Utility of PCR in diagnosis of invasive fungal infections: real-life data from a multicenter study.

Prospective studies addressing the clinical value of broad-range PCR using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) for diagnosis of microscopy-negative fungal infections in nonselected patient populations are lacking. We first assessed the diagnostic performance of ITS rRNA gene PCR compared with that of routine microscopic immunofluorescence examination. Second, we addressed prospectively the impact and clinical value of broad-range PCR for the diagnosis of infections using samples that tested negative by routine microscopy; the corresponding patients' data were evaluated by detailed medical record reviews. Results from 371 specimens showed a high concordance of >80% for broad-range PCR and routine conventional methods, indicating that the diagnostic performance of PCR for fungal infections is comparable to that of microscopy, which is currently considered part of the "gold standard." In this prospective study, 206 specimens with a negative result on routine microscopy were analyzed with PCR, and patients' clinical data were reviewed according to the criteria of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group. We found that broad-range PCR showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 57.1%, 97.0%, 80%, and 91.7%, respectively, for microscopy-negative fungal infections. This study defines a possible helpful role of broad-range PCR for diagnosis of microscopy-negative fungal infections in conjunction with other tests.

Prescription of oral antidiabetic drugs in Tyrol - Data from the Tyrol diabetes registry 2012-2015.

Diabetes mellitus affects 9% of the adult population worldwide and the economic burden of the disease is growing exponentially. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), when life style interventions fail to achieve treatment targets, oral antidiabetic drugs are prescribed to improve glycemic control. Several new oral antidiabetics have been launched in the last few years, which enlarged the spectrum of available treatment options in T2DM. The present study aimed to examine T2DM treatment patterns in a cohort of 7769 patients recruited from the Diabetes Registry Tyrol (DRT) with at least one visit from 2012-2015. Secondly, the study aimed to evaluate the use of new oral antidiabetics compared to older oral antidiabetics (OAD). It was found that 43.4% of all patients were treated with OAD alone while 21.2% had oral antidiabetics combined with insulin. 19.9% of the study population were treated with insulin or insulin analogs only. 15.3% had no pharmacological treatment. Metformin was used most frequently (47.9% of the study population), followed by gliptines (27.2%). The most common treatment regimen in this population was the dual therapy of metformin and another OAD (17.2%), followed by metformin monotherapy (16.6%) and triple therapy of metformin and two additional OAD (11.0%).

Carotid plaques and their predictive value for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients considering renal transplantation: a decade follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Carotid plaque formation is very common in dialysis patients. The prognostic value of plaques, both calcified and noncalcified, rarely was investigated prospectively in these patients. By using a carotid plaque score, this study aims to determine the risk for combined cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and all-cause mortality in 165 hemodialysis patients in a long-term follow-up considering phases of renal transplantation. METHODS: Baseline carotid ultrasonography was performed in 165 hemodialysis patients to screen for carotid plaques. Patients subsequently were followed up for a period up to 13 years (average, 86 months). Because of biases associated with renal transplantation, 3 methods of multivariate analysis were compared by using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: Plaques were present in 107 of 165 patients (65%). During the observation period, 50 patients (30%) experienced a combined CVD event, 95 patients (58%) died, and 79 patients (48%) underwent at least 1 renal transplantation. Mean plaque score differed significantly between patients who reached an end point and those who did not (CVD events, 3.1 +/- 2.7 versus 2.0 +/- 2.4; P = 0.01; all-cause mortality, 3.5 +/- 2.6 versus 0.9 +/- 1.3; P < 0.001). Plaque score entered all 3 tested Cox regression models for CVD events and all-cause mortality. The lowest statistical power was associated with censoring at the time of renal transplantation. Not considering transplantation at all neglected a major change in risk. CONCLUSION: We identified carotid plaque score and treatment modality as highly significant predictors for CVD events and all-cause mortality.

Thrombolysis and clinical outcome in patients with stroke after implementation of the Tyrol Stroke Pathway: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke remains underused worldwide. We aimed to assess whether our statewide comprehensive stroke management programme would improve thrombolysis use and clinical outcome in patients. METHODS: In 2008-09, we designed the Tyrol Stroke Pathway, which provided information campaigns for the public and standardised the entire treatment pathway from stroke onset to outpatient rehabilitation. It was commenced in Tyrol, Austria, as a long-term routine-care programme and aimed to include all patients with stroke in the survey area. We focused on thrombolysis use and outcome in the first full 4 years of implementation (2010-13). FINDINGS: We enrolled 4947 (99%) of 4992 patients with ischaemic stroke who were admitted to hospitals in Tyrol; 675 (14%) of the enrollees were treated with alteplase. Thrombolysis administration in Tyrol increased after programme implementation, from 160 of 1238 patients (12·9%, 95% CI 11·1-14·9) in 2010 to 213 of 1266 patients (16·8%, 14·8-19·0) in 2013 (ptrend 2010-13<0·0001). Differences in use of thrombolysis in the nine counties of Tyrol in 2010 (range, 2·2-22·6%) were reduced by 2013 (12·1-22·5%). Median statewide door-to-needle time decreased from 49 min (IQR 35-60) in 2010 to 44 min (29-60) in 2013; symptomatic post-thrombolysis intracerebral haemorrhages occurred in 28 of 675 patients (4·1%, 95% CI 2·8-5·9) during 2010-13. In four Austrian states without similar stroke programmes, thrombolysis administration remained stable or declined between 2010 and 2013 (mean reduction 14·4%, 95% CI 10·9-17·9). Although the 3-month mortality was not affected by our programme (137 [13%] of 1060 patients in 2010 vs 143 [13%] of 1069 patients in 2013), 3-month functional outcome significantly improved (modified Rankin Scale score 0-1 in 375 [40%] of 944 patients in 2010 vs 493 [53%] of 939 in 2013; score 0-2 in 531 [56%] patients in 2010 and 615 [65%] in 2013; ptrend 2010-13<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: During the period of implementation of our comprehensive stroke management programme, thrombolysis administration increased and clinical outcome significantly improved, although mortality did not change. We hope that these results will guide health authorities and stroke physicians elsewhere when implementing similar programmes for patients with stroke. FUNDING: Reformpool of the Tyrolean Health Care Fund.