Insights into the Rising Threat of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales and Epidemic Infections in Eastern Europe: A Systematic Literature Review.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health challenge, particularly with the rise of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and (CRPA). This study aimed to describe the characteristics of CRE and CRPA infections in Eastern Europe, focusing on Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Methods: Following MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review of articles published between 1 November 2017 and 1 November 2023 was conducted using the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CDSR, DARE, and CENTRAL databases.

Characterizing Antibiotic Regimen Modification Behavior, Patient Characteristics, and Outcomes for Patients with Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections, A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Few studies describe the frequency of antibiotic regimen modification behaviors in the acute care setting. We sought to ascertain patient and treatment characteristics, details of regimen modification, and clinical outcomes with antibiotic modifications. This retrospective study included patients admitted to Hoag Memorial Hospital from 1 January 2019-31 March 2021 with a complicated infection caused by a Gram-negative organism resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins or with the potential for resistance (AmpC producers).

Real-world evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam across US medical centres.

We assessed 160 patients who received imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam for ≥2 days. At treatment initiation, the median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5, 45% were in the intensive care unit, and 19% required vasopressor support. The in-hospital mortality rate was 24%.

Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and its impact on patient outcomes among adult hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections who received targeted treatment with a newer β-lactam or β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor-, polymyxin- or aminoglycoside-containing regimen.

Background: Limited comparative data exist on acute kidney injury (AKI) risk and AKI-associated outcomes in hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections (CR-GNIs) treated with a newer β-lactam/β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BL-BLI)-, polymyxin (PB)- or aminoglycoside (AG)-containing regimen. This study quantified the risk of AKI and AKI-related outcomes among patients with CR-GNIs treated with a newer BL/BL-BLI-, PB- or AG-containing regimen.

Methods: A multicentre, retrospective, observational study was performed (2016-20).

Health-Related and Economic Burden Among Family Caregivers of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Hematological Malignancies.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with lower survival and greater unmet need compared with some other hematologic malignancies (HMs). Despite differences in acuteness between AML and other HMs, the burden of family caregivers (FCs) of patients with these malignancies offer similar patient experiences. A targeted literature review was conducted to explore FC burden of patients with AML and HM with and without hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

The use of proxies and proxy-reported measures: a report of the international society for quality of life research (ISOQOL) proxy task force.

Aims: Proxy reports are often used when patients are unable to self-report. It is unclear how proxy measures are currently in use in adult health care and research settings. We aimed to describe how proxy reports are used in these settings, including the use of measures developed specifically for proxy reporting in adult health populations.

Economic burden of disease progression among multiple myeloma patients who have received transplant and at least one line of therapy in the US.

Effects of disease progression on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among multiple myeloma (MM) patients with ≥1 line of therapy (LOT) who received their first stem cell transplant (SCT) within 1 year of initial MM diagnosis were estimated using a large US claims database. Disease progression was defined as advancement to the next LOT, bone metastasis, hypercalcemia, soft tissue plasmacytoma, skeletal related events, acute kidney disease, or death within 12 months of LOT initiation. Annual HRU and costs in the first three LOTs (L1-L3) were compared for patients with versus without disease progression using inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for differences between groups in baseline characteristics.

Development and content validation of the Satisfaction and Experience Questionnaire for Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (SEQ-G-CSF).

Background: Several options for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia are available to patients worldwide. We have developed a novel patient-reported outcome measure, the Satisfaction and Experience Questionnaire for G-CSF (SEQ-G-CSF), to help understand patients' perspectives of and satisfaction with different G-CSF options.

Results: Three oncology nurses and 40 adult oncology patients in the United States were enrolled and participated in focus group discussions to develop and refine the SEQ-G-CSF.

Adaptation and Evaluation of a Symptom-Monitoring Digital Health Intervention for Patients With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Pilot Mixed-Methods Implementation Study.

Background: Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is a bone marrow cancer that requires systemic treatment, which often results in severe symptom burden. Recent studies have found that electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) interventions implemented in the clinic setting have had positive outcomes for other oncology populations. Evidence of the efficacy of a similar approach is lacking for patients with RRMM.

Retraction notice to "Association between low-testosterone and kidney stones in US men: The national health and nutrition examination survey 2011-2012" [Prev. Med. Rep. 10C (2018) 248-253].

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.

Estimation of minimally important differences and responder definitions for EORTC QLQ-MY20 scores in multiple myeloma patients.

Objectives: Thresholds for the minimally important difference (MID) or responder definition (RD) in health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores are required to interpret the impact of an intervention or change in the trajectory of the condition which is meaningful to patients. This study aimed to establish MID and RD for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Multiple Myeloma questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-MY20).

Methods: A novel mixed-methods approach was applied by utilizing both existing clinical trial data and prospective patient interviews.

Burden of disease progression in patients with multiple myeloma in the US.

Effects of disease progression on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among multiple myeloma (MM) patients with ≥1 line of therapy (LOT) and without receipt of stem cell transplant were estimated using large US claims database. Disease progression was defined as advancement to the next LOT, bone metastasis, hypercalcemia, soft tissue plasmacytoma, skeletal related events, acute kidney failure, or death within 12 months of LOT initiation. Annual HRU and costs in the first four LOTs were compared for patients with versus without progression using inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for differences between groups in baseline characteristics.

Convenience, satisfaction, health-related quality of life of once-weekly 70 mg/m vs. twice-weekly 27 mg/m carfilzomib (randomized A.R.R.O.W. study).

We compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with once-weekly carfilzomib 70 mg/m (Kd70 mg/m) vs. twice-weekly carfilzomib 27 mg/m (Kd27 mg/m) plus dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Patient-reported convenience/satisfaction collected at Cycle 2, Day 1 was compared between groups using logistic regression.

Association between low-testosterone and kidney stones in US men: The national health and nutrition examination survey 2011-2012.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between low-testosterone (total testosterone ≤3 ng/mL) and prevalence of kidney stones (KS) in men 20 years and older, and whether this varies by comorbidities, and race/ethnicity, and age. This was a cross-sectional study with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 cycle. We found that men with low-testosterone had 41% lower odds of KS as compared to men without low-testosterone after multivariable adjustment (OR: 0.

Validation of the Turkish version of medication regimen complexity index among elderly patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the Turkish version of the 'Medication Regimen Complexity Index' (MRCI).

Methods: This validation study has been conducted in prescriptions of the first 100 elderly patients who had visited the pharmacy for their prescription refill to evaluate convergent and divergent validity of the Turkish version. The reliability of the Turkish version was assessed with inter-rater and test-retest analysis after its translation and cultural adaptation.

Adverse drug reactions due to drug-drug interactions with proton pump inhibitors: assessment of systematic reviews with AMSTAR method.

Introduction: Many systematic reviews resulted in claims on drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Such a large number begs for consensus on the clinical significance of findings.

Areas Covered: We critically evaluated the safety of PPI use with respect to DDIs with a meta-review of systematic reviews published between 1978 and 2015.

The symptom burden of treatment-naive patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) may cause substantial local and systemic symptomatic morbidities, but many patients have high symptom levels before treatment begins. Knowledge of disease-related (treatment-naive) symptom status would aid in the evaluation of the symptomatic benefit or burden of HNC therapies.

Methods: The authors retrospectively examined symptoms, quality of life, and health status reported by patients with HNC who were naive to any treatment.

Measuring symptoms as a critical component of drug development and evaluation in hematological diseases.

With the rapid development of new therapies for patients with hematological malignancies, there is an increasing need for patient report of symptom status during all phases of drug testing. The patient's perspective on new treatments reflects treatment tolerability as well as symptom benefit, and may assist patients and clinicians in choosing treatments. Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes, more common in solid-tumor than hematological trials, provides early information about symptoms to guide decisions about appropriate dosing and supportive care needs.

[Comparison of the activity and reliability of intravenous administration of midazolam and dexmedetomidine on sedation levels under epidural anesthesia].

Objectives: We aimed to assess the sedative effects of midazolam and dexmedetomidine and their effects on hemodynamics and the cardiovascular system under epidural anesthesia.

Methods: This study included 50 patients. Approval of the ethics committee and written consent from patients were obtained.

Assessment of shoulder impairment after functional neck dissection: long term results.

Objective: In this prospective study, we attempted to use objective techniques to measure shoulder disability and evaluate patients who underwent functional neck dissection (FND) procedure. Patients were compared on the basis of preoperative and postoperative range of motion (ROM) measurements, pain and stiffness domains. At the final visit, a Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) questionnaire was applied to all patients.

[The effect of neck metastasis on survival following surgery for laryngeal cancer].

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of neck metastasis on the survival rate of patients who underwent surgery for laryngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 256 patients who had undergone surgery between 1995 and 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 186 patients (72%; 185 males, 1 female; mean age 57.

Effects of fibrin glue on wound healing in oral cavity.

Objectives: Healing after oral cavity surgery may be problematic in some cases, because it is a contaminated cavity. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of fibrin glue on healing after surgical procedures in the oral cavity.

Methods: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were used at this study, 24 in study (Group 1) and 18 in control (Group 2) groups.

Body position and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

In adults, influence of body position on the occurrence of respiratory events during sleep is recognized, and increased numbers of respiratory events occur when the supine position is assumed.1-4 In 1985, Orr et al. showed that body position did not influence respiratory events during sleep in children.