Porcelain heart

A 65-year-old hypertensive man with shortness of breath andatypical thoracic pain underwent coronary angiography for     

Changes in pulmonary function test and cardio-pulmonary exercise capacity in COPD patients after lobar pulmonary resection.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) and Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (C-PET) are useful to evaluate operability in functionally compromised patients. Although modifications of PFT and C-PET after lung surgery have been widely explored, little information exists as to modifications of exercise capacity in COPD patients undergoing lung resection. We prospectively analyzed the changes in PFT and C-PET in patients with COPD after a pulmonary lobar resection. METHODS: From January 2003 to March 2004 all patients scheduled for lung resection were considered for participation in the study protocol. Those patients with a preoperative diagnosis of COPD on PFT were explored through a C-PET. Only patients who had undergone a lobar pulmonary resection were subsequently considered; these patients had a new complete cardio-respiratory evaluation 3 months after surgery. The pre- and postoperative values compared were those of FEV1, TLC, DLCO, VO2max, and VE/VCO2. Data are expressed as mean +/- standard deviation (SD). Statistic evaluation was made using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: During this period 11 patients completed the study protocol. Ten patients underwent surgery for NSCLC and one for a pulmonary aspergilloma. Nine lobectomies and two bilobectomies were performed. In the study population, the preoperative mean value of FEV1 resulted as being 53% (SD+/-20) of the predicted mean value, that of TLC 120% (SD+/-35) and that of DLCO 65% (SD+/-27). The preoperative mean value of VO2max resulted as being 17.8 ml/Kg/min (SD+/-3.25) and mean VE/VCO2 resulted as being 35.7 (SD+/-4). Three months after surgery the measured mean value of FEV1 was 53% (SD+/-18), that of TLC was 99% (SD+/-24) and that of DLCO 52% (SD+/-18). The mean value of VO2max resulted as being 14.1 ml/Kg/min (SD+/-3.04) and that of VE/VCO2 was 42.5 (SD+/-12.8). Statistical analysis of PFT values showed that FEV1 and DLCO were not significantly modified (P > 0.05); in contrast, TLC had significantly decreased (P = 0.008). VO2max had significantly decreased (P = 0.004) and VE/VCO2 had significantly increased (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Three months after a lobar pulmonary resection, patients with COPD were found to have a significant decrease in exercise tolerance. PFT alone can underestimate the postoperative loss of exercise capacity through exercise.     

Homocysteine-Lowering Therapy and Early Progression of Transplant Vasculopathy: A Prospective, Randomized, IVUS-Based Study

Although observational studies suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia may be a risk factor for coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV), prospective data on homocysteine-lowering interventions and CAV development are lacking. We, therefore, randomized 44 de novo heart transplant (HT) recipients to 15 mg/day of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (n=22), or standard therapy (control group, n=22) to investigate the effect of homocysteine lowering on the change in coronary intimal hyperplasia during the first 12 months after transplant, as detected by intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS). Although 12 months after HT, homocysteinemia was lower in folate-treated patients (p<0.001), coronary intimal area increased similarly in the two groups (p>0.4). Conversely, hypercholesterolemia and cytomegalovirus infection were both associated with increased intimal hyperplasia (p<0.04), independently from folate intake. Sub-group analysis revealed that folate therapy reduced intimal hyperplasia in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia before randomization (n=19; p=0.02), but increased intimal hyperplasia in patients with normal homocysteine plasma concentrations (p=0.02). This bimodal effect of folate therapy persisted significantly after adjusting for cytomegalovirus infection and hypercholesterolemia. Despite effective in prevent hyperhomocysteinemia after heart transplantation, folate therapy does not seem to affect early CAV onset. However, sub-group analysis suggests that folate therapy may delay CAV development only in patients with baseline hyperhomocysteinemia, while may favor CAV progression in recipients with normal baseline homocysteinemia.     

Efficacy of a short-term psychoeducational intervention for persistent non-organic insomnia in severely mentally ill patients. A pilot study.

Insomnia in psychiatric patients is frequently underestimated in clinical practice. Usually drugs are prescribed for the treatment of this disorder but non-pharmacological intervention can be successfully used. The present study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a two-session psychoeducational intervention in improving persistent non-organic insomnia and reducing the administration of PRN therapy in severely mentally ill patients. A pre-post study was performed on 36 psychiatric patients admitted to a residential psychiatric unit. The Nocturnal Sleep Onset Scale (NSOS) and Daytime Sleepiness Scale (DSS), the sleep onset latency, the time awake after sleep onset and the numbers of awakenings were gathered 2 weeks before the intervention (T0), immediately prior the intervention (T1), 2 weeks after the last session of the intervention (T2) and a 3-month follow-up (T3). The total number of administrations of PRN therapy from T0 to T1 and from T1 to T2 were also examined. A significant reduction was shown on the NSOS, the sleep onset latency and in the time awake after sleep onset from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3, while no significant difference was found between T0 and T1. A significant decrease on the mean number of administrations of PRN therapy was also found between 15 days before the intervention (T0-T1) and 15 days after intervention (T1-T2). The initial results of this study seems to suggest the possible efficacy of a short-term psychoeducational intervention on improving persistent non-organic insomnia in severely mentally ill patients. Further control studies are necessary to confirm these findings.     

Effects of parity on pregnancy hormonal profiles across ethnic groups with a diverse incidence of breast cancer.

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that a full-term pregnancy may affect maternal risk of breast cancer later in life. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare circulating levels of maternal hormones affecting breast differentiation (human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin) and proliferation [alpha-fetoprotein, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and estradiol] between women at a low to moderate risk (Asians and Hispanics), as compared with women at a high risk for breast cancer (Caucasians and African-Americans). Between May 2002 and December 2004, a total of 586 pregnant women were approached during a routine prenatal visit. Among them, 450 women (206 Caucasian, 126 Asian, 88 Hispanic, and 30 African-American) met the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent. Only singleton pregnancies were considered. Blood samples were drawn during the second trimester of pregnancy. Laboratory analyses were done using the IMMULITE 2000 immunoassay system. Gestational age standardized mean levels of estradiol, IGF-I, and prolactin were significantly higher in Hispanic women compared with Caucasian women. Mean concentration of IGF-I was significantly higher in African-American women compared with Caucasian and Asian women. No significant differences in pregnancy hormone levels were observed between Caucasian and Asian (predominantly second-generation Chinese) women in this study. Irrespective of ethnicity, women who had their first pregnancy had substantially higher mean levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, estradiol, and prolactin compared with women who previously had at least one full-term pregnancy. These data suggest that circulating pregnancy hormone levels may explain some of the ethnic differences in breast cancer risk.     

Diffusion-weighted imaging study of patients with essential tremor.

The pathophysiology of essential tremor (ET) is unknown. PET and fMRI studies have revealed bilateral activation and (1)H-MRS studies metabolic abnormalities in the cerebellum and other functionally related brain structures in ET. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used to search for evidence of tissue integrity abnormalities in these areas in ET patients and 10 matched controls by calculating water apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). Regions of interest included the left and right cerebellum, red nucleus, thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, and frontal white matter. Histograms of ADCs were generated for all pixels in the infratentorial compartment and manually segmented areas corresponding to brainstem, vermis, and cerebellar hemispheres. ADC values were similar in all brain areas in patients and controls. Our study did not detect changes affecting the investigated brain regions in ET patients. These findings argue against major structural damage in the ET brain, although more subtle neurodegenerative changes cannot be ruled out.     

Effects of heart rate on phasic Y-graft blood flow and flow reserve in patients with complete arterial myocardial revascularizaton: an intravascular Doppler catheter study.

OBJECTIVE: It is not well established whether the blood flow of arterial composite Y-grafts can efficiently respond to the flow demand of the coronary system early postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate if soon after the operation, arterial composite Y-grafts can increase blood flow in response to an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who received complete arterial myocardial revascularization using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and the radial artery (RA) as composite Y-graft gave their consent to a pre-discharge coronary angiography and intravascular flow velocity measurements using a Doppler guide wire. Flow measurements were performed in the LITA main stem, the distal LITA and the RA, both at rest and during atrial pacing at the 85% of the patient age-predicted maximum. The heart rate-systolic blood pressure product was considered as an indirect index of MVO2. Hyperemic flow was determined after injection of adenosine. The flow reserve (FR) was defined as the ratio of blood flow during maximal hyperemia (Qmax) to baseline flow (Qbasal). RESULTS: Atrial pacing increased MVO2 significantly (P<0.000). None of the patients developed ischemic S-T segment modifications or complained of chest pain. Q(basal) increased significantly in the LITA main stem (P=0.001), distal LITA (P=0.041) and RA (P=0.004) while Qmax did not change significantly. As a consequence, the FR decreased in the LITA main stem (P=0.002), distal LITA (P<0.000) and RA (P<0.000) but was not completely exhausted. CONCLUSIONS: Soon after the operation, arterial composite Y-grafts can significantly increase blood flow in response to conditions of increased MVO2, keeping normal the myocardial O2 supply-to-demand ratio.     

Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma mimicking acute appendicitis: laparoscopic management.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas (RLMS) are a challenging clinical entity. The vast majority of patients are operated on when tumors are advanced. We report herein a case of RLMS, mimicking acute appendiceal disease and treated successfully via laparoscopy. METHODS: A 37-year-old woman, para 1, was admitted to our department for right lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever, and leukocytosis. She had no changes in gastrointestinal and urologic function. A physical examination revealed the presence of abdominal guarding, rebound, and a tender mass in the right lower quadrant. The abdominal ultrasound showed an inhomogeneous ovoid mass (6 cm in diameter) located below the cecum, with no definite margins, and consistent with an appendiceal abscess. The patient was referred for laparoscopy. The procedure was performed with the aid of 3 ports: a 12-mm trocar in the umbilicus (open technique), a 10-mm trocar in the left iliac fossa, and a 5-mm one in the supra-pubic space. On inspection of the abdominal cavity, a retroperitoneal 6-cm mass was immediately found below the cecum and the appendix. Neither intraperitoneal seeding nor suspected lymph nodes were present. After dissection of the parietal peritoneum, the mass appeared to be encapsulated and well demarcated from all surrounding structures. It was eventually dissected and removed via a plastic bag. A standard appendectomy was also performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 3rd day. The histology analysis of the resected specimen showed a totally excised G2 leiomyosarcoma. The appendix had no signs of inflammation. Postoperatively, the patient underwent a total-body CT-scan, which had no signs of residual or distant disease. No adjuvant therapy was necessary. At an 18-month follow-up, the patient was doing well and was disease free. CONCLUSION: Surgery represents the main therapeutic option for resectable RLMS. Laparoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool that allows safe resection of incidentally discovered, small and well encapsulated RLMS.