Developing and implementing successful interventions often depend upon effectively addressing ethnicity and social class factors, as these influence sexual behavior and its risks. Sexual attitudes differ across cultures. In most cultures, there are strong standards regarding sexual behavior which differ for men and women. Cultural differences also affect the extent to which early sexual behavior is considered acceptable.

Guidelines for Prevention, I

The Frequency and Clinical Significance of Thrombocytopenia Complicating Critical Illness: A Systematic Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE Because recent studies have challenged the efficacy of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) in the critically ill patient, our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of SUP with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine2 -receptor antagonists (H2 RAs) against placebo, control, no therapy, or enteral nutrition alone in critically ill adults. DESIGN Meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis (TSA) of 34 randomized controlled trials. PATIENTS A total of 3220 critically ill adults who received PPIs or H2 RAs versus placebo, control, no therapy, or enteral nutrition. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A systematic review was performed using a random effects meta-analysis with TSA according to a predefined protocol. Randomized controlled trials comparing PPIs or H2 RAs with either placebo, control, no therapy, or enteral nutrition alone were identified through a comprehensive search of the literature. Two blinded reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, risk of bias, and extracted data using Cochrane Collaborative methodology. The predefined primary outcomes were clinically important, overt, and any (clinically important plus overt) gastrointestinal bleeding. Secondary outcomes included pneumonia, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), and mortality. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the primary outcome by PPI or H2 RA use, intensive care unit (ICU) subtype, studies published after early goal-directed therapy (EGDT), the presence of risk factors for stress ulceration, and enteral nutrition use. Of the 34 trials included, 33 were judged as high risk of bias and 1 was judged as low risk. Use of SUP significantly reduced clinically important bleeding (risk ratio [RR] 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.76, p<0.001; I2  = 0%), overt bleeding (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.39-0.76, p=0.0003; I2  = 53%), and any bleeding (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41-0.71, p<0.00001; I2  = 58%). TSA confirmed these findings. No significant differences in pneumonia, CDAD, or mortality were noted. Subgroup analyses revealed significant reductions in clinically important bleeding with SUP in neurosurgical patients (RR 0.37, p<0.05) but not in surgery/trauma or medical ICU patients with risk factors. SUP provided no benefit in studies published after EGDT. SUP significantly reduced clinically important bleeding regardless of the use of enteral nutrition (p<0.05). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis demonstrated that SUP use was associated with significant reductions in bleeding but not mortality. SUP should not be abandoned until large randomized trials demonstrate the futility of this intervention.

Re-evaluating the Utility of Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in the Critically Ill Patient: A Clinical Scenario-Based Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. The goal of pharmacologic therapy remains complete freedom from seizures with minimal side effects. Despite advancements and the development of third-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), a third of patients with epilepsy remain refractory to pharmacotherapy. Areas covered: The present manuscript is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 2004 to 2019. It is focused on the third-generation AEDs (e.g. lacosamide, eslicarbazepine, perampanel, and brivaracetam). Expert opinion: Newer antiepileptic drugs are increasingly used. However, how early in the course of epilepsy third-generations AEDs should be used is still unclear. Third-generation AEDs may offer better tolerability, milder adverse effects, less drug interactions and improved pharmacokinetic characteristics compared to the conventional AEDs. For this reason, the third-generation AEDs may be used earlier and earlier in epileptic patients. Further head-to-head comparisons are needed to determine the exact position of third-generation AEDs relative to conventional AEDs.

Timing use of novel anti-epileptic drugs: is earlier better?

Coagulopathy is a known sequela of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Platelet dysfunction has been identified as one of several etiologies of coagulopa...

Platelet Dysfunction after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review.

Desmopressin (DDAVP) has been suggested for antiplatelet medication reversal in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) but there are limited data describing its effect on clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of DDAVP on hematoma expansion and thrombosis in patients with TBI who were prescribed pre-injury antiplatelet medications. Consecutive adult patients who were admitted to our level I trauma center and prescribed pre-injury antiplatelet medications between July, 2012, and May, 2018, were retrospectively identified. Patients were excluded if their hospital length of stay was   81 mg), ADP-receptor inhibitors, oral anticoagulants, prothrombin complex concentrates or platelets in a multivariate analysis, the association between DDAVP and hematoma expansion remained significant (adjusted OR 0.259 [95% CI 0.103–0.646], p = 0.004). Thrombotic events were similar between the two groups (DDAVP, 2.5%, no DDAVP, 4.5%; p = 0.613). DDAVP was associated with a lower incidence of hematoma expansion in patients with mild TBI who were prescribed pre-injury antiplatelet medications. These results justify a randomized controlled trial to further evaluate the role of DDAVP for this indication.

The Role of Desmopressin on Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Prescribed Pre-injury Antiplatelet Medications.

Lacosamide versus phenytoin for the prevention of early post traumatic seizures.

Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) with acid-suppressive drug therapy is widely utilized in critically ill patients following neurologic injury for the prevention of clinically important stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding (CIB). Data supporting SUP, however, largely originates from studies conducted during an era where practices were vastly different than what is considered routine by today's standard. This is particularly true in neurocritical care patients. In fact, the routine provision of SUP has been challenged due to an increasing prevalence of adverse drug events with acid-suppressive therapy and the perception that CIB rates are sparse. This narrative review will discuss current controversies with SUP as they apply to neurocritical care patients. Specifically, the pathophysiology, prevalence, and risk factors for CIB along with the comparative efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of acid-suppressive therapy will be described.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs12028-017-0447-y.pdf

Victor Zach

Papers

The Role of Desmopressin on Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Prescribed Pre-injury Antiplatelet Medications.

Lacosamide versus phenytoin for the prevention of early post traumatic seizures.

Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Neurocritical Care