Internal and emergency medicine
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Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in patients admitted with acute conditions remain a major challenge to healthcare services. Here, we assessed the impact of HCAIs acquired within 7-days of acute stroke on indicators of care-quality outcomes and dependency. Data were prospectively collected (2014-2016) from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme for 3309 patients (mean age = 76.2 yr, SD = 13.5) admitted to four UK hyperacute stroke units (HASU). ⋯ Compared to patients without UTI or pneumonia, those with either or both of these HCAIs were more likely to have prolonged stay (> 14-days) on HASU: 5.1 (3.8-6.8); high risk of malnutrition: 3.6 (2.9-4.5); palliative care: 4.5 (3.4-6.1); in-hospital mortality: 4.8 (3.8-6.2); disability at discharge: 7.5 (5.9-9.7); activity of daily living support: 1.6 (1.2-2.2); and discharge to care-home: 2.3 (1.6-3.3). In conclusion, HCAIs acquired within 7-days of an acute stroke led to prolonged hospitalisation, adverse health consequences and risk of care-dependency. These findings provide valuable information for timely intervention to reduce HCAIs, and minimising subsequent adverse outcomes.
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Sepsis is among the most important causes of mortality, particularly within the elderly population. Sepsis prevalence is on the rise due to different factors, including increasing average population age and the concomitant rise in the prevalence of frailty and chronic morbidities. Recent investigations have unveiled a "trimodal" trajectory for sepsis-related mortality, with the ultimate zenith occurring from 60 to 90 days until several years after the original insult. ⋯ Given this scenario, discovering treatments that can enhance neutrophil activity during the early phases of sepsis while curbing their overactivity in the later phases could prove beneficial in fighting pathogens and reducing the detrimental effects caused by an overactive immune system. This narrative review delves into the potential key role of neutrophils in the pathological process of sepsis, focusing on how the aging process impacts their functions, and highlighting possible targets for developing immune-modulatory therapies. Additionally, the review includes tables that outline the principal potential targets for immunomodulating agents.
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Multicenter Study
Unveiling cancer risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis: result from the Turkish Vasculitis Study Group (TRVaS).
To investigate cancer incidence in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), compare it with the age/sex-specific cancer risk of the Turkish population, and explore independent risk factors associated with cancer. This multicenter, incidence case-control study was conducted using the TRVaS registry. AAV patients without cancer history before AAV diagnosis were included. ⋯ In Cox regression, male sex and ≥ 60 years of age at AAV diagnosis were associated with increased cancer risk, while receiving rituximab was associated with decreased cancer risk. Cancer risk was 2.1 times higher in AAV patients than the age-/sex-specific cancer risk of the Turkish population population, despite a high rate of rituximab use and lower dose of cyclophosphamide doses. Vigilance in cancer screening for AAV patients covering lung, genitourinary, and head-neck regions, particularly in males and the elderly, is vital.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical complication of sepsis. There is a continuous need to identify and validate biomarkers for early detection. Serum and urinary biomarkers have been investigated, such as neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C (Cys C), but their reliability in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. ⋯ The RRI value (T1 ≥ 0.72) was the best tool for predicting AKI diagnosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUROC = 0.905). Cys C (T1 ≥ 15.1 mg/l) was the best tool to predict the persistence of AKI (AUROC = 0.977). RRI (T1) was the best predictive tool for sepsis-associated AKI, while Cys C was the best predictor of its persistence and 28-day mortality.
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Few studies have assessed sex differences in the management of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to compare the evaluation, treatment, and outcomes between males and females with suspected ACS in the emergency department. Data were obtained from a prospective registry of acute chest pain involving 21 emergency departments in Shandong Province, China. ⋯ Women with non-ST-elevation chest pain in China received suboptimal treatment in the emergency department. However, their clinical outcomes were not significantly different from those of men. Further studies are needed to determine the causes and impacts of these sex differences.