Improving ICU Risk Predictive Models Through Automation Designed for Resiliency Against Documentation Bias.

OBJECTIVES: Electronic health records enable automated data capture for risk models but may introduce bias. We present the Philips Critical Care Outcome Prediction Model (CCOPM) focused on addressing model features sensitive to data drift to improve benchmarking ICUs on mortality performance. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter study of ICU patients randomized in 3:2 fashion into development and validation cohorts. Generalized additive models (GAM) with features designed to mitigate biases introduced from documentation of admission diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and extreme vital signs were developed using clinical features representing the first 24 hours of ICU admission. SETTING: eICU Research Institute database derived from ICUs participating in the Philips eICU telecritical care program. PATIENTS: A total of 572,985 adult ICU stays discharged from the hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included, yielding 509,586 stays in the final cohort; 305,590 and 203,996 in development and validation cohorts, respectively. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Model discrimination was compared against Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IVa/IVb models on the validation cohort using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Calibration assessed by actual/predicted ratios, calibration-in-the-large statistics, and visual analysis. Performance metrics were further stratified by subgroups of admission diagnosis and ICU characteristics. Historic data from two health systems with abrupt changes in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) documentation were assessed in the year prior to and after data shift. CCOPM outperformed APACHE IVa/IVb for ICU mortality (AUROC, 0.925 vs 0.88) and hospital mortality (AUROC, 0.90 vs 0.86). Better calibration performance was also attained among subgroups of different admission diagnoses, ICU types, and over unique ICU-years. The CCOPM provided more stable predictions compared with APACHE IVa within an external cohort of greater than 120,000 patients from two health systems with known changes in GCS documentation. CONCLUSIONS: These mortality risk models demonstrated excellent performance compared with APACHE while appearing to mitigate bias introduced through major shifts in GCS documentation at two large health systems. This provides evidence to support using automated capture rather than trained personnel for capture of GCS data used in benchmarking ICUs on mortality performance.

Impact of different axial wall designs on the fracture strength and stress distribution of ceramic restorations in mandibular first molar.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the fracture strength and stress distribution of four ceramic restorations. METHODS: Forty human mandibular first molars were collected and randomized into four groups after establishing the distal defect: full crown group with 4 mm axial wall height (AWH) (FC4); short AWH crown group with 2 mm AWH (SC2); occlusal veneer group with 0 mm AWH (OV0); occlusal distal veneer group with only the distal surface prepared, and 4 mm AWH (OD4). The teeth were prepared according to the groups and the ceramic restorations were completed using celtra duo ceramic blocks. The ceramic thickness of the occlusal surface is about 1.5 mm and the edge is about 1 mm. The failure load values and fracture modes of each group were detected by mechanical test in vitro. According to the groups to establish three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) models, a 600 N loading force was applied vertically using a hemispherical indenter with a diameter of 6 mm. and compare the stress distribution under the condition of different restorations. RESULTS: In vitro mechanical tests showed that the failure load values were SC2 (3232.80 ± 708.12 N) > OD4 (2886.90 ± 338.72 N) > VO0 (2133.20 ± 376.15 N) > FC4(1635.40 ± 413.05 N). The failure load values of the short AWH crown and occlusal distal veneer were significantly higher than that of occlusal veneer and full crown (P<0.05). The fracture modes of the full crown and occlusal veneer groups were mainly ceramic fractures and some were restorable tooth fractures. The short AWH crown and occlusal distal veneer groups presented with three fracture modes, the proportion of non-restorable tooth fracture was higher. The results of FEA show that under the spherical loading condition, the stress of ceramic was concentrated in the contact area of the loading head, the maximum von Mises stress values were FC4 (356.2 MPa) > VO0 (214.3 MPa) > OD4 (197.9 MPa) > SC2 (163.1 MPa). The stress of enamel was concentrated in the area where the remaining enamel was thinner, the maximum von Mises stress values was OD4 (246.2 MPa) ≈ FC4 (212.4 MPa) > VO0 (61.8 MPa) ≈ SC2 (45.81 MPa). The stress of dentin is concentrated in the root furcation and the upper third region of the root. However, stress concentration was observed at the tooth cervix in the full crown. CONCLUSION: Under certain conditions, the occlusal distal veneer shows better performance than the full crown.

Red Blood Cell Product Transfusion Thresholds and Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients transfused red blood cell (RBC) products according to guideline-specified pretransfusion hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations or for other reasons were more likely to survive their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. DESIGN: An observational study of 375 478 episodes of ICU care, over 5 years, was performed with ICU survival as the primary outcome. Outcomes were analyzed as a function of pretransfusion Hb concentration for groups with distinct transfusion indications while adjusting for potential confounders. SETTING AND PATIENTS: This study included all adult patients discharged from 1 of 203 adult ICUs from 32 US health-care systems. The patients were from community hospitals, tertiary, and academic medical centers. INTERVENTION: Transfusion of allogenic packed RBCs or whole blood was prescribed at the discretion of the treating clinicians. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We found that 15% of adult ICU patients are transfused RBC products, and most transfusions for hemodynamically stable patients are administered above the guideline-specified pretransfusion Hb threshold of 7 g/dL. Hemodynamically stable patients transfused below this threshold were significantly more likely to survive their ICU stay than those not transfused (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.81; P = .001), and patients transfused at thresholds above 9 g/dL were less likely to survive their ICU stay than those not transfused. Patients of the acute blood loss group who were transfused appeared to benefit or were not harmed by transfusion. CONCLUSION: Conservative RBC product transfusion practices for groups that are targeted by guidelines are justified by outcomes observed in clinical practice. This study provides evidence for the liberal administration of RBC products to critically ill adults with acute blood loss based on association with lower risk of mortality.

Evaluation of ICU Risk Models Adapted for Use as Continuous Markers of Severity of Illness Throughout the ICU Stay.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the accuracy of different ICU risk models repurposed as continuous markers of severity of illness. DESIGN: Nonintervention cohort study. SETTING: eICU Research Institute ICUs using tele-ICU software calculating continuous ICU Discharge Readiness Scores between January 2013 and March 2016. PATIENTS: Five hundred sixty-one thousand four hundred seventy-eight adult ICU patients with an ICU length of stay between 4 hours and 30 days. INTERVENTIONS: Not available. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hourly Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Discharge Readiness Scores were calculated beginning hour 4 of the ICU stay. Primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the mean score with ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes included area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for ICU mortality with admission, median, maximum and last scores, and for death within 24 hours. The trajectories of each score were visualized by plotting the hourly averages against time in the ICU, stratified by mortality and length of stay. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Discharge Readiness Scores were 0.90 (0.89-0.90), 0.86 (0.86-0.86), and 0.94 (0.94-0.94), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for hourly Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Discharge Readiness Scores predicting 24-hour mortality were 0.81 (0.81-0.81), 0.76 (0.76-0.76), and 0.86 (0.86-0.86). Discharge Readiness Scores had a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than both Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment for each metric. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores increased throughout the first 24 hours in both survivors and nonsurvivors; Discharge Readiness Scores continuously decreased in survivors and temporarily decreased before increasing by hour 36 in nonsurvivors with longer length of stays. CONCLUSIONS: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Discharge Readiness Scores all have relatively high discrimination for ICU mortality when used continuously; Discharge Readiness Scores tended to have slightly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for each endpoint. These findings validate the use of these models on a population level for continuous risk adjustment in the ICU, although Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment appear slower to respond to improvements in patient status than Discharge Readiness Scores, and Discharge Readiness Scores may reflect physiologic improvement from interventions, potentially underestimating risk.

The Obesity Paradox Is Not Observed in Critically Ill Patients on Early Enteral Nutrition.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between body mass index and mortality in a large, ICU population and determine if the relationship is observed among a subgroup of patients ordered early enteral nutrition. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study within a national clinical mixed ICU database of patients admitted between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2015. SETTING: Initial ICU admissions among patients monitored by tele-ICU programs and recorded in the Philips eICU Research Institute database. PATIENTS: A total of 1,042,710 adult patient stays with ICU length of stay more than 24 hours, of which 74,771 were ordered enteral nutrition within the first 48 hours. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient stays from 409 ICUs were included. The average age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV score, and hospital mortality were 63.6 years, 56.7, and 9.0%, respectively. Hospital mortality among body mass index categories was estimated by multivariable modified Poisson regression models. Compared with the body mass index category 25.0-29.9 kg/m, hospital mortality was higher among underweight (body mass index, < 18.5; relative risk, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.32-1.39), normal weight (body mass index, 18.5-24.9; relative risk, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.09-1.12), and the extremely obese (body mass index, ≥ 50.0; relative risk, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15). However, the risk was not statistically different from patients with body mass index 30.0-49.9 kg/m. Among patients ordered early enteral nutrition, the risk of mortality in the body mass index category 25.0-29.9 kg/m was not statistically different from those in the normal weight or extremely obese groups. CONCLUSIONS: A survival advantage for overweight and obese patients was observed in this large cohort of critically ill patients. However, among those ordered early enteral nutrition, the survival disadvantage for body mass index categories less than 25.0 kg/m was minimal or unobservable when compared with higher body mass index categories.

Depression among older adults after traumatic brain injury: a national analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) include depression, which could exacerbate the poorer cognitive and functional recovery experienced by older adults. The objective of this study was to estimate incidence rates of depression after hospital discharge for TBI among Medicare beneficiaries aged at least 65 years, quantify the increase in risk of depression after TBI, and evaluate risk factors for incident depression post-TBI. METHODS: Using a retrospective analysis, the authors studied Medicare beneficiaries at least 65 years old hospitalized for TBI during 2006 to 2010 who survived to hospital discharge and had no documented diagnosis of depression before the study period (N = 67,347). RESULTS: The annualized incidence rate of depression per 1,000 beneficiaries was 62.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.6, 64.1) pre-TBI and 123.9 (95% CI: 121.6, 126.2) post-TBI. Annualized incidence rates were highest immediately after hospital discharge and declined over the 12 months post-TBI. TBI increased the risk of incident depression in men (hazard ratio: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.84, 2.06; Wald χ(2) = 511.4, df = 1, p <0.001) and in women (hazard ratio: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.62, 1.77; Wald χ(2) = 589.3, df = 1, p <0.001). The strongest predictor of depression post-TBI for both men and women was discharge to a skilled nursing facility (men: odds ratio, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.77, 2.06; Wald χ(2) = 277.1, df = 1, p <0.001; women: odds ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.63, 1.83; Wald χ(2) = 324.2, df = 1, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: TBI significantly increased the risk of depression among older adults, especially among men and those discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Results from this study will help increase awareness of the risk of depression post-TBI among older adults.

A Systematic Review of the Benefits and Risks of Anticoagulation Following Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the existing literature on benefits and risks of anticoagulant use after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Systematic review. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Health Star, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) on October 11, 2012, and updated on September 2, 2013, using terms related to TBI and anticoagulants. MAIN MEASURES: Human studies evaluating the effects of post-TBI anticoagulation on venous thromboembolism, hemorrhage, mortality, or coagulation parameters with original analyses were eligible for the review. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline was followed throughout the conduct of the review. RESULTS: Thirty-nine eligible studies were identified from the literature, of which 23 studies with complete information on post-TBI anticoagulant use and patient outcomes were summarized in this review. Meta-analysis was unwarranted because of varying methodological design and quality of the studies. Twenty-one studies focused on the effects of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (PTP) post-TBI on venous thromboembolism and/or progression of intracranial hemorrhage, whereas 2 randomized controlled trials analyzed coagulation parameters as the result of anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis appears to be safe among TBI patients with stabilized hemorrhagic patterns. More evidence is needed regarding effectiveness of PTP in preventing venous thromboembolism as well as preferred agent, dose, and timing for PTP.

Stroke incidence following traumatic brain injury in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), older adults are at an increased risk of hemorrhagic and thromboembolic events, but it is unclear whether the increased risk continues after hospital discharge. We estimated incidence rates of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke following hospital discharge for TBI among adults 65 years or older and compared them with pre-TBI rates. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 16 936 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older with a diagnosis of TBI in any position on an inpatient claim between June 1, 2006, and December 31, 2009, who survived to hospital discharge. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a random 5% sample of Medicare claims data. MAIN MEASURES: Hemorrhagic stroke was defined as ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) codes 430.xx-432.xx. Ischemic stroke was defined as ICD-9 codes 433.xx-435.xx, 437.0x, and 437.1x. RESULTS: There was a 6-fold increase in the rate of hemorrhagic stroke following TBI compared with the pre-TBI period (adjusted rate ratio, 6.5; 95% confidence interval, 5.3-7.8), controlling for age and sex. A smaller increase in the rate of ischemic stroke was observed (adjusted rate ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.4). CONCLUSION: Future studies should investigate causes of increased stroke risk post-TBI as well as effective treatment options to reduce stroke risk and improve outcomes post-TBI among older adults.

Treatment of cT1N0M0 tongue cancer: outcome and prognostic parameters.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to summarize the treatment and outcomes of cT1N0M0 tongue cancer for which the management is less defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 65 consecutive cases of cT1 tongue cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The Fisher exact, χ(2), and Wilcoxon tests were used to statistically analyze the data. RESULTS: The tumor depth had a significant relation to the presence of neck metastasis (P < .05). A 3-mm cutoff point provided better predictive value, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 43.1%. The biopsy depth combined with palpation was accurate in determining the tumor depth preoperatively in 87.7%. On multivariate analysis, only the tumor site (ventral tongue) and the presence of erythroleukoplakia had any significant relation to disease-free survival (P = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Elective neck dissection should be considered for patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous carcinoma with a biopsy depth of 3 mm or greater. The biopsy depth, combined with the clinical examination findings, is a useful method to help determine the tumor depth preoperatively.

Machine learning modelling for predicting the utilization of invasive and non-invasive ventilation throughout the ICU duration.

The goal of this work is to develop a Machine Learning model to predict the need for both invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Using the Philips eICU Research Institute (ERI) database, 2.6 million ICU patient data from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. This data was randomly split into training (63%), validation (27%), and test (10%) sets. Additionally, an external test set from a single hospital from the ERI database was employed to assess the model's generalizability. Model performance was determined by comparing the model probability predictions with the actual incidence of ventilation use, either invasive or non-invasive. The model demonstrated a prediction performance with an AUC of 0.921 for overall ventilation, 0.937 for invasive, and 0.827 for non-invasive. Factors such as high Glasgow Coma Scores, younger age, lower BMI, and lower PaCO2 were highlighted as indicators of a lower likelihood for the need for ventilation. The model can serve as a retrospective benchmarking tool for hospitals to assess ICU performance concerning mechanical ventilation necessity. It also enables analysis of ventilation strategy trends and risk-adjusted comparisons, with potential for future testing as a clinical decision tool for optimizing ICU ventilation management.

Changes in transfusion practice over time in the PICU.

OBJECTIVES: Recent randomized clinical trials have shown the efficacy of a restrictive transfusion strategy in critically ill children. The impact of these trials on pediatric transfusion practice is unknown. Additionally, long-term trends in pediatric transfusion practice in the ICU have not been described. We assessed transfusion practice over time, including the effect of clinical trial publication. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective observational study. SETTING: A 10-bed PICU in an urban academic medical center. PATIENTS: Critically ill, nonbleeding children between the ages of 3 days and 14 years old, admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center PICU between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2009, excluding those with congenital heart disease, hemolytic anemia, and hemoglobinopathies. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the time period studied, 5,327 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 335 received at least one RBC transfusion while in the PICU. The overall proportion transfused declined from 10.5% in 1998 to 6.8% in 2009 (p = 0.007). Adjusted for acuity, the likelihood of transfusion decreased by calendar year of admission. In transfused patients, the pretransfusion hemoglobin level declined, from 10.5 g/dL to 9.3 g/dL, though these changes failed to meet statistical significance (p = 0.09). Neonatal age, respiratory failure, shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and acidosis were associated with an increased likelihood of transfusion in both univariate and multivariable models. CONCLUSIONS: The overall proportion of patients transfused between 1998 and 2009 decreased significantly. The magnitude of the decrease varied over time, and no additional change in transfusion practice occurred after the publication of a major pediatric clinical trial in 2007. Greater illness acuity and younger patient age were associated with an increased likelihood of transfusion.

A retrospective analysis of squamous carcinoma of the buccal mucosa: an aggressive subsite within the oral cavity.

PURPOSE: Squamous carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is relatively uncommon in the North American population. It is considered an aggressive cancer, with difficulty in obtaining negative surgical margins and poor locoregional control. This single-institution retrospective analysis attempted to identify prognostic variables, treatment outcomes, and survival patterns of patients with buccal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with buccal carcinoma treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland from 1992 through 2008 was conducted. Thirty newly diagnosed and previously untreated patients were reviewed and their outcomes data were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirteen female and 17 male patients were identified (mean age, 64 yr). Eighteen patients had early-stage disease (stages I to II). Fifteen patients (50%) developed recurrence, with 13 patients developing local recurrence despite 80% of patients achieving negative surgical margins. The overall nodal metastasis rate was 43%, with an occult nodal rate of 32%. Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 69% and 53%, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of patients not receiving adjuvant therapy developed recurrence. Early recurrence tended to occur more commonly and was a poor prognostic indicator of successful salvage. CONCLUSIONS: Buccal carcinoma is an aggressive disease, with high rates of locoregional disease recurrence independent of surgical margin status. Elective neck dissection and adjuvant therapy should be considered for early-stage disease. Successful salvage is rare in cases of early recurrence.

Machine learning prediction of the total duration of invasive and non-invasive ventilation During ICU Stay.

Predicting the duration of ventilation in the ICU helps in assessing the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury, ensuring sufficient oxygenation, and optimizing resource allocation. Prior models provided a prediction of total duration without distinguishing between invasive and non-invasive ventilation. This work proposes two independent gradient boosting regression models for predicting the duration of invasive and non-invasive ventilation based on commonly available ICU features. These models are trained on 2.6 million patient stays across 350 US hospitals between 2010 to 2019. The mean absolute error (MAE) for the prediction of duration was 2.08 days for invasive ventilation and 0.36 days for non-invasive ventilation. The total ventilation duration predicted by our model had MAE of 2.38 days, which outperformed the gold standard (APACHE) with MAE of 3.02 days. The feature importance analysis of the trained models showed that, for invasive ventilation, high average heart rate, diagnosis of respiratory infection and admissions from locations other than the operating room were associated with longer ventilation durations. For non-invasive ventilation, higher respiratory rates and having any GCS measurement were associated with longer durations.

Intradermal DNA vaccine delivery using vacuum-controlled, needle-free electroporation.

Intradermal delivery of DNA vaccines via electroporation (ID-EP) has shown clinical promise, but the use of needle electrodes is typically required to achieve consistent results. Here, delivery of a DNA vaccine targeting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is achieved using noninvasive intradermal vacuum-EP (ID-VEP), which functions by pulling a small volume of skin tissue into a vacuum chamber containing noninvasive electrodes to perform EP at the injection site. Gene expression and immunogenicity correlated with EP parameters and vacuum chamber geometry in guinea pigs. ID-VEP generated potent humoral and cellular immune responses across multiple studies, while vacuum (without EP) greatly enhanced localized transfection but did not improve immunogenicity. Because EP was performed noninvasively, the only treatment site reaction observed was transient redness, and ID-VEP immune responses were comparable to a clinical needle-based ID-EP device. The ID-VEP delivery procedure is straightforward and highly repeatable, without any dependence on operator technique. This work demonstrates a novel, reliable, and needle-free delivery method for DNA vaccines.

Reliability of Cusp Angulation Using Three-Dimensional Digital Models: A Preliminary In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: Dental cusp angulation provides valuable insights into chewing efficiency and prosthesis safety. Artificial intelligence-enabled computing of cusp angles has potential important value, but there is currently no reliable digital measurement method as a cornerstone. OBJECTIVES: To establish a digital method for measuring cusp angles and investigate inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities. METHODS: Two cusp angles (angles α and ß) of the first molar were measured on 21 plaster casts using a goniometer and on their corresponding digital models using PicPick software after scanning with a CEREC Bluecam three-dimensional (3D) intraoral scanner. Means ± standard deviations, as well as intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Pearson's correlation coefficients (PCCs) were calculated, and repeated measures analysis of variance was performed. The Bland-Altman method was used to calculate the difference and mean degree values of two measurement methods from both examiners, and the Bland-Altman diagram was drawn using MedCalc software. RESULTS: When the examiner was experienced, angle α was 139.19° ± 13.86°, angle ß was 19.25° ± 6.86°, and a very strong positive correlation between the two methods was found (r > 0.9; p < 0.001). No significant difference between the two methods was found using the repeated measures analysis of variance (p > 0.05). The Bland-Altman diagram showed that the two methods were highly consistent. For inter-rater assessments, the ICC and PCC values of the cusp angulation using the digital method were all higher than the corresponding values measured on traditional casts. For intra-rater assessments, the ICC values of cusp angulation using the digital method were higher than the corresponding values measured on traditional plaster casts for both examiners. However, repeated measurements of the angle ß of the inter-examiners revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) for both methods. CONCLUSIONS: Cusp angulation using 3D digital models is a clinical option and appears to improve the reliability of cusp angulation compared with measuring plaster casts using a goniometer. This variability was still evident when measuring small cusp angles using the digital model for inexperienced examiners.

Accuracy and efficiency of digitally fabricated all-ceramic crowns from conventional impressions and intraoral scans: A single-blind clinical randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of intraoral scanners by comparing the marginal fit of 70 all-ceramic crowns fabricated from both conventional impressions and intraoral scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 70 posterior teeth requiring single-crown restorations randomly underwent either intraoral scanning or conventional impression-taking followed by laboratory scanning of the casts in a parallel-group RCT. Subsequently, 70 monolithic all-ceramic crowns were CAD/CAM fabricated; only the impression technique differed. Marginal fit, internal fit, adjustment time required for insertion and occlusal contacts, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores assessing dentists' satisfaction with all of the crowns were clinically evaluated by a blinded and calibrated examiner. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t test and likelihood ratio test or Fisher exact test. All tests were performed with α = .05. RESULTS: The mean marginal fit with intraoral scanning (57.94 ± 22.51 µm) was better than with diagnostic cast scanning (82.98 ± 21.72 µm). The difference was statistically significant (P = .000). The differences in internal fit, adjustment time for crown insertion and occlusal contacts, and VAS scores were also significant, and the secondary outcomes were in favor of intraoral scanning. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this clinical trial, CAD/CAM-fabricated single-tooth restorations in the posterior region produced by an intraoral scanning technique using TRIOS was found to be a more accurate and efficient alternative to restorations based on conventional impressions in combination with the laboratory scanning technique.

Decreased mortality resulting from a multicomponent intervention in a tertiary care medical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a multicomponent intervention, particularly increasing staff, can achieve reductions in patient mortality in an already high-intensity, Leapfrog-compliant medical intensive care unit. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care, academic medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 1,263 patients admitted between April 19, 2004 and April 18, 2006 (before the organizational change) were compared with 2,424 patients admitted between September 5, 2006 and September 4, 2008. INTERVENTIONS: A multicomponent intervention including the physical move from a 10-bed to a 29-bed medical intensive care unit with larger patient rooms, the initiation of 24-hr critical care specialist coverage in the medical intensive care unit, an increase in the respiratory therapist:patient ratio, and the addition of a clinical pharmacist to the multidisciplinary team. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Measurements were made based on mortality in the intensive care unit and in-hospital. Patient comorbidity as measured by the Charlson score did not change after the intervention (2.7 ± 2.7 vs. 2.8 ± 2.6, p = .62), nor did the acuity of illness as measured by the case mix index (3.0 ± 3.7 vs. 3.1 ± 3.8, p = .69). The unadjusted medical intensive care unit mortality decreased from 18.4% to 14.9% (p = .006), as did in-hospital mortality (from 25.8% to 21.7%, p = .005). The reduction in medical intensive care unit mortality was consistent in the multivariable regression with adjustment for multiple possible confounders (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.91, p = .003), as was the reduction in hospital mortality (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.88, p = .001). In mechanically ventilated patients, there was an increase in median 28-day ventilator-free days (21, interquartile range 0-25 vs. 22, interquartile range 0-26, p = .04). An increase in median medical intensive care unit (2.4, interquartile range 1.1-5.2 vs. 2.7, interquartile range 1.3-5.9), p = .009) but not hospital (8.3, interquartile range 4.1-17.0 vs. 8.2, interquartile range 4.0-16.8; p = .851) length of stay in days occurred with the intervention. The mean daily dosing of fentanyl and lorazepam decreased after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent reorganization of medical intensive care unit services was associated with important reductions in mortality for medical intensive care unit patients, as well as an increased number of ventilator-free days. Substantial and sustained changes in clinically important outcomes may be obtained from organizational changes.

Transfusion practice in the intensive care unit: a 10-year analysis.

BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend a restrictive transfusion strategy in nonhemorrhaging critically ill patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 3533 single-admission patients, without evidence of acute coronary syndromes, hemorrhage, or hemoglobinopathy admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a large, academic medical center. RESULTS: MICU admission hemoglobin (Hb) level did not change significantly over the study period. The proportion of transfused patients decreased from 31.0% in 1997 to 1998 to 18.0% in 2006 to 2007 (p<0.001). Among patients receiving transfusion, the mean pretransfusion Hb level decreased over time from 7.9±1.3 to 7.3±1.3g/dL (p<0.001). These changes in practice were not accounted for by differences in patient characteristics. The mean nadir Hb level in nontransfused patients decreased from 11.2±2.2g/dL in 1997 to 1999 to 10.4±2.3g/dL in 2006 to 2007 (p<0.001). The mean number of units per patient transfused decreased during this time from 4.3±4.7 to 3.0±3.8 units (p<0.001). The proportion of transfused patients who were transfused at a Hb level of less than 7.0g/dL increased by an estimated absolute increment of 3.2% (95% CI, 2.1%-4.3%) per interval (p<0.001), and the proportion of single-unit transfusions during the first transfusion episode increased by 1.4% per interval (95% CI, 0.2 to 2.6%; p=0.03) from 40.2% in 1997 to 1998 to 53.1% in 2006 to 2007. CONCLUSIONS: Between 1997 and 2007, important and sustained changes have occurred in our MICU physician transfusion practices, with overall reductions in the proportion of patients transfused, mean pretransfusion Hb level, and nadir Hb level in patients who were not transfused.

Cardiologist perceptions of family-centred rounds in cardiovascular clinical care.

Objective: Few data exist regarding physician attitudes and implementation of family-centred rounds (FCR) in cardiovascular care. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes among cardiologists and cardiology fellows regarding barriers and benefits of FCRs. Methods: An electronic, web-based questionnaire was nationally distributed to cardiology fellows and attending cardiologists. Results: In total, 118 subjects were surveyed, comprising cardiologists (n=64, 54%) and cardiology fellows (n=54, 46%). Overall, 61% of providers reported participating in FCRs and 64% felt family participation on rounds benefits the patient. Both fellows and cardiologists agreed that family rounds eased family anxiety (fellows, 63%; cardiologists, 56%; p=0.53), improved communication between the medical team and the patient and family (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 61%; p=0.18) and improved patient safety (fellows, 59%; cardiologists, 47%; p=0.43). Attitudes regarding enhancement of trainee education were similar (fellows, 69%; cardiologists, 55%; p=0.19). Fellows and cardiologists felt that family increased the duration of rounds (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 80%; p=0.18) and led to less efficient rounds (fellows, 54%; cardiologists, 58%; p=0.27). Conclusion: The majority of cardiologists and fellows believed that FCRs benefited families, communication and patient safety, but led to reduced efficiency and longer duration of rounds.