Sun, Zhuo; Sessler, Daniel I.; Dalton, Jarrod E.; Devereaux, P. J.; Shahinyan, Aram; Naylor, Amanda J.; Hutcherson, Matthew T.; Finnegan, Patrick S.; Tandon, Vikas; Darvish-Kazem, Saeed; Chugh, Shaan; Alzayer, Hussain; Kurz, Andrea Author Information

BACKGROUND:The incidence, severity, and duration of postoperative oxygen desaturation in the general surgical population are poorly characterized. We therefore used continuous pulse oximetry to quantify arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a cross-section of patients having noncardiac surgery. METHODS:Oxygen saturation, blinded to clinicians, was recorded at 1-minute intervals in patients >45 years old for up to 48 hours after noncardiac surgery in 1250 patients from Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and 250 patients from the Juravinski Hospital. We determined (1) the cumulative minutes of raw minute-by-minute values below various hypoxemic thresholds; and (2) the contiguous duration of kernel-smoothed (sliding window) values below various hypoxemic thresholds. Finally, we compared our blinded continuous values with saturations recorded during routine nursing care. RESULTS:Eight hundred thirty-three patients had sufficient data for analyses. Twenty-one percent had ≥10 min/h with raw SpO2 values <90% averaged over the entire recording duration; 8% averaged ≥20 min/h <90%; and 8% averaged ≥5 min/h <85%. Prolonged hypoxemic episodes were common, with 37% of patients having at least 1 (smoothed) SpO2 <90% for an hour or more; 11% experienced at least 1 episode lasting ≥6 hours; and 3% had saturations <80% for at least 30 minutes. Clinical hypoxemia, according to nursing records, measured only in Cleveland Clinic patients (n = 594), occurred in 5% of the monitored patients. The nurses missed 90% of smoothed hypoxemic episodes in which saturation was <90% for at least one hour. CONCLUSIONS:Hypoxemia was common and prolonged in hospitalized patients recovering from noncardiac surgery. The SpO2 values recorded in medical records seriously underestimated the severity of postoperative hypoxemia.

Background Rituximab is commonly used as a treatment for primary immune thrombocytopenia to induce and maintain remission. The benefit of adding rituximab to standard-of-care treatment is uncertain.Methods We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of rituximab for treatment of adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia. We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane database in duplicate and independently from inception up to July 31, 2014, for relevant studies. Primary outcomes were the proportion of patients achieving a complete platelet count response and a partial platelet count response (as defined in primary studies) that was maintained until the end of follow-up. We also assessed bleeding, infection, and infusion reactions.Findings Our database search returned 468 abstracts, of which five trials (with total of 463 patients) were eligible for analysis. No patients had splenectomy at the time of enrolment. Median follow-up was 6 months (IQR 6-12). Complete response (> 100 x 10(9) platelets per L without rescue therapy) was more common with rituximab than with standard of care (weighted proportions: 46.8% vs 32.5%; relative risk [RR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.13-1.77; p=0.0020). Partial response was not significantly different between groups (57.6% vs 46.7%; RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.95-1.67; p=0.11). Rituximab was not associated with a reduction in bleeding (9.2% vs 5.2%; RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.63-2.87; p=0.44) or an increase in infections (20.1% vs 12.1%; RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.87-2.26; p=0.17).Interpretation Rituximab can improve complete platelet count responses by 6 months in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Evidence for sustained responses beyond 6-12 months is limited. Clinicians must consider the goals of treatment before prescribing rituximab.

Individuals are eligible to claim Social Security benefits between the ages of 62 and 70. While the actuarial present value of benefits for each individual is supposed to be unchanged, regardless of the age at which they are claimed, previous research has shown that this is not true. This paper aims to analyze the impact that interest rates have on the present value of the benefits and attempts to study how different interest rate expectations affect the optimal age at which to claim Social Security. The methodology used in this paper differs from that used in previous studies; I introduce a dynamic interest rate model based on forward rates under both a deterministic and stochastic approach to calculate the Net Present Value associated with different claim ages so as to identify the optimal claim age. The results of this paper display that under certain assumptions, it is advantageous for both men and women to begin claiming retirement benefits early ‐ between the ages of 62 and 65. Moreover, the results indicate that there are significant losses associated with delaying claims beyond the optimal claim age.

For patients with chronic renal failure, peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a common, life sustaining form of renal replacement therapy that is used worldwide. Exposure to nonbiocompatible dialysate, inflammation, and uremia induces longitudinal changes in the peritoneal membrane. Application of molecular biology techniques has led to advances in our understanding of the mechanism of injury of the peritoneal membrane. This understanding will allow for the development of strategies to preserve the peritoneal membrane structure and function. This may decrease the occurrence of PD technique failure and improve patient outcomes of morbidity and mortality.

Abstract Background Rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody is commonly used to treat immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of rituximab are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to determine a more precise estimate of the effect of rituximab on platelet count response in adults with ITP. Methods We searched MEDLINE (from 1946), EMBASE (from 1980), and the Cochrane database using the MeSH terms antibodies, monoclonal, and purpura thrombocytopenia idiopathic and the textwords rituximab, rituxan, mabthera, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. In duplicate, two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, abstracted data and assessed each study for methodological quality. Results We identified 4 RCTs (n=360) that met our eligibility criteria. Each trial compared rituximab to placebo combined with other ITP treatments, including dexamethasone, or standard of care. Each trial enrolled non-splenectomized patients only. The likelihood of achieving a platelet count >100 x109/L at 6 months was greater with rituximab than placebo (relative risk [RR] 1.38, 95% CI 1.08-1.76). More patients receiving rituximab achieved a platelet count greater than 50 x109/L at 6 months (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.18-1.80) compared to placebo. Rituximab was not associated with a reduction in the risk of any bleeding (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.55-4.04) or an increase in the risk of infection (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.74-2.38). Conclusions Rituximab is associated with a modest increase in the likelihood of achieving a platelet count greater than >100 x109/L at 6 months compared to placebo. No significant reduction in bleeding or increased risk of infection was observed at 6 months. Randomized trials were generally small, with relatively short follow-up. Large pragmatic multicenter comparative trials are needed to examine durability of response over a longer period of follow-up. Disclosures: Arnold: Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Hoffman-LaRoche: Research Funding. Lim:Leo Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria. Crowther:Asahi Kasai: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Baxter: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; Leo Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Viropharma: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees.