The evolution of lung computed tomography findings in COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023: more signs of co-infection.

Significant changes were observed in the lung imaging of hospitalised COVID-19 patients from 2020 to 2023, with the emergence of more signs of co-infection https://bit.ly/3TaQlJ2.

Acute heart failure in elderly patients admitted to the emergency department with acute dyspnea: a multimarker approach diagnostic study.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Diagnosing acute heart failure (AHF) is difficult in elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-I (Hs-cTnI), soluble ST2 (ST2), galectin-3 and CD146 alone and in combination for diagnosing AHF in elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective, multicenter study performed between September 2016 and January 2020, including elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department of 6 French hospitals. INTERVENTION: Measurement of NT-proBNP, hs-cTnI, ST2, galectin-3 and CD146. OUTCOME MEASURE AND ANALYSIS: The reference standard, AHF, was adjudicated by two independent physicians based on ED and hospitalization clinical, biological (excluding biomarkers), radiological and echocardiography data (performed by a cardiologist in the cardiology department specifically for this study). Three exploratory methods (two using a cross-sectional approach with logistic regression and counting all biomarker combinations, and one using a sequential approach with gray zone optimizations) were applied to create comprehensive combinations of the 5 biomarkers for measuring diagnostic accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-eight patients (median age of 85 years, IQR = 8) were analyzed, and 110 (46%) were diagnosed with AHF. The accuracies of NT-proBNP, CD146, hs-cTnI, galectin-3, and ST2 were 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.77], 0.63 (95% CI 0.57-0.69), 0.59 (95% CI 0.53-0.65), 0.55 (95% CI 0.49-0.61) and 0.51 (95% CI 0.45-0.57), respectively. Regardless of the approach used or how the 5 biomarkers were combined, the best accuracy for diagnosing AHF (0.73, 95% CI 0.67-0.78) did not differ from that of NT-proBNP alone. CONCLUSION: In this study, NT-proBNP alone exhibited the best diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing AHF in elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency departments. None of the other biomarkers alone or combined improved the accuracy compared to NT-proBNP, which is the only biomarker to use in this setting.

Remote sensing-enabled machine learning for river water quality modeling under multidimensional uncertainty.

Two fundamental problems have inhibited progress in the simulation of river water quality under climate (and other) uncertainty: 1) insufficient data, and 2) the inability of existing models to account for the complexity of factors (e.g., hydro-climatic, basin characteristics, land use features) affecting river water quality. To address these concerns this study presents a technique for augmenting limited ground-based observations of water quality variables with remote-sensed surface reflectance data by leveraging a machine learning model capable of accommodating the multidimensionality of water quality influences. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) can serve as a surrogate for chemical and biological pollutants of concern in surface water bodies. Historically, TSS data collection in the United States has been limited to the location of water treatment plants where state or federal agencies conduct regularly-scheduled water sampling. Mathematical models relating riverine TSS concentration to the explanatory factors have therefore been limited and the relationships between climate extremes and water contamination events have not been effectively diagnosed. This paper presents a method to identify these issues by utilizing a Long Short-Term Memory Network (LSTM) model trained on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite reflectance data, which is calibrated to TSS data collected by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). The methodology developed enables a thorough empirical analysis and data-driven algorithms able to account for spatial variability within the watershed and provide effective water quality prediction under uncertainty.

A guide to the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network data ecosystem.

Characterizing cellular diversity at different levels of biological organization and across data modalities is a prerequisite to understanding the function of cell types in the brain. Classification of neurons is also essential to manipulate cell types in controlled ways and to understand their variation and vulnerability in brain disorders. The BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) is an integrated network of data-generating centers, data archives, and data standards developers, with the goal of systematic multimodal brain cell type profiling and characterization. Emphasis of the BICCN is on the whole mouse brain with demonstration of prototype feasibility for human and nonhuman primate (NHP) brains. Here, we provide a guide to the cellular and spatial approaches employed by the BICCN, and to accessing and using these data and extensive resources, including the BRAIN Cell Data Center (BCDC), which serves to manage and integrate data across the ecosystem. We illustrate the power of the BICCN data ecosystem through vignettes highlighting several BICCN analysis and visualization tools. Finally, we present emerging standards that have been developed or adopted toward Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) neuroscience. The combined BICCN ecosystem provides a comprehensive resource for the exploration and analysis of cell types in the brain.

Delayed diagnosis of pneumonia in the emergency department: factors associated and prognosis.

Introduction: Whether a delayed diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the emergency department (ED) is associated with worse outcome is uncertain. We sought factors associated with a delayed diagnosis of CAP in the ED and those associated with in-hospital mortality. Methods: Retrospective study including all inpatients admitted to an ED (Dijon University Hospital, France) from 1 January to 31 December 2019, and hospitalized with a diagnosis of CAP. Patients diagnosed with CAP in the ED (n = 361, early diagnosis) were compared with those diagnosed later, in the hospital ward, after the ED visit (n = 74, delayed diagnosis). Demographic, clinical, biological and radiological data were collected upon admission to the ED, as well as administered therapies and outcomes including in-hospital mortality. Results: 435 inpatients were included: 361 (83%) with an early and 74 (17%) with a delayed diagnosis. The latter less frequently required oxygen (54 vs. 77%; p < 0.001) and were less likely to have a quick-SOFA score ≥ 2 (20 vs. 32%; p = 0.056). Absence of chronic neurocognitive disorders, of dyspnea, and of radiological signs of pneumonia were independently associated with a delayed diagnosis. Patients with a delayed diagnosis less frequently received antibiotics in the ED (34 vs. 75%; p < 0.001). However, a delayed diagnosis was not associated with in-hospital mortality after adjusting on initial severity. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis of pneumonia was associated with a less severe clinical presentation, lack of obvious signs of pneumonia on chest X-ray, and delayed antibiotics initiation, but was not associated with worse outcome.

[Inappropriate admissions of Ehpad residents to emergency departments]. / Admissions inappropriées des résidents d'Ehpad aux urgences.

After a review of inappropriate admissions of residents of residential care facilities for the dependent elderly (Ehpad) to the emergency room, we propose ways to reduce them. They include giving the coordinating physician a clinical role, organizing continuity and permanence of care in all Ehpad, signing agreements between Ehpad and hospital for direct hospitalization and collaboration with mobile teams and geriatric hotlines, generalizing the level of medical intervention in Ehpad, and deepening the training of Ehpad caregivers in geriatrics.

Brain Data Standards - A method for building data-driven cell-type ontologies.

Large-scale single-cell 'omics profiling is being used to define a complete catalogue of brain cell types, something that traditional methods struggle with due to the diversity and complexity of the brain. But this poses a problem: How do we organise such a catalogue - providing a standard way to refer to the cell types discovered, linking their classification and properties to supporting data? Cell ontologies provide a partial solution to these problems, but no existing ontology schemas support the definition of cell types by direct reference to supporting data, classification of cell types using classifications derived directly from data, or links from cell types to marker sets along with confidence scores. Here we describe a generally applicable schema that solves these problems and its application in a semi-automated pipeline to build a data-linked extension to the Cell Ontology representing cell types in the Primary Motor Cortex of humans, mice and marmosets. The methods and resulting ontology are designed to be scalable and applicable to similar whole-brain atlases currently in preparation.

Rapidly spreading deep dissecting hematoma occurring 1 month after a minor trauma: A case report.

A deep dissecting hematoma is the most serious complication of dermatoporosis, consisting of a rapidly expanding blood collection that splits the hypodermis from the muscle fascia. A several-week time lapse between a minor trauma-induced superficial hematoma and its sudden evolution into a rapidly spreading deep dissecting hematoma is unusual. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with long-term oral anticoagulation and dermatoporosis who suddenly developed a rapidly spreading right-leg deep dissecting hematoma 1 month after minor trauma, for which a surgical debridement and drainage were performed. Only local care and absorbent dressings were used to manage the post-operative wound, and within 4 months, the wound had healed. In this report, we emphasize the importance of preventing deep dissecting hematoma in patients who are at risk as well as the need to weigh the benefits and risks of anticoagulants when dermatoporosis cutaneous signs are present. A limb-threatening deep dissecting hematoma may develop suddenly, even weeks after a minor impact. In order to prevent skin necrosis from occurring, caregivers, patients, and carers must be able to identify this condition early on.

Septic patients without obvious signs of infection at baseline are more likely to die in the ICU.

OBJECTIVE: Early identification of sepsis is mandatory. However, clinical presentation is sometimes misleading given the lack of infection signs. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact on the 28-day mortality of the so-called "vague" presentation of sepsis. DESIGN: Single centre retrospective observational study. SETTING: One teaching hospital Intensive Care Unit. SUBJECTS: All the patients who presented at the Emergency Department (ED) and were thereafter admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a final diagnosis of sepsis were included in this retrospective observational three-year study. They were classified as having exhibited either "vague" or explicit presentation at the ED according to previously suggested criteria. Baseline characteristics, infection main features and sepsis management were compared. The impact of a vague presentation on 28-day mortality was then evaluated. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among the 348 included patients, 103 (29.6%) had a vague sepsis presentation. Underlying chronic diseases were more likely in those patients [e.g., peripheral arterial occlusive disease: adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 2.01, (1.08-3.77) 95% confidence interval (CI); p = 0.028], but organ failure was less likely at the ED [SOFA score value: 4.7 (3.2) vs. 5.2 (3.1), p = 0.09]. In contrast, 28-day mortality was higher in the vague presentation group (40.8% vs. 26.9%, p = 0.011), along with longer time-to-diagnosis [18 (31) vs. 4 (11) h, p < 0.001], time-to-antibiotics [20 (32) vs. 7 (12) h, p < 0.001] and time to ICU admission [71 (159) vs. 24 (69) h, p < 0.001]. Whatever, such a vague presentation independently predicted 28-day mortality [aOR = 2.14 (1.24-3.68) 95% CI; p = 0.006]. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one third of septic patient requiring ICU had a vague presentation at the ED. Despite an apparent lower level of severity when initially assessed, those patients had an increased risk of mortality that could not be fully explained by delayed diagnosis and management of sepsis.

Effectiveness of a Multifaceted Informational-Based and Text Message Reminders on Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccinations in Hospital Emergency Departments: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted procedure in improving pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations 6 months after an emergency department (ED) visit among patients aged 65 years and older. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized, controlled, parallel-group, open-label implementation trial in 18 EDs in France and Monaco. Participants were recruited from November 2015 to September 2016. EDs were randomly assigned with a 1:1 ratio to provide either a multifaceted procedure that combined structured information about pneumococcal and influenza vaccines and three text message reminders sent to patients every two weeks (intervention arm) or nonstructured information only (control arm). The outcomes were self-reported pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination rates within 6 months of enrollment. RESULTS: A total of 9 EDs were randomized to the intervention arm (n = 780 patients) and 9 to the control arm (n = 695 patients). The median age for all enrolled patients was 74 years (25-75th percentiles, 69 to 82): 50.1% were male, 34.9% had at least one underlying condition, and 30.7% were at risk for invasive pneumococcal infection. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the multifaceted intervention did not alter the pneumococcal vaccination rate (6.4% versus 4.6%, absolute difference: 1.8; 95% CI: [-0.9 to 4.4]; p = 0.19), whereas it improved the influenza vaccination rate (52.1% versus 40.0%, absolute difference: 12.1; 95% CI: [2.4 to 21.8]; p = 0.01). At 12 months, mortality did not differ between the intervention (9.7%) and control (11.2%) arms (p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted intervention based on text message reminders provides an opportunity to increase anti-influenza vaccination among elderly patients visiting the ED. Efforts are warranted to provide better information on pneumococcal diseases and the benefits of pneumococcal vaccines, especially in the elderly.

[EDS and diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema]. / SAU et diagnostic de l'œdème pulmonaire cardiogénique.

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in the elderly does not differ fundamentally from that seen in the young patient. Appropriate pathways must be established, with regular nursing follow-up, to enable rapid detection and treatment of episodes of acute heart failure. The paramedical team plays an essential role in liaising with families, providing nursing care and listening to the patient at the bedside.

Prognostic value of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the early prognostic value of suPAR in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a post-hoc analysis from a multicenter study including patients with a chest pain < 6 h, suPAR concentrations at ED admission were studied according to the outcome at 30-days. RESULTS: 198 patients (median age 56 years) in whom 16% had an ACS, were included. Fifteen (7.3%) patients presented a 30-day event. At ED admission, median (IQR) suPAR concentrations were higher in patients with a 30-day event in comparison to patients without event (4.54 (3.09-8.61) vs. 2.72 (2.10-3.43) ng/mL, p < 0.001). The ROC curve AUC of suPAR for the prediction of a 30-days event was 0.775 [95%CI: 0.710-0.831]. The optimal threshold was 3.3 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 73 [45-92] % and a specificity of 72 [65-79] %. The association of a suPAR < 3.3 ng/mL AND a NT-proBNP < 160 ng/L AND a HEART score < 4 had a negative predictive value of 99 [91-100] %. A suPAR value at admission above 3.3 ng/mL was independently and significantly associated with a 30-day event in chest pain emergency patients (OR 4.87 [1.35-17.51], p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: suPAR is a promising biomarker for early prediction of events in chest pain emergency patients.

Troponin Elevation in Older Patients with Acute Pneumonia: Frequency and Prognostic Value.

Cardiovascular (CV) events are particularly frequent after acute pneumonia (AP) in the elderly. We aimed to assess whether cardiac troponin I, a specific biomarker of myocardial injury, independently predicts CV events and death after AP in older inpatients. Among 214 consecutive patients with AP aged ≥75 years admitted to a university hospital, 171 with a cardiac troponin I sample in the 72 h following diagnosis of AP were included, and 71 (42%) were found to have myocardial injury (troponin > 100 ng/L). Patients with and without myocardial injury were similar in terms of age, gender and comorbidities, but those with myocardial injury had more severe clinical presentation (median (interquartile range) Pneumonia Severity Index: 60 (40-95) vs. 45 (30-70), p = 0.003). Myocardial injury was strongly associated with in-hospital myocardial infarction (25% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), CV mortality (11 vs. 1%, p = 0.003) and all-cause mortality (34 vs. 13%, p = 0.002). After adjustment for confounders, myocardial injury remained a strong predictive factor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.32 (1.42-7.73), p = 0.005) but not one-year mortality (1.61 (0.77-3.35), p = 0.2). Cardiac troponin I elevation, a specific biomarker of myocardial injury, was found in nearly half of an unselected cohort of older inpatients with AP and was associated with a threefold risk of in-hospital death.

Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein for Bacterial Infection Diagnosis in Elderly Patients After Traumatic Orthopedic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers prove valuable for diagnosing postoperative bacterial infection, but data in elderly patients are scarce. Here we analyze how procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) perform for bacterial infection diagnosis after traumatic orthopedic surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: We included all patients admitted to our perioperative geriatrics unit after traumatic orthopedic surgery. Patients on antibiotics, presenting preoperative bacterial infection, or without procalcitonin measurement were excluded. Clinical and biological data were collected prospectively. Medical charts were reviewed by three experts blinded to biomarker results to assess bacterial infection diagnosis. Areas under the curve and 90%-specificity thresholds were analyzed for baseline procalcitonin and CRP levels and relative variations. RESULTS: Analysis included 229 patients (median age 86 years, hip fracture 83%), of which 40 had bacterial infection (pneumonia [n = 23], urinary tract infection [n = 8]; median delay to onset: 2 days post-admission). For bacterial infection diagnosis, the computed areas under the curve were not significantly different (procalcitonin-baseline 0.64 [95% confidence interval: 0.57-0.70]; procalcitonin-relative variation 0.65 [0.59-0.71]; CRP-baseline 0.68 [0.61-0.74]; CRP-relative variation 0.70 [0.64-0.76]). The 90%-specificity thresholds were 0.75 µg/L for procalcitonin-baseline, +62% for procalcitonin-variation, 222 mg/L for CRP-baseline, +111% for CRP-variation. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic performances of procalcitonin and CRP were not significantly different. Baseline levels and relative variations of these biomarkers showed little diagnostic value after traumatic orthopedic surgery in elderly patients.

Type 1 or Type 2 Myocardial Infarction in Patients with a History of Coronary Artery Disease: Data from the Emergency Department.

A type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) is the result of an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand, without acute atherothrombosis. T2MI is frequent in emergency departments (ED), but has not been extensively evaluated in patients with previously known coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study assessed the incidence and characteristics of T2MI compared to type 1 (T1MI) in CAD patients admitted to an ED. Among 33,669 consecutive patients admitted to the ED, 2830 patients with T1MI or T2MI were systematically included after prospective adjudication by the attending clinician according to the universal definition. Among them, 619 (22%) patients had a history of CAD. Using multivariable analysis, CAD history was found to be an independent predictive factor of T2MI versus T1MI (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.38 (1.08-1.77), p = 0.01). Among CAD patients, those with T2MI (n = 254) were older (median age: 82 vs. 72 years, p < 0.001), and had more frequent comorbidities and more frequent three-vessel disease at the coronary angiography (56% vs. 43%, p = 0.015). Percutaneous coronary intervention was by far less frequent after T2MI than after T1MI (28% vs. 67%, p < 0.001), and in-hospital mortality was twice as high in T2MI (15% vs. 7% for T1MI, p < 0.001). Among biomarkers, the C reactive protein (CRP)/troponin Ic ratio predicted T2MI remarkably well (C-statistic (95% confidence interval) = 0.84 (0.81-0.87, p < 0.001). In a large unselected cohort of MI patients in the ED, a quarter of patients had previous CAD, which was associated with a 40% higher risk of T2MI. CRP/troponin ratios could be used to help distinguish T2MI from T1MI.