LEVONORGESTREL-RELEASING INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM IN ADENOMYOSIS; PREDICTORS FOR RESPONSE AND CLINICAL OUTCOME

Objectives: The aim is to detect clinical and ultrasonographic characters that predict the response of adenomyosis to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and the time needed to show a response.Methods: A prospective single-arm study conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad/Iraq from August 2015 to March 2018. Women with symptomatic adenomyosis with age 39 years and above and who completed their families had been enrolled in this study. LNG-IUS was used as a treatment; the outcome measure was to evaluate its effect in improving the symptoms and the time needed to show a clinical response. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the contribution of the clinical and ultrasonographic parameters to the prediction of the response to LNG-IUS.Results: Over the mean duration of follow-up period of the study (22.7±9.9 months), there was a significant improvement in menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, and hemoglobin (Hb) with significant decrease in uterine volume (p˂0.001). The time to show response was as early as 3 months and the first 6 months is the best time to predict failure. Initial menstrual blood loss and Hb were good predictors to show response while uterine volume an excellent one (positive predictive value 80% and negative predictive value 97.2%).Conclusion: Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device is an effective treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis in term of time to response and duration of response. The presenting Hb, menstrual blood loss, and uterine volume are useful predictors of response

ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN D THERAPY EFFECT ON INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH TYPE I DIABETIC

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of Vitamin D3 supplementation on endogenous Vitamin D3 level and inflammatory biomarkers in newly diagnosed pediatric patients.Methods: The patients were given oral Vitamin D3, and they divided into three groups: The first group (25 healthy pediatrics), the second group (25 newly diagnosed pediatric patients) treated with daily insulin regimen only, and the third group (25 newly diagnosed pediatric patients) treated with Vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) with daily insulin regimen; all patients were treated for 90 days; and blood samples were taken at baseline and after 45 days and 90 days of starting Vitamin D3 to assess its potential effect on the levels of Vitamin D, serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase levels, and other inflammatory markers.Results: The results of the current study showed that serum IL-1β significantly declined in patients receiving Vitamin D3, while serum Vitamin D3, serum calcium, and interleukins-4 were significantly increased in patients receiving Vitamin D3.Conclusion: Vitamin D3 in a daily dose of 2000 IU/day for 90 days results in favorable immune response and increase of serum Vitamin D3 for pediatric new diagnosed Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

The impact of clinical pharmacists’ intervention on the rational use of intravenous paracetamol vials in Baghdad Teaching Hospital: A case-control study

Paracetamol has been recognized worldwide as a safe and effective agent for relieving pain and reducing fever in many patients. This study aimed to investigate the role of clinical pharmacist interventions in the rational and appropriate use of intravenous paracetamol in surgical patients and the impact of this rational use on hospital costs. A case-control study was conducted on 794 patients (400 in the intervention group and 394 in the control group). The appropriate and rational use of the drug was compared between baseline and post-intervention in the intervention group and between the two groups. The result showed a significant reduction in dispensed IV paracetamol vials after the pharmaceutical intervention (4,151 vials recovered by the intervention), which led to a reduction in the cost (8,302 USD reduction in the total cost). There was a significant reduction in the dose of IV paracetamol, use with or without adjunctive opioid analgesics, frequency of administration, duration of intravenous paracetamol use, daily max exceeding 4 g, and concomitant use with oral paracetamol after applying the clinical pharmacist intervention. In conclusion, the clinical pharmacist plays a vital role in various aspects of healthcare; clinical pharmacist involvement positively impacts the patient’s management plan by improving the optimal and rational use of intravenous paracetamol and decreasing hospital costs

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population