Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Can We Afford the Cost of Cardioverter-Defibrillators? Data from the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study

Background: Large randomized trials show that in appropriately selected patients with left ventricular dysfunction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can improve overall survival at 2–5 years. Since direct implementation of the criteria used in the MADIT II and SCD-HeFT will lead to a marked rise in ICD implants, there is a growing fear that increased use of ICDs may cause a dramatic burden to health care systems. The ICD has traditionally been seen as an expensive form of treatment, which is difficult to accept at the first look. This is mainly due to the nonlinear character of the ICD investment, characterized by high initial expenditure, followed by a deferred pay-off in terms of clinical benefits. Cost-effectiveness analysis may help provide a different perspective on the problem of ICD cost, as may estimation of the daily cost of ICD treatment, assuming a time horizon of 5–7 years—a particularly interesting subject for further registry studies.
Methods and Results: Based on real expenditure data from 2002 to 2005, as recorded in the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study of patients implanted on MADIT II indications, we estimated the daily costs associated with the device and leads. Over a 5–7 year time horizon, the average daily cost was estimated to be €4.60–€6.70. Translation of these figures into U.S. market conditions suggests a daily cost of around $7.90–$11.40.
Conclusions: These findings appear useful to help evaluate the affordability of ICD in comparison with other therapeutic options in a context of limited available economic resources.     

Pancreatic Panniculitis Associated with Allograft Pancreatitis and Rejection in a Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplant Recipient

Pancreatic panniculitis is an uncommon condition that can occur in association with pancreatic disease. We present a case of pancreatic panniculitis in a female pancreas-kidney transplant recipient 5 months post-transplant. The patient was on standard immunosuppressive medications and had acute rejection of her renal allograft. The diagnosis of allograft pancreatitis and rejection presenting with pancreatic panniculitis was supported clinically, histopathologically and by laboratory and imaging data. This is the fourth case of pancreatic panniculitis occurring in a transplant recipient and the first in a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipient. It is also the first case associated with allograft rejection. Clinicians should be aware that pancreatic panniculitis may be a manifestation of underlying allograft pancreatic disease.     

补肾排毒合剂治疗慢性肾衰竭营养不良60例临床观察

目的:观察补肾排毒合剂治疗慢性肾衰竭营养不良的疗效.方法:90例慢性肾衰竭营养不良患者随机分为治疗组60例和对照组30例,并设健康对照组30例.治疗组和对照组在综合治疗的基础上,治疗组加用补肾排毒合剂,对照组加用爱西特和百令胶囊.比较两组肾功能、营养状态和血浆瘦素、神经肽Y的变化.结果:治疗组治疗后BUN、Scr明显降低,与治疗前及对照组相比均有统计学差异(P<0.05).治疗组营养状态好转,与治疗前及对照组相比均有统计学差异(P<0.05).两组慢性肾衰竭营养不良患者治疗前Leptin、NPY水平均高于健康组(P<0.05),治疗后治疗组Leptin、NPY较治疗前下降,有统计学意义(P<0.05),但与对照组相比无统计学差异(P＞0.05).结论:补肾排毒合剂治疗慢性肾衰竭营养不良疗效明显,可降低BUN、Scr,改善营养不良状态.     

Cerebral autoregulation is preserved in multiple system atrophy: A transcranial Doppler study.

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) present large changes in blood pressure (BP) due to autonomic disturbances. We analyzed how this change may influence dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA). Simultaneous recordings of arterial BP (Finapres) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (BFV) (transcranial Doppler) were performed in 10 patients with MSA (61 +/- 12 yr of age) and 12 healthy volunteers (61 +/- 11 yr of age): cerebral BFV response to oscillations in mean BP was studied in the supine position by cross-spectral analysis of mean BP and mean MCA BFV. The DCA was also studied during the decrease in BP the first seconds when standing up from a sitting position by the assessment of the cerebrovascular resistance index (CR; mean BP/mean MCA BFV ratio). The MCA BFV/BP cross-spectral analysis showed a phase for the mid-frequency band (0.07-0.2 Hz) significantly larger in MSA, suggesting more active autoregulation in response to larger changes in BP. Changes in CR reflecting the rate of autoregulation, when standing did not differ between the two groups. These data suggest that dynamic cerebral autoregulation is preserved in MSA.     

伊贝沙坦与雷米普利对充血性心力衰竭疗效比较

目的比较伊贝沙坦与雷米普利对充血性心力衰竭(CHF)的临床疗效及安全性。方法72例CHF患者在常规治疗基础上随机分为2组。伊贝沙坦组(36例)口服伊贝沙坦150 mg.d-1;雷米普利组(36例)口服雷米普利2.5 mg.d-1。治疗前与治疗6 mo后分别用超声心动图测量左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室短轴缩短分数(LVFS)、每搏输出量(SV)、心排量(CO)、心脏指数(CI)评估心功能。结果治疗6 mo后,2组心功能较治疗前非常明显改善(P<0.01),2组之间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论伊贝沙坦与雷米普利治疗CHF均有效,且疗效相当。     

甘草酸及肾十方治疗慢性马兜铃酸肾病26例疗效观察

目的观察甘草酸及复方中药肾十方对慢性马兜铃酸肾病的疗效。方法26例符合慢性马兜铃酸肾病的患者，给予甘草酸二铵150mg加中药复方汤剂肾十方治疗3个疗程。观察治疗前后尿素氮（BUN）、血肌酐（SCr）、尿酶及24h尿蛋白排泄量，血红蛋白、红细胞压积。结果治疗后患者临床症状有显著改善，总有效率80.76％；BUN、SCr、尿N-乙酰葡萄胺酶（NAG）、β2-微球蛋白（β2-MG）均显著下降（P〈0．05），血红蛋白、红细胞压积较治疗前升高（P〈0．05）。结论甘草酸及复方中药肾十方对慢性马兜铃酸肾病有确切的疗效。     

天文潮汐对心脏病患者心力衰竭发生率影响的研究

目的　研究天文潮汐对心脏病患者发生心衰的影响。方法　分析 118例心脏病患者发生心衰在各潮汐期的分布。结果　在强天文潮汐期内心脏病患者发生心衰显著多于其余时期 ,而且在朔、望期发生的人数多于上、下弦期。结论　护理人员要了解天文潮汐的变化规律 ,教育心脏病患者在强天文潮汐期内要保持情绪稳定 ,必要时在强天文潮汐期内可给予心脏病患者适量的镇静剂和安眠药。     

慢性肾衰竭急性加重的临床特征及相关因素分析

目的：探讨慢性肾衰竭（CRF）急性加重因素及其治疗措施对预后的影响。方法：对2001年1月～2005年6月住院治疗的CRF急性加重患者42例，按其加重原因、基础疾病、治疗方式和疗效进行回顾性总结。结果：CRF急性加重因素依次为各种感染（45．2％）、原发病加重（19．0％）、高血压未控制（14．3％）、水电解质紊乱（11．9％）、肾毒性药物（11．9％）、心功能不全（9．5％）、尿路梗阻（4．8％）、血高粘滞状态（2．4%），7例同时存在≥2种上述病因（16．7％）。CRF急性加重原发病以慢性肾小球肾炎（52．4％）和糖尿病肾病（11．9％）为主。积极治疗后肾功能恢复达到或接近原来水平者40例，死亡2例，死亡2例的年龄均在60岁以上。结论：对于CRF肾功能急剧恶化的患者，应积极寻找其加重因素，并采取非透析和透析相结合治疗，改善肾功能，降低病死率，延长患者生命。     

Postinfectious gastroparesis related to autonomic failure: a case report

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Severe dysautonomia may be secondary to viral infections, resulting in impaired autoimmune, cardiovascular, urinary and digestive dysfunction. Herein, we present a case of a 31-year-old white female patient who had severe gastroparesis related to autonomic failure following an episode of acute gastroenteritis. This seems to be the first report providing thorough assessment of the enteric and autonomic nervous system by analysis of full-thickness small intestinal biopsies, cardiovagal testing and autopsy. HOSPITAL COURSE: This patient affected by a severe gastroparesis was treated with antiemetics, prokinetics, analgesics and gastric electrical stimulation to control symptoms. Nutritional support was made using jejunal feeding tube and, in the final stage of disease, with total parenteral nutrition. Autonomic studies revealed minimal heart rate variability and a disordered Valsalva manoeuvre although the enteric nervous system and the smooth muscle layer showed a normal appearance. Hospital courses were complicated by episodes of bacteraemia and fungemia. Serum antiphospholipid antibodies were noted but despite anticoagulation, she developed a pulmonary embolism and shortly thereafter the patient died. Autopsy revealed acute haemorrhagic Candida pneumonia with left main pulmonary artery thrombus. Sympathetic chain analysis revealed decreased myelinated axons with vacuolar degeneration and patchy inflammation consistent with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The evaluation of the enteric nervous system in the stomach and small bowel revealed no evidence of enteric neuropathy or myopathy. CONCLUSION: A Guillain-Barre-like disease with gastroparesis following acute gastroenteritis is supported by physiological and autonomic studies with histological findings.     

Hemodynamic analysis of descending versus ascending aortomyoplasty, and comparison with intra-aortic balloon pump

Objective: Descending and ascending aortomyoplasty are two surgical procedures intended to induce hemodynamic benefits similar to those of the intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP). To date, there have been no studies comparing the two surgical techniques. The objective of this study was to compare coronary blood flow augmentation and afterload reduction as produced by descending and ascending aortomyoplasty counterpulsation Methods: Twenty-two mongrel dogs (18–35 kg) underwent IABP application (n=7), descending (n=8), or ascending (n=7) aortomyoplasty. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery blood flow was measured using a Transonic Doppler flow probe. Left ventricular pressure as well as aortic pressures proximal and distal to either the aortomyoplasty site or the IABP position were monitored continuously. Results: Descending aortomyoplasty induced higher elevation in the LAD blood flow during assisted beats (27% from 10.8±4 to 13.8±6 ml/min, P<0.001) than that induced by either ascending aortomyoplasty (19% from 11.7±5 to 14±5 ml/min, P<0.001) or IABP counterpulsation (18% from 8.6±3 to 10.2±4 ml/min, P<0.001). Conversely, while ascending aortomyoplasty reduced the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by 16% (from 60±18 to 50±22 mmHg, P<0.001), similar to the 16% after load reduction achieved by the IABP counterpulsation, descending aortomyoplasty failed to induce afterload reduction. Conclusions: Descending aortomyoplasty produces higher coronary blood flow augmentation than either ascending aortomyoplasty or IABP. However, afterload reduction comparable to that achieved by IABP was observed only with ascending aortomyoplasty and not with descending aortomyoplasty.