No abstract

Tenecteplase (TNK) is a promising candidate to replace alteplase as the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS); however, the optimal dosage is still to be investigated. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TNK versus alteplase and to investigate the optimal TNK dosage. A systematic review, pairwise, and network meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from WOS, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and PubMed until July 26th, 2022. We used the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes presented with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). We registered our protocol in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42022352038. Nine RCTs with a total of 3,707 patients were included. TNK significantly led to complete recanalization (RR: 1.27 with 95% CI [1.02, 1.57], P = 0.03); however, we found no difference regarding early neurological improvement (RR: 1.07 with 95% CI [0.94, 1.21], P = 0.33) and excellent neurological recovery (RR: 1.03 with 95% CI [0.96, 1.10], P = 0.42). Also, TNK was similar to alteplase regarding mortality (RR: 0.99 with 95% CI [0.82, 1.18], P = 0.88), intracranial haemorrhage (RR: 1.00 with 95% CI [0.85, 1.18], P = 0.99), and parenchymal hematoma (RR: 1.13 with 95% CI [0.83, 1.54], P = 0.44). TNK in the dose of 0.25 mg is a viable candidate to displace alteplase as the standard of care in patients with an AIS within 4.5 h of presentation due to its better rate of early neurological recovery and non-inferiority in terms of safety outcomes. However, the evidence regarding TNK’s role in AIS presenting after 4.5 h from symptoms onset, wake-up stroke, and minor stroke/TIA is still lacking, necessitating further double-blinded pragmatic RCTs in this regard.

No abstract

Evidence is conflicting about the diabetes characteristics associated with worse outcome among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We aimed to assess the role of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) as a prognostic marker among them. In our retrospective cohort study, patients were stratified according to SHR, admission glucose, and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and in-hospital mortality. The study included 395 patients with a mean age of 59 years, and 50.1% were males. Patients in the third tertile of SHR developed more primary events, and the difference was significant compared to the first tertile (p = 0.038) and close to significance compared to the second tertile (p = 0.054). There was no significant difference in the outcomes across admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. A higher SHR tertile was an independent risk factor for the primary outcome (OR, 1.364; 95% CI: 1.014–1.836; p = 0.040) after adjustment for other covariables. In hospitalized COVID-19 diabetic patients, SHR third tertile was significantly associated with worse outcome and death. SHR can be a better prognostic marker compared to admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin. A higher SHR was an independent risk factor for worse outcome and in-hospital mortality.

No abstract

This investigation examined the efficacy of ondansetron (intervention) versus metoclopramide (control) in managing parturient females with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), by pooling data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using a meta-analysis approach. From inception until January 2022, five information sources were screened: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science. Quality assessment was done through the Cochrane Risk of Bias (version 2) assessment tool. The mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to summarize the continuous data in a fixed- or random-effects model, depending on the extent of between-study heterogeneity. Five RCTs were included, comprising a total of 695 patients (355 and 340 females were assigned to ondansetron and metoclopramide, respectively). Four RCTs had an overall “low” risk of bias, whereas one RCT had an overall “some concerns” due to lack of sufficient information about randomization. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding the pregnancy-unique quantification of emesis and nausea score [MD=0.23, 95% CI (-0.42, 0.88), p=0.49], length of hospital stay [MD=-0.17 days, 95% CI (-0.35, 0.02), p=0.08], the number of doses of drug received [MD=0.45, 95% CI (-0.08, 0.98), p=0.10], and duration of intravenous fluids [MD=-1.73 hours, 95% CI (-5.79, 2.33), p=0.40]. Among parturient females with HG, there was no substantial difference in efficacy between both agents. Nevertheless, ondansetron is favored over metoclopramide in view of its trending therapeutic efficacy and better safety profile.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of prophylactic desmopressin versus placebo among patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Background and Objectives: An elevated procalcitonin level has classically been linked to bacterial infections. Data on the association between elevated procalcitonin and the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are conflicting. Some linked it to associated bacterial co-infections, while others correlated the elevation with disease severity without coexisting bacterial infections. We aimed to investigate the association between high procalcitonin and the severity of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were divided into two groups: the normal-procalcitonin group and the high-procalcitonin group (>0.05 ng/mL). Patients with concomitant bacterial infections on admission were excluded. The primary outcomes were the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, progression to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and in-hospital 28-day mortality. Results: We included 260 patients in the normal procalcitonin group and 397 patients in the high procalcitonin group. The mean age was 55 years and 49% were females. A higher number of patients in the elevated procalcitonin group required ICU admission (32.7% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.001) and IMV (27.2% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the elevated procalcitonin group (18.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for other covariates, procalcitonin > 0.05 ng/mL was an independent predictor of progression to IMV (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.08–2.71; p = 0.022), ICU admission (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.13–2.66; p = 0.011), and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.14–3.47; p = 0.015). An elevated procalcitonin level was the strongest predictor of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Measurement of procalcitonin can have a prognostic role among COVID-19 patients. The admission procalcitonin level can identify patients at risk of ICU admission, progression to IMV, and in-hospital mortality.