High Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio: A Novel Marker for Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia?

Background: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is associated with poor prognosis after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Purpose: This study aimed to describe the parameters of coagulation function and evaluate the association between the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and SAP in patients with AIS.Patients and methods: A total of 932 consecutive patients with AIS were included. Coagulation parameters were measured at admission. All patients were classified into two groups according to the optimal cutoff FAR point at which the sum of the specificity and sensitivity was highest. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance potential confounding factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of SAP.Results: A total of 100 (10.7%) patients were diagnosed with SAP. The data showed that fibrinogen, FAR, and D-dimer, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were higher in patients with SAP, while albumin was much lower. Patients with SAP showed a significantly increased FAR when compared with non-SAP (P < 0.001). Patients were assigned to groups of high FAR (≥0.0977) and low FAR (<0.0977) based on the optimal cut-off value. Propensity score matching analysis further confirmed the association between FAR and SAP. After adjusting for confounding and risk factors, multivariate regression analysis showed that the high FAR (≥0.0977) was an independent variable predicting the occurrence of SAP (odds ratio =2.830, 95% CI = 1.654–4.840, P < 0.001). In addition, the FAR was higher in the severe pneumonia group when it was assessed by pneumonia severity index (P = 0.008).Conclusions: High FAR is an independent potential risk factor of SAP, which can help clinicians identify high-risk patients with SAP after AIS.

Association of red blood cell and platelet transfusions with persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome in critically ill patients

The objective of this single-center retrospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between blood transfusion and persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PIICS). The study was conducted at the Critical Care Center at Toho University Omori Medical Center, Japan. We included 391 patients in the PIICS group (hospitalization for > 15 days, C-reactive protein > 3.0 mg/dL or albumin < 3.0 mg/dL or lymph < 800/μL on day 14) and 762 patients in the non-PIICS group (hospitalization for > 15 days and not meeting the PIICS criteria). We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using PIICS as the objective variable and red blood cell (RBC) or fresh frozen plasma or platelet (PLT) transfusion and other confounding factors as explanatory variables. In addition, we conducted a sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching analysis. The multivariate and propensity score analyses showed that RBC and PLT transfusions were significantly associated with PIICS. This is the first study to report an association between RBC and PLT transfusions and PIICS. Our findings have contributed to better understanding the risk factors of PIICS and suggest that physicians should consider the risk of PIICS occurrence when administering blood transfusions in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Single-Use vs. Reusable Digital Flexible Ureteroscope to Treat Upper Urinary Calculi: A Propensity-Score Matching Analysis

Objective: The purpose of this research was to compare the treatment outcomes and costs of a single-use and reusable digital flexible ureteroscope for upper urinary calculi.Methods: Four hundred forty patients with reusable digital flexible ureteroscope and 151 patients with single-use flexible digital ureteroscope were included in this study. Through exclusion and inclusion criteria and 1:1 propensity-score matching analysis based on baseline characteristics, ultimately, 238 patients (119:119) were compared in terms of treatment outcomes. The cost analysis was based on the costs of purchase, repair, and reprocessing divided by the number of all procedures in each group (450 procedures with reusable digital flexible ureteroscope and 160 procedures with single-use digital flexible ureteroscope).Results: There was no statistical significance in mean operation time (P = 0.666). The single-use digital flexible ureteroscope group has a shorter mean length of hospital stay than the reusable digital flexible ureteroscope group (P = 0.026). And the two groups have a similar incidence of postoperative complications (P = 0.678). No significant difference was observed in the final stone-free rate (P = 0.599) and the probability of secondary lithotripsy (P = 0.811) between the two groups. After 275 procedures, the total costs of a single-use flexible ureteroscope would exceed the reusable flexible ureteroscope.Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that the single-use digital flexible ureteroscope is an alternative to reusable digital flexible ureteroscopy in terms of surgical efficacy and safety for upper urinary calculi. In terms of the economics of the two types of equipment, institutions should consider their financial situation, the number of FURS procedures, the volume of the patient's calculus, surgeon experience, and local dealerships' annual maintenance contract when making the choice.

The Value of Perioperative Chemotherapy for Patients With Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach Undergoing Radical Gastrectomy

BackgroundHepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) is a rare type of gastric cancer, but the role of perioperative chemotherapy is still poorly understood. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the associations between perioperative chemotherapy and prognosis of HAS.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed patients with locally advanced HAS who received radical surgery in Peking University Cancer Hospital between November 2009 and October 2020. Patients were divided into neoadjuvant chemotherapy-first (NAC-first) group and surgery-first group. The relationships between perioperative chemotherapy and prognosis of HAS were analyzed using univariate, multivariate survival analyses and propensity score matching analysis (PSM).ResultsA total of 100 patients were included for analysis, including 29 in the NAC-first group and 71 in the surgery-first group. The Her-2 amplification in HAS patients was 22.89% (19/83). For NAC-first group, 4 patients were diagnosed as tumor recession grade 1 (TRG1), 4 patients as TRG 2, and 19 patients as TRG 3. No significant difference in prognosis between the surgery-first group and the NAC-first group (P=0.108) was found using PSM analysis. In the surgery-first group, we found that the survival rate was better in group of ≥6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy than that of &lt;6 cycles (P=0.013).ConclusionNAC based on platinum and fluorouracil may not improve the Overall survival (OS) and Disease-free survival time (DFS) of patients with locally advanced HAS. Patients who received ≥6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy had better survival. Therefore, the combination treatment of radical gastrectomy and sufficient adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for patients with locally advanced HAS.

Additional effect of azithromycin over β-lactam alone for severe community-acquired pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although previous studies have suggested that macrolide therapy is beneficial for ARDS, its benefit for severe CAP-associated ARDS remains uncertain. Previous studies were limited in that they had a small sample size and included patients with non-pulmonary ARDS and those with pulmonary ARDS. This study aimed to investigate the additional effect of azithromycin when used with β-lactam compared with the effect of β-lactam alone in mechanically ventilated patients with CAP-associated ARDS. Methods We identified mechanically ventilated patients with CAP-associated ARDS between July 2010 and March 2015 using data in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a Japanese nationwide inpatient database. We performed propensity score matching analysis to assess 28-day mortality and in-hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with CAP-associated ARDS who received β-lactam with and without azithromycin within hospital 2 days after admission. The inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis was also conducted. Results Eligible patients (n = 1257) were divided into the azithromycin group (n = 226) and the control group (n = 1031). The one-to-four propensity score matching analysis included 139 azithromycin users and 556 non-users. No significant difference was observed between the groups with respect to 28-day mortality (34.5% vs. 37.6%, p = 0.556) or in-hospital mortality (46.0% vs. 49.1%, p = 0.569). The inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis showed similar results. Conclusions Compared with treatment with β-lactam alone, treatment with azithromycin plus β-lactam had no significant additional effect on 28-day mortality or in-hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with CAP-associated ARDS. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to determine the effect of azithromycin in mechanically ventilated patients with CAP-associated ARDS.

A Case-Control of Patients with COVID-19 to Explore the Association of Previous Hospitalisation Use of Medication on the Mortality of COVID-19 Disease: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Data from several cohorts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggest that the most common comorbidities for severe COVID-19 disease are the elderly, high blood pressure, and diabetes; however, it is not currently known whether the previous use of certain drugs help or hinder recovery. This study aims to explore the association of previous hospitalisation use of medication on the mortality of COVID-19 disease. A retrospective case-control from two hospitals in Madrid, Spain, included all patients aged 18 years or above hospitalised with a diagnosis of COVID-19. A Propensity Score matching (PSM) analysis was performed. Confounding variables were considered to be age, sex, and the number of comorbidities. Finally, 3712 patients were included. Of these, 687 (18.5%) patients died (cases). The 22,446 medicine trademarks used previous to admission were classified according to the ATC, obtaining 689 final drugs; all of them were included in PSM analysis. Eleven drugs displayed a reduction in mortality: azithromycin, bemiparine, budesonide-formoterol fumarate, cefuroxime, colchicine, enoxaparin, ipratropium bromide, loratadine, mepyramine theophylline acetate, oral rehydration salts, and salbutamol sulphate. Eight final drugs displayed an increase in mortality: acetylsalicylic acid, digoxin, folic acid, mirtazapine, linagliptin, enalapril, atorvastatin, and allopurinol. Medication associated with survival (anticoagulants, antihistamines, azithromycin, bronchodilators, cefuroxime, colchicine, and inhaled corticosteroids) may be candidates for future clinical trials. Drugs associated with mortality show an interaction with the underlying conditions.