Symptom Burden and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Dependency Among Home Health care Patients Discharged to Home Hospice

Background: We sought to examine sociodemographic and clinical characteristics present on admission to HHC associated with discharge to hospice. Methods: We used a 5% random sample of 2017 national Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was estimated for the primary outcome (discharge to hospice) to examine the associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of HHC patients. Results: Among 489, 230 HHC patients, 4268 were discharged to hospice. The median (interquartile range) length of HHC stay for patients discharged to hospice care was 33 (14-78) days. Compared to White patients, Black, Hispanic, and other race, (hazard ratio [HR] = .50 [95% confidence interval, CI = .44–.57]), (HR = .53 [95% CI = .46–.62]), and (HR = .49 [95% CI = .40–.61], respectively) was associated with shorter time to discharge to hospice care. Clinical characteristics including severe dependence in activities of daily (ADL) (HR = 1.68 [95% CI = 1.01–2.78]), cognitive impairment (HR = 1.10 [95% CI = 1.01–1.20]), disruptive behavior daily (HR = 1.11 [95% CI = 1.02–1.22]), and inability to feed oneself (HR = 4.78, 95% CI = 4.30, 5.31) was associated with shorter time to discharge to hospice. Symptoms of anxiety daily (HR = 1.55 [95% CI = 1.43–1.68]), and pain daily or all the time (HR = 1.54 [95% CI = 1.43–1.64]) were associated with shorter time to discharge to hospice. Conclusions: High symptom burden, ADL dependency, and cognitive impairment on admission to HHC services was associated with greater likelihood of discharge to hospice.

Occupation and COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation and ICU admission among foreign-born and Swedish-born employees: a register-based study

BackgroundResearch on occupation and risk of COVID-19 among foreign-born workers is lacking. We investigated whether working in essential occupations was associated with COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission and whether foreign-born workers in similar occupations as Swedish-born individuals had a higher risk of the studied outcomes.MethodsOccupational data (2018–2019) of 326 052 employees (20–65 years) who were resident in Sweden as of 1 January 2020 were linked to COVID-19 data registered from 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2021. We analysed the risk of COVID-19 outcomes in different occupational groups and in four immigrant/occupation intersectional groups using Cox proportional hazards regression with adjustments for sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and pre-existing comorbidities.ResultsWe identified 29797, 1069 and 152 cases of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisations and ICU admissions, respectively, in our cohort. Workers in essential occupations had an elevated risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation, and ICU admissions. Healthcare workers had a higher risk of all the outcomes compared with other essential workers. Relative to Swedish-born workers in non-essential occupations, foreign-born workers in essential occupations had 1.85 (95% CI 1.78 to 1.93), 3.80 (95% CI 3.17 to 4.55) and 3.79 (95% CI 2.33 to 6.14) times higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation and ICU admission, respectively. The corresponding risks among Swedish-born workers in essential occupations were 1.44 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.49), 1.30 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.56) and 1.46 (95% CI 0.90 to 2.38).ConclusionOccupation was associated with COVID-19 outcomes and contributed to the burden of COVID-19 among foreign-born individuals in this study.

Salivary Metabolomics for Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study aimed to identify salivary metabolomic biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) based on comprehensive metabolomic analyses. Quantified metabolomics data of unstimulated saliva samples collected from patients with OSCC (n = 72) were randomly divided into the training (n = 35) and validation groups (n = 37). The training data were used to develop a Cox proportional hazards regression model for identifying significant metabolites as prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival. Moreover, the validation group was used to develop another Cox proportional hazards regression model using the previously identified metabolites. There were no significant between-group differences in the participants’ characteristics, including age, sex, and the median follow-up periods (55 months [range: 3–100] vs. 43 months [range: 0–97]). The concentrations of 5-hydroxylysine (p = 0.009) and 3-methylhistidine (p = 0.012) were identified as significant prognostic factors for OS in the training group. Among them, the concentration of 3-methylhistidine was a significant prognostic factor for OS in the validation group (p = 0.048). Our findings revealed that salivary 3-methylhistidine is a prognostic factor for OS in patients with OSCC.

Effects of Reversal Technique for Neuromuscular Paralysis on Time to Recovery of Bowel Function after Craniotomy

Background Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockade can be reversed with neostigmine/glycopyrrolate or sugammadex. We test the hypothesis that sugammadex is associated with earlier postoperative recovery of bowel function (first bowel movement, BM). Methods In adult patients undergoing craniotomy from 2016 to 2019, we identified time of first postoperative BM after receiving neostigmine/glycopyrrolate or sugammadex to reverse neuromuscular blockade. Logistic and proportional hazard regression, with and without inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), were used to assess whether sugammadex is associated with earlier recovery of bowel function. Results Seven hundred and thirty-one patients underwent craniotomy, 323 (44.2%) received neostigmine/glycopyrrolate, and 408 (55.8%) sugammadex. From logistic regression analysis, the proportion of patients having a BM within the first 24 and 48 hours was higher in sugammadex group (unadjusted OR [95% CI]) 1.79 [1.16 to 2.77] P = .009; and 1.45 [1.08 to 1.94] P = .014; IPTW adjusted OR [95% CI]) 1.58 [.95, 2.61] P = .078; and 1.38 [.95 to 2.02] P = .095 for 24 and 48 h, respectively). From proportional hazards regression, sugammadex was associated with improved bowel function recovery (unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% CI] 1.35 [1.08, 1.68], P = .008; IPTW adjusted HR 1.29 [.97 to 1.71], P = .076). Conclusion Patients undergoing craniotomy who had neuromuscular blockade reversed with sugammadex may have earlier recovered bowel function compared to patients reversed with neostigmine/glycopyrrolate.

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for lower-grade glioma based on an autophagy-related lncRNA signature

IntroductionGliomas account for 75% of the primary malignant brain tumors. The prognosis and treatment planning vary in lower-grade gliomas (LGG) due to their heterogeneous clinical behaviors. The dysregulation of autophagy-related (ATG) lncRNAs plays a crucial role in LGG. We aimed to develop and validate an ATG lncRNA risk signature, and a survival nomogram with integration of novel prognostic for LGG patients.Material and methodsDifferentially expressed ATG lncRNAs were screened out based on TCGA and GTEx RNA-seq databases. ATG lncRNA prognostic signature was then established by Kaplan–Meier, univariate Cox proportional hazards regression, Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, with its predictive value validated by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Kaplan–Meier, univariate Cox regression and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression were used to screen out clinical and molecular variables. A nomogram was developed and internally validated by ROC and calibration plots.ResultsAn ATG lncRNA risk signature was constructed with six differentially expressed lncRNAs (LINC00599, LINC02609, AC021739.2, AL118505.1, AL354892.2, and AL590666.2). Based on the risk signature, a nomogram was developed by addition of the significant prognostic clinical variables (age and grade) and molecular variables (IDH status and MGMT status).ConclusionsWe identified an ATG lncRNA risk signature and develop a nomogram for individualized survival prediction in LGG patients. A user-friendly free online calculator to facilitate the use of this nomogram among clinicians is also provided: https://linstu2009.shinyapps.io/LGGPRODICTORapp/?_ga=2.3154800.1506830296.1588641469-159983587.1588641469.

ROX Index as a Predictor of Intubation Risk and 28-Day Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: The main concern when treating COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is delayed intubation, thus increasing the risk of prior mortality. This study aims to analyze the prognostic ability of the Respiratory Rate Oxygenation (ROX) index as a predictor for intubation and 28-days mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya from July to December 2020 with ARDS. The ROX indices were recorded at the 1st hour, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, and 48th hours of treatment in ICU with HFNC. Identification of ROX association with HFNC failure led to intubation and 28-days mortality was through Cox proportional hazards regression. The most specific cut-off of the ROX index for predicting intubation and 28-days mortality was assessed. Result: Among 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 26 (33.3%) patients required intubation. Out of 26 patients, six patients were extubated and had survived. The 28-days mortality rate is 20 (25.6%) patients. The ROX index at 12th hours (ROX-12) ≤ 4.85 (AUC 0.857; p<0.001; HR 4.7) and the ROX index at 48th hours (ROX-48) ≤ 5.68 (AUC 0.858; p<0.001; HR 5.4) can accurately predict the need for intubation. ROX-12 ≤ 4.745 is a predictor of 28-days mortality (AUC 0.85, p<0.001; HR 10.2). Conclusion: ROX index predicts the risk of intubation and 28-days mortality especially ROX-12 and ROX-48. Utilization of ROX index for rapid assessment of the respiratory deterioration in COVID-19 is recommended.

Pre- and Perioperative Inflammatory Biomarkers in Older Patients Resected for Localized Colorectal Cancer: Associations with Complications and Prognosis

The association between pre- and perioperative inflammatory biomarkers, major complications, and survival rates after resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in older patients is largely unknown. The aim was to investigate age-dependent differences in these associations. Serum CRP, IL-6, and YKL-40 were measured preoperatively and on the first and second day after resection of CRC (stages I–III) in 210 older (≥70 years) and 191 younger patients (<70 years). The results from the complications was presented as an odds ratio (OR, with a 95% confidence interval (CI)) with logistic regression. Results from the mortality rates were presented as a hazard ratio (HR, with a 95% CI) using Cox proportional hazards regression. The preoperative inflammatory biomarkers were higher in the older vs. the younger patients. The risk of complications was increased in older patients with a high preoperative CRP (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.53), IL-6 (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.18–2.08), and YKL-40 (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.20–2.28), but not in younger patients. Mortality was higher in younger patients with high preoperative YKL-40 (HR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.06–2.60). This was not found in older patients. Elevated preoperative inflammatory biomarkers among older patients were associated with an increased risk of complications, but not mortality. Preoperative inflammatory biomarkers may be useful in assessing the risk of a complicated surgical course in older patients with CRC.

Association of Dietary Calcium Intake With Bone Health and Chronic Diseases: Two Prospective Cohort Studies in China

Background: Calcium is an essential element in our diet and the most abundant mineral in the body. A high proportion of Chinese residents are not meeting dietary calcium recommendations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between calcium intake and the health of residents in two longitudinal studies of Chinese residents.Methods: This study used nationally representative data from the Harbin Cohort Study on Diet, Nutrition, and Chronic Non-communicable Disease Study (HDNNCDS) and China Health Nutrition Survey (CHNS), including 6,499 and 8,140 Chinese adults, respectively, who were free of chronic diseases at recruitment, with mean values of 4.2- and 5.3-year follow-up. Cox's proportional-hazards regression was conducted to explore the relationship between dietary calcium intake and the incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with adjustment for covariates.Results: Calcium intakes were 451.35 ± 203.56 and 484.32 ± 198.61 (mean ± SD) mg/day in HDNNCDS and CHNS. After adjusting the covariates, the relationship between dietary calcium intake and bone mineral density (BMD) was not statistically significant (p = 0.110). In the multivariate-adjusted Cox's proportional-hazards regression model, dietary calcium intakes were inversely associated with obesity incidence in both cohorts (HR [95% CI]: 0.61 [0.48–0.77] and p trend &lt; 0.001 in fixed-effects model); nevertheless, there was no correlation between dietary calcium intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes (p trend = 0.442 and 0.759) and CVD (p trend = 0.826 and 0.072). The relationship between dietary calcium intake and the risk of hypertension in the two cohorts was inconsistent (p trend = 0.012 and 0.559). Additionally, after further adjusting the vegetable intake in the original multivariate model, both cohorts found no association between dietary calcium intake and the risk of developing obesity (p trend = 0.084 and 0.444).Conclusions: Our data suggest that the current calcium intake of Chinese residents was inversely associated with obesity, which may be related to consumption of vegetables. Meanwhile, the current calcium intake does not increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, CVD, and bone health burden. This research suggested that the Chinese current calcium intake level may have met the needs of the body.

Long-Term Case-Fatality Rate of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease in People Living with HIV

Background Few data are available regarding the long-term case-fatality rate (CFR) among people living with HIV (PLWH) with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease. Objectives To analyze the long-term CFR in patients with NTM disease and to identify risk factors for their death. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 379 cases of microbiologically confirmed NTM disease in PLWH was conducted during January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2020 in Shanghai, China. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test to compare long-term CFR in patients with disseminated NTM (DNTM) and localized NTM disease. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to estimate the predictors of long-term CFR. Results The cohort was follow-up for a median of 26 months. The total CFR was 15.7% by one year and increased to 22.6% at 5 years after the diagnosis of NTM disease. The 5-year CFR of PLWH with DNTM was significantly higher than that of localized NTM (26.7% vs. 19.6% for DNTM and localized NTM disease, respectively). Older age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.06, P < 0.001), comorbidity (HR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.21-3.49, P < 0.01), DNTM (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.17-3.68, P < 0.05), and HIV viral load (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.12-1.55, P < 0.001) were all independent risk factors of long-term CFR. In the subgroup analysis, time to culture positivity was negatively correlated with CFR in patients with DNTM (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.98, P < 0.05). Conclusions NTM was associated with significantly high long-term CFR in PLWH. Further approaches to prevent NTM disease in PLWH are urgently needed.