Left ventricular global longitudinal strain and acute myocardial injury in patients with sickle cell disease admitted to the intensive care unit for vaso-occlusive crisis.

In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), SCD-related cardiomyopathy may be partly due to repeated ischaemic events related to sickling during vaso-occlusive crises, but few clinical studies support this hypothesis. We evaluated the incidence of acute myocardial ischaemia during vaso-occlusive crises as assessed by the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). We included adult patients with SCD admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for vaso-occlusive crisis. We collected hs-cTnT and measured LVGLS with echocardiography at admission (day 1), day 2, day 3 and ICU discharge. Among 55 patients included, considering only the first hospitalization of patients admitted several times, 3 (5%) had elevated hs-cTnT at ≥1 time point of the ICU stay. It was ≤2 times the upper limit of normal in two of these patients. LVGLS was altered at ≥1 time point of the ICU stay in 13 (24%) patients. Both hs-cTnT and LVGLS were abnormal at ≥1 time point of the hospital stay in 2 (4%) patients. Acute myocardial injury as assessed by troponin elevation and LVGLS impairment was a rare event during vaso-occlusive crises.

Surveillance of Individuals at High Risk of Developing Pancreatic Cancer: A Prevalence Meta-analysis to Estimate the Rate of Low-yield Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the rate of low-yield surgery, defined as no high-grade dysplastic precursor lesions or T1N0M0 pancreatic cancer at pathology, during pancreatic cancer surveillance. BACKGROUND: Global efforts have been made in pancreatic cancer surveillance to anticipate the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer at an early stage and improve survival in high-risk individuals (HRIs) with a hereditary predisposition. The negative impact of pancreatic cancer surveillance when surgery is performed for low-grade dysplasia or a non-neoplastic condition is not well quantified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search and prevalence meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting surgery with final diagnoses other than those defined by the Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) goals from January 2000 to July 2023. The secondary outcome was the pooled proportion of final diagnoses matching the CAPS goals (PROSPERO: #CRD42022300408). RESULTS: Twenty-three articles with 5027 patients (median 109 patients/study, interquartile range 251) were included. The pooled prevalence of low-yield surgery was 2.1% (95% CI: 0.9-3.7, I2 : 83%). In the subgroup analysis, this prevalence was nonsignificantly higher in studies that only included familial pancreatic cancer subjects without known pathogenic variants, compared with those enrolling pathogenic variant carriers. No effect modifiers were found. Overall, the pooled prevalence of subjects under surveillance who had a pancreatic resection that contained target lesions was 0.8% (95% CI, 0.3-1.5, I2 : 24%]. The temporal analysis showed that the rate of low-yield surgeries decreased in the last decades and stabilized at around 1% (test for subgroup differences P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of "low-yield" surgery during pancreatic cancer surveillance is relatively low but should be thoroughly discussed with individuals under surveillance.

A Randomized Phase III Trial of Complete Mesocolic Excision Compared with Conventional Surgery for Right Colon Cancer: Interim Analysis of a Nationwide Multicenter Study of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology Colorectal Cancer Network (CoME-in trial).

BACKGROUND: Although complete mesocolic excision (CME) is supposed to be associated with a higher lymph node (LN) yield, decreased local recurrence, and survival improvement, its implementation currently is debated because the evidence level of these data is rather low and still not supported by randomized controlled trials. METHOD: This is a multicenter, randomized, superiority trial (NCT04871399). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) was the primary end point of the study. The secondary end points were safety (duration of operation, perioperative complications, hospital length of stay), oncologic outcomes (number of LNs retrieved, 3- and 5-year overall survival, 5-year DFS), and surgery quality (specimen length, area and integrity rate of mesentery, length of ileocolic and middle-colic vessels). The trial design required the LN yield to be higher in the CME group at interim analysis. RESULTS: Interim data analysis is presented in this report. The study enrolled 258 patients in nine referral centers. The number of LNs retrieved was significantly higher after CME (25 vs. 20; p = 0.012). No differences were observed with respect to intra- or post-operative complications, postoperative mortality, or duration of surgery. The hospital stay was even shorter after CME (p = 0.039). Quality of surgery indicators were higher in the CME arm of the study. Survival data still were not available. CONCLUSIONS: Interim data show that CME for right colon cancer in referral centers is safe and feasible and does not increase perioperative complications. The study documented with evidence that quality of surgery and LN yield are higher after CME, and this is essential for continuation of patient recruitment and implementation of an optimal comparison. Trial registration The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the code NCT04871399 and with the acronym CoME-In trial.

Nationwide cost-effectiveness and quality of life analysis of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the Quality of Life (QoL) and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic (LDP) versus robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP). METHODS: Consecutive patients submitted to LDP or RDP from 2010 to 2020 in four high-volume Italian centers were included, with a minimum of 12 months of postoperative follow-up were included. QoL was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D questionnaires, self-reported by patients. After a propensity score matching, which included BMI, gender, operation time, multiorgan and vascular resections, splenic preservation, and pancreatic stump management, the mean differential cost and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) were calculated and plotted on a cost-utility plane. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 564 patients. Among these, 271 (49%) patients were submitted to LDP, while 293 (51%) patients to RDP. After propensity score matching, the study population was composed of 159 patients in each group, with a median follow-up of 59 months. As regards the QoL analysis, global health and emotional functioning domains showed better results in the RDP group (p = 0.037 and p = 0.026, respectively), whereas the other did not differ. As expected, the median crude costs analysis confirmed that RDP was more expensive than LDP (16,041 Euros vs. 10,335 Euros, p < 0.001). However, the robotic approach had a higher probability of being more cost-effective than the laparoscopic procedure when a willingness to pay more than 5697 Euros/QALY was accepted. CONCLUSION: RDP was associated with better QoL as explored by specific domains. Crude costs were higher for RDP, and the cost-effectiveness threshold was set at 5697 euros/QALY.

Impact of Modified Frailty Index on Readmissions Following Surgery for NSCLC.

BACKGROUND: Analyzing the risk factors that predict readmissions can potentially lead to more individualized patient care. The 11-factor modified frailty index is a valuable tool for predicting postoperative outcomes following surgery. The objective of this study is to determine whether the frailty index can effectively predict readmissions within 90 days after lung resection surgery in cancer patients within a single health care institution. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective pulmonary resection for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between January 2012 and December 2020 were selected from the hospital's database. Patients who were readmitted after surgery were compared to those who were not, based on their data. Propensity score matching was employed to enhance sample homogeneity, and further analyses were conducted on this newly balanced sample. RESULTS: A total of 439 patients, with an age range of 68 to 77 and a mean age of 72, were identified. Among them, 55 patients (12.5%) experienced unplanned readmissions within 90 days, with an average hospital stay of 29.4 days. Respiratory failure, pneumonia, and cardiac issues accounted for approximately 67% of these readmissions. After propensity score matching, it was evident that frail patients had a significantly higher risk of readmission. Additionally, frail patients had a higher incidence of postoperative complications and exhibited poorer survival outcomes with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The 11-item modified frailty index is a reliable predictor of readmissions following pulmonary resection in NSCLC patients. Furthermore, it is significantly associated with both survival and postoperative complications.

Asbestos exposure and asbestosis mortality in Italian cement-asbestos cohorts: Dose-response relationship and the role of competing death causes.

OBJECTIVES: In Italy, asbestos was used intensively until its ban in 1992, which was extended for asbestos cement factories until 1994. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dose-response between asbestos exposure and asbestosis mortality across a pool of Italian occupational cohorts, taking into account the presence of competing risks. METHODS: Cohorts were followed for vital status and the cause of death was ascertained by a linkage with mortality registers. Cause-specific (CS) Cox-regression models were used to evaluate the dose-exposure relationship between asbestosis mortality and the time-dependent cumulative exposure index (CEI) to asbestos. Fine and Gray regression models were computed to assess the effect of competing risks of death. RESULTS: The cohort included 12,963 asbestos cement workers. During the follow-up period (1960-2012), of a total of 6961 deaths, we observed 416 deaths attributed to asbestosis, 879 to lung cancer, 400 to primary pleural cancer, 135 to peritoneal cancer, and 1825 to diseases of the circulatory system. The CS model showed a strong association between CEI and asbestosis mortality. Dose-response models estimated an increasing trend in mortality even below a CEI of 25 ff/mL-years. Lung cancer and circulatory diseases were the main competing causes of death. CONCLUSIONS: Asbestos exposure among Italian asbestos-cement workers has led to a very high number of deaths from asbestosis and asbestos-related diseases. The increasing risk trend associated with excess deaths, even at low exposure levels, suggests that the proposed limit values would not have been adequate to prevent disability and mortality from asbestosis.

The impact of dominant ventricle morphology and additional ventricular chamber size on clinical outcomes in patients with Fontan circulation.

OBJECTIVES: The functional roles of ventricular dominance and additional ventricular chamber after Fontan operation are still uncertain. We aim to assess and correlate such anatomical features to late clinical outcomes. METHODS: Fontan patients undergoing cardiac MRI and cardiopulmonary exercise test between January 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical, cardiac MRI, and cardiopulmonary exercise test data from the last follow-up were analysed. RESULTS: Fifty patients were analysed: left dominance was present in 29 patients (58%, median age 20 years, interquartile range:16-26). At a median follow-up after the Fontan operation was 16 years (interquartile range: 4-42), NYHA classes III and IV was present in 3 patients (6%), 4 (8%) underwent Fontan conversion, 2 (4%) were listed for heart transplantation, and 2 (4%) died. Statistical analysis showed that the additional ventricular chamber was larger (>20 mL/m2) in patients with a right dominant ventricle (p = 0.01), and right dominance was associated with a higher incidence of post-operative low-cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.043). Left ventricular dominance was associated with a better ejection fraction (p = 0.04), less extent of late gadolinium enhancement (p = 0.022), higher metabolic equivalents (p = 0.01), and higher peak oxygen consumption (p = 0.033). A larger additional ventricular chamber was associated with a higher need for post-operative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (p = 0.007), but it did not influence functional parameters on cardiac MRI or cardiopulmonary exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: In Fontan patients, left ventricular dominance correlated to better functional outcomes. Conversely, a larger additional ventricular chamber is more frequent in right ventricular dominance and can negatively affect the early post-Fontan course.

Intraoperative individualization of positive-end-expiratory pressure through electrical impedance tomography or esophageal pressure assessment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: This systematic review of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses aimed to compare the effects on intraoperative arterial oxygen tension to inspired oxygen fraction ratio (PaO2/FiO2), exerted by positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) individualized trough electrical impedance tomography (EIT) or esophageal pressure (Pes) assessment (intervention) vs. PEEP not tailored on EIT or Pes (control), in patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic surgery with an open or laparoscopic/robotic approach. METHODS: PUBMED®, EMBASE®, and Cochrane Controlled Clinical trials register were searched for observational studies and RCTs from inception to the end of August 2022. Inclusion criteria were: RCTs comparing PEEP titrated on EIT/Pes assessment vs. PEEP not individualized on EIT/Pes and reporting intraoperative PaO2/FiO2. Two authors independently extracted data from the enrolled investigations. Data are reported as mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Six RCTs were included for a total of 240 patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgery, of whom 117 subjects in the intervention group and 123 subjects in the control group. The intraoperative mean PaO2/FiO2 was 69.6 (95%CI 32.-106.4 ) mmHg higher in the intervention group as compared with the control group with 81.4% between-study heterogeneity (p < 0.01). However, at meta-regression, the between-study heterogeneity diminished to 44.96% when data were moderated for body mass index (estimate 3.45, 95%CI 0.78-6.11, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic surgery with an open or laparoscopic/robotic approach, PEEP personalized by EIT or Pes allowed the achievement of a better intraoperative oxygenation compared to PEEP not individualized through EIT or Pes. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD 42021218306, 30/01/2023.

A tale of two constructs: combined assessment of demoralization and subjective incompetence.

Demoralization comprises multiple dimensions. Among them, Subjective Incompetence (SI) is the perception of being incapable of appropriate action in demanding circumstances. SI may be an early sign of demoralization preceding hopelessness, thus we aimed at integrating items related to Subjective Incompetence into the clinical assessment of demoralization. We assessed 414 subjects from the general population with the Demoralization Scale, 24 items (DS24) and the Subjective Incompetence Scale, 12 items (SIS12). We used multiple approaches to detect the optimal number of factors and their item structure, then conducted Bayesian Item Response Theory analyses to study item psychometric properties. Item Response Theory models were used to extrapolate latent severity ratings of clinical dimensions. We modelled the DS24 with five factors (Disheartenment, Sense of Failure, Helplessness, Irritability, Loss of Purpose) and the SIS12 with three (Subjective Incompetence, Inability to plan, Inability to Deal). The more complex IRT model had the best predictive value and helped to identify the items with better discrimination properties across the different dimensions. Twenty items were retained and used to develop the combined Demoralization and Subjective Incompetence Scale (DSIS20), which maintained high correlation with raw and latent trait scores of the longer versions. We combined selected items of the DS24 and the SIS12 to develop the DSIS20, a shorter assessment instrument that includes Subjective Incompetence as well as other clinical dimensions of demoralization. Further study may clarify if DSIS20 may be helpful for the early detection of demoralization.

Rate advancement measurement for lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed workers.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Few studies quantified the premature occurrence of these diseases in asbestos-exposed workers. Focus on premature disease onset (rate advancement or acceleration) can be useful in risk communication and for the evaluation of exposure impact. We estimated rate advancement for total mortality, lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma deaths, by classes of cumulative asbestos exposure in a pooled cohort of asbestos cement (AC) workers in Italy. METHOD: The cohort study included 12 578 workers from 21 cohorts, with 6626 deaths in total, 858 deaths from lung cancer and 394 from pleural malignant neoplasm (MN). Rate advancement was estimated by fitting a competitive mortality Weibull model to the hazard of death over time since first exposure (TSFE). RESULT: Acceleration time (AT) was estimated at different TSFE values. The highest level of cumulative exposure compared with the lowest, for pleural MN AT was 16.9 (95% CI 14.9 to 19.2) and 33.8 (95% CI 29.8 to 38.4) years at TSFE of 20 and 40 years, respectively. For lung cancer, it was 13.3 (95% CI 12.0 to 14.7) and 26.6 (95% CI 23.9 to 29.4) years, respectively. As for total mortality, AT was 3.35 (95% CI 2.98 to 3.71) years at 20 years TSFE, and 6.70 (95% CI 5.95 to 7.41) at 40 years TSFE. CONCLUSION: The current study observed marked rate advancement after asbestos exposure for lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, as well as for total mortality.

Physical activity assessment with wearable devices in rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In the management of rheumatic musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs), regular physical activity (PA) is an important recognized non-pharmacological intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate how the use of wearable devices (WDs) impacts physical activity in patients with noninflammatory and inflammatory rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A comprehensive search of articles was performed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus. A random-effect meta-analysis was carried out on the number of steps and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Univariable meta-regression models were computed to assess the possibility that the study characteristics may act as modifiers on the final meta-analysis estimate. RESULTS: In the analysis, 51 articles were included, with a total of 7488 participants. Twenty-two studies considered MVPA outcome alone, 16 studies considered the number of steps alone, and 13 studies reported information on both outcomes. The recommended PA threshold was reached for MVPA (36.35, 95% CI 29.39, 43.31) but not for daily steps (-1092.60, -1640.42 to -544.77). Studies on patients with fibromyalgia report a higher number (6290, 5198.65-7381.62) of daily steps compared with other RMDs. Patients affected by chronic inflammatory arthropathies seemed to fare better in terms of daily steps than the other categories. Patients of younger age reported a higher overall level of PA than elderly individuals for both the number of steps and MVPA. CONCLUSION: Physical activity can be lower than the recommended threshold in patients with RMDs when objectively measured using WD. WDs could be a useful and affordable instrument for daily monitoring physical activity in RMDs and may support an increase in activity levels. PROSPERO TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42021227681, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=227681.

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with 2D or 3D video system technology: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Standard laparoscopic colorectal surgery relies on 2D image systems in most centers. However, 3D vision has gained popularity and is used nowadays in a constantly rising number of units. Right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis and lymph node dissection represents a surgical procedure that may benefit the most from 3D vision. The aim of the study was to summarize the available literature on the use of 2D vs. 3D video imaging in patients undergoing laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted including Medline/PubMed, Embase, and Scopus (PROSPERO registration number CRD 42022344764) through October 2022. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias was evaluated using the ROBINS-I tool. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines and GRADEpro to develop a summary of evidence tables. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Five observational retrospective studies (496 patients, 275 2D and 216 3D) were included. One study was rated as having a critical risk of bias; the remaining had low to moderate risk. 2D laparoscopic right hemicolectomy patients showed longer anastomotic time in 3/3 studies (MD = 3.32; 95%CI, 1.58-5.05; p = 0.002) and an upward trend in operative time in 4/5 studies (MD = 9.98; 95%CI, -1.42, 21.37; p = 0.086) compared to 3D. The two image video systems had similar short-term outcomes, including the number of lymph nodes harvested (MD = -0.67; 95%CI, -2.47, 1.13; p = 0.47), morbidity (OR post-operative complications = 1.12; 95%CI, 0.71-1.77; p = 0.62), and length of stay (MD = 0.27; 95%CI, -0.59, 1.13; p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: 2D and 2D laparoscopic right hemicolectomy had similar complications rate, with a shorter anastomotic time along with a downward trend in overall operative time for 3D. Larger prospective randomized trials are awaited before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Prognostic role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in operated rectal cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays an important role in tumor growth. Novel serum blood biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), have been proposed as useful prognostic indexes in cancer patients. However, their role in rectal cancer is controversial. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted including MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through May 2022. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Quality was appraised with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. Aim of the study was to summarize available literature on PLR, NLR, and LMR in patients with rectal cancer undergoing resection. RESULTS: Forty-seven observational studies (14,205 patients) were included; there were 42 retrospective and 5 prospective cohort studies with an average MINORS score of 14.6 (range: 12-18). Worse overall survival was associated with high NLR (HR 1.81; 95%CI 1.52-2.15; p < 0.001), high PLR (HR 1.24; 95%CI 1.06-1.46; p = 0.009), and low LMR (HR 0.67; 95%CI 0.49-0.91; p = 0.01). High NLR and low LMR were also associated with disease-free-survival (HR 1.68; 95%CI 1.35-2.08; p < 0.001 and HR 0.71; 95%CI 0.58-0.87; p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: NLR, PLR, and LMR are independent clinical predictors for overall survival in patients with rectal cancer treated with curative surgery. NLR and LMR are also good predictors for disease free survival. These biomarkers, which are readily available, appear optimal prognostic indexes and may help clinicians predict the prognosis of rectal cancer and develop individualized treatment strategies.

Tricuspid Valve Repair Can Restore the Prognosis of Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation: A Meta-analysis.

To date, evidence supporting the efficacy of tricuspid valve (TV) repair in interrupting the progression of systemic right ventricular (RV) adverse remodeling in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of scientific literature to assess the impact of TV repair in effectively modifying the prognosis of patients with HLHS. We conducted a systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed and transplant-free survival, freedom from TV regurgitation, and TV reoperation data were reconstructed using the published Kaplan-Meier curves. Nine studies were included, comprising 203 HLHS patients undergoing TV repair and 323 HLHS controls. The estimated transplant-free survival at 1, 5, and 10 years of follow-up was 75.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 67.6-84.3%], 63.6% [95% CI = 54.6-73.9%], and 61.9% [95% CI = 52.7-72.6%], respectively. Transplant-free survival was comparable to HLHS peers without TV regurgitation (p = 0.59). Five-year freedom from recurrence of TV regurgitation and freedom from TV reoperation was 57% [95% CI = 46.7-69.7%] and 63.6% [95% CI = 54.5-74.3%], respectively. Younger age and TV repair at the time of Norwood operation increased the risk of TV regurgitation recurrence and the need for TV reoperation. Our meta-analysis supports the efficacy of TV repair in favorably modifying the prognosis of patients with HLHS and TV regurgitation, reestablishing a medium-term transplant-free survival which is comparable to HLHS peers. However, durability of surgery and long-term fate of TV and RV performance are still unclear.

Automatic Forecast of Intensive Care Unit Admissions: The Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of timely monitoring of admissions to the ICU admissions. The ability to promptly forecast the epidemic impact on the occupancy of beds in the ICU is a key issue for adequate management of the health care system.Despite this, most of the literature on predictive COVID-19 models in Italy has focused on predicting the number of infections, leaving trends in ordinary hospitalizations and ICU occupancies in the background.This work aims to present an ETS approach (Exponential Smoothing Time Series) time series forecasting tool for admissions to the ICU admissions based on ETS models. The results of the forecasting model are presented for the regions most affected by the epidemic, such as Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont.The mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) between observed and predicted admissions to the ICU admissions remain lower than 11% for all considered geographical areas.In this epidemiological context, the proposed ETS forecasting model could be suitable to monitor, in a timely manner, the impact of COVID-19 disease on the health care system, not only during the early stages of the pandemic but also during the vaccination campaign, to quickly adapt possible preventive interventions.

Preliminary validation of a questionnaire assessing psychological distress in caregivers of patients with malignant mesothelioma: Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a short, flexible, and comprehensive tool to measure psychological distress in caregivers of malignant mesothelioma (MM) patients: the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Caregivers version (MPDT-C). METHODS: Based on a systematic review of the relevant literature, aspects associated with caregiver distress were derived. Expert researchers/clinicians developed a pool of items for each identified aspect. Content validity was assessed through a multiple mixed-methods approach. A multicenter study was conducted to explore the factorial structure of the 47-item MPDT-C through Bayesian factor analysis. RESULTS: The Bayesian exploratory factor analysis revealed an underlying three-factor structure. Factors were labeled Secondary Traumatic Stress, Engagement in Caring, and Meaningful Cognitive Restructuring. All scales showed sufficient reliability and corrected item-total correlations. Females scored higher than males for Engagement in Caring. CONCLUSIONS: Taking care of malignant mesothelioma patients is a stressful process that influences the caregiver's physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Our study offers preliminary evidence in support of the adequate psychometric properties of the MPDT-C, and these should now be replicated. Results suggest that the MPDT-C is a reliable tool with which to detect the psychological distress of this traumatized population.

Tidal volume challenge to predict preload responsiveness in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome under prone position.

BACKGROUND: Prone position is frequently used in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), especially during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Our study investigated the ability of pulse pressure variation (PPV) and its changes during a tidal volume challenge (TVC) to assess preload responsiveness in ARDS patients under prone position. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted in a 25-bed intensive care unit at a university hospital. We included patients with ARDS under prone position, ventilated with 6 mL/kg tidal volume and monitored by a transpulmonary thermodilution device. We measured PPV and its changes during a TVC (ΔPPV TVC6-8) after increasing the tidal volume from 6 to 8 mL/kg for one minute. Changes in cardiac index (CI) during a Trendelenburg maneuver (ΔCITREND) and during end-expiratory occlusion (EEO) at 8 mL/kg tidal volume (ΔCI EEO8) were recorded. Preload responsiveness was defined by both ΔCITREND ≥ 8% and ΔCI EEO8 ≥ 5%. Preload unresponsiveness was defined by both ΔCITREND < 8% and ΔCI EEO8 < 5%. RESULTS: Eighty-four sets of measurements were analyzed in 58 patients. Before prone positioning, the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen was 104 ± 27 mmHg. At the inclusion time, patients were under prone position for 11 (2-14) hours. Norepinephrine was administered in 83% of cases with a dose of 0.25 (0.15-0.42) µg/kg/min. The positive end-expiratory pressure was 14 (11-16) cmH2O. The driving pressure was 12 (10-17) cmH2O, and the respiratory system compliance was 32 (22-40) mL/cmH2O. Preload responsiveness was detected in 42 cases. An absolute change in PPV ≥ 3.5% during a TVC assessed preload responsiveness with an area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve of 0.94 ± 0.03 (sensitivity: 98%, specificity: 86%) better than that of baseline PPV (0.85 ± 0.05; p = 0.047). In the 56 cases where baseline PPV was inconclusive (≥ 4% and < 11%), ΔPPV TVC6-8 ≥ 3.5% still enabled to reliably assess preload responsiveness (AUROC: 0.91 ± 0.05, sensitivity: 97%, specificity: 81%; p < 0.01 vs. baseline PPV). CONCLUSION: In patients with ARDS under low tidal volume ventilation during prone position, the changes in PPV during a TVC can reliably assess preload responsiveness without the need for cardiac output measurements. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04457739). Registered 30 June 2020 -Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04457739.

Extravascular lung water levels are associated with mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of extravascular lung water (EVLW) measured by transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) in critically ill patients is debated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing the effects of TPTD-estimated EVLW on mortality in critically ill patients. METHODS: Cohort studies published in English from Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 1960 to 1 June 2021 were systematically searched. From eligible studies, the values of the odds ratio (OR) of EVLW as a risk factor for mortality, and the value of EVLW in survivors and non-survivors were extracted. Pooled OR were calculated from available studies. Mean differences and standard deviation of the EVLW between survivors and non-survivors were calculated. A random effects model was computed on the weighted mean differences across the two groups to estimate the pooled size effect. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the possible sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 18 studies included (1296 patients), OR could be extracted from 11 studies including 905 patients (464 survivors vs. 441 non-survivors), and 17 studies reported EVLW values of survivors and non-survivors, including 1246 patients (680 survivors vs. 566 non-survivors). The pooled OR of EVLW for mortality from eleven studies was 1.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) [1.22; 2.34], p < 0.0015). EVLW was significantly lower in survivors than non-survivors, with a mean difference of -4.97 mL/kg (95% CI [-6.54; -3.41], p < 0.001). The results regarding OR and mean differences were consistent in subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The value of EVLW measured by TPTD is associated with mortality in critically ill patients and is significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. This finding may also be interpreted as an indirect confirmation of the reliability of TPTD for estimating EVLW at the bedside. Nevertheless, our results should be considered cautiously due to the high risk of bias of many studies included in the meta-analysis and the low rating of certainty of evidence. Trial registration the study protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO: CRD42019126985.

Evaluation of the "release and perfuse technique" for aortic arch surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The hypothermic circulatory arrest is a major limitation of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique, associated with a high incidence of postoperative mobility and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients suffering from different aortic arch diseases treated with the release and perfuse technique (RPT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who had undergone aortic arch repair with the RPT at our Institution between October 2019 and September 2021. Preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients undergoing aortic arch surgery with the use of RPT were analyzed. Twelve of them (67%) were males, and the median age of the entire cohort was 67 (56-73) years. The primary indications for surgery included acute type A aortic dissection (50%), chronic type B aortic dissection (33%), and chronic aneurysms (17%). The median cardiopulmonary bypass-, aortic cross-clamp- and circulatory arrest times were 163 (147-213) min, 69 (51-120) min, and 10 (8-13) min, respectively. The median intensive care unit and hospital stay were 4 (2-7) and 12 (11-16) days, respectively. One patient (6%) died during the first 30 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the anatomical limitations related to the use of this technique, the RPT can be safely performed and could represent a promising strategy to reduce the circulatory arrest time during aortic arch surgery. Nevertheless, further studies are required to demonstrate its efficacy.

Health-related lifestyles among Italian university students: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate lifestyle, health-related behaviours, and nutritional knowledge among a sample of Italian university students and to identify social determinants of - and barriers to - healthier lifestyles. DESIGN: cross-sectional observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: students attending degree courses in health professions in a single university in Northern Italy (No. 1,495) were invited to participate in a structured web survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: a comprehensive, validated questionnaire was used. Questions regarded nutritional knowledge and habits, smoking habit, physical activity, self-efficacy, and barriers to change. Anthropometric and sociodemographic information was collected. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize results. With single and multiple regression models, differences between subgroups and ranked predictors of students' attitudes towards healthy behaviours were analysed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: a total of 554 subjects completed the survey (participation rate: 42%; completion rate: 88%). Students showed good nutritional knowledge (73%), but some deficiencies related to low fruit/high sweets consumption, and a lack of basic macronutrients information. Only 30% of the students led a very active lifestyle and physical inactivity was greatest among overweight/obese students. Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet were mainly associated with modifiable risk factors, e.g., being overweight and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: this study provides evidence that health profession students have good knowledge, but their health-related lifestyle is a concern, especially given the role of prescribers that they will play. Structured programmes need to be developed to address the modifiable risk factors associated with detrimental behaviours manifest already during the university years.