UNASSIGNED: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the perioperative transplant period and is associated with poor outcomes. Few studies reported a reduction in AKI incidence with terlipressin therapy by counteracting the hemodynamic alterations occurring during liver transplantation. However, the effect of terlipressin on posttransplant outcomes has not been systematically reviewed.
UNASSIGNED: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed. Studies reporting the use of terlipressin in the perioperative period of living donor liver transplantation were included. We expressed the dichotomous outcomes as risk ratio (RR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) using the random effects model. The primary aim was to assess the posttransplant risk of AKI. The secondary aims were to assess the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), vasopressors, effect on hemodynamics, blood loss during surgery, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and in-hospital mortality.
UNASSIGNED: A total of nine studies reporting 711 patients (309 patients in the terlipressin group and 402 in the control group) were included for analysis. Terlipressin was administered for a mean duration of 53.44 ± 28.61 h postsurgery. The risk of AKI was lower with terlipressin (0.6 [95% CI, 0.44-0.8]; P = 0.001). However, on sensitivity analysis including only four randomized controlled trials (I2 = 0; P = 0.54), the risk of AKI was similar in both the groups (0.7 [0.43-1.09]; P = 0.11). The need for RRT was similar in both the groups (0.75 [0.35-1.56]; P = 0.44). Terlipressin therapy reduced the need for another vasopressor (0.34 [0.25-0.47]; P < 0.001) with a concomitant rise in mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance by 3.2 mm Hg (1.64-4.7; P < 0.001) and 77.64 dyne cm-1.sec-5 (21.27-134; P = 0.007), respectively. Blood loss, duration of hospital/ICU stay, and mortality were similar in both groups.
UNASSIGNED: Perioperative terlipressin therapy has no clinically relevant benefit.

BACKGROUND: Focused transthoracic echocardiography (fTTE) has emerged as a critical diagnostic tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for efficient cardiac imaging while minimizing staff exposure. The utility of fTTE in predicting clinical outcomes in COVID-19 remains under investigation.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 2,266 hospitalized patients at Rush University Medical Center with COVID-19 infection between March and November 2020 who received a fTTE. fTTE data were analyzed for association with primary adverse outcomes (60-day mortality) and with secondary adverse outcomes (need for renal replacement therapy, need for invasive ventilation, shock, and venous thromboembolism).
RESULTS: Of the 427 hospitalized patients who had a fTTE performed (mean 62 years, 43% female), 109 (26%) had died by 60 days. Among patients with an available fTTE measurement, right ventricular (RV) dilation was noted in 34% (106/309), 43% (166/386) had RV dysfunction, and 17% (72/421) had left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. In multivariable models accounting for fTTE data, RV dilation was significantly associated with 60-day mortality (OR 1.93 [CI 1.13-3.3], p = 0.016). LV dysfunction was not significantly associated with 60-day mortality (OR 0.95 [CI: 0.51-1.78], p = 0.87).
CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in RV echocardiographic parameters are adverse prognosticators in COVID-19 disease. Patients with RV dilation experienced double the risk for 60-day mortality due to COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date that highlights the adverse prognostic implications of RV dilation as determined through fTTE in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal candidiasis is often neglected and potentially serious infection in cirrhosis patients. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of esophageal candidiasis (EC) in cirrhotics and did a systematic review to summarize EC\'s available evidence in cirrhosis.
METHODS: Consecutive patients with cirrhosis posted for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at a tertiary care institute were screened for EC (cases) between January 2019 and March 2020. EC was diagnosed on EGD findings and/or brush cytology. Controls (without EC) were recruited randomly, and EC\'s risk factors and outcomes were compared between cases and controls.Four electronic databases were searched for studies describing EC in cirrhosis. Prevalence estimates of EC were pooled on random-effects meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed by I2. A checklist for prevalence studies was used to evaluate the risk of bias in studies.
RESULTS: EC was diagnosed in 100 of 2762 patients with cirrhosis (3.6%). Patients with EC had a higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) (12.4 vs. 11.2; P = 0.007), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) (26% vs. 10%; P = 0.003) and concomitant bacterial infections (24% vs. 7%; P = 0.001), as compared with controls. A multivariable model, including recent alcohol binge, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleed, ACLF, diabetes, and MELD, predicted EC\'s development in cirrhosis with excellent discrimination (C-index: 0.918). Six percent of cases developed the invasive disease and worsened with multiorgan failures, and four patients with EC died on follow-up.Of 236 articles identified, EC\'s pooled prevalence from 8 studies (all with low-risk of bias) was 2.1% (95% CI: 0.8-5.8). Risk factors and outcomes of EC in cirrhosis were not reported in the literature.
CONCLUSIONS: EC is not a rare infection in cirrhosis patients, and it may predispose to invasive candidiasis and untimely deaths. Alcohol binge, HCC, UGI bleed, ACLF, diabetes, and higher MELD are the independent predictors of EC in cirrhosis. At-risk patients with cirrhosis or those with deglutition symptoms should be rapidly screened and treated for EC.

UNASSIGNED: Melioidosis-related mycotic aneurysm (MA) is rare but a potentially life-threatening disease with high morbidity and mortality rate.
UNASSIGNED: We report a case series of mycotic aneurysm caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei and the subsequent outcomes. Here, we illustrate their clinical characteristics, laboratory results, radiological findings, mode of therapies and clinical outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: Melioidosis-associated MA may manifest in an atypical presentation. Its outcome is often lethal if antimicrobial therapy and surgical intervention are not offered promptly.

The vast majority of patients (>99%) with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 survive immediate infection but remain at risk for persistent and/or delayed multisystem. This review of published reports through May 31, 2021, found that manifestations of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC) affect between 33% and 98% of coronavirus disease 2019 survivors and comprise a wide range of symptoms and complications in the pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurologic, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, and musculoskeletal systems in both adult and pediatric populations. Additional complications are likely to emerge and be identified over time. Although data on PASC risk factors and vulnerable populations are scarce, evidence points to a disproportionate impact on racial/ethnic minorities, older patients, patients with preexisting conditions, and rural residents. Concerted efforts by researchers, health systems, public health agencies, payers, and governments are urgently needed to better understand and mitigate the long-term effects of PASC on individual and population health.

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure caused by the ingestion of yellow phosphorus-containing rodenticide has been increasing in incidence over the last decade and is a common indication for emergency liver transplantation in Southern and Western India and other countries. Clear guidelines for its management are necessary, given its unpredictable course, potential for rapid deterioration and variation in clinical practice.
METHODS: A modified Delphi approach was used for developing consensus guidelines under the aegis of the Liver Transplantation Society of India. A detailed review of the published literature was performed. Recommendations for three areas of clinical practice, assessment and initial management, intensive care unit (ICU) management and liver transplantation, were developed.
RESULTS: The expert panel consisted of 16 clinicians, 3 nonclinical specialists and 5 senior advisory members from 11 centres. Thirty-one recommendations with regard to criteria for hospital admission and discharge, role of medical therapies, ICU management, evidence for extracorporeal therapies such as renal replacement therapy and therapeutic plasma exchange, early predictors of need for liver transplantation and perioperative care were developed based on published evidence and combined clinical experience.
CONCLUSIONS: Development of these guidelines should help standardise care for patients with yellow phosphorus poisoning and identify areas for collaborative research.

UNASSIGNED: To examine the association between hyperkalemia and long-term cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease.
UNASSIGNED: An observational retrospective cohort study was performed using a Japanese hospital claims registry, Medical Data Vision (April 1, 2008, to September 30, 2018). Of 1,208,894 patients with at least 1 potassium measurement, 167,465 patients with chronic kidney disease were selected based on International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Hyperkalemia was defined as at least 2 potassium measurements of 5.1 mmol/L or greater within 12 months. Normokalemic controls were patients without a record of potassium levels of 5.1 mmol/L or greater and 3.5 mmol/L or less. Changes in eGFRs and hazard ratios of death, hospitalization for cardiac events, heart failure, and renal replacement therapy introduction were assessed between propensity score-matched hyperkalemic patients and normokalemic controls.
UNASSIGNED: Of 16,133 hyperkalemic patients and 11,898 normokalemic controls eligible for analyses, 5859 (36.3%) patients and 5859 (49.2%) controls were selected after propensity score matching. The mean follow-up period was 3.5 years. The 3-year eGFR change in patients and controls was -5.75 and -1.79 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Overall, hyperkalemic patients had higher risks for death, hospitalization for cardiac events, heart failure, and renal replacement therapy introduction than controls, with hazard ratios of 4.40 (95% CI, 3.74 to 5.18), 1.95 (95% CI, 1.59 to 2.39), 5.09 (95% CI, 4.17 to 6.21), and 7.54 (95% CI, 5.73 to 9.91), respectively.
UNASSIGNED: Hyperkalemia was associated with significant risks for mortality and adverse clinical outcomes, with more rapid decline of renal function. These findings underscore the significance of hyperkalemia as a predisposition to future adverse events in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a relatively common condition, encountered in everyday paediatric clinical practice. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children both inside and outside intensive care units. It is associated with prolonged hospital stay and progression to chronic kidney disease. The burden of AKI is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries where rural areas and smaller cities in the countryside predominate. Most of these areas suffer from poverty, poor sanitation, water quality and hygiene, lack of education and poor access to health care. AKI is preventable if it is detected sufficiently early and managed promptly. Improved nephrology services and the availability of cost-effective dialysis facilities in resource-limited settings should reduce morbidity and save many children\'s lives.