Cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein for predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis

Elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, the relationship between these two biomarker levels and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the association of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Relevant studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE database through November 2013. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they reported the long-term all-cause or cardiovascular mortality of chronic kidney disease patients with abnormally elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin or C-reactive protein. Summary estimates of association were obtained using a random-effects model. Thirty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. From the pooled analysis, cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein were significantly associated with all-cause (HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.97-4.33 and HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.29, respectively) and cardiovascular (HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.67-6.41 and HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.28, respectively) mortality. In the subgroup analysis of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein, significant heterogeneities were found among the subgroups of population for renal replacement therapy and for the proportion of smokers and the C-reactive protein analysis method. Elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein are significant associated with higher risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Further studies are warranted to explore the risk stratification in chronic kidney disease patients.

Characteristics of voice and personality of patients with vocal fold immobility / Características vocais e de personalidade de pacientes com imobilidade de prega vocal

Purpose: To examine the voice and personality characteristics of patients diagnosed with organic dysphonia secondary to vocal fold immobility. Methods: The study comprised patients of both genders, attending the Clinic School of Speech Therapy of the Federal University of Paraíba, with otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of vocal fold immobility and speech therapy diagnosis of dysphonia. The self-assessment of voice was measured through a Vocal Screening Protocol and Voice Symptoms Scale (VoiSS), the voice was collected for auditory-perceptive evaluation, and the Factorial Personality Battery (FPB) was used. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to determine the frequency, mean, and standard deviation of the studied variables. Results: Eight patients participated in the study, of both genders, with average age of 40.4±16.9 years. The more frequent risk factors were the personal ones (4.7±2.1). In the VoiSS, the patients presented a higher average in the limitation score (34.1±15.7). From the auditory-perceptive evaluation, moderate intensity of vocal deviation was obtained, with predominant vocal roughness (57.7±25.2). In the FPB, the patients had an average higher than the cutoff scores in neuroticism (3.8±1.4) and accomplishment (5.2±1.0). Conclusion: The predominant vocal parameter was roughness. The patients referred to a few risk factors that compromise the vocal behavior and presented the neuroticism and realization factors as a highlight in their personality. Thus, individuals with vocal fold immobility show personality characteristics that may be a reflection of their voice disorder, not a factor that determines their dysphonia. .

Objetivo: Averiguar as características vocais e de personalidade de pacientes com diagnóstico de disfonia orgânica secundária à imobilidade de prega vocal. Métodos : O estudo foi composto por pacientes de ambos os gêneros, atendidos na Clínica Escola de Fonoaudiologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, com diagnóstico otorrinolaringológico de imobilidade de prega vocal e fonoaudiológico de disfonia. Mensurou-se a autoavaliação da voz por meio de um Protocolo de Triagem Vocal e Escala de Sintomas Vocais (ESV), coletou-se a voz para a avaliação perceptivo-auditiva e aplicou-se a Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade (BPF). Realizou-se análise estatística descritiva para averiguar a frequência, média e desvio padrão das variáveis estudadas. Resultados: Participaram 8 pacientes, de ambos os gêneros, com a idade média de 40,4 ±16,9 anos. Os fatores de risco mais presentes foram os pessoais (4,7±2,1). Na ESV, os pacientes apresentaram maior média no escore de limitação (34,1±15,7). A partir da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva, obteve-se intensidade do desvio vocal moderada com qualidade vocal predominantemente rugosa (57,7±25,2). Na BFP, os pacientes tiveram médias maiores que o ponto de corte nos fatores neuroticismo (3,8±1,4) e realização (5,2±1,0). Conclusão: O parâmetro vocal predominante foi rugosidade. Os pacientes citaram poucos fatores de risco que comprometem o comportamento vocal e apresentaram os fatores neuroticismo e realização como destaque em sua personalidade. Assim, indivíduos com imobilidade de prega vocal demonstram características de personalidade que podem ser reflexo do seu distúrbio de voz, e não um fator que determine a sua disfonia. .