Veno-arterial CO2 difference and lactate for prediction of early mortality after cardiac arrest

Patients admitted to intensive care after cardiac arrest are at risk of circulatory shock and early mortality due to cardiovascular failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the veno-arterial pCO₂ difference (∆pCO₂; central venous CO₂ – arterial CO₂) and lactate to predict early mortality in postcardiac arrest patients. This was a pre-planned prospective observational sub-study of the target temperature management 2 trial. The sub-study patients were included at five Swedish sites. Repeated measurements of ∆pCO₂ and lactate were conducted at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48, and 72 h after randomization. We assessed the association between each marker and 96-h mortality and their prognostic value for 96-h mortality. One hundred sixty-three patients were included in the analysis. Mortality at 96 h was 17%. During the initial 24 h, there was no difference in ∆pCO₂ levels between 96-h survivors and non-survivors. ∆pCO₂ measured at 4 h was associated with an increased risk of death within 96 h (adjusted odds ratio: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.29; p = .018). Lactate levels were associated with poor outcome over multiple measurements. The area under the receiving operating curve to predict death within 96 h was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.48–0.74) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72–0.92) for ∆pCO₂ and lactate, respectively. Our results do not support the use of ∆pCO₂ to identify patients with early mortality in the postresuscitation phase. In contrast, non-survivors demonstrated higher lactate levels in the initial phase and lactate identified patients with early mortality with moderate accuracy.     

Pre-COVID-19 Social Determinants of Health Among Mexican Migrants in Los Angeles and New York City and Their Increased Vulnerability to Unfavorable Health Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - COVID-19 has disproportionally affected underrepresented minorities (URM) and low-income immigrants in the United States. The aim of the study is to...     

Good clinical research practice (GCRP) in pharmacodynamic studies of neuromuscular blocking agents III: The 2023 Geneva revision

The set of guidelines for good clinical research practice in pharmacodynamic studies of neuromuscular blocking agents was developed following an international consensus conference in Copenhagen in 1996 (Viby-Mogensen et al., Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1996, 40 , 59–74); the guidelines were later revised and updated following the second consensus conference in Stockholm in 2005 (Fuchs-Buder et al., Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2007, 51 , 789–808). In view of new devices and further development of monitoring technologies that emerged since then, (e.g., electromyography, three-dimensional acceleromyography, kinemyography) as well as novel compounds (e.g., sugammadex) a review and update of these recommendations became necessary. The intent of these revised guidelines is to continue to help clinical researchers to conduct high-quality work and advance the field by enhancing the standards, consistency, and comparability of clinical studies. There is growing awareness of the importance of consensus-based reporting standards in clinical trials and observational studies. Such global initiatives are necessary in order to minimize heterogeneous and inadequate data reporting and to improve clarity and comparability between different studies and study cohorts. Variations in definitions of endpoints or outcome variables can introduce confusion and difficulties in interpretation of data, but more importantly, it may preclude building of an adequate body of evidence to achieve reliable conclusions and recommendations. Clinical research in neuromuscular pharmacology and physiology is no exception.     

Desarrollo y validación de la versión abreviada del Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals en español

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to create and validate an abbreviated version of the Spanish Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (SvTVQ^MtF).SettingThe study was conducted by two referral hospitals for voice feminization surgery and by a university department of psychology and speech therapy, all in Spain.Subjects and methodsWe prospectively studied 51 male-to-female transsexuals who underwent voice feminization surgery between January 2017 and December 2018. The SvTVQ^MtF was completed before and after surgery, and the 10 items with the greatest variation were selected by clinical consensus of an expert panel to develop the short version of the SvTVQ^MtF (SvTVQ^MtF-10). The correlation between the total score and the score for each item on the SvTVQ^MtF and the SvTVQMtF-10 was studied. The internal consistency of the SvTVQ^MtF-10 was analysed.ResultsGood correlation (Pearson coefficient above .90) was found between the two questionnaires. A significant correlation was found between the total SvTVQ^MtF-10 score and the score for each item. A significant negative correlation was found between the SvTVQ^MtF and fundamental frequency after voice feminization surgery. Cronbach's α was .79.ConclusionThe SvTVQ^MtF-10 is a valid short version of the SvTVQ^MtF and can be used to quantify voice-related quality of life in MtF transsexuals.     

Calendario de vacunaciones de la Asociación Española de Pediatría: recomendaciones 2021

The CAV-AEP annually publishes the immunisation schedule considered optimal for all children and adolescent resident in Spain, taking into account the available evidence.The 2 + 1 schedule is recommended (2, 4, and 11 months) with hexavalent vaccines (DTPa-VPI-Hib-HB) and with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate.A 6-year booster is recommended, preferably with DTPa (if available), with a dose of polio for those who received 2 + 1 schemes, as well as vaccination with Tdpa in adolescents and in each pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 32 weeks.Rotavirus vaccine should be systematic for all infants.Meningococcal B vaccine, with a 2 + 1 schedule, should be included in routine calendar.In addition to the inclusion of the conjugated tetravalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) at 12 years of age with catch up to 18 years, inclusive, the CAV recommends this vaccine to be also included at 12 months of age, replacing MenC. Likewise, it is recommended in those over 6 weeks of age with risk factors or who travel to countries with a high incidence of these serogroups.Two-dose schedules for triple viral (12 months and 3-4 years) and varicella (15 months and 3-4 years) will be used. The second dose could be applied as a tetraviral vaccine.Universal systematic vaccination against HPV is recommended, regardless of gender, preferably at 12 years, and greater effort should be made to improve coverage. The 9 genotype extends coverage for both genders.     

Organization of the 43rd European Congress of Cytology in the SARS–CoV-2 pandemic period: A report

The 43rd European Congress of Cytology in Wrocław, Poland, was held as a hybrid meeting in the Fall of 2021. After nearly 2 years without in-person cytology conferences, the 43rd Congress represents 1 of the first major international scientific meetings to occur during the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 pandemic. Since March 2020, the pandemic situation substantially modified the organization of scientific meetings because of both domestic and international travel restrictions, new health standards, and concern among participants, resulting in new alternative forms of virtual conferencing. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2022;130:000-000. ;