Plos One
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Children with oropharyngeal dysphagia have impaired airway protection mechanisms and are at higher risk for pneumonia and other pulmonary complications. Aspiration of gastric contents is often implicated as a cause for these pulmonary complications, despite being supported by little evidence. The goal of this study is to determine the relative contribution of oropharyngeal and gastric microbial communities to perturbations in the lung microbiome of children with and without oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration. ⋯ The gastric and lung microbiomes display significant overlap in patients with intact airway protective mechanisms while the lung and oropharynx remain distinct. In patients with impaired swallow function and aspiration, the lung microbiome shifts towards oropharyngeal rather than gastric communities. This finding may explain why antireflux surgeries fail to show benefit in pediatric pulmonary outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Biomarker profiles of Alzheimer's disease and dynamic of the association between cerebrospinal fluid levels of β-amyloid peptide and tau.
To investigate the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) β-amyloid peptide (Aβ42) and CSF Tau in a large population of patients referred to memory clinics for investigation of cognitive dysfunction. ⋯ The nature of the association between CSF Aβ42 and CFS Tau depends on the A/N profiles of patients. These results suggest an increase in CSF Aβ42 early in the disease before its decline while tau pathology progresses, this pattern is particularly observed in non-APOE4 subjects. This phenomenon may explain why some patients with neurodegeneration only markers convert to an AD profile (A+N+) over time.
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Multicenter Study
An interactive nomogram to predict healthcare-associated infections in ICU patients: A multicenter study in GuiZhou Province, China.
To develop and validate an interactive nomogram to predict healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ The developed interactive nomogram is a simple and practical instrument for quantifying the individual risk of HCAI and promptly identifying high-risk patients.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Clinical outcomes associated with the use of the NexSite hemodialysis catheter with new exit barrier technology: Results from a prospective, observational multi-center registry study.
Decreasing the risk of catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remains a key focus for improving outcomes and reducing cost of care for hemodialysis (HD) patients. Recent studies demonstrate CRBSI rates can be improved by managing bacterial colonization at the catheter exit site. Herein we present the results of a study documenting the clinical performance of the NexSite HD catheter, a new tunneled central venous catheter which incorporates Exit Site Management (ESM) technology. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate that the NexSite HD catheter equipped with ESM technology can achieve a CRBSI rate in compliance with the NKF KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiatives) Clinical Performance Guidelines stated goal of less than 1.0/1,000 catheter-days when used in hemodialysis patients using current standard of care nursing protocols.
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Honeycombing on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images is a key finding in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In IPF, honeycombing area determined by quantitative CT analysis is correlated with pulmonary function test findings. We hypothesized that quantitative CT-derived honeycombing area (HA) might predict mortality in patients with IPF. ⋯ Quantitative CT-derived HA might be an important and independent predictor of mortality in IPF patients with definite UIP pattern.