Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

About: Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & PET-CT. The organization has 83 authors who have published 108 publications receiving 2275 citations.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Usefulness of Beta Blockers to Preserve Left Ventricular Function During Anthracycline Therapy.

Abstract: The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the cardioprotective benefit of β blockers in preventing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) in breast cancer patients. Anthracyclines are the cornerstone treatment for breast cancer. Yet, their use has declined in the last decade due to associated AIC. Although β blockers may protect left ventricular (LV) function, previous trials were underpowered with equivocal results. The authors systematically searched online databases through August 2018 for studies evaluating effectiveness of β blockers in preventing AIC in breast cancer patients. We analyzed 9 studies including 771 patients. Data on converting-enzyme inhibitors, trastuzumab, or other malignancies were excluded. The primary outcome was comparison of postchemotherapy LV ejection fraction (LVEF) between β blocker and placebo. Secondary outcomes were changes in global longitudinal strain, LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and diastolic function parameters, as assessed by 2D echocardiogram and MRI. The mean pre-chemotherapy LVEF was >60% in all studies. Our pooled analysis demonstrated significantly higher LVEF postchemotherapy in the β blocker group in comparison to placebo: mean difference −3.84 with 95% confidence interval [−(6.19 to 1.48) p = 0.001]. The absolute change in EF also favored β blockers: mean difference −3.66 with 95% confidence interval [−(6.20 to 1.12) p = 0.005]. Diastolic function, global longitudinal strain, and LVEDD were also preserved by β blockers, but only LVEDD reached statistical significance. In conclusion, this study suggests that β blockers during anthracycline chemotherapy may prevent cardiotoxicity by preserving LV function.

Analysis of Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Human Milk Lactoferrin Compared to Bovine Lactoferrin against Multidrug Resistant and Susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates.

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that causes severe infections in immunocompromised patients. The emergence of multi- and pan-drug resistant strains of A. baumannii from clinical sources has confounded treatment and enhanced morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. One way that A. baumannii circumnavigates environmental and antimicrobial challenge is by forming tertiary architectural structures of cells known as biofilms. Biofilm-inhibiting molecules could be deployed as a potential chemotherapeutic strategy to inhibit or disrupt A. baumannii biofilms and mitigate adverse outcomes due to infection. Lactoferrin is an innate immune glycoprotein produced in high concentrations in both human and bovine milk which has previously been shown to have antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. We sought to test lactoferrin against a bank of clinical isolates of A. baumannii to determine changes in bacterial growth or biofilm formation. Our results indicate that human lactoferrin has slightly more potent antibacterial activities than bovine lactoferrin against certain strains of A. baumannii and that these effects are associated with anatomical site of isolation. Additionally, we have shown that both bovine and human lactoferrin can inhibit A. baumannii biofilm formation and that these effects are associated with anatomical site of isolation and whether the strain forms robust or weak biofilms.

Enteric Fever: A Slow Response to an Old Plague

Abstract: 1 Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, México D.F., México, 2 Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, Georgia, United States of America, 3 Precision Developmental Research and Advocacy Consultants, Karachi, Pakistan, 4 Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, “Fray Antonio Alcalde”, Guadalajara, México, 5 Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, México, D.F., México, 6 Public Health and Infectious Disease Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia, 7 Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Alexander Von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Trends and Outcomes of Severe Sepsis in Patients on Maintenance Dialysis.

Abstract: Background: Though the incidence of severe sepsis is rising, there is a lack of contemporary information regarding the epidemiology and outcomes of severe sepsis