Search

Aims Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an emergency with high morbidity and mortality. This study examined patient factors associated with hospitalization for recurrent DKA. Methods Characteristics of 265 subjects admitted for DKA at Hennepin County Medical Center between January 2017 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Differences between subjects with a single admission versus multiple were reviewed. Results Forty-eight out of 265 patients had recurrent DKA. Risk factors included African American race (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) versus white non-Hispanic = 4.6, 95% CI 1.8–13, p = 0.001) or other race/ethnicity (aOR = 8.6, 2.9–28, p p = 0.10; aOR 53-99y versus 18-36y = 0.37, 0.12–0.99, p = 0.05), type 1 diabetes mellitus (aOR = 2.4, 1.1–5.5, p = 0.04), ever homeless (aOR = 2.5, 1.1–5.4, p = 0.03), and drug abuse (aOR = 3.2, 1.3–7.8, p = 0.009). DKA cost a median of $29,981 per admission. Conclusions Recurrent DKA is costly, and social determinants are strong predictors of recurrence. This study highlights the need for targeted preventative care programs. more...

BACKGROUND While often grouped with other noise aversions, fearful behaviour during storms is considered more complex than noise aversion alone. The objective here was to assess the effect of imepitoin for the treatment of storm anxiety in dogs. METHODS In this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised study, eligible dogs completed a baseline then were randomised to receive either imepitoin (n = 30; 30 mg/kg BID) or placebo (n = 15) for 28 days. During storms, owners rated their dog's intensity for 16 behaviours using a Likert scale. Weekly, owners rated intensity and frequency of these behaviours. Summary scores were compared to baseline and between groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Imepitoin was significantly superior to placebo in storm logs and weekly surveys for weeks 2 and 4, and in the end-of-study survey. Mild/moderate adverse events were reported in 26 patients (24 active: two placebo); the most frequent adverse event was ataxia. Owners of dogs in the imepitoin group, compared to placebo, were significantly more likely to report that treatment reduced their dogs fear and anxiety during storms (p more...

The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitor (FGM) has made the use of continuous glucose monitors more accessible to the typical diabetes patient in an outpatient setting given the significantly lower cost and ease of use of FGM as compared to other systems. However, FGM is not labeled for use in a critically ill population. The critical care department at our institution queried the endocrine department about studying the use of FGM in critically ill patients. The interest of the critical care department was due to the potential of decrease in patient discomfort and decrease in time and effort of nursing and support staff related to the performance of fingerstick capillary glucoses if FGM was an adequate replacement measure. As of yet, there has been only minimal study of flash glucose monitoring in critically ill patients. One Australian study evaluated 8 patients in an ICU setting and determined that as compared with arterial blood glucose monitoring, flash glucose monitoring provided acceptable numerical and clinical accuracy.1 A Swedish study evaluated a total of 26 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and compared the use of FGM to use of a microdialysis intravascular system and concluded that the microdialysis system was more accurate, though in this study, only 25% of patients had diabetes. 2 To further investigate use of FGM in a critically ill population, we plan to undertake a single center, prospective, single arm study enrolling at least 20 and up to 40 patients. Inclusion criteria include a known diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, age of 18 or older, and admission to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) with expected MICU stay of at least 48 hours. Participating subjects will have a sensor applied by a study investigator. After confirmation that the sensor is operational, the investigator will place opaque tape over the monitor to blind the monitor data. Nurses or medical assistants will conduct the standard of care fingerstick glucose monitoring per hospital protocol but will also have been notified of request to also pass FGM reader over the sensor at time of fingerstick glucose data collection. The primary objectives are to determine numerical accuracy in a critical care setting using the mean absolute relative difference and to determine clinical accuracy in a critical care setting using the surveillance error grid and the clarke error grid analyses. Preliminary data should be available by March, 2020. 1. Ancona P, Eastwood GM, Lucchetta L, Ekinci EI, Bellomo R, Martensson J. The performance of flash glucose monitoring in critically ill patients with diabetes. Crit Care Resusc 2017; 19: 167-174, June 2017. 2. Schierenbeck F, Franco-Cereceda A, Liska J. Accuracy of 2 Different Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Intravascular Microdialysis Versus Subcutaneous Tissue Monitoring. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 2017, Vol. 11(1) 108–116 more...

Objective: We report a new, life-threatening adverse effect of zoledronic acid. One of the adverse effects of zoledronic acid is acute phase reaction (APR). Mild APR is characterized by arthralgia, myalgia, headache, and fever, which are usually self-limiting. Here, we present a case of severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) following zoledronic acid infusion, leading to multi-organ failure.Methods: A 63-year-old female presented to the emergency department with fever, headache, and myalgia within hours after zoledronic acid infusion. Approximately 24 hours later, she developed progressive weakness and confusion. She was febrile, tachycardic, and tachypneic on presentation. Subsequently, she developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, stress or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, shock with hypotension, and acute tubular necrosis with acute kidney failure.Results: All infectious work-up was unrevealing. She was diagnosed with severe SIRS leading to multi-organ failure. She needed aggressive supportive therapies, including mechanical ventilation, multiple vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy. She was treated with systemic steroids. She gradually improved over the next 4 weeks.Conclusion: Mild APRs are common with administration of nitrogen-based bisphosphonates. However, to date, severe life-threatening APR as seen in the above-mentioned case has not been reported. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the possibility of such adverse effects. This case highlights the need for further investigation related to underlying mechanisms of APR by bisphosphonates and identification of patients at risk so that alternative treatments may be considered.Abbreviations: APR acute phase reaction; FPPS farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase; IPP isopentenyl pyrophosphate; IV intravenous; UTI urinary tract infection more...

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are common injuries, however management remains challenging. Lesion size remains a common determinant of treatment and microfracture remains common for smaller lesions. Microfracture provides access to mesenchymal stem cells within the subchondral bone. Dehydrated micronized allogenic cartilage (DMAC) (BioCartilage, Arthrex, Naples, FL) utilizes a single stage attempt to augment microfracture with a scaffold over the defect to improve hyaline cartilage restoration. DMAC requires hydration with plasma rich protein (PRP) or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). Currently, there is limited literature on pain scores and return-to-activities and satisfactory return- to-sport following DMAC treatments. The purpose of this study is to report pain scores, percent and time return-to -activities, percent and time to satisfactory return-to-sport following microfracture + DMAC and isolated microfracture. Methods: We reviewed a series of 65 cases (37 female and 28 male; mean age 34.6 (SD 14.1); mean BMI 27.3 (SD 6.2)) between 2010 and 2019 in which surgical treatment for OLT consisted of microfracture + DMAC, or isolated microfracture. Surgical procedure was determined by treating surgeon. Demographic, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores (0-10), return-to-activities, and satisfactory-return-to-sport were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at 3-months, 6-months, and 1 year. Return-to- activities was defined as any engagement in desired activities, whereas satisfactory-return-to-sport was determined by patient- report. T-tests were used to determine between group differences. Results: Sixty-five cases (DMAC 25; isolated-microfracture: 40) demonstrated mean pain score at 3-months for DMAC and isolated-microfracture of 0.8 and 2.0, respectively, (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in remaining pain scores. By 1- year, 100% of DMAC and 87.5% of isolated-microfracture returned-to-activities, p=0.09. Of those that returned-to-activities there was no difference in time-to-return-to-activities between groups 82.9 days vs 82.4 days. By 1-year, patients that return-to-sport demonstrated a patient-reported satisfactory-level-of-return of 52.0% in DMAC and 37.5% in isolated-microfracture. Of those that returned satisfactorily-to-sport, the time-to-satisfactory-return-to-sport was similar (mean 139.5 and 135.7 days, p=0.66). A subgroup analysis of microfracture + DMAC group determined that PRP (n=16) had less pain at 3 months than BMAC (n=9), mean 0.8 vs 2.0, respectively; p=0.03, with no other differences noted (p>0.05). Conclusion: The use of microfracture + DMAC may improve early post-operative pain scores and improve ability to return to a patient-reported satisfactory level of sport by 1-year. Isolated microfracture and DMAC augmentation had similar rates and times to return-to-activities, and pain levels after 6-months post-operatively. The use of PRP to supplement DMAC improved early post- operative pain scores compared to BMAC which may be related to donor-site morbidity. Otherwise PRP and BMAC supplementation of DMAC had similar subsequent pain scores, and rate and time to return to activities. Augmentation of microfracture with DMAC for OLTs may improve outcomes compared to microfracture alone. more...

Past studies have indicated strong family bonds may act to buffer against adolescent substance abuse. However, this relationship is not clear, particularly when multiple substances and family dysfunction are examined. In this study, the relationship between alcohol use, marijuana use, and tobacco use and parental relationships were examined in 570 elementary and high school students. Results indicated that support in parent– child relationships was found to be inversely correlated with teen substance use. Clinical implications are discussed in light of these results. more...

Two theories exist on the relationship between bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and aortapathy: Hemodynamic - aortic dilation results from shear stress of diseased BAV; Genetic - aorta is genetically abnormal and dilates independently of BAV disease progression. We explored these theories in patients more...