Effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin on ST segments in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction

Spontaneous ST-segment resolution (STR) after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction is associated with favorable outcomes. Effect on STR of newer, more powerful antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify independent clinical and angiographic predictors of STR in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction before percutaneous coronary intervention. We studied 206 patients admitted with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction, of whom 37 (18%) had STR. There were 12 deaths (5.8%) that occurred in the group without spontaneous STR. Patients with spontaneous STR were younger (55 vs 61 years old, p = 0.02), had shorter duration of symptoms (117 vs 212 minutes, p <0.0001), had preserved ejection fraction (55% vs 40%, p <0.0001), had shorter hospital stays, and had lower in-hospital arrhythmias or death. Independent predictors of STR, identified by stepwise logistic regression analysis, were early clopidogrel administration (odds ratio [OR] 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00 to 4.40, p = 0.045), single-vessel disease (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.22 to 6.70, p = 0.02), chest pain duration (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99, p <0.0001), collaterals (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.7 to 10.8, p = 0.002), circumflex as a culprit vessel (OR 4.74, 95% CI 1.5 to 14.95, p = 0.008), and coronary thrombus noted on angiography (OR 5.76, 95% CI 1.63 to 20.4, p = 0.006). In conclusion, early clopidogrel administration is associated with, and likely causal for, STR. Patients with thrombus, collateral flow, and circumflex culprit vessel are more likely to have STR. In addition, our study confirms previous findings that patients with STR have preserved left ventricular function and better hospital outcomes compared with those without STR.     

Gestational trophoblastic disease among Hispanic women: a 21-year hospital-based study

OBJECTIVE: Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Few reports have described gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of GTD at our public hospital which primarily serves the Hispanic population. METHODS: All women diagnosed with GTD (partial and complete hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma) between 1983 and 2004 were identified from the institutional tumor registry, surgical pathology reports and hospital ICD-9 codes. Clinical data were retrospectively extracted from medical records. The live birth denominator was tabulated over the same interval of time by retrieving labor and delivery statistics and sorting by race. RESULTS: GTD was diagnosed in 596 patients over a 21-year study interval encompassing 289,897 live births. The overall incidence of GTD was 2.06/1000 live births. Hispanic women had a higher incidence compared to Blacks (2.38 vs. 1.34; P < 0.001), but not Whites (2.00; P = 0.17). The 416 Hispanic women were diagnosed with GTD at an earlier gestational age in the latter part of this study (12.3 vs. 16.2 weeks; P < 0.001). Hispanics were more likely to have a partial hydatidiform mole compared to Blacks (29% vs. 13%; P < 0.001) and Whites (18%; P = 0.04). Choriocarcinomas occurred least commonly in Hispanic patients (1 per 35,000 live births). Teenage Hispanic women were the only ethnic age group with a higher risk of developing GTD (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.2). CONCLUSION: Hispanic women had the highest incidence of GTD in this hospital-based study, were diagnosed at an earlier gestational age in the last decade and more frequently were diagnosed with partial moles.     

A case-control study of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms in cervical carcinogenesis

OBJECTIVES: Polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are thought to be associated with a varying risk of cervical dysplasia. The purpose of this trial was to study the role of the two common functional MHTFR polymorphisms in a large multiracial population at risk for cervical dysplasia and cancer. METHODS: This is a nested case-control study of 376 subjects obtained from cohorts enrolled in an ongoing prospective cervical carcinogenesis protocol. Cases included invasive cancers (n = 51), and high (n = 50) and low (n = 50) grade dysplasia. There were 225 normal controls. Functional MTHFR 677C-->T and 1298A-->C genotypes were identified. Follow-up cytology data were reviewed for the control subjects from the time of study entry until August 2004. RESULTS: There is a significant racial difference in allele frequency of the 677C-->T polymorphism (P < 0.005). African-American women had an extremely low prevalence of the 677T allele (8%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of the 677T allele between cases and controls. There is no racial difference in allele frequency of the 1298A-->C polymorphism. Also, no significant difference was found between cases and controls. Of the 51 cancers, no case was homozygous for both aberrant polymorphisms (677T, 1298C), and only 3 cases were heterozygous for both. Follow-up data were available for 129 of 225 control subjects (57%). Only 15 (12%) have had a subsequent abnormal pap, and there was no association with the 677C-->T polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm a significant difference in the 677T allele frequencies among racial groups. However, there is no association of either the 677C-->T or 1298A-->C polymorphisms in cervical carcinogenesis. There is no role of the combined polymorphism effect in cervical cancer or evidence of prediction for future Pap abnormalities.     

Role of improved distance and near visual acuity with low vision aids to enhance stereopsis in retinal diseases

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine role of improved distance and near best-corrected visual acuity (DBCVA and NBCVA) with use of magnification devices to enhance stereopsis in low vision (LV) subjects having retinal diseases.Methods:In a cross-sectional observational study without control, 84 subjects having LV due to retinal diseases were examined for an improvement of BCVA with use of magnifying low vision aids (LVAs) (2X for DBCVA and 3X for NBCVA). The stereopsis scores on titmus fly test were recorded with near refractive correction “on” and then with 3X magnification. The improvement in stereopsis for distance was however estimated through statistical correlation values.Results:The DBCVA (P < 0.001), NBCVA (P < 0.001) and stereopsis (P < 0.001) improved statistically significantly (SS) following magnifying LVA. There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.059; P = 0.444;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.054; P = 0.487;NSS); and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.042; P = 0.592;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.08; P = 0.920;NSS). There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.044; P = 0.572;NSS) and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.108; P = 0.165;NSS). But positive correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.347; P < 0.001) and between post-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.445; P < 0.001) was SS.Conclusion:The use of magnification as LVA improves both the BCVA and stereopsis. The increase in DBCVA with LVA improves the stereopsis for distance though it may not be SS while improvement in NBCVA with LVA enhances stereopsis for near objects in SS manner.     

Metabolism,Metabolomics, and Inflammation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined by classic psychological manifestations, although among the characteristics are significantly increased rates of serious somatic comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome. In this review, we assess the evidence for disturbances that may contribute to somatic pathology in inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and circulating metabolites (implicating mitochondrial dysfunction) in individuals with PTSD and in animal models simulating features of PTSD. The clinical and preclinical data highlight probable interrelated features of PTSD pathophysiology, including a proinflammatory milieu, metabolomic changes (implicating mitochondrial and other processes), and metabolic dysregulation. These data suggest that PTSD may be a systemic illness, or that it at least has systemic manifestations, and the behavioral manifestations are those most easily discerned. Whether somatic pathology precedes the development of PTSD (and thus may be a risk factor) or follows the development of PTSD (as a result of either shared pathophysiologies or lifestyle adaptations), comorbid PTSD and somatic illness is a potent combination placing affected individuals at increased physical as well as mental health risk. We conclude with directions for future research and novel treatment approaches based on these abnormalities.     

Does obesity affect the outcomes in takotsubo cardiomyopathy? Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, 2010‐2014

Background

Obesity can lead to increased oxidative stress which is one of the proposed mechanisms in the etiopathogenesis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM).

Hypothesis

The presence of obesity adversely impacts clinical outcomes in TCM patients.

Methods

We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2010‐2014) to identify adult patients admitted with a principal diagnosis of TCM with and without obesity. We compared the categorical and continuous variables by Pearson χ² and Student t test, respectively, in propensity‐score matched cohorts.

Results

The study cohort comprised 612 obese TCM (weighted n = 3034) and 5696 nonobese TCM (weighted n = 28 186) patients. Obese TCM patients were more often younger and private‐insurance enrollees. Cardiac complications including acute myocardial infarction (9.0% vs 7.4%; P = 0.04), cardiac arrest (2.3% vs. 0.4%; P < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (4.3% vs. 3.2%; P = 0.03), congestive heart failure (5.0% vs. 3.8%; P = 0.02), respiratory failure (12.9% vs. 11.0%; P = 0.021) and use of mechanical hemodynamic support (Impella; 0.2% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.02) were significantly higher among obese TCM patients. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in all‐cause mortality (1.0% vs. 0.8%; P = 0.35), arrhythmia (24.5% vs. 22.7%, P = 0.123), length of stay (3.7 ±3.5 vs. 3.7 ±3.6 days; P = 0.68), and total hospital charges ($40 780.16 vs. $42 575.14; P = 0.08).

Conclusions

Obese TCM patients were more susceptible to developing TCM‐related cardiac complications than were nonobese TCM patients, without any impact on all‐cause in‐hospital mortality, LOS, and hospital charges.     

Diagnostic Yield of Xpert MTB/RIF in Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Children with Probable Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective

To evaluate utility of Xpert MTB/RIF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in children with probable pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods

Children with probable pulmonary tuberculosis with negative smear and Xpert on induced sputum/gastric aspirate were subjected to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for Xpert assay and mycobacterial liquid culture. Data of children <14 y undergoing bronchoscopy for suspected MDR-TB (n=12) were also analyzed. The sensitivity of Xpert in BAL fluid for diagnosis of probable and confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis was calculated with clinico-radiological diagnosis and culture as gold standards, respectively.

Results

Of 41 enrolled children, 24 (58.5%) had Xpert positive in BAL fluid and 11 (26.8%) had culture confirmed tuberculosis (BAL fluid;10; sputum,1). The sensitivity of Xpert in BAL fluid among probable and culture confirmed tuberculosis cases was 58.5% (24/41) and 81.8% (9/11), respectively.

Conclusion

Xpert in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid has good sensitivity in both probable and confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis in children.