PURPOSE: Owing to the recommendations of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, protocol-based resuscitation or goal-directed therapy (GDT) is broadly advocated for the treatment of septic shock. However, the most recently published trials showed no survival benefit from protocol-based resuscitation in septic shock patients. Hence, we aimed to assess the effect of GDT on clinical outcomes in such patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review that included a meta-analysis. We used electronic search engines including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database to find studies comparing protocol-based GDT to common or standard care in patients with septic shock and severe sepsis. RESULTS: A total of 13269 septic shock patients in 24 studies were included [12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 12 observational studies]. The overall mortality odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for GDT versus conventional care was 0.746 (0.631-0.883). In RCTs only, the mortality OR (95% CI) for GDT versus conventional care in the meta-analysis was 0.93 (0.75-1.16). The beneficial effect of GDT decreased as more recent studies were added in an alternative, cumulative meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was found. CONCLUSION: The result of this meta-analysis suggests that GDT reduces mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. However, our cumulative meta-analysis revealed that the reduction of mortality risk was diminished as more recent studies were added.
Humans ; *Observational Studies as Topic ; *Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Resuscitation/*methods ; Shock, Septic/mortality/*therapy

PURPOSE: The delta neutrophil index (DNI) corresponds to evaluated immature granulocyte counts and severity of sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of DNI as a predictable laboratory marker for prolonged hospitalization in patients with acute pyelonephritis in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records in two EDs and screened eligible adult patients who were admitted to the ED with acute pyelonephritis from July 2012 to July 2014. The DNI was calculated for all patients as a part of routine complete blood analysis, and diagnostic performance of DNI for predicting prolonged hospitalization (over 14 days) in patients with acute pyelonephritis (APN) was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 308 patients with APN were enrolled in the study. Among them, 89 patients (29.9%) were hospitalized for more than 14 days. The initial DNI value was significantly higher in patients with more than 14 days of hospitalization than in those with less than 14 days of hospitalization (6% vs. 2%, p<0.001). The peak value of DNI was also significantly higher in patients discharged after 14 days of hospitalization than in those discharged before 14 days (8% vs. 2%, p<0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models showed that a DNI of more than 6.3 on ED admission day (hazard ratio [HR], 0.314; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.191-0.515, p<0.001) and on peak day (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.244-0.562, p=0.028) was an independent risk factor for hospitalization over 14 days. CONCLUSION: DNI is potentially useful as an independent factor for predicting hospitalization for more than 14 days.
Adult ; Biomarkers ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Granulocytes ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Pyelonephritis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the combined effects of vitamin D and daily calcium intake on bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study consisting of 1,921 Korean postmenopausal women aged 45 to 70 years without thyroid dysfunction, from the 2008–2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were classified into six groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and daily calcium intake. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at femur and at lumbar spine, and the serum vitamin D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The BMD divided according to serum 25(OH)D and daily calcium intakes were not statistically different among the groups. However, when both daily calcium intake and serum 25(OH)D were not sufficient, risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis showed significant increase in both femur neck and lumbar spine (odds ratio [OR] 2.242, P=0.006; OR 3.044, P=0.001; respectively). Although daily calcium intake was sufficient, risks of osteopenia and osteoporosis significantly increased in lumbar spine group if serum 25(OH)D is <20 ng/mL (OR 2.993, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The combined effects of insufficient daily calcium intake and vitamin D deficiency may cause low BMD and increase in prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women aged 45 to 70 years.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcium* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause ; Nutrition Surveys ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence ; Radioimmunoassay ; Spine ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: Although studies regarding dental developmental disturbances after childhood cancer treatment have increased, they have many limitations. Studies analyzing the significance of independent clinical risk factors with regard to the dental health status are also rare. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for dental developmental disturbances, particularly severe disturbances, in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral examinations and retrospective reviews of medical and panoramic radiographs were performed for 196 CCS (mean age, 15.6 years). Cancer type, age at diagnosis, treatment modality, type and accumulated dose of administered drugs, and dose and site of radiation were recorded. Dental developmental disturbances were diagnosed using panoramic radiographs and graded for severity according to the Modified Dental Defect Index (MDDI). Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyseswere performed to determine the association between dental abnormalities and clinical factors. RESULTS: In total, 109 CCS (55.6%) exhibited at least one dental anomaly, and the median value of MDDI was 2.5. Microdontia (30.6%) was the most prevalent anomaly, followed by tooth agenesis (20.4%), V-shaped roots (14.8%), and taurodontism (10.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed that a young age at diagnosis (≤ 3 years), a history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the use of multiple classes of chemotherapeutic agents (≥ 4 classes), and the use of heavy metal agents were significant risk factors for severe dental disturbances. CONCLUSION: CCS with any of the above risk factors for severe developmental disturbances should be comprehensively followed up to minimize adverse consequences to their dental development and preserve their future dental health.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odontogenesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Survivors* ; Tooth ; Tooth Abnormalities

PURPOSE: Descent of the uterus is a major etiology of uterine prolapse. However, true cervical elongation can cause uterine prolapse without uterine descent. The aim of study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of Manchester operation in patients with uterine prolapse caused by “true cervical elongation,” compared with vaginal hysterectomy (VH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent Manchester operation or VH from 2006 to 2015 were reviewed. True cervical elongation was defined on the basis of C point of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system ≥0 and D point ≤−4, as well as estimated cervical length of ≥5 cm. The primary outcome was recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) evaluated by POP-Q system. The outcomes of two groups were compared after propensity score matching, for age, parity, and preoperative POP-Q stage. RESULTS: During the study period, 23 patients underwent Manchester operation and 374 patients underwent VH. The recurrence rate of POP (p=0.317) and complication rate were not statistically significant different between the two study groups. Manchester operation exhibited shorter operation time than VH (p=0.033). In subgroup analysis (POP-Q stage III), body mass index [odds ratio (OR)=1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–2.81] and not having concurrent anterior colporrhaphy (OR for concurrent anterior colporrhaphy, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.75) were identified as significant risk factors for recurrence of POP. CONCLUSION: The Manchester operation technique seems to be an effective and safe alternative procedure for the treatment of uterine prolapse caused by true cervical elongation, compared with VH.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Medical Records ; Parity ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Propensity Score ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Prolapse ; Uterus