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- Validity of a Clinical Scale in Predicting the Failure of Non-Invasive Ventilation in Hypoxemic PatientsPublication . Carrillo, A; Lopez, A; Carrillo, L; Caldeira, V; Guia, M; Alonso, N; Renedo, A; Quintana, M; Sanchez, J; Esquinas, AIntroduction: The HACOR scale is a clinical score that can predict early failure of NIV in hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) The aim of this study is to analyze the validity of the HACOR scale. Methods: A retrospective study of a cohort of over 2749 episodes on 2711 consecutive patients requiring NIV for hypoxemic ARF in a polyvalent intensive care unit. The scale was measured before starting NIV and at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the initiation of NIV. Results: NIV failure occurred in 963 patients (35%). The value of the HACOR scale before NIV did not differ between success and failure. However, at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h of NIV, the scale values clearly differed between the two groups. The HACOR scale at NIV initiation accurately predicts NIV failure in the first hour, with an optimal cut-off value of 8 points. The AUC for predicting NIV failure with HACOR at 1 h is greater than 0.9 in patients with pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Conclusions: The HACOR scale measured at 1 h after NIV initiation accurately predicts NIV failure, especially in pneumonia and ARDS.
- Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Diabetic Foot Infections: Experience from a Portuguese Tertiary CentrePublication . Pessoa E Costa, T; Duarte, B; João, AL; Coelho, M; Formiga, A; Pinto, M; Neves, JIn recent years, the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens made increasingly difficult to establish appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy protocols for acute diabetic foot infection (DFI) treatment. Early recognition of the population at-risk for multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection is of paramount importance in order to decrease large-spectrum antibiotic overuse. This study used retrospective cohort study in a multidisciplinary tertiary diabetic foot unit. Patients with severe DFI were included and divided according to their infection resistance profile (susceptible vs MDR bacteria). Data regarding their comorbidities and length of hospital stay were collected. The primary endpoint was to determine the risk factors for MDR infections and to evaluate if these were associated with an increased length of stay (LOS). A total of 112 microbial isolates were included. Predominance of Gram-positive bacteria was observed and 22.3% of isolated bacteria were MDR. Previous hospitalisation was associated with a higher likelihood of MDR infection. MDR bacterial infection was also associated with an increased LOS (P = .0296). Our study showed a high incidence of MDR bacteria in patients with a DFI, especially in those who had a recent hospitalisation. MDR infections were associated with a prolonged LOS and represent a global public health issue for which emergent measures are needed.
- Oral Azacitidine Maintenance Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in First RemissionPublication . Wei, A; Döhner, H; Pocock, C; Montesinos, P; Afanasyev, B; Dombret, H; Ravandi, F; Sayar, H; Jang, JH; Porkka, K; Selleslag, D; Sandhu, I; Turgut, M; Giai, V; Ofran, Y; Kizil Çakar, M; Botelho de Sousa, A; Rybka, J; Frairia, C; Borin, L; Beltrami, G; Čermák, J; Ossenkoppele, G; La Torre, I; Skikne, B; Kumar, K; Dong, Q; Beach, C; Roboz, GBackground: Although induction chemotherapy results in remission in many older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapse is common and overall survival is poor. Methods: We conducted a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the oral formulation of azacitidine (CC-486, a hypomethylating agent that is not bioequivalent to injectable azacitidine), as maintenance therapy in patients with AML who were in first remission after intensive chemotherapy. Patients who were 55 years of age or older, were in complete remission with or without complete blood count recovery, and were not candidates for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation were randomly assigned to receive CC-486 (300 mg) or placebo once daily for 14 days per 28-day cycle. The primary end point was overall survival. Secondary end points included relapse-free survival and health-related quality of life. Results: A total of 472 patients underwent randomization; 238 were assigned to the CC-486 group and 234 were assigned to the placebo group. The median age was 68 years (range, 55 to 86). Median overall survival from the time of randomization was significantly longer with CC-486 than with placebo (24.7 months and 14.8 months, respectively; P<0.001). Median relapse-free survival was also significantly longer with CC-486 than with placebo (10.2 months and 4.8 months, respectively; P<0.001). Benefits of CC-486 with respect to overall and relapse-free survival were shown in most subgroups defined according to baseline characteristics. The most common adverse events in both groups were grade 1 or 2 gastrointestinal events. Common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (in 41% of patients in the CC-486 group and 24% of patients in the placebo group) and thrombocytopenia (in 22% and 21%, respectively). Overall health-related quality of life was preserved during CC-486 treatment. Conclusions: CC-486 maintenance therapy was associated with significantly longer overall and relapse-free survival than placebo among older patients with AML who were in remission after chemotherapy. Side effects were mainly gastrointestinal symptoms and neutropenia. Quality-of-life measures were maintained throughout treatment. (Supported by Celgene; QUAZAR AML-001 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01757535.).
- Missed Gallstones in the Abdominal Wall: Complication of a Laparoscopic CholecystectomyPublication . Frade, S; Carrelha, S; Monteiro, N; Moniz, L; Viegas, HLaparoscopic cholecystectomy, like any invasive procedure, is associated with complications. One of them often ignored despite its frequency, as the results of the low morbidity rate is stone spillage. We present a case of a 38 years male, with obesity; that underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for an acute cholecystitis. During surgery, gallbladder perforation occurred with stone spillage. An attempt was made for recovery of all stones. However, one month after surgery, the patient complained of abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant and an abscess of the deep abdominal wall was found caused by a missed gallstone. Although the definitive treatment was not immediate, an attempt at antibiotic therapy was made, unsuccessfully. Afterwards, this patient underwent gallstone extraction and removal of foreign body granuloma with complete resolution of the clinical condition.
- Prediction of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Systemic Lupus ErythematosusPublication . Palma dos Reis, C; Cardoso, G; Carvalho, C; Nogueira, I; Borges, A; Serrano, FSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune disease associated with major obstetrical complications such as gestational loss, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia. Published literature is not consensual regarding the main risk factors for each of these outcomes. Our goal with this study was to determine the most important predictors for each of the main adverse pregnancy outcomes in this population. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of unifetal pregnancies of women with the diagnosis of SLE followed in our unit between January 1994 and December 2016. We excluded elective terminations of pregnancy and cases lost to follow-up and we analyzed 157 pregnancies (128 women). Multiple logistic regression models for the outcomes gestational loss, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia were built. Two-sided p-values of < 0.05 were used to determine statistical significance, and two-sided confidence intervals of 95% are reported. In our cohort, the main risk factors for gestational loss were maternal age and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Lupic nephritis was predictive of a preterm delivery and preeclampsia. Renal involvement and lupus flares during pregnancy were risk factors for FGR. Overall, the main risk factor for an adverse pregnancy outcome were lupus flares during pregnancy. Despite optimal pregnancy monitoring, women with SLE are still at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Risk stratification for each of these outcomes is crucial for an effective counselling and tailored monitoring.
- Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Study in Familial ALS-FTD Portuguese Patients Negative for C9orf72 HREPublication . Gromicho, M; Coutinho, AM; Pronto-Laborinho, AC; Raposeiro, R; Tavares, J; Antunes, D; de Carvalho, MAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with clinical and etiological heterogeneity and a complex genetic contribution. Clinical, neuropathological, and genetic evidence revealed that ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are in part of a single disease continuum. Genetic causes have been identified in sporadic (SALS) and familial patients (FALS) and the recurrent genetic factor underlying ALS and FTD is the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE). However, in our population, the concomitance of ALS and FTD cannot be explained by C9orf72 HRE in many FALS and SALS cases. Our aim is to further understand the genetic basis of ALS in Portuguese patients. 34 patients with FALS or SALS-FTD, negative for C9orf72 HRE, were screened for rare variants in a panel of 29 relevant genes by next-generation sequencing. We detected 15 variants in 11 genes, one classified as pathogenic in TARDBP, two as likely pathogenic in TARDBP and PRPH, and the others as variants of unknown significance (VUS). Gene variants, including VUS, were found in 41.2% FALS patients and 40% SALS-FTD. In most patients, no potential pathogenic variants were found. Our results emphasize the need to enhance the efforts to unravel the genetic architecture of ALS-FTD.
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to compound heterozygous mutations TACR3 in siblingsPublication . Valsassina, R; Briosa, F; Soares, J; Amorim, M; Limbert, CThe authors present a new association of two heterozygous TACR3 mutations (p.Arg230His and p.Trp275*) responsible for a clinical trait of normosmic congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a family.