A Retrospective Chart Review to Determine Hypophosphatemia Incidence and Phosphorus Supplementation Requirements in Patients With Severe Thermal Cutaneous Injuries Receiving High-Volume Hemofiltration.

Patients with severe thermal injuries have increased metabolic demands necessitating frequent phosphate supplementation. Patients with acute renal failure may have less requirements, due to reduced elimination. However, patients being supported with renal replacement therapy have varying degree of requirements.

Spatial Association of Environmental and Dietary Factors with COPD Deaths.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a significant health concern globally and spatiotemporal investigations on the etiology and progression of COPD are needed to develop more effective and timely preventive measures. To address this continuing need, we explored the association of air-quality and meteorological markers, fruit and vegetable consumption and drinking water source trajectories with COPD death rate.

Methods: For 81 provinces of Turkey, we extracted and merged data in four dimensions: provincial COPD deaths, provincial annual meteorological and air-quality markers, drinking water source data covering rivers, dams, wells, and springs, and annual provincial fruits and vegetables consumption.

Analysis of Ceftazidime/Avibactam Use for Treating Carbapenem-Resistant Infections in Critically Ill Patients With Thermal or Inhalation Injuries.

Rising antimicrobial resistance is a pressing public health concern. An increase in carbapenem-resistant organisms has led to increased use of novel antibiotics, such as ceftazidime/avibactam (CZ/AV). However, recent studies have shown increasing treatment failures and resistance rates associated with ceftazidime/avibactam use.

A non-inferiority study comparing efficacy of preoperative prophylactic antibiotics for preventing infectious complications in patients with less severe burns.

While international burn injury guidelines discourage prophylactic antibiotics on admission, current surgery guidelines focusing on antimicrobial prophylaxis place thermal injury under a general plastics procedure umbrella, and require significant evidential extrapolation. The purpose of this study was to determine if withholding systemic antibiotics in patients with <20% total body surface area (TBSA) burns without invasive wound infections and undergo wound excision is non-inferior to patients that receive preoperative antibiotics. Success was defined as lack of graft loss, bacteremia, or surgical site infection.

Simplified Approach to Incorporating Glycemic Response Within a Continuous Insulin Infusion Algorithm to Improve the Incidence of Hypoglycemia in a Single Burn Center.

Attaining adequate glycemic control in burn patients has been shown to reduce infection-related mortality. Previous internal evaluation of continuous insulin infusion (CII) use revealed a hypoglycemia rate of 0.6% and an average time within goal glycemic range (70-149 mg/dl) of 13.

Unattended Sleep Studies in a VA Population: Initial Evaluation by Chart Review Versus Clinic Visit by a Midlevel Provider.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder that is associated with multiple medical consequences. Although in-laboratory polysomnography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of OSA, portable monitors have been developed and studied to help increase efficiency and ease of diagnosis. We aimed to assess the adequacy of a midlevel provider specializing in sleep medicine to risk-stratify patients for OSA based on a chart review versus a comprehensive clinic evaluation before scheduling an unattended sleep study.

Dual time point positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan in evaluation of intrathoracic lesions in an area endemic for histoplasmosis and with high prevalence of sarcoidosis.

Background: We explored the role of dual time point fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (DTP PET/CT) scan in the differentiation of benign and malignant lung and mediastinal lesions.

Methods: We studied a sample of 72 consecutive patients who underwent DTP PET/CT scan for intrathoracic lesions. Information on demographics, initial and delayed maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of lesions and final diagnosis were collected.

Surgical biopsy prevented with PET/CT scan in a young female with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy.

Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy is a common clinical problem encountered in Histoplasma endemic zones. It is challenging for clinicians to distinguish the infectious lesions from the neoplastic ones. Bronchoscopy with or without lung sampling and transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is commonly the first diagnostic procedure employed.

Sarcoidosis mimicking disseminated testicular cancer.

Sarcoidosis rarely involves the genitourinary system or the spinal cord. This report describes a case of sarcoidosis with a scrotal mass, a mass compressing the spinal cord, and lesions in the liver and spleen. This case illustrates an uncommon manifestation of sarcoidosis, which may mimic disseminated testicular cancer.