Epidemiology and Clinical Insights of Catheter-Related Candidemia in Non-ICU Patients with Vascular Access Devices.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular access devices (VADs), namely peripheral VADs (PVADs) and central venous VADs (CVADs), are crucial in both intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU settings. However, VAD placement carries risks, notably catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). Candida spp. is a common pathogen in CRBSIs, yet its clinical and microbiological characteristics, especially in non-ICU settings, are underexplored. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric, retrospective observational study at Luigi Sacco Hospital from 1 May 2021 to 1 September 2023. We reviewed medical records of non-ICU adult patients with CVADs and PVADs. Data on demographics, clinical and laboratory results, VAD placement, and CRBSI occurrences were collected. Statistical analysis compared Candida spp. CRBSI and bacterial CRBSI groups. RESULTS: Out of 1802 VAD placements in 1518 patients, 54 cases of CRBSI were identified, and Candida spp. was isolated in 30.9% of episodes. The prevalence of CRBSI was 3.05%, with Candida spp. accounting for 0.94%. Incidence rates were 2.35 per 1000 catheter days for CRBSI, with Candida albicans and Candida non-albicans at 0.47 and 0.26 per 1000 catheter days, respectively-patients with Candida spp. CRBSI had more frequent SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 pneumonia, and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Candida spp. was a notable cause of CRBSIs in our center, underscoring the importance of considering Candida spp. in suspected CRBSI cases, including those in non-ICU settings and in those with PVADs.

MIRACLE: MInd ReAding CLassification Engine.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have revolutionized the way humans interact with machines, particularly for patients with severe motor impairments. EEG-based BCIs have limited functionality due to the restricted pool of stimuli that they can distinguish, while those elaborating event-related potentials up to now employ paradigms that require the patient's perception of the eliciting stimulus. In this work, we propose MIRACLE: a novel BCI system that combines functional data analysis and machine-learning techniques to decode patients' minds from the elicited potentials. MIRACLE relies on a hierarchical ensemble classifier recognizing 10 different semantic categories of imagined stimuli. We validated MIRACLE on an extensive dataset collected from 20 volunteers, with both imagined and perceived stimuli, to compare the system performance on the two. Furthermore, we quantify the importance of each EEG channel in the decision-making process of the classifier, which can help reduce the number of electrodes required for data acquisition, enhancing patients' comfort.

Diagnosis and Management of Acquired Hemophilia A: Case Reports and a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune hemostatic disorder where autoantibodies that disrupt the functions of factor VIII (FVIII) are present in the circulation. The early diagnosis of AHA is difficult since the symptoms of AHA differ from those of congenital hemophilia A. Furthermore, the management of AHA is also more complex due to the presence of autoantibodies against FVIII (FVIII inhibitors). Here, we present three case reports and conduct a literature review of AHA with the aim to increase awareness and knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of AHA. Case Presentations. We present three patients diagnosed with AHA in these case reports. The first patient was a young female, while the second and third patients were middle-aged and elderly males, respectively. All patients presented with a chief complaint of bruises without hemarthrosis and a history of bleeding. Laboratory examinations of the patients revealed isolated prolonged aPTT, normal PT, and the presence of autoantibodies against factor VIII, which are characteristics of AHA. Patients were then treated with corticosteroids to reduce the titer level of autoantibodies and received factor VIII transfusion to stop bleeding. CONCLUSION: AHA can be suspected in patients presenting with symptoms of bruises without hemarthrosis and without the history of bleeding. Isolated aPTT elevation with normal PT should raise high suspicion of AHA. The presence of FVIII inhibitors can help to confirm the diagnosis of AHA. Treatment consists of factor VIII transfusion and corticosteroid therapy. Bypassing agents are recommended as an alternative to FVIII transfusion.