1. A JC is an academic session where we go through a scientific article for 1 hour.
2. It takes place every Friday.
3. Its purpose is to understand and discuss relevant elements about the content taking interactive and pedagogic notes (highlighting, underlining and using other learning resources) about the content.
4. We generate further appraisal, identify the opportunities of learning and formulate some potential research questions.
5. We write down the key-points of every session and publish them on our website
6. The article for the next session is posted one week in advance the must-read JC channel of our DISCORD server.

Friday, January 26, 2024, at 18h BO

VFP, HIBN, AAQC

2023 CC - Anticoagulation options for continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Zhou) [RCT]


1. The point to understand vulnerability without risking excellence
2. Tension between once-acceptable workplace demands and well-being is hardly unique to medicine.
3. Discomfort is part of the human condition and a prerequisite for learning (Mitchell)
4. The ability to discern (oppression ๐Ÿ†š violence) the difference is a form of EMOTIONAL MATURITY we should encourage
5. While most trainees were striving for excellence, a vocal minority could set the tone โ€” and shape perceptions โ€” for the majority.
6. Daily racism is different from being asked if youโ€™re old enough to be a doctor OR burn-out ๐Ÿ†š depression
7. Doctor posts a twitter about success and is interpreted as offense (those who work hard, are burned out).
8. Resident telling a female attendant about how difficult is to be a woman in medicine (asking her to โ€œsmile moreโ€)
9. Does the pursuit of excellence conflict with the pursuit of wellbeing?
10. The heightened sensitivity regarding expectations of excellence impedes our ability to give candid constructive feedback.
11. โ€œHow far weโ€™ve fallenโ€
12. Pretending to be someone example โžฉ changing her hairโ€ฆ her voiceโ€ฆ being naiveโ€ฆ โ€œplaying a performanceโ€
13. Invocations of harm thus often force a moral choice: Are you with the victim or the victimizer?


โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
Round: 9 21:29:46 Wrap-up
Round: 8 05:57:01 Questioning the narrative
Round: 7 02:30:75 Playing the game
Round: 6 11:54:78 Playing the game
Round: 5 07:38:08 Constructive criticism
Round: 4 13:46:67 Excellence as offense
Round: 3 23:38:95 New hierarchy
Round: 2 15:32:11 Intro
Round: 1 06:15:19 Selecting ART

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 17:15 BE

HIBN, GIP, AAQC

2024 ICM - A randomised controlled trial of a nurse facilitator to promote communication for family members of CI pxs (Kentishโ€‘Barnes) [RCT].pdf

ICU LOS = ICU length of stay, MV = mechanical ventilation, H+_MM = hospital mortality, ITW = interviews, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale = HADS

1. Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– PICO:
2. 2024, ICM, FR โž– RCT โž• 385 pxs โž• 2020-2023 โž– PICO:
   - P: ICU pxs families
   - I: nurse facilitators communication & support
   - C: standard communication by ICU clinicians
   - O: pOC = family symptoms of depression โž• sOC = HADS-anxiety, event scale-6, QUAL-E
3. Importance:
   - Psychological burden = anxiety, depression & post traumatic stress
   - Communication = skills, goals of care, confidence & biliefs
   - Family satisfaction = influenced by hospital culture
   - Previous interventions (px navigation, discharge planning, care coordination) = โ†˜๏ธ re-hospitalizations
4. Methods:
   - Co-designed with J. Randall Curtis
   - 5 university H+
   - Table 1 explored: MV same % in I + C โž• ICU LOS = same % in I + C
   - IN pxs: adults + expected LOS โ‰ฅ2d + chronic life-timing illness (SS >2y + SOFA H+_MM >15%), FR speaking, visiting relatives, informed OR deferred consent
   - IN families: adults + FR speaking + legal surrogates + w_informed consent
5. Procedures:
   - 2-day training session for training facilitators by EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS (EC)
   - EC w_expertise in clinical communication skills, use of attachment theory, and mediation.
6. The facilitatorsโ€™ role = help families prepare for ITW w_docto, considering:
   - what information did they want to share
   - what questions did they want to ask
   - what difficulties were they experiencing
   - what were their specific needs
   - once these were identified, the facilitator would strive to help families express these questions/difficulties/needs.
7. The control:
   - open visitation policies
   - multidisciplinary D3 meeting to review (DX, TTO, PROG)
   - Meetings when deemed necessary - The possibility to meet with a psychologist ยฑ a social worker.

8. Results: - pOC โžฉ HADS at 6m - sOC โžฉ anxiety, PTS, goal-concordant care, QOL9. Limitations: โ€ฆ to continueโ€ฆ

Friday, May 10, 2024 at 17h15 at BE

HIBN, AAQC

2024 ICM - Systemic inflammation and delirium during critical illness (brummel) [R].pdf

Glossary: oDYS = dysfunction; CI = cognitive impairment


1. 2024, ICM, USA โž– prospective cohort โž• 991 (5 centers)โž• 3y (Jan 2007 - Dec 2010) โž– PICO:
   - P: BRAIN-ICU + MIND-ICU. ๐Ÿซ failure + SHOCK (>18y)
   - I: samples (CRP, IFN-โˆ‚, IL-1รŸ, MMP-9, TNF-alfa, TNFR1, prot C) + mental status (RASS, CAM-ICU) โžฉ association delirium โŒ„ coma
   - C: normal mental status (next day)
   - O: โ€œassociationโ€
2. Importance + background:
   - Delirium affects 1/2 pxs w_Critical Illness.
   - Duration predicts: โ†—๏ธ MM + in survivors โ€œCI + daily activity disabilityโ€
   - Acute inflammation + โ†“ endogenous anticoagulant activity = oDYS
3. Justification:
   - Small sample size previous studies
   - Limited number of markers
   - Inconsistent associations
4. Methods
   - IN. โœ”๏ธŽ
   - EX. Acute oDYS for>72 h โž• a recent ICU stay>5 d โž• s_preexisting CI โž• inability to communicate in English.
   - Taken from PARENT STUDIES
5. Results. The following day: - Delirium = โ†‘ concentrations of IL-6 (OR 1.8), IL-8 (1.3), IL-10 (1.5), TNF-ฮฑ (1.2), and TNFR1 (1.3) and lower concentrations of protein C (0.7)

   - Coma = โ†‘ concentrations of CRP (1.4), IFN-ฮณ (1.3), IL-6 (2.3 ), IL-8 (1.8), and IL-10 (1.5) and lower concentrations of protein C (0.6) - IL-1ฮฒ, IL-12, MMP-9 โžฉ NOT associated w_mental status.

Friday, Nov 29, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

RCH, RICH, HIBN, AAQC

โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
01:02:41

Round: 2 22:12:52 Wrap-up

Round: 1 40:28:71 Article 1

Codified by AAQC

Glossary: w_MV = with mechanical ventilation; ICU MM = ICU mortality; in_H MM โ€Žโ€‰=โ€‰in hospital mortality; in_H stay = in hospital stay; nf_MV = need for mechanical ventilation; ๐™„๐™‰๐˜ผ๐˜ผ๐™Œ๐˜พ แดฎแดผ brief scope = year (Y), journal (J), country (C) โž– type of study (T) โž• number of patients/sample (N) โž• time (t) โž– population (P), intervention (I), comparison (C), outcome (O).


1. Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– PICO: โžฉ 2024, NCC, EGYPT โž– RCT โž• 100/344 โž• 4m โž– PICO:
   - P: adults in ICU w_MV
   - I: quetiapina
   - C: haloperidol
   - O:
       * primary โžฉ DRS-R-98 w_โ†“ โ‰ฅ50% and โ†“ to โ‰ค12
       * Secondary (6)โžฉ ICU MM + in_H MM + in_H stay + nf_MV + ICU stay + sleeping hours
2. Traditional use for DELIRIUM = haloperidol โ€“ new evidence towards atypical antipsychotics (quetiapine and risperidone)
3. RESULTS:
   - Response in 92%
   - sOC = NO DIFF
   - INT โ†“ ICU stay + โ†‘ sleeping hours per night โ€ฆ.

4. Written informed consent was obtained from the patientโ€™s legal guardian in a private room beside the ICU following approval by the research ethics committee, the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine at Alexandria University, and after thorough explanation of the benefits and risks of the study interventions. This studyโ€™s protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05690698).

Friday, Nov 22, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

RCH, RICH, ABFL, HIBN, AAQC

2024 EJHF - Applicability of heart failure clinical practice GL in low+middle-income countries (Zieroth) [R]

Codified by MAAT

Glossary: CH = Switzerland; HF = heart failure; GL = guidelines; TMA = Translational Medicine Academy; HIC = high-income country; LMIC = low-middle income countries; OC = outcome; pxs = patients; ๐™„๐™‰๐˜ผ๐˜ผ๐™Œ๐˜พ แดฎแดผ brief scope = year (Y), journal (J), country (C) โž– type of study (T) โž• number of patients/sample (N) โž• time (t) โž– population (P), intervention (I), comparison (C), outcome (O).


1. Bsss โžฉ 2024, EJHF, CH โž– int, internet-based survey โž• >2.5k clinicians โž• Oct - Nov 2023 โž–PICO:
   - P: clinicians HIC and LMIC
   - I: survey (email)
   - C: NA
   - O: applicability view of HF GL
2. METHODS
   - 1 original, 4 reminders (emails)
   - TMA database โžฉ non-profit medical education organization in Basel, CH. โžฉ OBJ = enhance Px care + โ†‘ OC โžฉ develop + disseminate research & education programs (conferences, website, webinars)
   - Variables: demographics, experience, views of HF GL
   - QuestionProยฎ โžฉ for dissemination + data accumulation
   - All multiple choice - one not analyzed (nature of responses)
3. STATS
   - Fisher exact + chi-squareโžฉ categorical
   - Unpaired t-test โžฉ continuous
   - HIC ๐Ÿ†š other counties compared
   - Continuous โžฉ mean (SE)
   - Categorical โžฉ number (%)
4. RESULTS
   - LMIC regarded HF GL to be โ†“ applicable ๐Ÿ†š HIC (p = 0.0002).
   - From all, >75% = somewhat or mostly true (mostly applicable to HIC)
   - Those from LMIC (not HIC) โžฉ the greatest implementation obstacle was that the guidelines were for HIC (51.3% vs. 43.1%; p = 0.0387).
   - A significantly higher proportion โžฉ resources were the problem

5. QUOTE: โ€œWhile it is not the intention that they be directed for clinicians and patients solely in the higher socio-economic environments, by the nature of the data and expertsโ€™ experience, and with appropriate attention to newer pharmaceuticals, devices, and interventions, the result is that they are perceived in that manner.โ€

December, 2024

6. RESULTS.
  - โ†“ d_ATBs
      * PCT ๐Ÿ†š SOC โžฉ โœ”
      * CRP ๐Ÿ†š SOC โžฉ โœ– (no difference)
  - MM28
      * PCT ๐Ÿ†š SOC โžฉ โœ– (noninferior)
7. RATIONALE.

  - Suspected sepsis = a_OD โ†” suspected INF

  - We did not mandate a definition for acute organ dysfunction.

โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
01:02:41

Round: 6 02:27:50 Comments
Round: 5 13:37:72 Comments
Round: 4 49:15:51 Evidence
Round: 3 19:40:68 Scope
Round: 2 01:46:38 ART selection
Round: 1 04:57:22 Past JC

Friday, Dec 13, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

RICH, OQC, JCAU, HIBN, GMC, DFM, AHO, AAQC

2024 JAMA - ADAPT, Biomarker-Guided Antibiotic Duration for Hospitalized Patients w_suspected S (dark) [RCT].pdf

Codified by 

Glossary: ๐Ÿซ = lungs; ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome; SS = Survival; ii = investigator initiated; mc = multicentric; int_ = international; SOC = standard of care; ICU LOS = ICU length of stay; H+ LOS โ€Žโ€‰=โ€‰Hospital length of stay; MV = mechanical ventilation; MM = mortality; MM28 = mortality at 28 days; MM90 = mortality at 90 days; ATB = antibiotics; d_ = duration; TTO = treatment; RES = resistance; bioM = biomarkers; SSC = surviving sepsis campaign; ENG = England; SCO = Scotland; p = primary; s = secondary; toci = tocilizumab; sari= sarilumab; RANDOM = randomization; INTERV = interventions; SX = surgery; โ›” = stop;

1. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS โžฉ Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– P I C O:
2. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS โžฉ 2024, JAMA, ENG + SCO โž– ii_mc_int_RCT โž• >2.5k (41 ICUs) โž• 2018-2024 (lockdown 2020)โž– P I C O:
   - P: adults, > โ™‚, suspected sepsis
   - I: CRP + PCT
   - C: standard
   - O: p โžฉ duration ATB + MM28 โž– s โžฉ LOS H+ โ€ฆICU + MM90
3. EVIDENCE.
  - Timely + appropriate ATB โžฉโ†—๏ธ OC
  - Optimal d_ATB โžฉ uncertain โž– decisions guided to stop ATB by clinical progress + bioM   

     (CRP and PCT) [ICM 2015, Albrich et al - Pros and cons of bioM ๐Ÿ†š clinical decisionsโ€ฆ].
  - Optimized d_ATB โžฉ a. โ†“ overTTO, b. โ›” unwanted effects, c. Preserves ATB effectiveness

     by โ†“ RES.
  - PCT use shows safe โ†“ of ATB d_ [CC 2018, Wirz et al - PCT-guided ATB on clinical OC] โ–ถ

     clinical trial evidence judged as โ€œlow qualityโ€ [Evans et al, ICM 2021 - SSC]
  - No consensus guidance for CRP [Evans et al, ICM 2021 - SSC]
4. METHODS.
  - IN โž  24h window bioM baseline
  - EX โž  required prolonged ATB (ie,>21days) โž– severely immunocompromised (not due to

    sepsis, neutrophils <500) โž– expected to receive IL-6 receptor โŠ– (toci, sari) d_acute phase

   โž–S TTOs likely to โ›” within_24h (futility) โž– declined consent + previousl enrolled
  - RANDOM โž  assignation (1:1:1) โž– stratification (severity, recruitment site, rec_SX) โž–

    allocation (web-based) 

  - INTERV โž  Blood (random to ATB โ›”, taken daily, )โž– standardized written advice (REF 10      & 11 for cuts-offs of PCT, CRP)โž– follow-up (when blood sampling โ›”) โž– IF ATB       

    reintroduced within 28d, NO need to resume/restart blood sampling โž– IF discharged with

    ATB for home, the study โ›”

Friday, Dec 06, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

RICH, OQC, GMC, DFM, AHO, HIBN, AAQC

2024 BMJ - Oxygen extraction guided transfusion strategy in CIpxs study protocol for RCT (Fogagnolo) [RCT].pdf

Codified by HIBN

Glossary: RBCT = red blood cell transfusion; HH = hemorrhage; ACS = acute coronary syndrome; wo_ = without; EX = exclusion; IN = inclusion; pxs = patients; MM90 = mortality at 90 days; โ†— = improve; โ†˜ = worsen; โ†‘ = increase; ๐Ÿ’จ = perfusion; ๐™„๐™‰๐˜ผ๐˜ผ๐™Œ๐˜พ แดฎแดผ brief scope = year (Y), journal (J), country (C) โž– type of study (T) โž• number of patients/sample (N) โž• time (t) โž– population (P), intervention (I), comparison (C), outcome (O).

1. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS โžฉ Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– PICO: โžฉ 2024, BMJ, IT + BE โž– ol_mc(3)_int(2)_RCT โž• >324 (162 Per arm) โž• X โž– PICO:
   - P: CI pxs + non-HH
   - I: RBCT (Hb โ‰ค9 + O2ERโ‰ฅ30%)
   - C: RBCT (ESICM GL)
   - O: MM + AKI
2. RBCT thresholds
   - ACS <9
   - ๐Ÿซ€ surgery OR major vascular <7.5
   - Malignancy <7 (ok <9)
   - Elderly (>80yo) <7 (<9)
3. Troponin I will be measured at inclusion + 24h later
4. O2ER will be validated as a physiological indicator to guide RBCT
5. IN
   - Labs mentioned
   - Arterial line + central venous line
6. EX
   - <18yo + pregnancy
   - Bleeding
   - Malignancy
   - Sick cell disease
   - Coagulation disorders
   - AKI S1 or CKD G3a (GFR <60)
7.




8. Transfusing with <O2ER was associated with โ†‘ mortality โžฉ SOOOO, RBCT might be deleterious when the cells use O2 adequately

9. O2ER showed good performance to identify the correct timing โžฉ implications in MM90. Fogagnolo (CC 2020)

10. O2ER based RCCT may โ†“ inc_AKI (โ†— DO2 + organ ๐Ÿ’จ)

โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
01:02:41

Round: 5 00:01:73 Final words

Round: 4 16:04:42 Wrap-up

Round: 3 01:27:41 ART

Round: 2 07:08:47 ART selection

Round: 1 04:18:24 Past JC

November, 2024

2024 ICM - DIANA, antimicrobial de-escalation in the CIpx + assessment of clinical cure (de bus) [R].pdf

Codified by RICH

Glossary:  ๐Ÿชฒ = infection; ADE = antibiotic de-escalation; ATB = antibiotic; ICU = intensive care unit; IPW = inverse probability weighting; MDR = multidrug resistance; MM28 = mortality at 28 days; OBS = observational; pros_ = prospective; RCT = randomized controlled trial;


1. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS โžฉ Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– P I C O:
2. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS ๐ŸŸฐ 2020, ICM, BE โž– pros_OBS โž• <1500 (152 ICU), 28 countriesโž• 2y (2016 - 2018) โž– P I C O:
   - P: adults, ICU w_ATB
   - I: ADE ๐Ÿ†š no change ๐Ÿ†š changes other than ADE
   - C: NA
   - O: a. how often ADE is used. b. Estimate effect on clinical cure on D7
3. EVIDENCE:
   - The aim of ADE is โ†“ use of broad - spectrum ATB use (a. โ†“ spectrum b. Stopping) to

     CONTAIN MDR
   - ADE = INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED as a key component of antimicrobial

     stewardship
   - Lack of info on MAPPING COMPLETE ATB TTO
   - ADE ๐ŸŸฐOBS (โ†“ MM) ๐Ÿ†š RCT (lack of convincing evidence of safety)
4. METHODS.
- ADE โž  (1) discontinuation of ATB if empirical combination therapy or (2) replacement of an ATB with the intention to narrow the spectrum (first 3 days of therapy).
- INTERV โž 
   - DEF. Empirical โ€Žโ€‰=โ€‰ UNIDENTIFED pathogen and susceptibility pattern at start of ATB.
   - IN. adults โž• ICU โž• at least 48h (anticipated need of ICU) โž• (community, healthcare,

      H+, ICU) bacterial INF
   - DEF presence. MDR on ICU admission of before D2
   - DEF emergence. MDR โ†” D2 and D28.
   - DEF. MDR = ESBL or carbapenemase OR Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OR methicillin-

     resistant Staphylococcus aureus OR vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus sp. OR pathogen

     resistant to โ‰ฅ3 antimicrobial classes.
   - DEF Clinical cure = as SS and resolution of all signs and symptoms related to the INF under study
6. RESULTS
   - Combination โžฉ 50%
   - Carbapenems โžฉ 26%
   - Frequency ofโ€ฆ In the first 3 days:
        * ADE = 16%
        * No change = 63%
        * Change other than ADE = 22%
   - MM28 โžฉ ADE 16% ๐Ÿ†š no change 19% (p=0.27)
   - Clinical cure โžฉ [IP-weighted relative risk estimate] โžฉ ADE ๐Ÿ†š no-ADE = 1.37

โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
59:04:93
Round: 3 00:34:58 Comments
Round: 2 54:56:36 JC
Round: 1 03:33:98 Past JC

Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

MAAT, RICH, HIBN, GMC, AHO, AAQC

2024 ICM - Antimicrobial de-escalation in the CIpx + assessment of clinical cure the DIANA study (de bus) [R].pdf

Codified by RICH

Glossary:  ๐Ÿ’š= infection; IPW = inverse probability weighting; MM28 = mortality at 28 days; OBS = observational; pros_ = prospective; RCT = randomized controlled trial; ADE = antibiotic de-escalation; ICU = intensive care unit;


1. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS โžฉ Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– P I C O:
2. ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS ๐ŸŸฐ 2020, ICM, BE โž– pros_OBS โž• <1500 โž• 2y (2016 - 2018) โž– P I C O:
   - P: adults, ICU w_ATB
   - I: ADE ๐Ÿ†š no change ๐Ÿ†š changes other than ADE
   - C: NA
   - O: a. how often ADE is used. b. Estimate effect on clinical cure on D7
3. EVIDENCE: โ€ฆwaiting for JCAU and AHOโ€ฆ
4. METHODS.
   - ADE โž  (1) discontinuation of ATB if empirical combination therapy or (2) replacement of an 

     ATB with the intention to narrow the spectrum (first 3 days of therapy).

   - INTERV โž  to continue...

6. RESULTS

7. RATIONALE

8. LIMITATIONS

โณ TIME MANAGEMENT.
01:13:17
Round: 3 11:42:67 Comments
Round: 2 50:57:40 ART + wrap-up
Round: 1 10:36:93 Past JC

Friday, Dec 20, 2024 at 18h30 at BO - 23h30 at BE

MAAT, RICH, JCAU, HIBN, GMC, DFM, AHO, AAQC

Glossary (most used)

โ†‘ = increase, โ†“ = decrease,โ†—๏ธ = improve,โ†˜๏ธ = worsen, ๐—˜๐—ซ = exclusion, ๐—œ๐—ก = inclusion, โ˜… = recommendation(s), ๐Ÿ—ฃ = suggestion(s), critILL = critically ill, DX = diagnosis, h_LOS = Hospital length of stay, icu_LOS = ICU length of stay, inc_ = incident, MA = metaanalysis, mc = multicentric, MM = mortality, MM90 = mortality at 90 days, pxs = patients, pOC = primary outcome(s), sOC = secondary outcome(s), SS = survival, w_ = with, wo_ = without, RCT = randomized controlled trial, sr = systematic review, yo = years old.


Brief scope glossary
    - ๐™„๐™Œ๐˜พ BS ๐ŸŸฐ ๐™„๐™‰๐˜ผ๐˜ผ๐™Œ๐˜พ แดฎแดผ brief scope โ†ฉ
    - Y, J, C โž– T โž• N โž• t โž– P I C O: โ†ฉ
    - year (Y), journal (J), country (C) โž– type of study (T) โž• number of patients/sample (N) โž• time (t) โž– population (P),

      intervention (I), comparison (C), outcome (O, OC).

General Glossary

Complete glossary here

Journal CLUBS

January, 2024

April, 2024

May, 2024