scholarly journals Probiotics use is associated with improved clinical outcomes among hospitalized patients with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482110356
Author(s):  
Lina Zhang ◽  
Huanqin Han ◽  
Xuan Li ◽  
Caozhen Chen ◽  
Xiaobing Xie ◽  
...  

Background and aims: Currently, there are no definitive therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Gut microbial dysbiosis has been proved to be associated with COVID-19 severity and probiotics is an adjunctive therapy for COIVD-19. However, the potential benefit of probiotics in COVID-19 has not been studied. We aimed to assess the relationship of probiotics use with clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a propensity-score matched retrospective cohort study of adult patients with COVID-19. Eligible patients received either probiotics plus standard care (probiotics group) or standard care alone (non-probiotics group). The primary outcome was the clinical improvement rate, which was compared among propensity-score matched groups and in the unmatched cohort. Secondary outcomes included the duration of viral shedding, fever, and hospital stay. Results: Among the propensity-score matched groups, probiotics use was related to clinical improvement rates (log-rank p = 0.028). This relationship was driven primarily by a shorter (days) time to clinical improvement [difference, −3 (−4 to −1), p = 0.022], reduction in duration of fever [−1.0 (−2.0 to 0.0), p = 0.025], viral shedding [−3 (−6 to −1), p < 0.001], and hospital stay [−3 (−5 to −1), p = 0.009]. Using the Cox model with time-varying exposure, use of probiotics remained independently related to better clinical improvement rate in the unmatched cohort. Conclusion: Our study suggested that probiotics use was related to improved clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Further studies are required to validate the effect of probiotics in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Seguchi ◽  
K Sakakura ◽  
K Yamamoto ◽  
Y Taniguchi ◽  
H Wada ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the very elderly is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Because the majority of study population in clinical researches focusing on the very elderly with AMI were octogenarians, clinical evidences regarding AMI in nonagenarians are sparse. The aim of the present study was to compare in-hospital clinical outcomes of AMI between octogenarians and nonagenarians. Methods We included consecutive 415 very elderly (≥80 years) patients with AMI, and divided into the nonagenarian group (n=38) and the octogenarian group (n=377). Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Furthermore, we used propensity-score matching to find the matched octogenarian group (n=38). Results Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to the culprit of AMI were similarly performed between the nonagenarian (86.8%) and octogenarian (87.0%) groups The incidence of in-hospital death in the nonagenarian group (13.2%) was similar to that in the octogenarian group (14.6%) (P=0.811). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the nonagenarian group (7.4±4.2 days) than that in the octogenarian group (15.4±19.4 days) (P<0.001). After using the propensity-score matching, the incidence of in-hospital death was less in the nonagenarian group (13.2%) than in the matched octogenarian group (21.1%) without reaching statistical significance (P=0.361). The length of hospitalization was significantly shorter in the nonagenarian group (7.4±4.2 days) than in the matched octogenarian group (17.8±37.0 days) (P=0.01). Clinical outcomes Nonagenarian group (n=38) Octogenarian group (n=377) P value In-hospital death, n (%) 5 (13.2) 55 (14.6) 0.811 Length of hospital stay (days) 7.4±4.2 15.4±19.4 <0.001 Length of CCU stay (days) 3.3±2.5 4.7±5.1 0.109 LVEF (%) 48.2±9.2 50.8±13.7 0.152 Peak CPK (U/L) 1424.8±1580.8 1640.1±2394.4 0.912 CCU indicates Coronary care unit; LVEF, Left ventricular ejection fraction; CPK, Creatine kinase. Flow-chart Conclusions The in-hospital mortality of nonagenarians with AMI was comparable to that of octogenarians with AMI. In-hospital outcomes in nonagenarians with AMI may be acceptable as long as acute medical management including PCI to the culprit of AMI is performed. Acknowledgement/Funding None


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhua Peng ◽  
Bastian Volbers ◽  
Maximilian I. Sprügel ◽  
Philip Hoelter ◽  
Tobias Engelhorn ◽  
...  

Objective: Early enteral nutrition (EEN) represents the current standard of care for patients treated in general intensive care units (ICU). Specific nutritional recommendations for patients receiving dedicated neurocritical care are not established. This study investigated associations of EEN with clinical outcomes for patients suffering from intracerebral hemorrhage treated at a neurological ICU (NICU).Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients admitted to the NICU with atraumatic ICH over a 4-year period. Nutritional data, demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics were assessed. EEN was defined as any enteral nutrition within 48 hours after admission. Comparisons were undertaken for patients with EEN vs. those without, further propensity score (PS) matching (caliper 0.2; one: many) was used to account for baseline imbalances. Primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (0–3 = favorable, 4–6 = unfavorable) at 12 months, secondary outcomes comprised perihemorrhagic edema (PHE) volume, infectious complications during the hospital stay, and mRS at 3 months, as well as mortality rates at 3 and 12 months.Results: Of 166 ICH-patients treated at the NICU, 51 (30.7%) patients received EEN, and 115 (69.3%) patients received no EEN (nEEN). After propensity score matching, calories delivered from enteral nutrition (EEN 161.4 [106.4–192.3] kcal/day vs. nEEN 0.0 [0.0–0.0], P &lt; 0.001) and the total calories (EEN 190.0 [126.0–357.0] kcal/day vs. nEEN 33.6 [0.0–190.0] kcal/day, P &lt; 0.001) were significantly different during the first 48 h admitted in NICU. Functional outcome at 12 months (mRS 4–6, EEN 33/43 [76.7%] vs. nEEN, 49/64 [76. 6%]; P = 1.00) was similar in the two groups. There were neither differences in mRS at 3 months, nor in mortality rates at 3 and 12 months between the two groups. EEN did not affect incidence of infective complications or gastrointestinal adverse events during the hospital stay; however, EEN was associated with significantly less extent of PHE evolution [maximum absolute PHE (OR 0.822, 95% CI 0.706–0.957, P = 0.012); maximum relative PHE (OR 0.784, 95% CI 0.646–0.952, P = 0.014)].Conclusion: In our study, EEN was associated with reduced PHE in ICH-patients treated at a NICU. However, this observation did not translate into improved survival or functional outcome at 3 and 12 months.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14548-e14548
Author(s):  
Steven H. Lin ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Bevan H Myles ◽  
Peter F. Thall ◽  
Wayne Lewis Hofstetter ◽  
...  

e14548 Background: IMRT has clear dosimetric advantages in the sparing of normal tissues when compared to the more conventional 3DCRT technique for the treatment of esophageal cancer, but there is currently no clinical outcomes evidence to support the use of IMRT. We hypothesized that the theoretical advantages of IMRT should translate to clinical outcomes benefits compared to 3DCRT. Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 676 patients (3DCRT=413, IMRT=263) treated with chemoradiation with or without surgery between 1998-2008. To correct for potential bias inherent in observational studies, we employed inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPW) methods based on propensity scores. Treatment probabilities (propensity scores) were estimated using logistic regression. Results: IMRT patients were less likely to receive induction chemotherapy and had poorer performance status. A fitted multivariate IPW-adjusted Cox model showed that overall survival was significantly associated with age, KPS, having surgery, tumor location, stage, having PET for staging, and radiation modality. Compared to IMRT, 3DCRT patients had a significantly greater risk of dying (72.6% vs 52.9%, IPW log rank test: p<0.0001) and for local-regional recurrence (LRR) (p=0.0038). The improvement in LRR was only apparent in the non-surgically treated patients due to better tumor control in the primary site, but not in the recurrence in regional nodal sites. There was no difference in cancer-specific mortality, distant metastasis, or postoperative deaths between the two groups. An increased cumulative incidence of cardiac deaths was seen in the 3DCRT group (p=0.049), but the cause of most deaths were unknown (5 year estimate: 11.7% in 3DCRT vs 5.4% in IMRT, Gray’s test, p=0.0029). Analyses using propensity score as a covariate gave very similar results. Conclusions: Our results indicate IMRT improves treatment outcomes in the management of esophageal cancer when compared to 3DCRT. These results, while retrospective, support the use of IMRT for the treatment of esophageal cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alhassane Diallo ◽  
Miguel Carlos-Bolumbu ◽  
Marie Traoré ◽  
Mamadou Hassimiou Diallo ◽  
Christophe Jedrecy

To date, there is no definite effective treatment for the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed an update network meta-analysis to compare and rank COVID-19 treatments according to their efficacy and safety. Literature search was performed from MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases from inception to September 5, 2020. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) which compared the effect of any pharmacological drugs versus standard care or placebo 28-day after hospitalization in adult patients with COVID-19 disease were included. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI were calculated for 28-day all-cause mortality, clinical improvement, any adverse event (AEs), and viral clearance. A total of 25 RCTs, evaluating 17 different treatments, and 11,597 participants were analyzed. Remdesivir for 10-day compared to standard care (RR 0.69, 95% CI [0.48–0.99]), and a low dose compared to a high dose of HCQ (0.38, [0.17–0.89]) were associated with a lower risk of death. A total of 2,766 patients experienced clinical improvement, a 5-day course of remdesivir was associated with a higher frequency of clinical improvement compared to standard care (RR 1.21, 95% CI [1.00–1.47]). Compared to standard care, remdesivir for both 5 and 10 days, lopinavir/ritonavir, and dexamethasone reduced the risk of any severe AEs by 52% (0.48, 0.34–0.67), 24% (0.77, 0.63–0.92), 40% (0.60, 0.37–0.98), and 50% (0.50, 0.25–0.98) respectively. In this study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, administration of remdesivir for 10-day compared to standard care was associated with lower 28-day all-cause mortality and serious AEs, and higher clinical improvement rate. 


VASA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom De Beule ◽  
Jan Vranckx ◽  
Peter Verhamme ◽  
Veerle Labarque ◽  
Marie-Anne Morren ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: The technical and clinical outcomes of catheter-directed embolization for peripheral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) using Onyx® (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer) are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the safety, technical outcomes and clinical outcomes of catheter-directed Onyx® embolisation for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral AVMs. Patients and methods: Demographics, (pre-)interventional clinical and radiological data were assessed. Follow-up was based on hospital medical records and telephone calls to the patients’ general practitioners. Radiological success was defined as complete angiographic eradication of the peripheral AVM nidus. Clinical success was defined as major clinical improvement or complete disappearance of the initial symptoms. Results: 25 procedures were performed in 22 patients. The principal indications for treatment were pain (n = 10), limb swelling (n = 6), recurrent bleeding (n = 2), tinnitus (n = 3), and exertional dyspnoea (n = 1). Complete radiological success was obtained in eight patients (36 %); near-complete eradication of the nidus was achieved in the remaining 14 patients. Adjunctive embolic agents were used in nine patients (41 %). Clinical success was observed in 18 patients (82%). Major complications were reported in two patients (9 %). During follow-up, seven patients (32 %) presented with symptom recurrence, which required additional therapy in three patients. Conclusions: Catheter-directed embolisation of peripheral AVMs with Onyx® resulted in major clinical improvement or complete disappearance of symptoms in the vast majority of patients, although complete angiographic exclusion of the AVMs occurred in only a minority of patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Ricafranca Castillo ◽  
Gino Rei A. Quizon ◽  
Mario Joselito M. Juco ◽  
Arthur Dessi E. Roman ◽  
Donnah G De Leon ◽  
...  

 Treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) pneumonia remains empirical and the search for therapies that can improve outcomes continues. Melatonin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating effects that may address key pathophysiologic mechanisms in the development and progression of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which has been implicated as the likely cause of death in COVID19. We aimed to describe the observable clinical outcomes and tolerability of high-dose melatonin (hdM) given as adjuvant therapy in patients admitted with COVID19 pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective descriptive case series of patients who: 1) were admitted to the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila, Philippines, between March 5, 2020 and April 4, 2020; 2) presented with history of typical symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, loss of smell and/or taste, myalgia, fatigue); 3) had admitting impression of atypical pneumonia; 4) had history and chest imaging findings highly suggestive of COVID19 pneumonia, and, 5) were given hdM as adjuvant therapy, in addition to standard and/or empirical therapy. One patient admitted to another hospital, who one of the authors helped co-manage, was included. He was the lone patient given hdM in that hospital during the treatment period. Main outcomes described were: time to clinical improvement, duration of hospital stay from hdM initiation, need for mechanical ventilation (MV) prior to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and final outcome (death or recovery/discharge). Of 10 patients given hdM at doses of 36-72mg/day per os (p.o.) in 4 divided doses as adjuvant therapy, 7 were confirmed COVID19 positive (+) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 3 tested negative  (-), which was deemed to be false (-) considering the patients’ typical history, symptomatology, chest imaging findings and elevated bio-inflammatory parameters.  In all 10 patients given hdM, clinical stabilization and/or improvement was noted within 4-5 days after initiation of hdM. All hdM patients, including 3 with moderately severe ARDS and 1 with mild ARDS, survived; none required MV. The 7 COVID19(+) patients were discharged at an average of 8.6 days after initiation of hdM. The 3 highly probable COVID19 patients on hdM were discharged at an average of 7.3 days after hdM initiation. Average hospital stay of those not given hdM (non-hdM) COVID19(+) patients who were admitted during the same period and recovered was 13 days. To provide perspective, although the groups are not comparable, 12 of the 34 (35.3%) COVID19(+) non-hdM patients admitted during the same period died, 7/34 (20.6%) required MV; while 6 of 15 (40%) non-hdM (-) by RT-PCR but highly probable COVID19 pneumonia patients also died, 4/15  (26.7%) required MV. No significant side-effects were noted with hdM except for sleepiness, which was deemed favorable by all patients, most of whom had anxiety- and symptom-related sleeping problems previously. HdM may have a beneficial role in patients treated for COVID19 pneumonia, in terms of shorter time to clinical improvement, less need for MV, shorter hospital stay, and possibly lower mortality. HdM was well tolerated. This is the first report describing the benefits of hdM in patients being treated for COVID19 pneumonia.  Being a commonly available and inexpensive sleep-aid supplement worldwide, melatonin may play a role as adjuvant therapy in the global war against COVID19. 


Author(s):  
Riccardo Casadei ◽  
Carlo Ingaldi ◽  
Claudio Ricci ◽  
Laura Alberici ◽  
Emilio De Raffele ◽  
...  

AbstractThe laparoscopic approach is considered as standard practice in patients with body-tail pancreatic neoplasms. However, only a few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching (PSM) studies have been performed. Thus, additional studies are needed to obtain more robust evidence. This is a single-centre propensity score-matched study including patients who underwent laparoscopic (LDP) and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) with splenectomy for pancreatic neoplasms. Demographic, intra, postoperative and oncological data were collected. The primary endpoint was the length of hospital stay. The secondary endpoints included the assessment of the operative findings, postoperative outcomes, oncological outcomes (only in the subset of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma-PDAC) and total costs. In total, 205 patients were analysed: 105 (51.2%) undergoing an open approach and 100 (48.8%) a laparoscopic approach. After PSM, two well-balanced groups of 75 patients were analysed and showed a shorter length of hospital stay (P = 0.001), a lower blood loss (P = 0.032), a reduced rate of postoperative morbidity (P < 0.001) and decreased total costs (P = 0.050) after LDP with respect to ODP. Regarding the subset of patients with PDAC, 22 patients were analysed: they showed a significant shorter length of hospital stay (P = 0.050) and a reduction in postoperative morbidity (P < 0.001) after LDP with respect to ODP. Oncological outcomes were similar. LDP showed lower hospital stay and postoperative morbidity rate than ODP both in the entire population and in patients affected by PDAC. Total costs were reduced only in the entire population. Oncological outcomes were comparable in PDAC patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642097591
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Scott ◽  
Ray Su ◽  
Kuangnan Xiong ◽  
Arman Altincatal ◽  
Carmen Castrillo-Viguera ◽  
...  

Background: Peginterferon beta-1a and glatiramer acetate (GA) are approved first-line therapies for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, but their therapeutic efficacy has not been compared directly. Methods: Clinical outcomes at 2 years, including no evidence of disease activity (NEDA), for patients receiving peginterferon beta-1a 125 mcg every 2 weeks (Q2W) or GA 20 mg/ml once daily (QD) were compared by propensity score matching analysis using individual patient data from ADVANCE and CONFIRM phase III clinical trials. In addition, clinical outcomes at 1–3 years for patients receiving peginterferon beta-1a Q2W or GA 40 mg/ml three times a week (TIW) were evaluated using a matching-adjusted comparison analysis of individual patient data from ADVANCE and the ADVANCE extension study, ATTAIN, and aggregate patient data from the phase III GALA and the GALA extension studies. Results: Propensity-score-matched peginterferon beta-1a patients ( n = 336) had a significantly lower annualized relapse rate [ARR (0.204 versus 0.282); rate ratio = 0.724; p = 0.045], a significantly lower probability of 12-week confirmed disability worsening (10.0% versus 14.6%; hazard ratio = 0.625; p = 0.048), and a significantly higher rate of NEDA (20.3% versus 11.5%; p = 0.047) compared with GA 20 mg/ml QD patients after 2 years of treatment. Matching-adjusted peginterferon beta-1a patients (effective n = 276) demonstrated a similar ARR at 1 year (0.278 versus 0.318; p = 0.375) and significantly lower ARR at 2 years (0.0901 versus 0.203; p = 0.032) and 3 years (0.109 versus 0.209; p = 0.047) compared with GA 40 mg/ml TIW patients ( n = 834). Conclusion: Results from separate matching comparisons of phase III clinical trials and extension studies suggest that peginterferon beta-1a 125 mcg Q2W may provide better clinical outcomes than GA (20 mg/ml QD or 40 mg/ml TIW).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document