Predictors of disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant XBB sublineages and variants of interest.

The Omicron variant has been reported to present with milder disease compared with Delta, although this may be due to immunity from vaccination and prior exposure. Predictors of severity with recent strains have not been well characterized. We retrospectively examined consecutive cases of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 (defined as requiring supplemental oxygenation, intensive care or mortality) admitted to seven tertiary hospitals across Singapore in April 2023. Whole genome sequencing was performed on each isolate to determine the sublineage, while baseline clinical, laboratory data and outcomes were tabulated. We reviewed 182 patients with moderate-to-severe illness and 466 controls hospitalized at the same time. Advanced age and presence of chronic kidney disease predicted adverse outcome. Previously reported markers such as radiographic evidence of pneumonia, elevated C-reactive protein and serum creatinine levels at presentation also correlated with adverse outcomes. There were no observable differences in outcomes with any specific Omicron XBB sublineage. We did not find any specific Omicron XBB sublineage that was associated with worse outcomes. Larger multinational studies would be important to track the clinical evolution of the virus in its current endemic state.

Predictors of frequency of 1-year readmission in adult patients with diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the third most common chronic condition associated with frequent hospital readmissions. Predictors of the number of readmissions within 1 year among patients with DM are less often studied compared with those of 30-day readmission. This study aims to identify predictors of number of readmissions within 1 year amongst adult patients with DM and compare different count regression models with respect to model fit. Data from 2008 to 2015 were extracted from the electronic medical records of the National University Hospital, Singapore. Inpatients aged ≥ 18 years at the time of index admission with a hospital stay > 24 h and survived until discharge were included. The zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model was fitted and compared with three other count models (Poisson, zero-inflated Poisson and negative binomial) in terms of predicted probabilities, misclassification proportions and model fit. Adjusted for other variables in the model, the expected number of readmissions was 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07 to 1.90) for peripheral vascular disease, 1.60 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.92) for renal disease and 2.37 (95% CI 1.67 to 3.35) for Singapore residency. Number of emergency visits, number of drugs and age were other significant predictors, with length of stay fitted as a zero-inflated component. Model comparisons suggested that ZINB provides better prediction than the other three count models. The ZINB model identified five patient characteristics and two comorbidities associated with number of readmissions. It outperformed other count regression models but should be validated before clinical adoption.

Predicting and Validating 30-day Hospital Readmission in Adults With Diabetes Whose Index Admission Is Diabetes-related.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective is to develop a prediction model of 30-day hospital readmission among adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) whose index admission was DM-related. The secondary aims are to internally and externally validate the prediction model and compare its performance with 2 existing models. RESEARCH DESIGN AND SETTING: Data of inpatients aged ≥ 18 years from 2008 to 2015 were extracted from the electronic medical record system of the National University Hospital, Singapore. Unplanned readmission within 30 days was calculated from the discharge date of the index hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression and 10-fold cross-validation were performed. For external validation, simulations based on prevalence of 30-day readmission, and the regression coefficients provided by referenced papers were conducted. RESULTS: Eleven percent of 2355 patients reported 30-day readmission. The prediction model included 4 predictors: length of stay, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and number of drugs. C-statistics for the prediction model and 10-fold cross-validation were 0.68 (95% CI 0.66, 0.70) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.70), respectively. Those for the 3 simulated external validation data sets ranged from 0.64 to 0.68. CONCLUSION: The prediction model performs well with good internal and external validity for identifying patients with DM at risk of unplanned 30-day readmission.

Predictors of 30-day unplanned hospital readmission among adult patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) represent one-fifth of all 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions but some may be preventable through continuity of care with better DM self-management. We aim to synthesize evidence concerning the association between 30-day unplanned hospital readmission and patient-related factors, insurance status, treatment and comorbidities in adult patients with DM. We searched full-text English language articles in three electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL) without confining to a particular publication period or geographical area. Prospective and retrospective cohort and case-control studies which identified significant risk factors of 30-day unplanned hospital readmission were included, while interventional studies were excluded. The study participants were aged ≥18 years with either type 1 or 2 DM. The random effects model was used to quantify the overall effect of each factor. Twenty-three studies published between 1998 and 2018 met the selection criteria and 18 provided information for the meta-analysis. The data were collected within a period ranging from 1 to 15 years. Although patient-related factors such as age, gender and race were identified, comorbidities such as heart failure (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.67 to 1.96) and renal disease (OR=1.69, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.12), as well as insulin therapy (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.71) and insurance status (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.63) were stronger predictors of 30-day unplanned hospital readmission. The findings may be used to target DM self-management education at vulnerable groups based on comorbidities, insurance type, and insulin therapy.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Associated with Fanconi-Like Syndrome.

Acquired causes of Fanconi syndrome in adults are usually due to drugs, toxins or paraproteinaemias. Infectious causes are rarely described. We report a case of invasive pneumococcal disease in a patient who developed a Fanconi-like syndrome during the course of her illness. This patient presented with multiple electrolyte derangements consisting predominantly of hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypophosphataemia during hospitalization for invasive pneumococcal disease with possible Austrian syndrome. Further evaluation revealed significant urinary losses of these electrolytes, uric acid and ß2-microglobulin. Together with evidence of hypouricaemia, this is suggestive of proximal renal tubulopathy, and hence a Fanconi-like syndrome. The patient's clinical condition and biochemical anomalies improved following pneumococcus treatment. LEARNING POINTS: Suspect Fanconi syndrome when there are multiple electrolyte derangements consisting of hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypophosphataemia.Recognise the common causes of Fanconi syndrome and appreciate that infections such as legionellosis, leptospirosis and pneumococcal disease can potentially result in Fanconi syndrome.The management of Fanconi syndrome is generally supportive and involves treating the underlying cause.

Quadruple valve infective endocarditis presenting with suspected Austrian syndrome: a case report and a case series of quadruple valve infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: Austrian syndrome comprises the triad of pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis secondary to Streptococcus pneumonia. We present what we believe to be the first reported case of Austrian syndrome with quadruple heart valve involvement and review the literature detailing cases of quadruple valve infective endocarditis. CASE PRESENTATION AND RESULTS: A case is presented of a patient with radiographic evidence of a left lower lobe pneumonia. Sequential transthoracic followed by transesophageal echocardiogram done to evaluate the presence of a cardiac murmur revealed the presence of quadruple valve vegetations. Multiple blood cultures were persistently negative. The patient went on to develop seizures secondary to proven meningitis. Microbiological diagnosis was eventually established through positive Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen (Alere BinaxNOW®) from cerebrospinal fluid, establishing a presumptive clinical diagnosis of Austrian syndrome. A computerized PubMed search for reports of quadruple valve infective endocarditis and their references was collated. A total of 22 patients were found, including our patient. The median age of presentation was 47.5 years. Five patients had a history of intravenous drug abuse, another 5 had underlying congenital heart disease, and 1 had both. Two patients (9.1%) had 2 microorganisms isolated. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus viridans (3 cases, 13.6% each) were the most commonly implicated microorganism. Heart failure was the commonest complication, afflicting 11 patients (50.0%). Ten patients (45.5%) underwent surgery. Overall case fatality rate was 50.0%. Cardiac surgery was of statistical significance in predicting survival (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Quadruple valve endocarditis is associated with a high mortality rate, and cardiac surgery may be protective.

Additive effect of unoprostone and latanoprost in patients with elevated intraocular pressure.

AIMS: To assess the additive effect of unoprostone and latanoprost in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) METHODS: 32 patients with POAG or OHT were randomised to receive either latanoprost once daily or unoprostone twice daily for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, all patients received both latanoprost and unoprostone for another 4 weeks. The IOP was measured at 9 am and 5 pm on the baseline, day 28, and day 56 visits, and at 9 am on day 14 and day 42 visits. The medications were given to the patients in an open label fashion. The observer was masked to the treatment given. The mean of the measurements was calculated. Safety parameters were also recorded. The additive effect of the medications was assessed by the reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) when both medications were used, compared with when one medication was used. RESULTS: 28 patients completed both treatment periods and had IOP data available for evaluation. After 1 month of treatment, latanoprost significantly reduced IOP (mean by 6.1 (SEM 0.8) mm Hg (p<0.001) and unoprostone by 4.9 (1.0) mm Hg (p<0.001) from the baseline of 24.4 (0.6) mm Hg and 24.4 (1.1) mm Hg respectively (p = 0.18). When latanoprost once daily was given to patients treated with unoprostone, there was additional IOP lowering of 1.9 (0.6) mm Hg (p = 0.012). However, adding unoprostone to those being treated with latanoprost produced an IOP change of +0.4 (0.5) mm Hg (p = 0.42). Ocular symptoms and findings were mild and equally distributed between treatment groups, and after combined therapy. Hyperaemia and ocular irritation were the most frequently reported events. Over a third of patients experienced ocular irritation with the combination of medications. CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost once daily causes additional IOP lowering in eyes which were being treated with unoprostone twice a day. However, there was no additional IOP lowering when unoprostone was added to eyes which were being treated with latanoprost. Both drugs were well tolerated together with few ocular adverse events.

The role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in patients with neuroendocrine tumors and negative or equivocal findings on 111In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy.

UNLABELLED: (111)In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-octreotide scintigraphy is currently the nuclear medicine imaging modality of choice for identifying neuroendocrine tumors. However, there are cohorts of patients in whom scintigraphy findings are negative or equivocal. We evaluated the role of (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET in a selected group of patients with negative or weakly positive findings on (111)In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy to determine whether (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET is able to detect additional disease and, if so, whether patient management is altered. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors were included. Of the 51 patients, 35 who were negative and 16 equivocal for uptake on (111)In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy underwent (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET. Findings were compared using a region-by-region analysis. All findings were verified with CT or MRI. After (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET, all cases were reviewed to determine whether the (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET findings resulted in any alteration in management, in terms of suitability for peptide receptor therapy, somatostatin analogs, and surgery. RESULTS: Of the 51 patients, 47 had evidence of disease on cross-sectional imaging or biochemically. (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET was positive in 41 of these 47 patients (87.2%). No false-positive lesions were identified. (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET detected 168 of the 226 lesions (74.3%) that were identified with cross-sectional imaging. (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET identified significantly more lesions than (111)In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between (68)Ga-DOTATATE uptake and histologic grade of neuroendocrine tumors. (68)Ga-DOTATATE imaging changed management in 36 patients (70.6%), who were subsequently deemed suitable for peptide receptor-targeted therapy. CONCLUSION: In patients with negative or equivocal (111)In-DTPA-octreotide findings, (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET identifies additional lesions and may alter management in most cases.