Disparities in Syphilis Trends and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Joinpoint Analysis of Florida Surveillance Data (2013-2022).

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹Treponema pallidum, has reemerged at an increasing rate globally in recent years, posing a significant public health concern. Visualizing and analyzing time series trends of syphilis across various demographics and geographic regions, and how syphilis trends varied during the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), would help public health policymakers develop targeted strategies and interventions to effectively address the rising rates of syphilis, ultimately improving overall public health outcomes. METHODS:  A retrospective study was conducted using surveillance data on infectious syphilis cases reported to the Florida Department of Health, between 2013 and 2022. Age-standardized syphilis rates (ASSRs) per 100,000 persons were calculated using the 2000 U.S. standard population data. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the ASSRs was analyzed according to age, gender, race, geographic locations, and the COVID-19 pandemic period to quantify the epidemiological syphilis trends using joinpoint regression models. RESULTS:  In Florida, the ASSR significantly increased from 8.65/100,000 in 2013 to 23.08/100,000 in 2022 across different demographic groups, with an overall AAPC of 11.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.85-13.43). This increase in the AAPC was more pronounced in females (AAPC = 20.97; 95% CI, 18.61-24.49) than in males (AAPC = 10.34; 95% CI, 8.19-12.98). The increasing trends of infectious syphilis were observed across all age groups, with greater increases among those aged 25-49 years (AAPC = 12.32; 95% CI, 10.09-15.18), aged 50-69 years (AAPC = 13.42; 95% CI, 9.41-18.89), and aged over 70 years (AAPC = 13.63; 95% CI, 9.23-21.95), compared to those aged less than 24 years (AAPC = 7.86; 95% CI, 7.06-8.81). The increasing trends were comparable across racial groups, with an AAPC of 8.08 (95% CI, 5.47-11.15) for Hispanics, 11.84 (95% CI, 10.02-14.09) for non-Hispanic Whites, 10.49 (95% CI, 8.75-12.66) for non-Hispanic Blacks, and 11.29 (95% CI, 5.28-19.57) for non-Hispanic individuals of other races, respectively. The AAPC for the COVID-19 pandemic period was 12.99 (95% CI, 8.48-16.21), which was comparable to the pre-pandemic period (AAPC = 11.58; 95% CI, 10.17-12.76), indicating that this upward trend in infectious syphilis persisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At the county level, over the 10-year period, the average ASSRs ranged from 0.89/100,000 in 2013 to 25.41/100,000 in 2022, with the estimated AAPCs varied from 2.47 (95% CI, -1.89 to 6.92) in Monroe County to 50.01 (95% CI, 37.71-62.27) in Okaloosa County. CONCLUSIONS:  The trend of infectious syphilis increases substantially from 2013 to 2022, with notable differences observed among age, gender, and geographic regions in Florida. Females experienced a greater rise in infectious syphilis cases compared to males. This upward trend in infectious syphilis persisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are needed to implement strategies to address the rising syphilis rates within high-incidence groups and communities across the state.

The Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Detected by Implantable Loop Recorders.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is seen in 25% of the general population but in up to 50% of patients ≤60 years old with cryptogenic strokes. Trials have shown that PFO closure vs medical therapy reduces the risk of future strokes. PFO closure may cause atrial fibrillation (AF), with prior trials reporting an incidence of 2% to 11.9%. However, the true incidence of AF after PFO closure is unknown due to limitations in prior studies for long-term monitoring. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study at a single center. Patients who underwent PFO closure and had an implantable loop recorder prior to PFO closure were included. The final review included 38 patients who had at least 2 months of implantable loop recorder data post-PFO closure. Results: Ten out of 38 (26%) patients developed AF post-PFO closure. The median time to the first episode of AF was 3.95 weeks, with 40% having their first AF episode after 3 months. Median duration of AF episodes was 1 hour. One hundred percent had spontaneous termination of AF. Of the AF patients, 70% were started on oral anticoagulant therapy. Conclusions: Our review shows a higher incidence of AF post-PFO closure as compared with most reported prior studies. We recommend larger prospective studies to explore the true incidence of AF post-PFO closure, its clinical impact, and subsequent stroke risk.

Balloon venoplasty for right heart catheterization from the arm in patients with subclavian vein stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: In the trans-radial era, arm venous access for right heart catheterization (RHC) is rising. Procedural success is affected by many factors, including subclavian/innominate vein stenosis (SVS) and pre-existing wires or catheters. In a study published previously by the same authors, 2% of cases had unsuccessful RHC through the arm, predominantly due to SVS. Since that study, techniques to improve RHC success rates have been developed, including crossing the stenosis with a coronary guidewire, followed by balloon dilatation. We aimed to determine whether subclavian/innominate venoplasty allows successful RHC in patients with SVS. METHODS: Our retrospective study included patients who had RHC from the arm between November 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022 that was unsuccessful due to the inability to pass a catheter through the SVS, and then underwent balloon venoplasty. The success rate of completed RHC was then assessed. RESULTS: Out of 2506 RHCs via arm access, 2488 were successful with a catheter alone or over a guidewire. In 18 patients, venoplasty was needed for catheter passage over a guidewire. Post-dilatation, all 18 cases (100%) had successful RHC with a mean procedural time of 35.2 (SD = 15.5) minutes. The most common stenosis site was the subclavian vein in 13 patients (72.2%), and 12 patients (66.7%) had pacemaker/ implantable cardioverter defibrillator wires present. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon dilatation of SVS is an efficacious method to improve the success rate of RHC from the arm. It is a safe technique that may prevent cross-over to a different access site, thereby improving patient satisfaction and reducing the possibility of alternate site complications.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in the governor vessel and Yangming meridian for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture of the governor vessel and Yangming meridian are widely used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the optimal meridian for acupuncture in the treatment of AIS remains uncertain. PURPOSE: This network meta-analysis study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture at governor vessel and Yangming meridian in the treatment of AIS. METHODS: All relevant studies published in CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, Sinomed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Embase before January 13, 2024 were systematically retrieved. The two researchers independently screened the studies and extracted the data. Cochrane ROB tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies, and Stata 14.0 software was used to conduct a network meta-analysis of neurological deficit score, activities of daily living (ADL), clinical effective rate and Fugl-meyer motor function evaluation (FMA). RESULTS: A total of 401 studies were obtained, and 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values of the four outcome indexes were all ranked by "Governor vessel acupuncture + Conventional neurology treatment(GVAc+CT) > Yangming meridian acupuncture + Conventional neurology treatment(YMAc+CT) > Conventional neurology treatment (CT)". Compared to YMAc+CT and CT, GVAc+CT had the best effect in reducing the degree of neurological deficit score (SMD = -0.72, 95%CI = [-1.22,-0.21] and SMD = -1.07,95%CI = [-1.45,-0.69], respectively) and promoting the recovery of ADL((SMD = 0.59,95%CI = [0.31,0.88] and SMD = 0.96,95%CI = [0.70,1.21], respectively). Compared to CT, GVAc+CT also had a better clinical effective rate in the treatment of AIS (RR = 1.14,95%CI = [1.04,1.25]). CONCLUSIONS: Governor vessel acupuncture combined with conventional neurology treatment has the best effect in reducing the degree of neurological deficit score and promoting the recovery of ADL in AIS patientscompared to YMAc+CT and CT. Governor Vessel acupuncture is the most preferable acupoint scheme for clinical acupuncture treatment of AIS.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Hospitalized Adult Patients With Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections: A Propensity-Score-Matched Observational Study.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of vaccination on intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality among breakthrough coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. A total of 3,351 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Memorial Healthcare System (Hollywood, Florida) between June 1 and September 20, 2021, were included; 284 (8.5%) were fully vaccinated. A propensity-score-matched analysis was conducted to compare fully vaccinated patients with unvaccinated controls. Propensity scores were calculated on the basis of variables associated with vaccination status. A 1:1 matching ratio was applied using logistic regression models, ensuring balanced characteristics between the two groups. The matched samples were then subjected to multivariate analysis. Among breakthrough infections, vaccinated patients demonstrated lower incidences of ICU admission (10.3% vs. 16.4%; P = 0.042) and death (12.2% vs. 18.7%; P = 0.041) than the matched controls. Risk-adjusted multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant inverse association between vaccination and ICU admission (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.31, 0.89; P = 0.019) as well as in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval: 0.34, 0.94; P = 0.027). Vaccinated individuals experiencing breakthrough infections had significantly lower risks of ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. These findings highlight the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing severe outcomes among patients with breakthrough infections.

Elevated methemoglobin levels in patients treated with high-dose hydroxocobalamin.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hydroxocobalamin (OHCbl) infusion on arterial blood gas and oximetry values in patients with vasoplegic syndrome. METHODS: Blood samples collected from 95 patients receiving OHCbl infusion were assayed using the ABL90 FLEX Plus blood gas analyzer for the concentration of methemoglobin (MetHb), total hemoglobin (tHb), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2). Interference of OHCbl on these variables was evaluated using the measured difference between the preinfusion and postinfusion samples. RESULTS: Blood MetHb (%) measured after the infusion of OHCbl (5g) were significantly higher than the baseline levels, with a median of 4.8 (IQR, 3.0-6.5) versus 1.0 (IQR, 1.0-1.2) (P < .001). Blood COHb (%) increased from a median of 1.3 (IQR, 1.0-1.8) to 1.7 (IQR, 1.3-2.2) (P < .001) following the OHCbl infusion. No differences were seen in median levels of tHb, PaO2, PaCO2, and SaO2 between pre- and post-OHCbl treatment. CONCLUSION: The presence of OHCbl in blood clearly interfered with the oximetry measurements of the hemoglobin component fractions by falsely increasing the levels of MetHb and COHb. Blood levels of MetHb and COHb cannot be reliably determined by the co-oximetry when OHCbl is known or suspected.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome: A disorder of immune dysregulation.

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) is an autoimmune disease that has been reported in over 2200 patients. It is a rare, genetic disease where pathogenic variants occur in the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Various mutations in different genes, such as FAS, FASL, and CASP10, can result in ALPS. Most commonly, pathogenic variants occur in the FAS receptor. This malfunctioning pathway allows for the abnormal accumulation of lymphocytes, namely CD3 + TCRαß+CD4 - CD8- (double negative (DN) T) cells, which are a hallmark of the disease. This disease usually presents in childhood with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly as a result of lymphoproliferation. Over time, these patients may develop cytopenias or lymphomas because of irregularities in the immune system. Current treatments include glucocorticoids, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, immunoglobulin G, and rituximab. These medications serve to manage the symptoms and there are no standardized recommendations for the management of ALPS. The only curative therapy is a bone marrow transplant, but this is rarely done because of the complications. This review serves to broaden the understanding of ALPS by discussing the mechanism of immune dysregulation, how the symptoms manifest, and the mechanisms of treatment. Additionally, we discuss the epidemiology, comorbidities, and medications relating to ALPS patients across the United States using data from Cosmos.

Distinct Clinical Presentations and Outcomes of Hospitalized Adults with the SARS-CoV-2 Infection Occurring during the Omicron Variant Surge.

The COVID-19 Omicron variant has imposed a tremendous burden on healthcare services. We characterized the types of the Omicron variant-associated hospitalizations and their associations with clinical outcomes. Consecutive adults hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Omicron variant surge period of 1-14 January 2022, were classified into one of three groups based on their clinical presentations on admission: Group 1-primary COVID-19; Group 2-extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19; and Group 3-incidental COVID-19. Of the 500 patients who were hospitalized, 51.4% fell into Group 1, 16.4% into Group 2, and 32.2% into Group 3. The patients in Groups 1 and 2 were older, with higher proportions of comorbidities than patients in Group 3. The Group 1 patients had the highest mortality rate (15.6%), followed by Group 2 (8.5%), and Group 3 (0.6%), with adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 22.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.75-239.46; p = 0.004) and 10.95 (95% CI, 1.02-117.28; p = 0.048), respectively, compared to Group 3. Those in Group 1 showed a greater utilization of intensive care services (15.9%), followed by Group 2 (10.9%), and Group 3 (2.5%), with adjusted ORs of 7.95 (95% CI, 2.52-25.08; p < 0.001) and 5.07 (95% CI, 1.34-19.15; p = 0.017), respectively, compared to Group 3. The patients in Groups 1 and 2 had longer hospitalization stays than the patients in Group 3 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Older age (≥65 years) was an independent factor associated with longer hospital stays (OR = 1.72, 95% CI, 1.07-2.77). These findings can help hospitals prioritize patient care and service planning for future SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Huoluo Xiaoling Pellet promotes microglia M2 polarization through increasing MCPIP1 expression for ischemia stroke alleviation.

Huoluo Xiaoling Pellet (HXP), a Chinese patent medicine, is commonly administered for the treatment of treat ischemic strokes. MCPIP1, an inducible suppressor of the inflammatory response, is a regulator of microglial M2 polarization. This study aimed to explore whether HXP can promote microglial M2 polarization by upregulating MCPIP1 expression, consequently mitigating cerebral ischemic injury. Our study involved 85 Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 250-280 g). We established middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (OGD/R) models with MCPIP1 knockdown to assess the effects of HXP on ischemic strokes. Our findings show that HXP reduced brain water content, improved neurological function, and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in the brain tissues of MCAO rats. The neuroprotective effects of HXP on cerebral ischemic injuries were compromised by MCPIP1 knockdown. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the expression of microglia marker Iba1 and M2 phenotypic marker CD206 was upregulated in MCAO rats and OGD/R-treated microglia. Administration of HXP significantly reduced Iba1 expression and facilitated CD206 expression, an effect that was counteracted by sh-MCPIP1 transfection. Western blotting revealed that HXP treatment augmented the expression of MCPIP1, microglial M2 marker proteins (CD206 and Arg1), and PPARγ, while reducing the expression of microglial M1 marker proteins (CD16 and iNOS) in MCAO rats and OGD/R-induced microglia. MCPIP1 knockdown suppressed HXP-mediated upregulation of MCPIP1, CD206, Arg1, and PPARγ, as well as the downregulation of CD16 and iNOS. Our findings suggest that HXP primarily ameliorates ischemic stroke through the upregulation of MCPIP1, which in turn induces microglial M2 polarization.

MCPIP1 restrains mucosal inflammation by orchestrating the intestinal monocyte to macrophage maturation via an ATF3-AP1S2 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) is highly expressed in inflamed mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and negatively regulates immune response, while the underlying mechanisms regulating mucosal macrophage functions remain unknown. Here, we investigated the roles of MCPIP1 in modulating the differentiation and functions of intestinal macrophages in the pathogenesis of IBD. DESIGN: ScRNA-seq was used to cluster the monocyte/macrophage lineage from macrophage-specific Mcpip1-deficient (Mcpip1 ∆Mye) mice and Mcpip1 fl/fl littermates. The differentially expressed genes were confirmed by RNA-seq, luciferase assay, CUT&Tag assay and Western blotting. Effects of MCPIP1 and the activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3)-AP1S2 axis were assessed in patients with IBD. RESULTS: Mcpip1 ∆Mye mice developed more severe dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis characterised by an increase in macrophage migratory capacity and M1 macrophage polarisation but a decrease in the monocyte-to-macrophage maturation in gut mucosa compared with their littermates. ScRNA-seq unravelled a proinflammatory population (Ccr2+Il-1ß+Tlr2+Cx3cr1-Cd163-Mrc1-Ly6c+) of the monocyte/macrophage lineage from lamina propria CD11b+ cells and an arrest of Mcpip1 ∆Mye monocyte-to-macrophage maturation in an Atf3-Ap1s2 axis-dependent manner. Silencing of Ap1s2 or Atf3 markedly suppressed Mcpip1 ∆Mye macrophage migration, M1-like polarisation, and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Notably, in vivo blockage of Ap1s2 ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in Mcpip1 ΔMye mice through enhancing intestinal macrophage maturation. Furthermore, MCPIP1, ATF3 and AP1S2 were highly expressed in inflamed mucosa of active patients with IBD and blockage of ATF3 or AP1S2 significantly suppressed IBD CD14+-derived M1-like macrophage polarisation and proinflammatory cytokine production. CONCLUSIONS: Macrophage-specific Mcpip1 deficiency polarises macrophages towards M1-like phenotype, arrests macrophage maturation and exacerbates intestinal inflammation in an Atf3-Ap1s2-dependent manner, thus providing novel mechanistic insight into intestinal macrophage functions during IBD.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in migraine rats: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and potential underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of experimental model of migraine in rats. METHODS: Nine electronic databases, including CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), WanFang, VIP (Chinese Scientific Journals Database), Sinomed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and EBSCO, were searched for randomized experimental studies on migraine in rats involving acupuncture intervention. The search period ranged from inception to June 2022. The methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Data were analyzed using the Revman 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included in this analysis. Findings from the available experimental studies documented that acupuncture significantly reduced behavior scores of rats with migraine (MD = -15.01, 95%CI = [-18.01, -12.01], P<0.00001) and downregulated the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (MD = -16.14, 95%CI = [-21.45, -10.83], P<0.00001), substance P (SP) (MD = -11.47, 95%CI = [-15.97, -6.98], P<0.00001) and nitric oxide (NO) (MD = -3.02, 95%CI = [-3.79, -2.26], P<0.00001) in serum, and stimulatory G protein (Gsa) (MD = -62.90, 95%CI = [-69.88, -55.92], P<0.00001) in brainstem. Acupuncture also significantly increased the content of inhibitory G protein (Gia) (MD = 24.01, 95%CI = [20.10, 27.92], P<0.00001) in brainstem and 50% paw withdrawal threshold (50%PWT) (MD = 1.96, 95%CI = [1.15, 2.77], P<0.00001). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively improve the behavioral performance of rates with migraine, and its mechanism of action might involve the inhibition of meningeal vasodilation and inflammatory factors, and the reduction of neurogenic inflammation.

An Ultrasound Survey of the Radial and Ulnar Arteries in an American Population: Implications for Transradial Access.

BACKGROUND: Palpation-guided access of the radial artery (RA) has transradial access (TRA) failure rates averaging 6%-7%. This study aimed to measure RA and ulnar artery (UA) diameters by ultrasound in a typical American population, in hopes of elucidating data that may improve TRA success rates. METHODS: Intraprocedural ultrasound measurements of the RA and UA in 565 consecutive patients undergoing TRA were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The RA is usually larger than the UA, with diameters of 3.0 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively. The UA was larger than the RA in 23% of the population studied, being larger than the RA by ≥20% in 6.5%. Men have larger RAs and UAs than women, with RA/UA diameters of 3.2/2.7 mm and 2.8/2.4 mm, respectively. Body mass index did not correlate with RA diameter. An RA to sheath ratio of <1.0 would have occurred in 6% of men and 16% of women with the use of a 6-Fr slender sheath. The distal RA was 0.5 mm (16%) smaller in diameter than the RA. CONCLUSIONS: The RA is usually larger than the UA and will be the artery of choice for access in most patients. The UA was larger than the RA by ≥20% in 6.5% of patients studied, possibly making it the wrist artery of choice for access in many of these patients. No clinical variables predict RA or UA diameters. Ultrasound may improve TRA success rates by allowing accurate sizing of the RA/UA, thereby preventing inadvertent sheath oversizing causing radial artery spasm and TRA failure.

Impact of induction therapy on cytomegalovirus infection and post-transplant outcomes in pediatric heart transplant recipients receiving routine antiviral prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: Induction therapy has been increasingly used in pediatric heart transplantation. This study evaluated the impact of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) versus basiliximab as induction therapy on post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, rejection at 1 year, coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and mortality in pediatric heart transplant recipients receiving antiviral prophylaxis. RESULTS: Of the 96 patients (age < 18 years) analyzed, 46 (47.9%) patients received basiliximab, and 50 (52.1%) received ATG. Median follow-up was 3.0 (IQR, 1.7-4.9) years with 32.3% reporting CMV infection. The ATG group, as compared with the basiliximab group, had similar incidences of CMV infection (36% vs. 28.3%, p = .418), CMV viremia (22% vs. 19.6%, p = .769), and CMV-positive tissue biopsy (30% vs. 22%, p = .486). The ATG group had lower incidences of rejection at 1 year (16% vs. 36.9%, p = .022) and CAV (4% vs. 23.9%, p = .006) with no difference in mortality (8% vs. 15.2%, p = .343), compared with the basiliximab group. Multivariate analysis showed that induction with ATG was associated with a lower risk of rejection at 1 year (OR, .31; 95% CI, .09-.94; p = .039) with no impact on the incidences of CMV infection (HR, 2.06; 95% CI, .54-7.89; p = .292), CAV (HR, .30; 95% CI, .04-2.58; p = .275), and mortality (HR, .39; 95% CI, .09-1.82; p = .233) compared to basiliximab induction. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, induction with ATG was associated with reduction in risk of rejection at 1 year with no effects on CMV infection, CAV, and mortality in pediatric heart transplant recipients with universal antiviral prophylaxis compared with basiliximab induction therapy.

Mortality and prognostic factors in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with cancer: an analysis from a large healthcare system in the United States.

Background: To evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with malignancy who are SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) positive and investigate if factors such as age, gender, and race contribute to COVID-19 mortality in patients with malignancy. Methods: Retrospective data was gathered from Memorial Healthcare System of COVID-19 patients hospitalized from March 1, 2020 to January 18, 2021. Active malignancy was defined as either receiving antineoplastic therapy or being under surveillance. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics and outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to define baseline clinical characteristics potentially associated with mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19. Results: A total of 4,870 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study, and 265 of those patients had a diagnosis of active malignancy. The study population was diverse which included non-Hispanic whites (NHW) 816 (16.8%), Hispanics 2,271 (46.6%) and Blacks 1,534 (31.5%). Of the cancer patients, 24.1% were NHW, 43% were Hispanic and 28.7% were Black. Amongst the races, 37.5% of in-hospital mortalities were NHW, while 18.4% were Hispanics and 19.7% were Black. The in-hospital mortalities amongst the two malignancy types, solid and hematological, accounted for 24.6% and 23.5% of deaths and they were not found to be statistically significant (P=0.845). After adjustments for age, gender and race were made, cancer was independently associated with an increased in-hospital mortality, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-2.01]. Increased age and elevated serum levels of creatinine and C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with an increased risk of death in cancer patients with COVID-19. Conclusions: COVID-19 in patients with cancer had poorer outcomes in comparison to those who were cancer-free. Both hematological and solid malignancies had similar in-hospital mortality rates. The highest in-hospital mortalities of cancer patients with COVID-19 were non-Hispanic whites in-comparison to Hispanics with the least. Age, elevated levels of creatinine and CRP were independently associated with increased risk of death in cancer patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The findings indicate the need for close surveillance and monitoring of these patients as they are more likely to have higher risk of death from COVID-19.

Clinical presentation and management of nephrotic syndrome in the first year of life: A report from the Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium.

Background and objectives: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) in the first year of life is called congenital (CNS) if diagnosed between 0-3 months, or infantile (INS) if diagnosed between 3-12 months of age. The aim of this study was to determine if there were clinically meaningful differences between CNS and INS patients, regarding clinical presentation, management and outcomes. Design setting participants and measurements: Eleven Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium sites participated in the study, using IRB-approved retrospective chart reviews of CNS and INS patients born between 1998 and 2019. Data were collected on patient characteristics, pertinent laboratory tests, provided therapy, timing of unilateral/bilateral nephrectomy and initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Results: The study included 69 patients, 49 with CNS and 20 with INS, with a median age at diagnosis of 1 and 6 months, respectively. Management for the two groups was similar regarding nutrition, thyroxin supplementation, immunoglobulin administration, and thrombosis prophylaxis. Within the first 2 months after diagnosis, daily albumin infusions were used more often in CNS vs. INS patients (79 vs. 30%; p = 0.006), while weekly infusions were more common in INS patients (INS vs. CNS: 50 vs. 3%; p = 0.001). During the 6 months preceding RRT, albumin infusions were more frequently prescribed in CNS vs. INS (51 vs. 15%; p = 0.007). Nephrectomy was performed more often in CNS (78%) than in INS (50%; p = 0.02). End-stage kidney disease tended to be more common in children with CNS (80%) vs. INS (60%; p = 0.09). Conclusion: Compared to INS, patients with CNS had a more severe disease course, requiring more frequent albumin infusions, and earlier nephrectomy and RRT. Despite center-specific variations in patient care, 20-40% of these patients did not require nephrectomy or RRT.

Effect of Phenobarbital on Elevated Direct Bilirubin Concentrations in Neonates and Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have evaluated the effect of phenobarbital (PB) on elevated direct bilirubin (DB) plasma concentrations in neonates and infants, and none have compared its effect with a control group with matched study baseline DB values. The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in elevated DB plasma concentrations (≥2 mg/dL) in neonates and infants between a PB-treated and control group. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, matched, cohort study was performed comparing patients between a PB-treated group and a control group with similar study baseline plasma DB values ≥2 mg/dL over an 8-week period. The percent change in DB plasma concentrations from study baseline was compared for each week of the study period. RESULTS: During the 8-year study period, 310 patients had DB plasma concentrations ≥2 mg/dL, of which 26 remained in each group after exclusions. The PB group had increased DB concentrations and the control group had decreased DB concentrations when compared with their study baseline DB concentrations each week of the study period. By study end, the mean DB concentration increased by 11.2% in the PB group and decreased by 48.5% in the control group (p = 0.02). In multiple regression analysis, only birth weight (standardized coefficient = 0.44, p = 0.02), and gastrointestinal obstruction (standardized coefficient = -0.4, p = 0.03) were associated with significant percent change in DB concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated PB does not improve cholestasis in neonates and infants.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an emergency department-based opt-out HIV screening program in a South Florida hospital: An interrupted time series analysis, July 2018-March 2021.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a tremendous burden on healthcare services. We evaluated its impact on an emergency department (ED)-based opt-out Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in a public healthcare system. METHODS: The programmatic data of ED-based HIV testing from July 2018 to March 2021 at the Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood, Florida was analyzed by interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the immediate and gradual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of monthly HIV tests, with an interruption point at March 2020. RESULTS: The average number of monthly HIV tests were significantly lower during the pandemic than the pre-pandemic (791 ± 187 vs 1745 ± 266, P < .001). There was a slight decline trend in the number of monthly HIV tests before the pandemic (estimate -10.29, P = .541). HIV testing dramatically decreased during the initial 7 months of the pandemic, compared to the pre-pandemic period, with the largest decline in the number of HIV tests on March 2020 (estimate -678.48, P = .007). HIV testing slightly increased every month (estimate 4.84, P = .891) during the pandemic period, and the number of HIV tests per month rebounded to the pre-pandemic levels by October 2020. CONCLUSIONS: ED-based HIV testing significantly decreased during the initial 7 months of the pandemic in south Florida. Multiple strategies are necessary to maintain HIV testing during this pandemic era.

Lymphopenia as a Predictor for Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Single Center Retrospective Study of 4485 Cases.

Lymphopenia is commonly present in patients with COVID-19. We sought to determine if lymphopenia on admission predicts COVID-19 clinical outcomes. A retrospective chart review was performed on 4485 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, who were admitted to the hospital. Of those, 2409 (57.3%) patients presented with lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count < 1.1 × 109/L) on admission, and had higher incidences of ICU admission (17.9% versus 9.5%, p < 0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (14.4% versus 6.5%, p < 0.001), dialysis (3.4% versus 1.8%, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (16.6% versus 6.6%, p < 0.001), with multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of 1.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-2.25), 2.09 (95% CI, 1.69-2.59), 1.77 (95% CI, 1.19-2.68), and 2.19 (95% CI 1.76-2.72) for the corresponding outcomes, respectively, compared to those without lymphopenia. The restricted cubic spline models showed a non-linear relationship between lymphocyte count and adverse outcomes, with an increase in the risk of adverse outcomes for lower lymphocyte counts in patients with lymphopenia. The predictive powers of lymphopenia, expressed as areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves, were 0.68, 0.69, 0.78, and 0.79 for the corresponding adverse outcomes, respectively, after incorporating age, gender, race, and comorbidities. In conclusion, lymphopenia is a useful metric in prognosticating outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Characteristics, Vaccination Status and Outcomes Among Healthy Younger Adults in a Large Public Healthcare System in the South Florida Region.

Nationally, the 18-49 years old age group are less likely to be vaccinated compared to those 50 years and older. Data describing the risk of COVID-19 severe illness that requires hospitalization among younger healthy adults is limited. In an effort to underscore the importance of vaccination and provide data that may influence COVID-19 risk perception, COVID-19 data of a sample of hospitalized non-elderly age group who clinically may not be considered as high risk for severe COVID-19 illness are presented. Specifically, this retrospective chart review (spanning the period of March 2020 to September 2021) provides a descriptive analysis examining the characteristics, vaccination status and outcomes of adults who were hospitalized at Memorial Healthcare System with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The study's data focuses on non-pregnant adults, aged 18-49 years old, without underlying conditions and with no reported history of smoking. As a sub-analysis, data on young and otherwise healthy pregnant females who were hospitalized with COVID-19, as well as data stratified by the pre-Delta and Delta variant dominant period are also presented. There was a total of 482 young and otherwise healthy non-pregnant adults who were hospitalized with COVID-19. Overall, more than 13% of our study population had severe COVID-19 disease. Further, a higher proportion of unvaccinated patients had severe COVID-19 compared to those who received at least one dose of the vaccine. All ventilator or ECMO placements, 30-day readmissions and deaths occurred among unvaccinated patients.

Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-Induced Protein 1 (MCPIP-1): A Key Player of Host Defense and Immune Regulation.

Inflammatory response is a host-protective mechanism against tissue injury or infections, but also has the potential to cause extensive immunopathology and tissue damage, as seen in many diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome and many other infectious diseases with public health concerns, such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), if failure to resolve in a timely manner. Recent studies have uncovered a superfamily of endogenous chemical molecules that tend to resolve inflammatory responses and re-establish homeostasis without causing excessive damage to healthy cells and tissues. Among these, the monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein (MCPIP) family consisting of four members (MCPIP-1, -2, -3, and -4) has emerged as a group of evolutionarily conserved molecules participating in the resolution of inflammation. The focus of this review highlights the biological functions of MCPIP-1 (also known as Regnase-1), the best-studied member of this family, in the resolution of inflammatory response. As outlined in this review, MCPIP-1 acts on specific signaling pathways, in particular NFκB, to blunt production of inflammatory mediators, while also acts as an endonuclease controlling the stability of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA), leading to the resolution of inflammation, clearance of virus and dead cells, and promotion of tissue regeneration via its pleiotropic effects. Evidence from transgenic and knock-out mouse models revealed an involvement of MCPIP-1 expression in immune functions and in the physiology of the cardiovascular system, indicating that MCPIP-1 is a key endogenous molecule that governs normal resolution of acute inflammation and infection. In this review, we also discuss the current evidence underlying the roles of other members of the MCPIP family in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Further understanding of the proteins from this family will provide new insights into the identification of novel targets for both host effectors and microbial factors and will lead to new therapeutic treatments for infections and other inflammatory diseases.