Tocilizumab (TCZ) and Dexamethasone are used for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients. We compared the short-term survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with either TCZ or Dexamethasone. 109 critically ill COVID-19 patients randomly assigned to either TCZ therapy (46 patients) or pulse Dexamethasone therapy (63 patients). Age, sex, neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer, ferritin level, and CT chest pattern were comparable between groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed better survival in Dexamethasone group compared with TCZ (P = 0.002), patients didn’t need vasopressor at admission (P < 0.0001), patients on non-invasive ventilation compared to patients on mechanical ventilation (P<0.0001 ), and in patients with ground glass pattern in CT chest (P<0.0001 ) compared with those who have consolidation. Cox regression analysis showed that, TCZ therapy (HR = 2.162, 95% CI, 1.144–4.087, P <0.0001) compared with Dexamethasone group, higher neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (HR = 2.40, CI, 1.351–4.185, P = 0.003), lower PaO₂/FiO₂, 2 days after treatment, (HR = 1.147, 95% CI, 1.002–1.624, P < 0.0001) independently predicted higher probability of mortality. Dexamethasone showed better survival in severe COVID-19 compared to TCZ. Considering the risk factors mentioned here is crucial when dealing with severe COVID-19 cases.

Clinical trial registration No clinicalTrials.gov: Nal protocol approved by Hospital Authorities, for data collection and for participation in CT04519385 (19/08/2020).

Background While many studies have reported the rate and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs), there are scant data regarding the impact of employment type and job grades upon such risk. Methods We determined the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on a positive nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) PCR among employees of a large national healthcare system. Antibody testing was performed on those who agreed to provide a blood sample. Using logistic regression analysis, we determined the risk of infection (PCR+) associated with demographic characteristics, job family and job grade. Results We identified 35,075 staff (30,849 full-time, 4,226 outsourced) between March 1-October 31, 2020. Among full-time employees, 78.0% had a NPS (11.8% positive). Among outsourced staff, 94.4% had a NPS (31.1% positive). Antibody testing was performed on 33.9% full-time employees (13.0% reactive), and on 39.1% of the outsourced staff (47.0% reactive). PCR-positivity was higher among outsourced staff (31.0% vs. 18.3% in non-clinical and 9.0% in clinical full-time employees) and those in the low-grade vs. mid-grade and high-grade job categories. Male sex (OR 1.88), non-clinical job family (OR 1.21), low-grade job category (OR 3.71) and being an outsourced staff (OR 2.09) were associated with a higher risk of infection. Conclusion HCWs are a diverse population with varying risk of infection. Clinical staff are at a lower risk likely due to increased awareness and infection prevention measures. Risk is higher for those in the lower socioeconomic strata. Infection is more likely to occur in non-healthcare setting than

We investigated what proportion of the population acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and whether the herd immunity threshold has been reached in 10 communities in Qatar. The study included 4,970 participants during June 21–September 9, 2020. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Seropositivity ranged from 54.9% (95% CI 50.2%–59.4%) to 83.8% (95% CI 79.1%–87.7%) across communities and showed a pooled mean of 66.1% (95% CI 61.5%–70.6%). A range of other epidemiologic measures indicated that active infection is rare, with limited if any sustainable infection transmission for clusters to occur. Only 5 infections were ever severe and 1 was critical in these young communities; infection severity rate of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%–0.4%). Specific communities in Qatar have or nearly reached herd immunity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: 65%–70% of the population has been infected.

Background

Mortuary and cemetery workers may be exposed to the bodies of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, prevalence of infection among these groups is unknown.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for RT-PCR and serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 were performed on mortuary and cemetery workers in Qatar. Data on specific job duties, living conditions, contact history, and clinical course were gathered. Environmental sampling was carried out to explore any association with infection. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with infection.

Results

Forty-seven mortuary workers provided an NPS and seven (14.9%) were PCR positive; 32 provided a blood sample and eight (25%) were antibody positive, six (75%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive. Among the 81 cemetery workers, 76 provided an NPS and five (6.6%) were PCR positive; 64 provided a blood sample and 22 (34.4%) were antibody positive, three (13.6%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive. Three (22.2%) and 20 (83.3%) of the infected mortuary and cemetery workers were asymptomatic, respectively. Age <30 years (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7–14.6), community exposure with a known case (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.7–13.3), and presence of symptoms in the preceding 2 weeks (OR 9.0, 95% CI 1.9–42.0) were independently associated with an increased risk of infection (PCR or antibody positive). Of the 46 environmental and surface samples, all were negative or had a Ct value of >35.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of mortuary and cemetery workers had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was incidentally detected upon serologic testing. These data are most consistent with community acquisition rather than occupational acquisition.

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is projected to become the third cause of mortality worldwide. COPD shares several pathophysiological mechanisms with cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis. However, no definite answers are available on the prognostic role of COPD in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), especially during COVID-19 pandemic, among patients undergoing primary angioplasty, that is therefore the aim of the current study.

Methods: In the ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 registry we included retrospectively patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between March and June of 2019 and 2020 from 109 high-volume primary PCI centers in 4 continents.

Results: A total of 15,686 patients were included in this analysis. Of them, 810 (5.2%) subjects had a COPD diagnosis. They were more often elderly and with a more pronounced cardiovascular risk profile. No preminent procedural dissimilarities were noticed except for a lower proportion of dual antiplatelet therapy at discharge among COPD patients (98.9% vs. 98.1%, P = 0.038). With regards to short-term fatal outcomes, both in-hospital and 30-days mortality occurred more frequently among COPD patients, similarly in pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 era. However, after adjustment for main baseline differences, COPD did not result as independent predictor for in-hospital death (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.913[0.658-1.266], P = 0.585) nor for 30-days mortality (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.850 [0.620-1.164], P = 0.310). No significant differences were detected in terms of SARS-CoV-2 positivity between the two groups.

Conclusion: This is one of the largest studies investigating characteristics and outcome of COPD patients with STEMI undergoing primary angioplasty, especially during COVID pandemic. COPD was associated with significantly higher rates of in-hospital and 30-days mortality. However, this association disappeared after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Furthermore, COPD did not significantly affect SARS-CoV-2 positivity.

Trial registration number: NCT04412655 (2nd June 2020).

Keywords: COPD; Mortality; STEMI.

Abstract

Background: There might be a beneficial effect of transient ulnar artery compression in prevention of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after trans-radial catheterization.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess, by Duplex ultrasound, the efficacy of simultaneous ulnar and radial artery compression (SURC), in prevention of RAO, compared to conventional and patent hemostasis techniques.

Patients and methods: Four hundred and fifty consecutive patients undergoing elective trans-radial catheterization were enrolled. Patients were randomized in 1:1:1 fashion into 3 groups; conventional hemostasis (Group A, n = 150 patients), patent hemostasis (Group B, n = 150 patients), and SURC technique (Group C, n = 150 patients). RAO was assessed by duplex ultrasound at 1-h post TR band removal (primary endpoint), and at 1-month.

Results: The primary endpoint, RAO 1-h post TR-band removal, was significantly lower among patients of group C as compared to those of group A and B (1.3%, 6.7%, and 7.3%, respectively -p = 0.03). This was still consistent at 1-month (0.7%, 8%, and 6%, respectively -p = 0.03). Multiple regression analyses revealed that lower radial artery diameter (RAD) after flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) independently predicted RAO at 1-h, while RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal was the only independent predictor of RAO at 1-month. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal at cut-off ≤1.75 mm could predict RAO at 1-month with high accuracy (AUC = 0.9, CI = 0.8-1.0, p < 0.001-86% sensitivity, and 95% specificity).

Conclusion: A technique of SURC is associated with less incidence of early and late RAO compared to conventional hemostasis techniques.

Keywords: Duplex ultrasound; Patent hemostasis; Radial artery occlusion; Trans-radial catheterization; Ulnar compression.

The objective of this study is to investigate the management outcome of the endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approaches in patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA).

Patients & Methods:

  This is a prospective study carried out in the Otolaryngology Department, Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt for 16 patients with JNA who underwent an endoscopic transnasal transpterygoid resection from January 2018 to October 2020. Postoperative evaluation including the clinical presentations, surgical findings and results, were included in the analysis.  Follow up for all cases was done for 18–24 months.

Results:

Sixteen patients were enrolled. All patients with JNA were staged according to Fisch classification, 56.3% of patients were in stage II and IIIa (extracrania), 43.7% of patients were in stage III b and IV (intracranial). Wide MMA was sufficient for (50%) of cases. This corridor can be utilized in patients with stage IIIa in spite of extension of the lesion up to ITF. Our studies have confirmed the safety and efficacy of EETA approaches even in advanced cases.  Single EETA (type A) was sufficient in only 2/16 cases of stage II (12.5%) while the combined EETA were done for the rest of the cases 14/16 (87.5%).  

Conclusions:

JNA may be successfully treated in most cases, even advanced ones, with expanded endonasal /endoscopy transpterygoid approaches after appropriate preoperative evaluation

Abstract

Background

Sternal fractures are rare accounting for about 3–8% of traumatic chest. There are many lines of treatments for sternal fractures which can be classified as conservative or surgical. Surgical techniques include wire fixation and sternal plating. There are no standardization of indications for each line of management.

We explore if sternal reconstruction using locking titanium plates and self-tapping screws provide the patient with the best chance of proper sternal healing avoiding chronic pain and its complications and allow the patient early mobilization and rapid restoring of his normal life at its maximum.

Methods

Our inclusion criteria are patients of both gender from 20 to 60 years of age presented with traumatic sternal fracture at any site or pathological fracture due to metastatic or primary tumors infiltrating the sternum. High Associated Injury Scale scores were excluded. Exclusion criteria also included patients younger than 20 years or older than 60 years. Primary outcome is post-operative pain score and is measured using numerical pain scale ranging from zero to 10 where zero means there is no pain at all and ten is the worst imaginable pain ever.

Results

Sternal reconstruction using titanium plates has proven to be an efficient method of stabilization with tremendous immediate relief of pain showed by the differences between pre-operative and post-operative pain scale scores in our patients (n = 5) with Median scores being 7 and 1.5 with range being from 7 to 9 and 1 to 3 respectively (p-value = .039). Operative time range between 150 min and 90 min with median of 120 min. Extubation of patients was smooth with no events with median time of extubation being 120 min. From our experience, there were no observed wound complications except at the third patient who suffered a small wound hematoma that was resolved by gentle compressing only and needed no further intervention.

Conclusion

We recommend adopting sternal reconstruction using titanium plating systems more readily encouraging even larger clinical trials on the way to a clear guidelines. Plating systems show promising results with least pain, better stability, less complications and rapid, smooth recovery.

Abstract Background: Sternal wound infection negatively affects the quality of life of our patients because they need further medical attention. There are many options for sternal fixation [1-4] with no standardization of indications for each line of management. We aim to investigate the rate of Sternal Wound Infection (SWI) when titanium plates are used in patients who needed sternal reconstruction due to traumatic causes and secondly, we want to follow up pain score when titanium plates are used. Methods: This is a pilot case series study which investigates Sternal Wound Infection (SWI) rate and pain score with the use of locking compression plates. We have enrolled 23 patients over a period of 6 months. Results: Our study includes 23 patients whom sternum was fixed using plates and screws technique. At 1 month follow-up, one patient presented with sternal dehiscence and two patients had superficial sternal wound infection. There are no recorded sternal wound infections at Day 60 Post-operative follow-up. It has proven to be associated with immediate relief of pain shown by the differences between pre-operative and postoperative pain scale scores in trauma patients. Median scores are 8 and 2 with range being from 7 to 9 and 1 to 4 respectively. Conclusion: Locking compression plates show potentially promising results with better pain tolerability, less complications and rapid, smooth recovery. Much larger studies can be conducted with high acceptability and feasibility.