Hyperkalemia Following Parathyroidectomy in Patients with Renal Hyperparathyroidism—New Thresholds for Urgent Perioperative Dialysis

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is a mainstay of treating secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients with kidney failure in order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events (CVE), increase overall survival and improve quality of life. Perioperative hyperkalemia may lead to devastating cardiac complications. Distinct preoperative thresholds for serum potassium levels (SPL) were defined, but neither their usefulness nor consecutive risks are understood. This study compared the results and efficacy of different clinical procedures in preventing or treating perioperative hyperkalemia, including postoperative urgent hemodialysis (UHD). Methods: Patients from Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Rheinland Klinikum Lukaskrankenhaus, Neuss, undergoing PTX due to SHPT between 2008 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively with regard to demographic parameters, surgery specific conditions and perioperative laboratory results. Comparisons of patient values from both centers with focus on perioperative hyperkalemia and the need for UHD were performed. Results: A total of 251 patients undergoing PTX for SHPT were included (Neuss: n = 121 (48%); Berlin: n = 130 (52%)). Perioperative hyperkalemia (SPL ≥ 5.5 mmol/L) was noted in 134 patients (53%). UHD on the day of surgery was performed especially in patients with intraoperative hyperkalemia, in females (n = 40 (16%) vs. n = 27 (11%); p = 0.023), in obese patients (n = 27 (40%) vs. n = 50 (28%), p = 0.040) and more often in patients treated in Neuss (n = 42 (35%) vs. 25 (19%); p = 0.006). For patients treated in Neuss, the intraoperative hyperkalemia cut-off level above 5.75 mmol/L was the most predictive factor for UHD (n = 30 (71%) vs. n = 8 (10%); p < 0.001). Concerning secondary effects of hyperkalemia or UHD, no patient died within the postoperative period, and only three patients suffered from acute CVE, with SPL > 5.5 mmol/L measured in only one patient. Conclusion: Perioperative values could not predict postoperative hyperkalemia with the need for UHD. Previously defined cut-off levels for SPL should be reconsidered, especially for patients undergoing PTX. Early postoperative dialysis in patients with postoperative hyperkalemia can be performed with a low risk for complications and may be indicated for all patients with increased perioperative SPL.

Clinical characteristics and predictive mortality risk factors in hospitalised children with COVID-19 illness during the first and second wave: single centre experiences from a tertiary paediatric hospital in Mumbai

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected both adults and children alike. It presented in cluster of cases in short period of time all across the world. In India, there were two such clusters called as first and second wave. World over mortality was more in adults than in children. But, few children also had severe disease during these waves. Also, some presented with inflammatory state secondary to COVID-19 infection which is called as Multisystem Inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). As major population affected with severe disease were older people this disease in initial phases was most studied in this population. It is thus necessary to observe and analyse disease manifestations, pattern and risk factors in children and also contrast these variables between the two waves. The objectives of the study was to compare and contrast clinico-demographic parameters and outcome predictors in children admitted with COVID-19 during the first and second waves.Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study comparing aforementioned parameters of children (with and without co-morbidity) admitted with COVID-19 infection between the two waves of pandemic in a tertiary care public pediatric hospital in Western Maharashtra.Results: First wave had 176 cases admitted over six months while the second wave had 185 cases over only three months. While proportion of cases with pneumonia requiring ICU stay was significantly higher in wave 2, those with MIS-C requiring inotropes was higher in wave 1. There was no difference in other clinico-demographic parameters of these cases irrespective of co-morbidity. Pneumonia, severe disease, hypoxia, need for inotropes or ICU care predicted poor outcome in both the waves.Conclusions: Though the pattern of presentation was different, the clinico-demographic variables and predictors of mortality were comparable between the two waves.

Sex-biased demography modulates male harm across the genome

Recent years have seen an explosion of theoretical and empirical interest in the role that kin selection plays in shaping patterns of sexual conflict, with a particular focus on male harming traits. However, this work has focused solely on autosomal genes, and as such it remains unclear how demography modulates the evolution of male harm loci occurring in other portions of the genome, such as sex chromosomes and cytoplasmic elements. To investigate this, we extend existing models of sexual conflict for application to these different modes of inheritance. We first analyse the general case, revealing how sex-specific relatedness, reproductive value and the intensity of local competition combine to determine the potential for male harm. We then analyse a series of demographically explicit models, to assess how dispersal, overlapping generations, reproductive skew and the mechanism of population regulation affect sexual conflict across the genome, and drive conflict between nuclear and cytoplasmic genes. We then explore the effects of sex biases in these demographic parameters, showing how they may drive further conflicts between autosomes and sex chromosomes. Finally, we outline how different crossing schemes may be used to identify signatures of these intragenomic conflicts.