Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Plasma and Ocular Prednisolone Disposition after Oral Treatment in Cats

Objective. To evaluate the plasma and aqueous humor disposition of prednisolone after oral administration in cats. Methods. Six cats were administered with a single oral dose of prednisolone (10 mg). Blood and aqueous humor samples were serially collected after drug administration. Prednisolone concentrations in plasma and aqueous humor were measured at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 h after administration by a high-performance liquid chromatographic analytical method developed and validated for this purpose. Results. Mean ± standard error (SE) of maximum plasma prednisolone concentration (300.8 ± 67.3 ng/mL) was reached at 1 h after administration. Prednisolone was distributed to the aqueous humor reaching a mean peak concentration of 100.9 ± 25.5 ng/mL at 1.25 h after administration. The mean ± SE systemic and aqueous humor exposure (AUC) was 553.3 ± 120.0 ng*h/mL and 378.8 ± 64.9 ng*h/mL, respectively. A high AUCaqueous humor/AUCplasma ratio was observed (0.68 ± 0.13). The mean half-life time of elimination in plasma and aqueous humor was 0.87 ± 0.16 h and 2.25 ± 0.44 h, respectively. Clinical Significance. The observed high ratio between aqueous humor and plasma prednisolone concentrations indicates that extensive penetration of prednisolone to the anterior segment of the eye may occur. This is the first step that contributes to the optimization of the pharmacological therapeutics for the clinical treatment of uveitis

Variable style of transition between Palaeogene fluvial fan and lacustrine systems, southern Pyrenean foreland, NE Spain

Two Palaeogene fluvial fan systems linked to the south-Pyrenean margin are recognized in the eastern Ebro Basin: the Cardona–Su´ ria and Solsona–Sanau¨ ja fans. These had radii of 40 and 35 km and were 800 and 600 km2 in area respectively. During the Priabonian to the Middle Rupelian, the fluvial fans built into a hydrologically closed foreland basin, and shallow lacustrine systems persisted in the basin centre. In the studied area, both fans are part of the same upward-coarsening megasequence (up to 800 m thick), driven by hinterland drainage expansion and foreland propagation of Pyrenean thrusts. Fourteen sedimentary facies have been grouped into seven facies associations corresponding to medial fluvial fan, channelized terminal lobe, nonchannelized terminal lobe, mudflat, deltaic, evaporitic playa-lake and carbonate-rich, shallow lacustrine environments. Lateral correlations define two styles of alluvial-lacustrine transition. During low lake-level stages, terminal lobes developed, whereas during lake highstands, fluvial-dominated deltas and interdistributary bays were formed. Terminal lobe deposits are characterized by extensive (100–600 m wide) sheet-like fine sandstone beds formed by sub-aqueous, quasi-steady, hyperpycnal turbidity currents. Sedimentary structures and trace fossils indicate rapid desiccation and subaerial exposure of the lobe deposits. These deposits are arranged in coarsening–fining sequences (metres to tens of metres in thickness) controlled by a combination of tectonics, climatic oscillations and autocyclic sedimentary processes. The presence of anomalously deeply incised distributary channels associated with distal terminal lobe or mudflat deposits indicates rapid lake-level falls. Deltaic deposits form progradational coarsening-upward sequences (several metres thick) characterized by channel and friction-dominated mouth-bar facies overlying white-grey offshore lacustrine facies. Deltaic bar deposits are less extensive (50–300 m wide) than the terminal lobes and were also deposited by hyperpycnal currents, although they lack evidence of emergence. Sandy deltaic deposits accumulated locally at the mouths of main feeder distal fan streams and were separated by muddy interdistributary bays; whereas the terminal lobe sheets expand from a series of mid-fan intersection points and coalesced to form a more continuous sandy fan fringe

The Complete Mutatome and Clonal Architecture of Del(5q)

Abstract Cytogenetic abnormalities are found in around half of MDS patients (pts) and have both clinical impact and may be subtype-defining, e.g. in 5q-syndrome. Interstitial deletion of the long arm of chr.5 [del(5q)] is the most common aberration (almost 20% of cases with abnormal cytogenetics). Del(5q) is heterogeneous, occurring as a sole abnormality or in combination, with the deleted region often truncated within or extended and/or beyond the CDR boundaries. Isolated del(5q) is frequently shorter and confers a more favorable prognosis with regard to survival and lenalidomide (LEN) responsiveness, while del(5q) in the context of a complex karyotype (CK) imparts a poor prognosis. In addition to chromosomal lesions, somatic mutations can contribute to the pathogenesis of MDS, including del(5q). We theorized that recognition of molecular defects in MDS with del(5q) may clarify the pathogenic mechanisms behind this lesion and help explain the clinical heterogeneity. We analyzed 225 pts with myeloid neoplasia and del(5q) using WES (n= 107 samples) and targeted multiplexed PCR (top 60 most frequently mutated genes) (n =133 samples); serial analysis was performed in 15 pts studied at ≥2 time points, 11 during LEN therapy and 4 upon relapse/progression. A total of 116 samples had a CK with other lesions such as -7/del(7q) found in 31% cases, and 18% had -17/del(17p). WES (average depth >60x) was followed by a bioanalytic pipeline, detecting ≥1 mutated gene in 71% of cases. Candidate somatic alterations were found in 357 genes and selected for further analysis. When focused on hemizygous mutations within the retained 5q allele, CSNK1A1 mutations were the most common, found in 4 pts, while other genes were only sporadically affected. Among heterozygous mutations on the non-deleted portion of del(5q) and other chromosomes (Chr), we found several novel mutations, in addition to TP53 (n=26), DNMT3A (n=8), PRPF8 (n =8), RUNX1 (n=5), TET2 (n=5), and ASXL1 (n=4), among others. Furthermore, LOH/haploinsuffciency of genes on 7q (e.g., LUC7L2, CUX1, EZH2 and MLL3) appears to be a common defect seen in pts with non-isolated del(5q), suggesting synergistic functional defects. When functionally grouping gene mutations, DNA methylation family (8 cases) and transcription factor mutations (29 cases) were associated with advanced disease (AD) and a CK. Heterozygous mutations in TP53 (34%) or deletions involving the TP53 locus (23%) resulted in total of 42% of cases carrying either TP53 LOH or mutation. TP53 lesions were more common in pts with AD vs. low risk. (21 vs. 5 p =.0008). In contrast, TP53 mutations are found in 8-10% of cases of MDS. A total of 34 pts were treated with LEN and subgrouped into responders (n=17) vs. refractory (n=9) with an overall response rate of 65%. When mutational profiles were compared, the presence of TP53 mutations did not preclude responsiveness to LEN. CK was present in 12% of responders vs. 67% of refractory pts. The most frequent Chr abnormalities were -7/7q (0% vs. 67% in responders vs. refractory) and 17p-(6% vs. 67% in responders vs. refractory) suggestive of their role in LEN resistance. In addition to cross sectional analysis, our WES study using paired Germline/tumor samples followed by deep sequencing facilitated analyses of clonal architecture by examining clonal dynamics over time. Assessment of del(5q) clone size by allelic imbalance combined with clonal burden by VAF allowed us to reconstruct the clonal hierarchy: in 73% of cases, del(5q) appeared to be the initial defect followed by subsequent mutations (e.g., TP53, DNMT3A, IDH2). In contrast, in 24% of cases, TP53, RUNX1, JARID2, were the primary defect followed by a subclonal del(5q) events. Serial samples collected before and after therapy demonstrated that responses were associated with decreased clonal burden for del(5q) but persistence of certain mutations. In refractory cases, persistent subclonal lesions and the appearance of new lesions were associated with progression. For example, pts with TP53, LAMB4, EPHA6 progressed and acquired additional lesions such as CSMD2 or KCND2, and did not see the disappearance of TP53 alterations upon treatment. In conclusion, no unifying somatic defect was found in pts with del(5q) regardless if the deletion event was primary or subclonal. Most commonly associated lesions were not present on the retained 5q alleles but rather other chr yet modified clinical behavior, including responsiveness to LEN. Disclosures Bejar: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Other: ad hoc advisory board; Genoptix Medical Laboratory: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: MDS prognostic gene signature. Sekeres:Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TetraLogic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees

Corticosteroid treatment in critically ill patients with severe influenza pneumonia: a propensity score matching study

PURPOSE: To determine clinical predictors associated with corticosteroid administration and its association with ICU mortality in critically ill patients with severe influenza pneumonia. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of critically ill patients with confirmed influenza pneumonia admitted to 148 ICUs in Spain between June 2009 and April 2014. Patients who received corticosteroid treatment for causes other than viral pneumonia (e.g., refractory septic shock and asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] exacerbation) were excluded. Patients with corticosteroid therapy were compared with those without corticosteroid therapy. We use a propensity score (PS) matching analysis to reduce confounding factors. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Cox proportional hazards and competing risks analysis was performed to assess the impact of corticosteroids on ICU mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1846 patients with primary influenza pneumonia were enrolled. Corticosteroids were administered in 604 (32.7%) patients, with methylprednisolone the most frequently used corticosteroid (578/604 [95.7%]). The median daily dose was equivalent to 80 mg of methylprednisolone (IQR 60-120) for a median duration of 7 days (IQR 5-10). Asthma, COPD, hematological disease, and the need for mechanical ventilation were independently associated with corticosteroid use. Crude ICU mortality was higher in patients who received corticosteroids (27.5%) than in patients who did not receive corticosteroids (18.8%, p < 0.001). After PS matching, corticosteroid use was associated with ICU mortality in the Cox (HR = 1.32 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p < 0.006) and competing risks analysis (SHR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.12-1.68], p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Administration of corticosteroids in patients with severe influenza pneumonia is associated with increased ICU mortality, and these agents should not be used as co-adjuvant therapy

Infections, antibiotic treatment and mortality in patients admitted to ICUs in countries considered to have high levels of antibiotic resistance compared to those with low levels

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing concern in ICUs worldwide. Infection with an antibiotic resistant (ABR) strain of an organism is associated with greater mortality than infection with the non-resistant strain, but there are few data assessing whether being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with high levels of antimicrobial resistance is associated with a worse outcome than being admitted to an ICU with low rates of resistance. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare the characteristics of infections and antibiotic treatments and patient outcomes in patients admitted to ICUs in countries considered as having high levels of antibiotic resistance and those admitted to ICUs in countries considered as having low levels of antibiotic resistance.Methods: Data from the large, international EPIC II one-day point prevalence study on infections in patients hospitalized in ICUs were used. For the current study, we compared the data obtained from patients from two groups of countries: countries with reported MRSA rates of ≥ 25% (highABR: Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey) and countries with MRSA rates of &lt; 5% (lowABR: Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden).Results: On the study day, 1187/2204 (53.9%) patients in the HighABR ICUs were infected and 255/558 (45.7%) in the LowABR ICUs (P &lt; 0.01). Patients in the HighABR ICUs were more severely ill than those in the LowABR ICUs, as reflected by a higher SAPS II score (35.6 vs 32.7, P &lt; 0.05) and had longer median ICU (12 days vs 5 days) and hospital (24 days vs 16 days) lengths of stay. They also had higher crude ICU (20.0% vs 15.4%) and hospital (27.0% vs 21.5%) mortality rates (both P &lt; 0.05). However, after multivariable adjustment and matched pair analysis there were no differences in ICU or hospital mortality rates between High or LowABR ICU patients overall or among those with infections.Conclusions: Being hospitalized in an ICU in a region with high levels of antimicrobial resistance is not associated per se with a worse outcome. © 2014 Hanberger et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd