METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was done to explore the association between dengue serotypes and the various complications. All patients who underwent dengue serotyping from 1st January to 31st December 2018 in Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital were selected. Serotypes were randomly done for admitted dengue patients. Notes were then retrieved for data collection. Secondary outcomes like length of stay and highest lactate level were also studied. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.

RESULT: A total of 193 patient records were included in the analysis. Chi-square test for independence indicated that the proportion of dengue complications between male and female were significantly different (χ2(1) = 11.37, p = 0.001). Dengue serotype was not associated with the development of dengue complications, total number of dengue complications, length of admission, lactate level and survival among the serotypes. Results of the binary logistic regression showed that men have thrice the odds (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.6 6.7) for developing dengue complications. One patient was found to be co-infected with serotype 2 and 3.

Patients and methods: This single-blind, prospective, randomized-controlled study included a total of 20 patients (8 males, 12 females; mean age: 53.5±13.8; range, 31 to 82 years) with chronic neuropathic pain between January 2014 and June 2014. The patients were randomized to BEST (n=10) or placebo (n=10) group. Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale, and serum cortisol levels were measured before and after treatment.

Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline demographics, diagnosis, and treatment modalities between the groups. Approximately 50% patients in the treatment group reported that the treatment was effective, compared to 30% in the placebo group. Pain score reduction after treatment in the BEST group was significant (p<0.05), while it was not significant in the placebo group (p=0.4). Cortisol levels significantly reduced only in the BEST group after treatment (p=0.013).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre case-control study was conducted in which patients admitted with stroke and healthy controls were recruited with consent. EEG was performed within 48 hours of admission for stroke patients and during outpatient assessments for controls. The EEG signals were pre-processed, analysed for spectral power using MATLAB, and plotted as topoplots.

RESULTS: A total of 194 participants were included and equally divided into patients with ischemic stroke and controls. The mean age of our study cohort was 55.11 years (SD±13.12), with a median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 6 (IQR 4-6) and lacunar stroke was the most common subtype (49.5%). Spectral analysis, with subsequent topographic brain mapping, highlighted clustering of important channels within the beta, alpha, and gamma bands.

METHODS: Using data from a multicenter, cluster-randomized controlled trial, this secondary analysis involved patients with baseline circulatory shock as defined by a cardiovascular Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of two or more. Patients were dichotomized into transient or persistent circulatory shock depending on the duration, while transient circulatory shock was defined by the resolution of shock within the first day of enrollment. Early enteral nutrition was defined as the initiation of enteral nutrition within 48 h after intensive care unit admission. The association between early enteral nutrition and a composite outcome (presence of any organ failure on study day 10 or 28-day mortality) was investigated by multivariable and propensity-score-weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty-five patients were included in the analysis, and early enteral nutrition was administered to 385 patients (49.0 %) in the whole study cohort. In patients with transient circulatory shock (n = 527), 221 patients (41.9 %) received early enteral nutrition, and in those with persistent circulatory shock (n = 258), 164 patients (63.6 %) did so. For the overall cohort, there was no difference in the incidence of primary composite outcome between early enteral nutrition and 'no early enteral nutrition ' groups (adjusted odd ratio 0.84, 95 % confidence interval 0.60-1.18) after adjustment for potential confounders. In patients with transient circulatory shock, receipt of early enteral nutrition, compared to no early enteral nutrition, was significantly associated with reduced incidence of the composite outcome (adjusted odd ratio 0.63, 95 % confidence interval 0.41-0.95, p = 0.027). On the contrary, there is no association between early enteral nutrition and the incidence of the composite outcome in patients with persistent circulatory shock (adjusted odd ratio 1.28, 95 % confidence interval 0.64-2.58, p = 0.485). The results of propensity-weighted multivariable analysis conform to the primary analysis.

METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2022 (MEDLINE via Ovid, EMBASE via Ovid, CINAHL via Healthcare Databases Advanced Search, CENTRAL via Cochrane). Studies were included if they examined at least one clinimetric property of a CONCISE measurement instrument or recognised variation in adults ≥ 18 years with critical illness or recovering from critical illness in any language. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist for systematic reviews of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures was used. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used in line with COSMIN guidance. The COSMIN checklist was used to evaluate the risk of bias and the quality of clinimetric properties. Overall certainty of the evidence was rated using a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Narrative synthesis was performed and where possible, meta-analysis was conducted.

RESULTS: A total of 4316 studies were screened. Forty-seven were included in the review, reporting data for 12308 participants. The Short Form-36 Questionnaire (Physical Component Score and Physical Functioning), sit-to-stand test, 6-m walk test and Barthel Index had the strongest clinimetric properties and certainty of evidence. The Short Physical Performance Battery, Katz Index and handgrip strength had less favourable results. There was limited data for Lawson Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. The risk of bias ranged from inadequate to very good. The certainty of the evidence ranged from very low to high.

CONCLUSIONS: Variable evidence exists to support the clinimetric properties of the CONCISE measurement instruments. We suggest using this review alongside CONCISE to guide outcome selection for future trials of nutrition and metabolic interventions in critical illness.