Lycopene and Myocardial Infarction Risk in the EURAMIC Study

A multicenter case-control study was conducted to evaluate the relations between antioxidant status assessed by biomarkers and acute myocardial infarction. Incidence cases and frequency matched controls were recruited from 10 European countries to maximize the variance in exposure within the study. Adipose tissue needle aspiration biopsies were taken shortly after the infarction and analyzed for levels of carotenoids and tocopherols. An examination of colinearity including all covariates and the three carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene, showed that the variables were sufficiently independent to model simultaneously. When examined singularly, each of the carotenoids appeared to be protective. Upon simultaneous analyses of the carotenoids, however, using conditional logistic regression models that controlled for age, body mass index, socioeconomic status, smoking, hypertension, and maternal and paternal history of disease, lycopene remained independently protective, with an odds ratio of 0.52 for the contrast of the 10th and 90th percentiles (95% confidence interval 0.33-0.82, p= 0.005). The associations for α- and β-carotene were largely eliminated. We conclude that lycopene, or some substance highly correlated which is in a common food source, may contribute to the protective effect of vegetable consumption on myocardial infarction ris

Molecular analysis and epidemiological typing of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus outbreak strains

publishedVersio

70 pasienter med covid-19 innlagt ved Sykehuset Østfold

BAKGRUNN Det er fortsatt behov for mer kunnskap om covid-19 i Norge. Formålet vårt var å beskrive pasienter med covid-19 innlagt ved vårt lokalsykehus våren 2020. MATERIALE OG METODE Dataene er innhentet retrospektivt fra vårt lokale kvalitetsregister for covid-19 og inkluderer samtlige pasienter innlagt ved Sykehuset Østfold i perioden 10.3.2020–31.5.2020. RESULTATER Totalt 70 pasienter var innlagt, og 47 (67 %) av disse var menn. Gjennomsnittsalderen var 59 år (min.–maks. 18–95). De vanligste komorbide tilstandene var adipositas (n = 22, 31 %), kronisk hjertesykdom (n = 21, 30 %) og diabetes (n = 17, 24 %). 13 pasienter (19 %) hadde ingen komorbiditet. De vanligste symptomene var hoste (n = 56, 80 %), dyspné (n = 51, 73 %) og feber (n = 48, 69 %). De hyppigste komplikasjonene var kardiell affeksjon (n = 18, 26 %), akutt lungesviktsyndrom (n = 14, 20 %) og akutt nyreskade (n = 9, 13 %). 4 (6 %) pasienter utviklet venøs tromboembolisme. 20 pasienter (29 %) utviklet kritisk sykdom. 13 pasienter (19 %) ble behandlet på intensivavdelingen, og 7 pasienter (10 %) døde under oppholdet. FORTOLKNING De fleste pasientene som var innlagt, var middelaldrende menn. Mange hadde ingen komorbiditet. De hyppigste ikke-respiratoriske komplikasjonene var hjerteaffeksjon og nyreskade. En stor andel utviklet kritisk sykdom sekundært til akutt lungesviktsyndrom

Corticosteroids and superinfections in COVID-19 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation

Objectives To determine the incidence and characteristics of superinfections in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, and the impact of dexamethasone as standard therapy. Methods This multicentre, observational, retrospective study included patients ≥ 18 years admitted from March 1st 2020 to January 31st 2021 with COVID-19 infection who received mechanical ventilation. Patient characteristics, clinical characteristics, therapy and survival were examined. Results 155/156 patients (115 men, mean age 62 years, range 26-84 years) were included. 67 patients (43%) had 90 superinfections, pneumonia dominated (78%). Superinfections were associated with receiving dexamethasone (66% vs 32%, p<0.0001), autoimmune disease (18% vs 5.7%, p<0.016) and with longer ICU stays (26 vs 17 days, p<0,001). Invasive fungal infections were reported exclusively in dexamethasone-treated patients [8/67 (12%) vs 0/88 (0%), p<0.0001]. Unadjusted 90-day survival did not differ between patients with or without superinfections (64% vs 73%, p=0.25), but was lower in patients receiving dexamethasone versus not (58% vs 78%, p=0.007). In multiple regression analysis, superinfection was associated with dexamethasone use [OR 3.7 (1.80–7.61), p<0.001], pre-existing autoimmune disease [OR 3.82 (1.13–12.9), p=0.031] and length of ICU stay [OR 1.05 p<0.001]. Conclusions In critically ill COVID-19 patients, dexamethasone as standard of care was strongly and independently associated with superinfections

Corticosteroids and superinfections in COVID-19 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation

Objectives: To determine the incidence and characteristics of superinfections in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, and the impact of dexamethasone as standard therapy. Methods: This multicentre, observational, retrospective study included patients ≥ 18 years admitted from March 1st 2020 to January 31st 2021 with COVID-19 infection who received mechanical ventilation. Patient characteristics, clinical characteristics, therapy and survival were examined. Results: 155/156 patients (115 men, mean age 62 years, range 26-84 years) were included. 67 patients (43%) had 90 superinfections, pneumonia dominated (78%). Superinfections were associated with receiving dexamethasone (66% vs 32%, p<0.0001), autoimmune disease (18% vs 5.7%, p<0.016) and with longer ICU stays (26 vs 17 days, p<0,001). Invasive fungal infections were reported exclusively in dexamethasone-treated patients [8/67 (12%) vs 0/88 (0%), p<0.0001]. Unadjusted 90-day survival did not differ between patients with or without superinfections (64% vs 73%, p=0.25), but was lower in patients receiving dexamethasone versus not (58% vs 78%, p=0.007). In multiple regression analysis, superinfection was associated with dexamethasone use [OR 3.7 (1.80-7.61), p<0.001], pre-existing autoimmune disease [OR 3.82 (1.13-12.9), p=0.031] and length of ICU stay [OR 1.05 p<0.001]. Conclusions: In critically ill COVID-19 patients, dexamethasone as standard of care was strongly and independently associated with superinfections