Factors associated with fever after cardiac arrest: A post-hoc analysis of the FINNRESUSCI study.

BACKGROUND: Fever after cardiac arrest may impact outcome. We aimed to assess the incidence of fever in post-cardiac arrest patients, factors predicting fever and its association with functional outcome in patients treated without targeted temperature management (TTM). METHODS: The FINNRESUSCI observational cohort study in 2010-2011 included intensive care unit (ICU)-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients from all five Finnish university hospitals and 14 of 15 central hospitals. This post hoc analysis included those FINNRESUSCI study patients who were not treated with TH. We defined fever as at least one temperature measurement of ≥37.8°C within 72 h of ICU admission. The primary outcome was favourable functional outcome at 12 months, defined as cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1 or 2. Binary logistic regression models including witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), initial rhythm and delay of return of spontaneous circulation were used to compare the functional outcomes of the groups. RESULTS: There were 67,428 temperature measurements from 192 patients, of whom 89 (46%) experienced fever. Twelve-month CPC was missing in 7 patients, and 51 (28%) patients had favourable functional outcome at 12 months. The patients with shockable initial rhythms had a lower incidence of fever within 72 h of ICU admission (28% vs. 72%, p < .01), and the patients who experienced fever had a longer median return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) delay (20 [IQR 10-30] vs. 14 [IQR 9-22] min, p < .01). Only initial non-shockable rhythm (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.51-5.94) was associated with increased risk of fever within the first 72 h of ICU admission. Neither time in minutes nor area (minutes × degree celsius over threshold) over 37°C, 37.5°C, 38°C, 38.5°C, 39°C, 39.5°C or 40°C were significantly different in those with favourable functional outcome compared to those with unfavourable functional outcome within the first 24, 48 or 72 h from ICU admission. Fever was not associated with favourable functional outcome at 12 months (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.44-1.84). CONCLUSIONS: Half of OHCA patients not treated with TTM developed fever. We found no association between fever and outcome.

Ceramides and Phosphatidylcholines Associate with Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: The ceramide- and phospholipid-based cardiovascular risk score (CERT2) has been found to predict the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, especially cardiovascular mortality. In the present study, our aim was to estimate the predictive ability of CERT2 for mortality of CVD, coronary artery disease (CAD), and stroke in the elderly and to compare these results with those of conventional lipids. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study with an 18-year follow-up period that included a total of 1260 participants ages ≥64 years. Ceramides and phosphatidylcholines were analyzed using a LC-MS. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were performed by enzymatic methods and HDL cholesterol was determined by a direct enzymatic method. Concentrations of LDL-cholesterol were calculated according to the Friedewald formula. RESULTS: A higher score of CERT2 was significantly associated with higher CVD, CAD, and stroke mortality during the 18-year follow-up both in unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models. The unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of CERT2 (95% CI) per SD for CVD, CAD, and stroke were 1.72 (1.52-1.96), 1.76 (1.52-2.04), and 1.63 (1.27-2.10), respectively, and the corresponding adjusted HRs (95% CI) per SD for CERT2 were 1.48 (1.29-1.69), 1.50 (1.28-1.75), and 1.41 (1.09-1.83). For conventional lipids, HRs per SD were lower than for CERT2. CONCLUSIONS: The risk score CERT2 associated strongly with CVD, CAD, and stroke mortality in the elderly, while the association between these events and conventional lipids was weak.

Decrease in paediatric emergency room visits during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: A population-based study.

AIM: To investigate paediatric emergency room (ER) visits to evaluate the immediate health effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on children. METHODS: We retrospectively examined paediatric ER visits in the Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) district during the first wave of the pandemic (1 March to 31 May 2020), and a 2-month period immediately before and after. These periods were compared to the corresponding time periods in 2015-2019 ('reference period'). RESULTS: The total number of ER visits decreased by 23.4% (mean 6474 during the reference period, 4960 during the pandemic period (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.72-0.77; p < 0.001). This was due to a decrease in visits related to infectious diseases; visits due to surgical reasons did not decrease. The amount or proportion of patients triaged to the most urgent class (Emergency Severity Index 1) did not increase. Paediatric ER visits returned to baseline after lifting of restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: Although paediatric ER visits substantially decreased during the pandemic restrictions, children seen at the ER were not more severely ill. Our results do not indicate immediate detrimental health effects of pandemic control measures on children.

A retrospective analysis of the duration of mechanical ventilation in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres.

AIM: Early extubation after cardiac surgery shortens paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay (LOS) and decreases complications from mechanical ventilation (MV). We explored the duration of MV in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MV duration and PICU LOS of 696 children operated for atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in four Scandinavian centres in 2015-2016. Neonates (n = 90) were included regardless of heart surgery type. RESULTS: Patients with ASD were extubated at a median of 3.25 h (interquartile range [IQR] 2.00-4.83), followed by patients with TCPC (median 5.00 h, IQR 2.60-16.83), VSD (median 7.00 h, IQR 3.69-22.25) and TOF (median 18.08 h, IQR 6.00-41.38). Neonates were not extubated early (median 94.42 h, IQR 45.03-138.14). Although MV durations were reflected in PICU LOS, this was not as apparent among those extubated within 12 h. The Swedish centres had shortest MV durations and PICU LOS. Extubation failed in 24/696 (3.4%) of patients. CONCLUSION: Scandinavian paediatric heart centres differed in the duration of postoperative MV. Deferring extubation up to 12 h postoperatively did not markedly prolong PICU LOS.

Effect of age adjustment on two triage methods.

BACKGROUND: Most emergency departments rely on acuity assessment, triage, to recognize critically ill patients that need urgent treatment, and to allocate resources according to need. The accuracy of commonly used triage instruments such as the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is lower for older adults compared to young patients. We aim to examine, whether adjusting the triage category by age leads to improvement in sensitivity without excessive increase in patient numbers in the higher triage categories. The primary outcome measure was 3-day mortality and secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality, hospital admission, and HDU/ICU admissions. METHODS: We gathered data of all adult patients who had an unscheduled visit to any of our three emergency departments within one month. The data was analysed for 3-day mortality, 30-day mortality, hospital admission, and high dependency unit or intensive care unit (HDU/ICU) admission. The analysis was run for both the standard ESI triage method and a local 3-level Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) method. A further analysis was run for both triage methods with age adjustment. Net reclassification improvement values were calculated to demonstrate the effect of age adjustment. RESULTS: Thirteen thousand seven hundred fifty-nine patients met the study criteria, median age was 57. 3-day mortality AUCs for unadjusted HUH and ESI triage were 0.77 (0.65-0.88) and 0.72 (0.57-0.87); 30-day mortality AUCs were 0.64 (0.59-0.69) and 0.69 (0.64-0.73); hospital admission AUCs were 0.60 (0.68-0.71) and 0.66 (0.65-0.68) and HDU/ICU admission AUCs were 0.67 (0.64-0.70) and 0.82 (0.79-0.86), respectively. Age adjustment improved accuracy for 30-day mortality and hospital admission. With the threshold age of 80, AUCs for 30-day mortality were 0.73 (0.68-0.77) and 0.77 (0.73-0.81) and for hospital admission, 0.66 (0.65-0.67) and 0.72 (0.71-0.73) for the HUH and ESI triage. The effect was similar with all cut off ages. CONCLUSION: Moving older adults into a more urgent triage category based on age, improved the triage instruments' performance slightly in predicting 30-day mortality and hospital admission without excessive increase in patient numbers in the higher triage categories. Age adjustment did not improve HDU/ICU admission or 3-day mortality prediction.

Validation of Score to Detect Intracranial Lesions in Unconscious Patients in Prehospital Setting.

OBJECTIVES: Recognizing stroke and other intracranial pathologies in prehospital phase facilitates prompt recanalization and other specific care. Recognizing these can be difficult in patients with decreased level of consciousness. We previously derived a scoring system combining systolic blood pressure, age and heart rate to recognize patients with intracranial pathology. In this study we aimed to validate the score in a larger, separate population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a register based retrospective study on patients ≥16 years old and Glasgow Coma Score <15 encountered by helicopter emergency medical services. Diagnoses at the end of hospitalization were used to identify if patients had intracranial lesion or not. The performance of score was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Of 9,309 patients included, 1,925 (20.7%) had an intracranial lesion including 1,211 cases of stroke. Older age, higher blood pressure and lower heart rate were predictors for an intracranial lesion (P<0.001 for all). The score distinguished patients with intracranial lesion with AUROC of 0.749 (95% CI 0.737 to 0.761). The performance slightly improved if only patients intubated in prehospital phase were included AUROC 0.780 (95% CI 0.770 to 0.806) or convulsion related diagnosis excluded AUROC of 0.788 (95% CI 0.768 to 0.792). CONCLUSIONS: A scoring of systolic blood pressure, heart rate and age help differentiate intracranial lesions in patients with decreased level of consciousness in prehospital care. This may facilitate direct transportation to stroke center and application of neuroprotective measures in prehospital critical care.

Lipid profiles of patients with manifest coronary versus peripheral atherosclerosis - Is there a difference?

AIM: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are both caused by atherosclerosis. Serum lipids and lipoproteins are predictive of the development of atherosclerosis but it is not clear if they differ in the two manifestations, PAD and CAD. We tested whether a more detailed characterization of the lipid and lipoprotein patterns of PAD and CAD allows a clear differentiation between the two atherosclerotic phenotypes. METHODS: A cohort of 274 statin-naïve patients with either newly diagnosed imaging proven PAD (n = 89) or stable CAD (n = 185) was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance- and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based advanced lipid and lipoprotein analysis. An independent cohort of 1239 patients with PAD and CAD was used for validation. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in markers of inflammation as well as ceramide and phosphatidylcholine levels between patients with PAD and CAD. In contrast, basic lipid markers including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) or detailed lipoprotein profiles did not differ significantly between patients with PAD and CAD. Applying ratios and scores derived from ceramides and phosphatidylcholines further improved the discrimination between PAD and CAD. These significant differences were independent of body composition, from the status of smoking or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and also from apolipoprotein C-III and other inflammatory parameters which were different between CAD and PAD. CONCLUSION: The present study clearly suggests that PAD and CAD differ in terms of their ceramide- and phosphatidylcholine-based lipid patterns but not in lipoprotein characteristics.

Development and validation of a ceramide- and phospholipid-based cardiovascular risk estimation score for coronary artery disease patients.

AIMS: Distinct ceramide lipids have been shown to predict the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, especially cardiovascular death. As phospholipids have also been linked with CVD risk, we investigated whether the combination of ceramides with phosphatidylcholines (PCs) would be synergistic in the prediction of CVD events in patients with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease in three independent cohort studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ceramides and PCs were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in three studies: WECAC (The Western Norway Coronary Angiography Cohort) (N = 3789), LIPID (Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease) trial (N = 5991), and KAROLA (Langzeiterfolge der KARdiOLogischen Anschlussheilbehandlung) (N = 1023). A simple risk score, based on the ceramides and PCs showing the best prognostic features, was developed in the WECAC study and validated in the two other cohorts. This score was highly significant in predicting CVD mortality [multiadjusted hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence interval) per standard deviation were 1.44 (1.28-1.63) in WECAC, 1.47 (1.34-1.61) in the LIPID trial, and 1.69 (1.31-2.17) in KAROLA]. In addition, a combination of the risk score with high-sensitivity troponin T increased the HRs to 1.63 (1.44-1.85) and 2.04 (1.57-2.64) in WECAC and KAROLA cohorts, respectively. The C-statistics in WECAC for the risk score combined with sex and age was 0.76 for CVD death. The ceramide-phospholipid risk score showed comparable and synergistic predictive performance with previously published CVD risk models for secondary prevention. CONCLUSION: A simple ceramide- and phospholipid-based risk score can efficiently predict residual CVD event risk in patients with coronary artery disease.

Ability of prehospital NEWS to predict 1-day and 7-day mortality is reduced in older adult patients.

BACKGROUND: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) does not include age as a parameter despite age is a significant independent risk factor of death. The aim of this study was to examine whether age has an effect on predictive performance of short-term mortality of NEWS in a prehospital setting. We also evaluated whether adding age as an additional parameter to NEWS improved its short-term mortality prediction. METHODS: We calculated NEWS scores from retrospective prehospital electronic patient record data for patients 18 years or older with sufficient prehospital data to calculate NEWS. We used area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) to analyse the predictive performance of NEWS for 1 and 7 day mortalities with increasing age in three different age groups: <65 years, 65-79 years and ≥80 years. We also explored the ORs for mortality of different NEWS parameters in these age groups. We added age to NEWS as an additional parameter and evaluated its effect on predictive performance. RESULTS: We analysed data from 35 800 ambulance calls. Predictive performance for 7-day mortality of NEWS decreased with increasing age: AUROC (95% CI) for 1-day mortality was 0.876 (0.848 to 0.904), 0.824 (0.794 to 0.854) and 0.820 (0.788 to 0.852) for first, second and third age groups, respectively. AUROC for 7-day mortality had a similar trend. Addition of age as an additional parameter to NEWS improved its ability to predict short-term mortality when assessed with continuous Net Reclassification Improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Age should be considered as an additional parameter to NEWS, as it improved its performance in predicting short-term mortality in this prehospital cohort.

Out-of-Hospital Seizures in Children: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: Seizures seem to represent a frequent cause for pediatric emergency medical (EM) and emergency room (ER) contacts, but few population-based data are available. Our aim was to study the incidence, prehospital and ER treatment, and outcomes of pediatric seizures necessitating out-of-hospital care. METHODS: We studied the out-of-hospital evaluation procedures, ER treatment, diagnostics and 2-year prognosis of all cases of pediatric (0-16 years) seizures encountered by the emergency medical services (EMS) in Helsinki, Finland, in 2012 (population 603,968, pediatric population 92,742); 251 patients were encountered by the EMS, of which 220 seen at the ER. RESULTS: The yearly incidence of pediatric seizures necessitating EMS activation was 2.8/1000 in the pediatric population. Febrile seizures were responsible for 97 (44.1%) of the cases transported to the ER. Only a minority of patients required advanced life support measures out-of-hospital or complex diagnostics in the ER. Still, of the 220 patients seen at ER, 68 (30.9%) were hospitalized, and 106 (48.2%) had follow-up contacts scheduled. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric seizures were a common cause for EM and ER contacts. Advanced life support measures were seldom needed, and the prognosis was good, but seizures still required considerable resources. They often resulted in urgent EM dispatch and transport, hospitalization, follow-up visits, new medication, and complementary studies. This emphasizes the role the EMS plays in recognizing and terminating pediatric seizures and in referring these children to appropriate care.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on trauma-related emergency medical service calls: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on the utilization of health care services, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Social distancing measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease have greatly affected the functioning of societies and reduced or halted many activities with a risk of injury. The aim of this study was to report the effects of lockdown measures on trauma-related EMS calls in the Finnish capital area. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all EMS calls in the Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) catchment area between 1 January and 31 July 2020. Calls were identified from the HUH EMS database. Calls were grouped into pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods according to the restrictions set by the Finnish government and compared to the mean number of calls for the corresponding periods in 2018 and 2019. Statistical comparisons were performed using Mann-Whitney U-test for weekly numbers and percentages. RESULTS: During the study period there was a total of 70,705 EMS calls, of which 14,998 (21.2%) were related to trauma; 67,973 patients (median age 61.6 years; IQR 35.3-78.6) were met by EMS. There was no significant change in the weekly number of total or trauma-related EMS calls during the pre-lockdown period. During the lockdown period, the number of weekly total EMS calls was reduced by 12.2% (p = 0.001) and the number of trauma-related calls was reduced by 23.3% (p = 0.004). The weekly number of injured patients met by EMS while intoxicated with alcohol was reduced by 41.8% (p = 0.002). During the post-lockdown period, the number of total and trauma-related calls and the number of injured patients intoxicated by alcohol returned to previous years' levels. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures reduced the number of trauma-related EMS calls. Lockdown measures had an especially significant effect on the number of injured patients intoxicated by alcohol met by the EMS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Education on Emergency Nurses' EBP Attitudes, Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Skills, and Behavior: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Emergency care clinicians are expected to use the latest research evidence in practice. However, emergency nurses do not always consistently implement evidence-based practice (EBP). An educational intervention on EBP was implemented to promote emergency nurses' use of EBP, and the effectiveness of it was evaluated. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational intervention on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The study also examined learners' satisfaction with the EBP educational intervention. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with parallel groups with evaluations before the education, immediately after it, and 6 and 12 months after the education was conducted at four emergency departments in two university hospitals. The experimental group (N = 40) received EBP education while the control group (N = 40) completed self-directed EBP education. The primary outcomes were emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior, while the secondary outcome was satisfaction with the EBP education. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants of an experimental and 29 participants of a control group completed the study. There were no statistically significant (p < .05) improvements and differences between groups in EBP attitude, self-efficacy, or behavior immediately after the EBP education. At the 6-month measurement point, the experimental group showed significantly better EBP attitudes, behavior, knowledge, and self-efficacy than the control group. At the 12-month measurement point, the improvements began to decrease. The groups also differed significantly in terms of participant satisfaction with how the teacher encouraged learners to ask clinical questions. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The EBP educational intervention implemented in this study had a positive effect on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The effects of the education appeared the best 6 months after the education. After this point, the results began to decrease and approached baseline levels. EBP educational interventions designed for emergency nurses should apply various teaching strategies to improve their EBP attitude, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, behavior, and satisfaction with the education.

Role of oxytocin in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries treated by emergency medical services.

INTRODUCTION: Intramuscular or intravenous oxytocin is used in out-of-hospital emergency care in Finland to prevent postpartum hemorrhage after unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries. However, the use of oxytocin by emergency medical services is based on in-hospital studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of oxytocin is associated with diminished postpartum hemorrhage after unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied patient records covering all unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries in the Helsinki University Hospital area between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 inclusive. Oxytocin was available in ambulances responsible for half of the population of the study area and was not available in ambulances responsible for the other half. The study area corresponded to 25% of all deliveries in Finland. The primary outcome was the estimated total bleeding (mL). Secondary outcomes were (1) the first blood hemoglobin value measured in hospital (g/L), (2) whether blood hemoglobin was measured during the first 24 hours after delivery, (3) the need for red blood cell concentrate, (4) the need for uterotonic or prothrombotic medication in-hospital during the first 24 hours, (5) the need for any postpartum operation during the first 24 hours and (6) composite outcome combining the secondary outcomes 2-5. RESULTS: Of all ambulance responses in the study area, .04% concerned out-of-hospital deliveries. There were 216 analyzed out-of-hospital deliveries. Altogether, 111 of these occurred in the area with oxytocin available in ambulances and 105 in the area without. Oxytocin was administered in 57 of the 111 deliveries (51%) where it was available. No differences in the primary outcome (P = .548 for oxytocin available vs not available and P = .381 for oxytocin used vs not used) or secondary outcomes were detected between those deliveries where oxytocin was available vs not available or between those where it was used vs not used. CONCLUSIONS: Out-of-hospital oxytocin was not associated with diminished postpartum hemorrhage in this study setting. Oxytocin does not seem to be an essential drug for all ambulance units. The in-hospital use of oxytocin was not evaluated and thus is not disputed by this study.

Glucose as an additional parameter to National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in prehospital setting enhances identification of patients at risk of death: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To determine if prehospital blood glucose could be added to National Early Warning Score (NEWS) for improved identification of risk of short-term mortality. METHODS: Retrospective observational study (2008-2015) of adult patients seen by emergency medical services in Helsinki metropolitan area for whom all variables for calculation of NEWS and a blood glucose value were available. Survival of 24 hours and 30 days were determined. The NEWS parameters and glucose were tested by multivariate logistic regression model. Based on ORs we formed NEWSgluc model with hypoglycaemia (≤3.0 mmol/L) 3, normoglycaemia 0 and hyperglycaemia (≥11.1 mmol/L) 1 points. The scores from NEWS and NEWSgluc were compared using discrimination (area under the curve), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test), likelihood ratio tests and reclassification (continuous net reclassification index (cNRI)). RESULTS: Data of 27 141 patients were included in the study. Multivariable regression model for NEWSgluc parameters revealed a strong association with glucose disturbances and 24-hour and 30-day mortality. Likelihood ratios (LRs) for mortality at 24 hours using a cut-off point of 15 were for NEWSgluc: LR+ 17.78 and LR- 0.96 and for NEWS: LR+ 13.50 and LR- 0.92. Results were similar at 30 days. Risks per score point estimation and calibration model showed glucose added benefit to NEWS at 24 hours and at 30 days. Although areas under the curve were similar, reclassification test (cNRI) showed overall improvement of classification of survivors and non-survivors at 24 days and 30 days with NEWSgluc. CONCLUSIONS: Including glucose in NEWS in the prehospital setting seems to improve identification of patients at risk of death.

Growth of children with biliary atresia living with native livers: impact of corticoid therapy after portoenterostomy.

We addressed growth of biliary atresia (BA) patients living with native livers between ages 0-6 and effects of post-surgical corticosteroid treatment on growth. Growth charts of 28 BA patients born in Finland between 1987 and 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Dosage and length of corticosteroid treatment and hydrocortisone substitution were reviewed. At birth, BA patients were shorter (median height - 0.6 (interquartile range (IQR) - 1.3 to - 0.1) SDS, n = 28, P < 0.001) than general population. Height remained stable during early childhood (median height - 0.6 (IQR - 1.4 to 0.1) SDS for girls and - 0.4 (IQR - 1.6 to 0.2) SDS for boys at 6 years of age). Patients were of normal height adjusted weight at 6 years with a median age and sex-adjusted body mass index (ISO-BMI) of 20.9 (IQR 19.3 to 25.0) for girls and 22.1 (IQR 20.7 to 25.6) for boys. Higher (≥ 50 mg/kg) cumulative post-portoenterostomy prednisolone dosage resulted in 0.18 SDS lower height per treatment week (ß - 0.18, SE 0.04, P < 0.001) compared to lower dosage (< 50 mg/kg).Conclusion: BA patients grow normally during early childhood. As high postoperative corticosteroid dosage has a short-term negative effect on height, very high dosages should be avoided. What Is Known: • Growth of biliary atresia patients has mostly been shown to be within normal limits • Corticosteroids may decrease growth rate What Is New: • Biliary atresia patients surviving with their native livers are shorter than general population and their mid-parental target height at birth • A high (> 50 mg/kg) cumulative prednisolone dosage has a negative transitory impact on height gain after portoenterostomy.

A randomized double-blind trial of intranasal dexmedetomidine versus intranasal esketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in young children.

BACKGROUND: Procedural sedation and analgesia are commonly used in the Emergency Departments. Despite this common need, there is still a lack of options for adequate and safe analgesia and sedation in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether intranasal dexmedetomidine could provide more effective analgesia and sedation during a procedure than intranasal esketamine. METHODS: This was a double-blind equally randomized (1:1) superiority trial of 30 children aged 1-3 years presenting to the Emergency Department with a laceration or a burn and requiring procedural sedation and analgesia. Patients were randomized to receive 2.0 mcg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine or 1.0 mg/kg intranasal esketamine. The primary outcome measure was highest pain (assessed using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale (FLACC)) during the procedure. Secondary outcomes were sedation depth, parents' satisfaction, and physician's assessment. Comparisons were done using Mann-Whitney U test (continuous variables) and Fisher's test (categorical variables). RESULTS: Adequate analgesia and sedation were reached in 28/30 patients. The estimated sample size was not reached due to changes in treatment of minor injuries and logistical reasons. The median (IQR) of highest FLACC was 1 (0-3) with intranasal dexmedetomidine and 5 (2-6.75) with intranasal esketamine, (p-value 0.09). 85.7% of the parents with children treated with intranasal dexmedetomidine were "very satisfied" with the procedure and sedation compared to the 46.2% of those with intranasal esketamine, (p-value 0.1). No severe adverse events were reported during this trial. CONCLUSIONS: This study was underpowered and did not show any difference between intranasal dexmedetomidine and intranasal esketamine for procedural sedation and analgesia in young children. However, the results support that intranasal dexmedetomidine could provide effective analgesia and sedation during procedures in young children aged 1-3 years with minor injuries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Eudra-CT 2017-00057-40, April 20, 2017. https://eudract.ema.europa.eu/.

Development and internal validation of an algorithm for estimating mortality in patients encountered by physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services.

BACKGROUND: Severity of illness scoring systems are used in intensive care units to enable the calculation of adjusted outcomes for audit and benchmarking purposes. Similar tools are lacking for pre-hospital emergency medicine. Therefore, using a national helicopter emergency medical services database, we developed and internally validated a mortality prediction algorithm. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational register-based cohort study based on the patients treated by five physician-staffed Finnish helicopter emergency medical service units between 2012 and 2019. Only patients aged 16 and over treated by physician-staffed units were included. We analysed the relationship between 30-day mortality and physiological, patient-related and circumstantial variables. The data were imputed using multiple imputations employing chained equations. We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate the variable effects and performed derivation of multiple multivariable models with different combinations of variables. The models were combined into an algorithm to allow a risk estimation tool that accounts for missing variables. Internal validation was assessed by calculating the optimism of each performance estimate using the von Hippel method with four imputed sets. RESULTS: After exclusions, 30 186 patients were included in the analysis. 8611 (29%) patients died within the first 30 days after the incident. Eleven predictor variables (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, Glasgow Coma Scale, sex, age, emergency medical services vehicle type [helicopter vs ground unit], whether the mission was located in a medical facility or nursing home, cardiac rhythm [asystole, pulseless electrical activity, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia vs others], time from emergency call to physician arrival and patient category) were included. Adjusted for optimism after internal validation, the algorithm had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.921 (95% CI 0.918 to 0.924), Brier score of 0.097, calibration intercept of 0.000 (95% CI -0.040 to 0.040) and slope of 1.000 (95% CI 0.977 to 1.023). CONCLUSIONS: Based on 11 demographic, mission-specific, and physiologic variables, we developed and internally validated a novel severity of illness algorithm for use with patients encountered by physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services, which may help in future quality improvement.

Effect of Diets on Plasma and Aorta Lipidome: A Study in the apoE Knockout Mouse Model.

SCOPE: Specific lipid molecules circulating in plasma at low concentrations have emerged as biomarkers of atherosclerotic risk. The aim of the present study is that of evaluating, in an athero-prone mouse model, how different diets can affect plasma and aorta lipidome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six apoE knockout mice are divided in three groups and feed 12 weeks with diets differing for cholesterol and fatty acid content. Atherosclerosis is measured at the aortic sinus and aorta. Lipids are quantified in plasma and aorta with mass spectrometry. The cholesterol content of the diets is the main driver of lipid accumulation in plasma and aorta. The fatty acid composition of the diets affects plasma levels both of essential (linoleic acid) and nonessential (myristic and arachidonic acid) ones. Lipidomics show a comparable distribution, in plasma and aorta, of the main lipid components of oxidized LDL, including cholesteryl esters and lysophosphatidylcholines. Interestingly, lactosylceramide, glucosyl/galactosylceramide, and individual ceramide species are found to accumulate in diseased aortic segments. CONCLUSION: Both the cholesterol and fatty acid content of the diets profoundly affect plasma lipidome. Aorta lipidome is likewise affected with the accumulation of specific lipids known as markers of atherosclerosis.

The Novel Ceramide- and Phosphatidylcholine-Based Risk Score for the Prediction of New-Onset of Hypertension.

Ceramides and other sphingolipids are implicated in vascular dysfunction and inflammation. They have been suggested as potential biomarkers for hypertension. However, their specific association with hypertension prevalence and onset requires further investigation. This study aimed to identify specific ceramide and phosphatidylcholine species associated with hypertension prevalence and onset. The 2002 FINRISK (Finnish non-communicable risk factor survey) study investigated the association between coronary event risk scores (CERT1 and CERT2) and hypertension using prevalent and new-onset hypertension groups, both consisting of 7722 participants, over a span of 10 years. Ceramide and phosphatidylcholine levels were measured using tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ceramide and phosphatidylcholine ratios, including ceramide (d18:1/18:0), ceramide (d18:1/24:1), phosphatidylcholine (16:0/16:0), and the ratio of ceramide (d18:1/18:0)/(d18:1/16:0), are consistently associated with both prevalence and new-onset hypertension. Ceramide (d18:1/24:0) was also linked to both hypertension measures. Adjusting for covariates, CERT1 and CERT2 showed no-longer-significant associations with hypertension prevalence, but only CERT2 predicted new-onset hypertension. Plasma ceramides and phosphatidylcholines are crucial biomarkers for hypertension, with imbalances potentially contributing to its development. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms by which ceramides will contribute to the development of hypertension.