An artificial intelligence approach for predicting death or organ failure after hospitalization for COVID-19: development of a novel risk prediction tool and comparisons with ISARIC-4C, CURB-65, qSOFA, and MEWS scoring systems.

BACKGROUND: We applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to generate a risk prediction tool [Collaboration for Risk Evaluation in COVID-19 (CORE-COVID-19)] for predicting the composite of 30-day endotracheal intubation, intravenous administration of vasopressors, or death after COVID-19 hospitalization and compared it with the existing risk scores. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2021. Patients, each with 92 variables, and one composite outcome underwent feature selection process to identify the most predictive variables. Selected variables were modeled to build four ML algorithms (artificial neural network, support vector machine, gradient boosting machine, and Logistic regression) and an ensemble model to generate a CORE-COVID-19 model to predict the composite outcome and compared with existing risk prediction scores. The net benefit for clinical use of each model was assessed by decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 1796 patients, 278 (15%) patients reached primary outcome. Six most predictive features were identified. Four ML algorithms achieved comparable discrimination (P > 0.827) with c-statistics ranged 0.849-0.856, calibration slopes 0.911-1.173, and Hosmer-Lemeshow P > 0.141 in validation dataset. These 6-variable fitted CORE-COVID-19 model revealed a c-statistic of 0.880, which was significantly (P < 0.04) higher than ISARIC-4C (0.751), CURB-65 (0.735), qSOFA (0.676), and MEWS (0.674) for outcome prediction. The net benefit of the CORE-COVID-19 model was greater than that of the existing risk scores. CONCLUSION: The CORE-COVID-19 model accurately assigned 88% of patients who potentially progressed to 30-day composite events and revealed improved performance over existing risk scores, indicating its potential utility in clinical practice.

Problem-solving with MRI in acute abdominopelvic conditions, part 1: gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic diseases.

The purpose of this article is to review the benefit and added value and advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with other cross-sectional imaging in patients presenting with abdominopelvic emergencies. During the past decade, there has been increased utilization of MRI in the emergency department with widespread availability of MR scanners, improvement in rapid imaging techniques, and methods to overcome motion-related artifacts. This has benefited patients at higher risk of radiation, particularly children and pregnant women, and patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast including allergy and renal dysfunction. Still the challenges are: on site MR scanner in the emergency department, after-hour services, as well as availability of time slot to rapidly scan emergency patient. MRI has additional advantages over other imaging modalities due to its high contrast resolution, which allows it to better characterize tissue and fluid collections, and may avoid the need for intravenous contrast. Radiologists must be familiar with the role and added value of MRI, spectrum of imaging findings, and problem-oriented modified MR protocols in abdominal and pelvic emergencies. In part 1, we will discuss the utility of MRI in gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic diseases. In part 2, the authors will focus on the key MR imaging features of female pelvic gynecological diseases, pregnancy related complications, abdominal vascular complications, and renal diseases.

Problem-solving with MRI in acute abdominopelvic conditions, part 2: gynecological, obstetric, vascular, and renal diseases.

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the benefits of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the setting of abdominopelvic emergencies. Owing to intrinsically high soft-tissue contrast resolution, and ability to resolve different soft tissue, MRI holds notable advantages over other imaging modalities and can be used as a problem-solving tool. Additional advantages of MRI include lack of radiation-related risks to children and pregnant women, and the ability to acquire detailed diagnostic information even without intravenous contrast which can be beneficial in patients with contrast allergy and end-stage renal disease. In the part 2, the authors focus on MRI features of female pelvic gynecological diseases, pregnancy- related complications, abdominal vascular complications, and renal diseases.

Aortic intramural hematoma and hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm: unusual complication following resuscitation.

We present a case of a 71-year-old woman with an unusual complication of aortic intramural hematoma and hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and thrombolysis done for sudden cardiopulmonary arrest and pulmonary embolism. Patient was on Warfarin treatment for a prior history of pulmonary embolism and experienced recurrent cardiac arrests, which finally resolved after intravenous administration of thrombolytic agents. However, follow-up computed tomographic angiography revealed descending aortic intramural hematoma with intramural blood pool and concomitant liver laceration with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. The patient received transcatheter embolization for the hepatic injury with careful follow-up for the aortic injury and was later discharged in a stable condition. Follow-up with subsequent computed tomographic angiography at a regular interval over 1 month shows near complete resolution of the intramural hematoma. The purpose of this report is to describe the rare complication of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and thrombolysis in the form of concomitant injuries of the aorta and liver. Although the use of thrombolytic agents in patients with pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest is still a matter of debate, this case report supports the concept that thrombolysis has a role in restoring cardiopulmonary circulation, especially in recurrent cardiac arrests resulting from pulmonary embolism. On the other hand, this case also highlights the increased association of the bleeding-related complication as a result of vigorous efforts of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Aggressive management with interventional radiology for hepatic pseudoaneurysm and conservative management of the aortic intramural hematoma resulted in favorable outcome for our patient.

Effect of Yoga among Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Psychiatric Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Background: Depression has been expected to be the second-leading cause of disability, followed by autism, attention and hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorder. Yoga therapy has found to be beneficial in managing psychiatric disorders. Aim: The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on yoga therapy in psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents. Methods: Online database was used to identify papers published 2004-2023, from which we selected 11 publications from the United States, Canada, Iran, India, and Australia that used yoga therapy as a primary outcome variable among participants aged 3 years or older. Results: The papers reviewed were randomized controlled trials. All studies examined yoga therapy, but one study used mindfulness-based therapy and used few techniques of yoga therapy. The studies examined the effect of yoga therapy on early childhood and adolescence on various psychiatric symptoms such as stress, inattention, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, and many more. Conclusion: While the quality of studies is generally high, research on yoga therapy among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders would benefit from careful selection of methods and reference standards, suitability for yoga therapy, and prospective cohort studies linking early childhood exposures with yoga therapy outcomes throughout childhood and adolescence.

Rural-urban Differences in Long-term Mortality and Readmission Following COVID-19 Hospitalization, 2020 to 2023.

Background: We compared long-term mortality and readmission rates after COVID-19 hospitalization based on rural-urban status and assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination introduction on clinical outcomes by rurality. Methods: The study comprised adults hospitalized for COVID-19 at 17 hospitals in 4 US states between March 2020 and July 2022, followed until May 2023. The main analysis included all patients, whereas a sensitivity analysis focused on residents from 4 states containing 17 hospitals. Additional analyses compared the pre- and postvaccination periods. Results: The main analysis involved 9325 COVID-19 hospitalized patients: 31% were from 187 rural counties in 31 states; 69% from 234 urban counties in 44 states; the mean age was 65 years (rural, 66 years; urban, 64 years); 3894 women (rural, 41%; urban, 42%); 8007 Whites (rural, 87%; urban, 83%); 1738 deaths (rural, 21%; urban, 17%); and 2729 readmissions (rural, 30%; urban, 29%). During a median follow-up of 602 days, rural residence was associated with a 22% higher all-cause mortality (log-rank, P < .001; hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.34, P < .001), and a trend toward a higher readmission rate (log-rank, P = .038; hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, .98-1.15; P = .130). The results remained consistent in the sensitivity analysis and in both pre- and postvaccination time periods. Conclusions and Relevance: Patients from rural counties experienced higher mortality and tended to be readmitted more frequently following COVID-19 hospitalization over the long term compared with those from urban counties, a difference that remained even after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines.

Primary renal leukaemia in a young adult male as an extramedullary presentation of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Primary renal involvement by T lymphoblasts is rare among adults with T acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We report a 28-year-old man presenting with acute renal failure due to infiltration by T lymphoblasts and his response to paediatric-inspired modified BFM-90 protocol. The patient achieved an initial complete remission (CR) but developed central nervous system relapse. He achieved CR2 with cranial irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. He underwent a haploidentical transplant in CR2 and remains in remission post-transplant day 330. An early kidney biopsy helped confirm the diagnosis. Such presentations remain responsive to modified BFM-90. An early allotransplant in CR2 remains the standard of care.

Long-term efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in treatment of common and palmo-plantar warts.

Current treatments for warts induce significant local tissue damage and do not prevent recurrence. We evaluated the efficacy of localised radiofrequency heat (RFH) therapy in inducing the long-term resolution of common and palmo-plantar warts in a placebo-controlled randomised single blind trial. Our data show that RFH therapy is a safe, cosmetically acceptable and long-term effective treatment for warts.

Within-Person Blood Pressure Variability During Hospitalization and Clinical Outcomes Following First-Ever Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty remains over the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV), measured in hospital settings, and clinical outcomes following acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We examined the association between within-person systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability (SBPV) during hospitalization and readmission-free survival, all-cause readmission, or all-cause mortality 1 year after AIS. METHODS: In a cohort of 862 consecutive patients (age [mean ± SD] 75 ± 15 years, 55% women) with AIS (2005-2018, follow-up through 2019), we measured SBPV as quartiles of standard deviations (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) from a median of 16 SBP readings obtained throughout hospitalization. RESULTS: In the cumulative cohort, the measured SD and CV of SBP in mmHg were 16 ± 6 and 10 ± 5, respectively. The hazard ratios (HR) for readmission-free survival between the highest vs. lowest quartiles were 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.81) for SD and 1.29 (95% CI 0.94-1.78) for CV after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities. Similarly, incident readmission or mortality remained consistent between the highest vs. lowest quartiles of SD and CV (readmission: HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.90-1.78] for SD, HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.94-1.78] for CV; mortality: HR 1.15 [95% CI 0.71-1.87] for SD, HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.55-1.36] for CV). CONCULSIONS: In patients with first AIS, SBPV measured as quartiles of SD or CV based on multiple readings throughout hospitalization has no independent prognostic implications for the readmission-free survival, readmission, or mortality. This underscores the importance of overall patient care rather than a specific focus on BP parameters during hospitalization for AIS.

Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes After Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to October 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and 30-day all-cause readmission and mortality between patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at 16 hospitals across 3 geographically dispersed US states. The study included 6769 adults (mean age, 74 years; 56% [5033 of 8989] men) with cumulative 8989 HF hospitalizations: 2341 hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1 through October 30, 2020) and 6648 in the pre-COVID-19 (October 1, 2018, through February 28, 2020) comparator group. We used Poisson regression, Kaplan-Meier estimates, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analysis to determine whether prespecified study outcomes varied by time frames. RESULTS: The adjusted 30-day readmission rate decreased from 13.1% (872 of 6648) in the pre-COVID-19 period to 10.0% (234 of 2341) in the COVID-19 pandemic period (relative risk reduction, 23%; hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.89). Conversely, all-cause mortality increased from 9.7% (645 of 6648) in the pre-COVID-19 period to 11.3% (264 of 2341) in the COVID-19 pandemic period (relative risk increase, 16%; number of admissions needed for one additional death, 62.5; hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.39). Despite significant differences in rates of index hospitalization, readmission, and mortality across the study time frames, the disease severity, HF subtypes, and treatment patterns remained unchanged (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this large tristate multicenter cohort study of HF hospitalizations suggest lower rates of index hospitalizations and 30-day readmissions but higher incidence of 30-day mortality with broadly similar use of HF medication, surgical interventions, and devices during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 time frame.

Steroid-Induced Sinus Bradycardia.

Steroids are one of the most commonly used drugs and known to be associated with several side effects. There have been case reports about the associated sinus bradycardia with pulse dose corticosteroids administration both IV and oral. We present a case of asymptomatic sinus bradycardia associated with oral prednisone 40 mg. A 69-year-old male was admitted to the ICU for sepsis and subsequently was found to have gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. He developed an acute gout attack during hospitalization and was treated with prednisone 40 mg. Over the next 24 hours, the patient's heart rate dropped to 30s to 40s beats/minute while other vitals have remained stable. He was monitored on telemetry and review of the rhythm strips, as well as a 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), that showed sinus bradycardia; no pauses or atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal blocks were identified. The patient was not on any beta blocker or other therapies commonly associated with sinus bradycardia. His steroids were stopped while all other medications were continued. His heart rate slowly started to improve over the next 24 hours. He was not found to have any further episodes of bradycardia. Our case is unusual as we noted transient asymptomatic bradycardia with oral prednisone 40 mg dose. While bradycardia is reversible and may go unnoticed, it is important for the clinician to be aware of this adverse effect and include it in the list of potential differentials for bradycardia.

Review of multi-modality imaging update and diagnostic work up of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an acute but reversible non-ischemic heart failure syndrome. It is characterized by a transient form of ventricular dysfunction typically manifesting as basal hyperkinesis with hypokinesia and ballooning of left ventricle mid-cavity and apex. Imaging helps in both diagnosis and follow up. Echocardiogram is the first-line modality to assess the typical contractile dysfunction in suspected patients with catheter angiography showing normal coronary arteries. Cardiac MRI is currently the modality of choice for the non-invasive initial assessment of TC and for follow up imaging. The current review focusses on historical background of TC, its pathophysiology, diagnostic work up and differential diagnosis and provides multimodality imaging work up of TC including role of echocardiogram, invasive catheterization, nuclear imaging, cardiac computed tomography and cardiac MRI including basic and advanced MRI sequences.

A Case of Hepatic Portal Venous Gas: Hypothesis of a Transient Direct Communication between a Penetrating Antral Gastric Ulcer and Mesenteric Varices.

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is a rare radiological sign that usually signifies an acute intra-abdominal process, most commonly bowel ischemia and sepsis. Few reports described an association with underlying gastric pathologies. We report a 60-year-old patient who presented with melena and chills and was discovered to have a gastric ulcer that appeared to have penetrated into a mesenteric varix. This, in turn, likely caused development of HPVG associated with fungemia. Treatment with a proton pump inhibitor and bowel rest was sufficient to resolve symptoms and the HPVG.

Pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic region in India.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the Bikaner region situated in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. This study describes clinicoepidemiological data of pediatric CL in pre-school children (0-5 years of age) from this region during 2001-2012. In total, 151 patients with 217 lesions were reported during the study period. The mean age of the study group was 3.29 ± 1.43 years (0.25-5 years), with many (41.7%) cases being in the age group of 2-4 years. Face was the most common site involved, and morphologically, the lesions were either plaque type or papulonodular. Smear for parasitologic examination was positive in 84 (70%) of 120 cases, and histopathologic examination confirmed CL in 10 (55.55%) of 18 cases. Parasite species identification conducted for 13 randomly selected patients by polymerase chain reaction identified Leishmania tropica as the causative species. Intralesional sodium stibogluconate was the most commonly used treatment and found to be well-tolerated. Other therapies that were effective included oral rifampicin, oral dapsone, radiofrequency heat therapy (RFHT), and combinations of the three therapies.

Radiology-pathology conference: malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the seminal vesicle.

Mesenchymal neoplasms are rarely encountered in the seminal vesicle. Only four cases of the seminal vesicle solitary fibrous tumor have been reported in English literature, all of which were benign in nature. We are describing the clinicoradiological and pathological features of a locally aggressive malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising from the seminal vesicle, which posed the therapeutic challenge for the surgical management in a 52-year-old male patient. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising from the seminal vesicle.

Bilateral adrenal infarction in Crohn's disease.

Adrenal infarction is an uncommon cause of adrenal insufficiency. We herein present unique occurrence of bilateral adrenal infarction detected on imaging in a young female with known history of Crohn's disease. The patient responded well to steroids and is on follow up. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in English literature of adrenal infarct associated with Crohn's disease as extraintestinal manifestation.

Clinco-epidemiologic study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, Bikaner, India. The present study describes clinico-epidemiologcial data of all cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis CL in this region during 2001-2011. A total of 1,379 patients with 2,730 lesions were reported during the study period. Ages of patients ranged from 3 months to 86 years, and there was a predominance of infections in males. Most patients were from urban areas and lower middle socioeconomic groups. Lesions were dry, ulcerated nodules or plaques of different sizes commonly over face and upper limb. Skin smears were positive for parasites in 958 (69.5%) patients, and the remaining 45.8% (193 of 421) patients were positive by skin biopsy. Histopathologic analysis of the skin showed mixed granulomas consisting of macrophages, lymphocytes, epitheloid, and plasma cells. Species identification was conducted for 45 randomly selected patients by polymerase chain reaction, the infective species was Leishmania tropica. Most patients were treated with intra-lesional injections of sodium stibogluconate.

A patient presenting with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) as a first indicator of HIV infection in India.

Opportunistic parasitic infections such as leishmaniasis are common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and are usually acquired several days after initial diagnosis of HIV infection. Here, we report on a patient who presented with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) caused by Leishmania tropica as the first and only clinical manifestation of HIV infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case that illustrates that DCL could be the first clinical indicator of HIV infection. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and DCL are becoming frequent opportunistic infections in HIV-infected individuals throughout the world. To date, all documented cases of CL and HIV coinfections have been reported in patients who were known cases of HIV and who subsequently developed CL. In this report, we present a case that illustrates that DCL could be the first clinical indicator of HIV infection.