Clinical significance and management of low-level HIV viremia in the era of integrase strand transfer inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) have a goal of achieving and maintaining viral suppression; however, the existence of PLWH that show events of low-level viremia (LLV) between 50 and 1000 copies/mL and with different virological consequences have been observed. Moreover, some reports indicate that LLV status can lead to residual immune activation and inflammation, leading to a higher occurrence of non-AIDS-defining events (nADEs) and other adverse clinical outcomes. Until now, however, published data have shown controversial results that hinder understanding of this phenomenon's actual cause(s) and origin(s). Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)-based therapies could lead to lower LLV over time and, therefore, more effective virological control. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to assess recent findings to provide a view of the clinical significance and management of low-level HIV viremia in the era of INSTIs.

Clinical staging of Anderson-Fabry cardiomyopathy: An operative proposal.

As a slowly progressive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), Anderson-Fabry disease (FD) resembles the phenotype of the most common sarcomeric forms, although significant differences in presentation and long-term progression may help determine the correct diagnosis. A variety of electrocardiographic and imaging features of FD cardiomyopathy have been described at different times in the course of the disease, and considerable discrepancies remain regarding the assessment of disease severity by individual physicians. Therefore, we here propose a practical staging of FD cardiomyopathy, in hopes it may represent the standard for cardiac evaluation and facilitate communication between specialized FD centres and primary care physicians. We identified 4 main stages of FD cardiomyopathy of increasing severity, based on available evidence from clinical and imaging studies: non-hypertrophic, hypertrophic - pre-fibrotic, hypertrophic - fibrotic, and overt dysfunction. Each stage is described and discussed in detail, following the principle that speaking a common language is critical when managing such complex patients in a multi-disciplinary and sometimes multi-centre setting.

Clinical management and outcome of head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs): A single centre retrospective study.

CONTEXT: Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) are rare, usually benign, slow-growing tumours arising from neural crest-derived tissue. Definitive management pathways for HNPGLs have yet to be clearly defined. OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of the clinical features and management of these tumours and to analyse outcomes of different treatment modalities. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were obtained from The Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR) as well from a prospectively maintained HNPGL database between January 2011 through December 2023. RESULTS: There were 87 patients; 50 females: 37 males with a mean age of 52.3 ± 14.2 years old (range 17-91 years old). 58.6% (n = 51) of patients had carotid body tumours, 25.2% (n = 22) glomus vagal tumours, 6.8% (n = 6) tumours in the middle ear, 2.2% (n = 2) in the parapharyngeal space and 1.1% (n = 1) in the sphenoid sinus. 5.7% (n = 5) of patients had multifocal disease. The mean tumour size at presentation was 3.2 ± 1.4 cm (range 0.5-6.9 cm). Pathogenic SDHD mutations were identified in 41.3% (n = 36), SDHB in 12.6% (n = 11), SDHC in 2.2% (n = 2) and SDHA in 1.1% (n = 1) of the patients. Overall treatment modalities included surgery alone in 51.7% (n = 45) of patients, radiotherapy in 14.9% (n = 13), observation in 28.7% (n = 25), and somatostatin analogue therapy with octreotide in 4.5% (n = 4) of patients. Factors associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence included age over 60 years (p = .04), tumour size exceeding 2 cm (p = .03), positive SDHx variants (p = .01), and vagal and jugular tumours (p = .04). CONCLUSION: The majority of our patients underwent initial surgical intervention and achieved disease stability. Our results suggest that carefully selected asymptomatic or medically unfit patients can be safely observed provided lifelong surveillance is maintained. We advocate for the establishment of a UK and Ireland national HNPGL registry, to delineate optimal management strategies for these rare tumours and improve long term outcomes.

Real-life clinical management patterns in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer across France: a multi-method study.

BACKGROUND: We designed this study based on both a physician practice survey and real-world patient data to: (1) evaluate clinical management practices in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) among medical centers located across France; and (2) describe first-line treatment patterns among patients with ES-SCLC following the introduction of immunotherapy into clinical practice. METHODS: A 50-item questionnaire was completed by physicians from 45 medical centers specialized in SCLC management. Responses were collected from June 2022 to January 2023. The survey questions addressed diagnostic workup of ES-SCLC, chemoimmunotherapy in first-line and second-line settings, and use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) and radiotherapy. In parallel, using a chart review approach, we retrospectively analyzed aggregated information from 548 adults with confirmed ES-SCLC receiving first-line treatment in the same centers. RESULTS: In ES-SCLC, treatment planning is based on chest computed tomography (CT) (as declared by 100% of surveyed centers). Mean time between diagnosis and treatment initiation was 2-7 days, as declared by 82% of centers. For detection of brain metastases, the most common imaging test was brain CT (84%). The main exclusion criteria for first-line immunotherapy in the centers were autoimmune disease (87%), corticosteroid therapy (69%), interstitial lung disease (69%), and performance status ≥ 2 (69%). Overall, 53% and 36% of centers considered that patients are chemotherapy-sensitive if they relapse within ≥ 3 months or ≥ 6 months after first-line chemoimmunotherapy, respectively. Among the 548 analyzed patients, 409 (75%) received chemoimmunotherapy as a first-line treatment, 374 (91%) of whom received carboplatin plus etoposide and 35 (9%) cisplatin plus etoposide. Overall, 340/548 patients (62%) received maintenance immunotherapy. Most patients (68%) did not receive radiotherapy or PCI. CONCLUSIONS: There is an overall alignment of practices reflecting recent clinical guidelines among medical centers managing ES-SCLC across France, and a high prescription rate of immunotherapy in the first-line setting.

Tuberculosis impacts multiple aspects in quality of life in a Romanian cohort of drug-susceptible and drug resistant patients: A patient-reported outcome measures study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB), and especially its drug resistant forms, is responsible for not only significant mortality, but also considerable morbidity, still under-quantified. This study used four Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) to assess the status of persons affected by drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB during their TB treatment or after treatment completion, in Romania, the highest TB burden country in the EU. METHODS: People affected by TB in two different regions in Romania were included during and after treatment, following a cross-sectional design. PROMs used were SF-36, EQ-5D-5L, WPAI and the app-based audiometry screening tool 'uHear.' Descriptive statistics and relevant statistical tests were used to compare groups between themselves and with the general Romanian population. RESULTS: Both patients with drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB experience, with drug-resistant patients experiencing statistically significantly more pain and hearing loss. PROMs show some improvement in the after-treatment group; however, compared with the general Romanian population for which data were available, all groups scored lower on all outcome measures. CONCLUSION: PROMs offer the possibility of obtaining a more comprehensive view of patients' status, by involving them directly in the medical process and could guide a rehabilitation strategy.

A multicentre ambispective observational study into the incidence and clinical management of aplastic anaemia in Spain (IMAS study).

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare, life-threatening hematological disease, with a poorly defined incidence. As the data available on AA varies substantially worldwide, a multicenter, ambispective, observational study was carried out between 2010 and 2019 to assess the incidence, clinical management and survival of AA at seven Spanish hospitals. The incidence of AA was 2.83 per million inhabitants per year, consistent with that reported previously in Europe, with a median age at diagnosis of 61 years-old (range 12-86), and a similar number of males and females. The initial diagnosis was severe or very severe AA in 55.8% of cases and 93.7% required transfusion. The most frequent first line therapy was anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) plus cyclosporin A (CsA, 44.2%), followed by other CsA-based regimes (46.3%), with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation an infrequent 1st line therapy. The 6-month response rate was 68.2%, which then increased over a median follow-up of 3.9 years. The 5-year overall survival (5OS) was 73.6%, similar in severe (78.6%) and very severe AA patients (74.6%) but lower in moderate AA (MAA) patients (68.4%). The 5OS was 100% in 0-25 year-old patients but dropping to 58.3% in patients ≥ 60 years-old. At the last contact, 75.8% of the patients were alive. In conclusion, the incidence, characteristics and management of AA in our study are consistent with that reported previously. In terms of survival, although the global long-term OS rate was good, there is room for improvement, particularly in older patients. Finally, what appears to be a worse long-term survival of MAA patients, as reported previously, reinforces the importance of not underestimating this condition when diagnosed as MAA.

Management for persistent HPV infection and cervical lesions among women infected with HIV: a retrospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of HPV persistent infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which have yet to be thoroughly characterized in Guangxi, Southwestern China, are the key preventative measures for the development of cervical cancer in women, particularly in HIV-infected women. METHODS: A retrospective study of 181 patients with HPV infection or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who received surgical excision of lesions and were prospectively enrolled at the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning between January 2018 and February 2023 was performed. HPV-infected patients were divided into two subgroups: HIV-infected and HIV/HPV-coinfected patients and compare differences between these groups. RESULTS: HPV16, 18, 52, and 58 were the most prevalent HPV genotypes. High-risk HPV was significantly co-infected with multiple genotypes (P = 0.0332). HIV-infected women were predisposed to HPV infection (P < 0.0001), and the development of cervical cancer at a young age (P = 0.0336) compared to HIV-uninfected women and the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (P = 0.0480) is preferred for the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection may increase HPV prevalence and lead to cervical cancer development at a young age. The loop electrosurgical excision procedure is an efficient evaluation and treatment strategy for HIV-infected women suffering from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Human papillomavirus genotypes and risk of persistence and progression in women undergoing active surveillance for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, active surveillance has been introduced as an alternative to excisional treatment in younger women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 because regression rates are high and excisional treatment is associated with increased risk of preterm birth. However, early identification of women at increased risk of persistence/progression is important to ensure timely treatment. Evidence is limited on biomarkers that may be used to identify women at increased risk of persistence/progression. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe human papillomavirus HPV type-specific persistence/progression in women undergoing active surveillance for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a historical cohort study of women aged 23 to 40 years diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 at Aarhus University Hospital from 2000 to 2010. Women were identified through the Danish Pathology Data Bank (DPDB) and were considered as undergoing active surveillance if they had a first record of a cervical biopsy within 2 years after index diagnosis and no loop electrosurgical excision procedure before this. Human papillomavirus genotyping was performed on archived tissue samples using the HPV SPF10-DEIA-LiPA25 system (DNA ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay] HPV SPF10 kit and RHA HPV SPF10-LiPA25 kit). Persistence/progression was defined as having a record of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade ≥2 in the DPDB determined on the last and worst diagnosis on a biopsy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure specimen during follow-up. We estimated the relative risk (95% confidence interval) of persistence/progression using a modified Poisson model. RESULTS: A total of 455 women were included. Two-thirds were aged ≤30 years (73.8%) at index diagnosis, and nearly half had a high-grade index cytology (48.8%). Overall, 52.2% of all women had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade ≥2 during follow-up; 70.5% were human papillomavirus-16-positive and 29.5% were positive for other human papillomavirus types. Human papillomavirus-16 was associated with a significantly higher risk of persistence/progression (relative risk, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-1.95) compared with non-human papillomavirus-16. The risk of persistence/progression was highest in human papillomavirus-16-positive women with a high-grade index cytology compared with human papillomavirus-16-positive women with a low-grade cytology (relative risk, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.61), whereas no differences were observed across age groups. CONCLUSION: The highest risk of persistence/progression was observed among human papillomavirus-16-positive women, particularly those with associated high-grade cytology. These findings suggest that early excisional treatment should be considered in this group of women.

Vasa previa in singleton pregnancies: diagnosis and clinical management based on an international expert consensus.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data to guide the diagnosis and management of vasa previa. Currently, what is known is largely based on case reports or series and cohort studies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically collect and classify expert opinions and achieve consensus on the diagnosis and clinical management of vasa previa using focus group discussions and a Delphi technique. STUDY DESIGN: A 4-round focus group discussion and a 3-round Delphi survey of an international panel of experts on vasa previa were conducted. Experts were selected on the basis of their publication record on vasa previa. First, we convened a focus group discussion panel of 20 experts and agreed on which issues were unresolved in the diagnosis and management of vasa previa. A 3-round anonymous electronic survey was then sent to the full expert panel. Survey questions were presented on the diagnosis and management of vasa previa, which the experts were asked to rate on a 5-point Likert scale (from "strongly disagree"=1 to "strongly agree"=5). Consensus was defined as a median score of 5. Following responses to each round, any statements that had median scores of ≤3 were deemed to have had no consensus and were excluded. Statements with a median score of 4 were revised and re-presented to the experts in the next round. Consensus and nonconsensus statements were then aggregated. RESULTS: A total of 68 international experts were invited to participate in the study, of which 57 participated. Experts were from 13 countries on 5 continents and have contributed to >80% of published cohort studies on vasa previa, as well as national and international society guidelines. Completion rates were 84%, 93%, and 91% for the first, second, and third rounds, respectively, and 71% completed all 3 rounds. The panel reached a consensus on 26 statements regarding the diagnosis and key points of management of vasa previa, including the following: (1) although there is no agreement on the distance between the fetal vessels and the cervical internal os to define vasa previa, the definition should not be limited to a 2-cm distance; (2) all pregnancies should be screened for vasa previa with routine examination for placental cord insertion and a color Doppler sweep of the region over the cervix at the second-trimester anatomy scan; (3) when a low-lying placenta or placenta previa is found in the second trimester, a transvaginal ultrasound with Doppler should be performed at approximately 32 weeks to rule out vasa previa; (4) outpatient management of asymptomatic patients without risk factors for preterm birth is reasonable; (5) asymptomatic patients with vasa previa should be delivered by scheduled cesarean delivery between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation; and (6) there was no agreement on routine hospitalization, avoidance of intercourse, or use of 3-dimensional ultrasound for diagnosis of vasa previa. CONCLUSION: Through focus group discussion and a Delphi process, an international expert panel reached consensus on the definition, screening, clinical management, and timing of delivery in vasa previa, which could inform the development of new clinical guidelines.

Parturition at term: induction, second and third stages of labor, and optimal management of life-threatening complications-hemorrhage, infection, and uterine rupture.

Childbirth is a defining moment in anyone's life, and it occurs 140 million times per year. Largely a physiologic process, parturition does come with risks; one mother dies every two minutes. These deaths occur mostly among healthy women, and many are considered preventable. For each death, 20 to 30 mothers experience complications that compromise their short- and long-term health. The risk of birth extends to the newborn, and, in 2020, 2.4 million neonates died, 25% in the first day of life. Hence, intrapartum care is an important priority for society. The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has devoted two special Supplements in 2023 and 2024 to the clinical aspects of labor at term. This article describes the content of the Supplements and highlights new developments in the induction of labor (a comparison of methods, definition of failed induction, new pharmacologic agents), management of the second stage, the value of intrapartum sonography, new concepts on soft tissue dystocia, optimal care during the third stage, and common complications that account for maternal death, such as infection, hemorrhage, and uterine rupture. All articles are available to subscribers and non-subscribers and have supporting video content to enhance dissemination and improve intrapartum care. Our hope is that no mother suffers because of lack of information.

Adrenal Referral Pattern: Management of Patients With an Adrenal Incidentaloma.

INTRODUCTION: Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are found in 3%-4% of abdominal computed tomography scans. Timely evaluation of their functional status and malignant potential is necessary to guide nonoperative surveillance or surgery. This study aims to evaluate the adherence of referring service patterns to the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines for the biochemical workup of AIs at a tertiary surgical clinic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 125 patients evaluated for AIs at the endocrine surgery clinic between 2017 and 2022. Information on patient demographics, referral source, and reasons for referral was collected. The appropriateness of the biochemical workup for AIs by referring physicians was assessed. Statistical analyses included chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Referrals came from endocrinologists (44.8%), other subspecialists (31.2%), and primary care physicians (PCPs) (19.2%). Among 125 patients, diagnoses included benign adrenal masses (52.8%), aldosteronomas (10.4%), cortisol-secreting tumors (15.2%), pheochromocytomas (12.8%), and metastatic masses (4.0%). Endocrinologists were more likely to conduct a complete biochemical workup compared to other subspecialties and PCPs (P < 0.001). Eighty-three (66.4%) patients underwent adrenalectomy, with those referred by endocrinologists more likely to undergo surgery than those referred by other subspecialties and PCPs (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the time from the initial clinic visit to surgery by referral source (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Over half of AIs referrals to the endocrine surgery clinic came from subspecialists and PCPs rather than endocrinologists. Familiarizing all referring physicians with American Association of Endocrine Surgeons/Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines may reduce undiagnosed functional AI cases and facilitate timely surgical management.

Time trends in the clinical management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2: A Danish register-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Active surveillance for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) has been implemented recently in many countries, including the Nordic countries. In Denmark, the only eligibility criterion for active surveillance for CIN2 is that the woman should be of reproductive age. With this study, we aimed to evaluate clinical and socioeconomic characteristics in women with CIN2 managed by active surveillance or large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) and to evaluate temporal changes in the clinical management of CIN2. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a Danish nationwide study using data from healthcare registries. All female residents aged 18-40 years, diagnosed with incident CIN2 from January 1, 1998, to February 29, 2020, were included. We collected data on age, index cytology result, year of CIN2 diagnosis, region of residence, civil status, HPV vaccination status, and socioeconomic position indicators. The variables were tabulated overall and by management group (active surveillance vs. LLETZ). To evaluate time trends, we used joinpoint regression to calculate the annual percentage change (APC), including 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Of the 27 536 women with CIN2 included, 12 500 (45.4%) underwent active surveillance, and 15 036 (54.6%) underwent a LLETZ. Women undergoing active surveillance were younger, more often HPV-vaccinated, and more likely to have a normal/low-grade index cytology result than women undergoing LLETZ. Socioeconomic position indicators did not differ. Over time, the proportion of women undergoing active surveillance increased from 21.7% in 2004 to 73.6% in 2019 (APC 9.7, 95% CI 8.1-11.4). The proportion of women undergoing active surveillance aged <30 declined over time (APC -2.2, 95% CI -2.9 to -1.5). The proportion of women with normal/low-grade index cytology increased slightly to 51.6% in 2019 (APC 0.8, 95% CI 0.4-1.3). CONCLUSIONS: The use of active surveillance for CIN2 has increased over the past two decades in Denmark. Observed differences in characteristics between women undergoing active surveillance vs LLETZ are likely related to indications for clinical management.

Retrospective study of clinical settings, indications and consequences of measurement of direct oral anticoagulant plasma levels in Northern Tasmania, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Routine monitoring of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) levels is not recommended but may be useful in certain clinical situations. There is a knowledge gap regarding the clinical use of DOAC levels in Australian hospitals. AIMS: To evaluate the clinical settings, indications and changes to anticoagulant management associated with DOAC levels in a tertiary hospital in Northern Tasmania, Australia. METHODS: Patients with one or more DOAC levels (dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban) requested between January 2017 and December 2022 were identified. Retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate the clinical settings, indications, adequacy of request information and changes to clinical management associated with the measurement of DOAC levels. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine DOAC measurements (54 rivaroxaban, 66 apixaban and nine dabigatran) were performed in 98 patients between January 2017 and December 2022. Annual requests for DOAC levels increased significantly between 2017 and 2019 and remained stable between 2020 and 2021 but declined in 2022. Overall, the most common indication for a DOAC level was renal impairment, followed by bleeding and recurrent thrombosis. Approximately 25% of requests were for acute bleeding with a reversal/haemostatic agent given in 45% of patients, while 10% were prior to urgent surgery. Measurement of DOAC levels was associated with a change in management in 50% of cases. 10% of requests did not specify anticoagulant history. CONCLUSION: Trends in requests for DOAC levels have changed over time. Clinician education regarding the importance of providing specific anticoagulant history is essential. Future prospective studies investigating the clinical utility of DOAC levels in different clinical settings are needed.

Management of acute cervical spinal cord injury in the non-specialist intensive care unit: a narrative review of current evidence.

Each year approximately one million people suffer spinal cord injury, which has significant physical, psychosocial and economic impacts on patients and their families. Spinal cord rehabilitation centres are a well-established part of the care pathway for patients with spinal cord injury and facilitate improvements in functional independence and reductions in healthcare costs. Within the UK, however, there are a limited number of spinal cord injury centres, which delays admission. Patients and their families often perceive that they are not receiving specialist care while being treated in non-specialist units. This review aimed to provide clinicians who work in non-specialist spinal injury centres with a summary of contemporary studies relevant to the critical care management of patients with cervical spinal cord injury. We undertook a targeted literature review including guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials and randomised controlled trials published in English between 1 June 2017 and 1 June 2023. Studies involving key clinical management strategies published before this time, but which have not been updated or repeated, were also included. We then summarised the key management themes: acute critical care management approaches (including ventilation strategies, blood pressure management and tracheostomy insertion); respiratory weaning techniques; management of pain and autonomic dysreflexia; and rehabilitation.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of C-reactive protein in patients with ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have explored the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and survival outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer (OC); however, consistent results have not been reported. As such, this meta-analysis was performed to accurately assess the prognostic and clinicopathological roles of CRP in OC. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant studies published from inception to April 7, 2023. The effect of CRP level(s) and OC prognostic outcomes was analyzed by computing the combined hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Thereafter, the association between CRP level(s) and clinicopathological factors was evaluated using a combined odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% CI. RESULTS: The present meta-analysis included 15 studies comprising 3202 subjects. According to the combined data, higher CRP levels were markedly associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR 1.23 [95% CI 1.11-1.37]; p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 1.55 [95% CI 1.30-1.84]; p < 0.001) in patients with OC. Furthermore, the results indicated that high CRP levels were significantly correlated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages III-IV (p < 0.001), residual tumor size ≥ 1 cm (p < 0.001), histological grade 3 (p = 0.040), and ascites volume ≥ 500 mL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that higher serum CRP levels were strongly associated with dismal OS and PFS in subjects with OC. High CRP levels were also significantly associated with clinical factors implicated in tumor aggressiveness and the development of OC.

Predicting high blood pressure using machine learning models in low- and middle-income countries.

Responding to the rising global prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) requires improvements in the management of high blood pressure. Therefore, this study aims to develop an explainable machine learning model for predicting high blood pressure, a key NCD risk factor, using data from the STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) surveys. Nationally representative samples of adults aged 18-69 years were acquired from 57 countries spanning six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Data harmonization and processing were performed to standardize the selected predictors and synchronize features across countries, yielding 41 variables, including demographic, behavioural, physical, and biochemical factors. Five machine learning models - logistic regression, k-nearest neighbours, random forest, XGBoost, and a fully connected neural network - were trained and evaluated at global, regional, and country-specific levels using an 80/20 train-test split. The models' performance was assessed using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Feature importance analysis identified age, weight, heart rate, waist circumference, and height as key predictors of blood pressure. Across the 57 countries studied, model performances varied considerably, with accuracy ranging from as low as 58.96% in some models for specific countries to as high as 81.41% in others, underscoring the need for region and country-specific adaptations in modelling approaches. The explainable model offers an opportunity for population-level screening and continuous risk assessment in resource-limited settings.

The Cologne ECMM Excellence Center: A Two-Year Analysis of External Consultation Service for Invasive Fungal Infections.

The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM), formed due to the surge in invasive fungal infections (IFI), initiated the Excellence Centers program in 2016 to guide stakeholders to leading medical mycology sites. This report focuses on the Cologne ECMM Excellence Center, recognized with Diamond status for active global involvement in 2017. The center offers free consultation via email and phone, responding within 24 h for life-threatening IFI, collecting data on origin, pathogens, infection details, and more. Over two years, 189 requests were received globally, predominantly from Germany (85%), mainly involving Aspergillus spp., Mucorales, and Candida spp. Fungal mixed infections occurred in 4% of cases. The center's service effectively addresses IFI challenges, advocating for a comprehensive study encompassing all ECMM Excellence Centers to enhance global mycological care. Proactive expansion of consultancy platforms is crucial, with future analyses needed to assess expert advice's impact on patient outcomes.

Patients returning to the emergency department with symptoms of cauda equina syndrome: do the symptoms differ with radiological cauda equina compression?

BACKGROUND: The guidance for clinicians on who requires further investigation when suspecting cauda equina syndrome has become clearer in England following the publication of the national recommendations. This does not have specific advice for those patients who have had recent imaging with no compression, returning to a healthcare provider with a change in symptoms. These cases can cause difficulty for clinicians with limited access to imaging who can often be reassured by previous imaging. METHOD: This study presents a retrospective review of the case notes of 45 patients presenting on two occasions to the same Emergency Department who underwent magnetic resonance imaging due to the clinical diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome. Those with compression of the cauda equina on the second visit were compared to those without a compressive cause for their symptoms. RESULTS: Patients presenting with an increased number of clinical symptoms associated with cauda equina syndrome on their return visit were more likely to have compression of the cauda equina on imaging. CONCLUSION: The small numbers in this study would suggest caution, however, if patients present with an increasing number of symptoms further imaging should be considered, even with previous reassuring scans.

Balanced crystalloids (RInger's lactate) versus normal Saline in adults with diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department (BRISK-ED): a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Current diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment guidelines recommend using normal saline (NS); however, NS may delay DKA resolution by causing more hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis compared with balanced crystalloids. This study's objective was to determine the feasibility of a future multicentred randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing intravenous Ringer's lactate (RL) with NS in managing ED patients with DKA. METHODS: We conducted a parallel-arm, triple-blind, pilot RCT of adults (≥18 years) with DKA at a Canadian academic tertiary care ED. The primary feasibility outcome was recruitment rate (target ≥41.3% of eligible participants over the 1-year study period); the primary efficacy outcome was time elapsed from ED presentation to DKA resolution. The superiority margin for a clinically significant difference was chosen to be a 40% time reduction to DKA resolution. We also assessed the need to break allocation concealment and loss to follow-up. Patients with clinical suspicion for DKA were screened for inclusion and enrolled patients were randomised 1:1 to receive RL or NS. Patients, clinicians and outcome assessors were blinded to allocation. RESULTS: We enrolled 52 (25 RL, 27 NS) of 60 eligible patients (86.7%), exceeding our target recruitment rate. There were more patients in the NS group with type 1 diabetes, and more patients in the RL group had an admission co-diagnosis in addition to DKA. For the 44 participants with confirmed laboratory evidence of resolution, median (IQR) time to DKA resolution for RL versus NS was 15.7 (10.4-18.8) and 12.7 (7.9-19.2) hours, respectively. There were no cases where blinding was broken, and there was no loss to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot trial demonstrated our protocol's feasibility by exceeding our target recruitment rate. Our results may be used to inform future multicentre trials to compare the safety and efficacy of RL and NS in managing DKA in the ED. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04926740.

Scoring systems for prediction of malaria and dengue fever in non-endemic areas among travellers arriving from tropical and subtropical areas.

BACKGROUND: Fever is a common symptom among travellers returning from tropical/subtropical areas to Europe, and promptly distinguishing severe illnesses from self-limiting febrile syndromes is important but can be challenging due to non-specific clinical presentation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study enrolled adults and children who sought care during 2015-2020 at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden with fever within 2 months after returning from travel to a tropical/subtropical area. Data on symptoms and laboratory parameters were prospectively and retrospectively collected. Two separate scoring systems for malaria and dengue were developed based on backward elimination regressions. RESULTS: In total, 2113 adults (18-94 years) and 202 children (1-17 years) were included, with 112 (4.8%) confirmed malaria by blood thick smear and 90 (3.9%) PCR/serology dengue-positive cases. Malaria was more likely in a patient who had visited sub-Saharan Africa and presented with combination of thrombocytopenia, anaemia and fever ≥39.5°C. Leucopenia, muscle pain and rash after travelling to Asia or South/Latin America indicated high probability of dengue. Two scoring systems with points between 0 and 7 for prediction of malaria or dengue were created based on the above predictors. Scores ≥3 indicated >80% sensitivity and specificity for malaria and >90% specificity for dengue in children and adults (area under the curve (AUC) for dengue: 0.92 in adults (95% CI 0.90 to 0.95) and 0.95 in children (95% CI 0.88 to 1.0); AUC for malaria: 0.93 in adults (95% CI 0.91 to 0.96) and 0.88 in children (95% CI 0.78 to 0.99)). Internal validation of optimism and overfitting was managed with bootstrap. CONCLUSION: The presented scoring systems provide novel tools for structured assessment of patients with tropical fever in a non-endemic area and highlight clinical signs associated with a potential severe aetiology to direct the need for microbial investigation.