Losartan in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in North America: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been hypothesized to benefit patients with COVID-19 via the inhibition of viral entry and other mechanisms. We conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis assessing the effect of starting the ARB losartan in recently hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We searched ClinicalTrials.

Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Results from observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have led to the consensus that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are not effective for COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Pooling individual participant data, including unanalyzed data from trials terminated early, enables more detailed investigation of the efficacy and safety of HCQ/CQ among subgroups of hospitalized patients.

Methods: We searched ClinicalTrials.

Comparison of antibody response durability of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and Ad26.COV2.S SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in healthcare workers.

Objectives: There are limited comparative immunologic durability data post COVID-19 vaccinations.

Methods: Approximately 8.4 months after primary COVID-19 vaccination, 647 healthcare workers completed surveys about COVID-19 vaccinations/infections and blood draws.

Intranasal Midazolam With Lidocaine for Sedation in Pediatric Myringotomy and Tube Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Aims: Intranasal midazolam (INM) sedation for children has been associated with side effects. This prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed whether the addition of lidocaine to INM (INM+L) affected efficacy or discharge time among pediatric patients undergoing elective bilateral myringotomy and tube placement (BMT).

Methods: This trial enrolled children aged between 18 months to seven years undergoing BMT, physical status class 1 or 2, in a single academic medical center.

COVIDMED - An early pandemic randomized clinical trial of losartan treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of losartan for COVID-19 patients.

Methods: COVIDMED was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled platform RCT. Enrollees were randomized to standard care plus hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, losartan, or placebo.

Tick magnets: The occupational risk of tick-borne disease exposure in forestry workers in New York.

Background: Outdoor workers, such as forestry workers, are at an increased risk for contracting tick-borne diseases due to their prolonged time spent in tick habitats. Although well studied in Europe, no studies have been conducted with forestry workers in the Northeastern United States since 1990s.

Methods: Full-time forestry workers and two comparison groups (volunteer firefighter/first responders and indoor/healthcare workers) within New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were recruited for this cross-sectional seroprevalence study.

Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Results from observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have led to the consensus that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are not effective for COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Pooling individual participant data, including unanalyzed data from trials terminated early, enables more detailed investigation of the efficacy and safety of HCQ/CQ among subgroups of hospitalized patients.

Methods: We searched ClinicalTrials.

Rural context, single institution prospective outcomes after enhanced recovery colorectal surgery protocol implementation.

Background: Rural hospitals face unique challenges to adopting Enhanced Recovery protocols after colorectal surgical procedures. There are few examples of successful implementation in the United States, and fewer yet of prospective, outcomes-based trials.

Methods: This study drew data from elective bowel resection prospectively collected, retrospectively analyzed cases 2 years prior (n = 214) and 3 years after (n = 224) implementing an ERAS protocol at a small, rural health network in upstate New York.

Relation of viscous lidocaine combined with propofol deep sedation during elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to discharge.

Fusing topical pharyngeal anesthetics (TPAs) to intravenous sedation during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has been controversial. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessed the association of TPA with patient recovery time, post-EGD to discharge. Supplementary aims were to determine the association of TPA with patient and practitioner satisfaction (both measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale), total propofol dose, and side effects.

Morbidity and mortality from farm tractor-related injuries in Arkansas.

This study applied a text string search algorithm to ascertain suspect farm tractor or agricultural machinery-related injuries in data sources available for 2000-2014 in the state of Arkansas. The occurrences of tractor or other agricultural machinery-related injuries were compared with data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For death certificates that assigned an external cause of death, the authors first collected all those that were coded as related to agricultural machinery, based on search strings for occupation and industry and a description of how the injury occurred.

Management of acute appendicitis in a rural population.

Background: Our system uses a hub and spoke approach to provide surgical care for our rural population. Patients access care anywhere in the system but are transferred centrally for surgical care. We sought to determine if surgical outcome differed depending on where initial care occurred.

Assessment of selenium in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and gastric banding surgery.

Background: Until recently, there was limited documented data on both dietary and serum selenium deficiency in bariatric surgery. We performed an evaluation of selenium intake and both serum selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GTP; as a functional measurement of selenium) before and after roux-en-Y (RNY) gastric bypass and gastric banding surgery.

Methods: The endpoints obtained from the subjects included dietary intake of selenium and vitamins E and C, as well as serum levels of selenium, GTP and vitamins E.

Effect of a triphasic oral contraceptive on drug-metabolizing enzyme activity as measured by the validated Cooperstown 5+1 cocktail.

The effects of a common oral contraceptive preparation on the activity of 7 drug-metabolizing enzymes were investigated using the validated Cooperstown 5+1 Cocktail. In a randomized crossover fashion, 10 premenopausal women received caffeine, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, intravenous midazolam, and warfarin + vitamin K with and without a triphasic oral contraceptive (ethinyl estradiol 35 microg) and varying doses of daily norgestimate (0.18, 0.

Over-the-counter progesterone cream produces significant drug exposure compared to a food and drug administration-approved oral progesterone product.

Progesterone products are available in prescription form as well as over-the-counter (OTC) topical preparations sold for "cosmetic" uses. In a randomized study design, the authors compared the drug exposure from an OTC progesterone cream to a Food and Drug Administration-approved oral preparation at the labeled daily doses recommended for each product. Twelve healthy postmenopausal women received 200-mg oral progesterone capsules once daily for 12 days or progesterone cream 40 mg twice daily for 12 days.

The disease-modifying effects of twice-weekly oral azithromycin in patients with bronchiectasis.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a chronic pulmonary process characterized by recurrent respiratory infections leading to destruction of airways secondary to inflammation. We investigated whether the addition of 6-months' twice-weekly azithromycin to the existing treatment regimen in patients with pulmonary bronchiectasis decreased the number of exacerbations and improved pulmonary function compared with a similar period of time without concurrent azithromycin.

Methods: Thirty patients with high-resolution computed tomography scan-confirmed bronchiectasis were to be recruited.

Lack of bioequivalence when levofloxacin and calcium-fortified orange juice are coadministered to healthy volunteers.

Chelation interactions between drugs/supplements that contain large amounts of multivalent ions and the fluoroquinolones have been known for quite some time. However, there has been a lack of taking this interaction into account when they may be coadministered with foods that have been fortified with amounts of multiple multivalent ions that equal or exceed many supplement products. A previous study demonstrated that 12 ounces of calcium-fortified orange juice significantly decreased the bioequivalence of a dose of ciprofloxacin.

Lack of bioequivalence of gatifloxacin when coadministered with calcium-fortified orange juice in healthy volunteers.

Previous work has demonstrated that the chelation interaction seen with ciprofloxacin when it is coadministered with antacids also happens when it is coadministered with calcium-fortified foods. This study was conducted to study whether this was a drug-specific finding or whether the interaction occurs with other members of the fluoroquinolone class of drugs. Sixteen healthy volunteers received single 400-mg oral doses of gatifloxacin with 12 ounces each of water, nonfortified orange juice, and calcium-fortified orange juice and had plasma samples drawn for assay over the subsequent 48 hours.

Lack of bioequivalence of ciprofloxacin when administered with calcium-fortified orange juice: a new twist on an old interaction.

Fluoroquinolones are known to interact with drugs containing multivalent ions. Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling states that ciprofloxacin and most other fluoroquinolones are safe to be given with food and dietary calcium but not calcium supplements. Although many of the currently marketed calcium fortified foods have calcium contents that usually exceed those in dietary calcium sources, it is unclear whether they represent a risk for less than optimal absorption of fluoroquinolones, which may result in subsequent clinical failures due to lack of bacterial eradication and antibiotic resistance.