Morbidity and Mortality of Acute Renal Failure in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care According to Waves/Variant: Case of the Grand Hôpital de l’Est Francilien Site de Meaux

Introduction: The incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) varies between 20% and 40% of cases for COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, with very high mortality, but heterogeneous according to the different epidemic waves, probably due to the genetic variant phenomenon of the virus. The aim of this study is to determine the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 patients admitted with ARF to the intensive care unit of the Grand H?pital Est Francilien (GHEF) according to the waves and variants. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study of COVID-19 patients with ARF admitted to the intensive care unit of the GHEF site in Meaux covering the period from March 1st 2020 to December, 31st 2021. Per-hospitalisation and outcome data were collected and analysed with SPSS version 25.0 software using the Chi-square or Fischer’s exact test or Student’s t-test and logistic regression for p Results: A total of 86 patients were included. The mean age was higher (70 ± 8.5) in patients in the fourth wave than in the other waves (p = 0.015), with male predominance in all waves without significant difference. Co-morbidities: hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, dyslipidaemia and arrhythmia complete with fibrillation were present in all waves. The majority of patients were classified as KDIGO 1 for the different waves (1st: 61.9%, 2nd: 86.5%, 3rd: 80%, and 4th: 75%), with the same trend according to variant (alpha: 80%, beta: 75%, delta: 81.3%, omicron: 75%). Mortality by the wave was: 1st: 28.5%, 2nd: 37.5%, 3rd: 23% and 4th: 11%) and by variant: alpha: 24.2%, beta: 44.8%, delta: 20.7%, omicron: 10.3%). Overall mortality was 33.7%. Case fatality was higher in the fourth wave. Hypertension, shock, failure to recover renal function, acute lung oedema, ventilator-associated lung disease and hyperkalaemia were factors associated with mortality (p Conclusion: Acute renal failure is common in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, and mortality is not negligible. The beta variants and the second wave presented more cases of renal impairment, although the mechanism is still unknown. Further studies are needed to understand this mechanism and perhaps to be able to identify the cause.

Factors Associated with Poor Control of Hypertension in Patients with Non-Dialysis Chronic Renal Failure

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is frequently encountered in patients with chronic renal failure. Whether primary or secondary to kidney disease, hypertension remains an important risk factor not only for the progression of kidney disease but also for the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Currently, there is no data on the control of hypertension in CKD patients in Chad. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors of poor control of hypertension during CKD and their therapeutic modalities. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out over a period of 8 months from September 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022 in the Nephrology Department of the Renaissance University Hospital Center in N’Djamena, Chad. During the study period, patients aged 18 years and above, which were hospitalized and/or followed for CKD with uncontrolled hypertension were included. Results: A total of 1013 patients were consulted during the study period, however, 36 cases were included, with a hospital prevalence of 3.5%. The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 9.68 years [22 and 75 years]. The patient’s history was dominated by hypertension (94.4%) and diabetes (41.7%). The main risk factors of hypertension found were diabetes (38.9%), physical inactivity (19.4%) and obesity (36.1%). Type 2 diabetes was pre-sent in 38.9% (n = 14) of the patients. There was a statistical relationship between unbalanced diabetes and poor blood pressure control (p Conclusion: Patients with chronic renal failure are at a risk of developing hypertension. Good control of blood pressure prevents deterioration of kidney function.

Organ Donation and Obstacles: University Student Survey

Background: Organ transplantation has helped improve the quality of life of patients with lethal terminal organ failure. This success is owed to the progress made in many fields such as surgery, immunology…However, in our country Morocco, we are faced with reluctance to donate. The study’s objective is to evaluate the perception of organ donation among university students. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical aims. Our target population consisted of 991 university students from eight higher education structures. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to those students by a single interviewer. The questions of the survey answered four main themes. Thus, two types of studies were done. The first was a descriptive study of the socio-demographic characteristics of the selected population and their knowledge and attitudes about organ donation. The second was an analytical study of the correlation between the socio-demographic characteristics, type and level of education of the target population and their knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation. Results: 97.2% of the respondents have already heard about organ donation. If 836 of the students (84.4%) thought that transplantation could be an effective therapeutic alternative, 155 of the students (15.6%) were not aware of this possibility. Furthermore, 298 students, which means 30.1% of the students, did not know that organ transplantation was practiced in Morocco. The causes of refusal found in our study were numerous. 68.5% of students blamed the lack of information as the main cause of their reluctance. 64.7% were afraid of organ trafficking. 41.1% refused the idea of mutilating the body of the deceased, which could impact the funeral. 37.3% thought that donation would be a violation of the human body according to religious values. 33.9% were against donation because they hoped that the brain-dead patient could wake up. The main results of our survey showed the very favorable attitude towards organ donation and transplantation, despite the lack of knowledge on the subject. Conclusion: This study revealed the absence of information on the practice of organ transplantation in Morocco and the underestimation of the number of people waiting for transplantation. On the other hand, like the data found in the literature, our study highlights the religious obstacles and the lack of confidence in the legislation governing donation and transplantation in our country.

Iron metabolism imbalance at the time of listing increases overall and infectious mortality after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the best treatment for patients with liver cancer or end stage cirrhosis,but it is still associated with a significant mortality.Therefore identifying factors associated with mortality could help improve patient management.The impact of iron metabolism,which could be a relevant therapeutic target,yield discrepant results in this setting.Previous studies suggest that increased serum ferritin is associated with higher mortality.Surprisingly iron deficiency which is a well described risk factor in critically ill patients has not been considered.AIM To assess the impact of pre-transplant iron metabolism parameters on posttransplant survival.METHODS From 2001 to 2011,553 patients who underwent LT with iron metabolism parameters available at LT evaluation were included.Data were prospectively recorded at the time of evaluation and at the time of LT regarding donor and recipient.Serum ferritin(SF)and transferrin saturation(TS)were studied as continuous and categorical variable.Cox regression analysis was used to determine mortality risks factors.Follow-up data were obtained from the local and national database regarding causes of death.RESULTS At the end of a 95-mo median follow-up,196 patients were dead,38 of them because of infections.In multivariate analysis,overall mortality was significantly associated with TS>75%[HR:1.73(1.14;2.63)],SF<100μg/L[HR:1.62(1.12;2.35)],hepatocellular carcinoma[HR:1.58(1.15;2.26)],estimated glomerular filtration rate(CKD EPI Cystatin C)[HR:0.99(0.98;0.99)],and packed red blood cell transfusion[HR:1.05(1.03;1.08)].Kaplan Meier curves show that patients with low SF(<100μg/L)or high SF(>400μg/L)have lower survival rates at 36 mo than patients with normal SF(P=0.008 and P=0.016 respectively).Patients with TS higher than 75%had higher mortality at 12 mo(91.4%±1.4%vs 84.6%±3.1%,P=0.039).TS>75%was significantly associated with infection related death[HR:3.06(1.13;8.23)].CONCLUSION Our results show that iron metabolism imbalance(either deficiency or overload)is associated with post-transplant overall and infectious mortality.Impact of iron supplementation or depletion should be assessed in prospective study.

Multiple pyogenic liver abscess

Multiple pyogenic liver abscesses have been rarely described. We report a fatal case of multiple pyogenic liver abscesses affecting a 38-year-old woman requiring surgical drainage. Evolution was marked by occurrence of a septic shock with multi-organ system failure. The patient died 48 h after surgery. Causes, therapeutics and outcome of the disease are discussed.

Magnetic resonance imaging under isoflurane anesthesia alters cortical cyclooxygenase-2 expression and glial cell morphology during sepsis-associated neurological dysfunction in rats

Background:Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)of rodents combined with histol-ogy allows to determine what mechanisms underlie functional and structural brain changes during sepsis-associated encephalopathy.However,the effects of MRI per-formed in isoflurane-anesthetized rodents on modifications of the blood-brain bar-rier and the production of vasoactive prostaglandins and glia cells,which have been proposed to mediate sepsis-associated brain dysfunction,are unknown.Methods:This study addressed the effect of MRI under isoflurane anesthesia on blood-brain barrier integrity,cyclooxygenase-2 expression,and glial cell activation during cecal ligature and puncture-induced sepsis-associated brain dysfunction in rats.Results:Cecal ligature and puncture reduced food intake and the righting reflex.MRI under isoflurane anesthesia reduced blood-brain barrier breakdown,decreased cir-cularity of white matter astrocytes,and increased neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 immu-noreactivity in the cortex 24 hours after laparotomy.In addition,it annihilated cecal ligature and puncture-induced increased circularity of white matter microglia.MRI under isoflurane anesthesia,however,did not alter sepsis-associated perivascular cyclooxygenase-2 induction.Conclusion:These findings indicate that MRI under isoflurane anesthesia of rodents can modify neurovascular and glial responses and should,therefore,be interpreted with caution.

TREM-1 expression during major abdominal surgery: Comment on the Gonzalez-Roldan et al paper

TO THE EDITORI read with a great interest the paper by Gonzalez-Roldan et al. The authors reported on the pattern expression of TREM-1 during sepsis and major abdominal surgery as compared to healthy controls and concluded that TREM-1 expression increased on the surface of monocytes after surgery. Several points deserve consideration. First, no data related to TREM-1 expression on neutrophils is provided.

Management of Ectopic Pregnancy at the Brazzaville Hospital and University Centre

Objective: To evaluate the current management of ectopic pregnancies (EPG) at the University Hospital Centre (UHC) in Brazzaville because the practice was usually limited to total salpingectomy by laparotomy. Patients and methods: This was a descriptive study, with retrospective data collection, conducted from July 30, 2015 to January 30, 2016. It included patient records admitted to the Obstetrical Gynecology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital for an EP, a diagnosis made before visualization on ultrasound of an active embryo outside the uterine cavity or per laparoscopy, but often by exploratory laparotomy. Sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as the therapeutic modalities of the patients, were analyzed. Cases of women operated for EP in other health facilities and referred to the UHC for complication management and cases that were unusable were excluded. Results: We noted 39 EPs out of 4490 deliveries, representing a frequency of 0.86%. The average age of the patients was 28.9 years (extreme 18 - 46 years). The transfusion of labile blood products concerned 84.6% of patients. There was no therapeutic abstention;medical treatment was performed in 3 patients (7.7% of cases). Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy was performed in 9 patients (23.1%) and laparotomy was used in 26 patients (66.7% of cases) in which 35 Salpingectomies (89.7% of cases) were performed. The immediate postoperative period was marked by anaemia (32 cases or 82.1%), surgical site infection (1 case or 2.6%) and parietal suppuration (1 case or 2.6%). Conclusion: The dissemination of therapeutic advances in the management of EP is also possible in African settings.

New Onset of Atrial Fibrillation in a Medical ICU: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors of new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in a single medical ICU. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a 10 bed single medical ICU over a period of 18 months. All patients with sinus rhythm admitted in the medical ICU were included. Those presenting with any arrhythmia on admission, having a PACEMAKER or having undergone a recent cardiothoracic surgery were excluded. Results: Of the 377 patients included on the study, atrial fibrillation occurred in 26 patients (7%). Patients who developed AF were older, had higher severity scores on admission, and required significantly more fluids, catecholamine, and mechanical ventilation. They had a longer ICU and hospital LOS. ICU mortality was significantly higher in AF patients. Five inde- pendent risk factors of AF were identified by multivariate analysis: advanced age, the presence of COPD, sepsis, car- diogenic shock, and hypoxemia. Conclusion: AF occurs in approximately 7% of medical critically ill patients and is associated with age, a history of COPD, the presence of sepsis, cardiogenic shock and hypoxemia. AF occurs in more critically ill patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

The Difficulties of Congenital Syphilis Diagnosis about 3 Cases at Libreville, Gabon

First described embryo fetopathy, congenital syphilis remains a public health problem mostly in developing countries. The diagnosis mainly based on bacteriological and immunological evidence of mother-child couple is not always easy, as it is shown in our three clinical cases. Those three clinical observations demonstrate the difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of congenital syphilis in our country where only the TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Haemaglutination Assay) and VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) tests are the only ones to be routinely carried out. Actually, these tests can be negative at the earliest stage of the syphilis or in case of zonal phenomenon. In addition, maternal antibodies could be found in child blood, even if the baby is in good health. At last, the child could have been contaminated belatedly while tests were negative at the third month of pregnancy. Congenital syphilis still exists in our developing countries and, in order to better manage this pathology, a proposition of an efficient algorithm is submitted.

Massive abdominal muscle atrophy during prolonged mechanical ventilation: Implications for tracheostomy removal

Introduction Maintaining the functional integrity of respiratory muscles is crucial for critically ill patients to be weaned from mechanical ventilation and decannulated if tracheotomized.Dysfunction of the diaphragm is frequent in patients under mechanical ventilation and has been associated with a longer duration of weaning.[1,2]Studies on expiratory muscles are scarce.Two recent studies demonstrated the feasibility and reproducibility of ultrasound in measuring the thickness of abdominal muscles,[3,4]with one study showing abdominal muscle atrophy in 22%of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients during the first week of mechanical ventilation.[4]

心脏骤停成功心肺复苏后的凝血异常:蛋白C抗凝血途径的意义

OBJECTIVES: We investigated coagulation abnormalities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest(OHCA) patients, with special attention to the protein C anticoagulant pathway. BACKGROUND: Successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest is followed by a systemic inflammatory response and by activation of coagulation, both of which may contribute to organ failure and neurological dysfunction. METHODS: Coagulation parameters were measured in all patients admitted after successfully resuscitated OHCA. RESULTS: At admission, 67 patients had a systemic inflammatory response with increased interleukin-6 and coagulation activity(thrombin-antithrombin complex), reduced anticoagulation(antithrombin, protein C, and protein S), activated fibrinolysis(plasmin-antiplasmin complex), and, in some cases, inhibited fibrinolysis(increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 with a peak on day 1). These abnormalities were more severe in patients who died within two days(50 of 67, 75%) and were most severe in patients dying from early refractory shock. Protein C and S levels were low compared to healthy volunteers and discriminated OHCA survivors from nonsurvivors. Furthermore, a subgroup of patients had a transient increase in plasma-activated protein C at admission followed by undetectable levels. This, along with an increase in soluble thrombomodulin over time, suggests secondary endothelial injury and dysfunction of the protein C anticoagulant pathway similar to that observed in severe sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Major coagulation abnormalities were found after successful resuscitation of cardiac arrest. These abnormalities are consistent with secondary down-regulation of the thrombomodulin-endothelial protein C receptor pathway.

继发于外伤性胆囊破裂的迟发性腹腔间隔综合征

A case of abdominal compartment syndrome following hepatic rupture with gallbladder tear is reported. We discuss the physiology, diagnosis criteria and treatment of this potentially life-threatening complication.

先天性水痘:产前诊断的局限性

Introduction. -Primary varicella infection during pregnancy is uncommon. Fetal varicella syndrome is unusualwhen varicella occurs after 20 weeks of gestation. Case report: A mother contracted chicken pox at 21 weeks and 3 days of gestation. Monthly monitoring was assured by the center for prenatal diagnosis, starting from 23 weeks. At 36 weeks, foetal echography detected liver calcifications, without other lesions. At 38 weeks, the patient went into spontaneous labour and delivered a male baby. The baby presented cicatricial skin lesions all over the body and scalp. The cerebral scan detected calcifications and a bilateral chorioretinitis was noticed. At 12 months, the infant had delayed psychomotor acquisitions, a cerebral cortical atrophy and blindness. Conclusion. -The presence of fetal liver calcifications after chicken pox in the mother is a seldom reported sign. In our observation, liver calcifications were the single sign of a severe fetal damage.

新生儿肉毒中毒

Botulism was suspected in a 17-day-old breastfed infant who developed over 2 days progressive muscular weakness and hypoventilation. The patient also presented with pupil dilation and light unresponsiveness. The electroencephalogram was normal. Full recovery was obtained after 85 days of artificial ventilation. Diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of the botulin toxin B in the patient serum. The source of the infection was not identified.

先天性过度惊跳症的5例散发报道

We report fives sporadic cases of hyperekplexia or startle disease characterized by a highly exaggerated startle reflex and tonic attacks. Affected neonates suffer from prolonged periods of stiffness and are at risk for sudden death from apnea. An early diagnosis is needed. Sudden loud sounds, unexpected tactile stimuli or percussion at the base of the nose can also elicit excessive jerking or tonic attack. The diagnosis of hyperekplexia is a purely clinical one. A defect of the alpha1 subunit of inhibitory glycine receptor (GLRA1) has been observed in the dominant form with amutation in the chromosome 5. Clonazepam is effective and decreases the severity of the symptoms. The disease tends to improve after infancy and the psychomotor development is normal. The major form of “hyperekplexia”should be considered whenever one is confronted with neonatal hypertonicity associated with paroxysmal tonic manifestations (without electroencephalography anomalies). Conclusion: the diagnosis of hyperekplexia should be evaluated in any neonate with tonic attacks without evident cause.

新生儿疱疹性肝炎

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection can affect various organssystems in the neonatal period. Herpetic hepatitis was seldom reported in the literature. We report on 2 cases. Firstly, a 16 day-old newborn infant was admitted because of haemorrhagic syndrome and shock. Biological assessment showed a severe hepatic insufficiency. Antibiotic and aciclovir therapy was started as HSV infection was suspected. Five days later, the herpetic attack was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The genotye of the virus in the CSF was HSV1. Treatment included aciclovir for 21 days intravenously and 2 months orally. At 10 months, the clinical and biological examinations were normal. Secondly, a 4 day-old newborn was hospitalised because of fever and polypnea. Pulmonary X rays showed heterogeneous opacities of the right base. Serum C reactive protein was 30 mg/l. Antibiotic therapy was started. Two days later, the fever persisted while a severe hepatic insufficiency developed. The diagnosis of herpetic hepatitis was evoked and the child was given aciclovir. Forty-eight hours later, the PCR confirmed a HSV in blood, while viral culture of a mouth swab found HSV2. Evolution was favourable after 21 days of specific and symptomatic treatment. Aciclovir treatment was continued orally for six months. Herpetic hepatitis is rare in the neonatal period. Diagnosis must be evoked early when facing severe neonatal hepatic insufficiency. Provided specific treatment, prognosis is good.

表现为外科急腹症的肝棘球蚴病

Hepatic hydatid disease is an uncommon surgical emergency. We report an observation and its diagnosis and treatment. Case report. - An algerian child consulted in emergency unit for appendicitis syndrome. The surgeon discovered an opened hydatid liver cyst. He performed a cystectomy associated with post-operative chemotherapy. Discussion. - Hepatic hydatid disease is frequent in endemic zone. If not complicated, it is often revealed by hepatomegaly. The diagnosis is radiological and mainly serological. Management is medicosurgical. Conclusion. - Prognosis depends on early surgical management. Long-time serological and echographic follow-up is required.

重症蝎子刺伤后的胃肠反应

Objectives-To evaluate the type and incidence of gastrointestinal manifestations secondary to scorpion envenomation and their prognostic significance. Patients and methods-All patients admitted to our ICU for scorpion envenomation were included in this retrospective chart review of a 13-year period (1990 -2002). Results-During the study period, 951 patients were admitted for scorpion envenomation and 72 (7.6%) died. Ages ranged from 0.5 to 90 years with a mean of 14.7 ±17.4 years. Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 700 patients (73.6%): nausea in 24 (2.5%), vomiting in 687 (72.2%) and diarrhea in 41 patients (4.3 %). At univariate analysis, the presence of diarrhea was associated with a fatal outcome (P < 0.05). Diarrhea was also correlated with other indicators of severe envenomation and poor prognosis: respiratory failure (P = 0.01), neurological failure (P < 0.0001), liver failure (P < 0.0001) and low blood pressure requiring catecholamine support (P = 0.02). The multivariate analysis showed that young age (age less than 5 years), fever > 38.5°C, neurological failure and pulmonary edema were independent factors of severity. Digestive disorders were more frequent in children and in this subgroup diarrhea appeared to be associated with poor outcome. In a subset of patients for whom data were available, fatal cases demonstrated significantly higher liver enzymes levels on admission. Conclusion-In Tunisia, gastrointestinal symptoms are often observed in severe scorpion envenomations, especially in young patients. In children, diarrhea and elevated liver enzymes are associated with poor prognosis.

Potentiation of NETs release is novel characteristic of TREM-1 activation and the pharmacological inhibition of TREM-1 could prevent from the deleterious consequences of NETs release in sepsis

During sepsis,neutrophil activation induces endothelial cell(EC)dysfunction partly through neutrophil extracellular trap(NET)release.The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1(TREM-1)is an orphan immune receptor that amplifies the inflammatory response mediated by Toll-like receptor-4(TLR4)engagement.Although the key role of TLR4 signaling in NETosis is known,the role of TREM-1 in this process has not yet been investigated.Here,we report that TREM-1 potentiates NET release by human and murine neutrophils and is a component of the NET structure.In contrast,pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation of TREM-1 decreased NETosis in vitro and during experimental septic shock in vivo.Moreover,isolated NETs were able to activate ECs and impair vascular reactivity,and these deleterious effects were dampened by TREM-1 inhibition.TREM-1 may,therefore,constitute a new therapeutic target to prevent NETosis and associated endothelial dysfunction.