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Background: Various cutoffs have been used to diagnose computed tomography (CT)‐defined low skeletal muscle mass; however, the impact of this variability on predicting physical functional limitations (PFL) remains unclear. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic test metrics for predicting PFLs using a fixed cutoff value from previous reports and sought to create a prediction score that incorporated the skeletal muscle index (SMI) and other clinical factors. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study including 237 patients with lung cancer, the SMI was assessed using CT‐determined skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra. Physical function was assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, with PFL defined as an SPPB score ≤9. We analyzed the diagnostic metrics of the five previous cutoffs for CT‐defined low skeletal muscle mass in predicting PFL. Results: The mean age of participants was 66.0 ± 10.4 years. Out of 237 patients, 158 (66.7%) had PFLs. A significant difference was observed in SMI between individuals with and without PFLs (35.7 cm2/m2 ± 7.8 vs. 39.5 cm2/m2 ± 8.4, p < 0.001). Diagnostic metrics of previous cutoffs in predicting PFL showed suboptimal sensitivity (63.29%–91.77%), specificity (11.39%–50.63%), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values (0.516–0.592). Age and the SMI were significant predictors of PFL; therefore, a score for predicting PFL (age – SMI + 21) was constructed, which achieved an AUC value of 0.748. Conclusion: Fixed cutoffs for CT‐defined low skeletal muscle mass may inadequately predict PFLs, potentially overlooking declining physical functions in patients with lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Maternal obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea (OSAH) is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). OSAH treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) in the general population lowers blood pressure (BP). However, there are limited data on the effects of PAP therapy in maternal OSAH. Objectives: Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility of recruitment to a pilot randomized trial and adherence to PAP therapy for OSAH in women with HDP. Secondary objectives included assessment of PAP effects on 24-h BP, arterial stiffness, and maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: Women with singleton pregnancies at ⩾12 weeks' gestation and hypertension underwent home level 2 polysomnography; those with mild to moderate OSAH (apnea–hypopnea index ⩾ 5 events/h; women with severe OSAH with apnea–hypopnea index > 30 events/h and oxygen desaturation index > 30 were excluded) were randomized to either PAP or nasal dilator strip (NDS; control) therapy. After PAP education, adherence was monitored online with episodic phone or in-person support by research personnel. Twenty-four-hour BP and arterial stiffness were assessed at baseline and before delivery. Maternal and fetal outcomes were also recorded. Results: Of 105 potentially eligible participants, 67 agreed to undergo screening for OSAH over 38 months; 48 women meeting OSAH inclusion criteria were randomized to PAP (n = 27) or NDS (n = 21) therapy. Of these, 14 PAP (52%) and 13 NDS (62%) participants completed all predelivery measurements, with lack of completion due to urgent delivery (19% in the PAP group, 14% in the NDS group), PAP intolerance at initiation (19%), or other factors. Mean PAP use was 3.1 ± 2.5 h/night, with use ⩾4 h/night on 38.4 ± 33.7% of nights during 9.6 ± 4.0 weeks of treatment. BP was controlled within the target range in most participants. There were no differences in mean change in 24-hour BP or arterial stiffness measurements or in adverse maternal and fetal outcomes between the PAP and NDS groups in either intention-to-treat or per-protocol analyses. Conclusions: PAP adherence was suboptimal in this HDP cohort despite education and troubleshooting. Further work is required to identify optimal OSAH treatment strategies during pregnancy. Clinical trial registered with (NCT 03309826). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to assess the association between admission-corrected serum calcium phosphate (CaPO 4 ) levels and the risks of in-hospital acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality, hypothesizing a dose-dependent relationship between serum CaPO 4 concentrations and the likelihood of developing AKI., Methods: This large retrospective cohort study analyzed hospitalized adult patients who had serum calcium, phosphate, and albumin levels measured within 24 hours of admission between January 2014 and December 2018. Piecewise regression was employed to identify the optimal CaPO 4 cutoff values for predicting in-hospital AKI and mortality. Subsequently, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality associated with these cutoff values., Results: A total of 2,116 patients were included in the study. The incidence rates of AKI for patients with CaPO 4 levels ≤27 and >27 mg 2 /dL 2 were 9.6% and 10.9%, respectively. The bilinear association pattern revealed the lowest risk of AKI at a CaPO 4 level of 27 mg 2 /dL 2 . Piecewise regression analysis showed that each 1 mg 2 /dL 2 increase in CaPO 4 level above the 27 mg 2 /dL 2 cutoff was associated with increased risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality, with OR of 1.048 (95% CI: 1.030-1.065) and 1.048 (95% CI: 1.032-1.065), respectively., Conclusion: Our findings indicate a critical relationship between elevated serum CaPO 4 levels and increased risks of in-hospital AKI and mortality, with a notable cutoff at CaPO 4 >27 mg 2 /dL 2 ., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethics Committee of the Prince of Songkla University issued approval 62-175-14-4. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Jetanapirom et al.)

Objective: Explore the definitive diagnoses of imaging-guided transthoracic needle biopsies (TNB) with a pathological result of benign non-specific diagnosis in a tuberculosis-endemic area. The secondary goal was to characterize the initial CT imaging findings between malignancy and benign lesions., Material and Method: All TNB diagnoses considered to have benign non-specific features at the Radiology Department between January 2007 andDecember 2011 were retrospectively reviewedfor definitive diagnosis based on clinical impressions andfor CT imaging characteristics., Results: Sixty-seven cases with TNB were given a benign non-specific diagnosis and had complete pathologic or radiologic follow-ups. Of these 67 cases, 16 (23.9%) were malignant and 51 were benign. Two main definitive diagnoses of benign cases were pulmonary tuberculosis (32.8%) and pneumonia/lung abscess (23.9%). On the CT images, most of lesions in the group of pulmonary tuberculosis (14/22, 63.6%) were not enhanced after contrast administration (p < 0.005), and necrotic mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly found more in final malignancy diagnoses (p < 0.005)., Conclusion: The definitive diagnoses of benign non-specific diagnoses based on TNB in this tuberculosis-endemic area had a high rate of both malignancy and pulmonary tuberculosis. Hence, repeated biopsies or radiological follow-ups are advised.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage of exudative pleural effusion., Material and Method: The present study was a retrospective analysis of 412 pleural effusions from 373 patients that underwent ultrasound-guided small-bore catheter drainage in exudative pleural effusions between 2004 and 2009., Results: The two most common causes for drainage were parapneumonic effusion or empyema (52.2%) and malignant effusion (30.3%), while the remains were trauma, iatrogenic, and others. Overall clinical success rate was 76.5%. The success rate was lower among malignant pleural effusion (p = 0.003). Causes of effusion were the only independent predictors related to success. Only five (1.2%) patients developed complication during the procedure. Seventy-five of 412 effusions (15.8%) developed complication during the period of drainage; the majority were drain blockage (9%) and accidental dislodgment (4.1%)., Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided small-bore catheter drainage was a safe and efficient procedure for exudative pleural effusions.