Impact of the driving pressure on mortality in obese and non-obese ARDS patients: a retrospective study of 362 cases

Purpose

The relation between driving pressure (plateau pressure-positive end-expiratory pressure) and mortality has never been studied in obese ARDS patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between 90-day mortality and driving pressure in an ARDS population ventilated in the intensive care unit (ICU) according to obesity status.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-center study of prospectively collected data of all ARDS patients admitted consecutively to a mixed medical-surgical adult ICU from January 2009 to May 2017. Plateau pressure, compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) and driving pressure of the respiratory system within 24 h of ARDS diagnosis were compared between survivors and non-survivors at day 90 and between obese (body mass index?≥?30 kg/m²) and non-obese patients. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used for mortality at day 90.

Results

Three hundred sixty-two ARDS patients were included, 262 (72%) non-obese and 100 (28%) obese patients. Mortality rate at day 90 was respectively 47% (95% CI, 40–53) in the non-obese and 46% (95% CI, 36–56) in the obese patients. Driving pressure at day 1 in the non-obese patients was significantly lower in survivors at day 90 (11.9?±?4.2 cmH₂O) than in non-survivors (15.2?±?5.2 cmH₂O, p?<?0.001). Contrarily, in obese patients, driving pressure at day 1 was not significantly different between survivors (13.7?±?4.5 cmH₂O) and non-survivors (13.2?±?5.1 cmH₂O, p?=?0.41) at day 90. After three multivariate Cox analyses, plateau pressure [HR?=?1.04 (95% CI 1.01–1.07) for each point of increase], Crs [HR?=?0.97 (95% CI 0.96–0.99) for each point of increase] and driving pressure [HR?=?1.07 (95% CI 1.04–1.10) for each point of increase], respectively, were independently associated with 90-day mortality in non-obese patients, but not in obese patients.

Conclusions

Contrary to non-obese ARDS patients, driving pressure was not associated with mortality in obese ARDS patients.

     

Mortality outcomes based on ED qSOFA score and HIV status in a developing low income country

Objective

To evaluate the utility of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score to predict risks for emergency department (ED) and hospital mortality among patients in a sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) setting.

Fructose:Glucose Ratios—A Study of Sugar Self-Administration and Associated Neural and Physiological Responses in the Rat

This study explored whether different ratios of fructose (F) and glucose (G) in sugar can engender significant differences in self-administration and associated neurobiological and physiological responses in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, animals self-administered pellets containing 55% F + 45% G or 30% F + 70% G, and Fos immunoreactivity was assessed in hypothalamic regions regulating food intake and reward. In Experiment 2, rats self-administered solutions of 55% F + 42% G (high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)), 50% F + 50% G (sucrose) or saccharin, and mRNA of the dopamine 2 (D2R) and mu-opioid (MOR) receptor genes were assessed in striatal regions involved in addictive behaviors. Finally, in Experiment 3, rats self-administered HFCS and sucrose in their home cages, and hepatic fatty acids were quantified. It was found that higher fructose ratios engendered lower self-administration, lower Fos expression in the lateral hypothalamus/arcuate nucleus, reduced D2R and increased MOR mRNA in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens core, respectively, as well as elevated omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. These data indicate that a higher ratio of fructose may enhance the reinforcing effects of sugar and possibly lead to neurobiological and physiological alterations associated with addictive and metabolic disorders.     

PrEP service delivery preferences of black Cis-gender women living in the Southern United States

AIDS and Behavior - To assess PrEP service delivery preferences among Black cis-gender women living in urban and rural settings in Alabama, we conducted a cross-sectional discrete choice experiment...     

Does the impact of intensive lifestyle intervention on cognitive function vary depending baseline level of frailty? An ancillary study to the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Trial

AimsTo assess whether there is an opportune window when intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) benefits cognitive function.MethodsStandardized cognitive assessments were collected following ≥8 years of either ILI or a control condition of diabetes support and education (DSE) in 3708 individuals, ages 45-76 years at enrollment, with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. Frailty index (FI) scores were used to group individuals at baseline into tertiles according to their age-related health status. Linear models were used to describe intervention adherence and cognitive function, with interaction terms to examine the consistency of relationships among tertiles.ResultsWorse baseline FI scores were associated with poorer subsequent performance in tests of attention, processing speed, and executive function. No differences in any measure of cognitive function were observed between intervention groups within any FI tertile (all p > 0.10). Among individuals with worse baseline FI scores, weight gain was associated with poorer global cognitive function among participants assigned to DSE. There was no association between weight changes and cognitive function among participants assigned to ILI.ConclusionsAmong adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity, we found no evidence that there is a window of opportunity based on FI when ILI benefits cognitive function.     

Late coronary artery recanalization effects on left ventricular remodelling and contractility by magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: To assess the recanalization effects of post-myocardial infarction (MI) on left ventricular (LV) remodelling and contractility in relation to conservative therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with occluded infarct-related artery between 12 h and 14 days post-anterior MI were randomized to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI group) or conservative therapy (no-PCI group). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at enrollment and after 6 months. The left ventricle was divided into infarct, adjacent, and remote segments. There was no difference in relation to LV volume between groups at the 6 month follow-up. Change in LV ejection fraction was favourable to the PCI group: 5.00% vs. -0.76%, P=0.012. Change in circumferential shortening (Ecc) of the remote segments in the PCI group was significantly better than in the no-PCI group: -1.67+/-6.30% vs. 0.29+/-6.02%, P<0.001. Infarct size and LV mass were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Late recanalization improved LV ejection fraction and myocardial contractility in late follow-up, but did not change the ventricular volumes. Improvement in the left ventricle global and regional contractility may benefit the long-term outcome in post-MI patients with sustained patency of the infarct-related artery.