Hyperkalemia or Not? A Diagnostic Pitfall in the Emergency Department.

Introduction: Hyperkalemia, a potentially life-threatening electrolyte disturbance, is commonly encountered in the Emergency Department (ED). However, the frequency of factitious hyperkalemia, an artificially elevated potassium level in hyperkalemic ED patients, is unknown. This study aims to detect the rate of factitious hyperkalemia among patients with a potassium concentration of ≥5.

Demonstration of ultra-high dose rate electron irradiation at FLASH@PITZ.

The photo injector test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ) is building up an R&D platform, known as FLASH@PITZ, for systematically studying the FLASH effect in cancer treatment with its high-brightness electron beams, which can provide a uniquely large dose parameter range for radiation experiments. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities by experiments with a reduced parameter range on a startup beamline and study the potential performance of the full beamline by simulations.To measure the dose, Gafchromic films are installed both in front of and after the samples; Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to predict the dose distribution during beam preparation and help understand the dose distribution inside the sample.

Suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia in pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: retrospective cohort.

Objectives: Heparin is given for anticoagulation during and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Our objective was to add to the limited data available on the incidence, management and outcomes of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: This retrospective single-centre study included consecutive patients with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy done in 2005-2018.

Predicting the evolution from first-episode psychosis to mood or psychotic disorder: A systematic review of biological markers.

Background And Hypothesis: The development of paraclinical tools to assist clinical assessment is already widespread in nearly all other medical specialties. In psychiatry, many efforts are being made to improve management strategies using these new techniques. The first episode psychosis (FEP) is a clinical entity whose evolution after onset is difficult to predict in the current state of our practices.

Prone position in obese patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome after cardio-thoracic surgery.

Objectives: Prone positioning (PP) has benefits in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The objective of this study was to compare the effects and complications of PP in obese versus non-obese patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after cardiothoracic surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed a database established in 2014-2021 in an intensive care unit.

End-Group Dye-Labeled Poly(hemiacetal ester) Block Copolymers: Enhancing Hydrolytic Stability and Loading Capacity for Micellar (Immuno-)Drug Delivery.

Polymers with hemiacetal esters integrated in their backbone provide beneficial degradation profiles for (immuno-) drug delivery. However, their fast hydrolysis and low drug loading capacity have limited their applications so far. Therefore, this study focuses on the stability and loading capacity of hemiacetal ester polymers.

Recording and reporting of ultra-high dose rate "FLASH" delivery for preclinical and clinical settings.

Treatments at ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) have the potential to improve the therapeutic index of radiation therapy (RT) by sparing normal tissues compared to conventional dose rate irradiations. Insufficient and inconsistent reporting in physics and dosimetry of preclinical and translational studies may have contributed to a reproducibility crisis of radiobiological data in the field. Consequently, the development of a common terminology, as well as common recording, reporting, dosimetry, and metrology standards is required.

Antibodies and complement are key drivers of thrombosis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common, deadly disease with an increasing incidence despite preventive efforts. Clinical observations have associated elevated antibody concentrations or antibody-based therapies with thrombotic events. However, how antibodies contribute to thrombosis is unknown.

Efficacy of Virtual Preparation Simulators Compared to Traditional Preparations on Phantom Heads.

Background: Virtual simulators are increasingly being introduced in dental education. This study investigates whether virtual simulators offer comparable or superior educational efficacy when compared to traditional phantom simulators.

Materials And Methods: Participants were randomly allocated into groups: Virtual Preparation (SIM; n = 30) and Traditional Preparation (FRA; n = 30).

Adherence to clinical practice guidelines for using electroconvulsive therapy in elderly depressive patients.

Objectives: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments in mood disorders, mainly in major depressive episode (MDE) in the context of either unipolar (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD). However, ECT remains a neglected and underused treatment. Older people are at high risk patients for the development of adverse drug reactions.

Probabilistic Prediction of Gastrointestinal Ischemia after Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background:  Gastrointestinal ischemia (GIisch) is challenging to diagnose in patients after cardiothoracic surgery. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) carries substantial false-negative and false-positive rates. The aim of the study was to evaluate if a combination of readily available variables improves the diagnosis of GIisch after cardiothoracic surgery.

Development and Characterization of Multi-Alkali Antimonide Photocathodes for High-Brightness RF Photoinjectors.

Due to their excellent photoemissive properties, especially low thermal emittance and high sensitivity in the green wavelength, multi-alkali antimonide photocathodes, in particular, cesium-potassium-antimonide, emerged as prominent photoemissive materials for the electron sources of high-repetition-rate FEL applications. To explore its feasibility of operating in a high-gradient RF gun, DESY collaborated with INFN LASA to develop multi-alkali photocathode materials. In this report, we describe the recipe of K-Cs-Sb photocathodes, which were grown on a Mo substrate by varying the foundational Sb layer thickness using sequential deposition techniques.

Real-World Experience with a Human Fibrinogen Concentrate: Clinical Data from Adult and Pediatric Patients Requiring Fibrinogen for Bleeding Control and Prevention.

Human fibrinogen concentrate (Fibryga) received temporary approval for fibrinogen replacement therapy in France (2017), with subsequent full approval for congenital and acquired hypofibrinogenemia. We evaluated real-world use for on-demand treatment of bleeding and prophylaxis to enhance our knowledge on fibrinogen concentrate as an option for fibrinogen replacement. Data were retrospectively collected from adult and pediatric patients with fibrinogen deficiency.

Circuit change during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: single-center retrospective study of 48 changes.

Background: Bleeding and thrombosis induce major morbidity and mortality in patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO). Circuit changes can be performed for oxygenation membrane thrombosis but are not recommended for bleeding under ECMO. The objective of this study was to evaluate the course of clinical, laboratory, and transfusion parameters before and after ECMO circuit changes warranted by bleeding or thrombosis.

Long-term benzodiazepine prescription in treatment-resistant depression: A national FACE-TRD prospective study.

Background: Benzodiazepine long-term use (BLTU) is a public health challenge. We lack data on the consequences of LBTU on the trajectory of treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of BLTU in a nationwide non-selected population of patients with TRD, to determine the rate of patients succeeding at withdrawing benzodiazepines at one year and to determine if persistent BLTU is associated with poorer mental health outcomes.

Effect of non-invasive ventilation after extubation in critically ill patients with obesity in France: a multicentre, unblinded, pragmatic randomised clinical trial.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and oxygen therapy (high-flow nasal oxygen [HFNO] or standard oxygen) following extubation have never been compared in critically ill patients with obesity. We aimed to compare NIV (alternating with HFNO or standard oxygen) and oxygen therapy (HFNO or standard oxygen) following extubation of critically ill patients with obesity.

Methods: In this multicentre, parallel group, pragmatic randomised controlled trial, conducted in 39 intensive care units in France, critically ill patients with obesity undergoing extubation were randomly assigned (1:1) to either the NIV group or the oxygen therapy group.

Cetuximab severe cutaneous toxicity… a gateway for bacteremia: case report.

EGFR inhibitors used in the treatment of metastatic wild-RAS colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy are associated with dermatologic side events that are low grade in most cases. We report a case of severe cutaneous toxicity secondary to cetuximab associated with bacterial cellulitis. A 57-year-old woman with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon, receiving FOLFIRI and Cetuximab as a first-line treatment, presented with a severe erythematous rash and xerosis resistant to local treatment with moisturizing emollients.

Impact of Prone Position in COVID-19 Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objectives: Prone positioning and venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are both useful interventions in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Combining the two therapies is feasible and safe, but the effectiveness is not known. Our objective was to evaluate the potential survival benefit of prone positioning in venovenous ECMO patients cannulated for COVID-19-related ARDS.

[The perioperative role of high-flow cannula oxygen (HFNO)].

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNO) is commonly used during the perioperative period. Its numerous physiological benefits, satisfactory tolerance and ease of use have led to its widespread application in intensive care and post-anesthesia care units. HFNO is also used in the operating theater in multiple indications: as oxygen supplementation (associated with pressurization) prior to orotracheal intubation; in digestive and bronchial endoscopies, especially in patients at risk of hypoxemia; and in intraoperative surgery requiring spontaneous ventilation (ENT, thoracic surgery…).