Assessment of a novel BLOOMY score for predicting mortality in hospitalised adults with bloodstream infection.

PURPOSE: A German multicentre study BLOOMY was the first to use machine learning approach to develop mortality prediction scores for bloodstream infection (BSI) patients, but the scores have not been assessed in other cohorts. Our aim was to assess how the BLOOMY 14-day and 6-month scores estimate mortality in our cohort of 497 cases with BSI. METHODS: Clinical data, laboratory data, and patient outcome were gathered retrospectively from patient records. The scores were calculated as presented in the BLOOMY study with the exception in the day of the evaluation. RESULTS: In our cohort, BLOOMY 14-day score estimated death by day 14 with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.87 (95% Confidence Interval 0.80-0.94). Using ≥ 6 points as a cutoff, sensitivity was 68.8%, specificity 88.1%, positive predictive value (PPV) 39.3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 96.2%. These results were similar in the original BLOOMY cohort and outweighed both quick Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (AUC 0.76) and Pitt Bacteraemia Score (AUC 0.79) in our cohort. BLOOMY 6-month score to estimate 6-month mortality had an AUC of 0.79 (0.73-0.85). Using ≥ 6 points as a cutoff, sensitivity was 98.3%, specificity 10.7%, PPV 25.7%, and NPV 95.2%. AUCs of 6-month score to estimate 1-year and 5-year mortality were 0.80 (0.74-0.85) and 0.77 (0.73-0.82), respectively. CONCLUSION: The BLOOMY 14-day and 6-month scores performed well in the estimations of mortality in our cohort and exceeded some established scores, but their adoption in clinical work remains to be seen.

Puumala Hantavirus Infections Show Extensive Variation in Clinical Outcome.

The clinical outcome of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) infection shows extensive variation, ranging from inapparent subclinical infection (70-80%) to severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), with about 0.1% of cases being fatal. Most hospitalized patients experience acute kidney injury (AKI), histologically known as acute hemorrhagic tubulointerstitial nephritis. Why this variation? There is no evidence that there would be more virulent and less virulent variants infecting humans, although this has not been extensively studied. Individuals with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles B*08 and DRB1*0301 are likely to have a severe form of the PUUV infection, and those with B*27 are likely to have a benign clinical course. Other genetic factors, related to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene and the C4A component of the complement system, may be involved. Various autoimmune phenomena and Epstein-Barr virus infection are associated with PUUV infection, but hantavirus-neutralizing antibodies are not associated with lower disease severity in PUUV HFRS. Wide individual differences occur in ocular and central nervous system (CNS) manifestations and in the long-term consequences of nephropathia epidemica (NE). Numerous biomarkers have been detected, and some are clinically used to assess and predict the severity of PUUV infection. A new addition is the plasma glucose concentration associated with the severity of both capillary leakage, thrombocytopenia, inflammation, and AKI in PUUV infection. Our question, "Why this variation?" remains largely unanswered.

ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups in Acute Puumala Hantavirus Infection.

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. We aimed to evaluate whether ABO and rhesus blood groups associate with the susceptibility or the severity of PUUV infection. We analyzed blood groups in 289 adult patients treated in Tampere University hospital due to PUUV infection during the years 1982-2017. Patients' blood group distribution was compared to that of healthy, voluntary blood donors living in the Tampere University Hospital responsibility area (n = 21,833). The severity of PUUV infection, as judged by the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI), thrombocytopenia, inflammation, capillary leakage, and the length of hospital care, was analyzed across the groups. The ABO and rhesus blood group distributions did not differ between the patients and blood donors. Patients with non-O blood groups had lower systolic blood pressure compared to patients with blood group O, but there was no difference in other markers of capillary leakage or in the severity of AKI. Minor deviations in the number of platelets and leukocytes were detected between the O and non-O blood groups. To conclude, patients with blood group O may be less susceptible to hypotension, but otherwise blood groups have no major influences on disease susceptibility or severity during acute PUUV infection.

The Clinical Presentation of Puumala Hantavirus Induced Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Is Related to Plasma Glucose Concentration.

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome characterized by thrombocytopenia, increased capillary leakage, and acute kidney injury (AKI). As glucosuria at hospital admission predicts the severity of PUUV infection, we explored how plasma glucose concentration associates with disease severity. Plasma glucose values were measured during hospital care in 185 patients with PUUV infection. They were divided into two groups according to maximum plasma glucose concentration: P-Gluc < 7.8 mmol/L (n = 134) and P-Gluc ≥ 7.8 mmol/L (n = 51). The determinants of disease severity were analyzed across groups. Patients with P-Gluc ≥7.8 mmol/L had higher hematocrit (0.46 vs. 0.43; p < 0.001) and lower plasma albumin concentration (24 vs. 29 g/L; p < 0.001) than patients with P-Gluc < 7.8 mmol/L. They presented with higher prevalence of pulmonary infiltrations and pleural effusion in chest radiograph, higher prevalence of shock and greater weight change during hospitalization. Patients with P-Gluc ≥ 7.8 mmol/L were characterized by lower platelet count (50 vs. 66 × 109/L; p = 0.001), more severe AKI (plasma creatinine 272 vs. 151 µmol/L; p = 0.001), and longer hospital treatment (8 vs. 6 days; p < 0.001) than patients with P-Gluc < 7.8 mmol/L. Plasma glucose level is associated with the severity of capillary leakage, thrombocytopenia, inflammation, and AKI in patients with acute PUUV infection.

Flash-Like Albuminuria in Acute Kidney Injury Caused by Puumala Hantavirus Infection.

Transient proteinuria and acute kidney injury (AKI) are characteristics of Puumala virus (PUUV) infection. Albuminuria peaks around the fifth day and associates with AKI severity. To evaluate albuminuria disappearance rate, we quantified albumin excretion at different time points after the fever onset. The study included 141 consecutive patients hospitalized due to acute PUUV infection in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Timed overnight albumin excretion (cU-Alb) was measured during the acute phase in 133 patients, once or twice during the convalescent phase within three months in 94 patients, and at six months in 36 patients. During hospitalization, 30% of the patients had moderately increased albuminuria (cU-Alb 20-200 µg/min), while 57% presented with severely increased albuminuria (cU-Alb >200 µg/min). Median cU-Alb was 311 µg/min (range 2.2-6460) ≤7 days after fever onset, 235 µg/min (range 6.8-5479) at 8-13 days and 2.8 µg/min (range 0.5-18.2) at 14-20 days. After that, only one of the measurements showed albuminuria (35.4 µg/min at day 44). At six months, the median cU-Alb was 2.0 µg/min (range 0.6-14.5). Albuminuria makes a flash-like appearance in PUUV infection and returns rapidly to normal levels within 2-3 weeks after fever onset. In the case of AKI, this is a unique phenomenon.

Glucosuria Predicts the Severity of Puumala Hantavirus Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes a mild type of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome characterized by acute kidney injury (AKI), increased capillary leakage, and thrombocytopenia. Albuminuria and hematuria in dipstick urine test at hospital admission are known to predict the severity of upcoming AKI. METHODS: We analyzed dipstick urine glucose in 195 patients with acute PUUV infection at hospital admission, and divided them into 2 categories according to the presence or absence of glucose in the dipstick urine test. Determinants of disease severity were analyzed in glucosuric and nonglucosuric patients. RESULTS: Altogether, 24 of 195 patients (12%) had glucosuria. The patients with glucosuria had more severe AKI than patients without glucosuria (median maximum creatinine concentration 459 µmol/l, range 78-1041 µmol/l vs. 166 µmol/l, range 51-1499 µmol/l; P < 0.001). The glucosuric patients had more severe thrombocytopenia (median minimum platelet count 41 × 109/l, range 5-102 × 109/l vs. 62 × 109/l, range 3-249 × 109/l; P = 0.006), and more pronounced signs of increased capillary leakage (change in weight, maximum plasma hematocrit, minimum plasma albumin). The glucosuric patients were more often in clinical shock at admission (20.8% vs. 1.2%; P < 0.001) and the length of hospital stay was longer (median 7.5 days, range 4-22 days vs. 6 days, range 2-30 days; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Glucosuria is relatively rare, but when present it predicts a more severe disease course in patients with acute PUUV infection.

15-Lipoxygenase-1 induces lipid peroxidation and apoptosis, and improves survival in rat malignant glioma.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest either an anti- or pro-apoptotic role for 15-lipoxygenase-1 in carcinogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used adenovirus gene transfer of human 15-lipoxygenase-1 to characterize its effects in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: 15-Lipoxygenase-1 expression in mouse macrophages resulted in a significant, 25-fold, induction in the production of the specific 15-lipoxygenase-1 product 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid. Tail vein gene transfers in mice led to highest expression of the transduced 15-lipoxygenase-1 in liver and spleen. In the liver, 15-lipoxygenase-1 significantly increased lipid peroxidation by 3.5-fold and 2-fold, three and seven days after transduction, respectively. A significant 32-fold induction in caspase-3 activity was detected in 15-lipoxygenase-1 expressing livers seven days after transduction. In a syngeneic rat model of malignant glioma, 15-lipoxygenase-1 extended survival significantly (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results support the pro-apoptotic role of 15-lipoxygenase-1 and suggest that 15-lipoxygenase-1 could be a potential new target gene for the therapy of malignant glioma.