Survival for Nonshockable Cardiac Arrests Treated With Noninvasive Circulatory Adjuncts and Head/Thorax Elevation.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac arrests remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Most patients have nonshockable electrocardiographic presentations (asystole/pulseless electrical activity). Despite well-performed basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) interventions, patients with these presentations have always faced unlikely chances of survival. The primary objective was to determine if, in addition to conventional CPR (C-CPR), expeditious application of noninvasive circulation-enhancing adjuncts, and then gradual elevation of head and thorax, would be associated with higher likelihoods of survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with nonshockable presentations. DESIGN: Using a prospective observational study design (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05588024), patient data from the national registry of emergency medical services (EMS) agencies deploying the CPR-enhancing adjuncts and automated head/thorax-up positioning (AHUP-CPR) were compared with counterpart reference control patient data derived from the two National Institutes of Health clinical trials that closely monitored quality CPR performance. Beyond unadjusted comparisons, propensity score matching and matching of time to EMS-initiated CPR (TCPR) were used to assemble cohorts with corresponding best-fit distributions of the well-established characteristics associated with OHCA outcomes. SETTING: North American 9-1-1 EMS agencies. PATIENTS: Adult nontraumatic OHCA patients receiving 9-1-1 responses. INTERVENTIONS: In addition to C-CPR, study patients received the CPR adjuncts and AHUP (all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median TCPR for both AHUP-CPR and C-CPR groups was 8 minutes. Median time to AHUP initiation was 11 minutes. Combining all patients irrespective of lengthier response intervals, the collective unadjusted likelihood of AHUP-CPR group survival to hospital discharge was 7.4% (28/380) vs. 3.1% (58/1,852) for C-CPR (odds ratio [OR], 2.46 [95% CI, 1.55-3.92]) and, after propensity score matching, 7.6% (27/353) vs. 2.8% (10/353) (OR, 2.84 [95% CI, 1.35-5.96]). Faster AHUP-CPR application markedly amplified odds of survival and neurologically favorable survival. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, compared with C-CPR, there are strong associations between rapid AHUP-CPR treatment and greater likelihood of patient survival, as well as survival with good neurological function, in cases of nonshockable OHCA.

Discontinuing ß-lactam treatment after 3 days for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in non-critical care wards (PTC): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy for patients admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia should help reduce antibiotic consumption and thus bacterial resistance, adverse events, and related costs. We aimed to assess the need for an additional 5-day course of ß-lactam therapy among patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were stable after 3 days of treatment. METHODS: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial (the Pneumonia Short Treatment [PTC]) in 16 centres in France. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) admitted to hospital with moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia (defined as patients admitted to a non-critical care unit) and who met prespecified clinical stability criteria after 3 days of treatment with ß-lactam therapy were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ß-lactam therapy (oral amoxicillin 1 g plus clavulanate 125 mg three times a day) or matched placebo for 5 extra days. Randomisation was done using a web-based system with permuted blocks with random sizes and stratified by randomisation site and Pneumonia Severity Index score. Participants, clinicians, and study staff were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was cure 15 days after first antibiotic intake, defined by apyrexia (temperature ≤37·8°C), resolution or improvement of respiratory symptoms, and no additional antibiotic treatment for any cause. A non-inferiority margin of 10 percentage points was chosen. The primary outcome was assessed in all patients who were randomly assigned and received any treatment (intention-to-treat [ITT] population) and in all patients who received their assigned treatment (per-protocol population). Safety was assessed in the ITT population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01963442, and is now complete. FINDINGS: Between Dec 19, 2013, and Feb 1, 2018, 706 patients were assessed for eligibility, and after 3 days of ß-lactam treatment, 310 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n=157) or ß-lactam treatment (n=153). Seven patients withdrew consent before taking any study drug, five in the placebo group and two in the ß-lactam group. In the ITT population, median age was 73·0 years (IQR 57·0-84·0) and 123 (41%) of 303 participants were female. In the ITT analysis, cure at day 15 occurred in 117 (77%) of 152 participants in the placebo group and 102 (68%) of 151 participants in the ß-lactam group (between-group difference of 9·42%, 95% CI -0·38 to 20·04), indicating non-inferiority. In the per-protocol analysis, 113 (78%) of 145 participants in the placebo treatment group and 100 (68%) of 146 participants in the ß-lactam treatment group were cured at day 15 (difference of 9·44% [95% CI -0·15 to 20·34]), indicating non-inferiority. Incidence of adverse events was similar between the treatment groups (22 [14%] of 152 in the placebo group and 29 [19%] of 151 in the ß-lactam group). The most common adverse events were digestive disorders, reported in 17 (11%) of 152 patients in the placebo group and 28 (19%) of 151 patients in the ß-lactam group. By day 30, three (2%) patients had died in the placebo group (one due to bacteraemia due to Staphylococcus aureus, one due to cardiogenic shock after acute pulmonary oedema, and one due to heart failure associated with acute renal failure) and two (1%) in the ß-lactam group (due to pneumonia recurrence and possible acute pulmonary oedema). INTERPRETATION: Among patients admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia who met clinical stability criteria, discontinuing ß-lactam treatment after 3 days was non-inferior to 8 days of treatment. These findings could allow substantial reduction of antibiotic consumption. FUNDING: French Ministry of Health.

Student characteristics associated with interpersonal skills in medical consultations.

BACKGROUND: The quality of medical care depends on effective physician-patient communication. Interpersonal skills can be improved through teaching, but the determinants are poorly understood. We therefore assessed the factors associated with the interpersonal skills of medical students during simulated medical consultations. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of fourth-year medical students participating in simulated consultations with standardized patients. Each video-recorded medical consultation was independently assessed by two raters, using a cross-cultural adaptation of the Four Habits Coding Scheme (4-HCS) into French. We then collected information on demographics and education-related characteristics. The relationship between the overall 4-HCS score and student characteristics was modeled using univariable and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Our analytical sample included 165 medical students for analysis. The factors significantly associated with 4-HCS score were gender (ß = - 4.8, p = 0.011) and completion of an international clinical placement (ß = 6.2, p = 0.002) or a research laboratory clerkship (ß = 6.5, p = 0.005). Education-related characteristics, multiple-choice examinations in the first to third preclinical years, and number of medicine or surgery clerkships were not significantly associated with 4-HCS score. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduate students with higher level of interpersonal skills during video-recorded medical consultations with standardized patients are more likely to be female, to have completed international clinical placement as part of the ERASMUS exchange program or research laboratory clerkship.

Accuracy of chitotriosidase activity and CCL18 concentration in assessing type I Gaucher disease severity. A systematic review with meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Chitotriosidase activity and CCL18 concentration are interchangeably used for monitoring Gaucher disease (GD) activity, together with clinical assessment. However, comparative studies of these two biomarkers are scarce and of limited sample size. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis of individual participant data (IPD) was to compare the accuracy of chitotriosidase activity and CCL18 concentration for assessing type I GD severity. We identified cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies by searching Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from 1995 to June 2017, and by contacting research groups. The primary outcome was a composite of liver volume >1.25 multiple of normal (MN), spleen volume >5 MN, hemoglobin concentration <11 g/dL, and platelet count <100x109/L. Overall, IPD included 1109 observations from 334 patients enrolled in nine primary studies, after excluding 111 patients with undocumented values and 18 patients with deficient chitotriosidase activity. IPD were unavailable for 14 eligible primary studies. The primary outcome was associated with a 5.3-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2 to 6.6) and 3.0-fold (95% CI, 2.6 to 3.6) increase of the geometric mean for chitotriosidase activity and CCL18 concentration, respectively. The corresponding areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves were 0.82 and 0.84 (summary difference, 0.02, 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.05). The addition of chitotriosidase activity did not improve the accuracy of CCL18 concentration. Estimates remained robust in the sensitivity analysis and consistent across subgroups. Neither chitotriosidase activity nor CCL18 concentration varied significantly according to a recent history of bone events among 97 patients. In conclusion, CCL18 concentration is as accurate as chitotriosidase activity in assessing hematological and visceral parameters of GD severity and can be measured in all GD patients. This meta-analysis supports the use of CCL18 rather than chitotriosidase activity for monitoring GD activity in routine practice.

Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression for ruling out myelodysplastic syndromes: a prospective validation study.

Suspicion of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is the most common reason for bone marrow aspirate in elderly patients. This study aimed to prospectively validate the accuracy for flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression in ruling out MDS. We enrolled 62 consecutive patients who were referred for suspected MDS, based on medical history and peripheral blood cytopenia. The accuracy of intra-individual robust coefficient of variation (RCV) for peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression was assessed with a prespecified 30% threshold. Cytomorphological evaluation of bone marrow aspirate performed by experienced hematopathologists confirmed MDS in 23 patients (prevalence, 37%), unconfirmed MDS in 32 patients (52%, including 3 patients with idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS)), and was uninterpretable in 7 patients (11%). The median intra-individual RCV values for neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression in peripheral blood were 37.4% (range, 30.7-54.1), 29.2% (range, 28.1-32.1), and 29.1% (range, 24.7-37.8) for patients with confirmed suspicion of MDS, ICUS, and unconfirmed suspicion of MDS, respectively (P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve was 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.99). An intra-individual RCV value lower than 30% ruled out MDS for 35% (i.e., 19/55) patients referred for suspected disease, with 100% sensitivity (95% CI, 85-100%) and 100% negative predictive value (95% CI, 82-100%) estimates. This study shows that flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression might obviate the need for bone marrow aspirate for 35% of patients with suspected MDS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03363399 (first posted on December 6, 2017).

Relationship between changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by SD-OCT and changes in visual field parameters in birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the structure-function relationship in birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) using visual field data and peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber thickness (RNFL). METHODS: A total of 21 patients (34 eyes) with BSCR were evaluated prospectively from 2014 to 2018 (IMAGE-EYE cohort). Functional tests included measurement of visual acuity and visual field (30-2 SITA standard). Anatomical tests included fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Most of the patients were female (57%) with a mean age of 62 ± 8 years. Mean follow-up was 2.3 ± 0.6 years. Structural examination results were significantly modified in contrast to functional test results, with a significant reduction in mean RNFL (2.49 µm, p < 0.01), temporal RNFL (- 1.68 µm; p = 0.03) and lower nasal RNFL (- 2.83 µm; p = 0.003). A significant linear relationship was found (p = 0.001) between the visual field deficit (mean deviation (MD)) and the Napierian logarithm of the mean RNFL thickness. CONCLUSION: We found a subtle structural deterioration of the optic nerve (RNFL) during the follow-up, but not of the visual field. The significant relationship between structural (RNFL thickness) and functional measures (mean deviation) also supports the idea that RNFL thickness measurements could be useful for the mid-term monitoring of BSCR patients.

MULTIFOCAL ELECTRORETINOGRAPHY AND SPECTRAL-DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IN MACULA-OFF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT: A Prospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the temporal trends in structural changes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and functional changes using multifocal electroretinogram after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery. METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled 69 patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent successful surgery. Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity, multifocal electroretinogram evaluation of the central 5°, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were recorded at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (M) after surgery. The fellow eye served as the control group for multifocal electroretinogram parameters. RESULTS: Between M1 and M12, visual acuity improved from 64 to 75 letters (P = 0.001) and implicit time of N1 decreased from 27.8 to 25.2 milliseconds (P = 0.001), whereas the other parameters did not vary significantly. Amplitude and implicit time values did not reach normal values at M12. Alterations of the ellipsoid zone and the external limiting membrane decreased over time (P = 0.001). P1 implicit time correlated independently with the alteration of the external limiting membrane (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Foveal wave amplitudes remain lower than normal values after successful surgery of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, whereas anatomical improvement was found for outer retinal abnormalities and subretinal edema fluid. Retinal recovery improves N1 implicit time over time. Disruption of external limiting membrane seems to be predictive of increased P1 implicit time.

Mitigating imperfect data validity in administrative data PSIs: a method for estimating true adverse event rates.

QUESTION: Are there ways to mitigate the challenges associated with imperfect data validity in Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) report cards? FINDINGS: Applying a methodological framework on simulated PSI report card data, we compare the adjusted PSI rates of three hospitals with variable quality of data and coding. This framework combines (i) a measure of PSI rates using existing algorithms; (ii) a medical record review on a small random sample of charts to produce a measure of hospital-specific data validity and (iii) a simple Bayesian calculation to derive estimated true PSI rates. For example, the estimated true PSI rate, for a theoretical hospital with a moderately good quality of coding, could be three times as high as the measured rate (for example, 1.4% rather than 0.5%). For a theoretical hospital with relatively poor quality of coding, the difference could be 50-fold (for example, 5.0% rather than 0.1%). MEANING: Combining a medical chart review on a limited number of medical charts at the hospital level creates an approach to producing health system report cards with estimates of true hospital-level adverse event rates.

Sex differences in coronary artery lesions and in-hospital outcomes for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction under the age of 45.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare baseline characteristics, coronary angiogram findings, and in-hospital outcomes between female and male patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) under the age of 45 years. BACKGROUND: Although sex differences in risk factor profile have been documented for young patients with STEMI, limited data exist on the prevalence of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in these patients. METHODS: As part of an ongoing hospital-based registry of suspected STEMI, we analyzed the original data for 51 women under the age of 45 years matched with 93 men of similar age who underwent coronary angiography at two percutaneous coronary intervention centers, between January 2003 and December 2012. Two interventional cardiologists independently reviewed coronary angiograms for all patients. RESULTS: The mean age for all patients was 39 years (range, 24-44) and the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were 70, 32, 13, and 4%, respectively. Young women were more likely to present with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (22 vs. 3%, p = .003) and more of them experienced reinfarction during the hospital course (15 vs. 1%, p = .01). The in-hospital mortality rate was 2% for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an important cause of myocardial infarction in young female adults, accounting for 22% (95% confidence interval, 11-35%) of women with STEMI under the age of 45 years. The true prevalence of spontaneous coronary artery dissection might even be underestimated, because of the limited availability of advanced imaging techniques at the time of our study.

Flow cytometric analysis of neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression in peripheral blood for ruling out myelodysplastic syndromes: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Suspicion of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is one of the commonest reasons for bone marrow aspirate in elderly patients presenting with persistent peripheral blood (PB) cytopenia of unclear etiology. A PB assay that accurately rules out MDS would have major benefits. The diagnostic accuracy of the intra-individual robust coefficient of variation (RCV) for neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression measured by flow cytometric analysis in PB was evaluated in a retrospective derivation study (44 MDS cases and 44 controls) and a prospective validation study (68 consecutive patients with suspected MDS). Compared with controls, MDS cases had higher median RCV values for neutrophil MPO expression (40.2% vs 30.9%; P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve estimates were 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-0.97] and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.76-0.94) in the derivation and validation studies, respectively. A RCV lower than 30% ruled out MDS with 100% sensitivity (95%CI: 78-100%) and 100% negative predictive value (95%CI: 83-100%) in the prospective validation study. Neutrophil MPO expression measured by flow cytometric analysis in PB might obviate the need for invasive bone marrow aspirate and biopsy for up to 29% of patients with suspected MDS.

Characteristics of morbidity and mortality conferences associated with the implementation of patient safety improvement initiatives, an observational study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) associated with the implementation of patient health-care quality and safety improvement initiatives. METHODS: We conducted an observational study of MMCs and followed up improvement initiatives for 1 year. Data on MMC baseline characteristics were abstracted using document analysis and observation of a meeting in three university hospitals in France (Grenoble, Nice, and Cochin [Paris] hospitals). Fifty-nine MMCs were included in medical (n = 24), surgical (n = 21), and anesthesiology and/or intensive care (n = 14) departments. An effectiveness index was computed by summing a composite score for each initiative pertaining to the MMC. RESULTS: Overall, 282 initiatives were identified in 42 MMCs. During the follow-up period, 215 initiatives (76%) were totally or partially implemented and the impact was evaluated for 73 (26%). An effectiveness index higher than the median (i.e., ≥10) was associated with a standardized presentation of cases (81% versus 29%, p <0.001), recording of improvement initiatives (94 versus 57, p = 0.001), the existence of an annual activity report (94% versus 68%, p = 0.01), the prior dissemination of a meeting agenda (71% versus 36%, p = 0.007), longer meeting duration (109 versus 80 min, p = 0.005), anesthesiology and/or intensive care specialty (39% versus 7%, p = 0.02), a theme-focused MMC (29% versus 4 %, p = 0.01), and a thorough analysis of failures (58% versus 25%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the implementation of improvement initiatives relates to MCC characteristics. Recommendations for developing more effective patient safety-oriented MMCs can be proposed.

Multifocal electroretinogram in birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To characterize multifocal electroretinogram parameters in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy consecutively included from 2006 to 2011 were matched to 27 healthy subjects for age, axial length, and lens status. Multifocal electroretinogram was prospectively evaluated using the Vision Monitor system. RESULTS: Birdshot chorioretinopathy eyes differed significantly from healthy eyes by a decrease in mean root mean square values (-24.7%), P1 (-17.3%) and N2 (-27.5%) amplitude, and the P1/N1 ratio (-26.3%) as well as an increase in N1 (8.7%) and P1 (5.4%) implicit time (IT). An effect of the degree of eccentricity (5 zones) was found for root mean square (P < 0.001), P1 (P < 0.001) and N2 (P < 0.001) amplitude, and P1 IT (P < 0.001). Root mean square, the P1/N1 ratio, P1 and N2 amplitudes, P1 and N1 ITs were significantly correlated with visual acuity, mean defect of visual field, foveal threshold, and color vision score. The fluorescein angiographic score was significantly correlated to N1 and N2 amplitudes and N1 IT. CONCLUSION: Amplitudes and ITs of the multifocal electroretinogram parameters are impaired in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy and are well correlated with other anatomical and functional tests. Periodic testing could guide the immunosuppressive treatment.

Medical record-keeping and patient perception of hospital care quality.

PURPOSE: Medical record represents the main information support used by healthcare providers. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether patient perception of hospital care quality related to compliance with medical-record keeping. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors merged the original data collected as part of a nationwide audit of medical records with overall and subscale perception scores (range 0-100, with higher scores denoting better rating) computed for 191 respondents to a cross-sectional survey of patients discharged from a university hospital. FINDINGS: The median overall patient perception score was 77 (25th-75th percentiles, 68-87) and differed according to the presence of discharge summary completed within eight days of discharge (81 v. 75, p = 0.03 after adjusting for baseline patient and hospital stay characteristics). No independent associations were found between patient perception scores and the documentation of pain assessment and nutritional disorder screening. Yet, medical record-keeping quality was independently associated with higher patient perception scores for the nurses' interpersonal and technical skills component. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: First, this was a single-center study conducted in a large full-teaching hospital and the findings may not apply to other facilities. Second, the analysis might be underpowered to detect small but clinically significant differences in patient perception scores according to compliance with recording standards. Third, the authors could not investigate whether electronic medical record contributed to better compliance with recording standards and eventually higher patient perception scores. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Because of the potential consequences of poor recording for patient safety, further efforts are warranted to improve the accuracy and completeness of documentation in medical records. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: A modest relationship exists between the quality of medical-record keeping and patient perception of hospital care.

Trends in patient perception of hospital care quality.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate trends in patient hospital quality perceptions between 1999 and 2010. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Original data from 11 cross-sectional surveys carried out in a French single university hospital were analyzed. Based on responses to a 29-item survey instrument, overall and subscale perception scores (range 0-10) were computed covering six key hospital care quality dimensions. FINDINGS: Of 16,516 surveyed patients, 10,704 (64.8 percent) participated in the study. The median overall patient perception score decreased from 7.86 (25th-75th percentiles, 6.67-8.85) in 1999 to 7.82 (25th-75th percentiles, 6.67-8.74) in 2010 (p for trend < 0.001). A decreasing trend was observed for the living arrangement subscale score (from 7.78 in 1999 to 7.50 in 2010, p for trend < 0.001). Food service and room comfort perceptions deteriorated over the study period while patients increasingly reported better explanations before being examined. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patient perception scores may disguise divergent judgments on different care aspect while individual items highlight specific areas with room for improvement. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Despite growing pressure on healthcare expenditure, this single-center study showed only modest reduction in patients' hospital-care perceptions in the 2000s.

Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression in myelodysplastic neoplasms (MPO-MDS-Valid): protocol for a multicentre diagnostic accuracy study.

INTRODUCTION: Many patients referred for suspicion of myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) are subjected to unnecessary discomfort from bone marrow aspiration, due to the low disease prevalence in this population. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression could rule out MDS with sensitivity and negative predictive value estimates close to 100%, ultimately obviating the need for bone marrow aspiration in up to 35% of patients. However, the generalisability of these findings is uncertain due to the limited sample size, the enrolment of patients at a single study site, and the reliability issues associated with laboratory-developed tests and varying levels of operator experience. This study aims to validate the accuracy attributes of peripheral blood neutrophil myeloperoxidase expression quantified by flow cytometric analysis in an independent multicentre sample. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The MPO-MDS-Valid project is a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study comparing an index test to a reference standard. Consecutive adult patients referred for suspicion of MDS are being recruited at seven university hospitals and one cancer centre in France. At each site, flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood samples is performed by operators who are blinded to the reference diagnosis. A central adjudication committee whose members are unaware of the index test results will determine the reference diagnosis of MDS, based on cytomorphological evaluation of bone marrow performed in duplicate by experienced hematopathologists. The target sample size is 400 patients and the anticipated study recruitment completion date is 31 December 2025. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: An institutional review board (Comité de Protection des Personnes Nord-Ouest III, Caen, France) approved the protocol, prior to the start of the study. Participants are recruited using an opt-out approach. Efforts will be made to publish the primary results within 6 months after study completion. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05175469.

Exclusive oral antibiotic treatment for hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of different ways of administration and types of beta-lactams for hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: In this post-hoc analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) on patients hospitalized for CAP (pneumonia short treatment trial) comparing 3-day vs. 8-day durations of beta-lactams, which concluded to non-inferiority, we included patients who received either amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) or third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) regimens, and exclusively either intravenous or oral treatment for the first 3 days (followed by either 5 days of oral placebo or AMC according to randomization). The choice of route and molecule was left to the physician in charge. The main outcome was a failure at 15 days after the first antibiotic intake, defined as temperature >37.9°C, and/or absence of resolution/improvement of respiratory symptoms, and/or additional antibiotic treatment for any cause. The primary outcome according to the route of administration was evaluated through logistic regression. Inverse probability treatment weighting with a propensity score model was used to adjust for non-randomization of treatment routes and potential confounders. The difference in failure rates was also evaluated among several sub-populations (AMC vs. 3GC treatments, intravenous vs. oral AMC, patients with multi-lobar infection, patients aged ≥65 years old, and patients with CURB65 scores of 3-4). RESULTS: We included 200 patients from the original trial, with 93/200 (46.5%) patients only treated with intravenous treatment and 107/200 (53.5%) patients only treated with oral therapy. The failure rate at Day 15 was not significantly different among patients treated with initial intravenous vs. oral treatment [25/93 (26.9%) vs. 28/107 (26.2%), adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 0.973 (95% CI 0.519-1.823), p 0.932)]. Failure rates at Day 15 were not significantly different among the subgroup populations. DISCUSSION: Among hospitalized patients with CAP, there was no significant difference in efficacy between initial intravenous and exclusive oral treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01963442.

White blood cell count and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Although associated with adverse outcomes in other cardiovascular diseases, the prognostic value of an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, a marker of inflammation and hypercoagulability, is uncertain in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). We therefore sought to assess the prognostic impact of the WBC in a large, state-wide retrospective cohort of patients with PE. We evaluated 14,228 patient discharges with a primary diagnosis of PE from 186 hospitals in Pennsylvania. We used random-intercept logistic regression to assess the independent association between WBC count levels at the time of presentation and mortality and hospital readmission within 30 days, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. Patients with an admission WBC count <5.0, 5.0-7.8, 7.9-9.8, 9.9-12.6, and >12.6 × 10(9) /L had a cumulative 30-day mortality of 10.9%, 6.2%, 5.4%, 8.3%, and 16.3% (P < 0.001), and a readmission rate of 17.6%, 11.9%, 10.9%, 11.5%, and 15.0%, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with patients with a WBC count 7.9-9.8 × 10(9) /L, adjusted odds of 30-day mortality were significantly greater for patients with a WBC count <5.0 × 10(9) /L (odds ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-2.03), 9.9-12.6 × 10(9) /L (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.26-1.91), or >12.6 × 10(9) /L (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.83-2.69), respectively. The adjusted odds of readmission were also significantly increased for patients with a WBC count <5.0 × 10(9) /L (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07-1.68) or >12.6 × 10(9) /L (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.10-1.51). In patients presenting with PE, WBC count is an independent predictor of short-term mortality and hospital readmission.

Lower fractal dimension of retinal vessel for patients with Birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To identify the retinal vessel vasculature parameters associated with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR). METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 28 prevalent cases of BSCR with a median time from diagnosis of 6 years and 28 controls matched for age, arterial hypertension, diabetes and refraction. Forty-five-degree fundus images of both dilated eyes were acquired with a fundus camera (Canon CR-2, Tokyo, Japan). The summary diameter of the arterial retinal vessels (central retinal artery equivalent, CRAE), venous retinal vessels (central retinal vein equivalent, CRVE), vascular tortuosity and fractal dimension (FD) were measured using VAMPIRE software. Retinal vasculitis was characterized using fluorescein angiography and active choroiditis using indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: At baseline, BSCR was associated with lower FD compared with matched controls (mean difference, -0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.06 to -0.02, p < 0.001). No other VAMPIRE parameters (CRAE, CRVE, arterial and venous tortuosity) differed. Among BSCR patients, retinal vein vasculitis was associated with higher CRAE (mean difference, 21 µ; 95% CI, 2.6-40, p = 0.03), venous tortuosity (geometric mean ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.18-2.72, p = 0.007) and FD (mean difference, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.01, p = 0.007). Resolution of retinal vein vasculitis during follow-up was paralleled by decrease in CRAE, CRVE and venous tortuosity values and increase in venous FD, respectively. CONCLUSION: BSCR is associated with lower FD value, suggesting that chronic retinal inflammation induces microvascular remodelling. Efficient treatment of retinal vasculitis may reverse changes in retinal vascular parameters. Changes in retinal vascular parameters could be potentially useful for assessing patients with BSCR disease.