Low-dose hydrocortisone prolongs survival in a lethal sepsis model in adrenalectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: Controversial clinical findings of low-dose hydrocortisone supplementation in septic shock led us to investigate the impact of administration in lethal septic shock in adrenalectomized rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After preliminary experiments, to define the intravenous dose of hydrocortisone delivered in bilaterally adrenalectomized rats with serum cortisol level similar to sham rats, survival experiments were run in 75 rats after intraperitoneal challenge with Escherichia coli. Rats were treated with placebo, ertapenem, hydrocortisone, and a combination. Sacrifice experiments were run to measure gene transcripts in whole blood and in the liver and to assess cytokine stimulation of splenocytes and tissue overgrowth. RESULTS: The combination of hydrocortisone and ertapenem was superior to any single treatment and mandatory to achieve survival benefit. Splenocytes from infected rats had decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα); this was reversed with hydrocortisone treatment. Hydrocortisone increased the expression of TNF, Il1r2, and Hdac4 and decreased that of Dnmt3a. Bacterial burden of E. coli in kidney was decreased after hydrocortisone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose of hydrocortisone is a mandatory adjunctive to antimicrobial therapy in a rat model of septic shock after bilateral adrenalectomy. The mechanism of action is related to reversal of sepsis-induced immunosuppression through interaction with histone deacetylases and de novo DNA methyltransferases.

Progression into sepsis: an individualized process varying by the interaction of comorbidities with the underlying infection.

BACKGROUND: Development of sepsis is a process with significant variation among individuals. The precise elements of this variation need to be defined. This study was designed to define the way in which comorbidities contribute to sepsis development. METHODS: Three thousand five hundred nine patients with acute pyelonephritis (AP), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), intraabdominal infections (IAI) or primary bacteremia (BSI) and at least two signs of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome were analyzed. The study primary endpoint was to define how comorbidities as expressed in the Charlson's comorbidity index (CCI) and the underlying type of infection contribute to development of organ dysfunction. The precise comorbidities that mediate sepsis development and risk for death among 18 comorbidities recorded were the secondary study endpoints. RESULTS: CCI more than 2 had an odds ratio of 5.67 for sepsis progression in patients with IAI between significantly higher than AP and BSI. Forward logistic regression analysis indicated seven comorbidities that determine transition into sepsis in patients with AP, four comorbidities in CAP, six comorbidities in IAI and one in BSI. The odds ratio both for progression to sepsis and death with one comorbidity or with two and more comorbidities was greater than in the absence of comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: The study described how different kinds of infection vary in the degree to which they lead to sepsis. The number of comorbidities that enhances the risk of sepsis and death varies depending on the underlying infections.

Intravenous paracetamol as an antipyretic and analgesic medication: the significance of drug metabolism.

One prospective, open-label, non-randomized study was conducted in 100 patients to define the antipyretic and analgesic effect of a new intravenous formulation of 1 g of paracetamol; 71 received paracetamol for the management of fever and 29 received paracetamol for pain relief after abdominal surgery or for neoplastic pain. Serial follow-up measurements of core temperature and of pain intensity were done for 6 h. Additional rescue medications were recorded for 5 days. Blood was sampled for the measurement of free paracetamol (APAP) and of glucuronide-APAP and N-sulfate-APAP by an HPLC assay. Defervescence, defined as core temperature below or equal to 37.1°C, was achieved in 52 patients (73.2%) within a median time of 3 h. Patients failing to become afebrile with the first dose of paracetamol became afebrile when administered other agents as rescue medications. Analgesia was achieved in 25 patients (86.4%) within a median time of 2 h. Serum levels of glucuronide-APAP were greater among non-responders to paracetamol. The presented results suggest that the intravenous formulation of paracetamol is clinically effective depending on drug metabolism.

Oral minocycline plus rifampicin versus oral linezolid for complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: The AIDA open label, randomized, controlled Phase 4 trial.

Background: The need for oral, cost-effective treatment for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was addressed by the non-inferiority comparisons of oral minocycline plus rifampicin with linezolid. Methods: In the AIDA multicenter, open label, randomized, controlled clinical trial, hospitalized adults with cSSSI and documented MRSA were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to either oral 600 mg rifampicin qd plus 100 mg minocycline bid or oral 600 mg linezolid bid for 10 days. The primary endpoint was the clinical cure rate in the clinically evaluable (CE) population at the test-of-cure visit (14 days). Non-inferiority was confirmed if the lower confidence limit (CI) did not fall below the accepted error margin of 15%. The study is registered with EudraCT number 2014-001276-56. Findings: 123 patients recruited between November 2014 and January 2017 were randomly assigned to treatment (81 patients to minocycline plus rifampicin and 42 patients to linezolid). Cure rates were 78.% (46/59, 90% CI 67.3-86.5) and 68.6% (24/35, 90% CI 53.4-81.3), respectively (P = 0.337). The percent difference in cure rates was 9.4% (90% CI -7.2 to 26.8%). Minocycline plus rifampicin combination was deemed non-inferior to linezolid as the lower CI was -7.2% i.e. smaller than the accepted error margin of -15%. Although statistically not significant, the overall rate of adverse events was higher in the linezolid group (47.6%, 20/42 versus 38.3%, 31/81). Interpretation: Oral minocycline plus rifampicin was non-inferior to oral linezolid treatment providing alternative oral treatment for cSSSI. Funding: The EU Seventh Research Framework Programme.

Solitary Soft-Tissue Metastasis of a Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma 2 Years After Curative Resection: Report of a Rare Case and a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Soft-tissue metastases from a primary carcinoma are rare lesions. They often are the first clinical manifestation of a previously unknown malignancy of an advanced stage, but may also be solitary in a setting of a recurrent disease. Generally, they are associated with poor prognosis and may be the source of diagnostic confusion both clinically and pathologically. The primary location of the malignancy is usually lung, breast, kidney, or colon. Soft-tissue metastases from a pancreatic adenocarcinoma are extremely rare. A few cases involving the skin have been described in the literature, and solitary metastasis to the deep soft-tissue (eg, subcutis and skeletal muscle) was reported less than 10 times. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with late-onset (recurrent disease), solitary, subcutaneous metastasis in the posterior aspect of the left thigh, deriving from a pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, 2 years after initial treatment with R0 resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy) and adjuvant chemotherapy. We emphasize the rarity of this entity, review the literature, and discuss treatment options. CONCLUSIONS Solitary soft-tissue metastasis from a pancreatic adenocarcinoma after initial curative treatment is very rare. Although hematogenous spread from a pancreatic adenocarcinoma generally has a very poor prognosis, treatment should be individualized according to the patient's history, general condition, and symptoms and the clinical setting in relation to the primary disease.

Heparin Binding Protein for the Early Diagnosis and Prognosis of Sepsis in the Emergency Department: The Prompt Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The validation of new biomarkers for the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with sepsis at an early point is essential for successful treatment. Recent publications prompted us to investigate of heparin binding protein (HBP) for the emergency department (ED) admissions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, HBP and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured within the first hour upon admission to the ED in plasma samples of 371 patients with signs of infection. Patients were classified into non-sepsis and sepsis by the Sepsis-3 definitions and were followed up for outcome. RESULTS: HBP was significantly higher in patients with sepsis and was positively correlated to PCT and C-reactive protein, absolute neutrophil and monocyte counts, creatinine, bilirubin and lactate. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of HBP more than 19.8 ng/mL for the diagnosis of sepsis was 66.3%, 44.9%, 49.3%, and 62.2%, respectively; and for prediction of early death was 100%, 41.0%, 4.5%, and 100%, respectively. Single HBP and PCT could not predict 28-day mortality; this was performed with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value 44.8%, 81.8%, 17.3%, and 94.6% when used in combination. CONCLUSION: Admission HBP can be used as a tool for the early diagnosis of sepsis and for the risk of early death in the ED.

A 29-MRNA HOST RESPONSE WHOLE-BLOOD SIGNATURE IMPROVES PREDICTION OF 28-DAY MORTALITY AND 7-DAY INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CARE IN ADULTS PRESENTING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH SUSPECTED ACUTE INFECTION AND/OR SEPSIS.

ABSTRACT: Background: Risk stratification of emergency department patients with suspected acute infections and/or suspected sepsis remains challenging. We prospectively validated a 29-messenger RNA host response classifier for predicting severity in these patients. Methods: We enrolled adults presenting with suspected acute infections and at least one vital sign abnormality to six emergency departments in Greece. Twenty-nine target host RNAs were quantified on NanoString nCounter and analyzed with the Inflammatix Severity 2 (IMX-SEV-2) classifier to determine risk scores as low, moderate, and high severity. Performance of IMX-SEV-2 for prediction of 28-day mortality was compared with that of lactate, procalcitonin, and quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA). Results: A total of 397 individuals were enrolled; 38 individuals (9.6%) died within 28 days. Inflammatix Severity 2 classifier predicted 28-day mortality with an area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.90) compared with lactate, 0.66 (95% CI, 0.54-0.77); procalcitonin, 0.67 (95% CI, 0.57-0.78); and qSOFA, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72-0.89). Combining qSOFA with IMX-SEV-2 improved prognostic accuracy from 0.81 to 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96). The high-severity (rule-in) interpretation band of IMX-SEV-2 demonstrated 96.9% specificity for predicting 28-day mortality, whereas the low-severity (rule-out) band had a sensitivity of 78.9%. Similarly, IMX-SEV-2 alone accurately predicted the need for day-7 intensive care unit care and further boosted overall accuracy when combined with qSOFA. Conclusions: Inflammatix Severity 2 classifier predicted 28-day mortality and 7-day intensive care unit care with high accuracy and boosted the accuracy of clinical scores when used in combination.

Detrimental effect of apoptosis of lymphocytes at an early time point of experimental abdominal sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis of lymphocytes is considered a late sequelum in the sepsis cascade. The role of apoptosis of lymphocytes as a driver of final outcome was investigated. METHODS: Abdominal sepsis was induced after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in 31 rabbits. Blood was sampled at serial time intervals and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. Apoptosis of lymphocytes and monocytes was measured through flow cytometric analysis. PBMCs were stimulated with LPS and Pam3Cys for the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). Tissue bacterial growth was quantitatively measured. In a second set of experiments, CLP was performed in another 40 rabbits; 20 received single intravenous infusions of ciprofloxacin and of metronidazole 4 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Animals were divided into two groups based on the percentage of lymphocyte apoptosis at 4 hours after surgery; less than or equal to 32% and more than 32%. Survival of the former was shorter than the latter (p: 0.017). Tissue growth was similar between groups. Apoptosis of lymphocytes and of monocytes was lower in the former group over follow-up. Release of ΤNFα did not differ. The above findings on survival were repeated in the second set of experiments. Administration of antimicrobials prolonged survival of the former group (p: 0.039) but not of the latter group (pNS). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocyte apoptosis at an early time point of experimental peritonitis is a major driver for death. A lower percentage of apoptosis leads earlier to death. Antimicrobials were beneficial even at that disease state.

Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, placental growth factor and procalcitonin as biomarkers of gram-negative sepsis: Analysis through a derivation and a validation cohort.

ABSTRACT: Further improvement of the diagnostic and prognostic performance of biomarkers for the critically ill is needed. Procalcitonin (PCT), placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 raise interest for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis.Serum samples from 2 cohorts of 172 patients (derivation cohort) and of 164 patients (validation cohort) comprising only patients with microbiologically confirmed gram-negative infections were analyzed. PlGF, s-Flt-1 and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured in serum within 24 hours from sepsis onset and repeated on days 3 and 7.PCT and s-Flt-1 baseline levels were higher in sepsis and septic shock compared to non-sepsis; this was not the case for PlGF. s-Flt-1 at concentrations greater than 60 pg/ml diagnosed sepsis with sensitivity 72.3% and specificity 54.9% whereas at concentrations greater than 70 pg/ml predicted unfavorable outcome with specificity 73.0% and sensitivity 63.7%. At least 80% decrease of PCT and/or PCT less than 0.5 ng/ml on day 7 was protective from sepsis-associated death.Both s-Flt-1 and PCT should be measured in the critically ill since they provide additive information for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis.ClinicalTrials.gov numbers NCT01223690 and NCT00297674.

A 29-mRNA host response test from blood accurately distinguishes bacterial and viral infections among emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: Whether or not to administer antibiotics is a common and challenging clinical decision in patients with suspected infections presenting to the emergency department (ED). We prospectively validate InSep, a 29-mRNA blood-based host response test for the prediction of bacterial and viral infections. METHODS: The PROMPT trial is a prospective, non-interventional, multi-center clinical study that enrolled 397 adult patients presenting to the ED with signs of acute infection and at least one vital sign change. The infection status was adjudicated using chart review (including a syndromic molecular respiratory panel, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein) by three infectious disease physicians blinded to InSep results. InSep (version BVN-2) was performed using PAXgene Blood RNA processed and quantified on NanoString nCounter SPRINT. InSep results (likelihood of bacterial and viral infection) were compared to the adjudicated infection status. RESULTS: Subject mean age was 64 years, comorbidities were significant for diabetes (17.1%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.6%), and severe neurological disease (6.8%); 16.9% of subjects were immunocompromised. Infections were adjudicated as bacterial (14.1%), viral (11.3%) and noninfected (0.25%): 74.1% of subjects were adjudicated as indeterminate. InSep distinguished bacterial vs. viral/noninfected patients and viral vs. bacterial/noninfected patients using consensus adjudication with AUROCs of 0.94 (95% CI 0.90-0.99) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.96), respectively. AUROCs for bacterial vs. viral/noninfected patients were 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.96) for PCT, 0.80 (95% CI 0.72-89) for CRP and 0.78 (95% CI 0.69-0.87) for white blood cell counts (of note, the latter biomarkers were provided as part of clinical adjudication). To enable clinical actionability, InSep incorporates score cutoffs to allocate patients into interpretation bands. The Very Likely (rule in) InSep bacterial band showed a specificity of 98% compared to 94% for the corresponding PCT band (> 0.5 µg/L); the Very Unlikely (rule-out) band showed a sensitivity of 95% for InSep compared to 86% for PCT. For the detection of viral infections, InSep demonstrated a specificity of 93% for the Very Likely band (rule in) and a sensitivity of 96% for the Very Unlikely band (rule out). CONCLUSIONS: InSep demonstrated high accuracy for predicting the presence of both bacterial and viral infections in ED patients with suspected acute infections or suspected sepsis. When translated into a rapid, point-of-care test, InSep will provide ED physicians with actionable results supporting early informed treatment decisions to improve patient outcomes while upholding antimicrobial stewardship. Registration number at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03295825.

Late Peaks of HMGB1 and Sepsis Outcome: Evidence For Synergy With Chronic Inflammatory Disorders.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is released from macrophages as a late biomarker of sepsis. Conditions associated with pre-existing macrophage activation may modify HMGB1 expression. This study aimed to assess the impact of HMGB1 kinetics on 28-day mortality. In a sub-study of a previous randomized clinical trial among patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and gram-negative infections, patients were classified in early and late HMGB1 peak groups. Serial measurements of HMGB1, ferritin and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) were performed in all available sera. Two hundred ten patients were included; 118 (46.5%) had at least one inflammatory disease (diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, or chronic renal disease). Mortality after 28 days was higher among patients with a late peak of HMGB1 (OR 2.640; P = 0.026). Co-existence of late peak and inflammatory disease synergistically impacted mortality (odds ratio of logistic regression analysis 3.17; P: 0.027). Late peak was concomitantly associated with higher values of ferritin (P = 0.035), and IFNγ (P = 0.002) among patients with hyperferritinemia. It is concluded that late HMGB1 peak was associated with worse prognosis, especially in patients with underlying chronic inflammatory conditions.

Microbiology of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections in Greece: A proposed clinical prediction score for the causative pathogen.

Although clinical definitions of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infection (ABSSSI) are now well established, guidance of the prediction of likely pathogens based on evidence is missing. This was a large survey of the microbiology of ABSSSIs in Greece. During the period November 2014 to December 2016, all admissions for ABSSSI in 16 departments of internal medicine or surgery in Greece were screened to determine the likely bacterial aetiology. Samples were cultured on conventional media. Expression of the SA442, mecA/mecC and SCCmec-orfX junction genes was assessed. Following univariate and forward logistic regression analysis, clinical characteristics were used to develop scores to predict the likely pathogen with a target of 90% specificity. In total, 1027 patients were screened and 633 had positive microbiology. Monomicrobial infection by Gram-positive cocci occurred in 52.1% and by Gram-negative bacteria in 20.5%, and mixed infection by Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacteria in 27.3%. The most common isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Resistance to methicillin was 57.3% (53.5-61.1%). Three predictive scores were developed: one for infection by methicillin-resistant S. aureus, incorporating recent hospitalisation, atrial fibrillation, residency in long-term care facility (LTCF) and stroke; one for mixed Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections, incorporating localisation of ABSSSI in lumbar area, fluoroquinolone intake in last 6 days, residency in LTCF and stroke; and another for Gram-negative infection, incorporating skin ulcer presentation, peptic ulcer and solid tumour malignancy. In conclusion, methicillin-resistant staphylococci are the main pathogens of ABSSSIs. The scores developed may help to predict the likely pathogen.

Lipid peroxidation and inguinal hernia repair. Tension-free vs. Andrews technique.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the early effect of inguinal hernia repair by the tension-free method compared to the conventional Andrew's technique on lipid peroxidation. PATIENTS-METHODS: Thirty-four patients subjected to elective hernia repair were enrolled in the study divided in two groups. Group A (n=18) underwent hernia repair by the tension-free method using a polypropylene mesh. Group B (n=16) underwent hernia repair by the Andrew's technique (i.e. a modification of the Bassini's technique). Venous blood samples were drawn preoperatively and at 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was estimated by the thiobarbiturate assay. RESULTS: Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in patients of group B compared to group A at 12 and 48 h postoperatively. Concentrations of fibrinogen were similar between the two groups. MDA was significantly higher in patients of group B hours compared to group A at 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Positive correlation was found between neutrophil counts and MDA at 12 h (r: +0.43, P: 0.015) and 48 h (r: +0.496, P: 0.005) but not at 24 h. No correlation was found between serum fibrinogen and MDA. CONCLUSION: Hernia repair by the Andrews's technique elicits a sustained triggering of lipid peroxidation, compared to the tension-free method.

Spleen rupture due to primary angiosarcoma: a case report.

A case of a 79-year-old female with rupture of the spleen due to primary angiosarcoma is presented. Symptoms were non-specific. Diagnosis was based on histology postoperatively. Primary angiosarcoma of the spleen is a very rare and aggressive neoplasm with a high metastatic rate and almost uniformly fatal. Due to small number of reported cases, there are no guidelines concerning adjuvant or palliative treatment or any beneficial protocols of chemotherapy or radiotherapy up to date. Splenectomy prior to rupture seems to have a positive impact on long-term survival.