Development and Optimization of a Subtraction-Normalized Immunocyte Profiling Signature for Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Risk Stratification.

PURPOSE: Less invasive decision support tools are desperately needed to identify occult high-risk disease in men with prostate cancer (PCa) on active surveillance (AS). For a variety of reasons, many men on AS with low- or intermediate-risk disease forgo the necessary repeat surveillance biopsies needed to identify potentially higher-risk PCa. Here, we describe the development of a blood-based immunocyte transcriptomic signature to identify men harboring occult aggressive PCa. We then validate it on a biopsy-positive population with the goal of identifying men who should not be on AS and confirm those men with indolent disease who can safely remain on AS. This model uses subtraction-normalized immunocyte transcriptomic profiles to risk-stratify men with PCa who could be candidates for AS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Men were eligible for enrollment in the study if they were determined by their physician to have a risk profile that warranted prostate biopsy. Both training (n = 1017) and validation cohort (n = 1198) populations had blood samples drawn coincident to their prostate biopsy. Purified CD2+ and CD14+ immune cells were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and RNA was extracted and sequenced. To avoid overfitting and unnecessary complexity, a regularized regression model was built on the training cohort to predict PCa aggressiveness based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network PCa guidelines. This model was then validated on an independent cohort of biopsy-positive men only, using National Comprehensive Cancer Network unfavorable intermediate risk and worse as an aggressiveness outcome, identifying patients who were not appropriate for AS. RESULTS: The best final model for the AS setting was obtained by combining an immunocyte transcriptomic profile based on 2 cell types with PSA density and age, reaching an AUC of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.77). The model significantly outperforms (P < .001) PSA density as a biomarker, which has an AUC of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.65-0.73). This model yields an individualized patient risk score with 90% negative predictive value and 50% positive predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: While further validation in an intended-use cohort is needed, the immunocyte transcriptomic model offers a promising tool for risk stratification of individual patients who are being considered for AS.

Impact of telemedical management on hospitalization and mortality in heart failure patients with diabetes: a post-hoc subgroup analysis of the TIM-HF2 trial.

BACKGROUND: The TIM-HF2 study demonstrated that remote patient management (RPM) in a well-defined heart failure (HF) population reduced the percentage of days lost due to unplanned cardiovascular hospital admissions or all-cause death during 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio 0.80) and all-cause mortality alone (HR 0.70). Higher rates of hospital admissions and mortality have been reported in HF patients with diabetes compared with HF patients without diabetes. Therefore, in a post-hoc analysis of the TIM-HF2 study, we investigated the efficacy of RPM in HF patients with diabetes. METHODS: TIM-HF2 study was a randomized, controlled, unmasked (concealed randomization), multicentre trial, performed in Germany between August 2013 and May 2018. HF-Patients in NYHA class II/III who had a HF-related hospital admission within the previous 12 months, irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction, and were randomized to usual care with or without added RPM and followed for 1 year. The primary endpoint was days lost due to unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization or due to death of any cause. This post-hoc analysis included 707 HF patients with diabetes. RESULTS: In HF patients with diabetes, RPM reduced the percentage of days lost due to cardiovascular hospitalization or death compared with usual care (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48-0.90), and the rate of all-cause mortality alone (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32-0.85). RPM was also associated with an improvement in quality of life (mean difference in change in global score of Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score (MLHFQ): - 3.4, 95% CI - 6.2 to - 0.6). CONCLUSION: These results support the use of RPM in HF patients with diabetes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01878630.

Impact of the Multidisciplinary Cancer Team on the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathway of Early Breast Cancer Patients and Perception of Team Members: The Experience of a Cancer Centre in Italy.

Literature on the role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) in cancer is still controversial. We aimed to investigate MDT impact on a panel of indicators in breast cancer care in a single-center retrospective study performed in a Cancer Reference Center in Italy. We analysed the diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway (DTCP) of 266 early breast cancer patients managed by our MDT during 2019-2020. Process indicators reflecting the change of the diagnostic and therapeutic care pathways occurred after the MDT discussion were computed. Further, the performance of some quality care indicators in breast cancer care since the establishment of the MDT activity and the breast cancer MDT members' perceptions were also investigated. According to our study, the MDT approach improves breast cancer management by increasing the completion of staging and by encouraging neo-adjuvant treatment and an appropriate and faster surgery. In MDT members' perspective it also improves decision-making and training and creates a positive work environment. Globally, our study encourages MDT rollout in breast cancer care. However, to enhance the reliability and comparability of the results of studies investigating MDT effectiveness in clinical practice, shared guidelines on its operationalisation are strongly desirable.

Development of a scoring system to predict local recurrence in brain metastases following complete resection and observation.

PURPOSE: Postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery to the resection cavity in patients with brain metastases is guideline-recommended therapy. However, Japanese Clinical Oncology Group 0504 study showed that postoperative observation could be a therapeutic option in patients with completed resected brain metastases. We hereby investigated the incidence and risk factors for local recurrence after complete resection without immediate radiotherapy and developed a scoring system for its prediction. METHODS: We included 53 patients with 54 brain metastases, who underwent complete resection between January 2016 and December 2021. We identified risk factors for local recurrence and developed a scoring system to predict it using the extracted risk factors, by assigning one point to each risk factor and calculating the total scores for each patient. We evaluated the correlation between the prognostic score and time to local recurrence. RESULTS: Local recurrence occurred in 37 of 54 tumors (68.5%), with a median follow-up duration of 21.0 months. The median time to local recurrence was 5.1 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that non-lung adenocarcinoma, infratentorial tumors, and no postoperative systemic therapy were identified as risk factors for local recurrence (non-lung adenocarcinoma, p = 0.035; infratentorial tumors, p = 0.044; and no postoperative systemic therapy, p = 0.0069). A score ≥ 2 showed a median time to local recurrence of 2.1 months, starkly contrasting with 30.8 months for a score ≤ 1 (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Non-lung adenocarcinoma, infratentorial tumors, and no postoperative systemic therapy were risk factors for local recurrence. Our scoring system can predict local recurrence, thus potentially aiding treatment decisions.

Factors associated with glycemic control in patients with T2DM: evidence from a cross-sectional study in China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Baseline data, encompassing basic information, lifestyle habits, and treatment of 305 T2DM patients from March 2021 to January 2023, were collected and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified insulin therapy (OR = 2.233; 95%Cl = 1.013-4.520; P = 0.026) and regular clinic visits (OR = 0.567; 95%Cl = 0.330-0.973; P = 0.040) as independent factors influencing glycemic control. No observed interactions between the two variables were noted. CONCLUSION: History of insulin therapy and regular clinic visits were significantly and independently associated with glycated hemoglobin control in T2DM patients. Tailored interventions based on individual circumstances are recommended to optimize glycemic control.

Unveiling the heterogeneous utilisation of the same digital patient management platform: case studies in primary healthcare in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The utilisation of digital technology in primary healthcare, particularly digital patient management platforms, has gained prominence, notably due to the global pandemic. These platforms are positioned as substitutes for face-to-face consultations and telephone triage. They are seen as a potential solution to the escalating costs associated with an aging population, increasing chronic conditions, and a shrinking healthcare workforce. However, a significant knowledge gap exists concerning the practical aspects of their implementation and their effect on the utilisation of digital patient management in primary healthcare. METHODS: This study addresses this gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of three case studies involving the implementation of a specific digital patient management platform. Over a period of three years, we examine how the practicalities of implementation shape the adoption and utilisation of a digital patient management platform in three different clinics. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that differences in implementation strategies directly influenced variations in utilisation. The successful utilisation of the platform was achieved through a bottom-up decision-making process that involved the employees of the primary healthcare clinics. Onsite training, close collaboration with the eHealth provider, and a structured patient onboarding process played crucial roles in this utilisation. In contrast, a top-down approach at two of the primary healthcare clinics led to limited utilisation of the platform into daily workflows. Furthermore, making the platform a part of everyday work meant putting accessibility, by working as a team of physicians, at the forefront of continuity of care, with patients being managed by their designated physician. Additionally, it was observed that digital patient management proved most effective for addressing simple patient issues such as skin rashes, rather than complex cases, and did not reduce the demand for phone triage. CONCLUSION: Only one of the three clinics studied effectively integrated digital patient management into its daily operations, and did so by aligning objectives among management and all categories of healthcare professionals, employing a bottom-up decision-making process, collaborating with the eHealth service provider for regular platform adjustments to clinic needs, and implementing active patient onboarding. This sociotechnical integration resulted in high platform utilisation. In contrast, the other two clinics faced challenges due to incoherent objectives among diverse healthcare professional employees and top management, a top-down decision-making approach during implementation, limited collaboration with the eHealth service provider, and passive patient onboarding. The findings indicate that these factors negatively affected utilisation and led to low platform adoption as well as disrupted the sociotechnical balance.

Investigating the Cost-Effectiveness of Telemonitoring Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) can improve their care management. However, the results of cost-effectiveness studies are heterogeneous. Therefore, it is still a matter of debate whether telemonitoring is worth the investment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to investigate the cost-effectiveness of telemonitoring patients with CIEDs, focusing on its key drivers, and the impact of the varying perspectives. METHODS: A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and EconLit. The search was completed on July 7, 2022. Studies were included if they fulfilled the following criteria: patients had a CIED, comparison with standard care, and inclusion of health economic evaluations (eg, cost-effectiveness analyses and cost-utility analyses). Only complete and peer-reviewed studies were included, and no year limits were applied. The exclusion criteria included studies with partial economic evaluations, systematic reviews or reports, and studies without standard care as a control group. Besides general study characteristics, the following outcome measures were extracted: impact on total cost or income, cost or income drivers, cost or income drivers per patient, cost or income drivers as a percentage of the total cost impact, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, or cost-utility ratios. Quality was assessed using the Consensus Health Economic Criteria checklist. RESULTS: Overall, 15 cost-effectiveness analyses were included. All studies were performed in Western countries, mainly Europe, and had primarily a male participant population. Of the 15 studies, 3 (20%) calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, 1 (7%) the cost-utility ratio, and 11 (73%) the health and cost impact of telemonitoring. In total, 73% (11/15) of the studies indicated that telemonitoring of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy ICDs was cost-effective and cost-saving, both from a health care and patient perspective. Cost-effectiveness results for telemonitoring of patients with pacemakers were inconclusive. The key drivers for cost reduction from a health care perspective were hospitalizations and scheduled in-office visits. Hospitalization costs were reduced by up to US $912 per patient per year. Scheduled in-office visits included up to 61% of the total cost reduction. Key drivers for cost reduction from a patient perspective were loss of income, cost for scheduled in-office visits and transport. Finally, of the 15 studies, 8 (52%) reported improved quality of life, with statistically significance in only 1 (13%) study (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: From a health care and patient perspective, telemonitoring of patients with an ICD or a cardiac resynchronization therapy ICD is a cost-effective and cost-saving alternative to standard care. Inconclusive results were found for patients with pacemakers. However, telemonitoring can lead to a decrease in providers' income, mainly due to a lack of reimbursement. Introducing appropriate reimbursement could make telemonitoring sustainable for providers while still being cost-effective from a health care payer perspective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022322334; https://tinyurl.com/puunapdr.

Web-Based Warfarin Management (Alfalfa App) Versus Traditional Warfarin Management: Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Poor anticoagulation management of warfarin may lead to patient admission, prolonged hospital stays, and even death due to anticoagulation-related adverse events. Traditional non-web-based outpatient clinics struggle to provide ideal anticoagulation management services for patients, and there is a need to explore a safer, more effective, and more convenient mode of warfarin management. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare differences in the quality of anticoagulation management and clinical adverse events between a web-based management model (via a smartphone app) and the conventional non-web-based outpatient management model. METHODS: This study is a prospective cohort research that includes multiple national centers. Patients meeting the nadir criteria were split into a web-based management group using the Alfalfa app or a non-web-based management group with traditional outpatient management, and they were then monitored for a 6-month follow-up period to collect coagulation test results and clinical events. The effectiveness and safety of the 2 management models were assessed by the following indicators: time in therapeutic range (TTR), bleeding events, thromboembolic events, all-cause mortality events, cumulative event rates, and the distribution of the international normalized ratio (INR). RESULTS: This national multicenter cohort study enrolled 522 patients between June 2019 and May 2021, with 519 (99%) patients reaching the follow-up end point, including 260 (50%) in the non-web-based management group and 259 (50%) in the web-based management group. There were no observable differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 patient groups. The web-based management group had a significantly higher TTR than the non-web-based management group (82.4% vs 71.6%, P<.001), and a higher proportion of patients received effective anticoagulation management (81.2% vs 63.5%, P<.001). The incidence of minor bleeding events in the non-web-based management group was significantly higher than that in the web-based management group (12.1% vs 6.6%, P=.048). Between the 2 groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of severe bleeding and thromboembolic and all-cause death events. In addition, compared with the non-web-based management group, the web-based management group had a lower proportion of INR in the extreme subtreatment range (17.6% vs 21.3%) and severe supertreatment range (0% vs 0.8%) and a higher proportion in the treatment range (50.4% vs 43.1%), with statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with traditional non-web-based outpatient management, web-based management via the Alfalfa app may be more beneficial because it can enhance patient anticoagulation management quality, lower the frequency of small bleeding events, and improve INR distribution.

A Machine Learning Model for Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Chinese Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Findings From the China Myocardial Infarction Registry.

BACKGROUND: Machine learning (ML) risk prediction models, although much more accurate than traditional statistical methods, are inconvenient to use in clinical practice due to their nontransparency and requirement of a large number of input variables. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a precise, explainable, and flexible ML model to predict the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: This study recruited 18,744 patients enrolled in the 2013 China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) registry and 12,018 patients from the China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (PEACE)-Retrospective Acute Myocardial Infarction Study. The Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was derived from 9616 patients in the CAMI registry (2014, 89 variables) with 5-fold cross-validation and validated on both the 9125 patients in the CAMI registry (89 variables) and the independent China PEACE cohort (10 variables). The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) approach was employed to interpret the complex relationships embedded in the proposed model. RESULTS: In the XGBoost model for predicting all-cause in-hospital mortality, the variables with the top 8 most important scores were age, left ventricular ejection fraction, Killip class, heart rate, creatinine, blood glucose, white blood cell count, and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). The area under the curve (AUC) on the CAMI validation set was 0.896 (95% CI 0.884-0.909), significantly higher than the previous models. The AUC for the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) model was 0.809 (95% CI 0.790-0.828), and for the TIMI model, it was 0.782 (95% CI 0.763-0.800). Despite the China PEACE validation set only having 10 available variables, the AUC reached 0.840 (0.829-0.852), showing a substantial improvement to the GRACE (0.762, 95% CI 0.748-0.776) and TIMI (0.789, 95% CI 0.776-0.803) scores. Several novel and nonlinear relationships were discovered between patients' characteristics and in-hospital mortality, including a U-shape pattern of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed ML risk prediction model was highly accurate in predicting in-hospital mortality. Its flexible and explainable characteristics make the model convenient to use in clinical practice and could help guide patient management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01874691; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01874691.

Battling on two fronts: The mental wellbeing of war zone medics.

The essential roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals commissioned on the frontlines of active war zone/s are indispensible, wherein they are explicitly exposed to detrimental conditions due to conflicting situations. With compromised healthcare infrastructure in active war zones, the role of healthcare workers becomes fundamental in delivering urgent medical care while facing significant risks. Beyond instantaneous availability of medication, healthcare workers manoeuvre through the psychological trauma of war, addressing prevalent ordeal and inadequate mental health support. They appear as supporters for peace, documenting rampant atrocities and contribute actively to post-war revival by rebuilding healthcare infrastructure, providing psychosocial support and participation in public health initiatives. This viewpoint highlights the comprehensive impact of conflicting situations on healthcare infrastructure, thus underscoring the necessity for cooperation required for safeguarding of mental wellbeing of healthcare professionals required at the intersection of health and war.

How clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth.

AIM: This systematic integrative literature review explores how clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth. BACKGROUND: Telehealth is a modality of care that has gained popularity due to the development of digital technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recognized that telehealth, compared to traditional clinical settings, carries a higher risk to patients due to its virtual characteristics. Even though the landscape of healthcare service is increasingly moving towards virtual systems, the decision-making process in telehealth remains not fully understood. DESIGN: A systematic integrative review. DATA SOURCES: Databases include CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. REVIEW METHODS: This systematic integrative review method was informed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). The databases were initially searched with keywords in November 2022 and then repeated in October 2023. Thematic synthesis was conducted to analyse and synthesize the data. RESULTS: The search identified 382 articles. After screening, only 10 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Five studies were qualitative, one quantitative and four were mixed methods. Five main themes relevant to decision-making processes in telehealth were identified: characteristics of decision-making in telehealth, patient factor, clinician factor, CDSS factor and external influencing factor. CONCLUSIONS: The decision-making process in telehealth is a complicated cognitive process influenced by multi-faceted components, including patient factors, clinician factors, external influencing factors and technological factors. IMPACT: Telehealth carries higher risk and uncertainty than face-to-face encounters. CDSS, rather than bringing unification and clarity, seems to bring more divergence and ambiguity. Some of the clinical reasoning processes in telehealth remain unknown and need to be verbalized and made transparent, to prepare junior clinicians with skills to minimize risks associated with telehealth. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Not applicable.

Patient management with Head and Neck tumors-A nationwide data collection in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed oncologic patient management from initial tumor diagnosis to tumor follow-up in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) in Germany. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A dynamic online questionnaire with a total of 44 questions was used to generate general and specific data regarding oncologic patient management with head and neck malignancies, supportive care, and (pre-) rehabilitation from initial tumor diagnosis to tumor follow-up and head and neck cancer center (HNCC) structures in OMFS in Germany. The questionnaire was sent to 81 OMFS departments affiliated with the German-Austrian-Swiss Working Group for Tumors of the Jaw and Facial Region (DÖSAK) and the German Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGMKG). Data analysis was conducted descriptively. RESULTS: Forty-eight OMFS departments participated (response rate 59.26%), of which 36/48 (75%) were certified HNCC. 28/34 (82.4%) reported subjective improvements in oncologic care, most often interdisciplinary collaboration (21/33, 63.64%) and clinic structure changes (21/34, 61.76%). Nearly all OMFS departments present patients in multidisciplinary tumor boards (45/46, 97.83%) and aim for osseous reconstruction post-tumor resection (43/44, 97.73%). Significant discrepancies regarding the frequency of masticatory-functional dental rehabilitation following osseous reconstruction were observed. Before oncologic therapy, patients are offered various supportive services, mostly psychotherapy and psycho-oncological support (24/26, 92.31%). Post-therapy, speech therapy (43/43, 100%), physiotherapy (40/43, 93.02%), lymphatic drainage, and follow-up rehabilitation (39/43, 90.7%, respectively) are most often offered. 17/43 (39.53%) have oncological nursing staff. 36/40 (90%) manage patients and side effects during adjuvant therapy, while 5/41 (12.2%) provide proprietary palliative care. 36/41 (87.8%) offer counseling to patients and families. CONCLUSION: Oncologic patient care in OMFS is highly standardized and potentially attributable to many certified HNCCs in Germany. Certain treatment aspects are handled differently, possibly due to institution-specific reasons. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The high homogeneity in treatment protocols reflects the widespread high and comparable treatment quality of head and neck malignancies in OMFS in Germany.

An Era of Digital Healthcare-A Comprehensive Review of Sensor Technologies and Telehealth Advancements in Chronic Heart Failure Management.

Heart failure (HF) is a multi-faceted, complex clinical syndrome characterized by significant morbidity, high mortality rate, reduced quality of life, and rapidly increasing healthcare costs. A larger proportion of these costs comprise both ambulatory and emergency department visits, as well as hospital admissions. Despite the methods used by telehealth (TH) to improve self-care and quality of life, patient outcomes remain poor. HF management is associated with numerous challenges, such as conflicting evidence from clinical trials, heterogeneity of TH devices, variability in patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, and discrepancies between healthcare systems. A growing body of evidence suggests there is an unmet need for increased individualization of in-hospital management, continuous remote monitoring of patients pre and post-hospital admission, and continuation of treatment post-discharge in order to reduce re-hospitalizations and improve long-term outcomes. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art for HF and associated novel technologies and advancements in the most frequently used types of TH (implantable sensors), categorizing devices in their preclinical and clinical stage, bench-to-bedside implementation challenges, and future perspectives on remote HF management to improve long-term outcomes of HF patients. The Review also highlights recent advancements in non-invasive remote monitoring technologies demonstrated by a few pilot observational prospective cohort studies.

Recommendations to Improve Management of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules in Canada: Expert Panel Consensus.

Introduction: Incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN) are common radiologic findings, yet management of IPNs is inconsistent across Canada. This study aims to improve IPN management based on multidisciplinary expert consensus and provides recommendations to overcome patient and system-level barriers. Methods: A modified Delphi consensus technique was conducted. Multidisciplinary experts with extensive experience in lung nodule management in Canada were recruited to participate in the panel. A survey was administered in 3 rounds, using a 5-point Likert scale to determine the level of agreement (1 = extremely agree, 5 = extremely disagree). Results: Eleven experts agreed to participate in the panel; 10 completed all 3 rounds. Consensus was achieved for 183/217 (84.3%) statements. Panellists agreed that radiology reports should include a standardized summary of findings and follow-up recommendations for all nodule sizes (ie, <6, 6-8, and >8 mm). There was strong consensus regarding the importance of an automated system for patient follow-up and that leadership support for organizational change at the administrative level is of utmost importance in improving IPN management. There was no consensus on the need for standardized national referral pathways, development of new guidelines, or establishing a uniform picture archiving and communication system. Conclusion: Canadian IPN experts agree that improved IPN management should include standardized radiology reporting of IPNs, standardized and automated follow-up of patients with IPNs, guideline adherence and implementation, and leadership support for organizational change. Future research should focus on the implementation and long-term effectiveness of these recommendations in clinical practice.

Kahramanmaras-Pazarcik Earthquake 2023: Characteristics of Patients Presented to the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Hospital Far from the Region and Infection Characteristics in Hospitalized Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the demographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of the patients who applied to the emergency department (ED) of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital (Antalya, Türkiye) after the Kahramanmaras-Pazarcik earthquake dated February 6, 2023, as earthquake victims were included in the study. The results of the study could be a guide in terms of emergency health services and the healthy management of disasters. METHODS: The study included patients over the age of 18 who presented as earthquake victims to the ED of Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Hospital from February 6, 2023 through March 8, 2023. The demographic data of the patients, including age, gender, earthquake zone, time and manner of arrival to the ED, time under debris, length-of-stay (LOS) in the service and intensive care unit (ICU), infection rates, culture results, and mortality, were retrospectively analyzed using the hospital automation system. RESULTS: A total of 1,833 earthquake victims presented to the ED. Of these patients, 1,294 were adults and 539 were children. Services and the ICU admitted a total of 137 adult patients. In the first week, 414 (31.99%) of the patients presented to the ED, while 82 (59.85%) of the hospitalized patients were admitted.Hatay ranked first with 573 (44.28%) patients in the distribution of patients presented to the ED according to earthquake regions. In the distribution of hospitalized patients by earthquake regions, the patients requiring the most hospitalization were from the province of Hatay, with 68 (49.63%) patients.During hospital observations, the medical staff took 132 culture samples based on the positive clinic of the patient. The microorganisms detected in the culture studies were different from the flora of the hospital. The mortality at seven days was two (1.45%), and at the end of 30 days, the mortality was six (4.37%). CONCLUSIONS: The ED evaluated all affected cases, with most patients being brought by their relatives using their own means, and had low mortality rates despite presenting with fewer injuries. New environmental conditions that developed after the earthquake caused unexpected results, especially in terms of community-acquired agents.

Management of pasireotide-induced hyperglycemia in patients with acromegaly: An experts' consensus statement.

Pasireotide is a somatostatin analogue for the treatment of acromegaly, a chronic condition caused by excess growth hormone. Despite the therapeutic benefits of pasireotide as a second-line treatment for inadequately controlled acromegaly, a major concern is its hyperglycemic side-effect. Here, we provide guidance on how to select appropriate patients with acromegaly for treatment with pasireotide. We summarize baseline characteristics of patients at high risk for pasireotide-associated hyperglycemia and recommend a monitoring strategy based on the risk profile. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels (SMBG), measurements of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) and regular HbA1c measurements are the foundation of our proposed monitoring approach. The pathophysiology of pasireotide-induced hyperglycemia involves decreased secretion of the incretin hormones GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Our expert recommendations address the specific pathophysiology of pasireotide-induced hyperglycemia by recommending the incretin-based therapeutics dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in all appropriate patients as an alternative to first-line monotherapy with metformin. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of adequate control of acromegaly, excellent diabetes education, nutrition and lifestyle guidance and advise to consult expert diabetologists in case of uncertainty in the management of patients with hyperglycemia under pasireotide.

Differentiating Leukostasis From COVID-19 Pneumonia: Clinical and Radiological Perspectives for the Right Decision-Making.

Leukostasis is a non-infectious complication of acute leukemia. Pathophysiologically, it is characterized by an accumulation of blasts in the pulmonary capillaries. Clinically, this syndrome of hyperleukocytosis or leucocytosis leads to pulmonary and/or neurological lesions. This is why it must be treated urgently to prevent it from progressing to acute respiratory distress. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which may cause respiratory distress or other clinical, biological, and radiological signs that some may confuse with those of leukostasis. In this context, we present a compelling case study of a 64-year-old patient with no notable pathological antecedents and not vaccinated against COVID-19, who presented with acute respiratory distress. The purpose of our article is to succeed in differentiating between the two pneumopathies, thus making it possible to orient the doctor toward the right decision-making. As known, early recognition enables timely interventions, reducing disease progression and associated complications while also preventing unnecessary treatments, optimizing healthcare resources, and advancing medical knowledge for improved patient care in both acute leukemia and COVID-19 management.

[Foreign body ingestion].

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body ingestion by young children has been increasing for years. Ingestions of batteries and magnets are particularly problematic.[1] Before and during diagnosis, there are some important steps that should be followed to allow for proper patient management.

Management of patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer in the immunotherapy era: An Italian consensus through a Delphi approach.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy represented a turning point for treating extensive small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Although, many issues remain debated. METHODS: A group of Italian medical and radiation oncologists with expertise in managing patients with ES-SCLC developed a list of statements divided in six areas of interest. The Delphi method was used to assess the consensus on the defined list of statements. RESULTS: 32 statements were included in the final list to be voted by the Delphi panel, and 26 reached a consensus on the agreement. A prompt involvement of a multidisciplinary team is a priority to provide an integrated treatment strategy. First-line recommended treatment is immunotherapy in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy and etoposide for four cycles followed by maintenance immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: While awaiting new data from clinical trials and real-world studies, these recommendations can represent a useful tool to guide the management of ES-SCLC patients in daily practice.

Is day-case surgical procedure safe for MICRA leadless pacemaker implantation?

BACKGROUND: MICRA implantation is not commonly done as a day-case procedure. Elective leadless pacemakers are implanted routinely in our centre. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the day-case MICRA procedure is safe. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from all patients undergoing elective MICRA implantation at our centre between May 2014 and Nov 2022 (n = 81). Two patient groups were stratified: those planned to be discharged on the same day (SD, n = 52) and those planned to be observed overnight after the procedure (ON, n = 29). Patient demographics, size of the sheath used, type of MICRA device, and rate of complications were recorded. In patients with successful implants (n = 80), device function at discharge and first routine follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 58% males in the SD group and 45% in the ON group. Median age was 49 years in the SD and 67 years in the ON. Among patients who were planned as a day case, 8 patients had to stay in the hospital but for < 48 h: 2 due to minor groin bleeding, 1 due to patient's request despite fit to discharge, 4 due to the procedure carried out later in the day, and 1 for observation due to procedural complexity. MICRA implantation was successful in 80 patients. The rate of the major complications was 2% in the SD group and 7% in the ON group (p = 0.223), and none of the co-morbidities assessed showed an association with any complications. Device parameters at the follow-up were available in 76 patients. The rate of patients with low and stable PCT at follow-up was also 98% in the SD group and 96% in the ON group. CONCLUSIONS: Day case MICRA procedure can be performed safely in an appropriately selected patient population.