Treatment outcomes in patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis who have cirrhosis

Early diagnosis and proper treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) in patients with cirrhosis is challenging to clinicians, and the mortality rate is expected to be high. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the treatment outcome in PVO patients with cirrhosis and to identify the predictors of their mortality. Mortality was divided into two categories, 30-day and 90-day mortality. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of mortality. Eighty-five patients were identified after initial exclusion. The patients’ mean age was 60.5 years, and 50 patients were male. The early mortality rates within 30 and 90 days were 17.6% and 36.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that increased age, CTP class C, and bacteremia at the time of PVO diagnosis were predictors of 30-day mortality, while higher MELD score, presence of combined infection, and multiple spinal lesions were predictors of 90-day mortality. Attention should be paid to the high mortality between 30 and 90 days after PVO diagnosis (18.8%), which was higher than the 30-day mortality. Liver function was consistently a strong predictor of mortality in PVO patients with cirrhosis. The high-risk patients should be targeted for an aggressive diagnostic approach, using spinal MRI and intensive monitoring and treatment strategies.

Stratification of the level of aerobic fitness based on heart rate variability parameters in adult males at rest

This study aimed to determine a model for stratifying the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) based on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters at rest. It was applied 70 young adult physically active male. After recording the resting tachogram with a heart rate monitor for 5 min, a maximal incremental test was performed to measure VO2max. Based on VO2max percentile, participants were divided into two groups of 35: high (HG) and low (LG) aerobic fitness group. Groups were compared according to: (1) VO2max; (2) Classical HRV parameters and the cardiac deceleration rate (CDR). HG presented significant higher VO2max than LG (48.61 ± 6.70 vs 34.62 ± 3.81 ml.kg-1.min-1). The HG higher values in the time domain HRV parameters, as well as in the high frequency contents in the frequency domain. Also, CDR index was significant higher for HG than LG (p<0.01). The model for predicting VO2max was obtained by backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression assuming as independent variables CDR and pNN50. This model presented 85.74% positive predictive value, 88.51% negative predictive value and 87.16% total accuracy. In conclusion, the use of the proposed model was able to stratify the level of aerobic fitness in young healthy adult males at rest.

Clinical and laboratory factors associated with mortality in dengue

Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries, giving rise to an increased number of deaths in the last five years in the South-East Asian region. We report our findings from a retrospective study of adults admitted with confirmed dengue at our institution. We studied the clinical and laboratory parameters associated with mortality in these patients. Of the 172 hospitalised patients studied, 156 (90.69 %) recovered while 16 (9.3%) died. Univariate analysis showed altered sensorium on presentation, lower haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, higher serum creatinine, higher serum transaminase and lower serum albumin levels to be significantly associated with mortality in dengue. Further, using stepwise multivariate logistic regression, altered sensorium ( P = 0.006) and hypoalbuminemia ( P = 0.013) were identified as independent predictors of mortality in dengue. Identification of these parameters early in the course of disease should prompt intensification of treatment in dengue cases.

International Fanconi Anemia Registry: relation of clinical symptoms to diepoxybutane sensitivity

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized clinically by a progressive pancytopenia, diverse congenital abnormalities and increased predisposition to malignancy. Although a variable phenotype makes accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical manifestations difficult in some patients, study of cellular sensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DNA cross-linking agents such as diepoxybutane (DEB) has been used to facilitate the diagnosis. Data from DEB-induced chromosomal breakage studies of 328 peripheral blood specimens from patients considered at risk for FA were analyzed using a stepwise multivariate logistic regression, in order to determine which method of representing the data best discriminated between DEB-sensitive (DEB+) and DEB-insensitive (DEB-) cases. Similar methods were applied to the data from the International Fanconi Anemia Registry (IFAR) to determine whether DEB+ and DEB- cases may be considered as distinct clinical entities, and if so, which variables provide the best discrimination between the two groups. We conclude that hypersensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DEB is a useful discriminator for FA. A simplified scoring method for classifying patients on the basis of eight clinical manifestations that are the best predictors for FA is presented. Our data indicate that the clinical diversity in FA is more widespread than previously recognized.

International Fanconi Anemia Registry: relation of clinical symptoms to diepoxybutane sensitivity

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized clinically by a progressive pancytopenia, diverse congenital abnormalities and increased predisposition to malignancy. Although a variable phenotype makes accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical manifestations difficult in some patients, study of cellular sensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DNA cross-linking agents such as diepoxybutane (DEB) has been used to facilitate the diagnosis. Data from DEB-induced chromosomal breakage studies of 328 peripheral blood specimens from patients considered at risk for FA were analyzed using a stepwise multivariate logistic regression, in order to determine which method of representing the data best discriminated between DEB-sensitive (DEB+) and DEB-insensitive (DEB-) cases. Similar methods were applied to the data from the International Fanconi Anemia Registry (IFAR) to determine whether DEB+ and DEB- cases may be considered as distinct clinical entities, and if so, which variables provide the best discrimination between the two groups. We conclude that hypersensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DEB is a useful discriminator for FA. A simplified scoring method for classifying patients on the basis of eight clinical manifestations that are the best predictors for FA is presented. Our data indicate that the clinical diversity in FA is more widespread than previously recognized.