Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias Detected With an Implantable Cardiac Monitor in Patients After an Acute Myocardial Infarction

Using an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) allows continuous electrocardiogram monitoring and provides a much more detailed picture of the incidence of brady- and tachyarrhythmias than conventional follow-up. The CARISMA study was the first to use the ICM in post-MI patients with moderate to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Atrial fibrillation (AF) events lasting longer than 30 s were associated with an almost threefold increase in the risk of major cardiac events. This confirms the current definition of clinically significant AF episodes, as patients with episodes of shorter duration were not at increased risk. The association of AF to progressive heart failure, reinfarction, and cardiovascular death underlines the need for an intensive follow-up of post-MI patients with new-onset AF in order to reveal underlying causes of AF such as progressive left ventricular dysfunction or myocardial ischemia. Asymptomatic, especially nightly, bradycardia episodes including high-degree 2°–3° atrioventricular (AV) block, sinus bradycardia, and sinus arrest were frequently documented by ICM in the CARISMA study. Ten percent of patients experienced high-degree 2°–3° AV block, of which the main part was nightly and asymptomatic, and 50% of all cardiovascular deaths occurred in this group, most from severe heart failure. Therefore, in post-MI patients with paroxysmal high-degree AV block, pacemaker implantation should be done, and in the case of left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 35%), an implantable cardioverter defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (ICD/CRT-D) may be indicated. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) is very frequent in post-MI patients, and in the CARISMA study, high-risk patients with nonsustained VT were implanted with an ICD. Furthermore, in 10% of the patients, the ICM recorded nonsustained VT episodes of ≥ 16 beats per minute, resulting in a twofold increase in the risk for cardiac death. Thus, patients with nonsustained VT should undergo careful investigation, and we recommend a repeat echocardiography and electrophysiological stimulation in these patients. Patients with sustained VT or VF should receive an ICD.     

Characteristics of non-clustered tuberculosis in a low burden country

Molecular genotyping studies often focus on clustered tuberculosis and recent transmission. Less attention has been paid to non-clustered tuberculosis. However, non-clustered cases also contribute significantly to the tuberculosis burden, especially in low-incidence countries. The objective of this study is to characterize non-clustered tuberculosis cases in Denmark and point out potential implications for tuberculosis control. The study is based on nationwide IS6110-RFLP genotyping of tuberculosis cases from 1992 through 2004, corresponding to 98% of culture verified cases. Of 3988 cases, 45% were non-clustered. Both Danes and immigrants had a peak incidence of non-clustered tuberculosis at older ages, 80-89 years (4.3 cases/10(5) population/year) and 60-69 years (28.8 cases/10(5) population/year), respectively. In addition, immigrants had a peak at 20-29 years (43.2?cases/10(5) inhabitants/year). In Danes, the incidence of non-clustered tuberculosis decreased during the study period and was predominantly found in elderly persons, presumably reactivating infection acquired during 1910-40, when tuberculosis incidence was high. In immigrants, the incidence was high at all ages, presumably reflecting reactivation of imported infections. In the future, the number of non-clustered tuberculosis cases will decrease, as older Danes die, and as time since primary infection increases for immigrants residing in Denmark. TB control should include focus on non-clustered cases.     

Increased brain water content in pseudotumour cerebri measured by magnetic resonance imaging of brain water self diffusion

Brain water self diffusion was investigated by magnetic resonance scanning in 7 patients fulfilling conventional diagnostic criteria for pseudotumour cerebri. Quantitative diffusion measurements were obtained using single spin echo pulse sequences with pulsed magnetic field gradients of different magnitude. In all patients the diffusion images showed an increased diffusion in various brain regions when compared with the diffusion coefficients for corresponding regions in healthy subjects. In 3 pseudotumour patients the increased self diffusion was localized to the periventricular regions, while 4 patients had increased diffusion in the whole brain. The findings indicate the presence of increased brain water content both intra- and extracellularly suggesting that patients with pseudotumour have two defects of pathogenetical significance: intracellular water accumulation and increased resistance to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow leading to an interstitial oedema.     

Penicillin G Treatment in Infective Endocarditis Patients – Does Standard Dosing Result in Therapeutic Plasma Concentrations?

Penicillin G is frequently used to treat infective endocarditis (IE) caused by streptococci, penicillin‐susceptible staphylococci and enterococci. Appropriate antibiotic exposure is essential for survival and reduces the risk of complications and drug resistance development. We determined penicillin G plasma concentration [p‐penicillin] once weekly in 46 IE patients. The aim was to evaluate whether penicillin G 3 g every 6 hr (q6 h) resulted in therapeutic concentrations and to analyse potential factors that influence inter‐ and intra‐individual variability, using linear regression and a random coefficient model. [P‐penicillin] at 3 hr and at 6 hr was compared with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the bacteria isolated from blood cultures to evaluate the following PK/PD targets: 50% fT > MIC and 100% fT > MIC. [P‐penicillin] varied notably between patients and was associated with age, weight, p‐creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance (eCLcr). Additionally, an increase in [p‐penicillin] during the treatment period showed strong correlation with age, a low eCLcr, a low weight and a low p‐albumin. Of the 46 patients, 96% had [p‐penicillin] that resulted in 50% fT > MIC, while 71% had [p‐penicillin] resulting in 100% fT > MIC. The majority of patients not achieving the 100% fT > MIC target were infected with enterococci. Streptococci and staphylococci isolated from blood cultures were highly susceptible to penicillin G. Our results suggest that penicillin G 3 g q6 h is suitable to treat IE caused by streptococci and penicillin‐susceptible staphylococci, but caution must be taken when the infection is caused by enterococci. When treating enterococci, therapeutic drug monitoring should be applied to optimize penicillin G dosing and exposure.     

Systematic identification and stratification of help-seeking school-aged youth with mental health problems: a novel approach to stage-based stepped-care

We investigated whether a novel visitation model for school-aged youth with mental health problems based on a stage-based stepped-care approach facilitated a systematic identification and stratification process without problems with equity in access. The visitation model was developed within the context of evaluating a new transdiagnostic early treatment for youth with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and/or behavioural problems. The model aimed to identify youth with mental health problems requiring an intervention, and to stratify the youth into three groups with increasing severity of problems. This was accomplished using a two-phase stratification process involving a web-based assessment and a semi-structured psychopathological interview of the youth and parents. To assess problems with inequity in access, individual-level socioeconomic data were obtained from national registers with data on both the youth participating in the visitation and the background population. Altogether, 573 youth and their parents took part in the visitation process. Seventy-five (13%) youth had mental health problems below the intervention threshold, 396 (69%) were deemed eligible for the early treatment, and 52 (9%) had symptoms of severe mental health problems. Fifty (9%) youth were excluded for other reasons. Eighty percent of the 396 youth eligible for early treatment fulfilled criteria of a mental disorder. The severity of mental health problems highlights the urgent need for a systematic approach. Potential problems in reaching youth of less resourceful parents, and older youth were identified. These findings can help ensure that actions are taken to avoid equity problems in future mental health care implementations.