High-Dose Convalescent Plasma for Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

To assess whether high-dose coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion may benefit patients with severe COVID-19, we conducted a multicenter randomized trial in Brazil. Patients with severe COVID-19 who were within 10 days of initial symptom onset were eligible. Patients in the CCP group received 3 daily doses of CCP (600 mL/d) in addition to standard treatment; control patients received standard treatment only. Primary outcomes were death rates at days 30 and 60 of study randomization. Secondary outcomes were ventilator-free days and hospital-free days. We enrolled 107 patients: 36 CCP and 71 control. At day 30, death rates were 22% for CCP and 25% for the control group; at day 60, rates were 31% for CCP and 35% for control. Needs for invasive mechanical ventilation and durations of hospital stay were similar between groups. We conclude that high-dose CCP transfused within 10 days of symptom onset provided no benefit for patients with severe COVID-19.

Histo-blood group A is a risk factor for severe COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the impact of ABO histo-blood group type on COVID-19 severity. BACKGROUND: ABO histo-blood type has been associated with different outcomes in infectious diseases. It has also shown a higher proportion of type A patients with SARS-CoV-2. In this observational study, extracted from an ongoing clinical trial on the efficacy of convalescent plasma transfused in COVID-19 patients, we describe the impact of ABO blood type on the risk of developing severe COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients (37 type A, 23 type O, 11 type B, 1 type AB) with severe (respiratory failure) COVID-19 were included. Control group was composed of 160 individuals randomly selected from the same populational basis. RESULTS: Blood group A was overrepresented (51.39%) in the patient group in relation to the control group (30%), whereas blood group O was less represented (31.94%) in patient than in control group (48%). Odds ratio (A vs. O) was 2.581 (1.381-4.817), CI 95%; p = 0.004. Also, blood group A patients appeared to have more severe disease, given by the scores of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Simplified Acute Physiologic Score 3 (p = 0.036 and p = 0.058, respectively). CONCLUSION: Histo-blood type A is associated with a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 in relation to blood type O.

The first description of cardiac magnetic resonance findings in a severe scorpion envenomation: Is it a stress-induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy like?

There are more than 1 million cases of scorpion envenomation worldwide. Severe complications due to myocardial depression can happen in some patients, mainly children. A catecholamine-induced myocarditis probably causes this cardiac dysfunction. We describe a case of a 7-year-old boy with a severe scorpion envenomation complicated by pulmonary edema in which the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)was performed during the acute phase. The CMR showed an apical ballooning in the left ventricle associated with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 29% and a global edema of the midmyocardium and apical myocardiumin the T2-weighted triple inversion recovery images. The CMR was repeated after 7 months and showed complete recovery of the wall motion in the apical region and of the myocardial function (left ventricle ejection fraction, 60%) associated with normalization of the signal in the T2-weighted triple inversion recovery images. These clinical and laboratory findings, mainly the CMR images, are similar to those observed in stress-induced cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo) reinforcing the hypothesis that the catecholamine's excess has a pivotal function in the pathophysiology of the cardiac dysfunction in these 2 conditions.

Lung Ultrasound Score at Hospital Discharge as a Predictor of Emergency Department Visit and Hospital Readmission in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Purpose The number of B-lines on lung ultrasound at hospital discharge in patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with poor outcomes. Assessing B-lines can be challenging to execute and replicate, depending on the clinical context. This study aims to determine whether the lung ultrasound score (LUS) at discharge predicts hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visits in the 30 days after an AHF hospital admission. Methods  We conducted an observational study at the medical ward of the emergency unit of the Clinics Hospital of the Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, a tertiary university hospital in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil, where consecutive adults admitted with AHF were included. On the day of hospital discharge, we measured the LUS and tracked these patients for up to 30 days to monitor emergency department visits, hospital readmission, and the number of days free from hospital stay. Results  A total of 46 patients were included in the study. A composite outcome of ED visits or hospital readmission in the 30 days after hospital discharge was achieved for 22 (47.8%) patients. The LUS at hospital discharge had a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.82-0.99) to predict the composite outcome, against 0.67 (95% CI, 0.52-0.81) for the clinical congestion score (CCS). A LUS ≥ 7 at discharge had a sensitivity of 95.5% and a specificity of 87.5% to predict the composite outcome. The average exam duration was 176±65 (sd) seconds. Conclusions The LUS at hospital discharge following admission for AHF proves to be an accurate tool for predicting the likelihood of return to the ED and/or hospital readmission within 30 days post discharge.

Beneficial effects of colchicine for moderate to severe COVID-19: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the addition of colchicine to standard treatment for COVID-19 results in better outcomes. DESIGN: We present the results of a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of colchicine for the treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19, with 75 patients allocated 1:1 from 11 April to 30 August 2020. Colchicine regimen was 0.5 mg thrice daily for 5 days, then 0.5 mg twice daily for 5 days. The primary endpoints were the need for supplemental oxygen, time of hospitalisation, need for admission and length of stay in intensive care unit and death rate. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (36 for placebo and 36 for colchicine) completed the study. Median (and IQR) time of need for supplemental oxygen was 4.0 (2.0-6.0) days for the colchicine group and 6.5 (4.0-9.0) days for the placebo group (p<0.001). Median (IQR) time of hospitalisation was 7.0 (5.0-9.0) days for the colchicine group and 9.0 (7.0-12.0) days for the placebo group (p=0.003). At day 2, 67% versus 86% of patients maintained the need for supplemental oxygen, while at day 7, the values were 9% versus 42%, in the colchicine and the placebo groups, respectively (log rank; p=0.001). Two patients died, both in placebo group. Diarrhoea was more frequent in the colchicine group (p=0.26). CONCLUSION: Colchicine reduced the length of both, supplemental oxygen therapy and hospitalisation. The drug was safe and well tolerated. Once death was an uncommon event, it is not possible to ensure that colchicine reduced mortality of COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-8jyhxh.

Sustained ventricular tachycardia is associated with regional myocardial sympathetic denervation assessed with 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac sympathetic denervation and ventricular arrhythmia are frequently observed in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). This study quantitatively evaluated the association between cardiac sympathetic denervation and sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with CCC. METHODS: We prospectively investigated patients with CCC and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 35% with SVT (SVT group: n = 15; mean age ± SD, 61 ± 8 y; LVEF, 51% ± 8%) and patients without SVT (non-SVT group: n = 11; mean age ± SD, 55 ± 10 y; LVEF, 57% ± 10%). Patients underwent myocardial scintigraphy with (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) for the evaluation of sympathetic innervation and resting perfusion with (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) for the evaluation of myocardial viability. A visual semiquantitative score was attributed for regional uptake of each radiotracer using a 17-segment left ventricular segmentation model (0, normal; 4, absence of uptake). A mismatch defect was defined as occurring in segments with a (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake score of 0 or 1 and a (123)I-MIBG score of 2 or more. RESULTS: Compared with the non-SVT group, the SVT group had a similar (99m)Tc-MIBI summed score (6.9 ± 7.5 vs. 4.4 ± 5.2, respectively, P = 0.69) but a higher (123)I-MIBG summed score (10.9 ± 7.8 vs. 22.4 ± 9.5, respectively, P = 0.007) and a higher number of mismatch defects per patient (2.0 ± 2.2 vs. 7.1 ± 2.0, respectively, P < 0.0001). The presence of more than 3 mismatch defects was strongly associated with the presence of SVT (93% sensitivity, 82% specificity; P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In CCC, the amount of sympathetically denervated viable myocardium is associated with the occurrence of SVT. Myocardial sympathetic denervation may participate in triggering malignant ventricular arrhythmia in CCC patients with relatively well-preserved ventricular function.

Avaliação formativa e feedback como ferramenta de aprendizado na formação de profissionais da saúde / Formative assessment and feedback as learning tools in health professions education

As diferentes formas de avaliação são elementos centrais do processo de ensino-aprendizagem de qualquer programa educacional, e devem ser bem planejadas e implementadas em todas as propostas curriculares,especialmente na formação de profissionais na área da saúde. Uma avaliação do estudante adequada e de qualidade guarda estreita relação com a competência e capacitação do profissional que será entregue à sociedade. Neste contexto, a avaliação formativa e a capacitação dos professores para prover feedback efetivo, frequente, e de qualidade são fundamentais na formação dos futuros profissionais da saúde. Este artigo faz uma revisão sobre avaliação formativa, feedback e debriefing.

The different assessment forms are major elements of any teaching and learning process in educational programs, and should be considered as a core component to be planned and implemented in all curriculums, especially in the health professions education. A regular and qualified students’ assessment is closely related to competence and skills of the professionals that will be delivered to society. In this context, formative assessment and well-trained staff to provide effective and regular feedback are essentials in the formation of the future generation of health professionals. This article focuses primarily on formative assessment, feedback and debriefing.

Alterações eletrocardiográficas na intoxicação aguda por antidepressivotricíclico e suas implicações clínicas: [revisão] / Electrocardiographic alterations in acute tricyclic antidepressant intoxication and its clinical implications: [review]

Introdução: A intoxicação aguda por antidepressivos tricíclicos é comum nas salas de emergência. Anormalidades no eletrocardiograma de 12 derivações (ECG) são associadas a este tipo de intoxicação, com implicações diagnósticas e prognósticas. O ECG pode ter valor incremental principalmente em situações de alteração de consciência, convulsões ou distúrbios do ritmo cardíaco associado. Objetivo: Revisar as principais alterações eletrocardiográficas descritas na intoxicação por antidepressivos tricíclicos e estabelecer suas implicações prognósticas no manejo desta condição clínica. Metodologia: Pesquisa bibliográfica no MEDLINE (PubMEd) limitada aos artigos publicados entre 1980 e 2010 em língua inglesa, utilizando-se unitermos (tricyclic antidepressant overdose OR tricyclic antidepressant intoxication OR tricyclic antidepressant poisoning OR tricyclic antidepressant ingestionAND electrocardiography). Dos 133 artigos identificados, foram selecionados 44 para a revisão...

Introduction: The acute poisoning by tricyclic antidepressants is common in emergency rooms. Abnormalities in 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) are associated with this type of poisoning, with diagnostic and prognostic implications. The ECG may have incremental value especially in situations of altered consciousness, seizures or heart rhythm disturbances associated. Objective: To review the electrocardiographic changes described in tricyclic antidepressant poisoning and to establish their prognostic implications in the management of this condition. Methods: Bibliographic search in MEDLINE (PubMed) limited to articles published between 1980 and 2010 in English, using key words (tricyclic antidepressant overdose OR tricyclic antidepressant intoxicationOR tricyclic antidepressant poisoning OR tricyclic antidepressant ingestion AND electrocardiography). Of the 133 articles identified, 44 were selected for review...