Fulminant isolated cardiac sarcoidosis with pericardial effusion and acute heart failure: Challenging aspects of diagnosis and treatment

This case report illustrates challenging aspects of diagnosis and treatment of isolated sarcoid heart disease (SHD) and the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Here, we present a previously healthy 45-year-old man, who was admitted with pericardial effusion and symptoms of acute heart failure. CMR followed by targeted left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) revealed the diagnosis of isolated SHD. The combined use of CMR and EMB was crucial in diagnosing SHD. Furthermore, this case report demonstrates the value of CMR for monitoring response to therapy and lesion healing.     

Leisure-time activities of patients with ICDs: findings of a survey with respect to sports activity, high altitude stays, and driving patterns

Background: Physicians who are caring for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are regularly confronted with questions concerning daily activities. This study evaluates the habits of ICD patients with respect to sports activities, stays at high-altitude, and driving patterns.
Methods: A survey was performed in 387 patients with ICDs who were followed at two hospitals in Switzerland. The special-designed questionnaire addressed lifestyle practices concerning sports activity, high-altitude visits, and driving motor vehicles.
Results: Fifty-nine percent of ICD patients participated in some kind of sports activity; an ICD shock was experienced in 14% of these patients. Fifty-six percent of the patients reported a stay at high altitudes at least 2,000 m above the sea level; 11% of them stayed regularly above 2,500 m; 4% of these patients experienced an ICD shock during high altitude stay. Seventy-nine percent of the patients drove a motor vehicle; 2% of them experienced an ICD shock during driving, but none of them reported loss of consciousness or a traffic accident.
Conclusion: It is accepted that ICD patients disqualify for competitive sports. However, the patients may be encouraged to continue leisure-time physical activities at low-to-moderate intensity. Staying at high altitudes and driving motor vehicles are very rarely associated with ICD shocks. Therefore, these activities that are likely to contribute to a better quality of life should not be discouraged in most ICD recipients in the absence of other medical reasons.     

中年原发性高血压患者151例动态血压监测及不同类型血压变化对心脏影响的观察

目的探讨151例中年原发性高血压患者动态血压监测参数及其与心脏结构和功能改变的关系。方法对初诊无其他器质性疾病的中年原发性高血压患者行24 h动态血压监测及进行超声心动检查。根据血压动监测的昼夜节律将其分成杓型、非杓型、反杓型、超杓型等类型;计算出脉压(PP)、脉压指数(PPI)和血压负荷(BPL)。探讨不同类型血压变化对患者心脏结构和功能的影响。结果男性24 h DBP、d DBP和n DBP水平都高于女性(P<0.05)。男性杓型高血压组患者LVEF值均值(P<0.01)、非杓型高血压组患者LVEF值均值(P<0.01)、超杓型高血压组患者LVEF值均值(P<0.01)均大于反杓型高血压组患者,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。女性杓型高血压组患者LVEF值均值无统计学意义(P>0.05)。PPI对LVEF的影响大于PP及BPL。结论动态血压监测出的不同昼夜节律高血压患者临床分型对心室重构有临床指导意义,并且PPI对心功能影响大于PP及BPL,PPI是监测心脏结构改变的敏感指标。     

The changes of cardiac ejection fraction up to 72 h after transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia

The objective was to assess the serial change of the cardiac function after blood transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia. According to a previous study, transfusion would adjust the ejection fraction to the advantage of cardiac function in chronic anaemia patients, and thus the serial change of the cardiac function in a certain period should be evaluated after transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia. In a prospective study, ejection fraction (EF) was determined before and < or = 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after transfusion in 32 patients with chronic anaemia, and the results were compared and analysed. In the left ventricle (LV), the four EFs noted before and < or = 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after transfusion did not significantly differ between one another. In the right ventricle (RV), the EF 72 h after transfusion significantly increased in comparison with the pretransfusion value (P = 0.043). Transfusion of small amounts of RBC did not significantly change the LVEF up to 72 h in patients with transfusion-dependent chronic anaemia; whether it might change the RVEF 72 h after transfusion deserves further investigation.     

观察血清应激指标变化探讨建立新的PTCA专业护理模式

目的:探讨经皮冠状动脉成形术(PTCA)前后冠心病患者血清应激指标水平变化以探讨建立新的PTCA专业护理模式。方法:将研究对象设置为健康人组45例、非手术组46例和手术组50例。血清皮质醇(Cor)、垂体泌乳素(PRL)、促甲状腺激素(TSH)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)均采用RIA法;过氧化脂质(LPO)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)测定分别采用自动生化分析法。结果:(1)应激性激素变化,非手术组患者Cor和TSH水平显著高于健康人组(P<0.01),PRL水平略有升高,但统计差异不显著(P>0.05);手术组术前三项激素水平均显著高于健康人组和非手术组(P<0.01);手术组术后三项激素水平均显著高于健康人组、非手术组及手术组术前(P<0.01)。(2)氧化应激指标变化,非手术组及手术组术前SOD和GPX两项抗氧化酶水平均显著低于健康人组(P<0.01),LPO水平显著高于健康人组(P<0.01);手术组术后SOD和GPX水平明显回升均高于非手术组和手术组术前(P<0.01),但仍明显低于健康人组(P<0.01),LPO水平也明显恢复几近健康人组水平(P<0.01),但低于非手术组及手术组术前(P<0.01)。结论:本文指标的测定为患者应激的存在提供了重要的实验室依据,对于建立新的PTCA专业护理模式有重要临床意义。     

急性胸痛评分及血清B型脑钠肽对急诊胸痛患者心血管不良事件的预测价值

目的 探讨全球急性冠状动脉事件注册(Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events,GRACE)评分、心肌梗死溶栓疗法(the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction,TIMI)危险评分及血清B型脑钠肽(B-type natriuretic peptide,BNP)对急诊胸痛患者心血管不良事件的预测价值.方法 回顾性分析536例急性胸痛患者的临床资料,计算患者基线水平GRACE、TIMI评分,检测血清BNP并进行30 d随访.应用单因素分析和logistic回归确定急性胸痛患者急诊入院、30 d死亡、急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术及其他心血管不良预后的独立预测因素;计算GRACE评分、TIMI评分及血清BNP预测相关不良心血管事件ROC曲线下面积.结果 536例患者年龄(55.7±12.7)岁,急诊入院31 9例(59.5％),30 d死亡45例(8.4％);与TIMI评分和血清BNP比较,GRACE评分可独立预测患者急诊入院(OR:1.02,95％CI:1.010～1.030,P=0.010)、30 d死亡(OR:1.05,95％CI:1.040～1.070,P=0.001)和急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术(OR:1.02,95％CI:1.010～1.030,P=0.000)的风险;GRACE评分的急诊入院(AUC:0.873,95％CI:0.843～0.903)、30 d死亡(AUC:0.654,95％CI:0.573-0.736)、急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术(AUC:0.746,95％CI:0.705 ～0.787)及其他心血管不良预后(AUC:0.651,95％CI:0.577～0.725)的ROC预测曲线均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 与TIMI评分和血清BNP相比,GRACE评分可更有效判断急性胸痛患者急诊入院、30 d死亡、急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术及其他心血管不良预后的风险.     

Homocysteine and cysteine loads in patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency: Effects of vitamin B-6

The metabolic response of patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency to oral loads of homocysteine indicates: that even severely affected patients with homocystinuria have pools of cystine in their tissues; that control of sulfur amino acid metabolism favors increased concentrations of methionine rather than homocystine in the plasma; and that even patients who apparently are not B-6-responsive respond differently to the loads of homocysteine when challenged during B-6-treatment compared with their response before B-6 treatment. Loading tests with homocysteine indicate that B-6 treatment be of some benefit even in individuals who do not have an obvious biochemical response to such therapy.     

Changes in treatments and outcomes among elderly patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2002 and 2012: A post hoc analysis of the SOS-KANTO 2002 and 2012

BackgroundLittle is known about recent changes in pre- and in-hospital treatments and outcomes for elderly patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).MethodsWe compared data collected for the SOS-KANTO study in 2002 and 2012. We included patients aged ≥65 years who experienced OHCA of cardiac aetiology. The primary endpoint was favourable neurological outcomes 1 month after cardiac arrest.ResultsA total of 8,964 (2002 vs. 2012: 3,544 vs. 5,420) patients were eligible for the current analysis. The proportion of pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) increased significantly (3.8 vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001). Among patients achieving ROSC, the proportion of advanced in-hospital treatments (i.e. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, therapeutic hypothermia, and/or percutaneous coronary angiogram/intervention) provided increased significantly in 2012 (1.2 vs. 5.5%, p < 0.001; 2.6 vs. 15.1%, p < 0.001; 4.9 vs. 16.5%, p < 0.001; respectively). The proportion of favourable neurological outcomes at 1 month increased significantly in 2012 (1.6 vs. 2.7%, p = 0.001). A logistic regression analysis that did not consider advanced in-hospital treatments showed a significantly higher rate of favourable neurological outcomes in the 2012 group than that in the 2002 group (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4–3.5). However, this difference was no longer observed in the second regression model that accounted for advanced in-hospital treatments (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9–2.9).ConclusionThere was an increased proportion of aggressive treatment, both pre- and in-hospital, for elderly patients with cardiogenic OHCA in the Kanto area, Japan. Favourable neurological outcomes improved significantly over 10 years.