous inflammation in 97.7%. Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels correlated with the number of organs affected. Anti-TB treatment-related hepatotoxicity was detected in 8.9% of patients. In this study, it is important to note that the lumbar region is predominantly affected with involvement in spinal region. CRP level was consistent with the number of organ involvements and was one of the most critical results of this study.

Correlation analysis and recurrence evaluation system for patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis: a multicentre retrospective study

BackgroundMethods for accurately predicting the prognosis of patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis (RH) after biliary surgery are lacking. This study aimed to develop a model that dynamically predicts the risk of hepatolithiasis recurrence using a machine-learning (ML) approach based on multiple clinical high-order correlation data.Materials and methodsData from patients with RH who underwent surgery at five centres between January 2015 and December 2020 were collected and divided into training and testing sets. Nine predictive models, which we named the Correlation Analysis and Recurrence Evaluation System (CARES), were developed and compared using machine learning (ML) methods to predict the patients’ dynamic recurrence risk within 5 post-operative years. We adopted a k-fold cross validation with k = 10 and tested model performance on a separate testing set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the performance of the models, and the significance and direction of each predictive variable were interpreted and justified based on Shapley Additive Explanations.ResultsModels based on ML methods outperformed those based on traditional regression analysis in predicting the recurrent risk of patients with RH, with Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) showing the best performance, both yielding an AUC (Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve) of∼0.9 or higher at predictions. These models were proved to have even better performance on testing sets than in a 10-fold cross validation, indicating that the model was not overfitted. The SHAP method revealed that immediate stone clearance, final stone clearance, number of previous surgeries, and preoperative CA19-9 index were the most important predictors of recurrence after reoperation in RH patients. An online version of the CARES model was implemented.ConclusionThe CARES model was firstly developed based on ML methods and further encapsulated into an online version for predicting the recurrence of patients with RH after hepatectomy, which can guide clinical decision-making and personalised postoperative surveillance.

Predictive factors associated with short-term mortality in cats with feline infectious peritonitis treated with remdesivir or GS-441524 or both.

Although most cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) respond to treatment with remdesivir or GS-441524 or both with uneventful clinical courses, some die despite treatment. Identify predictive factors associated with short-term mortality in cats with FIP treated with IV remdesivir or PO GS-441524 or both. A total of 108 client-owned cats with FIP. Retrospective multicenter study using data collected from medical records. Factors associated with short-term mortality, defined as death within 84 days, were identified. Univariate analysis a t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher's exact test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess patient characteristics and clinicopathological variables between survivors and nonsurvivors. The short-term mortality rate was 12.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6%-19.7%). Univariate analysis identified plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH; P < .001) and bilirubin concentration (P = .001) as being significantly increased in nonsurvivors, whereas concentrations of albumin (P = .003), total protein (P = .03), sodium (P = .005), and potassium (P = .005) were significantly lower. Additionally, nonsurvivors were significantly less likely to be febrile (≥39.4°C; P = .006). Of these variables, only plasma LDH activity ≥323 U/L, a cut-point determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was significantly associated with short-term mortality by multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 15.30; 95% CI, 1.18-198.00; P = .04). Increased plasma LDH activity might be useful for predicting short-term mortality, guiding monitoring, and establishing prognosis in cats with FIP.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus remission following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and hindgut-based procedure: a retrospective multicenter study.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is considered the standard bariatric surgery due to its excellent outcomes. However, in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), SG alone carries a high risk of metabolic failure. To achieve better metabolic results, SG can be combined with either foregut- or hindgut-based procedures, although a direct comparison between these approaches is lacking. In this retrospective study, we compared the bariatric and metabolic effects of SG (n = 20 patients) with SG associated with duodenal diversion and ileal interposition (SG-DD-II) (n = 20), SG associated with duodenal-ileal anastomosis (SADI-S) (n = 20), and SG associated with single gastro-ileal anastomosis (SASI-S) (n = 20). Patient data, including anthropometric measurements and T2DM characteristics, were extracted from our database. The evaluation criteria included weight loss (% excess weight loss), fasting glycemia (FGL), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) percentage, and T2DM remission rates. Our statistical analysis (p < 0.05) revealed that shortly after surgery, all procedures demonstrated acceptable outcomes in terms of weight loss and T2DM remission. However, after 3 and 5years post-surgery, the T2DM relapse rate was significantly higher following SG alone compared to hindgut-based operations. In patients with obesity and T2DM, we recommend combining SG with a hindgut-based procedure to reduce the long-term relapse rate.

Survival and predictors of mortality among HIV-infected adults after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Eastern Ethiopia Governmental hospitals, from January 2015 to December 2021 (multi-center retrospective follow-up study)

BackgroundHuman Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. It can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which results in gradual deterioration and failure of the immune system. As the immune system becomes compromised, the patient becomes highly susceptible to life-threatening infection which ends with early death. Even though Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) significantly decreases mortality as a whole, the rate of death is still the highest, especially in the first and second years of ART initiation. The study aims to assess the survival and predictors of mortality among HIV-infected adults after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Jigjiga City Governmental Hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodInstitution-based Retrospective follow-up study was employed among ART patients from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021. Data were cleaned and entered in Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to STATA 14 for further analysis. Kaplan–Meier and Log-Rank tests were applied to compare survival differences among categories of different variables. In bi-variable analysis, P-values < 0.20 were included in a multivariable analysis. A multivariable Cox regression model was used to measure the risk of death identify the and significant predictors of death. Variables that a P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of mortality.ResultIn this study 466(53.34%) participants were male and 552(65.56%) were urban residents about 91(10.81%) have died with an overall incidence rate of 3.92 (95% CI (2.43–5.41)) per 100-person year of observation. The overall survival probability of the study group was 83.97%. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, baseline World Health Organization (WHO) stage III/IV (AHR = 2.42(1.43–4.09)) have no caregiver (AHR = 2.23; 95% CI (1.16–4.29)), being bedridden functional status (AHR = 2.18; 95% CI (1.01–4.72)), and poor last known adherence level (AHR = 4.23; 95%CI (2.39–7.47)) were found to be significant predictors of mortality.ConclusionThe incidence of death was relatively high, especially in the second year of ART. Baseline clinical WHO stage III/IV, bedridden functional status at enrolment, and absence of caregiver, poor level of recent adherence were found to be independent predictors of mortality. Patients with these risk factors need special attention and are crucial to reducing the rate of mortality.

Cardiovascular Outcomes Associated With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Versus Other Types of Single Right Ventricle: A Multicenter Study.

The univentricular heart with a predominant right ventricle morphology (uRV) has been associated with a higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events. It remains to be determined whether the specific type of uRV influences outcomes. A North American multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted by the Alliance for Adult Research in Congenital Cardiology on individuals with a uRV and total cavopulmonary connection Fontan. The incidence of a composite outcome consisting of all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, atrial arrhythmias, or thromboembolic events was compared among patients with Fontan palliation who had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) versus other forms of uRV (non-HLHS). All components of the composite outcome were classified by a blinded adjudicating committee. Competing risks were taken into account in time-to-event analyses. A total of 171 patients with uRV of whom 76 (44.4%) had HLHS were followed for 10.2±5.7 years. The composite outcome occurred in 7.1 versus 2.1 cases per 100 person-years in patients with HLHS versus non-HLHS (P<0.0001). In multivariable analyses, HLHS was associated with a significantly higher risk of the composite outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 6.13 [95% CI, 2.92-12.69], P<0.001). Moreover, HLHS was associated with significantly higher rates of all components of the primary outcome. Among patients with a uRV and Fontan palliation, HLHS is associated with a significantly higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events.