scholarly journals Does serotonin deficiency lead to anosmia, ageusia, dysfunctional chemesthesis and increaed severity of illness in COVID-19?

2021 ◽  
pp. 110627
Author(s):  
Amarnath Sen
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S7-S12
Author(s):  
M. Spannagl ◽  
W. Schramm ◽  
H. Krebs ◽  

SummarySince 1978 an annual multicentric survey regarding the epidemiology of patients suffering of haemophilia is performed with support of haemophilia treating centres of any size. Again the actual compilation is resting upon a broad database returning to over 30 years of inquiry well representing both the actual and retrospective status of mortality. Prompted was exclusively information about patients with haemophilia A, B and von Willebrand disease. In particular anonymous data concerning the last 12 months about number of treated patients, type and severity of illness, HIV-status and detailed information about causes of death was inquired. This data was merged with existing data and analyzed statistically. In the 2007/2008 survey, a total


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-48

One of the most challenging questions to answer in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is: “When is the optimal time to proceed with lung transplantation?” The current lung allocation scoring (LAS) system prioritizes donor organ resources based on severity of illness. Factors used to assign LAS do not account for known predictors of outcome for PAH patients—including determinants of right ventricular (RV) function. It has been recognized that the system places PAH patients at a distinct disadvantage, and concerted efforts are being made to correct this by considering variables that reflect RV function, specifically mean right atrial pressure (mRAP) and cardiac index (CI).


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1035-1041
Author(s):  
Erika Y. Lee ◽  
Michael E. Detsky ◽  
Jin Ma ◽  
Chaim M. Bell ◽  
Andrew M. Morris

AbstractObjectives:Antibiotics are commonly used in intensive care units (ICUs), yet differences in antibiotic use across ICUs are unknown. Herein, we studied antibiotic use across ICUs and examined factors that contributed to variation.Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from Ontario’s Critical Care Information System (CCIS), which included 201 adult ICUs and 2,013,397 patient days from January 2012 to June 2016. Antibiotic use was measured in days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient days. ICU factors included ability to provide ventilator support (level 3) or not (level 2), ICU type (medical-surgical or other), and academic status. Patient factors included severity of illness using multiple-organ dysfunction score (MODS), ventilatory support, and central venous catheter (CVC) use. We analyzed the effect of these factors on variation in antibiotic use.Results:Overall, 269,351 patients (56%) received antibiotics during their ICU stay. The mean antibiotic use was 624 (range 3–1460) DOT per 1,000 patient days. Antibiotic use was significantly higher in medical-surgical ICUs compared to other ICUs (697 vs 410 DOT per 1,000 patient days; P < .0001) and in level 3 ICUs compared to level 2 ICUs (751 vs 513 DOT per 1,000 patient days; P < .0001). Higher antibiotic use was associated with higher severity of illness and intensity of treatment. ICU and patient factors explained 47% of the variation in antibiotic use across ICUs.Conclusions:Antibiotic use varies widely across ICUs, which is partially associated with ICUs and patient characteristics. These differences highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship to ensure appropriate use of antibiotics in ICU patients.


Author(s):  
Isadore Budnick ◽  
Jessica Davis ◽  
Anirudh Sundararaghavan ◽  
Samuel Konkol ◽  
Chelsea Lau ◽  
...  

Background: Fibrinogen (FIB) levels less than 150 mg/dL have been associated with increased rates of bleeding and lower survival in critically ill cirrhosis patients. Objective: We aimed to determine if treatment with cryoprecipitate (CRYO) for low FIB levels were associated with bleeding complications or survival. Patients / Methods: 237 cirrhosis patients admitted to an intensive care unit at a tertiary care liver transplant center with initial FIB levels less than 150 mg/dL were retrospectively assessed for CRYO transfusion, bleeding events, and survival outcomes. Results: The mean MELD score was 27.2 (95% CI 26.0 - 28.3) and CLIF-C Acute on Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) score was 53.4 (51.9 - 54.8). Ninety-nine (41.8%) were admitted for acute bleeding and the remainder were admitted for non-bleeding illnesses. FIB level on admission correlated strongly with disease severity. After adjusting for disease severity, FIB on admission was not an independent predictor of 30-day survival (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99 - 1.01, p = 0.68). CRYO transfusion increased FIB levels but had no independent effect on mortality or bleeding complications (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.72 - 1.70, p = 0.65). Conclusions: In cirrhosis patients with critical illness, low FIB levels on presentation reflect severity of illness but are not independently associated with 30-day mortality. Treatment of low FIB with CRYO also does not affect survival or bleeding complications suggesting FIB is an additional marker of severity of illness but is not itself a direct factor in the pathophysiology of bleeding in critically ill cirrhosis patients.


Author(s):  
William J. Jenner ◽  
Diana A. Gorog

AbstractA high incidence of thrombosis in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 was identified early during the pandemic. Accurately quantifying thrombotic risk may assist prognosis and guide appropriate thromboprophylaxis. Observational studies have estimated the rate of thrombosis in both hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19, and how this corresponds to the severity of illness. In this review, we provide an overview of the incidence and prevalence of arterial and venous thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19 and highlight the limitations in the studies to date. Asymptomatic individuals with COVID-19 and those with mild symptoms are at very low risk of thrombotic complications. However, rates of thrombosis are substantially increased in hospitalised patients, and are strikingly high in those patients who are critically-ill requiring treatment on the intensive care unit and especially those requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Clinicians managing such patients need to be aware of these risks and take appropriate steps with respect to thromboprophylaxis and heightened clinical vigilance. Large prospective observational studies will more accurately quantify thrombotic rate, and randomized controlled trials are currently investigating optimal thromboprophylactic strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S231-S232
Author(s):  
Shiwei Zhou ◽  
Brian M Schmidt ◽  
Oryan Henig ◽  
Keith S Kaye

Abstract Background Diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is a leading cause of below knee amputation (BKA). Even when medical treatment is deemed unlikely to succeed, patients with DFO are often resistant to amputation. Methods An observational cohort analysis was done on patients with DFO at Michigan Medicine who were evaluated by podiatry and recommended BKA from Oct 2015 - Jun 2019. Primary outcome was mortality after BKA recommendation. Secondary outcomes were healing of affected limb, rate of BKA or above knee amputation (AKA) and total antibiotic days in the 6 months following. All intravenous antibiotics and oral courses of linezolid and fluoroquinolones were captured. Results Of 44 patients with DFO, 18 chose BKA, 26 chose medical management with wound care. Mean age of the cohort was 61, 68% male, 80% white with a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 6 (IQR 4,7). The two groups were similar with regards to demographics and comorbid conditions. Those who chose medical management did so because their infection was non-life-threatening and they desired to avoid amputation. One-year mortality was greater in patients who were medically managed compared to those who had BKA (23.1% vs 0%, OR 11.7, 95% CI 0.6–222.9). Considering only the 33 patients who were followed for at least 2 years, 2-year mortality was also greater in the medically managed group compared to the BKA group (38.5% vs 5.6%, OR 10.6, 95% CI 1.2–92.7, Figure 1). Fewer patients in the medical management group had complete healing of their wound/stump compared to the BKA group (46.2% vs 88.9%, OR 9.3, 95% CI 1.8–49.1). In the medically managed group, 18 (69%) patients went on to require BKA or AKA at a median of 76.5 days compared to 2 (11%) in the BKA group who required AKA at 1 and 11 days following recommendation. Median antibiotic days were significantly greater in the medically managed group compared to the BKA group (55 IQR 42,78 vs 17 IQR 10,37, p=0.0017). Conclusion In this cohort of DFO patients where BKA was recommended, medical management was associated with increased mortality, poor healing of the affected limb, and excess antibiotic exposure compared to BKA. These findings are particularly notable as case mix and severity of illness were similar between the two groups. This study can be used to inform providers and patients in cases where BKA is recommended. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
pp. 153857442199331
Author(s):  
Nicole Ilonzo ◽  
Cody Goldberger ◽  
Songhon Hwang ◽  
Ajit Rao ◽  
Peter Faries ◽  
...  

Introduction: With the aging U.S. population, peripheral vascular procedures will become increasingly common. The objective of this study is to characterize the factors associated with increased total costs after peripheral bypass surgery. Methods: Data for 34,819 patients undergoing peripheral bypass surgery in NY State were extracted using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database for years 2009-2017. Patient demographics, All Patient Refined Diagnostic Related Groups (APR) severity score, mortality risk, hospital volume, and length of stay data were collected. Primary outcomes were total costs and length of stay. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 28.1% of peripheral bypass surgeries were performed in New York City. 7.9% of patients had extreme APR severity of illness whereas 32.0% had major APR severity of illness. 6.3% of patients had extreme risk of mortality and 1 in every 5 patients (20%) had major risk of mortality. 24.9% of patients were discharged to a facility. The mean length of stay (LOS) was 9.9 days. Patient LOS of 6-11 days was associated with +$2,791.76 total costs. Mean LOS of ≥ 12 days was associated with + $27,194.88 total costs. Multivariate analysis revealed risk factors associated with an admission listed in the fourth quartile of total costs (≥$36,694.44) for peripheral bypass surgery included NYC location (2.82, CI 2.62-3.04), emergency surgery (1.12, CI 1.03-1.22), extreme APR 2.08, 1.78-2.43, extreme risk of mortality (2.73, 2.34-3.19), emergency room visit (1.68, 1.57-1.81), discharge to a facility (1.27, CI 1.15-1.41), and LOS in the third or fourth quartile (11.09, 9.87-12.46). Conclusion: The cost of peripheral bypass surgery in New York State is influenced by a variety of factors including LOS, patient comorbidity and disease severity, an ER admission, and discharge to a facility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Su ◽  
Zhenxing Xu ◽  
Katherine Hoffman ◽  
Parag Goyal ◽  
Monika M. Safford ◽  
...  

AbstractCOVID-19-associated respiratory failure offers the unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the differential host response to a uniform pathogenic insult. Understanding whether there are distinct subphenotypes of severe COVID-19 may offer insight into its pathophysiology. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is an objective and comprehensive measurement that measures dysfunction severity of six organ systems, i.e., cardiovascular, central nervous system, coagulation, liver, renal, and respiration. Our aim was to identify and characterize distinct subphenotypes of COVID-19 critical illness defined by the post-intubation trajectory of SOFA score. Intubated COVID-19 patients at two hospitals in New York city were leveraged as development and validation cohorts. Patients were grouped into mild, intermediate, and severe strata by their baseline post-intubation SOFA. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was performed within each stratum to detect subphenotypes based on similarities amongst SOFA score trajectories evaluated by Dynamic Time Warping. Distinct worsening and recovering subphenotypes were identified within each stratum, which had distinct 7-day post-intubation SOFA progression trends. Patients in the worsening suphenotypes had a higher mortality than those in the recovering subphenotypes within each stratum (mild stratum, 29.7% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.033; intermediate stratum, 29.3% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.002; severe stratum, 53.7% vs. 22.2%, p < 0.001). Pathophysiologic biomarkers associated with progression were distinct at each stratum, including findings suggestive of inflammation in low baseline severity of illness versus hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in higher baseline severity of illness. The findings suggest that there are clear worsening and recovering subphenotypes of COVID-19 respiratory failure after intubation, which are more predictive of outcomes than baseline severity of illness. Distinct progression biomarkers at differential baseline severity of illness suggests a heterogeneous pathobiology in the progression of COVID-19 respiratory failure.


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