Evaluación renal y multiorgánica en el paciente con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica / Renal and multiorgan evaluation in infants with post-asphyxial hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Resumen Introducción: La encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica (EHI) moderada-grave secundaria a asfixia perinatal puede afectar a cualquier órgano, empeorando el pronóstico. Objetivo: Evaluar la afectación renal y multiorgánica de estos pacientes. Material y método: Se incluyó a recién nacidos > 35 semanas con EHI moderada-grave tratados con hipotermia activa entre 2010 y 2020. Se evaluó la creatinina en tres periodos: 48-72 horas de vida, entre el 3.o y 7.o día de vida y del 7.o al 28.o día de vida. Resultados: Se incluyeron 135 pacientes: 112 con EHI moderada y 23 con EHI grave. Al comparar ambos grupos, se obtuvieron diferencias significativas a las 48-72 horas y entre 3.o-7.o día de vida. No hubo diferencias al comparar el método de hipotermia. Los pacientes con EHI grave presentaron mayor afectación hemodinámica, respiratoria y hepática. Conclusiones: Neonatos con EHI grave presentan aumento de los niveles de creatinina sérica y mayor afectación multiorgánica respecto a aquellos con EHI moderada.

Abstract Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) secondary to perinatal asphyxia can affect any organ, worsening the prognosis. Objective: To describe renal and multiorgan involvement in moderate-severe HIE. Material and method: Newborns > 35 weeks diagnosed with moderate-severe HIE who required active hypothermia between 2010-2020 were included. To assess renal involvement, serum creatinine was measured in three different periods: at 48-72 hours, between the 3rd and the 7th day, and from the 7th to the 28th day. Results: A total of 135 patients were included, 112 (83%) with moderate and 23 (17%) with severe HIE. Significant differences were obtained when comparing median creatinine levels at 48-72 hours and between 3-7 days in both groups. There were no differences in creatinine according to the hypothermia method. Patients with severe HIE presented greater hemodynamic, respiratory, and hepatic involvement. Conclusions: Neonates with severe HIE present increased serum creatinine levels and greater multi-organ involvement than those with moderate HIE.

A semi-supervised network-based tissue-aware contrast enhancement method for CT images / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To propose a tissue- aware contrast enhancement network (T- ACEnet) for CT image enhancement and validate its accuracy in CT image organ segmentation tasks.@*METHODS@#The original CT images were mapped to generate low dynamic grayscale images with lung and soft tissue window contrasts, and the supervised sub-network learned to recognize the optimal window width and level setting of the lung and abdominal soft tissues via the lung mask. The self-supervised sub-network then used the extreme value suppression loss function to preserve more organ edge structure information. The images generated by the T-ACEnet were fed into the segmentation network to segment multiple abdominal organs.@*RESULTS@#The images obtained by T-ACEnet were capable of providing more window setting information in a single image, which allowed the physicians to conduct preliminary screening of the lesions. Compared with the suboptimal methods, T-ACE images achieved improvements by 0.51, 0.26, 0.10, and 14.14 in SSIM, QABF, VIFF, and PSNR metrics, respectively, with a reduced MSE by an order of magnitude. When T-ACE images were used as input for segmentation networks, the organ segmentation accuracy could be effectively improved without changing the model as compared with the original CT images. All the 5 segmentation quantitative indices were improved, with the maximum improvement of 4.16%.@*CONCLUSION@#The T-ACEnet can perceptually improve the contrast of organ tissues and provide more comprehensive and continuous diagnostic information, and the T-ACE images generated using this method can significantly improve the performance of organ segmentation tasks.

Septic shock, hyperferritinemic syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction without respiratory failure in a patient with disseminated histoplasmosis and advanced HIV disease

ABSTRACT AIDS-related disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) can cause septic shock and multiorgan dysfunction with mortality rates of up to 80%. A 41-year-old male presented with fever, fatigue, weight loss, disseminated skin lesions, low urine output, and mental confusion. Three weeks before admission, the patient was diagnosed with HIV infection, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) was not initiated. On day 1 of admission, sepsis with multiorgan dysfunction (acute renal failure, metabolic acidosis, hepatic failure, and coagulopathy) was identified. A chest computed tomography showed unspecific findings. Yeasts suggestive of Histoplasma spp. were observed in a routine peripheral blood smear. On day 2, the patient was transferred to the ICU, where his clinical condition progressed with reduced level of consciousness, hyperferritinemia, and refractory septic shock, requiring high doses of vasopressors, corticosteroids, mechanical ventilation, and hemodialysis. Amphotericin B deoxycholate was initiated. On day 3, yeasts suggestive of Histoplasma spp. were observed in the bone marrow. On day 10, ART was initiated. On day 28, samples of peripheral blood and bone marrow cultures revealed Histoplasma spp. The patient stayed in the ICU for 32 days, completing three weeks of intravenous antifungal therapy. After progressive clinical and laboratory improvement, the patient was discharged from the hospital on oral itraconazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ART. This case highlights the inclusion of DH in the differential diagnosis of patients with advanced HIV disease, septic shock and multiorgan dysfunction but without respiratory failure. In addition, it provides early in-hospital diagnosis and treatment and comprehensive management in the ICU as determining factors for a good outcome.

Post-COVID multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults: a study from a tertiary care hospital in south India

Background & objectives: There are limited data from India on the post-COVID multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical profile of patients with MIS-A admitted to a tertiary care centre in southern India. Methods: This single-centre retrospective study was conducted from November 2020 to July 2021, and included patients aged >18 yr admitted to the hospital as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Nine patients (5 male, mean age 40±13 yr) met the criteria for MIS-A. Five patients had proven COVID-19 infection or contact history 36.8±11.8 days back. All patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody, negative for COVID-19 PCR, and had negative blood, urine and sputum cultures. All patients had fever and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and five patients had left ventricular dysfunction. All patients had neutrophilic leucocytosis at presentation and elevated biomarkers such as C-reactive protein serum procalcitonin, D-dimer and ferritin. The majority of the patients (7/9 i.e. 77.78%) were treated with intravenous hydrocortisone (50-100 mg q6h-q8h). Six patients recovered completely whereas three patients expired. Interpretation & conclusions: Fever and GI symptoms were the most common presentation of MIS-A. Elevated serum procalcitonin may not be useful in differentiating bacterial sepsis from MIS-A. Most patients responded to corticosteroids.

Risk Factors and Predictors of Outcome for Necrotising Fasciitis

Background:Necrotising fasciitis(NF) is one of the most fulminant infec?on of skin and so? ?ssue. It is a fatal rapidly progressing disease causing Mul? organ Dysfunc?on syndrome (MODS), sep?c shock & death if not iden?fied early & treated accordingly. The aim is to study risk factors associated with NF and predictors of outcome. Se?ngs & design: Prospec?ve observa?onal study in a single ter?ary care center. Materials and Methods:Prospec?ve analysis of pa?ents with NF from March 2018 – August 2019 was done. The known risk factors were studied. Results: A Total 120 pa?ents were reviewed. Out of which 81 (67.5%) were males and 39 (32.5%) were females. The mortality rate in our study was 14.16%. It was significantly high in pa?ents with CRF (p 0.045), HIV (p <0.001), Diabetes with other risk factors (p 0.003),BSA > 10% (p <0.01), Type 3 culture (0.027),LRINEC score >6 (p 0.015). Conclusion:NF in pa?ents with known risk factors progresses rapidly, so aggressive treatment should be given at the earliest. Early iden?fica?on & prompt interven?on is the key for be?er survival outcome in NF.

Oxidative phosphorylation in septic organ injury / 国际儿科学杂志

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by pathogenic microorganisms that infect the host.If treated improperly, it can progress to severe sepsis or even septic shock.As such, it′s one of the main reasons for the death of children in PICU.The inflammatory response of sepsis exerts great influence on a series of basic physiological functions of cells, including the oxidative phosphorylation of the mitochondria.Oxidative phosphorylation is a process during which oxygen is reduced to generate high-energy phosphate bonds in the form of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), which supplies energy for cells and produces a series of functional by-products.During sepsis, the process of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria undergoes a series of complex alterations, which in turn can further promote the development of septic organ injury.The present review aims to clarify the relationship between changes in oxidative phosphorylation and the impairment of various organs in sepsis.

Fallo multiórganos por endocarditis infecciosa fulminante durante hemodiálisis / Multi-organs failure for infectious fulminating endocarditis during hemodialysis

Introducción: Al colocar el catéter venoso central en enfermos de insuficiencia renal crónica durante la hemodiálisis, la prevención es imprescindible para evitar la endocarditis infecciosa. El estafilococo dorado es un germen agresivo, que en enfermos inmunodeprimidos con fenómenos cardioembólicos pulmonares y sistémicos, ocasiona daños a funciones de órganos y sistemas. El fenómeno de fallo multiórganos es una complicación temida. Objetivo: Presentar un caso de endocarditis infecciosa agresiva, en un paciente en hemodiálisis. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina, de 31 años de edad, con diagnóstico de endocarditis infecciosa, con tratamiento oportuno, adecuado y multidisciplinario. Después de una mejoría, pasó a un deterioro marcado, falleció por fallo multiórganos, debido a septicemia y cardioembolismos múltiples. Comentarios: La resistencia de los gérmenes agresivos, se hace más frecuente. La vida de la enferma, inmunodeprimida y manipulada, se sitúa en riesgo significativo con fallo multiórganos(AU)

Introduction: When placing the central venous catheter in patients with chronic renal failure during hemodialysis, prevention is essential to avoid infective endocarditis. Staphylococcus aureus is an aggressive germ, which in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary and systemic cardioembolic phenomena, causes damage to functions of organs and systems. The phenomenon of multi-organ failure is a feared complication. Objective: To present a case of aggressive infective endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient. Clinical case: Female patient, 31 years old, with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis, with timely, adequate and multidisciplinary treatment. After an improvement, he went on to a marked deterioration, died due to multi-organ failure, due to septicemia and multiple cardioembolisms. Comment: The resistance of aggressive germs becomes more frequent. The life of the patient, immunocompromised and manipulated, is at significant risk with multi-organ failure (AU)

Reflections and understanding of the extracorporeal organ support in critically illpatients with COVID-19 / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

SARS-CoV-2 can cause multiple organ injuries in some susceptible people in a short time, which seriously threatens the health and safety of people, and intensive care and multiple extracorporeal organ support are important means of treatment. Although many experts’ consensus and clinical guidelines have been published, a series of clinical problemsstill exist during the treatment procedure, and no consensushas not been reached until now. Therefore,in this paper wemake some reflections and explorations to provide experience and help for clinicians.

Determinants of bone health in elderly Japanese men: study design and key findings of the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) cohort study

BACKGROUND@#The Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) study was launched to investigate risk factors for osteoporotic fractures, interactions of osteoporosis with other non-communicable chronic diseases, and effects of fracture on QOL and mortality.@*METHODS@#FORMEN baseline study participants (in 2007 and 2008) included 2012 community-dwelling men (aged 65-93 years) in Nara prefecture, Japan. Clinical follow-up surveys were conducted 5 and 10 years after the baseline survey, and 1539 and 906 men completed them, respectively. Supplemental mail, telephone, and visit surveys were conducted with non-participants to obtain outcome information. Survival and fracture outcomes were determined for 2006 men, with 566 deaths identified and 1233 men remaining in the cohort at 10-year follow-up.@*COMMENTS@#The baseline survey covered a wide range of bone health-related indices including bone mineral density, trabecular microarchitecture assessment, vertebral imaging for detecting vertebral fractures, and biochemical markers of bone turnover, as well as comprehensive geriatric assessment items. Follow-up surveys were conducted to obtain outcomes including osteoporotic fracture, cardiovascular diseases, initiation of long-term care, and mortality. A complete list of publications relating to the FORMEN study can be found at https://www.med.kindai.ac.jp/pubheal/FORMEN/Publications.html .

Choque séptico con disfunción multiorgánica en paciente con pericarditis supurada y bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus meticilino sensible. Reporte de caso / Septic shock with multi-organ dysfunction in a patient with suppurative pericarditis and bacteraemia due to sensitive methicillin staphylococcus. Case report

RESUMEN Choque séptico con disfunción multiorgánica tiene una tasa de mortalidad mayor de 50%. Se presenta el caso de un varón que cursó con choque séptico con disfunción multiorgánica, secundario a bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus meticilino sensible, con foco de partida dérmico - partes blandas, quien presentó lesiones alveolo nodulares, pericarditis supurativa, lesiones embolicas a nivel dérmico, ocular y renal; recibió soporte en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, tratamiento antibiótico con oxacilina más vancomicina, pericardiectomia subtotal y drenaje pleural. Salió de alta estable para continuar tratamiento. Presentamos este caso para destacar la gravedad de la bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus meticilino sensible, con compromiso multiorgánico y así poder tomar medidas terapéuticas agresivas para disminuir la morbilidad y mortalidad por el mismo.

SUMMARY Septic Septic shock with multi organ dysfunction is associated with a mortality above 50%. We present here the case of a young male patient who presented with septic shock and multi organ dysfunctions secondary to methicillinsusceptible Staphylococcus aureus from a skin and soft tissue infection presenting with alveolar-nodular pulmonary lesions, purulent pericarditis and septic embolic lesions on the skin, eyes and kidneys. The patient was admitted to the ICU receiving antibiotic coverage with oxacillin and vancomycin, subtotal pericardiectomy and pleural drainage, and was discharged clinically stable. We present this case to draw attention to the severity of S. aureus bacteremia to initiate prompt aggressive therapeutic measures to ameliorate associated morbidity and mortality.

Pregnancy emerged thrombocytopenia: maternal and fetal outcome

Background: A low platelet count is often an incidental finding in pregnancy. It can be an indicator of a severe systemic disorder requiring emergent maternal and fetal care or can just be unique to pregnancy with no harm to mother or fetus. Physiological decrease in platelet count is seen in pregnancy due to hemodilution and hypercoagulating state, though the exact pathophysiology is still unclear.Methods: It is a prospective observational study done in a tertiary care centre.Results: In about 11,258 cases screened 46 patients had thrombocytopenia (0.4%). The commonest etiology is found to be gestational thrombocytopenia (n=21, 45.6%) followed by preeclampsia/ eclampsia/ HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome (n=19, 41.3%). Only one patient had immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and 7 (15.3%) were associated with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Maximum of them (n=19, 41.3%) underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery. 4 patients (8.6%) had postpartum haemorrhage, 6 (13.04%) had ceserean section wound infection, 4 (8.6%) had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 4 (8.6%) had multiorgan failure. 13 patients (28.3%) had platelet count between 40 to 60 thousand per cumm, 11 (23.9%) had between 60 to 80 thousand per cumm, 10 (21.7%) had between 80,000 to 1 lakh and none had their platelet count less than 20,000 per cumm.Conclusions: Gestational thrombocytopenia is not a preventable condition. It is an incidental finding in pregnancy. With strict vigilance during intrapartum and postpartum period, even without any treatment proper for the same, the maternal and fetal outcome is found to be good.

Assessment of pSOFA-L score in predicting the clinical outcome of critically ill children

Background: Recently Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) score was adapted and validated in critically ill children to predict the clinical outcome. This study was aimed to evaluate the lactate level association with the outcome and thereby formulating pSOFA-L score to predict the clinical outcome better in critically ill children.Methods: This hospital based prospective, observational, analytical study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, A. J Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka. Requirement of oxygen, inotrope support and other parameters were studied and compared the score with clinical outcome. A total of 75 cases were studied.Results: In this study total of 51 children had high serum lactate levels (68%). Out of 28 expired children 23 children had higher serum lactate levels that accounts for about 82.14% which is statistically significant (p<0.001). ROC curve of pSOFA-L score in predicting the mortality yielded AUC: 0.92 and cut off value: 10.5 which is statistically significant (p<0.001). In the present study mortality rate was 26.09% in children whose pSOFA-L score was less than 9 and mortality rate of 38.89% and 50.00% in children whose pSOFA-L score was 9 to 11 and more than 11 respectively.Conclusions: In this study increase in pSOFA-L score is associated with high mortality and poor outcome. The findings of the present study validate and emphasize that, pSOFA-L score helps in accurate prediction of mortality of critically ill children.

Improved drug carriage and protective potential against Cisplatin-induced toxicity using Boldine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles

Background: Cisplatin is a widely-used potent anti-cancer drug having severe side-effects precluding itssustained use.Objectives: Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-nanoparticles loaded Boldine, an antioxidant ingredient ofethanolic extract of Boldo plant (Peumus boldus) was tested in cancer mice model, Mus musculus toexamine if it could reduce unwanted Cisplatin-induced toxicity in normal tissue.Material and methods: Nano-encapsulation of Boldine was done by following the standardized solventdisplacement method. Physico-chemical characterization of PLGA-encapsulated nano-Boldine (NBol) wasaccomplished through analyses of various spectroscopic techniques. Status of major antioxidant enzymes, functional markers, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was also determined in certain tissue and serumsamples. Percentage of cells undergoing cytotoxic death, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulationand mitochondrial functioning were analyzed in both normal and cancer mice. Nanoscale changes inchromatin organization were assessed by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). mRNA and proteinexpressions of Top II, Bax, Bcl-2, Cyt c, caspase 3 were studied by RT-PCR, immunoblot andimmunofluorescence.Results: NBol had faster mobility, site-specific action and ability of sustained particle release. NBol readilyentered cells, prevented Cisplatin to intercalate with dsDNA resulting in reduction of chromatincondensation, with corresponding changes in ROS levels, mitochondrial functioning and antioxidantenzyme activities, leading to reduction in Deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) damage and cytotoxic celldeath. Expression pattern of apoptotic genes like Top II, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c and caspase-3suggested greater cytoprotective potentials of NBol in normal tissues.Conclusions: Compared to Boldine (Bol), NBol had better ability of drug carriage and protective potentials(29.00% approximately) against Cisplatin-induced toxicity. Combinational therapeutic use of PLGA-NBolcan reduce unwanted Cisplatin-induced cellular toxicity facilitating use of Cisplatin.© 2018 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Publishing Services byElsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Multiple Organ Echinococcosis:Report of One Case and Literature Review / 中国医学科学院学报

A patient with multiple-organ echinococcosis suffered from liver echinococcosis,lung echinococcosis,and pelvic echinococcosis successively in the past three decades.From the first operation at 19 years-old,she underwent operations several times due to the recurrence of multiple organ involvement.Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease.Although the liver usually is the primary site,the disease can also invade many other organs.Diagnosis is typically based on disease history and imaging findings.Thorough removal of the lesions during the first operation is particularly important.Comprehensive evaluations and multi-disciplinary team are helpful in the treatment of patients with multiple organ invasion.

Factores relacionados con la falla multiorgánica en pacientes con peritonitis / Factors related to multi-organ failure in patients with peritonitis

RESUMEN Introducción: La determinación del pronóstico del paciente con peritonitis difusa secundaria es un reto para cirujanos e intensivistas. Objetivo: Identificar los factores relacionados con el riesgo de falla multiorgánica en pacientes con peritonitis difusa secundaria ingresados en la unidad de terapia intensiva del Hospital "Dr. Agostinho Neto". Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de casos (pacientes con peritonitis y falla multiorgánica n = 68) y controles (pacientes con peritonitis sin falla multiorgánica n = 47), en el periodo de 2017-2018. Se analizaron 64 variables que caracterizaron al paciente o a la peritonitis, y se calculó su asociación con el riesgo del paciente para presentar falla multiorgánica. Resultados: Las variables más asociadas a este riesgo fueron: riesgo anestésico 3 o más según la clasificación de la Sociedad Americana de Anestesia (odds ratio = 47,7), desequilibrio ácido-básico/ electrolítico (odds ratio = 22,6), hiperglucemia de 10 mmol/l o más en no diabéticos (odds ratio = 15,5), íleo paralítico reflejo persistente (odds ratio = 13,6), distrés respiratorio (odds ratio = 11,8), uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva (odds ratio = 11,8), Sequential [Sepsis-Related] Organ Failure Assessment 4 puntos o más (odds ratio = 10,2), tratamiento con abdomen abierto (odds ratio =9,0), escala Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II 15 puntos o más (odds ratio = 8,9), shock séptico (odds ratio = 8,6). Conclusiones: Se identificaron los factores asociados a la presentación de falla multiorgánica, lo que hizo posible el diseño de una escala predictiva de esta falla en el paciente con peritonitis difusa secundaria(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Determining the prognosis of the patient with secondary diffuse peritonitis is a challenge for surgeons and intensivists. Objective: To identify the factors related to the risk of multiple organ failure in patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis admitted to the intensive care unit of the Hospital "Dr. Agostinho Neto". Methods: A case study (patients with peritonitis and multi-organ failure n = 68) and controls (patients with peritonitis without multi-organ failure n = 47), in the period 2017-2018, was performed. 64 variables that characterized the patient or peritonitis were analyzed, and their association with the risk of the patient to present multiple organ failure was calculated. Results: The variables most associated with this risk were: anesthetic risk 3 or more according to the American Society of Anesthesia classification (odds ratio = 47.7), acid-basic / electrolyte imbalance (odds ratio = 22.6), hyperglycemia 10 mmol / l or more in non-diabetics (odds ratio = 15.5), persistent reflex paralytic ileus (odds ratio = 13.6), respiratory distress (odds ratio = 11.8), use of invasive mechanical ventilation (odds ratio = 11.8), Sequential [Sepsis-Related] Organ Failure Assessment 4 points or more (odds ratio = 10.2), treatment with open abdomen (odds ratio = 9.0), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scale 15 15 points or more (odds ratio = 8.9), septic shock (odds ratio = 8.6). Conclusions: The factors associated with the presentation of multi-organ failure were identified, which made possible the design of a predictive scale of this failure in the patient with secondary diffuse peritonitis(AU)

Assessment of Predictors for Severity in Scrub Typhus-A Case-Control Study

Objective: Scrub typhus is a rickettsial febrile condition caused by bacteria called Orientia tsusugamushi. It spreads to people through bites of infected larval mites. The objective of this study was to predict the severity of scrub typhus. Methods: A case-control study was done at Kasturba Medical College Hospital (2012-2015) retrospectively on patients admitted with scrub typhus. Patient demographics, lab parameters, investigations and treatment courses were noted. Subjects were divided into two groups, non-severe and severe group. Patient clinical details and laboratory parameters were compared in both the groups. The lab parameters associated with the severity of disease and mortality were also analyzed. A total of 210 patients out of which 140 controls (non-severe group) and 70 were cases (severe group). Results: The overall mortality due to scrub typhus infection was 14.3%. Eschar was present in 21.4% of the patients. Among the cases, the common symptoms were cough, chest pain, abdominal pain and distension, pedal edema and facial puffiness. Lymphadenopathy was observed with non-severe cases of scrub typhus and was statistically significant whereas, icterus, maculopapular rash, and hepatomegaly were associated with severe scrub typhus infection. Hemoglobin, platelet count and serum albumin were considerably lower in patients who died, whereas AST, aPTT, serum urea and creatinine were higher in them. Conclusion: Lower levels of hemoglobin, platelet count, serum albumin and higher levels of total leucocyte count, hepatic transaminases and serum creatinine correlated with severity. Doctors need to be watchful for such lab parameters and act quickly.

Spectrum of multi-organ system involvement in perinatal asphyxia in neonatal intensive care unit department of Pediatrics, King George hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: The objective of the current study to find out the maternal risk factors associated and spectrum of involvement of multiorgan dysfunction in perinatal asphyxia.Methods: This is a prospective study comprises of 102 asphyxiated neonates. At the time of admission blood samples were taken for complete blood picture, random blood sugar, serum electrolytes, septic screen & blood culture. For the assessment of the central nervous system a neurosonogram would be carried out in all asphyxiated new-borns. Computed tomography scan was done who had abnormal neurosonogram. Chest x ray was done for all respiratory cases. Echocardiogram was done for cardiac assessment. Renal system evaluated by serum creatinine and urine output.Results: Of these 102 babies, 59 were males and 43 were females. Major risk factors in the study were meconium stained amniotic fluid cases, eclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, premature rupture of membranes and prolonged second stage of labour. central nervous system (CNS) involvement occurred in all 102 (100%) neonates. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy was the most common presentation of CNS involvement. Respiratory involvement was noted in 42 (41.5%). Renal involvement was seen in 27 (26.5%). Cardiovascular system involvement was observed in 26 (25.5%). Gastrointestinal involvement was observed in 16 (15.68%). Hematological abnormalities were seen in 14.7%.Conclusions: Multiorgan dysfunction is common in neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Overall mortality was 24.5%, which clearly indicates the need for early detection of maternal risk factors, better obstetric management and the prompt resuscitator measures.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of H1N1 Influenza Infection at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital.

Background: The 2009 flu outbreak in humans, knownas "swine influenza" or H1N1 influenza A, refers toinfluenza A due to a new H1N1 strain called SwineOrigin Influenza Virus A (S-OIV). Global pandemicswith high mortality and morbidity occur when avirulent new viral strain emerges. Aim and Objectives:To study demography, clinical profile and outcome ofH1N1 influenza infection at a tertiary care teachinghospital. Material and Methods: This was aprospective observational study conducted at theteaching hospital during six month period. It was a timest bound study over a period of six months (from 1 Julyth 2018 to 30 December 2018). All suspects with throatswab/nasal swab positive for influenza H1N1 virus byReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR) with age more than 15 years were includedin the present study. Data were analysed for mean,percentage, standard deviation and Chi square test forquantitative data by using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Results: A total 60 patients were admitted withconfirmed diagnosis of H1N1 infection. Out of the 21(35%) were males and 39 (65%) were females,predominated by female gender (p=0.001). The meanage in male (46.14 ± 20.058) was relatively morecompared to female gender (36.33 ± 11.50). The malegender had more co-morbidities and risk factorscompared to female patients (p=0.01) and wasstatistically significant. Out of total 21 male patients 7patients died because of bilateral pneumonia and AcuteRespiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and MultiOrgan Dysfunction (MOD) with case fatality rate of33.33%. Out of total 39 female patients 5 patients diedwith case fatality rate of 12.82%. Conclusion: Thepresent study highlighted the disease burdenassociated with H1N1 infection. The advancing age,male gender, associated co-morbidities and delayedpresentation were the risk factors for mortality inpresent cohort study of H1N1 patients. The communityawareness, early case detection and timelymanagement can reduce the disease burden at large

Eschar and IgM ELISA in the diagnosis of scrub typhus

Scrub typhus is one of the leading causes of acute febrile illness in India. This study aimed to determine the best diagnostic tool for the identification of scrub typhus and study the possible association between diagnostics and clinical characteristics. Patients with fever of ?15 days admitted to the hospital satisfying the case definition of 47 kDa quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) positivity OR scrub typhus IgM ELISA positivity along with the presence of eschar OR Scrub typhus IgM ELISA positivity along with defervescence of fever within 72 h of initiation of specific therapy were recruited. Of the 116 patients satisfying the case definition, 47 kDa qPCR was positive in 43 (37%) patients, whereas IgM ELISA was positive in 104 (90%) patients and eschar was seen in 59 (51%) patients. The median duration of fever was 7.5 days (interquartile range 6� days). Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was described in 44 (37.9%) patients. Two patients (1.8%) succumbed to the illness. Presence of eschar and IgM ELISA positivity were detected in 106 (91%) cases. Scrub typhus, even with MODS, has low mortality because of immediate institution of specific therapy due to physician awareness. The presence of eschar and IgM ELISA positivity can be used to detect a majority of cases of scrub typhus.

Multi-task learning-based three-dimensional dose distribution prediction for multiple organs in a single model / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To establish a three-dimensional (3D) dose prediction model,which can predict multiple organs simultaneously in a single model and automatically learn the effect of the geometric anatomical structure on dose distribution.Methods Clinical radiotherapy plans of patients diagnosed with the same type of tumors were collected and retrospectively analyzed.For every plan,each organs at risk (OAR) voxel was regarded as the study sample and its deposited dose was considered as the dosimetric feature.A regularized multi-task learning method than could learn the relationship among different tasks was employed to establish the relationship matrix among tasks and the correlation between geometric structure and dose distribution among organs.In this experiment,the spinal cord,brainstem and bilateral parotids involved in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plan of 15 nasopharyngeal cancer patients were utilized to establish the multi-organ prediction model.The relative percentage error between the predicted dose of voxel and the clinical planning dose was calculated to assess the feasibility of the model.Results Ten cases receiving IMRT plans were utilized as the training data,and the remaining five cases were used as the test data.The test results demonstrated a higher prediction accuracy and less data demand.And the average voxel dose errors among the spinal cord,brainstem and the left and right parotids were (2.01±0.02)％,(2.65± 0.02) ％,(2.45± 0.02) ％ and (2.55± 0.02) ％,respectively.Conclusion The proposed model can accurately predict the dose of multiple organs in a single model and avoid the establishment of multiple single-organ prediction models,laying a solid foundation for patient-specific plan quality control and knowledge-based treatment planning.