Acute Kidney Injury in Critical Care COVID-19 Patients on Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: The Potential Preventive Role of Dexamethasone

Background. A high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported in COVID-19 patients in critical care units and those undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The introduction of dexamethasone as treatment for severe COVID-19 has improved mortality, but its effects in other organs remain under study. Methods. In this prospective observational cohort study, we evaluated the incidence of AKI in critically ill COVID-19 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, and the association of dexamethasone treatment with the incidence, severity, and outcomes of AKI. The association between dexamethasone treatment and AKI was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. The association of the combination of dexamethasone treatment and AKI on mortality was evaluated by Cox-regression analysis. Results. We included 552 patients. AKI was diagnosed in 311 (56%), of which 196 (63%) corresponded to severe (stage 2 or 3) AKI, and 46 (14.8%) received renal replacement therapy (RRT). Two hundred and sixty-seven (48%) patients were treated with dexamethasone. This treatment was associated to lower incidence of AKI (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.22-0.52, p<0.001) after adjusting for age, body mass index, laboratory parameters, SOFA score, and vasopressor use. Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced mortality in patients with severe AKI (HR 0.63, 95%CI 0.41-0.96, p=0.032). Conclusions. The incidence of AKI is high in COVID-19 patients under IMV. Dexamethasone treatment is associated with a lower incidence of AKI and a lower mortality in the group with severe AKI.

Dual Class Model and Shareholder Agreements: An Analysis of Italian Companies

This paper analysed the changes in ownership concentration of the Italian financial market and the recourse to dual class model and shareholder agreements by Italian listed companies in the period 2009-2020. The analysis shows that the control market did not show signs in the period that would lead to presume an increase in the contestability of our companies. The attenuation in ownership concentration, highlighted by the reduction in the value of the Shapley-Shubik index, and the increase in the average market participation did not produce an increase in the contestability of Italian listed companies since the high concentration and limited contestability of control continue to characterize their ownership structures. Findings also show less recourse by the Italian companies to the instruments of separation between ownership and control in the considered period. The reduction in the number of companies that resort to the issue of shares without voting rights and the shareholders&#39; agreements is also reflected in the lower incidence of the capitalization of these companies compared to the market capitalization.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathway: Association with Lower Incidence of Wound Complications and Severe Hypoalbuminemia in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Background. Wound complications were associated with worse satisfaction and additional costs in patients underwent posterior lumbar fusion(PLF) surgery ,the relationship between enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)pathway and wound complications remains poorly characterized.Methods. In this retrospective single-center study, we compared 530 patients receiving ERAS pathway care with previous 530 patients in non-ERAS group. The primary aim of our study was to identify the relationship between ERAS program and the incidence of postoperative wound related complications and other complications following PLF surgery, other outcomes included the length of stay(LOS), 90-day hospital and rehabilitation center readmission.Results. Average patient age was 65yr. There were more patients with old cerebral infarction in ERAS group (p<0.01), other demographics and comorbidities were similar between both groups. Patients in ERAS group had a lower incidence of postoperative wound-related complications compared with non-ERAS group(12.4 vs 17.8%, p=0.02).The non-ERAS group had a significantly higher rate of wound dehiscence or poor wound healing(6% vs 3%, p=0.02). ERAS group had a lower incidence of server postoperative hypoalbuminemia(serum albumin less than 30g/L)(15.8% vs 9.0% p<0.01).Additionally, ERAS patients had a shorter postoperative LOS (8.0±1.5 vs 9.5±1.7 p<0.01), lower rate of readmission within 90 days (1.9% vs 6.4%, p<0.01) and discharge to rehabilitation center (4.2% vs 1.0%, p<0.01).Conclusion. ERAS pathway may help to decrease the rates of postoperative wound complications and server hypoalbuminemia following PLF surgery, additionally, we demonstrated that ERAS pathway was also associated with shorter LOS and lower rate of readmissions within 90-day.

Health of Convicted Persons in the Third Generation of the Longitudinal Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development

Research suggests that convicted persons are more likely than non-convicted persons to suffer poor health. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated associations between health and offending across generations. Using the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, this article prospectively investigates the relationship between health and offending across generations and between genders. At the average age of 25, third generation convicted males and females reported a higher incidence of serious drug use than non-convicted persons. Convicted males reported a higher incidence of mental illness and self-harm, whereas convicted females reported a lower incidence of physical illness, mental illness, self-harm and hospitalizations when compared to non-convicted females. Convicted males reported a higher incidence of industrial accidents, sports injuries and fight injuries, but a lower incidence of road accidents, whereas convicted females were more likely to report road accidents. Like their fathers, convicted males show worse health compared to non-convicted individuals.

Physiotherapy Regimens in Esophagectomy and Gastrectomy: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Esophageal and gastric cancer surgery are associated with considerable morbidity, specifically postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), potentially accentuated by underlying challenges with malnutrition and cachexia affecting respiratory muscle mass. Physiotherapy regimens aim to increase the respiratory muscle strength and may prevent postoperative morbidity. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of physiotherapy regimens in patients treated with esophagectomy or gastrectomy. Methods An electronic database search was performed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL and Pedro databases. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the impact of physiotherapy on the functional capacity, incidence of PPCs and postoperative morbidity, in-hospital mortality rate, length of hospital stay (LOS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven cohort studies assessing prehabilitation totaling 960 patients, and five RCTs and five cohort studies assessing peri- or postoperative physiotherapy with 703 total patients, were included. Prehabilitation resulted in a lower incidence of postoperative pneumonia and morbidity (Clavien–Dindo score ≥ II). No difference was observed in functional exercise capacity and in-hospital mortality following prehabilitation. Meanwhile, peri- or postoperative rehabilitation resulted in a lower incidence of pneumonia, shorter LOS, and better HRQoL scores for dyspnea and physical functioning, while no differences were found for the QoL summary score, global health status, fatigue, and pain scores. Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that implementing an exercise intervention may be beneficial in both the preoperative and peri- or postoperative periods. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanism through which exercise interventions improve clinical outcomes and which patient subgroup will gain the maximal benefit.

From pharmaceutical standardizing to clinical research: 20 years of experience with fifty-millesimal potencies

Background: 20 years ago we began to standardize the procedures of preparation and use of fifty-millesimal dilutions (LM or Q) according to indications in the 6th edition of Hahnemann’s Organon. Aim: to describe the main stages in standardization as well as our teaching and research experience on Organon 6th edition. Results: with the use of standardized LM dilutions we observed a lower incidence of homeopathic aggravation than with our earlier experience with non standardized preparations. Organon.modus, a clinical-pharmaceutical protocol derived from the standardization was adequate for the teaching of homeopathy at Faculty of Medicine of Jundiai (São Paulo), the first Brazilian medical school with a graduate course on homeopathy. A randomized double-blind trial comparing individualized homeopathic medicines prescribed in LM dilutions and fluoxetine showed the former not be inferior to the latter in the treatment of moderate-to-severe depression. Conclusion: protocol Organon.modus showed to be adequate to graduate-level teaching of homeopathy and efficient in a controlled clinical trials, favoring its use as common denominator between the art of healing and medical science.

Geriatric patients with esophageal motility disorders benefit more from minimally invasive peroral endoscopic myotomy: a multicenter study in Japan

Summary Geriatric patients with existing studies on the safety and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia involve small sample sizes and single institutions. However, multi-center, large-scale data analyses are lacking. The study aimed to clarify the characteristics of geriatric patients with esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) and determine the procedure-related outcomes and clinical course following POEM. This cohort study included 2,735 patients with EMDs who were treated at seven Japanese facilities between 2010 and 2019. The patients’ characteristics and post-POEM clinical courses were compared between the geriatric (age ≥ 75 years; n = 321) and non-geriatric (age &lt; 75 years; n = 2,414) groups. Compared with the non-geriatric group, the geriatric group had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scores; more recurrent cases; lower incidence of chest pain; and higher incidence of type III achalasia, distal esophageal spasm, and Jackhammer esophagus. Furthermore, the incidence of sigmoid esophagus was higher, although esophageal dilation was not severe in this group. POEM was safe and effective for geriatric patients with treatment-naïve and recurrent EMDs. Furthermore, compared with the non-geriatric group, the geriatric group had lower post-POEM Eckardt scores, fewer complaints of refractory chest pain, and a lower incidence rate of post-POEM reflux esophagitis. Geriatric patients are characterized by worse clinical conditions, more spastic disorders, and greater disease progression of EMDs, which are also the indications for minimally invasive POEM. POEM is more beneficial in geriatric patients as it has lowering symptom scores and incidence rates of reflux esophagitis.