Ammonia vs. Lactic Acid in Predicting Positivity of Microbial Culture in Sepsis: The ALPS Pilot Study

Objective: The use of serum ammonia as a novel marker for sepsis compared to lactic acid levels in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Design and Interventions: Single arm, prospective clinical trial to collect arterial blood samples from patients with sepsis. Serial ammonia and lactic acid levels were sent every six hours for a total of three days. Measurements and results: Compare mean levels of ammonia and lactic acid in terms of diagnosing sepsis and patient outcome, including length of stay and mortality. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the pilot study. On admission, mean ammonia level was 35.7 μmol/L and lactic acid was 3.06 mmole/L. Ammonia levels checked at the end of day 2 (ammonia 2-4) and the beginning of day 3 (ammonia 3-1) were higher in patients who had a microbial culture-proven sepsis (p-values 0.029 and 0.002, respectively) compared to those without culture-positive sepsis. Ammonia levels did predict a longer hospital stay; ammonia level of more than 40 μmol/L had a mean hospital stay of 17.6 days vs. patients with normal levels who had a mean hospital stay of 9.62 days (p-value 0.0082). Conclusion: Elevated ammonia level can be a novel biomarker for sepsis, comparable to conventional markers. Ammonia levels have a prognostic utility as elevated levels were associated with longer hospital stay

Trans-radial coronary intervention (TCI) using 5-Fr versus 6-Fr guiding catheters in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Background: As in any vascular access the size of guiding catheter is an operator preference. Although multiple studies showed the use of 5-Fr versus 6-Fr guiding catheters for Transradial coronary intervention (TCI) have similar vascular safety profile and can be performed safely and successfully with both of them, the data comparing the 5-Fr vs 6-Fr guiding catheters for TCI in terms of fluoroscopy time, procedure time and contrast amount in the setting of ACS is limited. We conducted this study to compare the use of 5-Fr versus 6-Fr guiding catheters for TCI in the settings of ACS. Method: Our study is a single center, retrospective cohort study designed to compare the use of 5-Fr versus 6-Fr guiding catheters for TCI in the setting of ACS. In the period between July 2014 and July 2015, all patients who had previously undergone PCI with at least one stent being placed, utilizing a radial access, and using a 5Fr or 6Fr guiding catheter were included. No exclusion criteria were applied. The study was approved by Marshall University’s institutional review board. Results: There was a significant reduction in the volume of contrast medium used with the 5 Fr group compared to the 6 Fr group (130.66 +/- 3.46 ml vs. 166.25 +/- 10.05 ml in the 5 and 6 Fr groups, respectively; p < 0.001), fluoroscopy time (12.62 +/- 0.50 min vs. 16.61 +/- 1.28 min in the 5 and 6 Fr groups, respectively; p = 0.005) and there was also significant reduction in the procedure time in the 5 Fr group (38.74 +/- 1.27 min vs. 46.03 +/- 2.86 min in the 5 and 6 Fr groups, respectively; p = 0.023). Conclusion: TCI in the settings of ACS is safe and feasible, whether using 5 Fr or 6 Fr catheters. Our study concluded that using 5 Fr catheters for TCI could be preferred for patients presenting with ACS due to lower amount of contrast medium used and less fluoroscopy and procedure time. However, this is a single center retrospective study, so we suggest that large randomized controlled studies are needed

Ammonia vs. Lactic Acid in Predicting Positivity of Microbial Culture in Sepsis: The ALPS Pilot Study

Objective: The use of serum ammonia as a novel marker for sepsis compared to lactic acid levels in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Design and Interventions: Single arm, prospective clinical trial to collect arterial blood samples from patients with sepsis. Serial ammonia and lactic acid levels were sent every six hours for a total of three days. Measurements and results: Compare mean levels of ammonia and lactic acid in terms of diagnosing sepsis and patient outcome, including length of stay and mortality. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the pilot study. On admission, mean ammonia level was 35.7 μmol/L and lactic acid was 3.06 mmole/L. Ammonia levels checked at the end of day 2 (ammonia 2-4) and the beginning of day 3 (ammonia 3-1) were higher in patients who had a microbial culture-proven sepsis (p-values 0.029 and 0.002, respectively) compared to those without culture-positive sepsis. Ammonia levels did predict a longer hospital stay; ammonia level of more than 40 μmol/L had a mean hospital stay of 17.6 days vs. patients with normal levels who had a mean hospital stay of 9.62 days (p-value 0.0082). Conclusion: Elevated ammonia level can be a novel biomarker for sepsis, comparable to conventional markers. Ammonia levels have a prognostic utility as elevated levels were associated with longer hospital stay

Innate Immune Mechanisms and Immunotherapy of Myeloid Malignancies

Similar to other cancers, myeloid malignancies are thought to subvert the immune system during their development. This subversion occurs via both malignant cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms and involves manipulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Multiple strategies are being studied to rejuvenate, redirect, or re-enforce the immune system in order to fight off myeloid malignancies. So far, the most successful strategies include interferon treatment and antibody-based therapies, though chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors are also promising therapies. In this review, we discuss the inherent immune mechanisms of defense against myeloid malignancies, currently-approved agents, and agents under investigation. Overall, we evaluate the efficacy and potential of immuno-oncology in the treatment of myeloid malignancies

Candida krusei Empyema Thoracis: A Community-Acquired Infection Requiring a High Index of Suspicion

Empyema thoracis is a serious condition characterized by the accumulation of purulent fluid in the pleural cavity, typically following a pneumonia, subdiaphragmatic abscess, or esophageal rupture. Fungal empyema thoracis is a rare form of this condition with especially high mortality, in which the most frequently isolated fungus is Candida spp. This article presents a 74-year-old female with Candida krusei pneumonia and a complicated hospital course, initially presenting with nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia. She was initially suspected to have community-acquired pneumonia and was started on azithromycin and ceftriaxone. Worsening respiratory function led to the diagnosis of hydropneumothorax. Pleural fluid and an independent sample of pus and pleural tissue grew Candida krusei, giving the diagnosis of fungal empyema. With further respiratory deterioration, the patient was intubated and switched to piperacillin/tazobactam and micafungin. Decortication with extensive pleural peel and removal of foul-smelling pus and food particles within the chest was performed. This further lead to confirmation of esophageal perforation, and she was started on voriconazole and meropenem. After developing septic shock, the patient was managed with phenylephrine and vasopressin. Finally, after improving she was weaned off pressors and extubated, followed by an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EDG) with pneumatic balloon dilation and WallFlex stent placement. This patient’s case demonstrated an example of empyema thoracis, which required a high index of suspicion since the presentation was with a community-acquired infection. Candida empyema thoracis may be a complication of operation, gastroesophageal fistula, and spontaneous esophageal rupture. On the other hand, the course of this patient’s hospital stay progressed from esophageal perforation to Candida krusei pneumonia, empyema, and pneumothorax. Thus, community-acquired fungal empyema should be considered in patients with respiratory symptoms and suspected esophageal perforation; nevertheless, after a diagnosis of fungal empyema, esophageal perforation should also be ruled out in addition to other causes like pneumonia, subphrenic abscess, and hematogenous spread. Improved communication between clinicians and microbiologists can lead to early diagnosis and a reduction in the morbidity and mortality of this condition

The National Burden of Colorectal Cancer in the United States from 1990 to 2019

CRC accounts for approximately a tenth of all cancer cases and deaths in the US. Due to large differences in demographics among the different states, we aim to determine trends in the CRC epidemiology and across different states, age groups, and genders. CRC rates, age-adjusted to the standard US population, were obtained from the GBD 2019 database. Time trends were estimated as annual percentage change (APC). A pairwise comparison was conducted between age- and gender-specific trends using the tests of parallelism and coincidence. Age-specific trends were also assessed in two age subgroups: younger adults aged 15-49 years and older adults aged 50-74 years. We also analyzed the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs in the US between 1990 and 2019. A total of 5.53 million patients were diagnosed with CRC in the US between 1990 and 2019. Overall, CRC incidence rates have significantly increased in younger adults (11.1 per 100,000 persons) and decreased in older adults (136.8 per 100,000 persons) (AAPC = 1.2 vs. -0.6; AAPC difference = 1.8, p < 0.001). Age-specific trends were neither identical (p < 0.001) nor parallel (p < 0.001), suggesting that CRC incidence rates are different and increasing at a greater rate in younger adults compared to older adults. However, for both men and women (49.4 and 35.2 per 100,000 persons), incidence rates have decreased over the past three decades at the same rate (AAPC = -0.5 vs. -0.5; AAPC difference = 0, p = 0.1). Geographically, the southern states had the highest mortality rates with Mississippi having the highest rate of 20.1 cases per 100,000 population in 2019. Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Colombia had the greatest decreases in mortality over the study period (-42.1%, -41.4%, and -40.9%). Decreased mortality was found in all states except Mississippi, where the mortality of CRC increased over the study period (+1.5%). This research provides crucial insights for policymakers to tailor resource allocation, emphasizing the dynamic nature of CRC burden across states and age groups, ultimately informing targeted strategies for prevention and intervention