Risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in oncological patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A case report and literature analysis.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (HBVr) represents a severe and potentially life-threatening condition, and preventive measures are available through blood test screening or prophylactic therapy administration. The assessment of HBVr traditionally considers factors such as HBV profile, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, along with type of medication (chemotherapy; immunomodulants). Nevertheless, consideration of possible patient's underlying tumor and the specific malignancy type (solid or hematologic) plays a crucial role and needs to be assessed for decision-making process.

Vasoactive drugs for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung diseases: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Vasoactive drugs have exhibited clinical efficacy in addressing pulmonary arterial hypertension, manifesting a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension may complicate advanced interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and is associated with high rates of disability, hospitalisation due to cardiac and respiratory illnesses, and mortality. Prior management hinged on treating the underlying lung disease and comorbidities. However, the INCREASE trial of inhaled treprostinil in PH-ILD has demonstrated that PH-ILD can be effectively treated with vasoactive drugs. METHODS: This comprehensive systematic review examines the evidence for vasoactive drugs in the management of PH-ILD. RESULTS: A total of 1442 pubblications were screened, 11 RCTs were considered for quantitative synthesis. Unfortunately, the salient studies are limited by population heterogeneity, short-term follow-up and the selection of outcomes with uncertain clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review underscores the necessity of establishing a precision medicine-oriented strategy, directed at uncovering and addressing the intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiology of PH-ILD. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023457482.

Comparative Analysis of Antithrombotic Therapy Outcomes in Mild Traumatic Brain-Injury Patients: A Focus on Bleeding Risk and Hospital-Stay Duration.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the elderly is a noteworthy pathology due to the exponential increase in population age, and the effects of antiplatelet and anticoagulation on patients' outcomes are still a matter of dispute. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of various antithrombotic agents on patients with mild TBI, focusing on the risk of intracranial bleeding (ICH) and length of hospitalization (LOS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted, including patients with a diagnosis of TBI admitted to the Emergency Department between 2021 and 2022. Patients were classified according to the concurrent antithrombotic therapy as aspirin (ASA), antiplatelets, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). The primary outcome was the ICH occurrence, while the secondary outcome was the LOS. The statistical analysis was performed via logistic regression models in R and STATA 13.1 software. Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical significance. RESULTS: 267 patients with mild TBI were included; 148 were not on antithrombotic agents, 43 were on aspirin, 33 on DOACs, 5 on LMWH, 22 on antiplatelets, and 16 on VKA. Out of the total, 9 patients experienced ICH, none of which were on DOACs, LMWH, or VKA, but 4-out of 65-were on antiplatelets, and 5-out of 148-were not on antithrombotic therapies. Patients not on antithrombotic therapy had the shortest LOS at 0.46 days, while those on VKA had the longest LOS at 1.19 days; similar trends were observed for patients on DOAC and LMWH. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal that TBI patients on anticoagulants/antiplatelets had longer hospital stays compared with those on aspirin alone. Notably, VKA was the strongest predictor for an extended LOS. Regarding ICH, patients taking only aspirin were twice as likely to experience bleeding compared with those on anticoagulants/antiplatelets. However, to achieve statistically significant evidence, further research with a larger cohort of patients is needed.

Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pregnancy.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a cardiac or pulmonary function support system that is used in cases of refractory organ failure in addition to conventional treatment. Currently, Level I evidence is not yet available, which reflects improved outcomes with ECMO in pregnant women, the use in pregnancy should be indicated in selected cases and only in specialized centers. We searched articles in the most important scientific databases from 2009 until 31 December 2023 consulting also the site ClinicalTrials.com to find out about studies that have been recently conducted or are currently ongoing. We matched the combination of the following keywords: "ECMO and pregnancy", "H1N1 and pregnancy", "COVID-19 and pregnancy", "ARDS and pregnancy", "ECMO and pregnancy AND (cardiac arrest)". We selected the following number of articles for each keyword combination: "ECMO and pregnancy" (665 articles); "ECMO and influenza H1N1" (384 articles); "pregnancy and influenza H1N1" (1006 articles); "pregnancy and ARDS" (2930 articles); "ECMO and pregnancy and ARDS and influenza H1N1" (24 articles); and "[ECMO and pregnancy AND (cardiac arrest)]" (74 articles). After careful inspection, only 43 papers fitted our scope. There are two types of ECMO: venous-venous (VV-ECMO) and venous-arterial (VA-ECMO). The first-one is necessary to cope with severe hypoxia: oxygen-depleted blood is taken from the venous circulation, oxygenated, and carbon dioxide removed from the extracorporeal circuit and returned to the same venous system. The VA-ECMO is a type of mechanical assistance to the circulatory system that allows to put the failing organ at rest by ensuring adequate oxygenation and systemic de-oxygenation, avoiding multi-organ failure. The main indications for ECMO support in pregnant women are cardiogenic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary embolism, and eclampsia. There are also fetal indications for ECMO, and they are fetal distress, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Until now, based on the outcomes of the numerous clinical studies conducted, ECMO has been shown to be a successful therapeutic strategy in cases where medical treatment has been unsuccessful. In well-selected pregnant patients, it appears to be safe and associated with a low risk of maternal and fetal complications. The aim of this review is to report the main properties of ECMO (VV and VA) and the indications for its use in pregnant women.

Expansion of memory Vδ2 T cells following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination revealed by temporal single-cell transcriptomics.

γδ T cells provide rapid cellular immunity against pathogens. Here, we conducted matched single-cell RNA-sequencing and γδ-TCR-sequencing to delineate the molecular changes in γδ T cells during a longitudinal study following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. While the first dose of vaccine primes Vδ2 T cells, it is the second administration that significantly boosts their immune response. Specifically, the second vaccination uncovers memory features of Vδ2 T cells, shaped by the induction of AP-1 family transcription factors and characterized by a convergent central memory signature, clonal expansion, and an enhanced effector potential. This temporally distinct effector response of Vδ2 T cells was also confirmed in vitro upon stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike-peptides. Indeed, the second challenge triggers a significantly higher production of IFNγ by Vδ2 T cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination might benefit from the establishment of long-lasting central memory Vδ2 T cells to confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Long-Term Outcomes in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is globally one of the major causes of hospitalization and mortality. Severe CAP (sCAP) presents great challenges and need a comprehensive understanding of its long-term outcomes. Cardiovascular events and neurological impairment, due to persistent inflammation and hypoxemia, contribute to long-term outcomes in CAP, including mortality. Very few data are available in the specific population of sCAP. Multiple studies have reported variable 1-year mortality rates for patients with CAP up to 40.7%, with a clear influence by age, comorbidities, and disease severity. In terms of treatment, the potential protective role of macrolides in reducing mortality emphasizes the importance of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. This narrative review explores the growing interest in the literature focusing on the long-term implications of sCAP. Improved understanding of long-term outcomes in sCAP can facilitate targeted interventions and enhance posthospitalization care protocols.

Geriatric Population Triage: The Risk of Real-Life Over- and Under-Triage in an Overcrowded ED: 4- and 5-Level Triage Systems Compared: The CREONTE (Crowding and R E Organization National TriagE) Study.

Elderly patients, when they present to the emergency department (ED) or are admitted to the hospital, are at higher risk of adverse outcomes such as higher mortality and longer hospital stays. This is mainly due to their age and their increased fragility. In order to minimize this already increased risk, adequate triage is of foremost importance for fragile geriatric (>75 years old) patients who present to the ED. The admissions of elderly patients from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 were examined, taking into consideration the presence of two different triage systems, a 4-level (4LT) and a 5-level (5LT) triage system. This study analyzes the difference in wait times and under- (UT) and over-triage (OT) in geriatric and general populations with two different triage models. Another outcome of this study was the analysis of the impact of crowding and its variables on the triage system during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 423,257 ED presentations were included. An increase in admissions of geriatric, more fragile, and seriously ill individuals was observed, and a progressive increase in crowding was simultaneously detected. Geriatric patients, when presenting to the emergency department, are subject to the problems of UT and OT in both a 4LT system and a 5LT system. Several indicators and variables of crowding increased, with a net increase in throughput and output factors, notably the length of stay (LOS), exit block, boarding, and processing times. This in turn led to an increase in wait times and an increase in UT in the geriatric population. It has indeed been shown that an increase in crowding results in an increased risk of UT, and this is especially true for 4LT compared to 5LT systems. When observing the pandemic period, an increase in admissions of older and more serious patients was observed. However, in the pandemic period, a general reduction in waiting times was observed, as well as an increase in crowding indices and intrahospital mortality. This study demonstrates how introducing a 5LT system enables better flow and patient care in an ED. Avoiding UT of geriatric patients, however, remains a challenge in EDs.

[ANMCO/SIMEU Consensus document on the use of reversal agents of antithrombotic therapies in patients with active bleeding or at high-risk of major bleeding events]. / Documento di consenso ANMCO/SIMEU sull'impiego degli agenti di reversione delle terapie antitrombotiche nei pazienti con sanguinamento in atto o ad alto rischio di eventi emorragici.

In recent decades, an incredible evolution in antithrombotic therapies for the treatment of patients suffering from atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism occurred, leading to the availability of increasingly safe drugs. However, bleeding complications associated with these drugs still have an important health, social and economic impact. Recently, with the aim of improving the acute management of patients with or at risk of major bleeding events, specific reversal agents of antithrombotic drugs have been developed. Although these agents have demonstrated their effectiveness in small pharmacodynamic studies or clinical trials, it is important to consider that the benefit of reversal of an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug must always be counterbalanced by the possible prothrombotic effect caused by the removal of antithrombotic protection as well as by prothrombotic mechanisms related to bleeding, major surgery or trauma.In this ANMCO/SIMEU consensus document we summarize the main characteristics and efficacy studies of the currently available reversal agents and present practical flow-charts in which we suggest their possible use in patients with active bleeding or at high risk of major bleeding events.

Adenoma detection rate in colonoscopy: how can it be improved?

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of widespread colonoscopy screening programs has helped in decreasing the incidence of Colorectal Cancer (CRC). However, 'back-to-back' colonoscopies revealed relevant percentage of missed adenomas. Quality indicators were created to further homogenize detection performances and decrease the incidence of post-colonoscopy CRC. Among them, the Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR), defined as the percentage obtained by dividing the number of endoscopic procedures in which at least one adenoma was resected, by the total number of procedures, was found to be inversely associated with the risks of interval colorectal cancer, advanced-stage interval cancer, and fatal interval cancer. AREAS COVERED: In this paper, we performed a comprehensive review of the literature focusing on promising new devices and technologies, which are meant to positively affect the endoscopist performance in detecting adenomas, therefore increasing ADR. EXPERT OPINION: Considering the current knowledge, although several devices and technologies have been proposed with this intent, the recent implementation of AI ranked over all of the other strategies and it is likely to become the new standard within few years. However, the combination of different device/technologies need to be investigated in the future aiming at even further increasing of endoscopist detection performances.

Efficacy and Safety of Reparixin in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: Polymorphonuclear cell influx into the interstitial and bronchoalveolar spaces is a cardinal feature of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), principally mediated by interleukin-8 (IL-8). We sought to determine whether reparixin, a novel IL-8 pathway inhibitor, could reduce disease progression in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: In this Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were randomized 2:1 to receive oral reparixin 1200 mg three times daily or placebo for up to 21 days or until hospital discharge. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28, with key secondary endpoints being the proportion of patients free of respiratory failure at Day 60, incidence of intensive care unit (ICU) admission by Day 28 and time to recovery by Day 28. RESULTS: Of 279 patients randomized, 182 received at least one dose of reparixin and 88 received placebo. The proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28 was similar in the two groups {83.5% versus 80.7%; odds ratio 1.63 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75, 3.51]; p = 0.216}. There were no statistically significant differences in the key secondary endpoints, but a numerically higher proportion of patients in the reparixin group were alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 60 (88.7% versus 84.6%; p = 0.195), fewer required ICU admissions by Day 28 (15.8% versus 21.7%; p = 0.168), and a higher proportion recovered by Day 28 compared with placebo (81.6% versus 74.9%; p = 0.167). Fewer patients experienced adverse events with reparixin than placebo (45.6% versus 54.5%), most mild or moderate intensity and not related to study treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This trial did not meet the primary efficacy endpoints, yet reparixin showed a trend toward limiting disease progression as an add-on therapy in COVID-19 severe pneumonia and was well tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04878055, EudraCT: 2020-005919-51.

Neuropathic Pain in the Emergency Setting: Diagnosis and Management.

Neuropathic pain, traditionally considered a chronic condition, is increasingly encountered in the emergency department (ED), accounting for approximately 20% of patients presenting with pain. Understanding the physiology and key clinical presentations of neuropathic pain is crucial for ED physicians to provide optimal treatment. While diagnosing neuropathic pain can be challenging, emphasis should be placed on obtaining a comprehensive medical history and conducting a thorough clinical examination. Patients often describe neuropathic pain as a burning or shock-like sensation, leading them to seek care in the ED after ineffective relief from common analgesics such as paracetamol and NSAIDs. Collaboration between emergency medicine specialists, neurologists, and pain management experts can contribute to the development of evidence-based guidelines specifically tailored for the emergency department setting. This article provides a concise overview of the common clinical manifestations of neuropathic pain that may prompt patients to seek emergency care.

Current Trends for Delirium Screening within the Emergency Department.

Delirium is an acute neurological disorder that involves attention and cognition. It is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality among older people (>65 years old). In the context of the Emergency Department (ED), it is frequently experienced by patients but often not recognized. Literature studies have identified some screening instruments for an initial evaluation of delirium. Most of these tools have not been validated yet in the context of emergencies, but, in other settings, they were very useful for assessing and maximizing the recognition of this condition among older patients. We conducted a review of the literature, including randomized control trials, clinical and observational studies, and research studies published in recent years, confirming that most of the screening tools for delirium used in the intensive care unit (ICU) or the geriatric department have not been tested in the ED, and the ideal timing and form of the delirium assessment process for older adults have not been defined yet. The aim of our review is to summarize the updated evidence about the screening tools for delirium in the context of the ED, due to the fact that overcrowding of the ED and the stressful condition of emergency situations (that contribute to the onset of delirium) could expose older patients to a high risk of complications and mortality if delirium is not promptly recognized. In conclusion, we support the evidence that delirium is a current and real condition that emergency physicians have to face daily, and we are aware that more research is needed to explore this field in order to improve the overall outcomes of older patients admitted to the ED.

Transcriptomic profile of TNFhigh MAIT cells is linked to B cell response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Introduction: Higher frequencies of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells were associated with an increased adaptive response to mRNA BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, however, the mechanistic insights into this relationship are unknown. In the present study, we hypothesized that the TNF response of MAIT cells supports B cell activation following SARS-CoV-2 immunization. Methods: To investigate the effects of repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we performed a longitudinal single cell (sc)RNA-seq and scTCR-seq analysis of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated healthy adults with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Collection of PBMCs was performed 1 day before, 3 and 17 days after prime vaccination, and 3 days and 3 months following vaccine boost. Based on scRNA/TCR-seq data related to regulatory signals induced by the vaccine, we used computational approaches for the functional pathway enrichment analysis (Reactome), dynamics of the effector cell-polarization (RNA Velocity and CellRank), and cell-cell communication (NicheNet). Results: We identified MAIT cells as an important source of TNF across circulating lymphocytes in response to repeated SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccination. The TNFhigh signature of MAIT cells was induced by the second administration of the vaccine. Notably, the increased TNF expression was associated with MAIT cell proliferation and efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody production. Finally, by decoding the ligand-receptor interactions and incorporating intracellular signaling, we predicted TNFhigh MAIT cell interplay with different B cell subsets. In specific, predicted TNF-mediated activation was selectively directed to conventional switched memory B cells, which are deputed to high-affinity long-term memory. Discussion: Overall, our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccination influences MAIT cell frequencies and their transcriptional effector profile with the potential to promote B cell activation. This research also provides a blueprint for the promising use of MAIT cells as cellular adjuvants in mRNA-based vaccines.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Does Not Improve COVID-19 Outcome in Hospitalized Patients.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was demonstrated to reduce susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and improve infection course in chronic liver diseases. However, real-life evidence is lacking. We analyzed the impact of UDCA on COVID-19 outcomes in patients hospitalized in a tertiary center. Between January 2020 and January 2023, among 3847 patients consecutively hospitalized for COVID19, 57 (=UDCA group) were taking UDCA. The UDCA and the control groups (n = 3790) did not differ concerning comorbidities including diabetes mellitus type 2 (15.8% vs. 12.8%) and neoplasia (12.3% vs. 9.4%). Liver diseases and vaccination rate were more common in the UDCA group (14.0% vs. 2.5% and 54.4% vs. 30.2%, respectively). Overall mortality and CPAP treatment were 22.8 % and 15.7% in the UDCA, and 21.3% and 25.9% in the control group. Mortality was similar (p = 0.243), whereas UDCA was associated with a lower rate of CPAP treatment (OR = 0.76, p < 0.05). Treatment with UDCA was not an independent predictor of survival in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Multimodal deep learning for COVID-19 prognosis prediction in the emergency department: a bi-centric study.

Predicting clinical deterioration in COVID-19 patients remains a challenging task in the Emergency Department (ED). To address this aim, we developed an artificial neural network using textual (e.g. patient history) and tabular (e.g. laboratory values) data from ED electronic medical reports. The predicted outcomes were 30-day mortality and ICU admission. We included consecutive patients from Humanitas Research Hospital and San Raffaele Hospital in the Milan area between February 20 and May 5, 2020. We included 1296 COVID-19 patients. Textual predictors consisted of patient history, physical exam, and radiological reports. Tabular predictors included age, creatinine, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, and platelet count. TensorFlow tabular-textual model performance indices were compared to those of models implementing only tabular data. For 30-day mortality, the combined model yielded slightly better performances than the tabular fastai and XGBoost models, with AUC 0.87 ± 0.02, F1 score 0.62 ± 0.10 and an MCC 0.52 ± 0.04 (p < 0.32). As for ICU admission, the combined model MCC was superior (p < 0.024) to the tabular models. Our results suggest that a combined textual and tabular model can effectively predict COVID-19 prognosis which may assist ED physicians in their decision-making process.

Uncovering the Benefits of the Ketamine-Dexmedetomidine Combination for Procedural Sedation during the Italian COVID-19 Pandemic.

This retrospective observational study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ketamine and dexmedetomidine combination (keta-dex) compared to ketamine or dexmedetomidine alone for sedation of patients with acute respiratory distress due to COVID-19 pneumonia who require non-invasive ventilation. The following factors were assessed: tolerance to the ventilation, sedation level on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), hemodynamic and saturation profile, adverse effects, and discontinuation or mortality during ventilation. The study included 66 patients who underwent sedation for non-invasive ventilation using keta-dex (KETA-DEX group, n = 22), ketamine (KET group, n = 22), or dexmedetomidine (DEX group, n = 22). The DEX group showed a slower sedation rate and a significant reduction in blood pressure compared to the KETA-DEX group (p < 0.05). An increase in blood pressure was recorded more frequently in the KET group. No reduction in oxygen saturation and no deaths were observed in any of the groups. None of the patients discontinued ventilation due to intolerance. The mean duration of sedation was 28.12 h. No cases of delirium were observed in any of the groups. Overall, keta-dex was associated with faster sedation rates and better hemodynamic profiles compared to dexmedetomidine alone. Keta-dex is effective and safe for sedation of uncooperative patients undergoing non-invasive ventilation.

Narrative Review: Low-Dose Ketamine for Pain Management.

Pain is the leading cause of medical consultations and occurs in 50-70% of emergency department visits. To date, several drugs have been used to manage pain. The clinical use of ketamine began in the 1960s and it immediately emerged as a manageable and safe drug for sedation and anesthesia. The analgesic properties of this drug were first reported shortly after its use; however, its psychomimetic effects have limited its use in emergency departments. Owing to the misuse and abuse of opioids in some countries worldwide, ketamine has become a versatile tool for sedation and analgesia. In this narrative review, ketamine's role as an analgesic is discussed, with both known and new applications in various contexts (acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain), along with its strengths and weaknesses, especially in terms of psychomimetic, cardiovascular, and hepatic effects. Moreover, new scientific evidence has been reviewed on the use of additional drugs with ketamine, such as magnesium infusion for improving analgesia and clonidine for treating psychomimetic symptoms. Finally, this narrative review was refined by the experience of the Pain Group of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine (SIMEU) in treating acute and chronic pain with acute manifestations in Italian Emergency Departments.

The Pain Management of Trauma Patients in the Emergency Department.

The vast majority of injured patients suffer from pain. Systematic assessment of pain on admission to the emergency department (ED) is a cornerstone of translating the best treatment strategies for patient care into practice. Pain must be measured with severity scales that are validated in clinical practice, including for specific populations (such as children and older adults). Although primary care ED of trauma patients focuses on resuscitation, diagnosis and treatment, pain assessment and management remains a critical element as professionals are not prepared to provide effective and early therapy. To date, most EDs have pain assessment and management protocols that take into account the patient's hemodynamic status and clinical condition and give preference to non-pharmacological approaches where possible. When selecting medications, the focus is on those that are least disruptive to hemodynamic status. Pain relief may still be necessary in hemodynamically unstable patients, but caution should be exercised, especially when using opioids, as absorption may be impaired or shock may be exacerbated. The analgesic dose of ketamine is certainly an attractive option. Fentanyl is clearly superior to other opioids in initial resuscitation and treatment as it has minimal effects on hemodynamic status and does not cause central nervous system depression. Inhaled analgesia techniques and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are also increasingly effective solutions. A multimodal pain approach, which involves the use of two or more drugs with different mechanisms of action, plays an important role in the relief of trauma pain. All EDs must have policies and promote the adoption of procedures that use multimodal strategies for effective pain management in all injured patients.

Five Level Triage vs. Four Level Triage in a Quaternary Emergency Department: National Analysis on Waiting Time, Validity, and Crowding-The CREONTE (Crowding and RE-Organization National TriagE) Study Group.

Background and Objectives: Triage systems help provide the right care at the right time for patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Triage systems are generally used to subdivide patients into three to five categories according to the system used, and their performance must be carefully monitored to ensure the best care for patients. Materials and Methods: We examined ED accesses in the context of 4-level (4LT) and 5-level triage systems (5LT), implemented from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. This study assessed the effects of a 5LT on wait times and under-triage (UT) and over-triage (OT). We also examined how 5LT and 4LT systems reflected actual patient acuity by correlating triage codes with severity codes at discharge. Other outcomes included the impact of crowding indices and 5LT system function during the COVID-19 pandemic in the study populations. Results: We evaluated 423,257 ED presentations. Visits to the ED by more fragile and seriously ill individuals increased, with a progressive increase in crowding. The length of stay (LOS), exit block, boarding, and processing times increased, reflecting a net raise in throughput and output factors, with a consequent lengthening of wait times. The decreased UT trend was observed after implementing the 5LT system. Conversely, a slight rise in OT was reported, although this did not affect the medium-high-intensity care area. Conclusions: Introducing a 5LT improved ED performance and patient care.

Autoantibodies against chemokines post-SARS-CoV-2 infection correlate with disease course.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 associates with diverse symptoms, which can persist for months. While antiviral antibodies are protective, those targeting interferons and other immune factors are associated with adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Here we discovered that antibodies against specific chemokines were omnipresent post-COVID-19, were associated with favorable disease outcome and negatively correlated with the development of long COVID at 1 yr post-infection. Chemokine antibodies were also present in HIV-1 infection and autoimmune disorders, but they targeted different chemokines compared with COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies derived from COVID-19 convalescents that bound to the chemokine N-loop impaired cell migration. Given the role of chemokines in orchestrating immune cell trafficking, naturally arising chemokine antibodies may modulate the inflammatory response and thus bear therapeutic potential.