Publications by authors named "Konstantina Dakou"
Background: In the ACCESS trial the addition of clarithromycin to standard-of-care (SoC) antibiotics enhanced early clinical response and attenuated the inflammatory burden in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization. A post-hoc analysis was performed to investigate the benefit in specific subgroups.
Methods: The primary endpoint comprised two conditions to be met during the first 72 hours: ≥50% decrease of respiratory symptom severity score; and any of ≥30% decrease of SOFA score and favourable change of kinetics of procalcitonin (defined as ≥80% PCT decrease or PCT <0.
Background: Endotype classification becomes the cornerstone of understanding sepsis pathogenesis. Macrophage activation-like syndrome (MALS) and immunoparalysis are the best recognized major endotypes, so far. Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) action on tissue macrophages stimulates the release of the cytotoxic chemokine CXCL9.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sepsis guidelines suggest immediate start of resuscitation for patients with quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) 2 or 3. However, the interpretation of qSOFA 1 remains controversial. We investigated whether measurements of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) may improve risk detection when qSOFA is 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClarithromycin for early anti-inflammatory responses in community-acquired pneumonia in Greece (ACCESS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet Respir Med
April 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study examines whether adding the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin to β-lactam antibiotics can improve early clinical responses in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia, based on previous observational studies rather than randomized trials.
- Conducted as a phase 3 double-blind randomized controlled trial in Greece, the research involved adult patients with severe pneumonia who were given either standard care plus a placebo or standard care plus clarithromycin for seven days.
- The primary outcome measured included a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms and reduction in inflammatory response after 72 hours of treatment, with both groups being kept unaware of their allocated treatment for unbiased results.
Objectives: This meta-analysis examined the effect of macrolides on resolution of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and interpretation of clinical benefit according to microbiology; emphasis is given to data under-reported countries (URCs).
Methods: This meta-analysis included 47 publications published between 1994 and 2022. Publications were analysed for 30-d mortality (58 759 patients) and resolution of CAP (6465 patients).
Background: Traditionally, for the assessment of follicle growth during IVF, two-dimensional (2D) transvaginal ultrasound (US) is used. In the past few years three-dimensional (3D) US has also been introduced.
Objectives: To compare follicular sizes between 2 and 3D ultrasound imaging on the final day of controlled ovarian stimulation.