Worst Outcome In Patients Research Articles

Prognostic Value of Computerized Tomography Scan Characteristics in Traumatic Brain Injury: Results from The IMPACT Study

Computerized tomography (CT) scanning provides an objective assessment of the structural damage to the brain following traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to describe and quantify the relationship between CT characteristics and 6-month outcome, assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Individual patient data from the IMPACT database were available on CT classification (N = 5209), status of basal cisterns ( N = 3861), shift ( N = 4698), traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) ( N = 7407), and intracranial lesions ( N = 7613). We used binary logistic and proportional odds regression for prognostic analyses. The CT classification was strongly related to outcome, with worst outcome for patients with diffuse injuries in CT class III (swelling; OR 2.50; CI 2.09-3.0) or CT class IV (shift; OR 3.03; CI 2.12-4.35). The prognosis in patients with mass lesions was better for patients with an epidural hematoma (OR 0.64; CI 0.56-0.72) and poorer for an acute subdural hematoma (OR 2.14; CI 1.87-2.45). Partial obliteration of the basal cisterns (OR 2.45; CI 1.88-3.20), tSAH (OR 2.64; CI 2.42-2.89), or midline shift (1-5 mm-OR 1.36; CI 1.09-1.68); >5 mm-OR 2.20; CI 1.64-2.96) were strongly related to poorer outcome. Discrepancies were found between the scoring of basal cisterns/shift and the CT classification, indicating observer variation. These were less marked in studies that had used a central review process. Multivariable analysis indicated that individual CT characteristics added substantially to the prognostic value of the CT classification alone. We conclude that both the CT classification and individual CT characteristics are important predictors of outcome in TBI. For clinical trials, a central review process is advocated to minimize observer variability in CT assessment.

The impact of carotid plaque presence and morphology on mortality outcome in cardiological patients

BackgroundCarotid plaque severity and morphology can affect cardiovascular prognosis.We evaluate both the importance of echographically assessed carotid artery plaque geometry and morphology as predictors of death in hospitalised cardiological patients.Methods541 hospitalised patients admitted in a cardiological division (age = 66 ± 11 years, 411 men), have been studied through ultrasound Duplex carotid scan and successively followed-up for a median of 34 months. Echo evaluation assessed plaque severity and morphology (presence of heterogeneity and profile).Results361 patients showed carotid stenosis (67% with <50% stenosis, 18% with 50–69% stenosis, 9% with >70% stenosis, 4% with near occlusion and 2% with total occlusion). During the follow-up period, there were 83 all-cause deaths (15% of the total population). Using Cox's proportional hazard model, age (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.09, p = 0.000), ejection fraction > 50% (RR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.4–0.96, p = 0.03), treatment with statins (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.29–0.95, p = 0.34) and the presence of a heterogeneous plaque (RR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.14, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of death. Kaplan – Meier survival estimates have shown the best outcome in patients without plaque, intermediate in patients with homogeneous plaques and the worst outcome in patients with heterogeneous plaques (90% vs 79% vs 73%, p = 0.0001).ConclusionIn hospitalised cardiological patients, carotid plaque presence and morphology assessed by ultrasound are independent predictors of death.

Worst outcome for patients with no chronic GVHD in allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplants (PBSCT) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Uncertainty still exists with the effects of allo PBSCT on the outcome of patients with hematological malignancies. Our aim was analyzed retrospectively 151 AML patients with HLA identical sibling donors who underwent an allo PBSCT. Median age was 32 (3-64), and advanced disease was present in 68%; GVHD prophylaxis used was MTX/CsA in 95%; CD34+ median was 3.74 × 106/kg (1.2-24); the median follow-up for surviving patients was 33 mo (0.6-86); median day for neutrophils and platelets engraftment was 15 and 14; in univariate analyses early disease and CD34+ cell dose >3.7 × 106/kg were associated with faster neutrophil engraftment, and early disease for platelet engraftment.

Simultaneous mutations in K-ras and TP53 are indicative of poor prognosis in sporadic colorectal cancer.

Despite the fact that the mutations in K-ras codon 12 and TP53 are common abnormalities in colorectal cancer, the determination of K-ras mutation combined with TP53 gene mutation, with diagnostic and prognostic purposes is still controversial. We have analyzed K-ras and TP53 mutations in 77 sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas by means of polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. We observed a negative correlation between both K-ras and TP53 mutations. Patients with mutations in K-ras but not in TP53 exhibited worse survival rates than those with mutations in TP53 and not in K-ras. Moreover, we found the worst outcome in patients with mutations in both K-ras and TP53. These results may relate to the previously published data about primary human and rodent cells, in which transformation by Ras require either a cooperating oncogene or the inactivation of tumor suppressors such as p53 or p16. In conclusion, simultaneous mutations in K-ras and TP53 are indicative of a worse prognosis in sporadic colorectal cancer.

Cirurgia torácica geral em pacientes com revascularização miocárdica prévia

É analisada a experiência da Disciplina de Cirurgia Torácica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, em 24 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia torácica com revascularização miocárdica prévia. Estudaram-se variáveis em termos de morbi-mortalidade deste grupo de doentes. Os resultados mostraram que o melhor prognóstico foi encontrado nos pacientes submetidos a revascularização entre seis meses e cinco anos antes da cirurgia torácica. Notou-se, ainda, que os pacientes com infarto agudo do miocárdio apresentam um prognóstico tardio pior. O porte da cirurgia torácica e idade maior do que 70 anos foram fatores de risco tanto imediatos, quanto tardios