Serum osteoprotegerin level in hemodialysis patients using low-flux reused dialyzer in relation to atherosclerosis.

AIMS: To assess the relation of high serum OPG level and carotid atherosclerosis in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients using low-flux reused dialyzer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 209 MHD patients with and without carotid atherosclerosis (83 patients and 126 patients) to establish the relation between OPG and atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The proportion of carotid atherosclerosis was 39.7%. The median serum OPG level was 45.3 pmol/L. Serum OPG had a good predicting value for atherosclerosis in MHD patients using low-flux reused dialyzer (AUC = 0.934, p < 0.001, cutoff value = 43.35 pmol/L, Se = 81.3%, Sp = 90.9%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, serum OPG had a good predicting value for atherosclerosis in MHD patients using low-flux reused dialyzer.

High In-Hospital Mortality Incidence Rate and Its Predictors in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage Undergoing Endotracheal Intubation.

(1) Background: The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of in-hospital mortality and to investigate its predictors in patients with a primary intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) undergoing endotracheal intubation. (2) Methods: This retrospective study, between July 2018 to July 2019, recruited patients who were diagnosed with a primary ICH and who were intubated during treatment in our institution. The outcome variable was in-hospital mortality, known as 30-day mortality, in patients with ICH undergoing endotracheal intubation. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify the prediction of in-hospital mortality. (3) Results: A total of 180 patients with ICH undergoing endotracheal intubation were included, with a mean (SD) age of 62.64 (13.82) years. A total of 73.33% were female, and 71.11% of the patients were indicated for intubation due to neurological reasons. The in-hospital mortality rate, following endotracheal intubation, was 58.33%. In a reduced model using a stepwise backward selection strategy with p values < 0.2, independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were brain herniations on cranial CT scans (OR: 10.268, 95% CI: 2.749-38.344), lower Glasgow coma scale (CGS) scores before intubation (OR: 0.614, 95% CI: 0.482-0.782), and the loss of the vertical oculocephalic reflex before intubation (OR: 6.288, 95% CI: 2.473-15.985). Conclusions: The in-hospital mortality rate was comparable to that in the early evidence, but was significantly higher compared to recent reports. We infer that brain herniations on cranial CT imaging, lower CGS scores before intubation, and the loss of the vertical oculocephalic reflex before intubation could be used to approximately predict in-hospital mortality in patients with primary ICH undergoing endotracheal intubation. These considerations can help guide clinical decisions and community stroke discussions.