Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of post-percutaneous coronary intervention nephropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus and normal baseline serum creatinine levels

Diabetes mellitus is an independent predictor of nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The outcomes of patients with diabetes with normal baseline serum creatinine who undergo PCI remain underevaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence, outcomes, and correlates of post-PCI nephropathy in this subset. The study cohort consisted of 570 patients with diabetes with normal serum creatinine (< or =1.3 mg/dl) who underwent PCI from August 2004 to December 2006. Patients aged >75 years and those presenting with either acute myocardial infarctions or cardiogenic shock were excluded. Post-PCI nephropathy was defined as a > or =25% increase in baseline creatinine. The study end points were post-PCI nephropathy and major adverse cardiac events at 6 months. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors. Post-PCI nephropathy occurred in 70 patients (incidence 12.3%). These patients were more likely to be women (55.7% vs 35.5%, p = 0.001) and to have histories of congestive heart failure (24.2% vs 14.7%, p = 0.048). Entry-site complications (hematoma, pseudoaneurysm) and the need for blood transfusion (16.7% vs 1.7%, p <0.001) were more common in this group. In-hospital mortality (8.6% vs 0.2%, p <0.001) and length of stay (4.51 +/- 5.2 vs 2.23 +/- 2.9 days, p <0.001) were significantly higher in the group with post-PCI nephropathy. No study patient required dialysis. At 6 months, major adverse cardiac events were markedly higher in patients with post-PCI nephropathy (21.4% vs 6.0%, p <0.001), driven by death and revascularization. Independent predictors of post-PCI nephropathy were lower body mass index and blood transfusion. Post-PCI nephropathy independently predicted major adverse cardiac events (hazard ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval 2.1 to 8.6, p <0.001). In conclusion, post-PCI nephropathy occurred in 12.3% of patients with diabetes with normal baseline serum creatinine and carried a significant detrimental impact on prognosis. The requirement for blood transfusions was the strongest correlate identified.     

Nutrition in burns: need for an aggressive dynamic approach

INTRODUCTION: Extensive burns elicit a pronounced metabolic response causing physiological derangements leading to the hyper-metabolic state. The hyper-metabolic response is accompanied by severe catabolism and a loss of lean body mass and also by a progressive decline of host defenses that impairs the immunological response. AIMS: A study was conducted in our hospital to assess various aspects of nutritional management of burns considering the ground realities of general hospital. The main aim of the study was to assess the use of early naso-gastric tube insertion, charting out daily calorie intake and to appropriately decrease the deficit with use of low cost feeds taking in to consideration the local dietary habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 138 cases were studied prospectively during April 2003 to March 2005, which were compared with 206 controls taken retrospectively from April 2000 to March 2003.The cases and controls were compared regarding the mortality rate, average days of stay and number of procedure done after dividing them in to various categories (%Burns) using the Z-test and student t-test. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The use of early naso-gastric tube insertion, charting out daily calorie intake and using low cost feeds consistent with local dietary habits lead to a significant decrease in average number of days and the number of procedures in 20-39% TBSA burns; and caused the significant decrease in mortality, average number of days and the number of procedure in 40-59%TBSA burns.     

Bovine hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution (HBOC-201) improves flap survival in a rat model of epigastric flap failure

Despite continued improvements in surgical technique and postoperative management of pedicled flaps, partial flap necrosis continues to be a substantial problem. Several researchers sought interventions that would decrease the incidence of this complication. The hypothesis of this study is that a bovine hemoglobin-based, oxygen-carrying solution (HBOC-201) will increase oxygen delivery, thus decreasing the area of necrosis of the marginally perfused portions of a pedicled flap. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (20 animals in each group): group 1, controls (surgical creation of flap only); group 2, HBOC-201, 2 g i.v., administered preoperatively and on days 3 and 5; group 3, HBOC-201, 4 g i.v., administered preoperatively and on days 3 and 5; and group 4, hemodilution (lactated Ringer's solution) administered preoperatively and on days 3 and 5. A ventral fasciocutaneous flap (5 x 7 cm) was elevated, based on unilateral superficial inferior epigastric vessels, and the flap was replaced and sutured. Animals were examined daily and euthanized on day 7. Prior to euthanasia, digital photographs were taken of each subject, and the images were analyzed for total area of the flap and area of necrosis, using ImagePro software. Using the calculated percentage of necrosis for each animal, a mean value of percent necrosis was obtained for each animal group and used for statistical analysis. Animals in group 2 demonstrated a decreased area of necrosis when compared with the control group (9.14% vs. 22.24%, P = 0.014). In conclusion, the oxygen therapeutic HBOC-201, at a dose of 2 g, administered preoperatively and on days 3 and 5, decreased the area of necrosis in a rat model of epigastric skin-flap failure. Further investigation of this drug and its effects on flap survival is warranted.     

An evaluation of centerline of flow measurement techniques to assess migration after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE: To validate a means by which migration of thoracic stent grafts can be reliably detected and quantified. METHODS: Patients treated for thoracic aneurysms (without dissections) with either the Cook Zenith TX1/TX2 or the Gore TAG device were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with digital imaging data at a baseline study (discharge or 1-month computed tomographic scan) and a minimum of 6 months' follow-up were evaluated on a three-dimensional workstation. Centerline of flow (CLF) calculations were used to determine length measurements to establish distances from native vascular landmarks (left common carotid artery, left common carotid artery, and celiac artery) to the proximal and distal aspects of the fixation systems of stent grafts. Patients with evidence of fixation system migration (>10 mm of movement) or increasing thoracic aortic lengths (left common carotid artery to celiac artery distance) were subjected to more detailed reviews. RESULTS: Of 194 patients evaluated (133 Zenith and 61 TAG), 46 were treated for dissections and excluded. Fifty-seven patients did not have a digital baseline study and available DICOM data for follow-up imaging at 6 months or later or had died before such follow-up imaging. The remaining 91 patients underwent assessment for device migration. Analyses were conducted on 19 patients at 6 months, on 42 at 12 months, on 12 at 24 months, on 13 at 36 months, and on 5 at 48 months. CLF analysis noted more than 10 mm of caudal movement of the proximal device in 10 patients and cranial movement of the distal device in 3 patients. When this subset was further scrutinized with regard to morphologic changes remote from the prosthesis and in the context of the overall aortic repair (such as elephant trunk grafts), only four patients had movement of the proximal or distal fixation system with respect to the initially deployed location. Two-dimensional axial image analysis identified migration in only one of the four patients with CLF-detected fixation system movement. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of early migration detection cannot be overstated given the potential to avert consequences as evidenced by analyses of counterpart abdominal aortic aneurysm devices. In vivo thoracic device analysis is more complex than that for devices used for infrarenal aneurysms. Distance calculations based on CLF measurements may overestimate the frequency of true migration, yet they serve as a reasonable initial screening tool. The resultant subset of patients then must undergo a more detailed evaluation of device position in the context of the aortic morphology to differentiate true migration from devices that maintain stable fixation system positions.     

Enteral nutrition support in head and neck cancer: tube vs. oral feeding during radiation therapy

This comparison of tube feeding with oral nutrition was made in patients with advanced head and neck cancer during intensive outpatient radiation therapy. Twenty-six patients with Stage III and IV head and neck cancers were stratified by site (nasopharynx vs. all other tumors, including recurrent nasopharynx) and randomized to receive oral or tube feeding during radiation therapy. All patients were counseled to have an intake of 40 kcal/kg and 1 gm protein per kilogram body weight. Body weights and dietary recalls were obtained weekly, along with evaluation of toxicities to therapy. Serum albumins were obtained at baseline, week 4, end of radiation therapy, and 1 month after radiation therapy. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented with significantly less body weight loss (means = -2.6%) than patients with all other carcinomas (means = -9.8%; p = .008). No differences in toxic responses were observed despite larger radiation field size in the tube-fed group (p = .02). Serum albumins in both groups dropped during radiation therapy, with no difference between groups. The tube-fed group maintained higher caloric and protein intakes (35 to 42 kcal/kg, 1.2 to 1.6 gm protein per kilogram) than the oral-fed group (15 to 34 kcal/kg, 0.3 to 1.3 gm protein per kilogram). No differences in body weights were observed between the tube-fed (means = 3.8%) and the oral-fed (means = 3.3%) patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients with oropharyngeal and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma had significantly less weight loss with tube feeding (means = 0.2%) than with oral feeding (means = -7.3%; p = .005); thus, tube feeding is recommended during radiation therapy in such patients.     

Cerebellar ataxia due to isolated vitamin E deficiency

Ataxia is a common and important neurological finding in medical practice. Severe deficiency of Vitamin E can profoundly affect the central nervous system and can cause ataxia and peripheral neuropathy resembling Friedreich's ataxia. Vitamin E deficiency can occur with abetalipoproteinemia, cholestatic liver disease or fat malabsorption. Ataxia with isolated Vit E deficiency (AVED) is an Autosomal Recessive genetic disorder with a mutation in the alpha tocopherol transfer protein gene (TTPA). This condition responds to high dose of Vit E and is one of the important causes of treatable ataxia. We report a young patient with Ataxia with isolated Vit E deficiency (AVED) who responded partially to replacement of Vitamin E.