SARS-CoV-2 and RSV bronchiolitis outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) bronchiolitis has arisen with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. There is a paucity of literature on SARS-CoV-2 bronchiolitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our paper was to review and compare outcomes in bronchiolitis due to severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). We also performed a subgroup analysis of two disrupted RSV seasons during the pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective study from a US TriNetX database from March 1, 2020-January 1, 2023. Propensity matching was utilized for confounders. RESULTS: There was a total of 3,592 patients (1,796 in each group) after propensity matching. There was an increased risk of oxygen saturation ≤95 % (RR=1.50 95 % CI 1.58-1.94, p = 0.002) and ICU admission (RR=1.44 95 % CI 1.06-1.94, p = 0.02) in those with SARS- CoV-2 but not for oxygen saturation ≤90 % (RR=1.03 95 %CI 0.75-1.42, p = 0.85) or intubation (RR=0.73 95 % CI 0.35-1.47, p = 0.37). There was a decreased risk of a patient with SARS- CoV-2 bronchiolitis being hospitalized (RR=0.65 95 % CI 0.57-0.74, p < 0.0001), respiratory rate ≥60 (RR=0.64 95 % CI 0.48-0.88, p < 0.001) or ≥70 (RR=0.64 95 % CI 0.43-0.96, p = 0.03) when compared to RSV bronchiolitis. Specifically examining SARS- CoV-2 versus RSV bronchiolitis during the delayed RSV seasons, during the first season both infections were not severe, but during the second RSV bronchiolitis season, patients infected with RSV had less risk of ICU admission compared to those infected with SARS- CoV-2. CONCLUSION: SARS- CoV-2 bronchiolitis patients appeared to have more severe outcomes since the risk of ICU admission was higher for these patients. Also, during the second delayed RSV season, SARS- CoV-2 bronchiolitis was more severe than RSV bronchiolitis.

Effects of Serum Potassium on Mortality in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Disturbances in potassium levels can induce ventricular arrhythmias and heighten mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study evaluates the influence of sK levels on seven-day mortality and incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in STEMI patients to further improve clinical guidelines and outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective, propensity-matched study analyzed approximately 250,000 acute STEMI patients from 55 major academic medical centers/healthcare organizations (HCOs) in the US Collaborative Network of the TriNetX database. The sK levels recorded on the day of STEMI diagnosis were categorized into four cohorts: sK ≤ 3.4 (hypokalemia), 3.5 ≤ sK ≤ 4.5 (normal-control), 4.6 ≤ sK ≤ 5.0 (high-normal), and sK ≥ 5.1 (hyperkalemia). Patient cohorts were propensity-matched using linear and logistic regression for demographics. Outcomes of seven-day mortality, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were compared between these cohorts and the control group. RESULTS: The analysis showed hypokalemia was linked to significantly higher seven-day mortality (7.2% vs. 4.3%; RR 1.69; p<0.001), and increased rates of VT and VF. Similarly, hyperkalemia was associated with elevated mortality (12.7% vs. 4.6%; RR 2.76; p<0.001), VT, and VF rates. High-normal sK levels showed increased mortality (7.4% vs. 4.7%; RR 1.58; p<0.001), but unchanged VT or VF rates compared to the normal sK group. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive study highlights the correlation of sK levels with death in STEMI patients, revealing a nearly doubled risk of mortality with hypokalemia and almost triples with hyperkalemia. More notably, the mortality for STEMIs is higher for high-normal vs normal sK values. Additionally, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia were found to significantly elevate VT and VF risks.

Correction: Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57472.].

Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery.

Introduction With the growing acceptance of transgender individuals, the number of gender affirmation surgeries has increased. Transgender individuals face elevated depression rates, leading to an increase in suicide ideation and attempts. This study evaluates the risk of suicide or self-harm associated with gender affirmation procedures. Methods This retrospective study utilized de-identified patient data from the TriNetX (TriNetX, LLC, Cambridge, MA) database, involving 56 United States healthcare organizations and over 90 million patients. The study involved four cohorts: cohort A, adults aged 18-60 who had gender-affirming surgery and an emergency visit (N = 1,501); cohort B, control group of adults with emergency visits but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 15,608,363); and cohort C, control group of adults with emergency visits, tubal ligation or vasectomy, but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 142,093). Propensity matching was applied to cohorts A and C. Data from February 4, 2003, to February 4, 2023, were analyzed to examine suicide attempts, death, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within five years of the index event. A secondary analysis involving a control group with pharyngitis, referred to as cohort D, was conducted to validate the results from cohort C. Results Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls. Conclusion Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support.

Vulvar Leiomyoma Masquerading as Bartholin Cyst: A Case Report of Unveiled Diagnosis and Surgical Management.

Vulvar leiomyomas are rare benign tumors originating from smooth muscle cells of the vulvar tissue. We present the case of a 44-year-old female patient complaining of a painless vulval mass for 12 years, gradually increasing from 1x1 cm to 5x4 cm. Clinical assessment initially suggested a Bartholin cyst because of its non-tender and non-fluctuant nature. However, surgical intervention revealed an unexpected diagnosis of vulvar leiomyoma, measuring 5x5x4 cm. The patient underwent successful excision and repair under spinal anesthesia. This case underscores the significance of meticulous clinical evaluation and accurate histopathological examination in distinguishing vulvar masses. Accurate diagnosis guides appropriate management, and long-term follow-up prevents complications and recurrence. This report highlights the diagnostic challenges of rare vulvar lesions and the importance of a comprehensive approach to their evaluation and treatment.

Outcomes of croup in children: COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 cases.

Objectives: The emergence of COVID-19 has revealed its association with croup. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of COVID-19 related croup to non-COVID-19 related croup during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This retrospective propensity matched study used data from 2020-2023 in the United States Cohort of the TriNetX database that includes 56 major health care organizations. The analysis compared the outcomes of 2 cohorts of patients between 2 months and 7 years of age: Cohort A had croup and a positive test for COVID-19 and Cohort B had croup without a positive COVID-19 test, both within 1 week before or after presentation with croup. Outcomes were death, admission to the hospital, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, respiratory rate >60, and oxygen saturation <90 within 7 days after the diagnosis of croup. Results: There were 2590 patients with COVID-19 related croup and 103,439 patients with non-COVID-19 croup. The final propensity matched cohort included 5180 patients evenly divided between groups. When both groups were compared based on outcomes after matching, there was twice the risk of the patient being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 croup (risk ratio [RR] = 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-2.84; P < 0.001). Those with COVID-19 related croup had significantly increased risk of being admitted to the ICU (RR = 4.90; 95% CI 3.11-7.73; P < 0.001). The patients with COVID-19 related croup were more likely to have a respiratory rate ≥60 (RR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.18-3.37; P = 0.008) and oxygen saturation ≤90% (RR = 2.12; 95% CI 1.21-3.70; P = 0.007). There were no deaths in the final cohorts. There were no worse outcomes in the Omicron COVID-19 related croup group. Conclusions: The patients with COVID-19 related croup exhibited more severe disease manifestations. These children were more likely to be admitted to the hospital/ICU and had more significant respiratory distress.

Tenecteplase Versus Alteplase for Acute Stroke: Mortality and Bleeding Complications.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase has been the foundation of initial treatment of acute ischemic stroke for several decades. Tenecteplase is a thrombolytic agent that offers logistical advantages in cost and administration relative to alteplase. There is evidence that tenecteplase has at least similar efficacy and safety outcomes compared with alteplase for stroke. In this study, we compared tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute stroke in a large retrospective US database (TriNetX) regarding the following 3 outcomes: (1) mortality, (2) intracranial hemorrhage, and (3) the need for acute blood transfusions. METHODS: In this retrospective study using the US cohort of 54 academic medical centers/health care organizations in the TriNetX database, we identified 3,432 patients treated with tenecteplase and 55,894 patients treated with alteplase for stroke after January 1, 2012. Propensity score matching was performed on basic demographic information and 7 previous clinical diagnostic groups, resulting in a total of 6,864 patients with acute stroke evenly matched between groups. Mortality rates, the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage, and blood transfusions (as a marker of significant blood loss) were recorded for each group over the ensuing 7- and 30-day periods. Secondary subgroup analyses were conducted on a cohort treated from 2021 to 2022 in an attempt to determine whether temporal differences in acute ischemic stroke treatment would alter the results. RESULTS: Patients treated with tenecteplase had a significantly lower mortality rate (8.2% versus 9.8%; risk ratio [RR], 0.832) and lower risk of major bleeding as measured by the frequency of blood transfusions (0.3% versus 1.4%; RR, 0.207) than alteplase at 30 days after thrombolysis for stroke. In the larger 10-year data set of patients with stroke treated after January 1, 2012, patients receiving tenecteplase were not found to have a statistically different incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (3.5% versus 3.0%; RR, 1.185) at 30 days after the administration of the thrombolytic agents in patients. However, a subgroup analysis of 2,216 evenly matched patients with stroke treated from 2021 to 2022 demonstrated notably better survival and statistically lower rates of intracranial hemorrhage than the alteplase group. CONCLUSION: In our large retrospective multicenter study using real-world evidence from large health care organizations, tenecteplase for the treatment of acute stroke demonstrated a lower mortality rate, decreased intracranial hemorrhage, and less significant blood loss. The favorable mortality and safety profiles observed in this large study, taken together with previous randomized controlled trial data and operational advantages in rapid dosing and cost-effectiveness, all support the preferential use of tenecteplase in patients with ischemic stroke.

D-dimer as a Rule-Out for Aortic Dissection.

Introduction Acute aortic dissection (AAD) represents a significant diagnostic challenge with a high mortality rate if not treated promptly. This challenge arises from the diverse clinical presentations of AAD, and its symptom overlap with other medical conditions. Although both helical CT and transesophageal echocardiography are reliable diagnostic tools for AAD, they are not feasible for every suspected case. Furthermore, limited research on D-dimer's utility in ruling out AAD has been conducted due to the condition's rarity. Methods This study utilizes the TriNetX database (https://trinetx.com/), encompassing data from 54 healthcare organizations across the United States over the past two decades from 85 million patients. The objective is to evaluate the sensitivity of an elevated D-dimer level in diagnosing AAD across a much larger patient cohort than previously studied. Results Retrospectively analyzing this dataset, there were 1,319 patients identified with a confirmed AAD who had undergone D-dimer testing within a day of diagnosis. Of these, 1,252 patients exhibited D-dimer levels exceeding 400 ng/ml while 1,227 had levels surpassing 500 ng/ml. Notably, a D-dimer cutoff of 400 ng/ml demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.949 while a 500 ng/ml cutoff yielded a sensitivity of 0.930. Conclusion This large retrospective cohort study demonstrates that a blood D-dimer level is highly sensitive in assaying for AAD. The D-dimer levels analyzed showed a remarkable sensitivity in ruling out AAD, avoiding the need for more invasive testing in low-risk patients.

Congenital uterovaginal abnormalities, it's embryogenesis, surgical management and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital Mullerian duct malformations are a challenging group of conditions for surgeons and need surgical experience and skill. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to present the diagnosis, surgical management, and clinical implications of congenital uterovaginal abnormalities. METHODS: Between 1980 and 2015, 8 patients with congenital uterovaginal abnormalities were diagnosed. In one patient a unique case of an unusual horseshoe shaped double uterus communicating via a transverse canal along with agenesis of the cervix and vagina was noted, and utero-vaginal agenesis was diagnosed in 6 patients. Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome with its female phenotype associated with bilateral testicular tissue in the inguinal canal with an accompanying absence of the ovaries, uterus, uterine tubes, vagina, and an imperforate hymen, was diagnosed in one patient. Clinical examination of all the patients revealed well-developed secondary sexual characteristics. A modified McIndoe vaginoplasty procedure was the surgical treatment common to all patients to treat vaginal agenesis. The surgery was performed by a consultant (Dr. K.G. Paul) using the standardized surgical technique. RESULTS: An unusual Mullerian duct anomaly, uterus bicornisacollis, was successfully corrected by uteroplasty and a new cervix was constructed. Complete vaginal agenesis was corrected by a modified McIndoe vaginoplasty technique. None of the patients had any significant post-operative complications. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of congenital uterovaginal abnormalities diagnosed in this study is essential for surgeons, clinical anatomists, radiologists, and morphologists who may increase the success of their diagnostic evaluations and surgical approaches to the region.