Impact of Sex on Infection Risk in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that exhibits considerable diversity in terms of both clinical and immunological manifestations. Since its female-to-male ratio is around 9:1, it is well recognized that systemic lupus erythematosus mostly affects women, especially those of childbearing age. There is a greater susceptibility to infections in adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general population.

Early noninvasive ventilation in general wards for acute respiratory failure: an international, multicentre, open-label, randomised trial.

Background: The impact of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) managed outside the intensive care unit in patients with early acute respiratory failure remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether adding early NIV prevents the progression to severe respiratory failure.

Methods: In this multinational, randomised, open-label controlled trial, adults with mild acute respiratory failure (arterial oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspiratory oxygen [Pao/FiO] ratio ≥200) were enrolled across 11 hospitals in Italy, Greece, and Kazakhstan.

Brain Ultrasonography in Critically Ill Septic Patients: A Scoping Review.

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is linked to high mortality and impaired neurologic outcome. Brain ultrasonography (US) is a non-invasive tool for cerebral monitoring. A scoping review of the literature in three databases was performed to answer if brain perfusion is altered in sepsis, to determine the role of brain US in guiding resuscitation and its ability to predict the outcome.

Basic Lung Ultrasound and Clinical Applications in General Medicine.

Proficiency in basic lung ultrasound is highly recommended for clinicians in general and internal medicine. This article will review and provide guidance for novice users on how to use lung ultrasound in clinical practice, through a pathology-oriented approach. The authors recommend a 12-zone protocol and describe how to perform and apply it in clinical practice while examining patients with clinical suspicion for the following diseases: pleural effusion, heart failure, pneumonia (bacterial and viral), interstitial lung disease, and pneumothorax.

Incidence, predictability, and outcomes of systemic venous congestion following a fluid challenge in initially fluid-tolerant preload-responders after cardiac surgery: a pilot trial.

Background: Fluid administration has traditionally focused on preload responsiveness (PR). However, preventing fluid intolerance, particularly due to systemic venous congestion (VC), is equally important. This study evaluated the incidence and predictability of VC following a 7 ml/kg crystalloid infusion in fluid-tolerant preload-responders and its association with adverse outcomes.

Relationship between clinical manifestations and serological profile in patients affected by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by a variety of both signs and symptoms; it mainly affects women of childbearing age, with an estimated prevalence of 24/100,000 people in Europe and North America. SLE is often described as an antibodies-driven disease as its clinical manifestations are usually associated with the presence or the absence of specific antibodies.

Objectives: To evaluate clinical manifestations in patients with SLE and to assess the relationship with the presence of specific antibodies by using real-world data.

NEXUS: A 28nm 3.3pJ/SOP 16-Core Spiking Neural Network with a Diamond Topology for Real-Time Data Processing.

The realization of brain-scale spiking neural networks (SNNs) is impeded by power constraints and low integration density. To address these challenges, multi-core SNNs are utilized to emulate numerous neurons with high energy efficiency, where spike packets are routed through a network-on-chip (NoC). However, the information can be lost in the NoC under high spike traffic conditions, leading to performance degradation.

Advancements in Trauma-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Innovations.

Acute kidney injury following trauma impacts patient recovery critically, necessitating an integrated approach to emergency care and nephrology. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of trauma-induced nephropathy, highlighting recent advancements in pathophysiological insights, diagnostic techniques, and strategic interventions. Our key findings emphasize the role of biomarkers, like Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Liver Fatty Acid-Binding Protein, and imaging techniques, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, in early AKI detection.

Comparative accuracy of ChatGPT-4, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini in the Italian entrance test for healthcare sciences degrees: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are emerging educational tools for students in healthcare science. However, assessing their accuracy is essential prior to adoption in educational settings. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of predicting the correct answers from three AI chatbots (ChatGPT-4, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini) in the Italian entrance standardized examination test of healthcare science degrees (CINECA test).

Kidney Doppler ultrasonography in critical care nephrology.

Color pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound (CPWD-US) emerges as a pivotal tool in intensive care units (ICUs) for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) swiftly and non-invasively. Its bedside accessibility allows for rapid assessments, making it a primary imaging modality for AKI characterization. Furthermore, CPWD-US serves as a guiding instrument for key diagnostic-interventional procedures such as renal needle biopsy and percutaneous nephrostomy, while also facilitating therapy response monitoring and AKI progression tracking.

Complex Heart-Lung Ventilator Emergencies in the CICU.

This review aims to enhance the comprehension and management of cardiopulmonary interactions in critically ill patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing mechanical ventilation. Highlighting the significance of maintaining a delicate balance, this article emphasizes the crucial role of adjusting ventilation parameters based on both invasive and noninvasive monitoring. It provides recommendations for the induction and liberation from mechanical ventilation.

Improving Patient Outcomes in Abdominal Surgery.

Post-operative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) is a frequent complication described in 15% of non-cardiac surgeries, 30% of cardiac surgeries, and 52% of patients requiring intensive post-operative care [...

Safety and Tolerability of COVID-19 Vaccine in Mast Cell Disorders Real-Life Data from a Single Centre in Italy.

In the past three years, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the healthcare systems and people's safety worldwide. Mass vaccinations dramatically improved the health and economic damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients at high risk of allergic reactions still has many unmet needs that should be clarified.

Analgesic Strategies for Urologic Videolaparoscopic or Robotic Surgery in the Context of an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol: A Prospective Study Comparing Erector Spinae Plane Block versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block.

Regional anesthesia in postoperative pain management has developed in recent years, especially with the advent of fascial plane blocks. This study aims to compare the ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus the ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic or robotic urologic surgery. This was a prospective observational study; 97 patients (ESPB-group) received bilateral ultrasound-guided ESPB with 20 mL of ropivacaine 0.

Ultrasonographic Features of Muscular Weakness and Muscle Wasting in Critically Ill Patients.

Muscle wasting begins as soon as in the first week of one's ICU stay and patients with multi-organ failure lose more muscle mass and suffer worse functional impairment as a consequence. Muscle wasting and weakness are mainly characterized by a generalized, bilateral lower limb weakness. However, the impairment of the respiratory and/or oropharyngeal muscles can also be observed with important consequences for one's ability to swallow and cough.

MAURIVAX: A Vaccination Campaign Project in a Hospital Environment for Patients Affected by Autoimmune Diseases and Adult Primary Immunodeficiencies.

Patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs) and primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are characterized by an increased risk of noninvasive and widespread infections as they are considered frail patients. In addition, many flares of the underlying disease are reported after routine vaccinations. To date, the vaccination rate in these two populations is suboptimal.

Perioperative Intravenous Amino Acid Infusion in Major Urologic Surgery.

Post-operative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) is a serious complication that may occur after major abdominal surgery. The administration of intravenous perioperative amino acids (AAs) has been proven to increase kidney function and has some beneficial effects to prevent PO-AKI. The aim of this study was to establish if the perioperative infusion of AAs may reduce the incidence of PO-AKI in patients undergoing major urological minimally invasive surgery.