Inflammatory profile of keratoconic corneal epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have presented inflammatory features on keratoconus (KC) and many inflammatory markers are described in the tears of patients with this disease. The KC pathogenesis is still unknown just like the correlation with inflammatory patterns. However, environmental and genetic issues may be part of the progress of KC. In addition, some systemic features, such as allergy and obesity, seem to be related to the progression of KC. Our purpose was to evaluate the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), chemokines ligand 2 (CCL-2) and 5 (CCL-5), and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8) on corneal epithelial cells and blood of patients with KC and in healthy controls. In addition, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was evaluated to predict inflammation. METHODS: This including prospective observational study included 32 KC patients who underwent corneal crosslinking (CXL) and 32 control patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Patients' corneal epithelial cells were removed surgically, and blood (buffy coat) was analyzed. Samples in triplicate were evaluated on rt-PCR for neuropeptides (VIP e NPY), interleukins (IL-6 e IL-8), and chemokines (CCL-2 and CCL-5). RESULTS: Our study showed statistically higher CCL-5 and IL-8 on corneal epithelial cells in patients with KC. Blood cells were statistically higher in VIP and NPY in the KC group. Interleukin-8 on blood cells was statistically significant in KC'S group; for CCL-2 and CCL-5 they were statistically lower in patients with KC compared with controls. NLR showed no difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the findings of other studies that suggested altering KC status, such as inflammatory corneal disease. The presence of IL-8 in the cornea and blood samples of KC's group suggested systemic disease with a possible local or repercussion action. Further studies are warranted to elucidate KC pathogenesis and its correlation to systemic disease.

Aging-related predictive factors for oxygenation improvement and mortality in COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients exposed to prone position: A multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients are more susceptible to Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and are more likely to develop it in severe forms, (e.g., Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome [ARDS]). Prone positioning is a treatment strategy for severe ARDS; however, its response in the elderly population remains poorly understood. The main objective was to evaluate the predictive response and mortality of elderly patients exposed to prone positioning due to ARDS-COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study involved 223 patients aged ≥ 65 years, who received prone position sessions for severe ARDS due to COVID-19, using invasive mechanical ventilation. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was used to assess the oxygenation response. The 20-point improvement in PaO2/FiO2 after the first prone session was considered for good response. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographic data, laboratory/image exams, complications, comorbidities, SAPS III and SOFA scores, use of anticoagulants and vasopressors, ventilator settings, and respiratory system mechanics. Mortality was defined as deaths that occurred until hospital discharge. RESULTS: Most patients were male, with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the most prevalent comorbidities. The non-responders group had higher SAPS III and SOFA scores, and a higher incidence of complications. There was no difference in mortality rate. A lower SAPS III score was a predictor of oxygenation response, and the male sex was a risk predictor of mortality. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests the oxygenation response to prone positioning in elderly patients with severe COVID-19-ARDS correlates with the SAPS III score. Furthermore, the male sex is a risk predictor of mortality.

Aging-related predictive factors for oxygenation improvement and mortality in COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients exposed to prone position: A multicenter cohort study

Abstract Background: Elderly patients are more susceptible to Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and are more likely to develop it in severe forms, (e.g., Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome [ARDS]). Prone positioning is a treatment strategy for severe ARDS; however, its response in the elderly population remains poorly understood. The main objective was to evaluate the predictive response and mortality of elderly patients exposed to prone positioning due to ARDS-COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study involved 223 patients aged ≥ 65 years, who received prone position sessions for severe ARDS due to COVID-19, using invasive mechanical ventilation. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was used to assess the oxygenation response. The 20-point improvement in PaO2/FiO2 after the first prone session was considered for good response. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographic data, laboratory/image exams, complications, comorbidities, SAPS III and SOFA scores, use of anticoagulants and vasopressors, ventilator settings, and respiratory system mechanics. Mortality was defined as deaths that occurred until hospital discharge. Results: Most patients were male, with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the most prevalent comorbidities. The non-responders group had higher SAPS III and SOFA scores, and a higher incidence of complications. There was no difference in mortality rate. A lower SAPS III score was a predictor of oxygenation response, and the male sex was a risk predictor of mortality. Conclusion: The present study suggests the oxygenation response to prone positioning in elderly patients with severe COVID-19-ARDS correlates with the SAPS III score. Furthermore, the male sex is a risk predictor of mortality.

Evolução clínica e sobrevida de pacientes neurocríticos / Evolución clínica y supervivencia de pacientes neurocríticos / Clinical evolution and survival of neurocritical patients

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a evolução clínica e sobrevida de pacientes neurocríticos em Unidades Hospitalares. Método Coorte com pacientes acompanhados no período de setembro de 2012 a junho de 2016, internados em hospitais públicos e privados. Os dados foram analisados inicialmente a partir da estatística descritiva e inferencial. Como forma de análise da sobrevida, foi aplicado o indicador de Kaplan-Meier. O modelo de regressão para riscos proporcionais de Cox foi empregado para a análise dos fatores prognósticos, calculando-se a razão de risco. Resultados Participaram do estudo 1.289 pacientes. Os que possuíam Escala de Coma de Glasgow com maior valor apresentaram maior sobrevida, e o incremento de um ponto no escore dessa Escala correspondeu a uma melhora de 42% em sua sobrevida. Na análise de sobrevida, o sexo e o uso de drogas vasoativas mostraram diferença significativa. Conclusão Pacientes do sexo feminino, que possuem melhor escore da Escala de Coma de Glasgow e em uso de drogas vasoativas apresentaram maior sobrevida.

RESUMEN Objetivo Evolución clínica y supervivencia de pacientes neurocríticos en Unidades Hospitalarias. Método Cohorte con pacientes seguidos en el período de septiembre de 2012 a junio de 2016, en estancia en hospitales públicos y privados. Los datos fueron analizados inicialmente mediante la estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Como modo de análisis de la supervivencia, se aplicó el indicador de Kaplan-Meier. El modelo de regresión para riesgos proporcionales de Cox fue empleado para el análisis de los factores pronósticos, calculándose la razón de riesgo. Resultados Participaron en el estudio 1.289 pacientes. Los que tenían Escala de Coma de Glasgow con mayor valor presentaron mayor supervivencia, y el incremento de un punto en el score de dicha Escala correspondió a un mejora del 42% en su supervivencia. En el análisis de supervivencia, el sexo y el uso de drogas vasoactivas mostraron diferencia significativa. Conclusión Pacientes del sexo femenino que tienen mejor score de la Escala de Coma de Glasgow y en uso de drogas vasoactivas presentaron mayor supervivencia.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the clinical evolution and survival of neurocritical patients in Hospital Units. Method Cohort with hospitalized patients in follow-up treatment in public and private hospitals between September 2012 and June 2016. Data were initially analyzed from descriptive and inferential statistics. The Kaplan-Meier indicator was applied as a form of survival analysis. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors by calculating the hazard ratio. Results Participation of 1,289 patients in the study. Patients with a higher score on the Glasgow Coma Scale presented greater survival, and the one-point increase in the scale score corresponded to 42% improvement in their survival. In the analysis of survival, sex and the use of vasoactive drugs showed a significant difference. Conclusion Female patients with a better score on the Glasgow Coma Scale and using vasoactive drugs had higher survival rates.

Clinical evolution and survival of neurocritical patients. / Evolução clínica e sobrevida de pacientes neurocríticos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical evolution and survival of neurocritical patients in Hospital Units. METHOD: Cohort with hospitalized patients in follow-up treatment in public and private hospitals between September 2012 and June 2016. Data were initially analyzed from descriptive and inferential statistics. The Kaplan-Meier indicator was applied as a form of survival analysis. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors by calculating the hazard ratio. RESULTS: Participation of 1,289 patients in the study. Patients with a higher score on the Glasgow Coma Scale presented greater survival, and the one-point increase in the scale score corresponded to 42% improvement in their survival. In the analysis of survival, sex and the use of vasoactive drugs showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION: Female patients with a better score on the Glasgow Coma Scale and using vasoactive drugs had higher survival rates.