Omitting the Escalating Dosage of Alpha-adrenergic Blockade before Pheochromocytoma Resection: Implementation of a Treatment Strategy in Discordance with Current Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the effects of introducing a protocol omitting preoperative α-blockade dose-escalation (de-escalation) in a prospective patient group. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The decline of mortality and morbidity associated with pheochromocytoma resection is frequently attributed to the introduction of preoperative α-blockade. Current protocols require preoperative α-blockade dose-escalation and multiple-day hospital admissions. However, correlating evidence is lacking. Moreover, recent data suggest equal perioperative safety regardless of preoperative α-blockade escalation. METHODS: Single-institution evaluation of protocol implementation, including patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma between 2015 and 2023. Intraoperative hemodynamic control was regulated by active adjustment of blood pressure using vasoactive agents. The primary outcome was intraoperative hypertension, defined as time-weighted average of systolic blood pressure (TWA-SBP) above 200 mm Hg. Secondary outcomes included perioperative hypotension, postoperative blood pressure support requirement, hospital stay duration and complications. RESULTS: Of 102 pheochromocytoma patients, 82 were included; 44 in the de-escalated preoperative α-adrenergic protocol and 38 following the previous dose-escalation protocol. Median [IQR] TWA-SBP above 200 mm Hg was 0.01 [0.0-0.4] mm Hg in the de-escalated group versus 0.0 [0.0-0.1] mm Hg in the dose-escalated group (P=0.073). Median duration of postoperative continuous norepinephrine administration was 0.3 hrs [0.0-5.5] versus 5.1 hrs [0.0-14.3], respectively (P=0.003). Postoperative symptomatic hypotension occurred in 34.2% versus 9.1% of patients (P=0.005). Median hospital stay was 2.5 days [1.9-3.6] versus 7.1 days [6.0-11.9] (P<0.001). No significant differences in complication rates were observed. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma employing a de-escalated preoperative α-blockade protocol is safe and results in a shorter hospital stay.

Evaluation of the use of alternative sample types for mosquito-borne flavivirus surveillance: Using Usutu virus as a model.

Wild birds are reservoirs of several zoonotic arboviruses including West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), and are often monitored as indicators for virus introduction and spread. To optimize the bird surveillance for arboviruses in the Netherlands and to explore the possibilities for citizen science in surveillance, we investigated the suitability of using alternative sample types from live and dead birds. The sensitivity of molecular detection via RT-PCR of viral RNA in feather, heart, lung, throat and cloaca swabs from dead birds, and serum, dried blood spots (DBS) and throat and cloaca swabs from live birds were compared. IgY antibody detection was also assessed from DBS relative to serum on protein-microarray and virus neutralization test. Feathers showed a high detection sensitivity for USUV RNA in both live and dead birds, and no significant decrease was observed in the RNA loads in the feathers after being stored dry at room temperature for 43 days. Additionally, viral RNAs extracted from feathers of day 0 and 43 were successfully sequenced. The results indicated no statistical significant difference in sensitivity and viral loads detection in heart, spleen, and lung relative to corresponding brain samples in dead birds. In live birds, viral RNA loads did not differ between throat and cloaca swabs. This study identified less-invasive sample types that allows involvement of citizens in collecting samples from wild birds for arbovirus surveillance. Sensitivity and specificity of DBS-based antibody detections were significantly lower and therefore need optimization.

Recurrence Rate of Sporadic Pheochromocytomas After Curative Adrenalectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on follow-up duration for patients with sporadic pheochromocytomas is absent, and current guidelines of the European Society of Endocrinology, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Endocrine Surgeons, and the Endocrine Society are ambiguous about the appropriate duration of follow-up. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the recurrence rate of sporadic pheochromocytomas after curative adrenalectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed. A study was eligible if it included a clear report on the number of sporadic patients, recurrence rate, and follow-up duration. Studies with an inclusion period before 1990, <2 years of follow-up, <10 patients, and unclear data on the sporadic nature of pheochromocytomas were excluded. A meta-analysis on recurrence was performed provided that the heterogeneity was low (I2 < 25%) or intermediate (I2 26-75%). Hozo's method was used to calculate weighted mean follow-up duration and weighted time to recurrence with combined standard deviations (SDs). RESULTS: A total of 13 studies, including 430 patients, were included in the synthesis. The meta-analysis results describe a pooled recurrence rate after curative surgery of 3% (95% confidence interval: 2-6%, I2 = 0%), with a weighted mean time to recurrence of 49.4 months (SD = 30.7) and a weighted mean follow-up period of 77.3 months (SD = 32.2). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows a very low recurrence rate of 3%. Prospective studies, including economical and health effects of limited follow-up strategies for patients with truly sporadic pheochromocytomas should be considered.

Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020.

On 22 August, a common whitethroat in the Netherlands tested positive for West Nile virus lineage 2. The same bird had tested negative in spring. Subsequent testing of Culex mosquitoes collected in August and early September in the same location generated two of 44 positive mosquito pools, providing first evidence for enzootic transmission in the Netherlands. Sequences generated from the positive mosquito pools clustered with sequences that originate from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

No apparent impact of increased post-operative blood glucose levels on clinical outcome in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to evaluate whether hyperglycemia in the first 48 h after renal transplantation is independently associated with rejection, post-operative infection and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Patients who received a renal transplant in our hospital in 2003 or 2004 were included. Glucose values until 48 h after surgery were retrieved from laboratory reports. Biopsy proven acute rejection, culture proven infections and PTDM were scored until four months after transplantation. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and logistic multivariate analysis. RESULTS: At least one post-operative glucose value could be retrieved for 150/151 patients. Rejection occurred in 46/150 (30.5%), infection in 47/150 (31.1%) and PTDM in 19/150 (12.6%) patients. When corrected for other risk factors, no relation was found between post-operative glucose levels and rejection (weak inverse relation, OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.65-1.03; p = 0.09), post-operative glucose and infections (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.80-1.21; p = 0.84) and post-operative glucose and PTDM (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.70-1.23; p = 0.63). CONCLUSION: Increased post-operative blood glucose levels after renal transplantation were not found to be a risk factor for graft rejection. Also, post-operative glucose levels were not found to be associated with PTDM and post-operative infections.