Macroscopic hematuria in wasp sting patients: a retrospective study

BackgroundMacroscopic hematuria after wasp sting has been reported in Asia to occur before acute kidney injury (AKI), and is often used by clinicians as a sign indicating the need for intensive care and blood purification therapy. However, there is no study on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of this symptom.MethodsThe clinical data of 363 patients with wasp sting admitted to Suining Central Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. At admission, the poisoning severity score (PSS) was used as the criterion for severity classification. According to the presence of macroscopic hematuria, the patients were divided into macroscopic hematuria and non-macroscopic hematuria group.ResultsOf the 363 wasp sting patients, 219 were male and 144 were female, with a mean age of 55.9 ± 16.3 years. Fifty-one (14%) had macroscopic hematuria, 39 (10.7%) had AKI, 105 (28.9%) had rhabdomyolysis, 61 (16.8%) had hemolysis, 45 (12.4%) went on to received hemodialysis, and 14 (3.9%) died. The incidence of AKI in macroscopic hematuria group was 70.6%, and oliguric renal failure accounted for 72.2%. Patients with macroscopic hematuria had significantly higher PSS (2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3, p < .001).ConclusionMacroscopic hematuria can be regarded as a surrogate marker of deteriorating clinical outcome following wasp stings. In wasp sting patients with symptoms of macroscopic hematuria or serum LDH higher than 463.5 u/L upon admission, the risk of AKI increases significantly, therefore hemodialysis should be considered. The PSS is helpful in early assessment of the severity of wasp sting patients.     

Significance and clinical impact of routinely tested urinary ethyl glucuronide after liver transplantation – development of a risk score

Alcohol abuse after liver transplantation can seriously impact graft and patient survival. However, to date, there is no defined standard procedure to identify patients consuming alcohol after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic value and clinical impact of routinely measured urinary ethyl glucuronide (uEtG) – a metabolite of ethanol – in patients after liver transplantation. Data of 362 consecutive patients after liver transplantation who visited the University Hospital of Tuebingen for outpatient follow-up were analyzed. Forty-eight patients (13%) displayed positive uEtG results. The uEtG positive group contained significantly more patients with pretransplant alcoholic liver disease. However, two thirds of the uEtG positive patients had no history of pretransplant alcoholic liver disease. Several clinical parameters were significantly associated with positive uEtG. In order to enable a more cost-effective application of uEtG in the future, a clinical risk score was developed (specificity 0.95). In conclusion, routine testing for uEtG reveals a considerable percentage of patients practicing alcohol intake after liver transplantation. Application of our proposed risk score could help focusing uEtG testing on patients at risk.     

What happens after graft loss? A large,long-term,single-center observation

The number of patients returning to dialysis after graft failure increases. Surprisingly, little is known about the clinical and immunological outcomes of this cohort. We retrospectively analyzed 254 patients after kidney allograft loss between 1997 and 2017 and report clinical outcomes such as mortality, relisting, retransplantations, transplant nephrectomies, and immunization status. Of the 254 patients, 49% had died 5 years after graft loss, while 27% were relisted, 14% were on dialysis and not relisted, and only 11% were retransplanted 5 years after graft loss. In the complete observational period, 111/254 (43.7%) patients were relisted. Of these, 72.1% of patients were under 55 years of age at time of graft loss and only 13.5% of patients were ≥65 years. Age at graft loss was associated with relisting in a logistic regression analysis. In the complete observational period, 42 patients (16.5%) were retransplanted. Only 4 of those (9.5%) were ≥65 years at time of graft loss. Nephrectomy had no impact on survival, relisting, or development of dnDSA. Patients after allograft loss have a high overall mortality. Immunization contributes to long waiting times. Only a very limited number of patients are retransplanted especially when ≥65 years at time of graft loss.     

Design and psychometric testing of a new patient-reported outcome measure for ankle treatment

BackgroundSeveral outcome scores are used to assess the outcome of ankle surgery, but many are not validated and there is currently no ‘gold-standard’. Consequently, there is demand to develop a new ‘gold-standard’ score to assess ankle surgery. The study aim was to review existing scores to develop and validate a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) to assess the outcome of operative ankle surgery.MethodsThe questionnaire items covered three areas: pain, symptoms and activity. The scale was reviewed by a patient group, resulting in the Oswestry Ankle score (Os-Ankle). The Os-Ankle was validated using a cohort of 206 patients at both pre-operative and post-operative stages of ankle surgery. Patients provided two other outcome scores, the scores currently used at our centre: the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ) and the Veterans Rand-12 (VR-12). Factor analysis and Rasch were determined to assess the psychometric testing and design of the Os-Ankle score. A follow up paper assesses the validity of the Os-Ankle against two existing scores.ResultsResults of the factor and Rasch analysis suggested that 12-items should be removed. The remaining 18-items fitted the Rasch model well, suggesting good internal consistency.ConclusionA new ankle PROM, the Os-Ankle, was successfully developed and demonstrated good psychometric testing. The Os-Ankle evaluates pain, symptoms and activities and results in a single score. The Os-Ankle has been validated in our follow up paper, and is ready to be implemented by ankle clinicians to monitor clinical outcomes. With the publication of two back to back papers, it will allow for further engage with other clinicians and other centres.Level of evidenceLevel II, prospective comparative study.     

Longer Term Outcomes Following High Tibial Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis: A Prospective,Multi-Centre Observational Study Comparing Tomofix and OPTY-LINE Devices

PurposeAssessing surgical accuracy and patient-recorded outcome measures for patients fitted with either the OPTY-LINE intramedullary realignment system or the Tomofix plate for medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO).Patients and methodsTwo matched case series of patients with symptomatic medial compartment osteoarthritis without other significant knee pathology. One group comprised of 19 patients receiving the Tomofix plate, whereas another comprised of 12 patients receiving the OPTY-LINE intramedullary nail. Patella-centred long leg alignment radiographs were assessed to calculate surgical accuracy in all cases. Patients completed knee injury osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) and osteotomy surgery patient satisfaction questionnaires pre-operatively and at 24 months post-surgery.ResultsAbsolute surgical accuracy at 2 years post-surgery was a mean 4.2 [standard deviation 3.7] for OPTY-LINE versus 9.2 [SD 7.8] for Tomofix (p = 0.11, Mann–Whitney U test). On average, patients in either the OPTY-LINE or Tomofix cohort reported at least a minimal perceptible clinical improvement—minimum average improvement of 15—for all five KOOS themes. No significant difference in change of KOOS scores over time or patient satisfaction levels were observed between the two cohorts.ConclusionThe OPTY-LINE device for HTO performs to a similar level as the Tomofix device. Surgical accuracy data are promising for OPTY-LINE, but does not seem to readily translate into difference in patient-reported outcomes compared to Tomofix. Even longer follow-up periods, to measure survival rates, and true randomised trials on larger samples can elucidate if there is a benefit for using one device over the other.     

How to perform high ultrasound examination of skin involvement among patients with systemic sclerosis – proposition of a unified protocol

IntroductionA fast and cheap method of skin assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an area of extensive research. Established in 1979, the Rodnan skin score is a palpation-based method used among clinicians. This method has some limitations, such as: examiner’s skills, subjective results, and no standardization. In the last few years researchers have been exploring ultrasound-based techniques as a possible tool for skin assessment among patients with SSc. The aim of the study is to develop a protocol of elastography-based skin imaging evaluation among patients with SSc.Material and methodsReview of the literature and own experience.ResultsProposition of elastography-based skin imaging protocol among patients with SSc.ConclusionsThe authors present a potential protocol of ultrasound-based examination of skin involvement among patients with SSc.