Association of Bezafibrate Treatment With Reduced Risk of Cancer in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between bezafibrate, a drug used to treat hypertriglyceridemia, and long-term cancer incidence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).Patients and MethodsThe study comprised 2980 patients with CAD (mean age, 60 years; 2729 [91.6%] men) who were free of cancer and were enrolled in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention study, a double-blind trial conducted between May 1, 1990, and January 31, 1993, in 18 cardiology departments in Israel. Patients randomized to receive 400 mg of bezafibrate (n=1486) or placebo (n=1494) daily for a median of 6.2 years (range, 4.7-7.6 years) were followed up for incidence of cancer through the Israeli National Cancer Registry and all-cause death through the Population Registry of the State of Israel until December 31, 2013. Cox proportional hazards and Fine and Gray survival models were used to assess the bezafibrate-cancer association.ResultsClinical characteristics and laboratory values were well balanced between the 2 groups at the study entry. Over a median follow-up of 22.5 years (range, 21.2-23.9 years), cancer developed in 753 patients. With death considered a competing event, the cumulative incidence of cancer at the end of the follow-up was lower in the bezafibrate vs the placebo group (23.9%; 95 CI, 21.9%-26.1% vs 27.2%; 95 CI, 25.1%-29.4%; P=.04). The hazard ratio for cancer in the bezafibrate vs placebo groups was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.74-0.99). In mediation analysis, the association between bezafibrate treatment and cancer incidence was not sensitive to adjustment for on-trial lipid levels but was attenuated on adjustment for on-trial fibrinogen levels.ConclusionBezafibrate treatment is associated with reduced risk of cancer among patients with CAD. Fibrinogen, but not lipid lowering, is linked to this association.     

Tracheotomy after laryngotracheopasty: Risk factors over 10 years

Background

Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is the most common congenital and/or acquired laryngotracheal anomaly requiring tracheotomy in infants. We sought to determine factors associated with a greater likelihood of tracheotomy in symptomatic infants with SGS who underwent laryngotracheoplasty (LTP).

Methods

Retrospective case series with chart review of patients undergoing single-stage LTP for SGS over a 10-year period (2001–2010) in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital.

Results

Twenty-two children (15 boys, 7 girls), with a mean gestational age of 32.5 weeks, underwent LTP with and without interpositional grafting, at a median age of 89 days. Ten patients (43%) required postoperative tracheotomy. Of patients weighing < 2.5 kg, 7 of 8 eventually required tracheotomy, while none weighing > 5 kg needed tracheotomy (p = 0.003). The average length of stay for patients with a tracheotomy was 125 days, while those without tracheotomy required only 58 days (p = 0.011). The grade of SGS (p = 0.809), gender (p = 0.968), age at surgery (p = 0.178), and gestational age (p = 0.117) were not significantly associated with the need for tracheotomy. Weight at surgery was significantly correlated with the likelihood of needing tracheotomy (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Patients who weighed less than 2.5 kg at the time of LTP procedures were more likely to require a postoperative tracheotomy. Children who required tracheotomy had longer lengths of hospital stay.     

The effects of ambient particulate matter on human adipose tissue

ABSTRACT

The effects of particulate matter (PM) air pollution on adipose tissue have mainly been studied in animal models. The aim of this study was to examine the potential associations between PM exposure and 25 cellular markers in human omental (OM) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue. The PM exposure assessments for both PM_2.5 (PM <2.5 μm in diameter) and PM₁₀ (<10 μm) were based upon a novel hybrid satellite-based spatio-temporally resolved model. We calculated the PM exposure above the background threshold for 1 week (acute phase), 3 and 6 months (intermediate phase), and 1 year (chronic phase) prior to tissue harvesting and tested the associations with adipose cell metabolic effects using multiple linear regressions and heat maps strategy. Chemokine levels were found to increase after acute and intermediate exposure duration to PM₁₀. The levels of stress signaling biomarkers in the SC and OM tissues rose after acute exposure to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Macrophage and leucocyte counts were associated with severity of PM exposure in all three duration groups. Adipocyte diameter decreased in all exposure periods. Our results provide evidence for significant contribution of air pollutants exposure to adipose tissue inflammation as well as for pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic dysregulation that may be involved in the observed responses.     

Bringing prevost's sign into the third dimension: Artificial intelligence estimation of conjugate gaze adjusted length (CGAL) and correlation with acute ischemic stroke

Conjugate gaze deviation is associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), although previously only measured on a 2D plane. The current study evaluates 3D imaging efficacy to assess conjugate gaze deviation and correlate direction and strength of deviation to neuro-clinical findings.A retrospective analysis of 519 patients who had CT scans for suspected AIS at our institution. Direction and angle of eye deviation were calculated based on 2D axial images. Volumetric reconstruction of CT scans allowed for calculation of 3D conjugate gaze adjusted length (CGAL). Angle, direction, and vector strength of both 2D and 3D scans were calculated by an artificial intelligence algorithm and tested for agreement with hemispheric ischemia location. CGAL measurements were correlated to NIHSS scores. Follow up MRI data was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CGAL in the identification of AIS.The final analysis included 122 patients. A strong agreement was found between 3D gaze direction and hemispheric ischemia location. CGAL measurements were highly correlated with NIHSS score (r = .72, P = .01). A CGAL >0.25, >0.28, and >0.35 exhibited a sensitivity of 91%, 86%, and 82% and specificity of 66%, 89%, and 89%, respectively, in AIS identification. A CGAL >0.28 has the best sensitivity-specificity balance in the identification of AIS. A CGAL >0.25 has the highest sensitivity.Given CED''s correlation with NIHSS score a 1/4 deviation in the ipsilateral direction is a sensitive ancillary radiographic sign to assist radiologists in making a correct diagnosis even when not presented with full clinical data.