Long-term follow-up of untreated patients with sleep apnoea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder with numerous potential sequelae. Although the majority of these consequences can be reduced with appropriate treatment, only limited data exist regarding the natural progression ofthis disorder in untreated individuals. We hereby report a long-term follow-up of all untreated patients (n = 40) followed-up in the Technion Sleep Clinic, using both subjective and objective measurements. In addition, we report a long-term follow-up of 11 patients who attempted dietary weight loss. The average time interval between the first and second polysomnographies for the untreated group was 5.0 +/- 2.8 yrs, and 2.5 +/- 2.3 yrs for the weight reduction group. There was no significant change in Body Mass Index (BMI) or Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) between the two Polysomnographic (PSG) evaluations in the untreated patients. However, eight patients developed hypertension (n=5) or ischaemic heart disease (IHD) (n=3) between the two evaluations. RDI, age and BMI at the time ofthe initial evaluation were not predictive of changes in RDI, snoring intensity or minimal oxygen saturation. However, the patients who developed hypertension/IHD had significantly higher RDI than the patients who did not (46 +/- 27 vs. 23 +/- 17 h(-1), P < 0.005). In the weight-loss group, BMI decreased by a mean of 3.1 kg m(-2), and RDI decreased by 20events h(-1), P<0.05 for both.There was a significant correlation between the weight loss and improvement in RDI (R = 0.75, P = 0.005). We conclude that in untreated obstructive sleep apnoea patients RDI does not necessarily increase over time, but associated hypertension or ischaemic heart disease may develop.When weight loss is successfully achieved, sleep apnoea significantly improves with a high correlation between the extent of weight loss and the improvement in apnoea status.     

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery

BACKGROUND: To reduce surgical trauma and the drawbacks associated with sternotomy, we performed robotically controlled, video-assisted mitral valve surgery, using either the port-access or the transthoracic clamp technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between September 1997 and September 2000, 221 patients (78 males, 143 females) underwent mitral valve surgery through a small right minithoracotomy using the port-access endovascular cardiopulmonary bypass system. Mitral valve exposure was facilitated with an endoscope attached to a voice-controlled robotic arm (AESOP 3000) allowing stabilization and voice-activated camera positioning. Twenty-six patients underwent mitral valve repair and 195 had valve replacement. In 197 patients, mitral valve surgery was the primary operation, while 24 were redo cases. Skin-to-skin mean operating time was 3.5 +/- 1.2 hours and aortic cross-clamp time was 58 +/- 16 min, mean intensive care unit stay was 22 +/- 7 hours and hospital stay 6.4 +/- 1.2 days. There was no re-exploration for bleeding. There was no late death or re-operation on mean follow-up of 16.4 +/- 12.2 months. Patients showed improvement in their NYHA functional class from 2.6 +/- 0.5 to 1.4 +/- 0.8 postoperatively. Outcomes were compared with those of our previous 220 patients who underwent mitral valve surgery with the median sternotomy approach. CONCLUSIONS: The use of video and robotic assistance in port-access mitral valve surgery not only minimizes the length of the incision, but also gives full visualization of the entire mitral valve apparatus. This approach provides comparable results with the sternotomy approach, as well as marked advantages of reduced intensive care unit stay. ,ower blood transfusion requirement, better cosmesis and earlier hospital discharge.     

Ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis in US patients with back pain: identifying providers involved and factors associated with rheumatology referral delay

This study aimed to identify providers involved in diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis (AS) following back pain diagnosis in the USA and to identify factors leading to the delay in rheumatology referrals. The Truven Health MarketScan® US Commercial Database was searched for patients aged 18–64 years with back pain diagnosis in a non-rheumatology setting followed by AS diagnosis in any setting during January 2000–December 2012. Patients with a rheumatologist visit on or before AS diagnosis were considered referred. Cox regression was used to determine factors associated with referral time after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, physician specialty, drug therapy, and imaging procedures. Of 3336 patients included, 1244 (37 %) were referred to and diagnosed by rheumatologists; the others were diagnosed in primary care (25.7 %), chiropractic/physical therapy (7 %), orthopedic surgery (3.8 %), pain clinic (3.6 %), acute care (3.4 %), and other (19.2 %) settings. Median time from back pain diagnosis to rheumatology referral was 307 days and from first rheumatologist visit to AS diagnosis was 28 days. Referred patients were more likely to be younger (hazard ratio [HR]?=?0.986; p?<?0.0001), male (HR?=?1.15; p?=?0.0163), diagnosed with uveitis (HR?=?1.49; p?=?0.0050), referred by primary care physicians (HR?=?1.96; p?<?0.0001), prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (HR?=?1.55; p?<?0.0001), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (HR?=?1.33; p?<?0.0001), and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (HR?=?1.40; p?=?0.0036), and to have had spinal/pelvic X-ray prior to referral (HR?=?1.28; p?=?0.0003). During 2000–2012, most patients with AS were diagnosed outside of rheumatology practices. The delay before referral to rheumatology was 10 months; AS diagnosis generally followed within a month. Earlier referral of patients with AS signs and symptoms may lead to more timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.     

Effects of mutations and glycosylations on STS activity: a site-directed mutagenesis study

Steroid sulphatase (STS) catalyses the formation of active steroids from inactive steroid sulphates. High levels of intra-tumoural STS mRNA are associated with a poor prognosis in post-menopausal patients with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. In this study, analysis of the mutated STS protein showed that N- and C-terminal truncated STS constructs are inactive. Histidine 136, located inside the active site, is crucial for STS activity whereas proline 212, which allows the protein turn into the membrane, is not. Mutations in glycosylation sites asparagine 47 and 259 decreased STS activity while asparagine 333 and 459 mutations did not affect it. However, immunoblot studies revealed that all four N-linked sites are glycosylated to some extent. In addition, a polyclonal antibody raised in rabbits against human STS was developed and characterised. These data increase our knowledge of the STS enzyme structure and may help design new STS inhibitors.     

2007 annual research and education meeting of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN)

OBJECTIVE: The Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN; www.spartangroup.org) was founded in 2003 by a group of North American clinicians and researchers to promote research, education, and treatment of spondyloarthritis (SpA). In past years, it has produced and disseminated United States-specific modifications of the ASsessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) guidelines for the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in AS1,2. SPARTAN held its fifth annual research meeting in September 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. Highlights of the meeting included updates on current research in SpA, including epidemiology and genetics, bone formation and inflammation, biomarkers, activation of the IL-23/IL-17 axis, and animal models. A presentation was made on basic and clinical science of inflammatory bowel disease, and an educational pre-meeting conference was specifically designed for rheumatology fellows.     

Increased incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in implantable defibrillator patients after the World Trade Center attack

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate whether the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001 (9/11), led to an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias among patients fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). BACKGROUND: The WTC attack induced psychological distress. Because ICDs store all serious arrhythmias for months, the attack provided a unique opportunity to compare pre- and post-9/11 frequencies of potentially lethal arrhythmias among ICD patients. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive ICD patients who presented for regularly scheduled follow-up to six affiliated clinics were recruited into this observational study. The electrograms stored in the ICDs for the three months before 9/11 and 13 months thereafter were scrutinized in a blinded manner (relative to date) for all ventricular tachyarrhythmias (tachycardia or fibrillation) triggering ICD therapy. RESULTS: The frequency of tachyarrhythmias increased significantly for the 30 days post-9/11 (p = 0.004) relative to all other months between May 2001 and October 2002. In the 30 days post-9/11, 16 patients (8%) demonstrated tachyarrhythmias, compared with only seven (3.5%) in the preceding 30 days, representing a 2.3-fold increase in risk (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 4.9; p = 0.03). The first arrhythmic event did not occur for three days following 9/11, with events accumulating in a progressive non-clustered pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular arrhythmias increased by more than twofold among ICD patients following the WTC attack. The delay in onset and the non-clustered pattern of these events differ sharply from effects following other disasters, suggesting that subacute stress may have served to promote this arrhythmogenesis.     

Improved patient survival after acute variceal bleeding: a multicenter,cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Existing literature indicates that the mortality rate with each variceal bleeding episode is 30-50%. Over the past 2 decades, there have been significant developments in the management of variceal bleeding. The effect of these developments on the natural history of variceal bleeding is unclear. Therefore, a retrospective, multicenter study was conducted to define the outcomes of variceal bleeding and to describe the patterns of current practice in the management of variceal bleeding. METHODS: All patients with documented variceal bleeding hospitalized at four large county hospitals from January 1, 1997, to June 30, 2000, were included. Study outcomes were in-hospital, 6-wk, and overall mortality, rate of rebleeding, transfusion requirement, and length of stay. After discharge, patients were followed until death or study closure date, on June 30, 2000. RESULTS: A total of 231 subjects were included, and their in-hospital, 6-wk, and overall mortality rates were 14.2%, 17.5%, and 33.5%, respectively. The frequency of rebleeding during follow-up was 29%. Median length of total hospital stay was 8 days (0-34 days). Median number of packed red cell units transfused was 4 U (0-60 U). Upper endoscopy was performed in 95% of patients within 24 h, and endoscopic therapy was done in all but eight patients (ligation 64%, sclerotherapy 33%). Octreotide was administered in 74% of the patients. Portasystemic shunts were performed in 7.5% of the patients for controlling acute variceal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate after variceal bleeding in this study was substantially lower than previously reported. This suggests that advances made in the management of variceal bleeding have improved outcomes after variceal bleeding.     

Transradial primary angioplasty and stenting in Indian patients with acute myocardial infarction: acute results and 6-month follow-up

BACKGROUND: Coronary angioplasty and stent implantation is effective as primary intervention in acute myocardial infarction. Because of fewer puncture site complications and improved patient comfort, transradial access has been increasingly used as an alternative to transfemoral access for percutaneous coronary interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 103 patients (94 men, 9 women: mean age 52.5 +/- 11.96 years) with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (<12 hours after onset), who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Transradial access was used in all patients with a normal Allen's test and transfemoral access was used additionally only if intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation was required. Follow-up duration was 6 months. Transradial access was successfully achieved in all patients. Radial artery cannulation took <2 min in more than 85% patients. During percutaneous coronary intervention, cannulation to balloon inflation times and total procedure times were 11.3 +/- 5.2 min and 19.9 +/- 10.8 min, respectively. Stents were implanted in 99 (96.1%) patients andplain balloon angioplastywas performed in 3.9%. The primary success rate was 98.1%, with no major bleeding complications. Total length of hospitalization averaged 2.4 +/- 0.8 days. In-hospital major adverse clinical events rate was 5.9%. Six-month clinical follow-up was achieved for 84 (86.6%) patients. Six (7.1%) patients died during follow-up. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed in 22 (26.2%) patients. After 6 months, 7 patients required revascularizationof the target lesion. The rate of survival without myocardial infarction, bypass surgery or repeat coronary angioplasty was 88.5% at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Transradial access may represent a safe and feasible technique for performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with good acute results and without major bleeding complications.     

Efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis with and without concomitant conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2 3-year results

Clinical Rheumatology - To evaluate the three-year efficacy and safety of ixekizumab with and without concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) use in...