Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of switching to faricimab for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) demonstrating a limited response to prior anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatments. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with neovascular AMD who had residual subretinal fluid (SRF) or intraretinal fluid (IRF) despite treatment with ranibizumab or aflibercept, and who were subsequently treated with faricimab. The study assessed changes in best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) and central retinal thickness (CRT), as well as differences in the incidence of SRF, IRF, and serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment (S-PED) with versus without switching to faricimab. Results: The study included 22 eyes. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.31 ± 0.21 before switching to faricimab to 0.28 ± 0.19 after the switch (p = 0.172). CRT significantly decreased from 336.7 ± 83.3 to 279.9 ± 51.1 μm (p = 0.002). Prior to switching, SRF was noted in 17 patients (94.4%), IRF in 5 (27.8%), and S-PED in 4 (22.2%). Following the switch to faricimab, these figures dropped to 13 (72.2%), 4 (22.2%), and 3 (16.7%), respectively. A complete resolution of retinal edema was achieved in four patients (22.2%) after the treatment switch. Conclusions Switching to faricimab in patients with neovascular AMD who had a limited response to previous treatments led to significant anatomical improvements. Faricimab may be a valuable treatment option for these patients.

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Myotonic Dystrophy* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Unlike other diseases, the management of sepsis has not been fully integrated in our daily practice. The aim of this study was to determine whether repeated training could improve compliance with a 6-h resuscitation bundle in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: Repeated education regarding a sepsis bundle was provided to the intensive care unit and emergency department residents, nurses, and faculties in a single university hospital. The educational program was led by a multidisciplinary team. A total of 175 adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were identified (88 before and 87 after the educational program). Hemodynamic resuscitation bundle and timely antibiotics administration were measured for all cases and mortality at 28 days after sepsis diagnosis was evaluated. RESULTS: The compliance rate for the sepsis resuscitation bundle before the educational program was poor (0%), and repeated training improved it to 80% (p < 0.001). The 28-day mortality was significantly lower in the intervention group (16% vs. 32%, p = 0.040). Within the intervention group, patients for whom the resuscitation bundle was successfully completed had a significantly lower 28-day mortality than other patients (11% vs. 41%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated education led by a multidisciplinary team and interdisciplinary communication improved the compliance rate of the 6-h resuscitation bundle in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. Compliance with the sepsis resuscitation bundle was associated with improved 28-day mortality in the study population.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Compliance ; Critical Pathways ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Mortality ; Resuscitation* ; Sepsis* ; Shock, Septic

A 46-year-old female patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after liver transplantation. About an hour later after the ICU admission, she had no pupillary light reflex. Both pupils were also fixed at 5 mm. Patients who undergo liver transplantation are susceptible to neurologic disorders including hepatic encephalopathy, thromboembolism and intracranial hemorrhage. Abnormal pupillary light reflex usually indicates a serious neurologic emergency in these patients; however, benign neurologic disorders such as peripheral autonomic neuropathy or Holmes-Adie syndrome should also be considered. We experienced a case of fixed pupillary light reflex after liver transplantation diagnosed as peripheral autonomic neuropathy.
Adie Syndrome ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System Diseases ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Pupil ; Reflex* ; Reflex, Pupillary ; Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is administered for a few days after lung transplantation (LTx) in recipients who are expected to have early graft dysfunction. Despite its life-saving potential, immediate postoperative ECMO has life-threatening complications such as postoperative bleeding. We investigated the risk factors related to the use of immediate postoperative ECMO. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 60 LTx patients who were at our institution from October 2012 to May 2015. Perioperative variables associated with postoperative ECMO were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 26 patients who received postoperative ECMO (ECMO group) and 34 patients who did not (control group). Multivariate regression analysis revealed preoperative ECMO (odds ratio [OR] 12.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.34 - 117.24, p = 0.027) and lower peripheral pulse oxymetry saturation (SpO2) at the end of surgery (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54 - 0.95, p = 0.019) were independent risk factors for postoperative ECMO in LTx patients. The incidences of complications, such as re-operation, tracheostomy, renal failure and postoperative atrial fibrillation, were higher in the ECMO group. There was no difference in the duration of postoperative intensive care unit stay or postoperative 30-day mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative ECMO and lower SpO2 at the end of surgery were associated with postoperative ECMO. Further, postoperative adverse events were higher in the ECMO group compared with the control group. This study suggests that determination of postoperative ECMO requires careful consideration because of the risks of postoperative ECMO in LTx patients.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung Transplantation ; Lung* ; Mortality ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Tracheostomy ; Transplants ; Weaning

Neurological complications following liver transplantation are more common than after other organ transplants. These complications include seizure in about 8% of cases, which is associated with morbidity and mortality. Seizure should be treated immediately, and the process of differential diagnosis has to be performed appropriately in order to avoid permanent neurologic deficit. We herein report a case of status epilepticus after liver transplantation. The status epilepticus was treated promptly and the cause of seizure was assessed. The patient was discharged without any complication.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus* ; Transplants

Opioid-induced chest wall rigidity is an uncommon complication of opioids. Because of this, it is often difficult to make a differential diagnosis in a mechanically ventilated patient who experiences increased airway pressure and difficulty with ventilation. A 76-year-old female patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery for periprosthetic fracture of the femur neck. On completion of the surgery, airway pressure was increased, and oxygen saturation fell below 95% after a bolus dose of fentanyl. After ICU admission, the same event recurred. Manual ventilation was immediately started, and a muscle relaxant relieved the symptoms. There was no sign or symptom suggesting airway obstruction or asthma on physical examination. Early recognition and treatment should be made in a mechanically ventilated patient experiencing increased airway pressure in order to prevent further deterioration.
Aged ; Airway Obstruction ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Asthma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Muscle Rigidity ; Oxygen ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Physical Examination ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Ventilation

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) was introduced in 1983 to describe a clinical syndrome seen within 6 h of a plasma-containing blood products transfusion. TRALI is a rare transfusion complication; however, the FDA has suggested that TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related mortality. Understanding the pathogenesis of TRALI will facilitate adopting preventive strategies, such as deferring high plasma volume female product donors. This review outlines the clinical features, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of TRALI.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality ; Plasma Volume ; Prognosis ; Tissue Donors

Purpose: To assess long-term clinical results following bilateral Tecnis Symfony ZXR00 intraocular lens implantation with mini-monovision. Methods: The medical records of cataract patients who underwent bilateral implantation of ZXR00 with intended mini-monovision (target refraction of –0.3 diopters [D] in dominant eye and –0.6 D in nondominant eye) between April 2019 and March 2021 were assessed. Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance VA (CDVA), uncorrected intermediate VA (UIVA), uncorrected near VA (UNVA), and rate of spectacle dependence for near distance were investigated at 3 months and 2 years after surgery. Results: This study included 61 patients (122 eyes) with average age of 61.8 ± 7.7 years. At 2 years postoperatively, binocular logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution UDVA, UIVA, UNVA, and CDVA were 0.086 ± 0.094, 0.056 ± 0.041, 0.140 ± 0.045, and 0.012 ± 0.024, respectively. The monocular manifest refraction spherical equivalent was –0.31 ± 0.38 in the dominant eye and –0.53 ± 0.47 in the nondominant eye at 3 months postoperatively, and –0.38 ± 0.43 in the dominant eye and –0.61 ± 0.54 in the nondominant eye at 2 years postoperatively. Eight out of 61 patients (13.1%) needed glasses 3 months after surgery, and nine out of 61 patients (14.8%) needed glasses 2 years after surgery. Conclusions The bilateral implantation of ZXR00s with mini-monovision allows for a good VA at wide range of distance from far to near, thereby resulting in high rate of spectacle independence. These results have held up well even after 2 years after surgery.

Natural killer (NK) cells are gaining growing attention due to their promise for immunotherapy. A fast and accurate system is needed to test NK cell biology and their therapeutic application. Here, we report a lung cancer organoid-based system to evaluate NK cells’ cytotoxicity. We first established the lung cancer organoids on top of Matrigel, which allows the co-culture with NK cells. When co-cultured, NK cells moved close to and inside the lung cancer organoids. When we analyzed by flow cytometry, co-culture of NK cells induced a significantly higher ratio of cell death of lung cancer organoids, suggesting that lung cancer organoids can be employed to test the cytotoxicity of NK cells. Finally, the pre-treatment of NK cells with A83-01, a TGFβ inhibitor, significantly enhanced the cell death of lung cancer organoids by NK cells, indicating that lung cancer organoid-based system faithfully recapitulates cell line-based system in evaluating the in vitro cytotoxicity of NK cells. These data represent that cancer organoid-based NK cell co-culture system is a reliable platform for studying NK cell biology and evaluating their cytotoxicity for screening for NK cell immunotherapy.