Time Of Admission Research Articles

Lung ultrasound score to predict development of acute chest syndrome in children with sickle cell disease

This study aims to identify lung ultrasound (LUS) findings associated with acute chest syndrome (ACS) at the time of admission and 24-48 h later, to compare these to chest radiography (CXR) findings and to establish a score to predict the development of this pulmonary complication in sickle cell disease (SCD) children METHODS: A prospective observational study of SCD children presenting signs or symptoms of ACS evaluated by LUS and CXR at admission and 24-48 h later. A score was conceived to predict the evolution of ACS during hospitalization based on ultrasonographic findings. Seventy-eight children were evaluated; 61 (78.2 %) developed ACS. A score greater than one at admission showed sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value (PPV) of 75.4 %, 88.2 %, 78.2 %, and 95.8 %, respectively to predict ACS, while only 32 (52.5 %) CXR showed alterations. The development of ACS during hospitalization was unlikely for a score of zero and very likely for a score greater than one at admission. Regarding follow-up exams, a score greater than one showed sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and PPV of 98.4 %, 76.5 %, 93.6 %, and 92.8 %, respectively to predict the development of ACS. ACS development was very unlikely for a score of zero and very likely for a score greater than zero in the follow-up. LUS is an effective tool to assess risk for the development of ACS in SCD children with clinical suspicion.

FIB-4 score as a predictor of COVID-19-related severity in hospitalized patients.

to determine the impact of liver fibrosis on the prognosis of COVID and liver injury associated with the infection. retrospective multicenter study including 575 patients requiring admission for COVID-19 between January and June 2020. Fibrosis index-4 (FIB-4) was calculated within six months prior to infection and at six months post-infection. baseline FIB-4 was elevated in patients who died (1.91 ± 0.95 vs 1.43 ± 0.85; p < 0.001). In addition, 17.1 % (32/187) of patients with baseline FIB-4 < 1.45 died vs 52.9 % (9/17) with FIB-4 > 3.25 (p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariate analysis, baseline FIB-4 (OR 1.61 [95 % CI: 1.19-2.18]; p = 0.002) was independently associated with mortality. Parameters associated with liver injury, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (28 ± 10 vs 45 ± 56 IU/l; p < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (20 ± 12 vs 38 ± 48 IU/l; p < 0.001) were significantly higher at admission compared to baseline. Furthermore, FIB-4 increased from baseline to the time of admission (1.53 ± 0.88 vs 2.55 ± 1.91; p < 0.001), and up to 6.9 % (10/145) of patients with FIB-4 < 1.45 on admission died vs 47.5 % if FIB-4 > 3.25 (58/122) (p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariate analysis, FIB-4 on admission (OR 1.14 [95 % CI: 1.03-1.27]; p = 0.015) was independently associated with mortality. In addition, AST (42 ± 38 vs 22 ± 17 IU/l; p < 0.001) and ALT (40 ± 50 vs 20 ± 19 IU/l; p < 0.001) were significantly reduced at six months after the resolution of infection. Accordingly, FIB-4 decreased significantly (2.12 ± 1.25 vs 1.32 ± 0.57; p < 0.001) six months after the infection. increased FIB-4, either at baseline or at the time of admission, was associated with severity and mortality related to respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, the liver damage expressed by elevated transaminases and FIB-4 levels was reversible in most of patients.

Association Analysis Between Albumin Level and Maxillofacial Space Infection Severity

Early detection and treatment of maxillofacial space infection (MSI) can lead to successful outcomes; however, delayed intervention may result in severe systemic manifestations, posing a potential threat to life. The purpose of this study was to measure the association between albumin (ALB) levels and MSI severity. This was a retrospective cohort study including patients who were diagnosed with MSI at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from 2013 to 2023. Patients with unknown etiology, incomplete data, and those with psychiatric disorders and malignant tumors were excluded. Cured subjects are defined as the absence of clinical symptoms. The primary predictor variable was the ALB levels measured at the time of admission. We categorized ALB levels at admission into <30g/L, 30-35g/L, and >35g/L. The outcome variables were MSI severity measured by the length of stay (LOS) and death. LOS >14days was a prolonged length of hospital stay. Covariates included age, sex, involved anatomical spaces, neutrophil proportion and white blood cell counts. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson's χ2 test, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t-test, multivariate logistic regression, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, and the Gamma test. The P value was set at .05. This study encompassed 201 patients, of whom 123 were male (61.19%) and 78 were female (38.81%). Among these, 190 subjects (94.53%) were cured. The mean LOS was 16.38±18.93days, and 81 subjects (42.63%) had a LOS exceeding 14days. There were 11 deceased patients (5.47%). The neutrophil proportion (χ2=8.31; P<.01), and white blood cell count (χ2=11.14; P<.01) were significantly higher in deceased patients compared to those who were cured, and among the deceased patients, there was a greater percentage of patients with odontogenic infections (χ2=7.48; P=.02). There was no difference in ALB levels among the deceased patients (χ2=3.08 P=.21). A reduction in ALB levels is associated with an increased risk of prolonged LOS (χ2=21.77; P<.001). The relative risk (RR) of LOS extension when the ALB level is between 30 and 35g/L is 1.32 times higher than when the ALB level exceeds 35g/L (RR=1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.99 to 1.76). Furthermore, when ALB levels fall below 30g/L, the RR increases to 2.19 times higher compared to ALB levels greater than 35g/L (RR=2.19, 95% CI=1.47 to 3.26). Moreover, the LOS was used to measure the severity of MSI. Multivariate regression analysis found ALB levels were negatively associated with LOS. Subjects with ALB levels less than 30g/L had a 2.98 times higher risk (95% CI=1.12 to 7.75; P=.03) than subjects with ALB levels more than 35g/L. The risk factors of MSI including the ALB levels less than 35g/L (odds ratio (OR) (>35:30 to 35:<30)=1.00:1.85:2.98), multiple space infections (OR (1:2-3:4-5:>5)=1.00:0.52:1.92:5.49), and descending necrotizing mediastinitis (OR=4.30). ALB levels less than 35g/L, multiple space infections, descending necrotizing mediastinitis occurrence, and increased LOS are risk factors for increased severity of MSI and may lead to prolonged LOS.

A Rare Case Report of Thoracic Epidural Angiolipoma During Pregnancy: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment

Introduction. Spinal angiolipomas are benign tumors composed of adipocytes and vascular elements. There is a limited number of cases involving pregnant patients in the literature. Mostly located in the thoracic region, these tumors are usually expected to be seen in the fifth decade. To the best of our knowledge, we present the youngest reported case of a pregnant patient with angiolipoma. Case Report. We present a case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman who was referred to our clinic with complaints of gait disturbance and numbness in her legs. Paraplegia, hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, and hypoesthesia up to the umbilicus level were the first findings. Electromyographic tests, including F-waves, were normal. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a thoracic spinal extradural tumor compressing the spinal cord posteriorly. Total tumor resection and histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of angiolipoma. Postoperatively, the patient experienced rapid improvements in neurological deficits, with complete recovery in the following days. Conclusions. Spinal angiolipomas are very rare in pregnancy. At the time of initial admission, the symptoms and findings may mimic acute polyneuropathies and myelitis. Spinal MRI is essential to localize the lesion. Early angiolipoma removal may result in complete recovery and the procedure is safe and applicable even in the early postpartum period.

Correlation of Clinical and Electrophysiological Criteria in the Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Prospective Observational Study.

There are many criteria for diagnosing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and the yield of these diagnostic criteria varies. Each criterion requires some laboratory data and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Although supportive laboratory data are reassuring when present in suspected cases of GBS, when absent, they can potentially cause further delay in diagnosis and treatment. There is no gold standard test for the diagnosis of GBS, and there are multiple diagnostic criteria for GBS to date. The aim of the study is to know the sensitivity of different criteria, clinical and electrophysiological, for the diagnosis of GBS and to study the clinical spectrum and electrophysiological spectrum of GBS in our cohort of patients. We studied a total of 43 cases who presented with one or more of the following symptoms: relatively symmetrical and progressive flail-type weakness of more than one limb, with or without ataxia and/or ophthalmoplegia, and were diagnosed with GBS according to clinical criteria at the time of admission to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. GBS mimics were ruled out. In all patients, the demographic data, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis (if done), and electrophysiological findings fitting into the diagnostic criteria of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Dutch, and Brighton criteria were recorded. The need for assisted mechanical ventilation, neurology intensive care unit (NICU) stay, any complications, and treatment outcome details were recorded in a structured proforma. Most of the patients in our study were in their fourth decade of life, with a mean age of 41.37 years, similar to previous studies from India. Men are more frequently affected compared to women, similar to what has been observed in most studies done previously worldwide. In our study, electrophysiological criteria by Dutch criteria (87.5%), Brighton criteria (87.5%), and NINDS criteria (85.6%) had low sensitivity compared to the clinical criteria. In the present study, electrophysiological criteria proposed by the NINDS, Dutch, and Brighton criteria are less sensitive compared to clinical criteria in diagnosing GBS at early stages. Clinical criteria alone may be useful in resource-poor countries and at peripheral healthcare systems where NCS are not always readily available.

Evaluation of COVID-19 Patients Who Developed after COVID-19 Vaccination

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 that developed after COVID-19 vaccination. Material and Method: The study was conducted at a state hospital between July 5 and August 5, 2021. Patients who received COVID-19 vaccine, whose SARS-CoV-2 positivity was confirmed by molecular methods, and who were hospitalized for COVID-19 were included. Sociodemographic information and clinical observation results of patients were recorded. Results: 49.09% of the patients were female and the median age was 72.00 [62.00-79.00] years. 70.45% of patients had a chronic disease and 37.27% were constantly using medication. 82.73% of patients received the CoronaVac vaccine and 8.18% received COVID-19 mRNA vaccine; 9.09% had received both vaccines. 66.82% of patients received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 26.82% received three doses, 5.45% received one dose and 0.91% received four doses of COVID-19 vaccine. When the infection findings at the time of admission to the hospital are evaluated, the most common symptoms in patients are dyspnea (89.55%), cough (45.45%), weakness (37.73%), malaise (22.27%) and fatigue-exhaustion. (20.00%); 95% of them had COVID-19 findings in their lung imaging reports. 99.55% of patients receive oxygen therapy; 62.73% were connected to mechanical ventilation. 91.82% of patients were receiving steroid treatment, 89.09% were receiving faviripavir treatment, and 98.64% were receiving anticoagulant; 96.82% had received antibiotic treatment. 38.64% of patients were discharged; 61.36% died. Conclusion: It has been observed that the average age of patients who contracted COVID-19 disease after the COVID-19 vaccine was high, they had a high rate of chronic disease, they were vaccinated with hight rate CoronaVac vaccine, and they received a maximum of two doses of vaccine and they did not receive a reminder dose. Mortality and morbidity can be reduced by creating successful vaccination programs as well as protective measures in the fight against COVID-19.

Diagnostic accuracy of a machine learning algorithm using point-of-care high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I for rapid rule-out of myocardial infarction: a retrospective study

Point-of-care (POC) high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays have been shown to provide similar analytical precision despite substantially shorter turnaround times compared with laboratory-based hs-cTn assays. We applied the previously developed machine learning based personalised Artificial Intelligence in Suspected Myocardial Infarction Study (ARTEMIS) algorithm, which can predict the individual probability of myocardial infarction, with a single POC hs-cTn measurement, and compared its diagnostic performance with standard-of-care pathways for rapid rule-out of myocardial infarction. We retrospectively analysed pooled data from consecutive patients of two prospective observational cohorts in geographically distinct regions (the Safe Emergency Department Discharge Rate cohort from the USA and the Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction in Emergency cohort from Australia) who presented to the emergency department with suspected myocardial infarction. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were excluded. Safety and efficacy of direct rule-out of myocardial infarction by the ARTEMIS algorithm (at a pre-specified probability threshold of <0·5%) were compared with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-recommended and the American College of Cardiology (ACC)-recommended 0 h pathways using a single POC high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) measurement (Siemens Atellica VTLi as investigational assay). The primary diagnostic outcome was an adjudicated index diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 myocardial infarction according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction. The safety outcome was a composite of incident myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death (follow-up events) at 30 days. Additional analyses were performed for type I myocardial infarction only (secondary diagnostic outcome), and for each cohort separately. Subgroup analyses were performed for age (<65 years vs ≥65 years), sex, symptom onset (≤3 h vs >3 h), estimated glomerular filtration rate (<60 mL/min per 1·73 m2vs ≥60 mL/min per 1·73 m2), and absence or presence of arterial hypertension, diabetes, a history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, or heart failure, smoking, and ischaemic electrocardiogram signs. Among 2560 patients (1075 [42%] women, median age 58 years [IQR 48·0-69·0]), prevalence of myocardial infarction was 6·5% (166/2560). The ARTEMIS-POC algorithm classified 899 patients (35·1%) as suitable for rapid rule-out with a negative predictive value of 99·96% (95% CI 99·64-99·96) and a sensitivity of 99·68% (97·21-99·70). For type I myocardial infarction only, negative predictive value and sensitivity were both 100%. Proportions of missed index myocardial infarction (0·05% [0·04-0·42]) and follow-up events at 30 days (0·07% [95% CI 0·06-0·59]) were low. While maintaining high safety, the ARTEMIS-POC algorithm identified more than twice as many patients as eligible for direct rule-out compared with guideline-recommended ESC 0 h (15·2%) and ACC 0 h (13·8%) pathways. Superior efficacy persisted across all clinically relevant subgroups. The patient-tailored, medical decision support ARTEMIS-POC algorithm applied with a single POC hs-cTnI measurement allows for very rapid, safe, and more efficient direct rule-out of myocardial infarction than guideline-recommended pathways. It has the potential to expedite the safe discharge of low-risk patients from the emergency department including early presenters with symptom onset less than 3 h at the time of admission and might open new opportunities for the triage of patients with suspected myocardial infarction even in ambulatory, preclinical, or geographically isolated care settings. The German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).

Is patient-reported outcome after treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries related to pelvic symmetry? A prospective study.

To determine the relation between pelvic symmetry, as measured by the cross-measurement technique, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in terms of functional status and health-related quality of life. In this prospective cohort study, X and Y measurements were taken according to the cross-measurement technique on AP radiographs of patients who were treated for an unstable pelvic ring injury in a level-1 trauma center. Patients completed PROMs at the time of admission (recalled pre-injury score) and one year following their injury, reporting their functional status with the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA-NL), specifically the lower extremity dysfunction (LED), problems with daily activities (PDA) and mental and emotional problems (MEP) subscales, and quality of life with EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Subgroup analyses were also performed. PROMs were used to analyze the relation between pelvic symmetry and patient-reported outcome, using Spearman's Rank correlation coefficients. A total of 130 patients (mean age 58 (SD18) years) with an unstable pelvic ring injury were included, of which 95 (73%) sustained type-B injuries and 35 (27%) type-C injuries. Sixty-three (49%) patients were treated operatively. The median pelvic symmetry ratio was 1.01 (IQR: 0.05). Weak or no correlations were found between the pelvic symmetry scores and the outcome measurements (Spearman's correlation coefficients: LED r = 0.09; PDA r = 0.11; MEP r=-0.02; and EQ-5D r=-0.08). Subgroup analyses revealed no correlations. No significant relation was found between pelvic symmetry, measured radiologically, and functional status and health-related quality of life, one year following an unstable pelvic ring injury.

When can we identify the students at risk of failure in the national medical licensure examination in Japan using the predictive pass rate?

ContextFailure of students to pass the National Medical Licensure Examination (NMLE) is a major problem for universities and the health system in Japan. To assist students at risk for NMLE failure as early as possible after admission, this study investigated the time points (from the time of admission to graduation) at which predictive pass rate (PPR) can be used to identify students at risk of failing the NMLE.MethodsSeven consecutive cohorts of medical students between 2012 and 2018 (n = 637) at the Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine were investigated. Using 7 variables before admission to medical school and 10 variables after admission, a prediction model to obtain the PPR for the NMLE was developed using logistic regression analysis at five time points, i.e., at admission and the end of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades. All students were divided into high (PPR < 95%) and low (PPR ≥ 95%) risk groups for failing the NMLE at the five time points, respectively, and the movement between the groups during 6 years in school was simulated.ResultsMedical students who passed the NMLE had statistically significant factors at each of the 5 time points, and the number of significant variables increased as their grade in school advanced. In addition, two factors extracted at admission were also selected as significant variables at all other time points. Especially, age at entry had a consistent and significant effect during medical school.ConclusionsRisk analysis based on multiple variables, such as PPR, can inform more effective intervention compared to a single variable, such as performance in the mock exam. A longer prospective study is required to confirm the validity of PPR.

Analysis of patients with acute surgical abdomen due to trauma and evaluation of factors affecting mortality and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic process on patient admissions

Objective: To analyze the patients who developed acute surgical abdomen due to trauma, to evaluate the factors affecting mortality and to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic process on patient admissions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively by analyzing the patients who applied to the emergency department of a secondary healthcare institution between 01.01.2019-31.12.2023 (5 years) and developed an emergency surgical abdomen secondary to trauma and were hospitalized and treated. All age groups were included in the study. Demographic data, type of trauma, type of treatment, site of injury, laboratory data, length of hospitalization and mortality status were analyzed. Comparative analysis of the injured regions according to the type of trauma was performed. Data of patients who were discharged and those who died were compared. Data collection was performed through hospital electronic data. Results: 123 patients were evaluated in the study. 78.9% (n=97) of the patients were male. The mean age was 36.43±14.81 years and the most common age range was 21-40 years (60.2%, n=74). At the time of presentation to the emergency department, the most common Glasgow Coma Score was 11-15 (83%, n=102). The most common reason for presentation was traffic accident (40.7%, n=50). Post-traumatic injuries to more than one organ or region in the abdomen were most common (28.5%, n=35). Surgical procedures were performed in 65.9% (n=81) of the patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 7.14±5.40 days. Hemoglobin and platelet levels were found to be significantly lower at the time of admission in the patients who died (p

The effect of the steroid profile on the severity and the outcome of treatment of newborns with congenital malformations

Introduction. Adrenal insufficiency is often found in critical conditions of the neonatal period and has nonspecific symptoms, which greatly complicates its diagnosis. The objective was to study the hormonal status of newborns with congenital malformations (CM according to the outcome of treatment in the intensive care unit.Materials and methods. Study design – observational, dynamic retrospective comparative study. 60 newborns were examined: 26 healthy and 34 with CM. Depending on the severity of the condition, children with CM were divided into two groups. Group I included patients in an extremely severe condition, and in group II – in a stable condition. We studied the concentration of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, aldosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, progesterone, testosterone, estradiol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone upon admission to the ICU, immediately after surgery and on the first day after it.Results. In all children with CM, the concentration of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone before surgery was significantly lower compared to healthy newborns, while in group I, it was minimal. After surgery, the concentration of cortisol precursors remained low, but its level increased significantly, especially in children of group I. A risk factor for lethal outcome in newborns with CM needing treatment in the ICU is the 17-OH-pregnenolone/dehydroepiandrosterone ratio, both at the time of admission to the ICU (AUC = 0.821; sensitivity = 68.97; specificity = 100; p = 0.0002; cut-off &lt; 1,52); and on the first day after surgery (AUC = 0.807; sensitivity = 79.3; specificity = 80; р = 0.025; cut-off = 0).Conclusion. The increase in the concentration of cortisol against the background of low level of hormone precursors and the reduction of the 17-OH-pregnenolone/dehydroepiandrosterone ratio in the first day after surgery is a marker of an adverse course of the postoperative period and outcome.

Contributing factors to hypophosphatemia development in critically Ill ventilated patients: a retrospective cohort study

Hypophosphatemia (serum phosphate < 2.5 mg/dL) is a major concern when initiating nutritional support. We evaluated which factors contribute to hypophosphatemia development in critically ill patients, as well as the association between hypophosphatemia and mortality. A retrospective cohort study of patients who were ventilated for at least 2 days in a 16-bed mixed ICU. Data collected includes demographics, Acute Physiology & Chronic Health Evaluation 2 (APACHE2) admission score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at 24 h (SOFA24), hourly energy delivery, plasma phosphate levels during the first 2 weeks of admission, ICU length of stay (LOS), length of ventilation (LOV), and mortality (ICU and 90 days). For the hypophosphatemia development model, we considered mortality as a competing risk. For mortality analysis, we used the Cox proportional hazards model considering hypophosphatemia development as a time-varying covariate. 462 patients were used in the analysis. 59.52% of the patients developed hypophosphatemia. Several factors were associated with a decreased risk of hypophosphatemia: age, BMI, pre-admission diabetes diagnosis, APACHE2, SOFA24, first kidney SOFA score, hospital admission time before ICU admission, and admission after liver transplantation. Admission due to trauma was associated with an increased risk of hypophosphatemia. Survival analysis with hypophosphatemia as a time-varying covariate showed a protective effect of hypophosphatemia from mortality (HR 0.447, 95% CI 0.281, 0.712). Age, APACHE2, and SOFA24 score were found to be significantly associated with ICU mortality. Fasting duration in the ICU before nutritional support initiation was not found to be significantly associated with hypophosphatemia. We examined several fasting intervals (12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, 72 h). In each fast interval, we compared the prevalence of hypophosphatemia among patients who fasted the specified length of time, with those who did not fast for the same length of time. In each fasting interval, hypophosphatemia prevalence was lower in the fasting group compared to the non-fasting group. However, this difference was insignificant. BMI, APACHE2, and hospital LOS before ICU admission were inversely associated with hypophosphatemia development. Fasting for up to 72 h in the ICU before starting nutritional support did not affect hypophosphatemia occurrence. Hypophosphatemia was associated with lower mortality.

Environmental Geomarker to Assess Impact on Hospitalization.

By linking medical real-world data with geographic information, it is possible to evaluate the impact on hospitalization based on these characteristics, such as patient residence information and disease and medical information. In this study, environmental exposure to air pollutants was reported as a risk factor, and predictive models were used to examine factors affecting health. The importance of the characteristics appeared according to the disease, and overall, the patient profile at the time of admission, such as ADL, was shown to be high, but for respiratory diseases, the cumulative concentration of air pollutants NO2, SPM, and NOx for one year before the onset of admission was the top risk factor for long-term hospitalization, suggesting the influence of exposure due to environmental factors.

Prevalence of oral diseases in patients under palliative care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral alterations are frequently observed in patients undergoing palliative care and are linked to the direct or indirect effects of the primary medical condition, comorbidities and medical management, leading to oral pain, impacting oral intake, and affecting quality of life. This systematic review aims to assess the prevalence of oral disease in palliative care patients. The protocol was registered at the PROSPERO database, and a systematic review of the literature was performed based on the PRISMA statement. A thorough evaluation of studies from five databases and gray literature was conducted. The risk of bias in each study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for cross-sectional and case-control studies. A quantitative analysis was conducted on five studies using meta-analysis, and the degree of certainty in the evidence was determined using the GRADE tool. The sample consisted of 2,502 patients, with a slight male predominance (50.43%). The average age was 66.92years. The prevalence of oral diseases among palliative care patients was as follows: caries 32% (95% CI, 0.11-0.56; I2 = 93%), and oral candidiasis 17% (95% CI,0.11-0.25; I2 = 74%). Gingivitis and stomatitis were also reported, but with less frequency. Dental intervention should take place as early as possible, ideally from the time of the patient's initial admission to palliative care, with regular monitoring of oral health. This approach can enhance the patient's comfort and quality of life and help prevent more severe complications in the future.

Clinical Application of Basic Treatment Combined with Periodontal Maintenance in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis

Objective: To analyze the clinical effect of basic treatment combined with periodontal maintenance treatment on chronic periodontitis patients and its impact on periodontal index. Method: 100 patients with severe and chronic periodontitis who voluntarily participated were collected as participants and divided into a control group (50 cases, receiving basic treatment) and an observation group (50 cases, receiving basic treatment combined with periodontal maintenance). The admission time of patients was within the range of April 2022 to April 2023 to analyze and compare the clinical efficacy of the two groups of patients after treatment, analyze the changes in periodontal index after treatment and compare between groups, and analyze and compare the annual number of missing teeth and the recurrence rate of periodontitis between the two groups of patients after treatment. Result: Compared with 76.00% of the clinical effect in the control group, the observation group had a higher clinical effect of 94.00%; Compared with before treatment, PD, BI, PET, CAL and other indicators all decreased after treatment, and the observed group showed a more significant downward trend; The annual number of missing teeth in the control group was (1.32 ± 0.27), which was higher than that in the observation group (0.63 ± 0.18); The recurrence rate of the control group was 42.11% (16/38), which was higher than the observation group's 17.02% (8/47), and the difference was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The combination of basic treatment and periodontal maintenance therapy for patients with chronic periodontitis has good clinical application effects, improve their periodontal indicators, and reduce the recurrence rate of periodontitis and the probability of tooth loss.

Evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness on the outcomes of COVID 19 disease in Iran: a test-negative case-control study.

This study measures the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (CVE) against hospital admission and severe COVID-19. This study is a test-negative case-control design using data from eight provinces in April, 2021 until March, 2022. The individuals were classified as cases and controls based on the results of the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and matched based on the timing of the test being conducted as well as the timing of hospital admission. The measure of association was an odds ratio (OR) by univariate and multiple logistic regression. The multiple logistic regression has been carried out to take confounding factors and potential effect modifiers into account. The CVE was computed as CVE = (1 - OR)*100 with 95% confidence interval. Among 19314 admitted patients, of whom 13216 (68.4%) were cases and 6098 (31.6%) were controls, 1313 (6.8%) died. From total, 5959 (30.8%) patients had received the vaccine in which one, two, and booster doses were 2443 (12.6%), 2796 (14.5٪), and 720 (3.7٪), respectively. The estimated adjusted effectiveness of only one dose, two doses and booter vaccination were 22% (95% CI: 14%-29%), 35% (95% CI: 29%-41%) and 33% (95% CI: 16%-47%), respectively. In addition, the adjusted vaccine effectiveness against severe outcome was 33% (95% CI: 19%- 44%), 34% (95% CI: 20%- 45%) and 20% (95% CI: -29%- 50%) for those who received one, two and booster vaccinations, respectively. Our study concluded that full vaccination, though less effective compared to similar studies elsewhere, decreased hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19 in Iran, particularly during the Delta variant period, with an observed decline during the Omicron variant dominance.

Comparison of Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiological Symptoms of Patients Hospitalized in the COVID-19 Wards of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad During the First, Second, and Third Peaks of COVID-19

Background: Considering that few studies have investigated the differences in clinical, laboratory, and imaging symptoms of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during different peaks of the disease in Iran, the present study compares the patients who were admitted to the COVID-19 departments of Imam Reza Hospital during the first, second, and third peaks of the disease. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected by reviewing the files of patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 based on the RT-PCR test in Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad. The patients were divided into three groups based on the time of admission: The first peak from March 2020 to June 2020, the second peak from July to September 2020, and the third peak from October to December 2020. The variables evaluated in this study included demographic information, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory and radiological findings. Descriptive qualitative data were reported using frequency tables, while quantitative descriptive data were reported using measures of central tendency and dispersion. A comparison of qualitative data among the three peaks was conducted using the chi-square test, while for quantitative data, the ANOVA test was used followed by appropriate post-hoc tests. Results: A total of 561 patients with an average age of 58.90 ± 16.80 years were included in the study, of which 336 (59.9%) were male. Regarding underlying diseases, significant differences were found in age (P &lt; 0.001), smoking (P &lt; 0.001), diabetes (P = 0.003), high blood pressure (P &lt; 0.001), asthma (P = 0.025), and ischemic heart disease (P &lt; 0.001). For vital signs, significant differences were observed in heart rate (P &lt; 0.001), respiration rate (P &lt; 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.010), and SPO2 (P &lt; 0.001). In clinical characteristics, significant differences were found in fever (P &lt; 0.001), nausea (P = 0.011), vomiting (P = 0.031), headache (P &lt; 0.001), weakness (P &lt; 0.001), and sore throat (P &lt; 0.001). In laboratory characteristics, significant differences were observed in white blood cell (WBC) count (P = 0.024), neutrophil percentage (P &lt; 0.001), lymphocyte percentage (P &lt; 0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.001). The CT score values of the patients were significantly different between the three peaks. Patient mortality was significantly different across the three peaks. Less than 15% of hospitalized patients died in the first peak, while over 24% died in the second peak and nearly 40% of inpatients died in the third peak. In our study, the first and third surges and the second and third surges had different mortalities. Conclusions: The third and first peaks had the highest and lowest mortality rates, respectively. Underlying diseases and unstable vital signs were more common in the second and third peaks. Patients in the second peak had significantly higher CT scores compared to the other peaks.

First time ACS in patients with on-target lipid levels: Inflammation at admission and re-event rate at follow-up.

Dyslipidaemia, inflammation and elevated Lp(a) levels are associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. This study investigates whether patients with a first-time presentation of chest pain and on-target LDL-C levels and intermediate FRS/ESC-Score risks, display a high inflammatory burden linked to myocardial injury and whether inflammation at admission affects the re-event rate up to 6 years follow-up. Blind assessments of novel inflammatory markers such as Glycoprotein A and B via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), cytokines, hsCRP, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Lipoprotein(a) levels were examined. Out of 198 chest pain patients screened, 97 met the inclusion criteria at admission. cTnI(+) patients (>61 ng/L) with elevated Lipoprotein(a), showed significantly increased levels of Glycoprotein A and B, hsCRP, IL-6, a high NLR and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (%) compared to cTnI(-) individuals. Those patients, with a higher inflammatory burden at hospital admission (hsCRP, IL-6, Glycoprotein A and B, and Lipoprotein(a)) had a higher re-event rate at follow-up. Inflammation and Lipoprotein(a) levels were particularly prominent in patients presenting with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Notably, Glycoproteins A/B emerge as novel markers of inflammation in these patients. Our study highlights the significantly higher impact of inflammatory burden in patients with chest pain and high level of myocardial damage than in those with lower myocardial affectation, even when they all had lipid levels well controlled. Inflammation at the time of admission influenced the re-event rate over a follow-up period of up to 6 years.

Impact of P2Y12 Inhibitors on Thrombus Burden in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION AND AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of P2Y12 inhibitors administered at the time of admission to the emergency department in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention on the thrombus score in the culprit lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study planned to compare the pre-procedural thrombus scores of 225 patients who presented with STEMI underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and received different P2Y12 inhibitors within 2 hours after the onset of chest pain. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients were included in our study. Among them, 72 patients received clopidogrel, 85 received ticagrelor, and 68 received prasugrel as the P2Y12 inhibitor. The pre-procedural Grade 5 thrombus was significantly lower in the ticagrelor group compared to the other groups (Clopidogrel 77.78%, Ticagrelor 61.18%, Prasugrel 77.94%; p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, ticagrelor among the pre-procedurally loaded P2Y12 inhibitors was found to be superior in terms of early thrombus intensity, and these results are thought to be associated with the early onset antiplatelet effect of ticagrelor. Keywords: ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor, thrombus score

Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infections in the Adult Intensive Care Unit at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Hospital-acquired infections, also called nosocomial infections, are infectious diseases acquired in healthcare facilities at least 48 hours after admission and can't be present at the time of admission. Nosocomial bloodstream infection is a serious medical complication from hospitalization, and it can be potentially preventable by taking certain precautions. Aim The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of central line-related bloodstream infections (CLABSI) with different organisms between January 2022 and February 2024 at the intensive care unit (ICU) at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among ICU adult patients. The data were collected from medical and infection control records. All data for intensive care patients with positive blood cultures, except for the pediatric age group, were collected. Data were tabulated and cleaned in MS Excel, and subsequent data analyses were performed in IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Data from 21 patients were collected and analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 62.9 (SD 15.1) years.Femaleparticipants (61.9% (13)) were higher than males(38.1% (8)). All patients were inserted with a non-tunneled central venous catheter (CVC). The mortality rate was 76.2% (16). Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) was the most commonly detected organism in seven cultures(33.3%), followed by Candida species in six cultures(28.6%). Candida species were prevalent in younger patients (p=0.021) and those sensitive to medication (p=0.015). Survival analyses between age, gender, and organisms yielded insignificant results (p>0.05). Conclusion The major sources of bloodstream infection among adult ICU patients were VRE and Candida species. Mortality was common in this population, particularly among patients who were resistant to medication. Hence, strategies to reduce hospital-acquired bloodstream infections are warranted.