Detection of acute ischemia from the EASI-derived 12-lead electrocardiogram and from the 12-lead electrocardiogram acquired in clinical practice

ST-segment measurements in the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) of patients with acute coronary syndromes are crucial for these patients' management. Our objective was to determine whether the 12-lead ECG derived from the 3-lead EASI system can attain a level of diagnostic performance similar to that of the Mason-Likar (ML) 12-lead ECG acquired in clinical practice (CP) by paramedics and emergency department technicians. Using 120-lead body surface potential maps recorded before and during balloon inflation angioplasty from 88 patients (divided into “responders” and “nonresponders”), and electrode placement data from 60 applications of precordial leads in CP, we generated for the “nonischemic” and “ischemic” states of each patient the following lead sets: the ML 12-lead ECG, the EASI-derived 12-lead ECG, and 60 sets of 12-lead CP ECGs. We extracted ST deviations at J + 60 milliseconds, summed them for all 12 leads of each lead set to obtain ΣST, and, by using the bootstrap method, determined the mean sensitivity and specificity for recognizing the “ischemic” state at various thresholds of ΣST. Results were displayed as receiver operating characteristics, and the area under these curves (AUC) ± SE was used as the measure of diagnostic performance. AUC ± SE for all patients were ML ECG, 0.66 ± 0.03; EASI ECG, 0.64 ± 0.03; and CP ECG, 0.67 ± 0.03. Corresponding results for responders only were 0.81 ± 0.04 for ML ECG, 0.78 ± 0.04 for EASI ECG, and 0.81 ± 0.04 for CP ECG. The differences between the AUCs for the different lead sets were not significant (P > .05). Thus, the EASI-derived 12-lead ECG is as good for detecting acute ischemia as is the 12-lead ECG acquired in CP.     

Particularités de l’électrocardiogramme du patient d’origine Africaine

Particularities of African descent patient's electrocardiogram have been described for many years. Variations such as higher QRS voltage, early repolarization pattern, precordial T-wave inversion and anterior ST segment elevation associated with T-wave inversion are more frequently observed. Ignorance of these variations can lead to misdiagnosis or therapeutic negligence. We present the electrocardiographic particularities attributed to the patient of African origin.     

特发性左心室性心动过速射频导管消融后体表心电图的改变

目的 观察特发性左心室性心动过速患者射频导管消融后体表心电图的变化及其可能机制。方法 对35例行射频导管消融的特发性左后分支室性心动过速患者,比较术前术后12导联体表心电图,并作随访6个月时体表心电图的对比观察。结果全组35例患者的消融均取得成功。其中6例术后Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF导联新出现q波,R波电压较前增高;I、aVL导联的s波加深,QRs波群电压增加。并伴有QRS波群电轴改变,均未见ST段改变。出现心电图改变与未见心电图改变患者间消融中放电时间和消融靶点数无明显差异。在随访期间所有患者的体表心电图QRS波群和ST段末见动态改变。结论 特发性左心室性心动过速患者射频导管消融后体表心电图出现的左后分支不同程度阻滞的图形改变可能因术中左后分支的分支及浦肯野纤维损伤引起。     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

False ST elevation in a modified 12-lead surface electrocardiogram

Precise recording of the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is technically time consuming. Placing limb leads on the torso has the major advantages of ease of use, increased speed of application, and decreased artifact. This modified ECG frequently substitutes for the standard 12-lead ECG in intensive care units to detect ischemia, although its implementation should be limited to interpreting arrhythmias. We describe a patient who was misdiagnosed with acute inferior myocardial infarction in a modified 12-lead ECG. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report regarding detection of false ST elevations in this setting. Always, a standard 12-lead ECG is recommended to evaluate any ST-T changes.     

Insulin-like growth factor I levels during growth hormone (GH) replacement in GH-deficient adults: a gender difference

To evaluate the variation of serum IGF-1 levels during GH replacement and observe gender differences, 29 adults with GH deficiency (mean age 42.5 ± 10.1 year), were studied. Serum IGF-1 was assessed every 4 weeks during the titration period and afterwards every 3 months of GH therapy. At baseline 77.7% of women and 45.4% of men had serum baseline IGF-1 levels below the lower limit of normal age-related reference range. The time to reach the maintenance dose was lower in men than women (p < 0.05). There was an increase in IGF-1 levels after one year of GH therapy, significant only in men (p < 0.01). IGF-1 concentrations were higher in men than women (p < 0.05), at the 12th and 18th months of GH therapy. GH dose was reduced by 25% in men (p < 0.01). At the end of the study the mean GH dose was lower in men than in women (p < 0.05). The factor responsible for these findings is not known, however a possible role of androgens has been suggested.     

Drug-induced QT prolongation when QT interval is measured in each of the 12 ECG leads in men and women in a thorough QT study

Lead II is commonly used to study drug-induced QT prolongation. Whether other ECG leads too show comparable QT prolongation is not known. We studied moxifloxacin-induced QT prolongation in a thorough QT study in healthy subjects (54 males, 43 females). Placebo-subtracted change from baseline in QTc corrected by Fridericia's method (ΔΔQTcF) at 1, 1.5, 2 and 4 hours after moxifloxacin was studied in all 12 leads. Unacceptably wide 90% confidence interval (CI) for ΔΔQTcF was seen in three leads; these leads also had maximum ECGs with flat T waves (60% in aVL, 45% in lead III and 42% in V₁). After excluding ECGs with flat T waves, 90% lower CI of ΔΔQTcF was ≥ 5 ms in all leads except leads III, aVL and V₁ in men. The 90% lower CI exceeded 5 ms in these leads in women despite wide 90% CIs because of greater mean ΔΔQTcF. Leads III, aVL and V₁ should be avoided when measuring QT interval in thorough QT studies.     

Successful treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis with hormone replacement in a postmenopausal woman

A possible supplementary effect of sex hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the postmenopausal woman with sarcoidosis is described. A 53-year-old woman presented with a 12-year history of sarcoidosis in the eyes, in the submandibular lymph nodes and in the lungs. In the course of follow up without any medication, her liver function tests were abnormal, and she was diagnosed as having hepatic sarcoidosis. Daily administration of 0.625 mg conjugated oestrogen and 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone improved her liver function. The results suggest that HRT may help to prevent the progression of sarcoidosis in postmenopausal patients.     

重组人生长激素治疗单纯性生长激素缺乏症和特发性矮小症患儿血清C型利钠肽氨基末端浓度与生长速率的变化

目的 探讨单纯性生长激素缺乏症(isolated growth hormone deficiency,IGHD)以及特发性矮小症(idiopathic short stature,ISS)患儿经重组人生长激素(recombinant human growth hormone,rhGH)治疗后,血清C型利钠肽氨基末端(NTproCNP)浓度的变化及其与生长速率(growth velocity,GV)的关系.方法 共有48例青春期前的患儿纳入研究(IGHD 25例,ISS 23例),并给予rhGH治疗1年.治疗前及治疗后6个月分别测血清胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ)和NTproCNP的浓度.治疗1年后,计算所有患儿的GV、身高Z积分(HTSDS)以及身高Z积分的变化值(△HTSDS).结果 IGHD组中,治疗前后IGF-I Z积分的变化值(△IGF-ISDS)、NTproCNP浓度的变化值(△NTproCNP)与治疗1年中GV呈正相关(r=0.407,P=0.044;r=0.490,P=0.013);治疗前生长激素(CH)峰值也与治疗前IGF-ISDS、NTproCNP浓度(r=0.558,P=0.004;r=0.630,P=0.001)以及治疗后△IGF-ISDS与△NTproCNP呈正相关(r=0.466,P=0.019).而在ISS患儿中,治疗1年中GV只与治疗后△NTproCNP相关(r=0.845,P＜0.01).结论 在IGHD和ISS患儿应用rhGH的促生长治疗中,NTproCNP水平随着生长速率的增加而增加.因此除了IGF-I,NTproCNP作为一种新的生化标记物,也可用于评估和预测这两类患儿在rhGH治疗后的GV变化.     

Diagnostic accuracy of the 12-lead electrocardiogram in the first 48 hours of life for newborns of a parent with congenital long QT syndrome

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Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone in a subject with galactorrhea and menstrual disorder and undergoing infertility treatment: Case report

Rationale:Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (SITSH) is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are usually normal or high, and triiodothyronine (FT₃) and free thyroxine (FT₄) levels are usually high in subjects with SITSH.Patient concern:A 37-year-old woman had experienced galactorrhea and menstrual disorder for a couple of years before. She had undergone infertility treatment in 1 year before, hyperthyroidism was detected and she was referred to our institution.Diagnosis:She was suspected of having SITSH and was hospitalized at our institution for further examination. The data on admission were as follows: FT₃, 4.62 pg/mL; FT₄, 1.86 ng/dL; TSH, 2.55 μIU/mL. Although both FT₃ and FT₄ levels were high, TSH levels were not suppressed, which is compatible with SITSH. In addition, in brain contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, nodular lesions were observed in the pituitary gland with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. In the thyrotropin-releasing hormone load test, TSH did not increase at all, which was also compatible with TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. In the octreotide load test, the TSH levels were suppressed. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this subject as SITSH.Interventions:Hardy surgery was performed after the final diagnosis. In TSH staining of the resected pituitary adenoma, many TSH-producing cells were observed. These findings further confirmed the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma producing TSH.Outcomes:Approximately 2 months after the operation, TSH, FT₃, and FT₄ levels were normalized. Approximately 3 months after the operation, she became pregnant without any difficulty.Lessons:We should consider the possibility of SITSH in subjects with galactorrhea, menstrual disorders, or infertility. In addition, we should recognize that it is very important to repeatedly examine thyroid function in subjects with galactorrhea, menstrual disorder, or infertility.     

Effect of pituitary ultrasonic treatment on plasma human growth hormone levels in diabetic retinopathy and acromegaly

Summary Sixteen diabetic patients presenting advanced retinopathy and 6 patients with acromegaly underwent ultrasonic treatment (UST) of the pituitary, according to Arslan’s method. In the diabetic retinopathy patients, circadian variations of plasma human growth hormone (HGH) levels were studied as well as the response to insulin stimulation, previous to and 7 days after the operation. Five patients were also studied 3 months post-ultrasonic treatment. Preoperative HGH plasma levels were normal and no reduction was observed following operation. Acromegalic patients were rested for oral glucose tolerance and insulin response, before and 7 days after operation. High pre-operatory HGH levels fell appreciably after operation, but the reduction was not significant. Our data demonstrate that high plasma levels of HGH are not always found in diabetes and that even after UST of the pituitary, there does not seem to be a relationship between degree of pituitary inhibition and clinical results. On the other hand, ultrasonic treatment of the pituitary in acromegalic patients determines partial hypophyseal inhibition. Research carried out with C.N.R. funds, Contract No. 73.00507.04.     

Therapist predictors of treatment delivery fidelity in a community-based trial of 12-step facilitation

Abstract

Background and aims: Therapist characteristics may be associated with variation in consistency, quality and effectiveness of treatment delivery. We examined associations between treatment fidelity and therapist education, experience, treatment orientation and perceived skills in a randomized, multi-site trial of Twelve Step Facilitation (TSF). Methods: Raters scored audio-recorded, TSF sessions (n?=?966; 97% of TSF sessions) from 32 community-based, trained therapists for adherence, competence, empathy and global session performance. Results: Therapists with graduate degrees had significantly higher adherence and global performance fidelity ratings. Therapists reporting more positive attitudes toward 12-Step groups had lower adherence ratings. Being in recovery was associated with lower fidelity in univariate tests, but higher adherence in multivariate analysis. Fidelity was higher for therapists reporting self-efficacy in basic counseling skills and lower for self-efficacy in addiction-specific counseling skills. Fidelity was also superior in group relative to individual TSF sessions. Conclusions: Results have implications for therapist selection, training and supervision in community-based, effectiveness trials and community implementation of evidence-based treatments. To obtain high fidelity and improve outcomes, it may be preferable to choose masters level therapists who are open to learning new treatments and have good, general counseling skills.     

Growth hormone (GH) replacement in GH-deficient adults: a crossover trial comparing the effect on metabolic control, well-being and compliance of three injections per week versus daily injections

Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy regimens in adults using daily subcutaneous (sc) injections may not be optimal with respect to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of three times weekly injections with daily sc GH injections in terms of serum IGF-I, IGFBPs, lipoprotein levels, serum bone markers, glucose metabolism, body composition, compliance and well-being.Twenty hypopituitary men, 46–76 years, on a course of stable conventional GH replacement therapy for more than 12 months, were included in a 16-week crossover trial. During the first 8 weeks GH was administered three times per week followed by 8 weeks with daily sc injections with the same weekly dose of GH. Fasting serum samples were collected at baseline and on two consecutive days at the end of each 8-week period.Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were lower both the first and second morning after the last injection during the period with three injections per week. The second morning after the last GH injection in this period the IGF-I/BP-3 ratio, plasma insulin and FFA were lower whereas IGFBP-1 was increased as compared with values obtained during the period with daily injections. Serum Lp(a) levels, body composition, fat distribution, well-being and compliance were not differently affected by the two treatment regimens.These results suggest that the same weekly dose of GH given as three injections per week reduces serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels without affecting Lp(a) levels. The day-to-day variation in glucose metabolism and FFA serum levels differs considerably between the two modes of GH administration.