Characteristics, practice patterns, and outcomes in patients with acute hypertension: European registry for Studying the Treatment of Acute hyperTension (Euro-STAT)

Although effective strategies are available for the management of chronic hypertension, less is known about treating patients with acute, severe elevations in blood pressure. Using data from the European registry for Studying the Treatment of Acute hyperTension (Euro-STAT), we sought to evaluate 'real-life' management practices and outcomes in patients who received intravenous antihypertensive therapy to treat an episode of acute hypertension.Journal Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Genetic complexity of miscanthus cell wall composition and biomass quality for biofuels

BACKGROUND: Miscanthus sinensis is a high yielding perennial grass species with great potential as a bioenergy feedstock. One of the challenges that currently impedes commercial cellulosic biofuel production is the technical difficulty to efficiently convert lignocellulosic biomass into biofuel. The development of feedstocks with better biomass quality will improve conversion efficiency and the sustainability of the value-chain. Progress in the genetic improvement of biomass quality may be substantially expedited by the development of genetic markers associated to quality traits, which can be used in a marker-assisted selection program. RESULTS: To this end, a mapping population was developed by crossing two parents of contrasting cell wall composition. The performance of 182 F1 offspring individuals along with the parents was evaluated in a field trial with a randomized block design with three replicates. Plants were phenotyped for cell wall composition and conversion efficiency characters in the second and third growth season after establishment. A new SNP-based genetic map for M. sinensis was built using a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach, which resulted in 464 short-sequence uniparental markers that formed 16 linkage groups in the male map and 17 linkage groups in the female map. A total of 86 QTLs for a variety of biomass quality characteristics were identified, 20 of which were detected in both growth seasons. Twenty QTLs were directly associated to different conversion efficiency characters. Marker sequences were aligned to the sorghum reference genome to facilitate cross-species comparisons. Analyses revealed that for some traits previously identified QTLs in sorghum occurred in homologous regions on the same chromosome. CONCLUSION: In this work we report for the first time the genetic mapping of cell wall composition and bioconversion traits in the bioenergy crop miscanthus. These results are a first step towards the development of marker-assisted selection programs in miscanthus to improve biomass quality and facilitate its use as feedstock for biofuel production

Postoperative outcomes in oesophagectomy with trainee involvement

BACKGROUND: The complexity of oesophageal surgery and the significant risk of morbidity necessitates that oesophagectomy is predominantly performed by a consultant surgeon, or a senior trainee under their supervision. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of trainee involvement in oesophagectomy on postoperative outcomes in an international multicentre setting. METHODS: Data from the multicentre Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Study Group (OGAA) cohort study were analysed, which comprised prospectively collected data from patients undergoing oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer between April 2018 and December 2018. Procedures were grouped by the level of trainee involvement, and univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to compare patient outcomes across groups. RESULTS: Of 2232 oesophagectomies from 137 centres in 41 countries, trainees were involved in 29.1 per cent of them (n = 650), performing only the abdominal phase in 230, only the chest and/or neck phases in 130, and all phases in 315 procedures. For procedures with a chest anastomosis, those with trainee involvement had similar 90-day mortality, complication and reoperation rates to consultant-performed oesophagectomies (P = 0.451, P = 0.318, and P = 0.382, respectively), while anastomotic leak rates were significantly lower in the trainee groups (P = 0.030). Procedures with a neck anastomosis had equivalent complication, anastomotic leak, and reoperation rates (P = 0.150, P = 0.430, and P = 0.632, respectively) in trainee-involved versus consultant-performed oesophagectomies, with significantly lower 90-day mortality in the trainee groups (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Trainee involvement was not found to be associated with significantly inferior postoperative outcomes for selected patients undergoing oesophagectomy. The results support continued supervised trainee involvement in oesophageal cancer surgery

Predictors of patient response to cystourethroscopy with hydrodistention for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: Does BMI matter?

Objective:: To compare therapeutic outcomes of cystourethroscopy with hydrodistention for interstitial cystitis in underweight, overweight, and obese women. Methods:: We conducted a 10-year (2008–2018), single-site retrospective cohort study of female patients with a diagnosis of IC/BPS and who had undergone hydrodistention for primary diagnosis of IC/PBS. Our primary outcome was a binary indicator of patient-reported improvement after hydrodistention. Our primary exposure was patient BMI. Baseline demographic characteristics, operative information, and follow-up data were collected by performing medical chart reviews. Descriptive statistics were used to assess improvement across various patient and operative characteristics. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) representing the association between BMI and other factors and symptom improvement after cystourethroscopy with hydrodistention. Results:: Seventy-two women met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 54 (75%) reported improvement of their IC/BPS symptoms after the procedure. We did not observe statistically significant differences in improvement across levels of BMI categories. Patients with a history of hydrodistention were 1.3 times as likely to have improvement (95% CI: 1.01, 1.62) and those reporting cigarette smoking or history of smoking were 33% less likely to report improvement (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.45–0.99). Conclusion:: There was no association between BMI and therapeutic response to hydrodistention in patients with IC/BPS. This may help aiding in future counseling for patient with IC/BPS and their treatment options and expectations. Brief Summary:: This study is a 10-year, retrospective cohort study of female patients evaluating the association between BMI and therapeutic response to hydrodistension in patient with IC/BPS

Outpatient beta-blockers and survival from sepsis: Results from a national cohort of Medicare beneficiaries

BACKGROUND: Elderly Americans suffer increased mortality from sepsis. Given that beta-blockers have been shown to be cardioprotective in critical care, we investigated outpatient beta-blocker prescriptions and mortality among Medicare beneficiaries admitted for sepsis. METHODS: We queried a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries for patients admitted with sepsis. We used in-hospital and outpatient prescription drug claims to compare in-hospital and 30-day mortality based on pre-admission beta-blocker prescription and class of beta-blocker prescribed using univariate tests of comparison and multivariable logistic regression models and another class of medications for control. RESULTS: Outpatient beta-blocker prescription was associated with a statistically significant decrease in in-hospital and 30-day mortality. In multivariable modeling, beta-blocker prescription was associated with 31% decrease in in-hospital mortality and 41% decrease in 30-day mortality. Both cardioselective and non-selective beta-blockers conferred mortality benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that there may be a role for preadmission beta-blockers in reducing sepsis-related mortality

An intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course for vascular trainees improves procedural knowledge and self-rated procedural competence

BACKGROUND: Surgical skills and simulation courses are emerging to meet the demand for vascular simulation training for vascular surgical skills, but their educational effect has not yet been described. We sought to determine the effect of an intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course on the procedural knowledge and self-rated procedural competence of vascular trainees and to assess participant feedback regarding the course. METHODS: Participants underwent a 1.5-day course covering open and endovascular procedures on high-fidelity simulators and cadavers. Before and after the course, participants completed a written test that assessed procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures. Participants also assessed their own procedural competence in open and endovascular procedures on a 5-point Likert scale (1: no ability to perform, 5: performs independently). Scores before and after the course were compared among postgraduate year (PGY) 1-2 and PGY 3-7 trainees. Participants completed a survey to rate the relevance and realism of open and endovascular simulations. RESULTS: Fifty-eight vascular integrated residents and vascular fellows (PGY 1-7) completed the course and all assessments. After course participation, procedural knowledge scores were significantly improved among PGY 1-2 residents (50% correct before vs 59% after; P \u3c .0001) and PGY 3-7 residents (52% correct before vs 63% after; P = .003). Self-rated procedural competence was significantly improved among PGY 1-2 (2.2 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.1 +/- 0.1 after; P \u3c .0001) and PGY 3-7 (3.0 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.7 +/- 0.1 after; P \u3c /= .0001). Self-rated procedural competence significantly improved for both endovascular (2.4 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.3 +/- 0.1 after; P \u3c .0001) and open procedures (2.7 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.5 +/- 0.1 after; P \u3c .0001). More than 93% of participants reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the relevance and realism of the open and endovascular simulations. All participants reported they would recommend the course to other trainees. CONCLUSIONS: This intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course improved procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures among PGY 1-2 and PGY 3-7 trainees. The course also improved self-rated procedural competence across all levels of training for open and endovascular procedures. Trainees rated the value of a surgical skills and simulation course highly. These results support strong consideration for the implementation of similar intensive simulation and surgical skills courses with ongoing objective assessment of their educational effect

Comparison of acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving versus not receiving chronic dialysis (from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE] Registry)

Patients with end-stage renal disease commonly develop acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Little is known about the natural history of ACS in patients receiving dialysis. We evaluated the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with ACS who were receiving dialysis before presentation for an ACS and were enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) at 123 hospitals in 14 countries from 1999 to 2007. Of 55,189 patients, 579 were required dialysis at presentation. Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was the most common ACS presentation in patients receiving dialysis, occurring in 50% (290 of 579) of patients versus 33% (17,955 of 54,610) of those not receiving dialysis. Patients receiving dialysis had greater in-hospital mortality rates (12% vs 4.8%;

Hypertensive heart failure: patient characteristics, treatment, and outcomes

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a common, poorly characterized manifestation of hypertensive emergency. We sought to describe characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with severe hypertension complicated by AHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The observational retrospective Studying the Treatment of Acute hypertension (STAT) registry records data on emergency department and hospitalized patients receiving intravenous therapy for blood pressure (BP) greater than 180/110 mm Hg in 25 US hospitals. A subset of patients with HF was defined as pulmonary edema on chest x-ray (CXR) or an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide level (BNP \u3e 500 or NTproBNP \u3e 900 pg/mL) in patients with creatinine level 2.5 mg/dL or less. Remaining STAT patients, after excluding those with a primary neurologic diagnosis, constitute the non-HF cohort. An adverse composite outcome was defined as mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital length of stay more than 1 week, or death within 30 days. Of 1199 patients, 302 (25.2%) had AHF. Acute HF patients and non-AHF patients were similar in age, sex, and overall mortality, but AHF patients were more commonly African American, with a history of HF, diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and prior hypertension admissions. Heart failure patients had higher creatinine and natriuretic peptide levels but lower ejection fraction. They were more likely admitted to the ICU; receive electrocardiograms, bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation, and CXRs; and be readmitted within 90 days. Finally, BP decreases lower than 120 mm Hg within 12 hours were associated with an increased rate of the composite adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Acute HF as a manifestation of hypertensive emergency is common, more likely in African Americans, and requires more clinical resources than patients with non-HF-related severe hypertension. Accurate BP control is critical, as declines less than 120 mm Hg were associated with increased adverse event rates

Beta-blocker Use in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Reperfusion Era (GRACE)

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend early oral beta-blocker administration in the management of acute coronary syndromes for patients who are not at high risk of complications. METHODS: Data from patients enrolled between 2000 and 2007 in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) were used to evaluate hospital outcomes in three cohorts of patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, based on beta-blocker use (early [first 24 hours] intravenous [± oral], only early oral, or delayed [after first 24 hours]). RESULTS: Among 13,110 patients with a ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 21% received any early intravenous beta-blockers, 65% received only early oral beta-blockers, and 14% received delayed (\u3e24 hours) beta-blockers. Higher systolic blood pressure, higher heart rate, and chronic beta-blocker use were independent predictors of early beta-blocker use. Early beta-blocker use was less likely in older patients, patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction, and in those presenting with inferior myocardial infarction or Killip class III heart failure. Intravenous beta-blocker use and delayed beta-blocker use were associated with higher rates of cardiogenic shock, sustained ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia and acute heart failure, compared with oral beta-blocker use. In-hospital mortality was increased with IV beta-blocker use (propensity score adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.92) but significantly reduced with delayed beta-blocker administration (propensity adjusted OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.26-0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Early beta-blocker use is common in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, with oral administration being most prevalent. Oral beta-blockers were associated with a decrease in the risk of cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmias, and acute heart failure. However, the early receipt of any form of beta-blockers was associated with an increase in hospital mortality