Use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE: In patients with type 2 diabetes, the control of hyperglycemia is often difficult despite full doses of oral hypoglycemic agents and extremely large doses of insulin. These patients pose a major management problem. The authors therefore investigated whether insulin given as a subcutaneous continuous infusion of insulin (CSII) would result in an improvement in glucose homeostasis. METHODS: Four patients with badly controlled type 2 diabetes, on treatment with extremely high doses of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, were started on CSII. RESULTS: All four patients had a marked improvement in plasma glucose concentrations with a corresponding fall in HbA1c levels. This improvement was associated with a marked fall in the insulin doses necessary to maintain adequate glucose homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: Since HbA1c levels fell from levels that would be associated with diabetic complications to those at which complications are markedly reduced, we recommend that patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on extremely high doses of insulin be given a trial of treatment with CSII.     

Unusual disposition of lateral circumflex femoral artery: Anatomical description and clinical implications

The anatomical knowledge of arterial variations of lower limb is of utmost significance for the present day surgeons and interventional radiologists for minimizing complications during vascular reconstructive procedures, catheterization procedures and surgical intervention for embolism. Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery(LCFA) isan important branch of Profunda Femoris artery and precise knowledge of its variations can be of great relevance during surgical and radiological procedures in femoral region. The present study reports a unique case of anomalous route taken by LCFA posterior to femoral nerve associated with a prominent muscular branch from Femoral artery mimicking the course of LCFA. Documentation of such variations is highly significant. It may serve as guideline for surgeons in reducing the incidence of postoperative complications where LCFA is used as a long vascular pedicle in anterolateral perforator thigh flap and in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Ignorance of such variations can lead to fatal intraoperative haemorrhage and incapacitating sensory and motor deficit due to injury to femoral nerve branches which are closely related to these vessels.     

Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Purpose of review

The goal of this review is to describe the benefits and limitations of robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the most important and recent clinical data, and the future applications as robotic technology continues to develop.

Recent findings

Robotic-assisted PCI can reduce occupational hazards of ionizing radiation exposure and orthopedic injury to the interventional cardiologist while offering increased precision and fine control that may confer benefit to the patient. Recent studies have suggested the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted PCI, yet widespread use of the technology has not been fully adopted due to limitations of the current technology and high costs.

Summary

Robotic-assisted PCI has potential to benefit both the operator and the patient. Despite some limitations of robotic-assisted PCI, it can safely and effectively be used in many patients with coronary artery disease requiring PCI. The value proposition for robotic-assisted PCI will depend on the evolution of robotic systems and its applicability to more complex coronary lesions, peripheral arterial interventions, and telemedicine.

     

Infection--an underappreciated cause of bone pain in multiple myeloma

Bone pain, especially back pain, is a common presenting feature of myeloma patients. We report three multiple myeloma patients with exacerbations of back pain and referred shoulder pain resulting from vertebral infections. Two patients were treated with surgery, and one patient had computerized tomography-guided percutaneous needle aspiration for diagnostic purposes. All three patients received a prolonged course of antibiotics. Vertebral infection resolved with this treatment in all three patients without any recurrence. Previous dexamethasone therapy, together with an episode of bacteraemia, appears to be a predisposing factor for vertebral infection. Magnetic resonance imaging enabled the diagnosis in all three patients.     

Role of kinin B2 receptor signaling in the recruitment of circulating progenitor cells with neovascularization potential

Reduced migratory function of circulating angiogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) has been associated with impaired neovascularization in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous findings underline the role of the kallikrein-kinin system in angiogenesis. We now demonstrate the involvement of the kinin B2 receptor (B(2)R) in the recruitment of CPCs to sites of ischemia and in their proangiogenic action. In healthy subjects, B(2)R was abundantly present on CD133(+) and CD34(+) CPCs as well as cultured endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), whereas kinin B1 receptor expression was barely detectable. In transwell migration assays, bradykinin (BK) exerts a potent chemoattractant activity on CD133(+) and CD34(+) CPCs and EPCs via a B(2)R/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/eNOS-mediated mechanism. Migration toward BK was able to attract an MNC subpopulation enriched in CPCs with in vitro proangiogenic activity, as assessed by Matrigel assay. CPCs from cardiovascular disease patients showed low B(2)R levels and decreased migratory capacity toward BK. When injected systemically into wild-type mice with unilateral limb ischemia, bone marrow MNCs from syngenic B(2)R-deficient mice resulted in reduced homing of sca-1(+) and cKit(+)flk1(+) progenitors to ischemic muscles, impaired reparative neovascularization, and delayed perfusion recovery as compared with wild-type MNCs. Similarly, blockade of the B(2)R by systemic administration of icatibant prevented the beneficial effect of bone marrow MNC transplantation. BK-induced migration represents a novel mechanism mediating homing of circulating angiogenic progenitors. Reduction of BK sensitivity in progenitor cells from cardiovascular disease patients might contribute to impaired neovascularization after ischemic complications.     

Interventional therapies for malignant pleural effusions: The present and the future

The approach to management of malignant pleural effusions (MPE) has changed over the past few decades. The key goals of MPE management are to relieve patient symptoms using the least invasive means and in the most cost‐effective manner. There is now a realization that patient‐reported outcome measures should be the primary goal of MPE treatment, and this now is the focus in most clinical trials. Efforts to minimize patient morbidity are complemented by development of less invasive treatments that have mostly replaced the more aggressive surgical approaches of the past. Therapeutic thoracentesis is simple, effective and generally safe, although its benefits may only be temporary. Pleurodesis is the conventional and for a long time the only definitive therapy available. However, the efficacy and safety of talc pleurodesis has been challenged. Indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) drainage is increasingly accepted worldwide and represents a new concept to improve symptoms without necessarily generating pleural symphysis. Recent studies support the effectiveness of IPC treatment and provide reassurance regarding its safety. An unprecedented number of clinical trials are now underway to improve various aspects of MPE care. However, choosing an optimal intervention for MPE in an individual patient remains a challenge due to our limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of breathlessness in MPE and a lack of predictors of survival and pleurodesis outcome. This review provides an overview of common pleural interventional procedures used for MPE management, controversies and limitations of current practice, and areas of research most needed to improve practice in future.     

Acute cardiac injury is associated with adverse outcomes,including mortality in COVID-19 patients: A single-center experience

Objectives:To evaluate acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and its association with adverse outcomes including mortality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.Methods:A retrospective study conducted between February and June 2020 in Dubai, UAE, for all laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus disease-19 patients. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without acute cardiac injury.Results:During the study period, 203 patients were included, of which, 44 (21.7%) had evidence of acute cardiac injury. Compared with patients without acute cardiac injury, patients with acute cardiac injury were: older, had more shortness of breath, diabetes, hypertension, and more bilateral airspace shadowing on admission chest radiography. These patients also had a higher neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimers and lactate dehydrogenase but lower lymphocyte count. Regarding outcomes, these patients had higher intensive care admissions; a higher rate of complications including acute kidney and liver injury, acidosis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, needed more mechanical ventilation, and had a significantly higher risk of death.Conclusion:Acute cardiac injury is common among Coronavirus disease-19 patients. These patients present with higher comorbidities, have high inflammatory markers and have greater risk for in-hospital multi-organ damage, need for mechanical ventilation, and death. Prompt full assessment and intervention are recommended.     

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient of organophosphate poisoning

A 32-year-old male presented with a history of consuming some organophosphorous compound with suicidal intention. He was treated with atropine, pralidoxime, ventilator support. During stay patient had persistent irritability, tachycardiaand hypertension despite sedation and labetalol infusion. He developed headache, visual blurring hemiparesis and focal seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed multifocal hyperintensities mainly in subcortical areas of parietal and occipital regions in T2-weighted images, with increased values of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient, suggesting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The possibilities of PRES caused by organophosphorous poisoning either due to hypertension caused by autonomic deregulation or direct neurological toxicity has been discussed.