In-depth assessment of steatotic liver disease awareness in high-risk groups.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the awareness levels and factors affecting it, along with prevalent misconceptions about Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) among participants with high-risk indicators. METHODS: A questionnaire with open-ended questions was utilized. Participants were recruited from two general internal medicine outpatient clinics, focusing on those with high-risk indicators for SLD. Data collection involved a questionnaire covering demographic information, self-reported clinical conditions, and open-ended questions about SLD awareness. Key focus areas included misconceptions, thematic awareness, and the relationship between awareness and educational attainment. RESULTS: The study involved 228 participants, predominantly female (70.4%), with an average age of 53.8 years. Only 33.7% showed a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of SLD. However, 90.4% provided some accurate information, though often limited or incomplete. Higher education and awareness of SLD risks were key predictors of better understanding. The logistic regression model, with an accuracy of 0.76 and recall of 0.84, found higher education inversely related to low awareness. Common misconceptions highlighted included the belief that polypharmacy or certain medications cause SLD, fatigue as an effect, and increased water intake as a treatment. Notably, seven patients mentioned artichoke consumption as a potential treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the gap between comprehensive and partial awareness of SLD among high-risk individuals. Educational level and informed understanding of SLD risks are crucial for improving awareness, emphasizing the need for specialized educational efforts and risk communication to high-risk patients.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Self-care of Hypertension Inventory Version 3.0 in adults with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important cardiovascular disease risk factor. Blood pressure control for hypertensive patients is crucial to prevent hypertension related complications. Ensuring and assessing self-care of hypertensive patients is important for blood pressure control and hypertension management. The Self-care of Hypertension Inventory (SC-HI) is an inventory developed for assessing self-care of hypertensive individuals. SC-HI has three subscales; maintenance, monitoring and management. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct Turkish version of SC-HI Version 3.0 (SC-HI V3.0) and assessing its psychometric properties for adults with hypertension. METHODS: We included 120 hypertensive patients in this methodological study. SC-HI V3.0 translated Turkish and tested for reliability and validity. To analyse structural validity item-total correlations and factor analyses was used. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) method was selected for analysing scale's consistency and convergent validity was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of participants were 54.74 ± 7.19 years and the mean duration from hypertension diagnosis were 38.19 ± 19.42 months. Translated Turkish version's factor loadings were ranged between 0.419 and 0.841. Cronbach's alpha coefficient values were 0.661, 0.880, 0.805 and ICC values were 1.0, 0.99, 0.99 for maintenance, monitoring and management, respectively. Convergent validity's correlation coefficients weak to very strong and statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Turkish version of the SC-HI Version 3.0 is reliable, valid and useful scale for assessing self-management in hypertensive adults for clinical practice and research purposes.

Predictors of mortality, mortality rates, and clinical characteristics of adult patients with extreme hyperferritinemia.

BACKGROUND: Ferritin is an iron deposition protein and a commonly ordered clinical test. While high levels may signify iron deposition, the majority are due to metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, and malignant disorders. The association between ferritin elevations < 1000 µg/L and long-term mortality is well demonstrated. The association between extreme ferritin elevations, namely ferritin levels over 10,000 µg/L, and short-term mortality, as well as predictors of mortality, has not been defined. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective chart study was designed in an academic hospital to analyze the clinical, laboratory, and mortality characteristics of patients whose ferritin is over 10,000 µg/L. Patients from 2012 to 2023 in a large academic center's electronic medical records were analyzed. Demographics, underlying disorders, laboratory values, mortality status, and days to mortality were acquired. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to define predictors of mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze survival. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were identified to have ferritin levels over 10,000 µg/L. The most common underlying disorders were infectious diseases and malignancies. Predictors of mortality in the multivariate logistic regression model were also infectious disease (odds ratio (OR) = 5.35), and malignancy (OR = 6.56), as well as age (OR = 1.05). The area under the curve of the model was .86. 1-year mortality was 62%. Of the patients who died, median survival was 5 days; 30- and 90-day mortality were 80% and 92%, respectively. DISCUSSION: Extreme hyperferritinemia is associated with high short-term mortality. Ferritin can be used as a marker of poor prognosis, particularly among patients with infection and malignancy.

Mortality Factors in Crush Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Crush Syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following large-scale catastrophic earthquakes. Since there are no randomized controlled studies on Crush Syndrome, knowledge on this subject is limited to expert experience. The primary objective is to analyze the epidemiological and demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and mortality factors of earthquake victims after the Pazarcik and Elbistan earthquakes on February 6, 2023. METHODS: This cross-sectional and observational retrospective study evaluated 610 earthquake victims who presented to our center between February 6 and April 30, 2023. Among these patients, 128 with Crush Syndrome were included in the study. Patient information was gathered from hospital records during their stay and from national registries upon referral. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors for mortality. Demographic and laboratory data were analyzed by acute kidney injury (AKI) stages; mortality-affecting factors were identified through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 128 Crush Syndrome patients (100 adults, 28 children), 64 were female. The AKI rate was 32.8%. Among patients with AKI, the frequency of hemodialysis requirement was 69%, and the mortality rate was 14.2%. The overall mortality rate for patients with Crush Syndrome was 4.6%, compared to 3.9% (19/482) in earthquake victims without Crush Syndrome (p=0.705). Notably, low systolic blood pressure at admission was the only factor significantly affecting mortality in Crush Syndrome patients (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.088, p=0.021, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low systolic blood pressure upon admission as a significant risk factor for increased mortality in Crush Syndrome patients. This finding may contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure under rubble and administering more aggressive fluid therapy to patients with low systolic blood pressure.

Systemic Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Infection and Accompanying Warm Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia Following Intravesical BCG Immunotherapy.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is used for urothelial carcinoma. Systemic side effects are rare and commonly include organ involvement but rarely include bone marrow. We describe a patient who had received intravesical BCG and presented shortly afterwards with constitutional symptoms. Initial work-up revealed pancytopenia and immune haemolysis. He was presumptively diagnosed with systemic BCG infection and secondary warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was started. The bone marrow biopsy revealed granulomas. Within 6 weeks of treatment, the patient's clinic and laboratory results were dramatically improved. A high level of suspicion is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. LEARNING POINTS: Systemic bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection following intravesical BCG instillation is a rare but serious consequence. A high level of suspicion and scrutiny of history is of paramount importance for diagnosis.Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia secondary to systemic BCG infection is even rarer.Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia resolution was in parallel with improvement in systemic BCG infection.

Evaluation of machine learning algorithms for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors associated renal adverse event prediction.

BACKGROUND: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) are commonly used medications. Renal adverse events associated with RAASi are hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury. We aimed to evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) algorithms in order to define event associated features and predict RAASi associated renal adverse events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients recruited from five internal medicine and cardiology outpatient clinics were evaluated retrospectively. Clinical, laboratory, and medication data were acquired via electronic medical records. Dataset balancing and feature selection for machine learning algorithms were performed. Random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor (kNN), naïve Bayes (NB), extreme gradient boosting (xGB), support vector machine (SVM), neural network (NN), and logistic regression (LR) were used to create a prediction model. RESULTS: 409 patients were included, and 50 renal adverse events occurred. The most important features predicting the renal adverse events were the index K and glucose levels, as well as having uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Thiazides reduced RAASi associated hyperkalemia. kNN, RF, xGB and NN algorithms have the highest and similar AUC (≥ 98%), recall (≥ 94%), specifity (≥ 97%), precision (≥ 92%), accuracy (≥ 96%) and F1 statistics (≥ 94%) performance metrics for prediction. CONCLUSION: RAASi associated renal adverse events can be predicted prior to medication initiation by machine learning algorithms. Further prospective studies with large patient numbers are needed to create scoring systems as well as for their validation.

The Collateral Benefit of COVID Pandemic: Improved Pharmacological Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Practices in Non-COVID Patients.

Background: COVID-19 creates a hypercoagulable state with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Of those, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is prevalent, and numerous studies have highlighted the importance of VTE prophylaxis. Pre-pandemic VTE prophylaxis practices have already been poor, despite guidelines. We hypothesized that the gap between guidelines and practices might have been closed due to increased awareness. Materials and Methods: Non-COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the internal medicine ward of a university hospital between January 1st, 2021, and June 30th, 2021, were assessed. VTE risk and thromboprophylaxis requirements were assessed using the Padua Prediction Score (PPS). The results were compared with the findings of the study conducted in the same setting before the pandemic. Results: A total of 267 patients were included, and 81 patients (30.3%) received prophylaxis. A total of 128 patients' (47.9%) PPS was ≥ 4, and 69 patients (53.9%) received prophylaxis; 12 low-risk patients (8.6%) received prophylaxis although it was not indicated. Compared to the pre-pandemic figures, both appropriate prophylaxis use and overuse rates have risen. While the increment rate of appropriate prophylaxis was statistically significant, the increment rate of overuse did not reach statistical significance. Patients hospitalized for infectious diseases and respiratory failure were more likely to receive appropriate prophylaxis. Conclusion: We have demonstrated a significant increase in appropriate pharmacologic prophylaxis rates among high-risk patients. Besides all the collateral damage the pandemic has created, it might also have brought collateral benefits with regards to VTE prophylaxis.

Evaluation of renal fibrosis in various causes of glomerulonephritis by MR elastography: a clinicopathologic comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Renal parenchymal fibrosis is the most important determinant of kidney disease progression and it is determined via biopsy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the renal stiffness noninvasively by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and to compare it with clinicopathologic parameters in glomerulonephritis and AA amyloidosis patients. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over 20 ml/min/1.73m2 had non-contrast MRE prospectively. Kidney stiffness values were obtained from whole kidney, cortex, and medulla. Values were correlated with GFR, albuminuria, proteinuria, and degree of fibrosis that are assessed via renal biopsy. Patients were grouped clinicopathologically to assess the relation between stiffness and chronicity. RESULTS: Mean whole kidney, cortex, and medulla stiffnesses were 3.78 (± 1.26), 3.63 (± 1.25), and 4.77 (± 2.03) kPa, respectively. Mean global glomerulosclerosis was 22% (± 18%) and median segmental glomerulosclerosis was 4% (min-max: 0%-100%). Extent of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was less than 25% in 26 of the patients (76.5%), 25%-50% in 6 of the patients (17.6%), and higher than 50% in 2 of the patients (5.9%). Fourteen patients were defined to have chronic renal parenchymal injury. MRE-derived stiffness values correlated negatively with parameters of fibrosis. Lower stiffness values were observed in patients with chronic renal injury compared to those without (P < 0.05 for whole kidney and medulla MRE-derived stiffness). CONCLUSION: MRE-derived stiffness values were lower in patients with chronic injury. Stiffness decreases as glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis progresses in patients with primary glomerulonephritis and AA amyloidosis. With future studies, there may be a role for MRE to assess renal function in concert with conventional markers.

Quality gap in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis practices in inpatients: Assessment of prophylaxis practices in a University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a prevalent complication of inpatient care, causing high burden of morbidity and mortality. Prophylaxis reduces the events; thus, these practices are promoted. We aimed to assess the VTE prophylaxis practices in the general internal medicine wards of a tertiary-care university hospital and utilize these data to propose quality improvement projects. OBJECTIVE: Assess the pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis utilization by using the Padua Prediction Score and demonstrate the main determinants of inappropriate prophylaxis use. METHODS: Electronic medical records were used to collect data cross-sectionally from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2019. Padua Prediction Score was used to assess the appropriateness of VTE prophylaxis. Underlying health conditions, hospitalization causes, anti-platelets and use of glucocorticoids were also assessed as confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were included. Higher proportion of patients who received VTE prophylaxis were obese and had higher rates of diabetes and coronary artery disease. Prophylaxis was more commonly utilized among patients who were elderly, obese, having an acute infection and/or rheumatologic disorder and prolonged bed rest (P ≤ 0.001, P = 0.01, P = 0.22 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively). Thirty-five patients (11.8%) received VTE prophylaxis, despite 89 patients (30.2%) were high-risk patients. In the high-risk group (n = 89), 27 patients (30.3%) received appropriate pharmacological prophylaxis, while 8 patients (3.9%) received VTE prophylaxis in the low-risk group (total n = 206). A considerable percentage of the high-risk population (69.6%) did not receive VTE prophylaxis. DISCUSSION: Underuse constitutes a major challenge in our hospital but differing from other institutions, overuse is not a significant issue. Further studies are needed whether VTE prophylaxis improvement implementations uniformly increase appropriate VTE use.