Ferric carboxymaltose with or without phosphate substitution in iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia before elective surgery - The DeFICIT trial.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia in the perioperative setting is treated predominantly with intravenous iron formulation, of which ferric carboxymaltose may induce hypophosphatemia by modulating fibroblast growth factor 23.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, we consented 92 adult patients scheduled for elective major abdominal or thoracic surgery. These patients either had isolated iron deficiency (plasma ferritin <100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation < 20 %) or iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) 100-130 g/L with plasma ferritin <100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation < 20 %).

A cross-sectional observational study of quality of life in adult short bowel syndrome patients: What role does autologous gut reconstruction play?

Background: Intestinal failure (IF) describes a condition of insufficient absorption capacity and general function of the gastrointestinal tract and may necessitate long-term intravenous fluid and nutrient supplementation. Quality of life (QoL) may be reduced in these patients. The aim of the study was to analyze QoL by two tools (SBS-QoL and SF-12) to elucidate which parameters impact QoL in patients with IF.

Avatar-based versus conventional patient monitoring with distant vision: a computer-based simulation study.

Patient monitoring in the perioperative setting can be challenging, especially when monitoring multiple patients simultaneously or managing dynamic situations that require movement around the operating room. We aimed to evaluate whether avatar-based patient monitoring, which presents vital signs in the form of changing colors, shapes and motion, improves remote vital sign recognition compared to conventional monitoring. We conducted a prospective, single-center, computer-based simulation study to evaluate how anesthesia providers recognize vital signs when using the Philips Visual Patient Avatar at different viewing distances (8 and 16 m) compared to conventional monitoring.

Effect of a nurse-led integrated care intervention on quality of life and rehospitalisation in patients with severe exacerbation of COPD-a pilot study.

Objective: To explore the feasibility and effect of a nurse-led integrated care intervention on health-related quality of life (QoL) and unplanned 90-day rehospitalisation in patients hospitalised due to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).

Method: A monocentric non-randomized parallel cluster design was applied. The primary endpoint was the difference between Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) Mastery Scores at hospital discharge and 13 weeks post-discharge.

GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight reduction in people living with obesity but without diabetes: a living benefit-harm modelling study.

Background: The benefit of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) in weight reduction against potential harms remains unclear. This study aimed at evaluating the benefit-harm balance of initiating GLP-1 RAs versus placebo for weight loss in people living with overweight and obesity but without diabetes.

Methods: We performed benefit-harm balance modelling, which will be updated as new evidence emerges.

Feasibility of blinding spinal manual therapy interventions among participants and outcome assessors: protocol for a blinding feasibility trial.

Introduction: Blinding is a methodologically important aspect in randomised controlled trials yet frequently overlooked in trials of spinal manual therapy interventions for back pain. To help inform the blinding methods of a future, double-placebo-controlled trial comparing spinal manual therapy and nerve root injection for lumbosacral radicular pain, we set four objectives: (1) to assess the feasibility of blinding participants, randomly allocated to an active or placebo-control spinal manual therapy intervention protocol, (2) to assess the feasibility of blinding outcome assessors within the trial, (3) to explore the influence of spinal manual therapy experience and low back pain on blinding, and (4) to explore factors contributing to perceptions about intervention assignment among participants and outcome assessors.

Methods And Analysis: Two-parallel-group, single-centre, placebo-controlled, methodological blinding feasibility randomised trial.

Swiss chiropractic cohort (Swiss ChiCo) pilot study: feasibility for a musculoskeletal cohort study conducted within a nationwide practice-based research network.

Purpose: Practice-based research networks are collaborations between clinicians and researchers to advance primary care research. This study aims to assess the feasibility for longitudinal data collection within a newly established chiropractic PBRN in Switzerland.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort feasibility study was performed.

Techniques and mechanisms of bacteria immobilization on biochar for further environmental and agricultural applications.

Bacteria immobilization on biochar is a promising approach to achieve high concentration and stability of microbial cells for several applications. The present review addressed the techniques utilized for bacteria immobilization on biochar, discussing the mechanisms involved in this process, as well as the further utilization in bioremediation and agriculture. This article presents three immobilization techniques, which vary according to their procedures and conditions, including cell growth, adsorption, and adaptation.

Using Visual Patient to Show Vital Sign Predictions, a Computer-Based Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative Simulation Study.

Background: Machine learning can analyze vast amounts of data and make predictions for events in the future. Our group created machine learning models for vital sign predictions. To transport the information of these predictions without numbers and numerical values and make them easily usable for human caregivers, we aimed to integrate them into the Philips Visual-Patient-avatar, an avatar-based visualization of patient monitoring.

Coagulation Management of Critically Bleeding Patients With Viscoelastic Testing Presented as a 3D-Animated Blood Clot (The Visual Clot): Randomized Controlled High-Fidelity Simulation Study.

Background: Guidelines recommend using viscoelastic coagulation tests to guide coagulation management, but interpreting the results remains challenging. Visual Clot, a 3D animated blood clot, facilitates interpretation through a user-centered and situation awareness-oriented design.

Objective: This study aims to compare the effects of Visual Clot versus conventional viscoelastic test results (rotational thrombelastometry [ROTEM] temograms) on the coagulation management performance of anesthesia teams in critical bleeding situations.

Achieving a preoperative haemoglobin above 130 g L may be more important in female than in male patients before cardiac surgery.

Sex-specific preoperative haemoglobin levels and the need for perioperative red cell transfusion in men and women are still debated. Cavalli and colleagues examined the appropriateness of World Health Organization (WHO) anaemia thresholds (haemoglobin <130 g L for males and <120 g L for females) in a retrospective cohort analysis of >6000 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The authors concluded that the WHO anaemia threshold disproportionately disadvantages female cardiac surgery patients, and a preoperative haemoglobin level of at least 130 g L should be targeted in all cardiac surgical patients regardless of sex.

Adherence and contamination in a 1-year physical activity program in childhood cancer survivors: A report from the SURfit study.

Purpose: Meeting intervention requirements is crucial in behavioral trials. We examined patterns and predictors of physical activity (PA) adherence and contamination in a 1-year individualized randomized controlled PA behavioral intervention in childhood cancer survivors (CCS).

Methods: CCS aged ≥16 at enrolment, <16 at diagnosis, and ≥5 years in remission were identified from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry.

Patient and General Population Preferences Regarding the Benefits and Harms of Treatment for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: Patient preferences for treatment outcomes are important to guide decision-making in clinical practice, but little is known about the preferences of patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

Objective: To evaluate patient preferences regarding the attributed benefits and harms of systemic treatments for mHSPC and preference heterogeneity between individuals and specific subgroups.

Design Setting And Participants: We conducted an online discrete choice experiment (DCE) preference survey among 77 patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) and 311 men from the general population in Switzerland between November 2021 and August 2022.

Avatar-based patient monitoring improves information transfer, diagnostic confidence and reduces perceived workload in intensive care units: computer-based, multicentre comparison study.

Patient monitoring is the foundation of intensive care medicine. High workload and information overload can impair situation awareness of staff, thus leading to loss of important information about patients' conditions. To facilitate mental processing of patient monitoring data, we developed the Visual-Patient-avatar Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a virtual patient model animated from vital signs and patient installation data.

Visual Blood, Visualisation of Blood Gas Analysis in Virtual Reality, Leads to More Correct Diagnoses: A Computer-Based, Multicentre, Simulation Study.

Interpreting blood gas analysis results can be challenging for the clinician, especially in stressful situations under time pressure. To foster fast and correct interpretation of blood gas results, we developed Visual Blood. This computer-based, multicentre, noninferiority study compared Visual Blood and conventional arterial blood gas (ABG) printouts.

Visual Blood, a 3D Animated Computer Model to Optimize the Interpretation of Blood Gas Analysis.

Acid-base homeostasis is crucial for all physiological processes in the body and is evaluated using arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. Screens or printouts of ABG results require the interpretation of many textual elements and numbers, which may delay intuitive comprehension. To optimise the presentation of the results for the specific strengths of human perception, we developed Visual Blood, an animated virtual model of ABG results.