Machine learning-based scoring system to predict in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

BackgroundThe evolution of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still hard to predict, even after several months of dealing with the pandemic.AimsTo develop and validate a score to predict outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.MethodsAll consecutive adults hospitalized for COVID-19 from February to April 2020 were included in a nationwide observational study. Primary composite outcome was transfer to an intensive care unit from an emergency department or conventional ward, or in-hospital death. A score that estimates the risk of experiencing the primary outcome was constructed from a derivation cohort using stacked LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), and was tested in a validation cohort.ResultsAmong 2873 patients analysed (57.9% men; 66.6 ± 17.0 years), the primary outcome occurred in 838 (29.2%) patients: 551 (19.2%) were transferred to an intensive care unit; and 287 (10.0%) died in-hospital without transfer to an intensive care unit. Using stacked LASSO, we identified 11 variables independently associated with the primary outcome in multivariable analysis in the derivation cohort (n = 2313), including demographics (sex), triage vitals (body temperature, dyspnoea, respiratory rate, fraction of inspired oxygen, blood oxygen saturation) and biological variables (pH, platelets, C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, estimated glomerular filtration rate). The Critical COVID-19 France (CCF) risk score was then developed, and displayed accurate calibration and discrimination in the derivation cohort, with C-statistics of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.75–0.80). The CCF risk score performed significantly better (i.e. higher C-statistics) than the usual critical care risk scores.ConclusionsThe CCF risk score was built using data collected routinely at hospital admission to predict outcomes in patients with COVID-19. This score holds promise to improve early triage of patients and allocation of healthcare resources.     

Sodium nitroprusside and coronary surgery

The anti-hypertensive properties of sodium nitroprusside have been tested in 20 patients undergoing coronary arterial surgery. Were measured the arterial pressure, heart rate, mean right atrial pressure and mean left atrial pressure. The cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular stroke work index were deduced. A dose of 0.8 to 3 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1 sodium nitroprusside was given at the start of surgery, and immediately afterwards. The results showed a decrease of the systemic vascular resistance, a significant drop of arterial pressure, and a significant increase of heart rate as well as a tendency for the cardiac output to fall, probably because of insufficient vascular filing. When the mean left atrial pressure was kept at 14.8 +/- 3 mmHg (1.97 +/- 0.40 kPa), and left ventricular stroke work index fell, whilst cardiac output increased. Sodium nitroprusside seemed to be useful in coronary arterial surgery if used with care.     

Acute and mid-term results of pecutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Objective: To assess the acute and mid-term results of cardiac function improvements and left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG)changes in 30 patients displaying hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) treated with percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA). Methods: PTSMA was intended for 32 patients comprising of 13 women and 19men (average years being 54.1 ± 15.5) to be treated in accordance with the following inclusion criteria: The New York Heart As-sociation(NYHA) definition for cardiac functional class Ⅲ or Ⅳ , or class Ⅱ but for whom medical therapies were not tolerated or with syncope; intraventricular septal (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) hypertrophy asymmetrically associated with ratio of IVS to LVPW≥1.3 and LVOTG≥50 mm Hg at rest or ≥100 mm Hg at provocation (Valsalva maneuver). The target vessels were determined by coronary arteriography that demonstrated more than one septal branch and probatory balloon occlusion produced greater than 50% decrease of LVOTG. Once the target vessel established, the alcohol was administrated into septal ventricular via over-the-wire balloon. LVOTG was assessed by means of echocardiography measurements immediately after procedure and 3 months. Simultaneously, cardiac function class was also evaluated. Results: Two patients were abandoned prior to intervention due to inappropriate septal target vessels and DDD Pacemakers were chosed. Immediately after the procedure, resting LVOTG was reduced from 73.8 ± 35.5 to 16.6 ± 7.8 mmHg, at provocation LVOTG from 149.3 ± 42.5 to 61.9 ± 43.0 mmHg(P ＜0.0001 each) by echocardiography measurements. After 3 months, the mean New York Heart Association class was reduced from 2.8 ± 0.6 to 1.1 ± 1.0(P ＜ 0.0001) and the LVOTG also remained decrease(28.5 ± 6.4 mmHg at rest and 75.3 ± 11.6 mmHg at provocation). Conclusion: PTSMA is a promising nonsurgical technique for relief of symptoms and reduction of LVOTG in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.     

Usefulness of β-lactam and macrolide combination therapy for treating community-acquired pneumonia patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit: Propensity score analysis of a prospective cohort study

IntroductionWhether β-lactam and macrolide combination therapy reduces mortality in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) is controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of β-lactam and macrolide combination therapy for SCAP patients hospitalized in the ICU.MethodsA prospective, observational, cohort study of hospitalized pneumonia patients was performed. Hospitalized SCAP patients admitted to the ICU within 24 h between October 2010 and October 2017 were included for analysis. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes were 14-day mortality and ICU mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis as a propensity score analysis was used to reduce biases, including six covariates: age, sex, C-reactive protein, albumin, Pneumonia Severity Index score, and APACHE II score.ResultsA total of 78 patients were included, with 48 patients in the non-macrolide-containing β-lactam therapy group and 30 patients in the macrolide combination therapy group. β-lactam and macrolide combination therapy significantly decreased 30-day mortality (16.7% vs. 43.8%; P = 0.015) and 14-day mortality (6.7% vs. 31.3%; P = 0.020), but not ICU mortality (10% vs 27.1%, P = 0.08) compared with non-macrolide-containing β-lactam therapy. After adjusting by IPTW, macrolide combination therapy also decreased 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.29; 95%CI, 0.09–0.96; P = 0.04) and 14-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.19; 95%CI, 0.04–0.92; P = 0.04), but not ICU mortality (odds ratio, 0.34; 95%CI, 0.08–1.36; P = 0.13).ConclusionsCombination therapy with β-lactam and macrolides significantly improved the prognosis of SCAP patients hospitalized in the ICU compared with a non-macrolide-containing β-lactam regimen.     

Hemofiltration in severe high microvascular permeability pulmonary edema secondary to rickettsial spotted fever

Two patients, affected by spotted fever, developed low pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) pulmonary edema with severe hypoxemia. Conventional specific and supportive therapy, including mechanical ventilation, failed to induce significant respiratory and hemodynamic improvement which was dramatically reached by means of hemofiltration. Removal of circulating middle molecular weight peptides by the convective mass transfer, characteristic of hemofiltration, offers a new and effective therapeutic approach for the adult respiratory distress syndrome secondary to rickettsial diseases.     

BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGE WITH AGE IN SALT-SENSITIVE TEENAGERS

Objective To observe blood pressure change with age in salt-sensitive teenagers whose salt sensitivity were determined by repeated testing.Methods Salt sensitivity was determined through intravenous infusion of normal saline combined with volume-depletion by oral diuretic furosemide in 55 teenagers. After five years, salt sensitivity was re-examined and subject blood pressure was followed up. Blood pressure changes in salt-sensitive teenagers were compared to that of non-salt sensitive teenagers over five years.Results After 5 years, the repetition rate of salt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading is 92.7%. In teenagers with salt sensitivity on the baseline, both the systolic blood pressure increments and increment rates were much higher than non-salt sensitive teenagers (12.7±12.1 mmHg vs. 2.8±5.2 mmHg, P＜ 0.01; 12.2%± 12.0% vs. 2.5% ±4.4%, P＜ 0.001,respectively). There was a similar trend for diastolic blood pressure (8.4 ± 6.4 mmHg vs. 3.7 ± 6.4 mmHg, P = 0.052; 13.2% ±10.6 % vs. 6.8%± 10.1%, P = 0.053, respectively).Conclusions Salt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading showed good reproducibility. Blood pressure increments with age were much higher in salt-sensitive teenagers than non-salt sensitive teenagers, especially in terms of systolic blood pressure.     

Mucoactive agents for adults with acute lung conditions: A systematic review

Background and objectives

Inhaled mucoactive agents are used to enhance airway clearance, however efficacy and safety are unclear in adults with acute respiratory conditions.

Hypotensive but not normotensive haemorrhage increases tryptophan hydroxylase-2 mRNA in caudal midline medulla

Severe blood loss triggers shock, a precipitous hypotension and bradycardia. The integrity of (i) neurons in the vasodepressor region of the caudal midline medulla and (ii) central 5-HT neurotransmission are critical for the expression of haemorrhagic shock. This study investigated whether progressive blood loss triggers altered synthesis of 5-HT in the vasodepressor region of the caudal midline medulla by measuring changes in relative expression levels of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TpH 2) mRNA, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of neuronal 5-HT. Hypotensive but not normotensive haemorrhage triggered a significant increase in TpH 2 mRNA in the vasodepressor region of the caudal midline medulla, identifying an important role for 5-HT-containing caudal midline medullary neurons in haemorrhagic shock.