Aaenbaker3274

Hypertension is one of the main morbidity and mortality risk factors in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We investigated the association between the C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) and in-hospital mortality in patients with hypertensive COVID-19. A total of 176 patients with hypertension diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in this study. The CAR was compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Logistic regression analysis was used to detect independent predictors of mortality due to COVID-19 in patients with hypertension. A cutoff value of CAR was obtained for predicting in-hospital death in patients with hypertensive COVID-19. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for survival analysis in the study population. The CAR values were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors with hypertension. Moreover, the CAR was an independent predictor of in-hospital death in patients with hypertensive COVID-19, as shown in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded a cutoff value of 20.75 for the CAR for predicting in-hospital death in patients with hypertension. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients with hypertensive COVID-19 with a CAR value of ≥20.75 had a higher incidence of in-hospital death. The CAR might be used as an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with hypertensive COVID-19.Silent brain infarction (SBI) has been considered as a subclinical risk factor for symptomatic possible future stroke. We investigated the association between serum inflammatory markers and SBI. Patients (n = 54) diagnosed with SBI as the study group and 52 individuals as the control group were included in this study. Silent brain infarction is defined as a hyperintense lesion that was ≥3 mm in 1 dimension on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery T2-weighted magnetic resonance image, if the patient had normal neurological examination or had an abnormality that was not consistent with the brain lesion locations, after being evaluated by a neurologist. Serum endocan levels (P = .036) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP; P = .022) were significantly higher in patients with SBI than the controls. Pentraxin 3, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood count, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels were not significantly different when comparing the groups with and without SBI. There was a significant correlation (r = -0.196; P = .16) between hsCRP and endocan levels in the SBI group. Endocan, a novel biomarker of endothelial pathology, was significantly increased in patients with SBI and may be useful to predict the future risk of stroke.

The latest vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring guidelines for serious MRSA infections have made a pivotal change in dosing, switching from targeting trough levels to AUC dosing. Because of these new recommendations, antimicrobial stewardship programs across the country are tasked with implementing AUC based dosing.

To assess plans for institutional adoption of vancomycin AUC dosing programs and perceptions of currently used programs in hospitals across the US.

An electronic survey was distributed to members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy IDprn Listserv and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists between May and June 2020 to assess current institutional vancomycin dosing. Institutional program use and multiple software user parameters were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Two hundred two pharmacists responded to the survey with the majority practicing in institutions with 251-500 beds. Epacadostat nmr Most respondents have yet to implement AUC dosing (142/202, 70.3%) with many of them planning to do so in the next year (81/142, 57.0%). Of those that already implemented AUC dosing programs, purchased Bayesian software (23/60, 38.3%) and homemade software (21/60, 35.0%) were the 2 methods most frequently utilized. Purchased Bayesian software users were more likely to recommend their software to other institutions and ranked user friendliness higher compared to non-purchased software.

Most respondents have not made the switch to vancomycin AUC dosing, but there is a growing interest with many institutions looking to adopt a program within the next year.

Most respondents have not made the switch to vancomycin AUC dosing, but there is a growing interest with many institutions looking to adopt a program within the next year.Increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels have been associated with various pathologic processes such as increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Thus, it is not surprising that increased SUA is associated with various adverse outcomes including cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that increased SUA may be related to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Accumulating data also showed that elevated UA has pathophysiological role in the development of AMI. However, there are also studies showing that SUA is not related to the risk of AMI. In this narrative review, we summarized the recent literature data regarding SUA and AMI after providing some background information for the association between UA and coronary artery disease. Future studies will show whether decreasing SUA levels is beneficial for outcomes related to AMI and the optimum SUA levels for best outcomes in CV diseases.Four new aromatic polyketides including two diphenyl ethers (pseudopithoethers A-B, 1-2), one benzofuranone (pseudopithonone, 3) and one xanthone (pseudopithoxanthone, 4), along with two known compounds (5-6) and one new naturally occurring hydroquinone (α,2,5-trihydroxyacetophenone, 7) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Pseudopithomyces maydicus PSU-AMF350. Their structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data. All isolated compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity. Only compound 7 displayed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with the MIC value of 128 µg/mL and against S. aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii NPRC005 and A. baumannii NPRC007 with the same MIC value of 200 µg/mL.