Cardiac involvement in mixed connective tissue disease: A systematic review

Objective

To report the clinical characteristic of cardiac disease in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

Method

We identified published case series that reported cardiac manifestations of patients with MCTD by searching the PubMed database using the search terms “mixed connective tissue disease”. We identified 11 case series that met our eligibility criteria.

Result

616 patients were included. Prevalence of cardiac involvement varied from 13% to 65% depending on patient selection and method used for detection. Pericarditis was the most common cardiac diagnosis with a prevalence of 30% and 43% in two prospective studies. Non-invasive cardiac tests, including electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, detected subclinical cardiac abnormalities in 6%–38% of patients. These abnormalities included conduction abnormalities, pericardial effusion and mitral valve prolapse. Diastolic dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis were well-documented in a case–control study. Three prospective studies revealed an overall mortality of 10.4% over the period of follow-up of 13–15 years. 20% of the mortality was directly attributable to cardiac cause.

Conclusion

Cardiac involvement was common among patients with MCTD though the involvement was often clinically inapparent. Non-invasive cardiac tests might have a role for subclinical disease screening for early diagnosis and timely treatment as cardiac involvement was one of the leading causes of mortality.     

The association between renal function and neurological diseases in type 2 diabetes: a multicenter nationwide cross-sectional study

Background: The evidence for an association between renal function and neurological diseases among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, particularly in the Asian population, is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and various neurological diseases among T2DM patients in Thailand using a nationwide patient sample.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study based on the DM/HT study of the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools. This study evaluated adult T2DM patients receiving care at public Thailand hospitals in the year 2014. GFR was categorized into ≥60, 30–59, and < 30 mL/min/1.73 m². Neurological diseases studied included ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemorrhagic stroke, dementia, all cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between GFR and neurological diseases.

Results: A total of 30,423 T2DM patients with available GFR data were included in the analysis. The mean GFR was 68.18 ± 26.45 mL/min/1.73 m². The prevalence of ischemic stroke/TIA, hemorrhagic stroke, dementia, any cerebrovascular diseases and peripheral neuropathy were 2.9%, 0.3%, 0.1%, 3.2%, and 3.1%, respectively. Patients with GFR of 30–59 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m² were significantly associated with increased rates of ischemic stroke/TIA, any cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral neuropathy when compared with patients with GFR of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m². This association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusion: Decreased GFR was associated with increased ischemic stroke/TIA, all cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral neuropathy. GFR should be monitored in diabetic patients for neurological disease awareness and prevention.     

Effect of nutritional counseling on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among Thai HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral therapy

HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy have increased risk of metabolic syndrome, including dyslipidemia. In this study, we determined whether individual nutritional counseling reduced dyslipidemia, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, among HIV-infected patients with dyslipidemia not currently taking lipid-lowering medication. We conducted a randomized 24-week trial among HIV-infected patients with dyslipidemia who were on antiretroviral therapy and were eligible to initiate therapeutic lifestyle changes according to the Thai National Cholesterol Education Program. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group that received individual counseling with a nutritionist for seven sessions (baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24) and a control group that received standard verbal diet information at baseline and nutritional counseling only at week 24. A 24-h recall technique was used to assess dietary intake for both groups at baseline and week 24. Lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride) was measured at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of therapy. An intention-to-treat and linear mixed model were used. Seventy-two patients were randomly assigned, and 62 (86%) participants completed their lipid profile test. After 12 weeks of follow-up, there were significant reductions in the intervention group for total cholesterol (?14.4?±?4.6?mg/dL, P?=?.002), LDL cholesterol (?13.7?±?4.1?mg/dL, P?=?.001), and triglyceride (?30.4?±?13.8?mg/dL, P?=?.03). A significant reduction in LDL cholesterol was also observed in the control group (?7.7?±?3.8?mg/dL, P?=?.04), but there were no significant differences in change of mean lipid levels between the groups at 12 weeks of follow-up. After 24 weeks, participants assigned to the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater decreases in serum total cholesterol (?19.0?±?4.6?vs. 0.2?±?4.3?mg/dL, P?=?.003) and LDL cholesterol (?21.5?±?4.1?vs. ?6.8?±?3.8?mg/dL, P?=?.009). There were no significant changes in HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels in either group.     

Incidence and risk factors of nevirapine-associated skin rashes among HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts <250 cells/microL

The objective of the study was to determine cumulative incidence and risk factors of nevirapine (NVP)-associated rashes that lead to NVP discontinuation among HIV-infected patients with CD4 <250 cells/microL. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among antiretroviral-na?ve HIV-infected patients who had baseline CD4 <250 cells/microL and were initiated NVP-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) between January 2003 and October 2005. There were 910 patients with a mean age of 35.4 years and 43% were women. Median CD4 cell count was 27 cells/microL and median HIV RNA was 5.5 log copies/mL. Cumulative incidences of rashes at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after ART were 3.7%, 6.2%, 8.1%, 8.5% and 8.5%, respectively. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the higher baseline CD4 cell counts had a higher probability of NVP-associated rashes (log-rank test, P=0.041). By Cox regression analysis, higher baseline CD4 cell count was associated with a higher incidence of rashes (hazard ratio=1.244, 95% confidence interval=1.045-1.482, for every 50 cells/microL increment of baseline CD4 stratum). In conclusion, NVP-associated skin rashes that lead to NVP discontinuation are common among HIV-infected patients with baseline CD4 <250 cells/microL. Despite the low baseline in this population, the higher number of baseline CD4 cells is continuously associated with a higher risk for skin rashes.     

Renal impairment in HIV-1 infected patients receiving antiretroviral regimens including tenofovir in a resource-limited setting

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-1 infected patients taking tenofovir as part of an anti-HIV drug regimen in a resource-limited setting in Thailand. One hundred thirty patients with a mean_SD age of 39.7+/-7.4 years, of whom 55% were male, were included in the study. Fifty-eight (45%), 48 (37%), and 24 (18%) patients concurrently received nevirapine-based, efavirenz-based, and protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens, respectively. The median (IQR) value for serum creatinine was 0.8 (0.6-0.9) mg/dl, for eGFR was 103 (96-120) ml/min/1.73 m2 and for CD4 was 302 (194-511) cells/mm3 at the time of tenofovir initiation. At 3-6 months, the median (IQR) eGFR was 100 (88-117) ml/min/1.73 m2 (p=0.002, compared to baseline). The proportions of patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<30 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline and 3-6 months were 0% and 2%, respectively (p<0.001). At 6-months follow-up, 2 patients (1.4%) were diagnosed with acute renal failure at 3 weeks and 9 weeks after tenofovir use, respectively. Both patients received a boosted PI in the regimen. Overall, the incidence of acute renal failure was 0.26 per 100 person-months. Renal function progressed to irreversible renal failure in one patient. In summary, tenofovir-associated renal impairment is not uncommon in a real-life practice. This report highlights the potentially irreversible adverse effect of this agent, particularly in patients with vulnerable kidneys and concomitant use of tenofovir and boosted PI.     

Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand

Background  

Alcohol drinking is frequently related to behavioral problems, which lead to a number of negative consequences. This study was to evaluate the characteristics of male high school students who drink, the drinking patterns among them, and the associations between current drinking and other health risk behaviors which focused on personal safety, violence-related behaviors, suicide and sexual behaviors.