Iron Deficiency Anemia Associated With Acid-Modifying Medications: Two Cases and Literature Review

Iron deficiency anemia is often listed among potential adverse effects of gastric acid-suppressive medications, given that gastric acidity promotes intestinal absorption of nonheme iron. Additionally, the antacid calcium carbonate can inhibit iron absorption. However, there is little direct clinical evidence that proton-pump inhibitors, histamine-2 receptor antagonists, or calcium carbonate cause iron deficiency anemia. Most case reports have had substantial limitations (e.g., minimal follow-up and presence of other causes of iron deficiency), and retrospective cohort studies have lacked sufficient patient-specific detail to make strong causal inferences. We present 2 cases—both with detailed, prospective 10-year follow-up—in which combinations of proton-pump inhibitors, histamine-2 receptor antagonists and calcium carbonate were clearly associated with development of iron deficiency anemia. Overt iron-deficiency anemia is probably uncommon in patients who use acid-modifying medications and who have no other conditions that predispose to iron deficiency. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of this potential complication, given widespread use of these agents.     

基于Zelen''s设计桂葛灵仙汤联合颈夹脊穴透灸法治疗神经根型颈椎病风寒湿痹证

目的:基于Zelen's设计,探讨桂葛灵仙汤联合夹脊穴透灸法治疗神经根型颈椎病(CSR)风寒湿痹证临床疗效及作用机制。方法:将120例CSR风寒湿痹证患者随机分为中药组和联合组,均60例,拟入中药组直接进入中药组,拟入联合组知情同意则进入联合组,不同意则进入中药组。中药组给予桂葛灵仙汤150 m L/次,2次/d口服,联合组患者在中药组治疗基础上给予颈部夹脊穴透灸治疗,30 min/次,1次/d,两组患者均治疗8周。记录入组患者CSR 20分量表评分,SF-36量表评分及典型症状体征缓解时间,治疗结束后统计总有效率和治愈率;酶联免疫夹心法检测治疗前后患者血清白三烯B_4(LTB_4),白三烯C_4(LTC_4),白三烯D_4(LTD_4),甲壳质酶蛋白-40(YKL-40),白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量。结果:联合组总有效率为98.11%(52/53),治愈率为43.39%(23/52),优于中药组总有效率91.04%(61/69),治愈率20.89%(14/67)(P0.05);与中药组比较,联合组患者CSR 20分量表,SF-36量表评分升高(P0.05),典型症状体征缓解时间缩短(P0.05);血清中LTB_4,LTC_4,LTD_4,YKL-40,IL-1β及TNF-α含量降低(P0.05)。结论:Zelen's设计结果显示桂葛灵仙汤联合夹脊穴透灸法治疗CSR风寒湿痹证临床疗效确切,值得临床推广,其机制可能与抑制LT表达,减少IL-1β及TNF-α含量在血清中含量,从而促进颈椎软骨修复和提高疼痛阈值有关。     

Clinical Course of Patients With Worsening Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

Background

Epidemiology of patients with worsening heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the real-world setting is not well described.

CTLA4 antagonists in phase I and phase II clinical trials,current status and future perspectives for cancer therapy

Introduction: In cancer, the immune response to tumor antigens is often suppressed by inhibitors and ligands. Checkpoint blockade, considered one of the most promising frontiers for anti-cancer therapy, aims to stimulate the immune anti-cancer response. Agents such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors offer prolonged survival with manageable side effects.

Areas covered: We summarize the recent clinical successes of CTLA-4 inhibitors and place a strong emphasis on those in early phase clinical trials, often in combination with other immune check-point inhibitors, i.e., programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors.

Expert opinion: Recent phase I and phase II clinical trials confirm the efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 therapy for treatment of cancers such as renal cell carcinoma. These studies also indicated increased efficacy with combined immune checkpoint blockade with PD-1 or Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors. Researchers must search for new immune targets that may enable more effective and safe immune checkpoint blockade and cancer therapy. This goal may be achieved by next-generation combination therapies to overcome immune checkpoint therapy resistance.     

Current treatment of hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease recommended by different guidelines

Introduction: It is important to know how to treat hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The reason for the review was to update this treatment and to discuss the 2015 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/American Society of Hypertension 2015 guidelines of treatment of hypertension in patients with CAD.

Areas covered: Studies between 1968 and 2015 were reviewed on treatment of hypertension in patients with CAD using a Medline search, and studies between 1977 and 2015 were reported. Hypertension should be treated with beta blockers and ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Long-acting nitrates are effective antianginal and anti-ischemic drugs. Calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) may be added if angina persists despite beta blockers and long-acting nitrates. The 2015 guidelines recommend that the blood pressure should be < 140/90 mm Hg in patients aged ≤ 80 years and the systolic blood pressure < 150 mm Hg if they are ≥ 80 years.

Expert opinion: Hypertension in patients with CAD should be treated with beta blockers and ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Long-acting nitrates are effective antianginal and anti-ischemic drugs. CCBs may be added if angina persists despite beta blockers and long-acting nitrates. The blood pressure should be < 140/90 mm Hg in patients aged < 80 years and the systolic blood pressure < 150 mm Hg if they are ≥ 80 years.     

A Reminder of Methylene Blue's Effectiveness in Treating Vasoplegic Syndrome after On-Pump Cardiac Surgery

The inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass decreases vascular tone, which in turn can lead to vasoplegic syndrome. Indeed the hypotension consequent to on-pump cardiac surgery often necessitates vasopressor and intravenous fluid support. Methylene blue counteracts vasoplegic syndrome by inhibiting the formation of nitric oxide.We report the use of methylene blue in a 75-year-old man who developed vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery. After the administration of methylene blue, his hypotension improved to the extent that he could be weaned from vasopressors. The use of methylene blue should be considered in patients who develop hypotension refractory to standard treatment after cardiac surgery.