What is the evidence that microalbuminuria is a predictor of cardiovascular disease events?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review describes recently published studies evaluating the association between microalbuminuria and the development of cardiovascular disease events either in the presence of diabetes or hypertension, or in the population as a whole. RECENT FINDINGS: Prospective studies confirm that microalbuminuria is predictive, independently of classical risk factors, of cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality within groups of patients with diabetes or hypertension and in the general population. However, these studies suggest that levels of albuminuria below the conventional cutoff point definition of microalbuminuria are significantly associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiological mechanism underyling this association is still uncertain. Data from recent intervention studies suggest that treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, as well as intensive multi-factorial intervention including behaviour modification and targeted pharmacotherapy in patients with microalbuminuria, offers significant reduction in cardiovascular and renal morbidity in people with albuminuria. SUMMARY: Future absolute risk prediction scores for primary cardiovascular events could include microalbuminuria as a modifiable risk factor. The association between levels of albuminuria and cardiovascular outcomes in individuals within the normoalbuminuric range questions the current categorical definition of microalbuminuria. Intensive multifactorial interventions, including the use of agents that affect the renin-angiotensin pathway, are effective in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with microalbuminuria and diabetes or hypertension.     

What is the clinical relevance of erosions and joint space narrowing in RA?

The association between joint damage and disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in the later stages of disease, is a main reason why radiographic joint damage is a common and valid outcome measure in RA clinical trials. Most studies have assessed the effect of global joint damage, which has limited our knowledge regarding the individual effects of erosions and cartilage damage on physical function. However, recent data have indicated that joint space narrowing is more closely related to functional status than erosions. Modern imaging techniques that provide improved assessment of the cartilage itself, instead of only joint space narrowing, might help disentangle the separate associations of erosive bone damage and cartilage damage with physical function in patients with RA. The aim of this article is to discuss the current knowledge within this field and the clinical consequences thereof.     

What is operative mortality? Defining death in a surgical registry database: a report of the STS Congenital Database Taskforce and the Joint EACTS-STS Congenital Database Committee

The most concrete and universal outcome measure used in databases, whether governmental, professional society, research, or third-party payer, is operative mortality. To assure congruous data entry by multiple users of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery congenital heart surgery databases, operative mortality must be clearly defined. Traditionally, operative mortality has been defined as any death, regardless of cause, occurring (1) within 30 days after surgery in or out of the hospital, and (2) after 30 days during the same hospitalization subsequent to the operation. Differing hospital practices result in problems in use of the latter part of the definition (eg, the pediatric hospital that provides longer-term care will have higher mortality rates than one which transfers patients to another institution for such care). In addition, because of the significant number of pediatric multiple operation hospitalizations, issues of assignment of mortality to a specific operation within the hospitalization, calculation of operative mortality rates (operation based vs patient admission based), and discharge other than to home must be addressed and defined. We propose refinements to the definition of operative mortality which specifically meet the needs of our professional societies' multi-institutional registry databases, and at the same time are relevant and appropriate with respect to the goals and purposes of administrative databases, government agencies, and the general public.     

Spinal cord infarction in a young adult: What is the culprit?

Context: Non-traumatic spinal cord infarction in the young adult is usually associated with a single or multiple genetic mutations. There are certain gene mutations that are more commonly associated with spinal cord infarctions. Homozygous or heterozygous mutations, and single mutations or polymorphism, do not seem to determine the probability of spinal cord infarction.Findings: We add another case of spinal cord infarction in a young adult to the few reported in the literature, and discuss the value of genetic studies and genetic counseling.Conclusion: Non-traumatic spinal cord infarction is usually caused by a genetic mutation. Early recognition of this entity and definition of the mutation will limit unnecessary and invasive procedures and allows early rehabilitation, preventive measures for complications and genetic counseling.     

What is the role of the sleeve gastrectomy in the surgical treatment of morbid obesity?

Background

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a relatively new procedure that is gaining wide acceptance and represents an innovative new approach to the surgical management of morbid obesity. Our purpose is to evaluate the SG as a surgical bariatric procedure.

Methods

We conducted a literature review on “PubMed” based on all publications related to SG since 2000 to July 30, 2014.

Results

The complication rate after SG varies in the literature, ranging from 0 to 29 %. The most feared complication after SG is leakage on the staple line, occurring in 0–7 % of cases. The mortality rate reported varies between 0 and 3.3 %. No consensus has developed on the types of stapling used or the methods of strengthening the staple line. SG may aggravate and be responsible for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). SG improves comorbidities in more than 50 % after 5 years.

Conclusions

SG can be proposed as a surgical technique at first intension in patients not having GERD.     

What is new in fasting guidelines of surgical patients? Review of the literature

The concept of perioperative starvation requires an update on a more balanced physiological bias. The old British dictum "nil by mouth from midnight" is a thing of the past. We need to administer food and fluids as early as possible both before both before and after surgery and to avoid or reduce hospital infections. Resumption of bowel movements is very rapid, and the patients are fed and experience no thirst and thus have better compliance during their hospital stay. Moreover, the social cost is reduced. A short review of the rules of various Associations of Anaesthetists both in Europe and the US shows that today the starvation time is reduced, and re-feeding after surgery is implemented early. For clear fluids a 2-h period before surgery without ingestion of clear fluids is enough, whilst in most countries a 6-h period of starvation for solid foods is the rule, but if proper distinctions are made between the various nutrients given to the patients, this time could be reduced to 2-3 hours.     

What is the definition of “conversion” in laparoscopic colorectal surgery?

Background

A web-based survey was conducted among colorectal surgeons who represented members of both SAGES and ASCRS to find out how they define conversion for laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Methods

Questionnaires were designed based on MCQs, including three parts: surgeon information, different definitions for conversion, and four different clinical scenarios. Surgeons were asked to choose the best definition(s).

Results

325 (28.5%) of 1,140 surgeons, 28.5% responded; approximately half of them were part of private-based practices. Fifty-three percent had more than 10 years experience; 35.9% performed more than 50 laparoscopic colon cases per year, 12% performed more than 25 laparoscopic rectal cases per year, and 60% less than 10. The majority (68.4%) agreed that any incision made earlier than planned is conversion. Whereas 81.4% felt that incision >5 cm is not a conversion, only 53.4% considered incision >10 cm a conversion, and 37% did not. Neither extracorporeal vessel ligation (73.8%), bowel resection (81.2%), anastomosis (77%), or incision made for specimen retrieval (91.1%) was counted as conversion. In clinical case scenarios, 62% found an incision made to facilitate phlegmon dissection after laparoscopically mobilizing the left colon up to and around the splenic flexure to be laparoscopic-assisted. A 10-cm incision required for fistula take down after finishing laparoscopic dissection was defined as conversion (55.6%). A 10-cm incision made for the rectal dissection in rectopexy was described as conversion in 51% and laparoscopic-assisted in 48%. Increasing a 5–12-cm for specimen extraction, 49.3% was declared a laparoscopic-assisted case.

Conclusions

It was considered clear that any incision made earlier than planned a conversion, whereas extra corporeal vessel ligation, bowel resection and anastomosis were not. However, there seem to be many views of conversion regarding incision length, and some clinical situations that might influence outcome among different centers.     

Skeletal mineralization defects in adult hypophosphatasia��a clinical and histological analysis

Summary  

Histomorphometry and quantitative backscattered electron microscopy of iliac crest biopsies from patients with adult hypophosphatasia not only confirmed the expected enrichment of non-mineralized osteoid, but also demonstrated an altered trabecular microarchitecture, an increased number of osteoblasts, and an impaired calcium distribution within the mineralized bone matrix.     

What’s in a name? What constitutes the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder in which reductions in bone strength predispose to an increased risk for fractures. Currently, the diagnosis is officially made based exclusively on bone mineral density T-scores that are ≤-2.5 at the spine or hip. Limiting the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis solely to a T-score-based criterion, which is the official convention in the USA, creates uncertainty about the use of the term osteoporosis to diagnose older women and men who have T-scores >-2.5, but either have already sustained low-trauma fractures or are recognized as having high fracture risk based on absolute fracture risk calculations from FRAX or other algorithms. A failure to diagnose such patients as having osteoporosis may be one component of the well-documented underdiagnosis and undertreatment of this disease which limits our ability to reduce the burden of fractures worldwide. There is a need to expand the criteria for making a clinical diagnosis and to codify these changes in order to help patients, physicians, policy makers, and payers better understand who has this disease and the elevated risk for fracture that it represents.     

The oblique talus deformity. What is it, and what is its clinical significance in the scheme of pronatory deformities?

The advantage for maintaining oblique talus deformity as a diagnostic entity is obvious. It describes a deformity that is somewhere between the severe form of flexible pes planus and congenital convex pes valgus. It is important to recognize that the two subsets (oblique talus deformity with maintenance of the calcaneal inclination angle and oblique talus deformity with reversal of the calcaneal inclination) differ from congenital convex pes valgus by the absence of dislocation of the talonavicular joint. In many cases, the talonavicular joint is merely pushed to its maximum range, and does not even meet the definition of subluxation. Maintaining these distinctions prevents overdiagnosis of congenital convex pes valgus. Additionally, better evaluation of treatment for congenital convex pes valgus results because those cases with better prognosis and better response to nonsurgical intervention are not included in the data for the management of congenital convex pes valgus.     

What is new in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer?]

Rectal adenocarcinoma is a common cancer. Substantial advances in surgical technique and adjuvant treatments usually allow to preserve sphincter function, without overruling oncologic surgery standards. Sexual function is usually preserved, except in patients with locally advanced tumors. There is sound evidence that complete removal of the mesorectum and local radiation therapy decrease the rate of local recurrences. Quality of functional results after colorectal versus coloanal anastomosis is compared, and the contribution to patient comfort of construction of a reservoir is evaluated.     

Negative results of randomized clinical trials published in the surgical literature: equivalency or error?

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that review of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with nonstatistically significant or "negative" results published in the surgical literature do not have appropriate statistical power to demonstrate equivalency between treatment arms. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: The MEDLINE database was searched to obtain reports of all RCTs with negative results published in 3 surgical journals from 1988 to 1998. Manual review of one year (1997) of publications for each journal was performed to validate our search strategy. Equivalency was evaluated using the Two One-Sided Tests Procedure and post hoc power calculations. DATA SYNTHESIS: Ninety reports of RCTs with negative results were identified in the surgical literature between 1988 and 1998. The manual review of 1997 showed a 100% retrieval rate for our search strategy. After applying the Two One-Sided Tests Procedure, 35 reports (39%) met the criteria for demonstrating equivalency. The other 55 reports (61%) contained at least a 10% absolute difference in the 90% confidence interval of Delta. Using the power calculation method, only 22 (24%) articles had a power greater than.80 to detect a 50% difference in therapeutic effect. Only 29% of the reports included a formal sample size calculation and these studies were more likely to demonstrate equivalency than those without a sample size estimate (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Many reports from negative RCTs published in the surgical literature lack sufficient statistical power to establish that clinically important differences are not present. Surgeons should perform appropriate sample size calculations when designing RCTs and recognize the utility of confidence intervals when reporting negative results.