Suboptimal dialysis initiation is associated with comorbidities and uraemia progression rate but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Background: Despite early referral of uraemic patients to nephrological care, suboptimal dialysis initiation (SDI) remains a common problem associated with increased morbimortality. We hypothesized that SDI is related to pre-dialysis care.

Methods: In the 'Peridialysis' study, time and reasons for dialysis initiation (DI), clinical and biochemical data and centre characteristics were registered during the pre- and peri-dialytic period for 1583 end-stage kidney disease patients starting dialysis over a 3-year period at 15 nephrology departments in the Nordic and Baltic countries to identify factors associated with SDI.

Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects.

Objectives: To obtain normative high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) data for thickness of the serratus anterior, the trapezius and the rhomboid major muscles and diameter of their corresponding nerves, the long thoracic, the spinal accessory and the dorsal scapular nerve. Moreover, we aimed to examine intra- and inter-examiner agreement of the HRUS measurements.

Methods: We included 41 healthy subjects.

The Benefits and Harms of Early Mobilization and Supervised Exercise Therapy after Non-surgically Treated Proximal Humerus or Distal Radius fracture: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose Of Review: Fractures of the proximal humerus (PHF) and distal radius (DRF) are among the most common upper extremity fractures in the elderly. Recent randomized controlled trials support non-surgical treatment. Evidence behind the best non-surgical treatment strategy has been sparse and raises questions as to when and how to initiate exercises.

Cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing for monogenic disorders: confirmation of unaffected fetuses following preimplantation genetic testing.

Purpose: Proof of concept of the use of cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing (cbNIPT) as an alternative to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) following preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M).

Method: PGT-M was performed by combined testing of short tandem repeat (STR) markers and direct mutation detection, followed by transfer of an unaffected embryo. Patients who opted for follow-up of PGT-M by CVS had blood sampled, from which potential fetal extravillous throphoblast cells were isolated.

Echocardiographic parameters during prolonged targeted temperature Management in out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors to predict neurological outcome - a post-hoc analysis of the TTH48 trial.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) indices of myocardial function among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have been related to neurological outcome; however, results are inconsistent. We hypothesized that changes in average peak systolic mitral annular velocity (s') from 24 h (h) to 72 h following start of targeted temperature management (TTM) predict six-month neurological outcome in comatose OHCA survivors.

Methods: We investigated the association between peak systolic velocity of the mitral plane (s') and six-month neurological outcome in a population of 99 patients from a randomised controlled trial comparing TTM at 33 ± 1 °C for 24 h (h) (n = 47) vs.

Influence of anastomoses on intestine ischemia and cefuroxime concentrations: Evaluated in the ileum and colon in a porcine model.

Background: Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication following gastrointestinal surgery and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The incidence of anastomotic leakage is determined by anatomy and is reported to be between 4%-33% for colon anastomosis and 1%-3% for small intestine anastomosis. The etiology of anastomotic leakage of the intestine has been divided into three main factors: healing disturbances, communication between intra- and extra-luminal compartments, and infection.

Thermoregulation in post-cardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management.

Objective: Evaluate the relationship between heat generation during rewarming in post-cardiac arrest patients receiving targeted temperature management (TTM) as a surrogate of thermoregulatory ability and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This is a prospective observational single-centre study conducted at an urban tertiary-care hospital. We included post-cardiac arrest adults who received TTM via surface cooling device between April 2018 and June 2019.

Age-related cognitive bias in in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aims: Cognitive bias has been recognized as a potential source of medical error as it may affect clinical decision making. In this study, we explored how cognitive bias, specifically left-digit bias, may affect patient outcomes in in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: Using the Get With The Guidelines® - Resuscitation registry, we included adult patients with an in-hospital cardiac arrest from 2011 to 2019.

Ubiquinol (reduced coenzyme Q10) as a metabolic resuscitator in post-cardiac arrest: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Ubiquinol (reduced coenzyme Q10) is essential for adequate aerobic metabolism. The objective of this trial was to determine whether ubiquinol administration in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest could increase physiological coenzyme Q10 levels, improve oxygen consumption, and reduce neurological biomarkers of injury.

Materials And Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest.

Potential synergy between PSMA uptake and tumour blood flow for prediction of human prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Background: Both prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) uptake and tumour blood flow (TBF) correlate with International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) and hence prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential synergistic benefit of combining the two physiologic parameters for separating significant PCa from insignificant findings.

Methods: From previous studies of [Rb]Rb positron emission tomography (PET) TBF in PCa, the 43 patients that underwent clinical [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET were selected for this retrospective study.

Inflammation scores as prognostic biomarkers in small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inflammation scores based on general inflammation markers as leucocyte count or C-reactive protein have been evaluated as prognostic markers of inferior survival in several cancers. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), however, inflammation scores are less studied. In the present study, we set out to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating reported associations between inflammation scores and overall survival (OS) in SCLC.

Ten-year cardiovascular risk in diabetes patients without obstructive coronary artery disease: a retrospective Western Denmark cohort study.

Background: Diabetes patients without obstructive coronary artery disease as assessed by coronary angiography have a low risk of myocardial infarction, but their myocardial infarction risk may still be higher than the general population. We examined the 10-year risks of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death in diabetes patients without obstructive coronary artery disease according to coronary angiography, compared to risks in a matched general population cohort.

Methods: We included all diabetes patients without obstructive coronary artery disease examined by coronary angiography from 2003 to 2016 in Western Denmark.

Clinical presentation and mortality in hospitalized patients aged 80+ years with COVID-19-A retrospective cohort study.

Background: COVID-19, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has great health implications in older patients, including high mortality. In general, older patients often have atypical symptom presentations during acute illness due to a high level of comorbidity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presentation of symptoms at hospital admissions in older patients with COVID-19 and evaluate its impact on disease outcome.

Early clinical predictors of functional recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury: a population-based study of 143 patients.

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) are associated with uncertainty regarding the prognosis of functional recovery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of early clinical variables to predict the degree of functional independence assessed by Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III) up to 1 year after injury.

Methods: Prospectively collected data from 143 SCI patients treated in Western Denmark during 2012-2019 were retrospectively analysed.

Prehospital Transfusion of Red Blood Cells and Plasma by an Urban Ground-Based Critical Care Team.

Introduction: Prehospital blood component therapy poses a possible treatment option among patients with severe bleeding. The aim of this paper was to characterize patients receiving prehospital blood component therapy by a paramedic-doctor-staffed, ground-based prehospital critical care (PHCC) service.

Methods: Bleeding patients with a clinical need for prehospital blood transfusion were included prospectively.

Associations Between Systolic Interarm Differences in Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes and Mortality: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Development and Validation of a Prognostic Algorithm: The INTERPRESS-IPD Collaboration.

Systolic interarm differences in blood pressure have been associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. We undertook individual participant data meta-analyses to (1) quantify independent associations of systolic interarm difference with mortality and cardiovascular events; (2) develop and validate prognostic models incorporating interarm difference, and (3) determine whether interarm difference remains associated with risk after adjustment for common cardiovascular risk scores. We searched for studies recording bilateral blood pressure and outcomes, established agreements with collaborating authors, and created a single international dataset: the Inter-arm Blood Pressure Difference - Individual Participant Data (INTERPRESS-IPD) Collaboration.

Genetic testing is essential for initiating statin therapy in children with familial hypercholesterolemia: Examples from Scandinavia.

Background And Aims: In familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), statin treatment should be considered from 8 to 10 years of age, but the prevalence of statin use among children is not known.

Methods: Statin use (2008-2018) among children aged 10-14 and 15-19 years was obtained from the national prescription databases in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. We assumed that all statin users in these age groups had FH, and that the estimated prevalence of FH is 1 in 250 inhabitants.

Feasibility and estimated efficacy of blood flow restricted training in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled pilot study.

: The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a blood flow restriction (BFR) training regimen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and to compare the effects of 4 weeks of BFR training with low-intensity strength training on muscle strength, muscle endurance, and joint pain in patients with RA.: In this non-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial, 18 women with RA aged 18-65 years performed low-intensity strength training for the lower limbs three times a week for 4 weeks, and were randomized to train with or without occlusion bands. The primary outcomes were registration of the recruitment process, compliance with training sessions, side effects, perceived pain, and a satisfaction survey.

Invasive aortic pulse pressure is not superior to cuff pulse pressure in cardiovascular risk prediction.

Objective: Aortic pulse pressure (PP) represents the hemodynamic cardiac and cerebral burden more directly than cuff PP. The objective of this study was to investigate whether invasively measured aortic PP confers additional prognostic value beyond cuff PP for cardiovascular events and death. With increasing age, cuff PP progressively underestimates aortic PP.

Gut Mucosal Gene Expression and Metabolic Changes After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Objective: Changes in the secretion of gut-derived peptide hormones have been associated with the metabolic benefits of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. In this study, the effects of RYGB on anthropometrics, postprandial plasma hormone responses, and mRNA expression in small intestinal mucosa biopsy specimens before and after RYGB were evaluated.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 20 individuals with obesity undergoing RYGB underwent mixed meal tests and upper enteroscopy with retrieval of small intestinal mucosa biopsy specimens 3 months before and after surgery.

How isolation of key information and allowing clarifying questions may improve information quality and diagnostic accuracy at case handover in paediatrics.

Handover between colleagues is a complex task. The problem is that handovers are often inadequate because they are not structured according to theoretically grounded guidelines. Based on the cognitive load theory, we suggest that allowing a clarifying dialogue and thereby optimizing germane cognitive load enhances the information quality and diagnostic accuracy at handover, but may prolong handover duration.

Trends over time in drug administration during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States.

Aims: To describe trends in pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest drug administration and to assess temporal associations of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guideline changes with drug usage.

Methods: Pediatric patients <18 years old with in-hospital cardiac arrest recorded in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation database between 2002 and 2018 were included. The annual adjusted odds of receiving each intra-arrest medication was determined.

Trends in survival and introduction of the 2010 and 2015 guidelines for adult in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aims: To examine trends in survival from 2006 to 2018 and to assess whether the introduction of resuscitation guidelines was associated with a change in survival after adult in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: Using the Get With The Guidelines® - Resuscitation registry, we included adult patients with an in-hospital cardiac arrest between 2006 and 2018. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge.

Altered balance between collagen formation and degradation after successful direct-acting antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

The effect of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, a prominent feature of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), is unknown. ECM protein degradation and formation generate fragments reflecting the tissue turnover balance when quantified in the blood. PRO-C3 and PRO-C4 reflect type III and IV collagen formation; C3M and C4M are degradation markers of type III and IV.

Neurofilament Light Chain as A Biomarker for Brain Metastases.

Background: Brain metastases are feared complications in cancer. Treatment by neurosurgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery are only available when metastatic lesions are limited and early detection is warranted. The neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a sensitive neuron-specific biomarker released following neuronal decay.