Perinatal outcomes following fetoscopic laser surgery for early twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate outcomes in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated with fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) at <18 weeks vs ≥18 weeks, and to conduct subgroup analysis of TTTS with FLS at <16 weeks vs 16-18 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched systematically from inception until May 2023. Primary outcome was survival, and secondary outcomes included preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), preterm birth and gestational age (GA) at delivery. RESULTS: Nine studies encompassing 1691 TTTS pregnancies were included. TTTS stage III was significantly more common in TTTS pregnancies treated with FLS at <18 weeks (odds ratio [OR] 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-6.54), and procedure duration was shorter at <18 weeks (MD -5.27 minutes, 95% CI -9.19 to -1.34). GA at delivery was significantly earlier in TTTS pregnancies treated with FLS at <18 weeks (MD -3.12 weeks, 95% CI -6.11 to -0.13). There were no significant differences in outcomes, including PPROM, PPROM at <7 days post-FLS, preterm birth at <28 and <32 weeks, delivery at <7 days post-FLS, and survival outcomes, including fetal demise, live birth and neonatal survival. Similarly, TTTS stage III was more common in TTTS with FLS at <16 weeks than at 16-18 weeks (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.62-5.35), with no significant differences in the aforementioned outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In early TTTS treated with FLS, outcomes were comparable between those treated at <18 weeks compared with ≥18 weeks except for GA at delivery, which was 3 weeks earlier. In the subset treated at <16 weeks vs 16-18 weeks, the procedure was feasible without an increased risk of very early preterm birth or perinatal mortality.

Dynamics of disease characteristics and clinical management of critically ill COVID-19 patients over the time course of the pandemic: an analysis of the prospective, international, multicentre RISC-19-ICU registry.

BACKGROUND: It remains elusive how the characteristics, the course of disease, the clinical management and the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) worldwide have changed over the course of the pandemic. METHODS: Prospective, observational registry constituted by 90 ICUs across 22 countries worldwide including patients with a laboratory-confirmed, critical presentation of COVID-19 requiring advanced organ support. Hierarchical, generalized linear mixed-effect models accounting for hospital and country variability were employed to analyse the continuous evolution of the studied variables over the pandemic. RESULTS: Four thousand forty-one patients were included from March 2020 to September 2021. Over this period, the age of the admitted patients (62 [95% CI 60-63] years vs 64 [62-66] years, p < 0.001) and the severity of organ dysfunction at ICU admission decreased (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment 8.2 [7.6-9.0] vs 5.8 [5.3-6.4], p < 0.001) and increased, while more female patients (26 [23-29]% vs 41 [35-48]%, p < 0.001) were admitted. The time span between symptom onset and hospitalization as well as ICU admission became longer later in the pandemic (6.7 [6.2-7.2| days vs 9.7 [8.9-10.5] days, p < 0.001). The PaO2/FiO2 at admission was lower (132 [123-141] mmHg vs 101 [91-113] mmHg, p < 0.001) but showed faster improvements over the initial 5 days of ICU stay in late 2021 compared to early 2020 (34 [20-48] mmHg vs 70 [41-100] mmHg, p = 0.05). The number of patients treated with steroids and tocilizumab increased, while the use of therapeutic anticoagulation presented an inverse U-shaped behaviour over the course of the pandemic. The proportion of patients treated with high-flow oxygen (5 [4-7]% vs 20 [14-29], p < 0.001) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (14 [11-18]% vs 24 [17-33]%, p < 0.001) throughout the pandemic increased concomitant to a decrease in invasive mechanical ventilation (82 [76-86]% vs 74 [64-82]%, p < 0.001). The ICU mortality (23 [19-26]% vs 17 [12-25]%, p < 0.001) and length of stay (14 [13-16] days vs 11 [10-13] days, p < 0.001) decreased over 19 months of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Characteristics and disease course of critically ill COVID-19 patients have continuously evolved, concomitant to the clinical management, throughout the pandemic leading to a younger, less severely ill ICU population with distinctly different clinical, pulmonary and inflammatory presentations than at the onset of the pandemic.

Multiparameter immunoprofiling for the diagnosis and differentiation of progressive versus nonprogressive nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease-A pilot study.

Clinical prediction of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease (NTM-LD) progression remains challenging. We aimed to evaluate antigen-specific immunoprofiling utilizing flow cytometry (FC) of activation-induced markers (AIM) and IFN-γ enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot assay (ELISpot) accurately identifies patients with NTM-LD, and differentiate those with progressive from nonprogressive NTM-LD. A Prospective, single-center, and laboratory technician-blinded pilot study was conducted to evaluate the FC and ELISpot based immunoprofiling in patients with NTM-LD (n = 18) and controls (n = 22). Among 18 NTM-LD patients, 10 NTM-LD patients were classified into nonprogressive, and 8 as progressive NTM-LD based on clinical and radiological features. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from patients with NTM-LD and control subjects with negative QuantiFERON results. After stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD), mycobacteria-specific peptide pools (MTB300, RD1-peptides), and control antigens, we performed IFN-γ ELISpot and FC AIM assays to access their diagnostic accuracies by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis across study groups. Patients with NTM-LD had significantly higher percentage of CD4+/CD8+ T-cells co-expressing CD25+CD134+ in response to PPD stimulation, differentiating between NTM-LD and controls. Among patients with NTM-LD, there was a significant difference in CD25+CD134+ co-expression in MTB300-stimulated CD8+ T-cells (p <0.05; AUC-ROC = 0.831; Sensitivity = 75% [95% CI: 34.9-96.8]; Specificity = 90% [95% CI: 55.5-99.7]) between progressors and nonprogressors. Significant differences in the ratios of antigen-specific IFN-γ ELISpot responses were also seen for RD1-nil/PPD-nil and RD1-nil/anti-CD3-nil between patients with nonprogressive vs. progressive NTM-LD. Our results suggest that multiparameter immunoprofiling can accurately identify patients with NTM-LD and may identify patients at risk of disease progression. A larger longitudinal study is needed to further evaluate this novel immunoprofiling approach.

Use of a gas-operated ventilator as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in critically Ill COVID-19 patients in a middle-income country.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable undersupply of respiratory support devices, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As a result, many hospitals turned to alternative respiratory therapies, including the use of gas-operated ventilators (GOV). The aim of this study was to describe the use of GOV as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients and to compare clinical outcomes achieved with this device to conventional respiratory therapies. Retrospective cohort analysis of critically ill COVID-19 patients during the first local wave of the pandemic. The final analysis included 204 patients grouped according to the type of respiratory therapy received in the first 24 h, as follows: conventional oxygen therapy (COT), n = 28 (14%); GOV, n = 72 (35%); noninvasive ventilation (NIV), n = 49 (24%); invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), n = 55 (27%). In 72, GOV served as noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in 42 (58%) of these patients. In the other 30 patients (42%), 20 (28%) presented clinical improvement and were discharged; 10 (14%) died. In the COT and GOV groups, 68% and 39%, respectively, progressed to intubation (P ≤ 0.001). Clinical outcomes in the GOV and NIV groups were similar (no statistically significant differences). GOV was successfully used as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in more than half of patients. Clinical outcomes in the GOV group were comparable to those of the NIV group. These findings support the use of GOV as an emergency, noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in medical crises when alternative approaches to the standard of care may be justifiable.

Convalescent Adaptive Immunity is Highly Heterogenous after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, between April 23, 2020, to May 11, 2020, we recruited 30 COVID-19 unvaccinated convalescent donors and 7 unexposed asymptomatic donors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from leukapheresis cones. The humoral immune response was assessed by measuring serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgG semiquantitative ELISA and T cell immunity against S1 and S2 subunits were studied by IFN-γ Enzyme-Linked Immune absorbent Spot (ELISpot), flow cytometric (FC) activation-induced marker (AIM) assays and the assessment of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell function (in the subset of HLA-A2 positive patients). No single immunoassay was sufficient in identifying anti-spike convalescent immunity among all patients. There was no consistent correlation between adaptive humoral and cellular anti-spike responses. Our data indicate that the magnitude of anti-spike convalescent humoral and cellular immunity is highly heterogeneous and highlights the need for using multiple assays to comprehensively measure SARS-CoV-2 convalescent immunity. These observations might have implications for COVID-19 surveillance, and optimal vaccination strategies for emerging variants. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal assessment of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity following SARSCoV-2 infection, especially in the context of emerging variants and unclear vaccination schedules.

Convalescent Adaptive Immunity Is Highly Heterogenous after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, we recruited 30 unvaccinated convalescent donors who had previously been infected with COVID-19 and 7 unexposed asymptomatic controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from leukapheresis cones. The humoral immune response was assessed by measuring serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgG via semiquantitative ELISA, and T-cell immunity against S1 and S2 subunits were studied via IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and flow cytometric (FC) activation-induced marker (AIM) assays and the assessment of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell function (in the subset of HLA-A2-positive patients). No single immunoassay was sufficient in identifying anti-spike convalescent immunity among all patients. There was no consistent correlation between adaptive humoral and cellular anti-spike responses. Our data indicate that the magnitude of anti-spike convalescent humoral and cellular immunity is highly heterogeneous and highlights the need for using multiple assays to comprehensively measure SARS-CoV-2 convalescent immunity. These observations might have implications for COVID-19 surveillance, and the determination of optimal vaccination strategies for emerging variants. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal assessment of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in the context of emerging variants and unclear vaccination schedules.

Changes in Oxygen Saturation During Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy: High-Flow Nasal Cannula versus Standard Oxygen Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxemia is a relatively common complication in stable patients during fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB). To prevent this complication, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been described as an alternative to standard oxygen therapy. However, the advantages of HFNC over standard oxygen therapy in acute care patients receiving supplemental oxygen before FOB performed with an oral approach are unknown. METHODS: We conducted an observational study that involved subjects with a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia and a clinical indication for a bronchial aspirate sample. The type of oxygen support (standard oxygen therapy vs HFNC) was selected according to availability. The oxygen flow in the HFNC group was 60 L/min. In both groups, the FIO2 was set at 0.40. Hemodynamic, respiratory dynamics, and gas exchange data were collected at baseline, before, during, and 24 h after FOB. RESULTS: Forty subjects were included, 20 in each group (HFNC and standard oxygen therapy). The study was performed on day 5 of hospitalization in the HFNC group and on day 4 in the standard oxygen therapy group (P = .10). No significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics were observed. HFNC vs standard oxygen therapy was associated with a smaller decrease in SpO2 levels during the procedure (94% vs 90%; P = .040, respectively) and with less variation between the last SpO2 measured before FOB and the lowest SpO2 during FOB (Δ SpO2 ): 2% versus 4.5% (P = .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In acute subjects who required oxygen support before FOB, the use of HFNC during FOB with an oral approach was associated with a smaller decrease in SpO2 and lower Δ SpO2 compared with standard oxygen therapy.

Metric Potential of a 3D Measurement System Based on Digital Compact Cameras.

This paper presents an optical measuring system based on low cost, high resolution digital cameras. Once the cameras are synchronised, the portable and adjustable system can be used to observe living beings, bodies in motion, or deformations of very different sizes. Each of the cameras has been modelled individually and studied with regard to the photogrammetric potential of the system. We have investigated the photogrammetric precision obtained from the crossing of rays, the repeatability of results, and the accuracy of the coordinates obtained. Systematic and random errors are identified in validity assessment of the definition of the precision of the system from crossing of rays or from marking residuals in images. The results have clearly demonstrated the capability of a low-cost multiple-camera system to measure with sub-millimetre precision.

Morbimortalidad en Pacientes con Diagnóstico de Fractura de Cadera Atendidos en el Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga, 2015 / Morbidity and Mortality of Patients Diagnosed with Hip Fracture at José Carrasco Arteaga Specialties Hospital. 2015

INTRODUCCIÓN: La incidencia de fractura de cadera en el Ecuador se estima en 314 casos por 100.000 habitantes al año. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer la incidencia y factores de riesgo asociados a morbimortalidad en pacientes con diagnóstico de fractura de cadera. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo y analítico de cohorte que estudió la incidencia y riesgo asociado a morbimortalidad. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes diagnosticados con fractura de cadera que fueron tratados en el Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga durante el año 2015. Para el análisis se utilizó la estadística básica descriptiva, chi-cuadrado y análisis de riesgo relativo con un intervalo de confianza al 95% (p: <0.05) para determinar significancia estadística. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 81 pacientes. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron: infección del sitio quirúrgico (13.58 %), neumonía (12.34 %) y fallo de osteosíntesis (9.87 %). La mortalidad general fue de 32.1 %. Los pacientes con dos o más complicaciones tuvieron casi dos veces más riesgo de fallecimiento (RR: 2.94; IC ­ 95 %: 1.78 ­ 4.85; p: 0.016), similar a lo observado en los pacientes con infección de la herida quirúrgica y/u osteomielitis (RR: 2.76; IC- 95 %: 1.60 ­ 4.79; p: 0.001) y en aquellos con diagnóstico de TEP (RR: 2.72; IC ­ 95 %: 1.48 ­ 4.97; p: 0.055). No se determinó asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia de comorbilidades y desarrollo de complicaciones o fallecimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: El desarrollo de al menos una complicación duplica el riesgo de mortalidad y es aún mayor en los pacientes complicados con infección de la herida, osteomielitis y/o TEP; la presencia de dos o más complicaciones determina un riesgo 2 veces mayor de fallecimiento.(AU)

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hip fractures in Ecuador is around 314/100.000 people per year. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and risk factors associated to morbidity and mortality in patients diagnosed with hip fracture. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytic-cohort research, it studied incidence and associated risks to morbidity and mortality. Patients diagnosed with hip fracture and treated at José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital during 2015 were included. Basic descriptive statistics, chi-square and relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) were used to analyze data. P value under 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: 81 patients were part of the study. Most common complications were: surgical site infection (13.58 %), pneumonia (12.34 %) and osteosynthesis failure (9.87 %). General mortality reached 32.1 %. Patients with 2 or more complications had near double risk of death (RR: 2.94; 95 % - CI: 1.78 ­ 4.85; p: 0.016) as observed in those with surgical site infections or osteomyelitis (RR: 2.76; 95 % - CI: 1.60 ­ 4.79; p: 0.001) and in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (RR: 2.72; 95 % - CI: 1.48 ­ 4.97; p: 0.055). Statistically significant association was not determined between presence of comorbidities and death or complications. CONCLUSION: Development of at least one complication after hip fracture duplicates death risk and is even higher in those patients with surgical site infections, osteomyelitis and/or pulmonary embolism; presence of two or more complications increased risk of death twice. (AU)

Morbimortalidad en Pacientes con Diagnóstico de Fractura de Cadera Atendidos en el Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga, 2015 / Morbidity and Mortality of Patients Diagnosed with Hip Fracture at José Carrasco Arteaga Specialties Hospital. 2015

INTRODUCCIÓN: La incidencia de fractura de cadera en el Ecuador se estima en 314 casos por 100.000 habitantes al año. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer la incidencia y factores de riesgo asociados a morbimortalidad en pacientes con diagnóstico de fractura de cadera. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo y analítico de cohorte que estudió la incidencia y riesgo asociado a morbimortalidad. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes diagnosticados con fractura de cadera que fueron tratados en el Hospital de Especialidades José Carrasco Arteaga durante el año 2015. Para el análisis se utilizó la estadística básica descriptiva, chi-cuadrado y análisis de riesgo relativo con un intervalo de confianza al 95% (p: <0.05) para determinar significancia estadística. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 81 pacientes. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron: infección del sitio quirúrgico (13.58 %), neumonía (12.34 %) y fallo de osteosíntesis (9.87 %). La mortalidad general fue de 32.1 %. Los pacientes con dos o más complicaciones tuvieron casi dos veces más riesgo de fallecimiento (RR: 2.94; IC ­ 95 %: 1.78 ­ 4.85; p: 0.016), similar a lo observado en los pacientes con infección de la herida quirúrgica y/u osteomielitis (RR: 2.76; IC- 95 %: 1.60 ­ 4.79; p: 0.001) y en aquellos con diagnóstico de TEP (RR: 2.72; IC ­ 95 %: 1.48 ­ 4.97; p: 0.055). No se determinó asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia de comorbilidades y desarrollo de complicaciones o fallecimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: El desarrollo de al menos una complicación duplica el riesgo de mortalidad y es aún mayor en los pacientes complicados con infección de la herida, osteomielitis y/o TEP; la presencia de dos o más complicaciones determina un riesgo 2 veces mayor de fallecimiento.(AU)

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hip fractures in Ecuador is around 314/100.000 people per year. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and risk factors associated to morbidity and mortality in patients diagnosed with hip fracture. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytic-cohort research, it studied incidence and associated risks to morbidity and mortality. Patients diagnosed with hip fracture and treated at José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital during 2015 were included. Basic descriptive statistics, chi-square and relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) were used to analyze data. P value under 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: 81 patients were part of the study. Most common complications were: surgical site infection (13.58 %), pneumonia (12.34 %) and osteosynthesis failure (9.87 %). General mortality reached 32.1 %. Patients with 2 or more complications had near double risk of death (RR: 2.94; 95 % - CI: 1.78 ­ 4.85; p: 0.016) as observed in those with surgical site infections or osteomyelitis (RR: 2.76; 95 % - CI: 1.60 ­ 4.79; p: 0.001) and in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (RR: 2.72; 95 % - CI: 1.48 ­ 4.97; p: 0.055). Statistically significant association was not determined between presence of comorbidities and death or complications. CONCLUSION: Development of at least one complication after hip fracture duplicates death risk and is even higher in those patients with surgical site infections, osteomyelitis and/or pulmonary embolism; presence of two or more complications increased risk of death twice. (AU)