Lactate to Albumin Ratio and Mortality in Patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease-2019 Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of lactate/albumin ratio for ICU mortality prediction in a large cohort of patients with severe Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data derived from the COVID-19 dataset for all critically ill patients admitted to an academic ICU. Data were used to determine the relation between lactate/albumin ratio and other laboratory parameters measured on the first day of the ICU stay and to evaluate the prognostic performance for ICU mortality prediction.

Mortality of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Over 5 Million Patients Across Different Clinical Settings.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a commonly seen condition in the natural course of cirrhosis associated with unfavourable outcomes.

Aims: To evaluate and compare the pooled mortality rates of patients with cirrhosis, with versus without AKI, across different clinical settings and diagnostic criteria.

Methods: A systematic search of several databases was performed up to Oct 2023.

Immunotherapy after progression to double immunotherapy: pembrolizumab and lenvatinib versus conventional chemotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma after failure of PD-1/CTLA-4 inhibition.

Background: Programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1) inhibition as monotherapy followed by Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibition in case of progression or as upfront double co-inhibition has drastically improved the survival outcomes of metastatic melanoma. Still, many patients develop primary or acquired resistance to both agents, relapse soon, and survive less. For these patients, the therapeutic options are very limited, and for many years, conventional chemotherapy (CC) was the standard of care.

Efficacy of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis against Infection from SARS-CoV-2 and Severe COVID-19 among Heavily Immunocompromised Patients: A Single-Center, Prospective, Real-World Study.

Background: COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to immunocompromised individuals, even with vaccination. The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) tixagevimab/cilgavimab (TXG/CIL) provide targeted prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 with the benefit of a prolonged half-life. Although approved for COVID-19 prevention, there is limited data on their effectiveness among heavily immunocompromised populations.

Incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury in cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 5,202,232 outpatients, inpatients, and ICU-admitted patients.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a commonly seen condition in the natural course of cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pooled incidence and risk factors of AKI in different clinical stages and situations in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: Search was conducted on 13 December 2023 across MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane databases.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin and Its Combination with Other Biomarkers for Candidemia in Critically Ill Patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte count ratio (NLR), and their combination, in distinguishing candidemia from bacteremia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This is a retrospective study in ICU patients with documented bloodstream infections (BSIs) and with both serum PCT and CRP measurements on the day of the positive blood sample. Illness severity was assessed by sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score on both admission and BSI day.

Lung function at three months after hospitalization due to COVID‑19 pneumonia: Comparison of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance periods.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has already affected millions of individuals, with increasing numbers of survivors. These data suggest that the pulmonary sequelae of the infection may have an effect on a wide range of individuals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pulmonary function in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 three months after hospital discharge.

Risk factors for the in‑hospital and 1‑year mortality of elderly patients hospitalized due to COVID‑19‑related pneumonia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by poor outcomes and a high mortality rate, particularly among elderly patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, an older age has been recognized as a critical risk factor for disease severity, with increasing mortality rates in each decade of life. This phenomenon may be a consequence of a poor previous health status, with a higher prevalence of pre-existing comorbidities and a higher degree of frailty.

Temporal trends in laboratory parameters in survivors and non‑survivors of critical COVID‑19 illness and the effect of dexamethasone treatment.

Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced changes in laboratory parameters in patients upon admission have been well-documented, information on their temporal changes is limited. The present study describes the laboratory trends and the effect of dexamethasone treatment on these parameters, in patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU). Routine laboratory parameters, namely white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet (PLT) counts, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin concentrations, were recorded upon admission to the ICU and, thereafter, on days 3, 5, 10, 15 and 21; these values were compared between survivors and non-survivors, as well as between those who were treated with dexamethasone and those who were not.

Temporal evolution of laboratory characteristics in patients critically ill with COVID‑19 admitted to the intensive care unit (Review).

In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), laboratory medicine has played a crucial role in both diagnosis and severity assessment. Although the importance of baseline laboratory findings has been extensively reported, data regarding their evolution over the clinical course are limited. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide the dynamic changes of the routine laboratory variables reported in patients with severe COVID-19 over the course of their critical illness.

Early 3‑day course of remdesivir for the prevention of the progression to severe COVID‑19 in the elderly: A single‑centre, real‑life cohort study.

Remdesivir, a viral RNA polymerase inhibitor, has constituted a key component of therapeutic regimens against the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Originally approved for administration in hospitalized patients, remdesivir leads to improved outcomes in patients with moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After proving to be effective in hospitalized patients, its use gained approval in early-stage disease for symptomatic outpatients who are at a high risk of progression to severe disease.

Effectiveness of Oral Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir vs. Intravenous Three-Day Remdesivir in Preventing Progression to Severe COVID-19: A Single-Center, Prospective, Comparative, Real-Life Study.

Background: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r) and three-day course remdesivir (3RDV) have been approved as early treatments for COVID-19 outpatients not requiring supplemental oxygen. Real-life data on the efficacy of antivirals among immunocompromised patients or directly comparing their effectiveness in preventing hospitalization and/or death are scarce.

Methods: Prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital, from 1 January 2022 until 15 March 2023, during the prevalence of the Omicron variant.

Predictors of COVID‑19‑associated mortality among hospitalized elderly patients with dementia.

The mortality of elderly patients with dementia hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pneumonia is high. The mortality rate of these patients continues to be high following their discharge. However, data on the outcomes of these patients in all phases of the pandemic are limited.

Characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with Parkinson's disease hospitalized due to COVID‑19‑associated pneumonia.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pneumonia present, according to the literature, high mortality rates due to the nature of the disease, advanced age, and underlying diseases. Most available studies, however, refer to the first waves of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients (≥65 years old) with PD hospitalized with COVID-19-associated pneumonia during the period of prevalence of various severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, as well as to determine possible prognostic factors for poor outcomes.

High-Dose Nebulized Colistin Methanesulfonate and the Role in Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria with Difficult-to-Treat Resistance: A Review.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to difficult-to-treat-resistant (DTR) Gram-negative bacteria, contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in ICUs. In the era of COVID-19, the incidences of secondary nosocomial pneumonia and the demand for invasive mechanical ventilation have increased dramatically with extremely high attributable mortality. Treatment options for DTR pathogens are limited.

Outcomes in meningitis‑ventriculitis treated with intravenous or intrathecal plus intravenous colistin: A meta‑analysis.

The aim of the present meta-analysis was to provide further evidence on the management of bacterial ventriculitis or meningitis (BVM) and to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) or intravenous plus intrathecal (IV/ITH) treatment with colistin. The present meta-analysis included full-text articles published between 1980 and 2020 that compared outcomes in meningitis-ventriculitis treated with IV or IV/ITH colistin. The collected variables included the first author's name, country, study period covered, publication year, the total number of patients and follow-up, Glasgow Coma Scale score upon admission, treatment duration, Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, the length of intensive unit (ICU) stay, treatment efficacy and mortality for both groups.

COVID‑19 vaccination in liver transplant recipients (Review).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2) infection has significantly affected immunocompromised individuals and subsequently, liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Early in the course of pandemic, this vulnerable population was prioritized for vaccination, after obtaining encouraging data about the vaccination benefits on disease severity and mortality. As the published knowledge was mainly supported from studies which were limited to the healthy population, the present review summarizes the data from the literature on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in LTRs and the available vaccination guidelines of international societies.

Lower respiratory tract infections due to multi‑drug resistant pathogens in central nervous system injuries (Review).

Pneumonia is one of the most prevalent infections in the intensive care unit (ICU), where pneumonia may occur during hospitalization in the ICU as a complication. ICU patients with central nervous system (CNS) injuries are not an exception, and they may even be more susceptible to infections such as pneumonia due to issues such as swallowing difficulties, the requirement for mechanical ventilation, and extended hospital stay. Numerous common CNS injuries, such as ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intracerebral hemorrhage, can prolong hospital stay and increase the risk of pneumonia.

Seroconversion following a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in liver transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Although it is well established that 2 doses of COVID‑19 vaccines are associated with reduced immune responses in liver transplant recipients (LTRs), studies regarding their immunogenicity and tolerability after a booster dose are limited.

Objectives: We aimed to review the available literature data regarding antibody responses and safety of the third dose of COVID‑19 vaccines in LTRs.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for eligible studies.

Role of pulmonary function testing in inflammatory bowel diseases (Review).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe chronic inflammatory entities of the gastrointestinal system with an unclear etiology. Extra-intestinal manifestations beyond the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract can also occur. Several studies have investigated the alterations of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with IBD.

Factors predicting poor outcomes of patients treated with tocilizumab for COVID‑19‑associated pneumonia: A retrospective study.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a significant global issue that has major implications for the healthcare system. The mortality rates associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection vary according to the geographical region and are associated with age, comorbidities and vaccination status. Organ damage is caused by the cytokine release syndrome, which plays a crucial role in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Simultaneous pathological findings in biopsy specimens of patients with surgically resected lung carcinoids and their role in survival.

Pulmonary carcinoid tumors are rare, low-grade malignant tumors that constitute 1-2% of all lung tumors. The present study aimed to describe the simultaneous pathological findings in biopsy specimens of patients with surgically resected lung carcinoids and determine their association with survival rates. For this purpose, 108 patients with resected carcinoid lung tumors were followed-up for 96 months and analyzed for simultaneous pathological findings in biopsy specimens.

COVID-19 and Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents mainly with mild symptoms and involvement of the respiratory system. Acute pancreatitis has also been reported during the course of COVID-19.

Objective: Our aim is to review and analyze all reported cases of COVID-19 associated acute pancreatitis, reporting the demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory and imaging findings, comorbidities and outcomes.