Abstract: Context The health and policy implications of regional variation in incidence and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remain to be determined. Objective To evaluate whether cardiac arrest incidence and outcome differ across geographic regions. Design, Setting, and Patients Prospective observational study (the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium) of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in 10 North American sites (8 US and 2 Canadian) from May 1, 2006, to April 30, 2007, followed up to hospital discharge, and including data available as of June 28, 2008. Cases (aged 0-108 years) were assessed by organized emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, did not have traumatic injury, and received attempts at external defibrillation or chest compressions or resuscitation was not attempted. Census data were used to determine rates adjusted for age and sex. Main Outcome Measures Incidence rate, mortality rate, case-fatality rate, and survival to discharge for patients assessed or treated by EMS personnel or with an initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation. Results Among the 10 sites, the total catchment population was 21.4 million, and there were 20 520 cardiac arrests. A total of 11 898 (58.0%) had resuscitation attempted; 2729 (22.9% of treated) had initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia or rhythms that were shockable by an automated external defibrillator; and 954(4.6% of total) were discharged alive. The median incidence of EMS-treated cardiac arrest across sites was 52.1 (interquartile range [IQR], 48.0-70.1) per 100 000 population; survival ranged from 3.0% to 16.3%, with a median of 8.4% (IQR, 5.4%-10.4%). Median ventricular fibrillation incidence was 12.6 (IQR, 10.6-5.2) per 100 000 population; survival ranged from 7.7% to 39.9%, with a median of 22.0% (IQR, 15.0%-24.4%), with significant differences across sites for incidence and survival (P Conclusion In this study involving 10 geographic regions in North America, there were significant and important regional differences in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and outcome.

Abstract: Background— Admission measures of renal function (blood urea nitrogen [BUN], estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) in patients hospitalized for worsening heart failure are predictors of in-hospital outcomes. Less is known about the changes and relationships among these variables and the postdischarge survival rate. Methods and Results— In a retrospective analysis of 949 patients from the Outcomes of a Prospective Trial of Intravenous Milrinone for Exacerbations of Chronic Heart Failure, we investigated the relation between admission values and changes in BUN and eGFR and rate of death by 60 days after discharge. On admission, median eGFR was 51 mL � min−1 � 1.73 m−2 (interquartile range, 37 to 70 mL � min−1 � 1.73 m−2), and BUN was 25 mg/dL (interquartile range, 17 to 41 mg/dL). On average, there was a 1.1–mL � min−1 � 1.73 m−2 decrease in eGFR and a 4.7-mg/dL increase in BUN from admission to discharge. By discharge, 12% of patients had a >25% decrease in eGFR, and 39% had a >25% increase in BUN. ...

Abstract: Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) blockade has emerged as a useful therapy for collagen vascular diseases or graft-vs-host disease. Fungal infections complicating such therapy have been reported sporadically. MEDLINE and PubMed databases (from January 1, 1966, to June 1, 2007) were searched for reports of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) associated with the 3 available anti-TNF-α agents, ie, infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab. Of the 281 cases of IFI associated with TNF-α inhibition, 226 (80%) were associated with infliximab, 44 (16%) with etanercept, and 11 (4%) with adalimumab. Fungal infections associated with infliximab occurred a median of 55 days (interquartile range [IQR], 15-140 days) after initiation of therapy and 3 infusions of the medication (IQR, 2-5), whereas those associated with etanercept occurred a median of 144 days (IQR, 46-240 days) after initiation of therapy. The median age of patients was 58 years (IQR, 44-68 years), and 62% were male. Use of at least 1 other immunosuppressant medication, typically a systemic corticosteroid, was reported during the course of the fungal infection in 102 (98%) of the 104 patients for whom data were available. The most prevalent IFIs were histoplasmosis (n=84 [30%]), candidiasis (n=64 [23%]), and aspergillosis (n=64 [23%]). Pneumonia was the most common pattern of infection. Of the 90 (32%) of 281 cases for which outcome information was available, 29 fatalities (32%) were recorded. Tumor necrosis factor α blockade is associated with IFI across a range of host groups. A high index of suspicion in patients treated with TNF-α antagonists is recommended because the course of such infections can be serious or fulminant, and rapid access to health care should be provided. Surveillance of IFIs complicating TNF-α blockade and other biologic therapies is warranted through well-organized prospective patient registries.

Abstract: Aims To evaluate the effect of influenza vaccination on the coronary events in patients with confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and results Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. We included 658 optimally treated CAD patients; 477 men, mean age 59.9±10.3 years. Three hundred and twenty-five patients received the influenza vaccine, and 333 patients placebo. Median follow-up was 298 (interquartile range 263–317) days. Primary endpoint was the cardiovascular death. Its estimated 12-month cumulative event rate was 0.63% in the vaccine vs. 0.76% in controls (HR 1.06 95% CI: 0.15–7.56, P = 0.95). There were two secondary composite endpoints: (i) the MACE (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization) tended to occur less frequently in the vaccine group vs. placebo with the event rate 3.00 and 5.87%, respectively (HR 0.54;95% CI: 0.24–1.21, P = 0.13). (ii) Coronary ischaemic event (MACE or hospitalization for myocardial ischaemia) estimated 12-month event rate was significantly lower in the vaccine group 6.02 vs. 9.97% in controls (HR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.29–0.99, P = 0.047). Conclusion In optimally treated CAD patients influenza vaccination improves the clinical course of CAD and reduces the frequency of coronary ischaemic events. Large-scale studies are warranted to evaluate the effect of influenza vaccination on cardiovascular mortality. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 00371098).

Abstract: Context Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is often withheld from injection drug users (IDUs) infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) based on the belief that their unstable lifestyles may predetermine a markedly inferior outcome with HAART. However, long-term evaluations of HIV treatment outcomes among IDUs in comparison with other risk groups are not available. Objective To compare survival rates among HIV-infected patients initiating HAART with and without a history of injection drug use. Design, Setting, and Patients Population-based, prospective cohort study (HAART Observational Medical Evaluation and Research [HOMER]) of 3116 antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients in a province-wide HIV/AIDS treatment program in British Columbia, Canada. Of the 3116 patients, 915 were IDUs (29.4%), 579 were female (18.6%), and the median age was 39.4 years (interquartile range, 33.3-46.4 years). Treatment with HAART was initiated between August 1, 1996, and June 30, 2006. The median duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (interquartile range, 2.8-8.3 years) for IDUs and 4.3 years (interquartile range, 2.0-7.6 years) for non-IDUs. Patients were followed up until June 30, 2007. Data were analyzed between November 1, 2007, and May 26, 2008. Main Outcome Measure All-cause mortality. Results Overall, 622 individuals died (20.0%) during the study period (232 IDUs and 390 non-IDUs), for a crude mortality rate of 20.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.4%-21.5%). At 84 months after the initiation of HAART, the product limit estimate of the cumulative all-cause mortality rate was similar between the 915 IDUs (26.5%; 95% CI, 23.2%-29.8%) and 2201 non-IDUs (21.6%; 95% CI, 16.9%-26.2%) (Wilcoxon P = .47). In multivariate time-updated Cox regression, the hazard ratio of mortality was similar between IDUs and non-IDUs (1.09; 95% CI, 0.92-1.29). Conclusion In this study population, injection drug use was not associated with decreased survival among HIV-infected patients initiating HAART.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Few data are available on the long-term immunologic response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings, where ART is being rapidly scaled up using a public health approach, with a limited repertoire of drugs. OBJECTIVES: To describe immunologic response to ART among ART patients in a network of cohorts from sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia. STUDY POPULATION/METHODS: Treatment-naive patients aged 15 and older from 27 treatment programs were eligible. Multilevel, linear mixed models were used to assess associations between predictor variables and CD4 cell count trajectories following ART initiation. RESULTS: Of 29 175 patients initiating ART, 8933 (31%) were excluded due to insufficient follow-up time and early lost to follow-up or death. The remaining 19 967 patients contributed 39 200 person-years on ART and 71 067 CD4 cell count measurements. The median baseline CD4 cell count was 114 cells/microl, with 35% having less than 100 cells/microl. Substantial intersite variation in baseline CD4 cell count was observed (range 61-181 cells/microl). Women had higher median baseline CD4 cell counts than men (121 vs. 104 cells/microl). The median CD4 cell count increased from 114 cells/microl at ART initiation to 230 [interquartile range (IQR) 144-338] at 6 months, 263 (IQR 175-376) at 1 year, 336 (IQR 224-472) at 2 years, 372 (IQR 242-537) at 3 years, 377 (IQR 221-561) at 4 years, and 395 (IQR 240-592) at 5 years. In multivariable models, baseline CD4 cell count was the most important determinant of subsequent CD4 cell count trajectories. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate robust and sustained CD4 response to ART among patients remaining on therapy. Public health and programmatic interventions leading to earlier HIV diagnosis and initiation of ART could substantially improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Abstract: Purpose Pain from castration-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC) bone metastases is a common event. Although it is assumed that pain represents an adverse prognostic factor, this variable has not been extensively evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine whether men with CRPC who had higher pain interference scores at baseline had worse clinical outcomes compared with men who had lower pain scores. Patients and Methods Data from three randomized phase III multicenter trials conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B from 1992 to 1998 were combined. Eligible patients had progressive CRPC adenocarcinoma of the prostate, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2, and adequate hematologic, renal, and hepatic functions. Seven items from the Brief Pain Inventory were used to assess the impact of pain on a range of daily activities and quality of life, each rated on a scale from 0 to 10. Results In 599 men, the median pain interference scores was 17 (interquartile range, 4 ...

Abstract: Background Barriers to institutions participating in clinical trials include concerns about harms and costs. However, we hypothesized that patients treated at hospitals participating in trials would have better outcomes than patients treated at nonparticipating hospitals. We tested this hypothesis in 494 CRUSADE (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes With Early Implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines) hospitals treating 174 062 patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. Methods Hospitals were classified into tertiles by percentage of patients concurrently enrolled in non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome trials. Outcomes were use of composite guideline-indicated care and in-hospital mortality. Multivariate regression was used to examine the association between hospital trial participation and outcomes. Results Overall, 4590 patients (2.6%) were enrolled in trials, ranging from 0% (145 hospitals) to low-enrollment tertile (1.0%; interquartile range [IQR], 0.5%-1.4%; n = 226) to high-enrollment tertile (4.9%; IQR, 3.5%-9.7%; n = 123). The composite guideline adherence score increased with increasing tertiles of trial participation: 76.9% (IQR, 71.8%-81.3%) vs 78.3% (IQR, 73.2%-82.4%) vs 81.1% (IQR, 76.2%-84.1%) (adjusted P = .008). Hospitals that participated in trials had higher adjusted guideline adherence than nonparticipating hospitals (low enrollment, 0.8% greater [95% confidence interval {CI}, −0.9% to 2.6%]; and high enrollment, 2.5% greater [95% CI, 0.5%-4.5%]). In-hospital mortality decreased with increasing trial participation: 5.9% vs 4.4% vs 3.5% (adjusted P = .003). Patients treated at hospitals that participated in trials had significantly lower mortality than patients treated at nonparticipating hospitals (low enrollment adjusted odds, 0.9 [95% CI, 0.8-1.0]; and high enrollment adjusted odds, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.7-0.9]). Conclusions The CRUSADE hospitals enrolled less than 3% of their patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome into trials, and one-third never participated in trials. Compared with hospitals that do not participate in trials, those hospitals that do participate in trials seem to provide better care and to have lower mortality.

Abstract: Background. Knowledge of any harm associated with living kidney donation guides informed consent and living donor follow-up. Risk estimates in the literature are variable, and most studies did not use a healthy control group to assess outcomes attributable to donation. Methods. We observed a retrospective cohort using health administrative data for donations which occurred in Ontario, Canada between the years 1993 and 2005. There were a total of 1278 living donors and 6359 healthy adults who acted as a control group. Individuals were followed for a mean of 6.2 years (range, 1-13 years) after donation. The primary outcome was a composite of time to death or first cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, stroke, angioplasty, and bypass surgery). The secondary outcome was time to a diagnosis of hypertension. Results. There was no significant difference in death or cardiovascular events between donors and controls (1.3% vs. 1.7%; hazard ratio 0.7,95% confidence interval 0.4-1.2). Donors were more frequently diagnosed with hypertension than controls (16.3% vs. 11.9%, hazard ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.7) but were also seen more often by their primary care physicians (median [interquartile range] 3.6 [1.9-6.1] vs. 2.6 [1.4-4.3] visits per person year, P<0.001). Conclusions. Based on administrative data, the risk of cardiovascular disease was unchanged in the first decade after kidney donation. The observed increase in diagnosed hypertension may be due to nephrectomy or more blood pressure measurements received by donors in follow-up and requires prospective study.

Abstract: Background. Ischemia time is a risk factor for mortality after heart transplantation that can be influenced by organizational factors such as transport arrangements and organ allocation. Methods. We used the United Kingdom Cardiothoracic Transplant Audit database to analyze the outcome of 1491 first isolated orthotopic adult heart transplants performed between April 1995 and March 2004. Ischemia time and its components (transport time and surgical implant time) were related to 30-day mortality using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results. The median total ischemia time increased from 171 min (interquartile range: 149-198) to 213 min (interquartile range: 181-256) during the study period (P<0.0001). This was due to an increase in transport times that was partly explained by increased organ exchange between centers and also because of an increase in surgical implant times. Thirty-day survival decreased over the study period (91%- 84%) with some evidence of a linear trend towards decreasing survival over time (P=0.089). After correcting for other known risk factors, the odds ratio of death within 30 days associated with each 15 min increment in transport time was 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.12) and with each 15 min increment in surgical implant time was 1.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.18). Conclusion. Both transport and implant times were directly related to 30-day mortality after heart transplantation. Ischemia time should be considered in organ allocation and controlled during the heart transplant procedure.

Abstract: Postoperative acute renal failure (ARF) is not uncommon after cardiac surgery and after angiography. However, limited information exists regarding the influence of the interval between cardiac catheterization and subsequent cardiac surgery and amount of contrast agent used during this procedure on the occurrence of postoperative ARF. Data for 423 consecutive adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery after cardiac catheterization were examined retrospectively. The influence of interval between cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery on postoperative ARF (defined as postoperative serum creatinine ≥2 times baseline and >2 mg/dl and/or need for renal replacement therapy) was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. ARF occurred in 24 patients (5.7%). Median time to angiography was 2 days (interquartile range 1 to 4.5), and median dose of contrast used was 1.36 ml/kg (interquartile range 1.12 to 1.69). Surgery on the day of cardiac catheterization was independently associated with increased risk of ARF (adjusted odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 8.8). This risk of ARF was highest in patients who underwent surgery on the same day as angiography and with a dose of contrast higher than median (14.6%) and lowest when surgery was delayed beyond 1 day of angiography and contrast dose was median or less (2.4%; adjusted odds ratio for same-day surgery and dose higher than median 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 14.2). Cardiac surgery performed on the day of cardiac catheterization and higher dose of contrast agent used were both independently associated with increased risk of postoperative ARF. In conclusion, these findings suggest that delaying cardiac surgery beyond 24 hours of exposure to contrast agents (when feasible) and minimizing the use of these agents have significant potential to decrease the incidence of postoperative ARF in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

Abstract: There is increasing evidence that the release of S100B protein, which is an acknowledged marker of brain injury, is also induced by other causes including hemorrhagic shock. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum concentration of S100B in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients with various degrees of organ dysfunction but without evidence of brain injury or any other neurological disorder and its possible association with tissue perfusion indices. Forty-six critically ill mechanically ventilated patients were studied on intensive care unit admission and until 6 days later. Measurement of serum S100B protein was obtained daily at the time of laboratory sampling and blood gas and lactate analysis. All patients exhibited increased levels of serum S100B levels at least once (median, 0.31 microg/L; interquartile range 25%-75%, 0.17-0.68 microg/L; range 0.04-18 microg/L). There was a significant correlation between S100B and arterial lactate (r, 0.66; P < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r, -0.41; P < 0.001), and pH (r, -0.37; P < 0.001). Serum concentrations of S100B were significantly higher in the presence of hemoglobin (Hb) level of less than 7 mg/dL compared with those measured when Hb level was greater than 7 mg/dL (median, 1.61 mg/dL; interquartile range 25%-75%, 0.66-3.57, vs. median, 0.29; interquartile range 25%-75%, 0.15-0.56, respectively; P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis with dependent variable S100B and independent variables lactate, Hb, pH, and MAP showed that the only independent variable was the lactate (r, 0.79; r2, 0.62; P < 0.001). Sequential organ failure assessment score was positively associated with S100B values (P < 0.05). In conclusion, serum levels of S100B protein are elevated in critically ill patients, in the absence of an apparent brain damage. Increased S100B values correlated positively with lactate levels and negatively with MAP and pH. Low Hb level is associated with increased S100B levels. These results indicate that serum S100B protein concentration may be related to tissue hypoperfusion.

Abstract: Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, yet few studies have evaluated density trends, and associated factors, over time. The authors retrieved and digitized mammograms (> or =1 per woman) imaged in 1990-2003 to evaluate percent density (PD) in the Minnesota Breast Cancer Family cohort. Multivariable-adjusted, mixed-effects, repeated-measures models incorporating a natural cubic spline provided estimates of nonlinear trends in PD with age and were used to examine association with covariates. Overall, 5,698 mammograms from 1,689 women with covariate information were digitized. In descriptive analyses, the highest median PD was 33.1% (interquartile range, 21.8%; n = 230) among premenopausal women, 31.0% (interquartile range, 23.2%; n = 175) among women who transitioned from pre- to postmenopause, and 18.7% (interquartile range, 22.2%; n = 1,284) among postmenopausal women. On average, premenopausal compared with postmenopausal women had 1.9% (p = 0.001) higher PD. In repeated-measures analyses, greater declines in PD occurred with menopause and among women with higher baseline PD; current postmenopausal hormone use and higher body mass index modified these declines (p interaction < 0.001). No significant modification of the density change with age was seen with parity/age at first birth, age at menarche, oral contraceptive use, family history of breast or ovarian cancer in a first- or second-degree relative, educational level, smoking status, or alcohol intake were observed. These data suggest that menopause, baseline PD, postmenopausal hormone use, and body mass index predict changes in mammographic density trends during adult life.

Abstract: Objective: To re-evaluate the relationship between plasma IL-10 concentration at hospital admission and outcome and to investigate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL10 gene in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Design: Determination of IL-10 plasma concentrations and genotyping of SNPs in the IL10 gene in a prospective trial of patients with ACS and in a group of healthy controls. Patients: 3179 patients in the Fragmin and Fast Revascularisation During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease II trial and 397 healthy controls. Main outcome measures: Mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction at 12 months. Results: The median and interquartile ranges of IL-10 were 0.8 (0.5 - 1.0) pg/ml in healthy controls and 1.1 (0.7 - 1.9) pg/ml in patients (p Conclusion: In contrast with some previous reports, we conclude that IL-10 reflects a pro-inflammatory state in patients with ACS and therefore suggest that IL-10 is an equally effective biomarker for the risk prediction of future cardiovascular events as other markers of systemic inflammation.

Abstract: Background Chylous ascites (CA) is a complication that follows thoracic and abdominal surgery, recognized after provocation by enteral feeding and characterized by its milky appearance from an elevated triglyceride level. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence, management, and predisposing factors of CA and its impact on outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Study Design Between 1996 and 2007, 609 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Patients having a drain output with a milky appearance, and with a triglyceride level greater than 1.2 mmol/L, were compared with patients without significant drain production or with a low triglyceride level. Management of CA was reviewed. Results Sixty-six patients had isolated CA (11%) of any measurable volume, 440 patients (72%) had no CA, and 109 patients (16%) were excluded from analysis. CA was diagnosed on postoperative day 6 (median; interquartile range 5 to 8), generally after introduction of a normal (polymeric low-chain-triglyceride) diet. Female gender (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05 to 3.03) and chronic pancreatitis at pathology (odds ratio, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.19 to 5.32) were independently associated with development of isolated CA. A low-chain-triglyceride–restricted diet was initiated in 47 patients, 3 were started on total parenteral nutrition, and an expectative approach was followed in 16 patients. CA resolved after 3.5 days (median; interquartile range, 2 to 5). Isolated CA was significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay (p=0.002). Conclusions We propose a novel definition and grading system for CA after pancreaticoduodenectomy, according to which the incidence is 9%, with clinically significant CA occurring in 4% (grades B and C). Although female gender and (focal) chronic pancreatitis were associated with development of isolated CA, no predisposing factors that could readily anticipate CA were identified. Isolated CA was associated with prolonged hospital stay.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of selected laboratory and growth markers on the short-term risk of mortality in untreated HIV-infected children in resource-limited settings. DESIGN: A meta-analysis of individual longitudinal data on children aged 12 months onwards from 10 studies (nine African, one Brazilian in the 3Cs4kids collaboration). METHODS: The risk of death within 12 months based on age and the most recent measurements of laboratory and growth markers was estimated using Poisson regression models, adjusted for cotrimoxazole prophylaxis use and study effects. RESULTS: A total of 2510 children contributed 357 deaths during 3769 child-years-at-risk, with 81% follow-up occurring after start of cotrimoxazole. At first measurement, median age was 4.0 years (interquartile range, 2.2-7.0 years), median CD4% was 15% and weight-for-age z-score -1.9. CD4% and CD4 cell count were the strongest predictors of mortality, followed by weight-for-age and haemoglobin. After adjusting for these markers, the effects of total lymphocyte count and BMI-for-age were relatively small. Young children who were both severely malnourished and anaemic had high mortality regardless of CD4 values, particularly those aged 1-2 years. By contrast, high CD4% or CD4 cell count values predicted low mortality level amongst either children older than 5 years or those younger with neither severe malnutrition nor anaemia. CONCLUSIONS: CD4 measurements are the most important indicator of mortality and wider access to affordable tests is needed in resource-limited settings. Evaluation of antiretroviral initiation in children also needs to consider weight-for-age and haemoglobin. Prevention and treatment of malnutrition and anaemia is integral to HIV paediatric care and could improve survival.

Abstract: Background and aims: Early treatment is critical for successful intervention in acute stroke. The aim of this study was to describe delays in presentation to hospital and in the emergency department (ED) management of patients with acute stroke and to identify factors influencing these delays in an Italian urban hospital. Methods: The present series includes all patients presenting with acute stroke, in whom arrival delay was ascertainable. To describe delays into the ED, the triage–visit delay, visit–computed tomography (CT) delay and visit–CT report delay were registered. Type of stroke, severity of stroke assessed using the modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS) scale, level of consciousness, history of previous stroke or previous hospital admission, use of the emergency medical service (EMS), onset of stroke during day or night and admission during working or non-working day were registered for every patient. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate factors influencing early arrival. Results: Over a one-year period 537 patients with acute stroke were evaluated; 375 patients in whom arrival delay was ascertainable were included in the study. Median arrival delay was 5.4 h (interquartile range (IQR) 2.7–11.6); 104 patients (28%) arrived within 3 h and 198 (53%) within 6 h. Triage–visit delay was 0.3 h (IQR 0.2–0.7), visit–CT scan delay was 1.2 h (IQR 0.8–1.9), visit–CT report delay was 2.7 h (IQR 1.7–4.5). Triage–visit delay and visit–CT delay were shorter for patients presenting within 3 h. The type of stroke was ischaemic in 240 (64%), haemorrhagic in 61 (16%) and transient ischaemic attack in 74 (20%). The median basal mNIHSS score was 5 (IQR 3–10); 64 patients (17%) had an altered level of consciousness, 103 (27%) had had a previous stroke, 223 (59%) had had a previous hospital admittance. In this series 214 patients (57%) arrived with the EMS, 323 (86%) presented with symptoms during the day, 261 (70%) were admitted during working days. Univariate analysis showed a significantly shorter arrival delay in patients calling the EMS (median 4.2 vs 7.2 h; p Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients does not arrive at the ED in a suitable time for reperfusion therapy. Patients using the EMS have a shorter arrival delay. Approximately half of the patients with stroke are sufficiently aware of the urgency of this clinical condition to activate the emergency telephone system.

Abstract: Background: There is much debate on the necessity of regionalization of ovarian cancer care. We investigated the association between hospital type and survival of patients with ovarian cancer in The Netherlands. Methods: A retrospective, population-based cohort study was performed on all Dutch patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2003. We used data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry that were linked to mortality data from the Statistics Netherlands database to obtain the date and cause of death. Five-year relative survival ratios, defined as the ratio of the observed survival in the patient population to the expected survival of women in the general population with the same age, were determined for the total population and for groups stratified by tumor stage and/or hospital type. The association between hospital type and disease-specific survival was analyzed by use of multivariable Cox regression analyses. Results: We analyzed data from 8621 women with epithelial ovarian cancer, of whom 3482 (40%) were treated in general hospitals, 3510 (41%) were treated in semispecialized hospitals, and 1557 (18%) were treated in specialized hospitals. Five-year relative overall survival ratios of patients treated in general, semispecialized, and specialized hospitals were 38.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 36.0% to 39.9%), 39.4% (95% CI = 37.5% to 41.4%), and 40.3% (95% CI = 37.4% to 43.1%), respectively; median survival of patients aged 50-75 years was 36 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 13 to >54 months), 37 months (IQR = 14 to >54 months), and 38 months (IQR = 15 to >55 months), respectively. Age and cancer stage were associated with the relationship between hospital type and ovarian cancer-specific survival but histologic tumor type, grade, year of diagnosis, and socioeconomic status were not. Among patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, treatment in semispecialized and specialized hospitals was associated with lower risks of ovarian cancer-specific mortality than treatment in general hospitals. Among patients with stage I-IIA disease who were aged 50-75 years, risk of ovarian cancer-specific mortality was 30% and 42% lower after treatment in semispecialized and specialized hospitals, respectively, than in general hospitals (for semispecialized hospitals, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.93; for specialized hospitals, HR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.87). Among patients with advanced ovarian cancer, hospital type was not associated with survival. Conclusion: Hospital type was statistically significantly associated with survival among Dutch ovarian cancer patients with early-stage ovarian cancer: Patients who were treated in specialized and semispecialized hospitals survived longer than patients treated in general hospitals.

Abstract: Background Laparoscopy-assisted approaches have become popular for dissecting early-stage gastric cancer in Japan, but the outcomes after 5 years of followup have not been reported. Study Design Between January 1998 and March 2002, 94 patients with histologically proved early-stage gastric carcinoma participated in clinical studies and underwent gastrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy to evaluate feasibility and safety of the laparoscopy-assisted approach. Outcomes and pattern of disease failure during followup up to 5 years were evaluated in all patients. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify relevant prognostic factors. Results Conversion to open procedures occurred in three patients. Median blood loss was 90 mL (interquartile range, 160 mL), and duration of operation was 230 minutes (interquartile range, 60 minutes). Operative morbidity and mortality were 22.3% and 0%, respectively. Nine patients died during the course of followup, for an overall 5-year survival rate of 90%. Two patients died of recurrent disease, and 2 other patients have been diagnosed with recurrences, for a 5-year recurrence-free survival of 95.6%. Three patients with recurrent cancer, including 1 with port-site recurrence, had stage IA disease (pT1pN0) at operation. Diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity was prominent as a prognostic factor. Conclusions Outcomes of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of early-stage cancer were excellent when treated with a laparoscopy-assisted approach, although rare patterns of disease failure were observed.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of baseline renal function and comorbidity index on survival in patients with renal tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrieved demographic, clinicopathologic, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidity data (assessed by Charlson-Romano index and hypertension) for 1479 patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy between January 4, 1995, and June 9, 2005, for localized renal tumors. We used the abbreviated Modified Diet and Renal Disease equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the last preoperative serum creatinine measurement. Body mass index and eGFR time trends were analyzed with linear regression. The effect of BMI, comorbidity, and baseline eGFR on disease-free and overall survival was studied using Cox regression controlling for pathologic stage, nodal status, and metastasis. RESULTS Over a 10-year interval, median BMI increased from 27 (interquartile range [IQR], 24-31) to 28 (IQR, 25-31; P =.004), and median baseline eGFR decreased from 70 (IQR, 58-80) to 63 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 (IQR, 57-78; P P P 2 ) and severely reduced eGFR ( 2 ) were significantly associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.5; P P CONCLUSION Baseline eGFR has declined over the past decade. Nephron-sparing techniques should be considered for patients with severely diminished baseline eGFR.

Abstract: High-mobility group box (HMGB) 1 is a recently discovered proinflammatory mediator that contributes to acute lung injury. We determined HMGB-1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients during mechanical ventilation (MV) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained from patients who were ventilated for 5 h because of an elective surgical procedure ("short-term MV"; n = 40) or for several days because of respiratory failure without acute lung injury ("long-term MV"; n = 10) and from patients who developed unilateral VAP (n = 4). Ten healthy volunteers served as controls. In healthy volunteers, HMGB-1 levels were low (median, 1.6 ngmL(-1); interquartile range [IQR], 0.7-3.7 ng mL(-1)). Although HMGB-1 levels were elevated after short-term MV, differences were not statistically significant compared with healthy volunteers (1.7 ng mL(-1); IQR, 0.8-8.5 ng mL(-1), P = 0.493 vs. healthy volunteers; P = 0.250 vs. start of MV). However, HMGB-1 levels were significantly higher in "long-term" MV patients (11.7 ng mL(-1); IQR, 8.7-37.0 ng mL(-1); P < 0.0001 vs. healthy volunteers). With unilateral VAP, HMGB-1 levels from the infected lung.were 17.4 (IQR, 8.5-23.2) ng mL(-1) (P = 0.014 vs. healthy controls); these levels were not different from those measured in the contralateral noninfected lung (P = 0.625). Summarized, long-term MV is associated with increased HMGB-1 levels in contrast to "short-term" MV. In addition, HMGB-1 levels during VAP are increased compared with healthy volunteers; however, they are not different from those found in patients intubated and mechanically ventilated for a similar period of time.