Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. SETTING: 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. INTERVENTIONS: None. VARIABLES: Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. RESULTS: 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission <6.5%, and thrombocytopenia whereas the use of lopinavir/ritonavir was a protective factor. CONCLUSION: Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor.

Precaución con el uso de dexametasona en pacientes con COVID-19 en sus fases iniciales / Caution with the use of dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 in its initial phases

Introducción El efecto de la dexametasona en la fase inicial de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 y su influencia sobre la COVID-19 no está bien definido. Describimos las características clínico-radiológicas, los parámetros de tormenta de citoquinas y la evolución clínica de una serie de pacientes tratados con dexametasona en la fase inicial de la enfermedad. Método Estudio de 8 pacientes que recibieron dexametasona previo al desarrollo de la COVID-19. Evaluamos variables clínicas, pruebas de imagen, parámetros de liberación de citoquinas, tratamiento empleado y su evolución. Resultados Todos los pacientes recibieron una dosis de 6mg/día con una duración media de 4,5 días previos al ingreso. La mayoría de los pacientes presentaron una extensión grave en la tomografía computarizada de alta resolución (TCAR) y una elevación leve de los parámetros de liberación de citoquinas; 3 pacientes requirieron oxigenoterpia nasal de alto flujo (ONAF) por insuficiencia respiratoria, y ningún paciente requirió intubación orotraqueal ni falleció. Conclusión La dexametasona en las fases iniciales de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 parece asociarse con una COVID-19 grave (AU)

Introduction The effect of dexamethasone in the initial phase of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its influence on COVID-19 is not well defined. We describe clinical-radiological characteristics, the cytokine storm parameters, and the clinical evolution of a series of patients treated with dexamethasone in the disease's initial phase. Method A study of 8 patients who received dexamethasone before the development of COVID-19. We evaluate clinical variables, imaging tests, cytokine release parameters, treatment used and patient evolution. Results All patients received a 6mg/day dose with a mean duration of 4.5 days before admission. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed that most of them presented a severe extension; most patients had a slightly elevated level of cytokine release parameters. Three patients required high-flow oxygen therapy due to respiratory failure; none required orotracheal intubation or died. Conclusion Dexamethasone in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be associated with severe COVID-19 (AU)

Caution with the use of dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 in its initial phases.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of dexamethasone in the initial phase of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its influence on COVID-19 is not well defined. We describe clinical-radiological characteristics, the cytokine storm parameters, and the clinical evolution of a series of patients treated with dexamethasone in the disease's initial phase. METHOD: A study of 8 patients who received dexamethasone before the development of COVID-19. We evaluate clinical variables, imaging tests, cytokine release parameters, treatment used and patient evolution. RESULTS: All patients received a 6 mg/day dose with a mean duration of 4.5 days before admission. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed that most of them presented a severe extension; most patients had a slightly elevated level of cytokine release parameters. Three patients required high-flow oxygen therapy due to respiratory failure; none required orotracheal intubation or died. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be associated with severe COVID-19.

Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. SETTING: 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. INTERVENTIONS: None. VARIABLES: Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. RESULTS: 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission <6.5%, and thrombocytopenia whereas the use of lopinavir/ritonavir was a protective factor. CONCLUSION: Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor.

[Caution with the use of dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 in its initial phases]. / Precaución con el uso de dexametasona en pacientes con COVID-19 en sus fases iniciales.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of dexamethasone in the initial phase of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its influence on COVID-19 is not well defined. We describe clinical-radiological characteristics, the cytokine storm parameters, and the clinical evolution of a series of patients treated with dexamethasone in the disease's initial phase. METHOD: A study of 8 patients who received dexamethasone before the development of COVID-19. We evaluate clinical variables, imaging tests, cytokine release parameters, treatment used and patient evolution. RESULTS: All patients received a 6 mg/day dose with a mean duration of 4.5 days before admission. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed that most of them presented a severe extension; most patients had a slightly elevated level of cytokine release parameters. Three patients required high-flow oxygen therapy due to respiratory failure; none required orotracheal intubation or died. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be associated with severe COVID-19.

Uncertainty calculation methods in dose assessment for dicentric chromosome assay.

Purpose: To present the impact in coverage of different methods for Poisson confidence intervals and the impact in dose coverage of different uncertainty factors. A detailed explanation of the uncertainty sources in the Bayesian method is also presented.Materials and methods: The exact coverage of uncertainty Poisson confidence intervals and the dose uncertainty interval coverage were performed by simulations using R-based scripts.Results: The Poisson exact calibration interval via the Modified Crow and Gardner method resulted in coverage quite close to the nominal level of confidence; additionally, the method retains the shortest property of Crow and Gardner, and gains the property of a lower limit strictly increasing in the mean of dicentrics. The unlimited simultaneous calibration interval seems to be the method of choice to preserve the coverage at 95% under parametric and nonparametric conditions but is a conservative method. When samples came from a Poisson distribution, the ISO propagation of errors and Bayesian approaches seem to be the closest to the 95% coverage.Conclusions: The Modified Crow and Gardner method should be preferred over the Garwood method for Poisson exact confidence intervals. The unlimited simultaneous calibration interval did not lose its property to preserve the coverage at 95% applying a regression coverage factor of value 2.02 at the point of doses studied in the simulation.

Short-Term Outcomes of 100 Consecutive Kidney Transplantations in a 3-Year Period: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: The results of kidney transplantation have improved significantly in the last decade with patient and graft survival rates that range from 92% to 95%. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical results in the last 100 consecutive patients with a follow-up of 6-42 months at our institution. We also made a general evaluation of the patients before surgery as candidates for transplantation and divided them into 3 groups (good, moderate, and poor). RESULTS: We had 8 living donors and 92 cadaveric kidney transplantation cases. Principal cause of donor death was cerebrovascular disease accounting for 64%. Mean age of recipients was 55.1 ± 12.9 years with a total of 65 males. Currently there are 96 functioning allografts. During this 3-year period, 2 patients suffered graft loss and 2 patients died with a functioning allograft. We studied whether there were statistically significant differences in renal function (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Equation [MDRD]) at 12 months and at last visit with respect to the evaluation of recipient as candidate for renal transplantation. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest great improvement of early results of renal transplantation in recent years, including complex cases. In this 3-year period we had a patient survival rate of 98% and a graft survival rate of 96% of cases. Further dedicated prospective studies that aim to evaluate or to propose possible recipient-related predictors for kidney transplantation outcomes in different populations are needed.

Mujer de 42 años con pancitopenia / A 42 year-old woman with pancytopenia

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Do knowledge of uterine artery resistance in the second trimester and targeted surveillance improve maternal and perinatal outcome? UTOPIA study: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by uterine artery (UtA) Doppler in the second trimester of pregnancy and targeted surveillance improve maternal and perinatal outcomes in an unselected population. METHODS: This was a multicenter randomized open-label controlled trial. At the routine second-trimester anomaly scan, women were assigned randomly to UtA Doppler or non-Doppler groups. Women with abnormal UtA Doppler were offered intensive surveillance at high-risk clinics of the participating centers with visits every 4 weeks that included measurement of maternal blood pressure, dipstick proteinuria, fetal growth and Doppler examination. The primary outcome was a composite score for perinatal complications, defined as the presence of any of the following: PE, IUGR, spontaneous labor < 37 weeks' gestation, placental abruption, stillbirth, gestational hypertension, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal complications. Secondary outcomes were a composite score for maternal complications (disseminated intravascular coagulation, maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, sepsis), and medical interventions (for example, corticosteroid administration and induction of labor) in patients developing placenta-related complications. RESULTS: In total, 11 667 women were included in the study. Overall, PE occurred in 348 (3.0%) cases, early-onset PE in 48 (0.4%), IUGR in 722 (6.2%), early-onset IUGR in 93 (0.8%) and early-onset PE with IUGR in 32 (0.3%). UtA mean pulsatility index > 90(th) percentile was able to detect 59% of early-onset PE and 60% of early-onset IUGR with a false-positive rate of 11.1%. When perinatal and maternal data according to assigned group (UtA Doppler vs non-Doppler) were compared, no differences were found in perinatal or maternal complications. However, screened patients had more medical interventions, such as corticosteroid administration (relative risk (RR), 1.79 (95% CI, 1.4-2.3)) and induction of labor for IUGR (RR, 1.36 (95% CI, 1.07-1.72)). In women developing PE or IUGR, there was a trend towards fewer maternal complications (RR, 0.46 (95% CI, 0.19-1.11)). CONCLUSIONS: Routine second-trimester UtA Doppler ultrasound in an unselected population identifies approximately 60% of women at risk for placental complications; however, application of this screening test failed to improve short-term maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

¿Es el hábito tabáquico un factor determinante en la lactancia materna? / Is the smoking habit a determining factor in breastfeeding?

En España, las tasas de lactancia son bajas respecto a lo recomendado por la OMS. La relación entre tabaquismo y lactancia sigue siendo incierta, pero parece dificultarla. El objetivo de este estudio es clarificar el estado actual de la evidencia sobre la influencia del tabaquismo en la lactancia materna. Material y métodos. Revisión bibliográfica en Cochrane Library en español, PubMed, Cuiden y SCielo de publicaciones previas al año 2000. Resultados. Fumar se asocia con menores tasas de inicio de la lactancia y con una menor duración de la misma. La nicotina influye negativamente en la producción de leche, pero los factores sociales parecen ser los más influyentes en el éxito de la lactancia. La lactancia en mujeres fumadoras es más segura que combinar tabaquismo con fórmula artificial. La intervención educativa para modificar las actitudes maternas parece favorecer la lactancia en mujeres fumadoras. Conclusiones. Se necesitan más investigaciones sobre los efectos de la lactancia cuando la madre es fumadora. La lactancia materna es la opción más beneficiosa incluso en mujeres fumadoras (AU)

Lactation rates in Spain are lower than WHO recommendation. The relationship between smoking and breastfeeding is still uncertain but it looks to make it difficult. The aim of this study is to clarify the evidence state about the smoking influence on breastfeeding. Methods. Evidence review was conducted in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Cuiden and SCielo databases. Publications from year 2000 were considered. Results. Smoking is associated with lower rates in breastfeeding initiation and duration. Nicotine has a negative effect on milk production, but social factors seem to be the most important in breastfeeding success. Lactation in smoking women is safer than the smoke exposition combined with formula. Educative interventions to modify maternal attitude seems to facilitate breastfeeding in smoking women. Conclusions. Further investigation about breastfeeding in smoking women is needed. Breastfeeding is the best option even in smoking mothers (AU)

[Arreflexic coma and MELAS syndrome]. / Coma arrefléxico en el síndrome de MELAS.

MELAS is a progressive neurodegenerative and fatal disease characterized by mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes. It is the result of a mitochondrial DNA mutation. Although the incidence of MELAS is currently unknown, it is suspected that approximately 1 out of every 5,000 persons world-wide have some type of defect in mitochondrial DNA. Cardinal clinical features observed in more than 90% of the patients include severe headache that may be associated with stroke-like episodes, seizures and the onset of symptoms before the age of 40 years. Diagnosis is established through genetic test or by with muscle biopsies that reveal the presence of ragged-red fibers. Prognosis is poor, with death at an early age. In this article, we present the clinical case of a 31-year old women diagnosed of MELAS syndrome who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of our hospital with arreflexic coma.

Riñón pélvico. tumoración pélvica en el puerperio / Pelvic kidney. Pelvic tumors in puerperium

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Gangrena de Fournier / Fournier's gangrene

Introducción. La gangrena de Fournier es una infección necrosante subcutánea de origen urogenital o anorrectal, que afecta a la zona genital, perineo y pared anterior del abdomen en la que están implicados gérmenes aerobios y anaerobios. Es una enfermedad poco frecuente, pero potencialmente letal. Pacientes y métodos. Estudiamos de forma retrospectiva 10 casos de gangrena de Fournier, desde 1994 hasta 1999. En la recogida de datos figuran: filiación, edad y sexo, antecedentes patológicos, factores predisponentes, causas, clínica, analítica, tratamiento médico y quirúrgico, gérmenes, antibioterapia, estancia, ingreso en UCI y resultados. Resultados. Todos los pacientes eran varones, con una edad media de 65 años. Todos tenían importante patología orgánica de base y presentaban factores predisponentes, destacando la diabetes mellitus (6 casos) seguida del consumo crónico de alcohol (5 casos). La etiología fue: absceso perianal (3 casos), instrumentación urológica o rectal (2 casos), enfermedades genitourinarias (2 casos), idiopática (2 casos) y traumatismo (un caso). La clínica fue similar, con una zona de celulitis inicial, con dolor local en el escroto y posterior diseminación perineal, con crepitación y cuadro febril. Todos presentaban leucocitosis franca. En todos los pacientes se instauró antibioterapia y se realizó desbridamiento en una o varias sesiones, así como medidas de soporte metabólico y nutricional. En 3 casos se realizó íleo-colostomía derivativa y en 2 casos cistostomía suprapúbica. El germen más aislado fue E. coli, seguido de Bacteroides. En la antibioterapia destaca el uso de piperacilina/tazobactam. La estancia media fue d 27 días. Cinco pacientes requirieron su ingreso en la UCI. Fallecieron 4 pacientes (40 por ciento), con un denominador común de sepsis; de ellos dos llevaban estoma (colostomía).Conclusiones. La gangrena de Fournier es una enfermedad de alta morbimortalidad, especialmente en pacientes mayores, con factores predisponentes como diabetes y alcoholismo y cuya causa desencadenante es una enfermedad perirrectal o urogenital, que no ha sido tratada correctamente. El pronóstico es incierto, llegando nuestra serie a una mortalidad del 40 por ciento, por lo que el diagnóstico precoz y la terapéutica temprana y agresiva son esenciales (desbridamiento quirúrgico, antibióticos de amplio espectro y cuidados intensivos) (AU)

Amniotic fluid phospholipids. New predictive values of L/S and PG/S ratios.

The lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio after cold acetone precipitation is widely used to predict fetal lung maturity. The separation of saturated lecithin, the main component of surfactant, is the basis for using the precipitation procedure but there is still a controversy as to whether cold acetone precipitable lecithin can be equated with saturated lecithin. Following up a previous paper in which the effect of cold acetone precipitation on phospholipids of amniotic fluid was studied, the present work reports that non-precipitated L/S and phosphatidylglycerol/sphingomyelin (PG/S) ratios correlate well with the precipitated L/S ratio (r = 0.93, r = 0.84, n = 92). The predictive value of both non-precipitated L/S and PG/S ratios has been studied when a "positive" result predicts a precipitated L/S ratio > or = 2.0, and proposes a L/S ratio > or = 4.7 and a PG/S ratio > or = 0.8 to predict fetal lung maturity, when cold acetone precipitation step is omitted.