Anxiety and Depression in Advanced and Metastatic Lung Cancer Patients-Correlations with Performance Status and Type of Treatment.

Background and Objectives: The treatment of advanced and metastatic lung cancer is multimodal, and it is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team. Anxiety and depression occur frequently in patients with lung cancer, creating considerable discomfort in therapeutic management. At the same time, these psychoemotional symptoms affect the patients' quality of life. Objective: This research seeks to identify correlations both between anxiety and depression and the patients' performance statuses, as well as between anxiety and depression and the type of treatment: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), immunotherapy and palliative care. Materials and Methods: The study evaluated 105 patients with lung cancer from two oncologic centers. Patients were assessed for anxiety and depression using the questionnaire Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS is a self-report rating scale of 14 items. It measures anxiety and depression, and has two subscales. There are seven items for each subscale. There are 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 3. For each subscale, the score is the sum of the seven items, ranging from 0 to 21. Results: The most powerful correlation with statistical significance was observed between the IT type of treatment (immunotherapy) and the normal level of anxiety, PC = 0.82 (p < 0.001) as well as the normal level of depression. Palliative treatment was correlated with anxiety and depression, both borderline and abnormal. For ECOG 3-4 performance status and abnormal anxiety, respectively, abnormal depression was significantly associated. Also, continuous hospitalization was associated with abnormal anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Early assessments of anxiety and depression are necessary in patients with advanced and metastatic lung cancer, with unfavorable performance status, who have been admitted to continuous hospitalization, and who require palliative care.

Exploring the Dynamic Role of Bacterial Etiology in Complicated Urinary Tract Infections.

Background and Objectives. Numerous studies have been conducted to explore the epidemiological characteristics of urinary tract infections (UTI) and sepsis. However, there is still a lack of relevant bacteriological features and prognostic information regarding urosepsis based on bacteriological etiology. The current study aims to evaluate the bacterial etiology of complicated UTI (cUTI) and bacterial resistance to antibiotics and whether they present an intrinsic risk of developing urosepsis. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study was performed that included 102 patients who were diagnosed with cUTI and admitted to the urology department of the "Sfântul Apostol Andrei" County Emergency Clinical Hospital (GCH) from September 2019 to May 2022. Results. A considerable number of patients, n = 41 (40.2%), were diagnosed with multi drug-resistant (MDR) infection. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was identified as the prevailing pathogen, accounting for 51 patients. Klebsiella manifested itself as the subsequent causative agent in 27 instances. The presence of Enterococcus spp. infection was documented in 13 patients, whereas Pseudomonas emerged as the etiological perpetrator in the clinical context of 8 patients. The current study found a substantial prevalence of resistance to first-line antibiotics. The overall resistance rate was 74.5% for penicillin, 58.82% for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 49% for fluoroquinolones; cephalosporin resistance displayed an inverse correlation with antibiotic generation with fourth-generation cephalosporins exhibiting a resistance rate of 24.5%, and first-generation cephalosporins demonstrating a resistance rate of 35.29%. Conclusions. Age, comorbidities and indwelling urinary catheters are risk factors for developing MDR infections. While the intrinsic characteristics of the causative bacterial agent in cUTI may not be a risk factor for developing urosepsis, they can contribute to increased mortality risk. For empiric antibiotic treatment in patients with cUTI who are at a high risk of developing urosepsis and experiencing a potentially unfavorable clinical course, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is recommended. This may include antibiotics, such as amikacin, tigecycline, carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam.

A Surgical Challenge Generated by Colonic Malakoplakia in Disguise as a Locally Advanced Colonic Malignancy-A Case Report.

Colonic malakoplakia is an uncommon granulomatous development of cells resulting from the impaired capacity of the mononuclear cells to eliminate the phagocytosed bacteria, and in rare cases it can also affect the gastrointestinal tract. We report the case of a 78-year-old female patient that was admitted to hospital by The Emergency Department with the diagnosis of bowel obstruction, confirmed by the clinical and paraclinical investigations. We decided to surgically manage the case for suspicious symptomatic colonic neoplasm. The histological examination of the surgical specimens revealed colonic malakoplakia, characterized by the presence of the aggregated granular histiocytes and Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Through this paper, we want to raise awareness for Malakoplakia, which remains an extremely rare disease that may affect multiple organs, and because it does not present specific symptoms or clinical manifestations, the final diagnosis remains the histopathological study. The clinical conduct should be decided after taking into consideration all the aspects of this pathology along with the benefits and risks for the patient.

The Role of Biomarkers and Scores in Describing Urosepsis.

Background and Objectives: Patients with urinary tract obstruction (UTO) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are at risk of developing urosepsis, whose evolution involves increased morbidity, mortality and cost. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of already existing scores and biomarkers to diagnose, describe the clinical status, and predict the evolution of patients with complicated urinary tract infection (UTI) and their risk of progressing to urosepsis. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including patients diagnosed with UTI hospitalized in the urology department of" Sfântul Apostol Andrei" County Emergency Clinical Hospital (GCH) in Galati, Romania, from September 2019 to May 2022. The inclusion criteria were: UTI proven by urine culture or diagnosed clinically complicated with UTO, fever or shaking chills, and purulent collections, such as psoas abscess, Fournier Syndrome, renal abscess, and paraurethral abscess, showing SIRS. The exclusion criteria were: patients age < 18 years, pregnancy, history of kidney transplantation, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, and patients with missing data. We used the Sequential (Sepsis-Related) Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and qSOFA (quick SOFA) scores, and procalcitonin (PCT) to describe the clinical status of the patients. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to assesses pre-existing morbidities. The hospitalization days and costs and the days of intensive care were considered. Depending on the diagnosis at admission, we divided the patients into three groups: SIRS, sepsis and septic shock. The fourth group was represented by patients who died during hospitalization. Results: A total of 174 patients with complicated UTIs were enrolled in this study. From this total, 46 were enrolled in the SIRS group, 88 in the urosepsis group, and 40 in the septic shock group. A total of 23 patients died during hospitalization and were enrolled in the deceased group. An upward trend of age along with worsening symptoms was highlighted with an average of 56.86 years in the case of SIRS, 60.37 years in the sepsis group, 69.03 years in the septic shock, and 71.04 years in the case of deceased patients (p < 0.04). A statistically significant association between PCT and complex scores (SOFA, CCI and qSOFA) with the evolution of urosepsis was highlighted. Increased hospitalization costs can be observed in the case of deceased patients and those with septic shock and statistically significantly lower in the case of those with SIRS. The predictability of discriminating urosepsis stages was assessed by using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and very good specificity and sensitivity was identified in predicting the risk of death for PCT (69.57%, 77.33%), the SOFA (91.33%, 76.82%), qSOFA (91.30%, 74.17%) scores, and CCI (65.22%, 88.74%). The AUC value was best for qSOFA (90.3%). For the SIRS group, the PCT (specificity 91.30%, sensitivity 85.71%) and SOFA (specificity 84.78%, sensitivity 78.74%), qSOFA scores (specificity 84.78%, sensitivity 76, 34%) proved to be relevant in establishing the diagnosis. In the case of the septic shock group, the qSOFA (specificity 92.5%, sensitivity 82.71%) and SOFA (specificity 97.5%, sensitivity 77.44%) as well as PCT (specificity 80%, sensitivity 85.61%) are statistically significant disease-defining variables. An important deficit in the tools needed to classify patients into the sepsis group is obvious. All the variables have an increased specificity but a low sensitivity. This translates into a risk of a false negative diagnosis. Conclusions: Although SOFA and qSOFA scores adequately describe patients with septic shock and they are independent prognostic predictors of mortality, they fail to be accurate in diagnosing sepsis. These scores should not replace the conventional triage protocol. In our study, PCT proved to be a disease-defining marker and an independent prognostic predictor of mortality. Patients with important comorbidities, CCI greater than 10, should be treated more aggressively because of increased mortality.

Correlation Between Serum Procalcitonin Levels and 28-Day Mortality in Patients with Surgical Sepsis and Septic Shock.

Background: Sepsis is a major medical emergency accounting for approximately 48.9 million cases and 11 million deaths worldwide, representing 19.7% of all global deaths. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between procalcitonin values and 28-day mortality. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that included patients with sepsis and septic shock, treated in the surgical departments of the Sf. Apostol Andrei Galati County Emergency Clinical Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021. Results: 125 patients (mean age 65 years), mostly men (56%, n=70) were included. The mean procalcitonin value at admission in the sepsis group (28%, n=35) was 5.98 ng/mL, and in the septic shock group (72%, n=90) was 40.09 ng/mL. The most significant correlation was between procalcitonin at discharge, 28-day mortality (r = 0.437; p 0.0001) and SOFA score (r = 0.356; p 0.0001). Conclusions: Procalcitonin at discharge was positively correlated with 28-day mortality and SOFA score. The procalcitonin value at discharge can be used in the prognosis of the patient with surgical sepsis, but for better results the association between procalcitonin, SOFA score and the clinical status of the patient is recommended.

Nomogram for Prediction of Postoperative Morbidity in Patients with Colon Cancer Requiring Emergency Therapy.

BACKGROUND Postoperative complications are the major cause of mortality and prolonged hospitalization after emergency surgery for colon cancer. This study aimed to propose an effective nomogram to predict postoperative complications in order to improve the outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 449 patients who underwent emergency surgery for complicated colon cancer at the County Emergency Hospital Clinic "St. Apostle Andrei" in Galati, in the period from 2008 to 2017. Postoperative complications were intestinal obstruction, leakage, bleeding, peritonitis, wound infection, surgical wound dehiscence, respiratory failure, heart failure, acute renal failure, sepsis, and Clostridium difficile colitis, within a month after surgery. Logistic regression models were used to identify the independent prediction factors, and a nomogram was created, based on the best model. RESULTS A total of 106 patients (21%) presented postoperative complications after emergency surgery for colon cancer; 51 patients (11.36%) died during the postoperative period. After identifying the risk factors through univariate regression analysis, we identified the independent prediction factors in 2 multivariate regression models. The model with the highest accuracy included the following 7 independent prediction factors: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, Charlson score, white blood cell count, electrolyte and coagulation disorders, surgery time, and cachexia (P<0.05 for all). This model showed good precision in predicting postoperative complications, with an area under curve of 0.83 and ideal accordance between the predicted and observed probabilities. CONCLUSIONS The nomogram developed in this study, which was based on a multivariate logistic regression model, had good individual prediction of postoperative complications.

The Urosepsis-A Literature Review.

Urosepsis is a very serious condition with a high mortality rate. The immune response is in the center of pathophysiology. The therapeutic management of these patients includes surgical treatment of the source of infection, antibiotic therapy and life support. The management of this pathology is multidisciplinary and requires good collaboration between the urology, intensive care, imaging and laboratory medicine departments. An imbalance of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced during sepsis plays an important role in pathogenesis. The study of cytokines in sepsis has important implications for understanding pathophysiology and for development of other therapeutic solutions. If not treated adequately, urosepsis may lead to serious septic complications and organ sequelae, even to a lethal outcome.

Cutaneous and Inguinal Lymph Nodes Metastases Disseminated from an Endometrial Serous Carcinoma - Case Report and Literature Review.

Cutaneous metastases from endometrial cancer are rare and unusual. This is the case of a 72 years old female patient, diagnosed in 2018 with G3 endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC). At 18 months from the surgical intervention, the patient developed bilateral inguinal lymph nodes metastases and skin secondary lesions; histological and immunohistochemical tests were performed. Computed tomography scan did not indicate visceral secondary lesions, local or regional relapses. We present the treatment practiced, the case's evolution and we discuss about epidemiology, molecular biology, treatment options and management of advanced and local lesions. The appearance of skin metastases in theses cases is associated with poor prognosis and treatment options are limited to palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Challenges and Solutions in Choosing the Surgical Treatment in Patients with Complicated Colon Cancer Operated in an Emergency - A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Choosing the optimal treatment for patients with complicated colon cancer operated in an emergency remains a challenge. The study aims to identify the factors that influence the therapeutic decision in these patients. Patients and Methods: We included in this retrospective study 449 patients operated in emergency for complicated colon cancer, in the Clinical Emergency County Hospital "St. Ap. Andrei" Galati between 2008-2017. The patients data were collected from the observation sheets, the surgical, imaging and laboratory protocols. Results: The operations performed were: resections with a stoma in 37.63% of cases, resections with anastomosis in 36.97%, stomas in 16.26% and internal derivations in 9.13% of patients. Elderly age was correlated with stomas with or without tumour resection (p 0.05). Preoperative diagnosis of IDH was associated with resections with anastomosis, those with occlusion were associated with internal derivations and those with digestive perforations with resections with a stoma (p 0.05). The stomas were associated with the presence of intraoperatively detected complications (p 0.05). Conclusions: Complicated colon tumours operated on in an emergency require surgical treatment tailored to each patient. It is important to choose the type of treatment taking into account the patient's condition at admission, clinical-paraclinical data, tumour location, tumour complication and the presence of other complications detected intraoperatively.

Management of Epicardial Metastasis in Breast Cancer.

Background: Cardiac metastasis may be encountered more frequently than primary cardiac tumors. They are discovered at autopsies with an incidence between 1.5 - 20%. The primary tumors that generate cardiac metastasis are malignant melanomas, lymphoma, the lungs, the breast, the esophagus. The organ most affected is the pericardium (62-81%). In 90% of cases from a clinical point of view, they are generally silent. In the case of patients diagnosed with breast cancer and who have undergone radiotherapy, differential diagnosis with fibrosis post radiotherapy interferes. The treatment is palliative and should be administered according to the primary location of the tumor and the patient's performance status. Case presentation: We are presenting the case of a 73-year-old diagnosed and treated for a breast neoplasm in the left breast in 2006. After a period of time of 9 years, the patient presents secondary sternal bone determination, radio-treated and for which she once again goes under hormonal therapy. In 2018, patient performed an imaging evaluation that revealed lung metastases. At the moment of stage review, performed in 2020, secondary epicardial determinations are noted. We present the case, the therapeutic management, diagnostic procedures and treatment and also, we discuss the data from literature. Conclusion: Cardiac metastases are rare and and in most cases are silent. The incidence has changed due to treatment options and imaging investigations. Stereotactic body radiation therapy can be considereda a therapeutic option in the cases with good performance status and with oligometastatic disease.

The Influence of the Type of Surgery on the Immediate Postoperative Results in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Operated in Emergency.

The emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality due to factors related to the characteristics of the patients but also the therapeutic attitude. This study aims to identify the surgical interventions associated with the postoperative complications, with the main causes of morbidity, with the reinterventions and with the postoperative deaths. We included in this retrospective study 431 patients hospitalized and operated in an emergency for complicated colorectal malignant tumors in the Surgery II Clinic of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital "Sf. Ap. Andrei from Galati, in the period 2008-2017. The patients data were collected from observation sheets, operative protocols, pathological, imaging and laboratory bulletins, at the time of the emergency intervention, as well as from those of subsequent admissions in patients who benefited from serial interventions. The postoperative morbidity was 10.44%. The resections with anastomosis were associated with the presence of postoperative complications (p 0.01): pseudomembranous colitis, (p 0.01) and postoperative intestinal occlusion (p 0.01). The practice of lymph node dissection was associated with postoperative complications (p 0.01): pseudomembranous colitis (p 0.01) and intestinal occlusion (p 0.01). The reinterventions were associated with resections with anastomosis (p 0.01), lymph node dissection (p 0.01) or patients with open /semi-open abdomen (p 0.04). The postoperative mortality was 9.28%. It was associated with the practice of lymph node dissection (p 0.01), of the ileostomy (p 0.01), with the open /semi-open abdomen (p 0.04). Patients with colostomy had the lowest number of hospitalization days (p 0.01). The resections with anastomosis per primam and the lymph node dissection were associated with morbidity. The type of main surgery did not influence the postoperative mortality, this being associated with the concomitant surgery: the lymph node dissection, the ileostomy, and the abdomen closure type. The reinterventions were associated with resections with anastomosis per primam, with lymph node dissection and with the open /semi-open abdomen. The duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients with a colostomy.

Perforated Ileal GIST Associated with Meckel Diverticulum - A Rare Pathological Entity of Surgical Acute Abdomen.

Introduction: The GIST tumors are very rare entities ( 1% of all tumors). They originate in the Cajal interstitial cells, which are part of the autonomic nervous system of the intestine. Their most common location is the stomach, followed by the small intestine. The aim of this paper is to present a very rare case of perforated ileal GIST, associated with Meckel diverticulum. Case report: A 71 years old patient with comorbidities is admitted in emergency for symptoms and signs of acute surgical abdomen. The exploratory laparotomy reveals generalized acute peritonitis due to perforated ileal tumor and Meckel's diverticulum. A segmental enterectomy is performed, with favorable postoperative evolution. The histological examination of the resection piece shows the appearance of GIST, confirmed immunohistochemically. Conclusions: The GIST tumors of the small intestine are unusual tumors and the spontaneous perforation and life-threatening hemorrhage are a rarity. The main treatment for this form of GIST is the resection, with a favorable clinical outcome.

The Importance of Systemic Inflammation Markers in the Survival of Patients with Complicated Colorectal Cancer, Operated in Emergency.

Introduction: The inflammatory response plays a critical role in carcinogenesis. There are recent scores based on the systemic inflammatory response, such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), which have been shown to have prognostic value in cancer patients. These scores allow the identification of patients who will have poor response to treatment and poor survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of NLR, PLR, LMR and PNI in terms of long-term survival in patients with colorectal cancer, operated in emergency. Material and Methods: We included 391 patients admitted and operated for complicated colorectal cancer in the Surgery II clinic of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital Sf. Ap. Andrei - from Galati, between 2008-2017. We analyzed the paraclinical factors of systemic inflammation NLR, PLR, MRL and PNI. As prognostic factors, survival curves were analyzed. Results: The high values of NLR and PLR increased the risk of death (HR = 7.581, 95% CI = (6.358,9.039), p value = 0.000000, respectively HR = 1.043, 95% CI = (1.039, 1.047), p value = 0.000000), and the increased values of LMR and PNI led to the decrease of this risk (HR = 0.069, 95% CI = (0.054.0.090), p value = 0.000000, respectively HR = 0.758, 95 % CI = (0.730.0.788), p value = 0.000000). In the multivariate regression analysis, the increase of PLR resulted in an increase in the risk of death (HR = 1.024, 95% CI = (1.019.1.029), p value = 0.000000), and for the LMR and PNI, a reduction of the risk of death (HR = 0.353, 95% CI = (0.248.0.504), p value = 0.000000, respectively HR = 0.852, 95% CI = (0.822.0.883), p value = 0.000000). Conclusions: The univariate analysis showed that NLR and PLR are risk factors, and LMR and PNI are protective factors in terms of survival. The multivariate analysis revealed that PLR is an independent risk factor, and LMR and PNI were independent protection factors.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Complicated Colorectal Cancer Operated in Emergency.

Introduction: In 2018, the colon cancer was the 5th type of neoplasia regarding the cancer mortality and the rectal cancer was the 10th. The survival of patients with colorectal cancer operated in emergency still remains unsatisfactory, the death being due to local recurrences and to metastases. The aim of this study is to evaluate some correlations of overall survival with clinic and paraclinic features, tumor or treatment characteristics in order to identify prognostic factors, for cases with colorectal tumors that underwent emergency surgery. Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on 431 patients with colorectal cancer operated in emergency between 2008-2017, excluding 40 patients with postoperative deaths, with a follow-up period of at least one year. There were correlations of some clinic and paraclinic features, tumor or treatment characteristics with the overall survival. Results: In the univariate statistical survival analysis, a statistically significant association was obtained with: the age 61 years (p_value = 0.000049), abdominal surgical history (p_value = 0.031725), heart disease (p_value = 0.000007), atrial fibrillation (p_value = 0.007496), preoperative diagnosis (p_value = 0.034352), cachexia (p_value = 0.000000), oliguria (p_value = 0.000000), anemia (p_value = 0.000006) hydro-electrolytic disorders (p_value = 0.000001), tumor localization (p_value = 0.000030), invasion into other organs (p_value = 0.000000), appearance of "frozen pelvis" (p_value = 0.000000), peritoneal carcinomatosis (p_value = 0.000000), liver metastases (p_value = 0.000000), type of surgery (p_value = 0.000000), lymph node dissection (p_value = 0.000001), liver biopsy (p_value = 0.043483), stoma reversal (p_value = 0.000000 ), serial interventions (p_value = 0.000000), pTNM (p_value = 0.000000), tumor grading (p_value = 0.007069). The Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that: the age 61 years - HR = 1,026, 95% CI (1,012, 1,039) (p value = 0.000139), cachexia - HR = 1,358, 95% CI (1,046, 1,764) (p value = 0.021617), peritoneal carcinomatosis - HR = 2.346, 95% CI (1.163, 4.732) (p_value = 0.017253), disease stage - HR = 36.745, 95% CI (14.778, 91.366) (p_ value = 0.000000), intervention type - HR = 0.187, 95% CI (0.045, 0.779) (p_ value = 0.021281) and serial interventions - HR = 0.282, 95% CI (0.144.0.551) (p_ value = 000213) are independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: The prognostic factors for patients with colorectal cancers operated in emergency are: the age 61, the presence of abdominal surgical history and associated cardiac conditions, especially atrial fibrillation, diagnosis of diastatic perforation imminence, cachexia, oliguria, hydro-electrolytic disorders at admission, rectal tumors, tumor invasion in other organs, the appearance of "frozen pelvis", the presence of liver metastases or peritoneal carcinomatosis, undifferentiated tumors, stage IV, practicing an internal derivation or not performing lymph node dissection. The age over 61, cachexia, as well as peritoneal carcinomatosis, stage III or IV are independent risk factors the Hartmann procedure and the serial interventions are independent protective factors.

Efficiency of continuous positive airway pressure and high-flow nasal oxygen therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome characterized by relatively well-preserved pulmonary compliance but severe hypoxemia. The challenge in managing such patients lies in optimizing oxygenation, which can be achieved through either high oxygen flow or noninvasive mechanical ventilation. This study was performed to compare the efficiency of two methods of noninvasive oxygen therapy: continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved 668 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency Clinical Hospital, Galati, Romania from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 (CPAP, n = 108; HFNO, n = 108). RESULTS: Mortality was significantly lower in the CPAP and HFNO groups than in the group of patients who underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation after ICU admission. Mortality in the ICU was not significantly different between the CPAP and HFNO groups. CONCLUSIONS: HFNO and CPAP represent efficient alternative therapies for patients with severe COVID-19 whose respiratory treatment has failed. Studies involving larger groups of patients are necessary to establish a personalized, more complex management modality for critically ill patients with COVID-19.

The Efficacy of Antibiotic-Loaded Calcium Sulfate Beads (Stimulan) in Patients with Hip Arthroplasty Infections.

Background: Given the increasing rate of infections following hip arthroplasty, one of the current options is the application of a biocomposite at the site of the infection. One of the products used is Stimulan, a completely resorbable calcium sulfate, designed to treat acute and chronic infections. This biocomposite has a controlled purity, is easy to mix with liquid, powder, and antibiotics, and can be applied directly to the site of infection, or it can be injected. Methods: We analyzed data from 76 patients, who were admitted to the County Clinical Hospital of Emergency "St. Apostol Andrei" in Galati during January 2017-September 2023, with a diagnosis of infection associated with hip arthroplasty. Results: In 69.73% of cases (52 patients), we decided to keep the implant in place. In this subgroup, Stimulan was applied in 26 cases (57.78%). Of these, 100% were cured-compared to the subgroup in which Stimulan was not applied, where this percentage was lower. All patients underwent chemical and mechanical toileting, and for 24 patients (20.27%), it was necessary to ablate the implant with or without the application of Stimulan, then reimplantation of the prosthesis. Conclusions: The patients with Stimulan had a longer average length of hospitalization, almost half of them required intervention in two periods, and a quarter required the implantation of spacers. However, the cure rate was higher, only in three people could we not control the infection, and there was no death. This study confirms the effectiveness of the treatment when using a biocomposite in addition to the classical treatment for both acute and chronic cases.

The Management of Wound Healing in Infections after Hip Arthoplasty Using Stimulan and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

BACKGROUND: medical teams continue to face challenges with infections following hip replacement surgery, whether they occur shortly after the procedure or months or years later. Certain medical conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity are risk factors that make patients more susceptible to infections. Traditional intervention methods such as DAIR, one-step, or two-step procedures are being enhanced and refined to ensure quicker and more effective treatment. Some cases present particularly difficult challenges, featuring persistent fistulas and unpredictable responses to treatment. METHODS: in our article, we share two unique cases, detailing their histories, progressions, and treatment decisions. We explore the use of antibiotic-impregnated calcium biocomposite as a local adjuvant therapy and the application of negative pressure therapy to expedite healing. The system of NWPT has seen widespread uptake and is now implemented routinely for open wounds, such as open fractures, fasciotomies, ulcers, and infected wounds. RESULTS: our findings demonstrate that surgical debridement and calcium sulfate bead insertion successfully treat bone and joint infections without causing any side effects or complications. As a particularity, in the first case, we encountered the exteriorization of Stimulan pearls after surgery, without other complications related to the biocomposite. CONCLUSIONS: we have found that NPWT is a beneficial tool in managing complex wounds in both acute and chronic stages, after the infection is cured, reducing the need for frequent dressing changes, shortening hospital stays, and enhancing patient comfort.

The Contribution of Procalcitonin, C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Surgical Sepsis: An Observational and Statistical Study.

Background: Sepsis affects over 30 million people worldwide each year, causing approximately 6 million deaths. Challenges in clinical diagnosis and the need for an early diagnosis to prevent mortality due to sepsis have led to dependence on inflammatory biomarkers like Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Objective: This study was performed to observe the contribution of inflammatory biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with surgical sepsis. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study in a Clinical Emergency Hospital, which included a number of 125 patients with surgical sepsis admitted between January 2020 and December 2021. The patients were included in the study based on the Sepsis-3 definition. PCT, CRP, IL-6, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), the time up to surgery, the days of treatment in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the total days of hospitalization had been statistically analyzed. Results: The mean age of all patients was 65.14 years. The mean value in all patients for PCT was 20.08 ng/mL, for CRP was 175.42 mg/l, and for IL-6 was 799.6 pg/mL. The strongest correlation between biomarkers was between CRP and IL-6 (r = 0.425; p < 0.0001). Of all biomarkers, the CRP correlated the strongest with patient outcomes (r = 0.544; p < 0.0001). The area under curve (AUC) for the mean values of the inflammatory biomarkers was calculated and the best diagnostic performance was for CRP with 0.816 (95% CI: 0.744-0.887). Conclusion: CRP and IL-6 were the most efficient in sepsis diagnosis. The association of PCT, CRP and IL-6 has increased the range of certainty in sepsis diagnosis. CRP was the most efficient biomarker in the prognosis of sepsis.

A Novel Clinical Nomogram for Predicting Overall Survival in Patients with Emergency Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long-term survival after emergency colorectal cancer surgery is low, and its estimation is most frequently neglected, with priority given to the immediate prognosis. This study aimed to propose an effective nomogram to predict overall survival in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 437 patients who underwent emergency surgery for colorectal cancer between 2008 and 2019, in whom we analyzed the clinical, paraclinical, and surgical parameters. RESULTS: Only 30 patients (6.86%) survived until the end of the study. We identified the risk factors through the univariate Cox regression analysis and a multivariate Cox regression model. The model included the following eight independent prognostic factors: age > 63 years, Charlson score > 4, revised cardiac risk index (RCRI), LMR (lymphocytes/neutrophils ratio), tumor site, macroscopic tumoral invasion, surgery type, and lymph node dissection (p < 0.05 for all), with an AUC (area under the curve) of 0.831, with an ideal agreement between the predicted and observed probabilities. On this basis, we constructed a nomogram for prediction of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram created, on the basis of a multivariate logistic regression model, has a good individual prediction of overall survival for patients with emergency surgery for colon cancer and may support clinicians when informing patients about prognosis.

Considerations Regarding Online Group Psychotherapy Sessions for Breast Cancer Patients in Active Phase of Oncological Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of online group meetings for breast cancer patients in the active phase of treatment. The group therapy sessions took place weekly, synchronously, online, on Zoom, with a total of 12 meetings lasting about 2.5 h per session, between December 2021 and February 2022. We analyzed the topics of discussion chosen by the participants, the structure of the group, the results obtained at the main scales of evaluation/monitoring of quality of life and the motivation of patients to participate in the therapeutic group. All patients were in the active phase of treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, etc.). The main goal of the group therapy was to reduce the stress related to the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic observations included ABS psychological tests, EQ-5D-5L, HADS-Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Recurrence Fear Questionnaire; the questionnaires were administered at the beginning and at the end of the therapeutic intervention; the participation in the therapy and in the research of the patients began after signing the informed consent document; the intervention was evaluated at the end using a feedback questionnaire. The group was closed, and the participants signed an informed consent document and agreed to have the sessions recorded. RESULTS: Comparing the initial with the final results of the psychological tests administered, there was an improvement in the quality of life of the participants in all areas, with a clinically significant decrease in the areas of pain and depression, along with an increase in perception of well-being, a decrease in FoP scores and an increase in the level of rationality about the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Group therapy for cancer patients was useful in improving the quality of life; the closed group, even online, provided a safe environment in which they could share feelings. A close correlation was noted between the scores obtained on the FoP-Q and HADS scales. It is evident that there is a strong relationship between FoP and depression. Results on these scales correlated well with results on the EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaire.