Fit-cardiopulmonary resuscitation approach in public mass cardiopulmonary resuscitation teaching: A randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVES: To improve public awareness and the rate of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a novel and exciting approach called fit-CPR that incorporates mass CPR with high-intensity physical activity into the beat of locally favoured music was proposed. This study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of fit-CPR compared to the standard classroom method (CCM). METHODS: Between 30th August to 29th November 2018, 129 participants from Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, were randomized to learn CPR, either through fit-CPR or CCM protocol. All participants underwent pre, post, and 6-month retention tests. Each test had a 10-item questionnaire with CPR performance on a manikin that was assessed using a validated checklist. RESULTS: Sixty-one (47.3%) participants completed the fit-CPR while 68 (52.7%) completed the CCM. There was a significant improvement in knowledge, performance, and quality of CPR from pre, post, and 6-month retention tests (p<0.01) in both groups. On high-quality CPR, the fit-CPR and CCM groups obtained an increased score of 285.0% and 151%, respectively, p=0.014 between pre and immediate post-test. Knowledge scores between fit-CPR and CCM groups showed an increase of 79.5% and 111.2%, respectively, p=0.002. Fit-CPR was completed between 52.5-57.5 minutes, while CCM took 75 minutes. CONCLUSION: The fit-CPR demonstrated a comparable outcome to standard CPR when teaching to the mass public with less time spent.

Right ventricular function declines prior to left ventricular ejection fraction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The right ventricle (RV) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) tends to be neglected, as previous efforts have predominantly focused on examining the prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) abnormalities. The objectives of this study were to assess RV function in HCM, changes over time, and association with clinical outcomes. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety HCM patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 55%) and 30 age- and sex-matched controls underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). All patients were followed up for clinical events for a median duration of 4.4 years. Sixty-three patients had a follow-up CMR undertaken at a median interval of 5.4 years. Main study measures and outcomes were RV function (RV ejection fraction (RVEF) and RV strain) at baseline, temporal changes in RV function over time and prognostic value of RV dysfunction for predicting cardiovascular outcomes in HCM. RESULTS: When compared to controls, HCM patients exhibited lower RV and LV peak global longitudinal systolic strains on feature-tracking analysis of cine images, while RVEF and LVEF were within the normal range. On follow-up CMR, both RV and LV strain parameters decreased over time. RVEF decreased at follow-up (65 ± 7% to 62 ± 7%, P < 0.001) but the change in LVEF was not significant (68 ± 10% to 66 ± 8%, P = 0.30). On clinical follow up, reduced RVEF was an independent predictor of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) [HR 1.10 (95% CI 1.06-1.15), P < 0.001] and composite cardiovascular events (NSVT, stroke, heart failure hospitalisation and cardiovascular death) [HR 1.07 (95% CI 1.03-1.10), P < 0.001]. RV longitudinal strain was an independent predictor of NSVT [HR 1.05 (95% CI 1.01-1.09), P = 0.029]. Patients with RVEF < 55% showed an increased risk of NSVT and composite cardiovascular events. In contrast, LVEF and LV global longitudinal strain were not predictive of such events on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In HCM, RV function, including RV strain, and LV strain decrease over time despite preserved LVEF. Reduction in RV but not LV function is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Assessing RV function in early HCM disease might have a role in risk stratification to prevent future cardiovascular events.

Classifying DLBCL according cell of origin using Hans algorithm and its association with clinicopathological parameters: A single centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, "double hit" and "double protein" involving gene rearrangement and protein expression of c-MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 are the most used terms to describe poor prognostic factors in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study was to determine the frequency of double or triple protein expression by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and comparing the result with clinicopathological features and cell of origin (COO) classification. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study by using 29 archived formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of DLBCL. All the samples were evaluated for the subgrouping of COO DLBCL was determined by expression of CD10, BCL6 and MUM1 based on Hans classification. In addition, expressions of c-MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 were detected by IHC. RESULTS: Among the 29 cases, MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 proteins were detected in 72.4%, 62.1% and 62.1% of patients, respectively. Concurrent expression (c-MYC positive/BCL2 positive and/or BCL6 positive) was present in 58.6% of patients. 34.5% were categorised as germinal centre like (GCB) subgroup and 65.5% were categorised as nongerminal centre like (non-GCB) subgroup. Among the clinicopathological features, the double/triple protein expression lymphoma was significantly associated with elevated LDH level (p=0.018), IPI score (p=0.003), Ann Arbor stage (p=0.011) and complete response rate (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Double/triple protein lymphoma was strongly associated more adverse clinical risk factors. Thus, analyses of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 expression by IHC represents a rapid and inexpensive approach to risk-stratify patients with DLBCL at diagnosis.

Rare post-operative complications in a previously undiagnosed Congenital Factor X deficiency patient.

Factor X (FX) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive congenital bleeding disorder. The clinical presentation is among the most severe among the rare coagulation defects. Thus, majority of diagnosed patients will receive factor replacement therapy before surgical manipulation. However, the diagnosis of FX deficiency may be overlooked because it is a rare entity. This is a case report of a 15-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with FX deficiency after developing post-operative complications. With regular fresh frozen plasma infusion given, the patient responded well and recovered. However, had he been diagnosed earlier pre-operatively, the post-operative complication could have been prevented. Therefore, pre-operative coagulation screening should be performed in patients with significant bleeding history in both emergency and elective situations to prevent surgical morbidity related to post-operative bleeding.

Rare post-operative complications in a previously undiagnosed Congenital Factor X deficiency patient

Factor X (FX) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive congenital bleeding disorder. The clinical presentation is among the most severe among the rare coagulation defects. Thus, majority of diagnosed patients will receive factor replacement therapy before surgical manipulation. However, the diagnosis of FX deficiency may be overlooked because it is a rare entity. This is a case report of a 15-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with FX deficiency after developing post-operative complications. With regular fresh frozen plasma infusion given, the patient responded well and recovered. However, had he been diagnosed earlier pre-operatively, the post-operative complication could have been prevented. Therefore, pre-operative coagulation screening should be performed in patients with significant bleeding history in both emergency and elective situations to prevent surgical morbidity related to post-operative bleeding.

Clinical impact of ABCC1 and ABCC2 genotypes and haplotypes in mediating imatinib resistance among chronic myeloid leukaemia patients.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The introduction and success of imatinib mesylate (IM) has brought about a paradigm shift in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treatment. However, despite the high efficacy of IM, clinical resistance develops due to a heterogeneous array of mechanisms. Pharmacogenetic variability as a result of genetic polymorphisms could be one of the most important factors influencing resistance to IM. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between genetic variations in drug efflux transporter ABCC1 (MRP1) and ABCC2 (MRP2) genes and response to IM in patients with CML. METHODS: We genotyped 215 Malaysian patients with CML (comprising of two groups with 108 IM resistant and 107 IM responsive) for polymorphisms of ABCC1 (2012G>T and 2168G>A) and ABCC2 (-24C>T, 1249G>A and 3972C>T) genes. Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were compared between two groups of patients. Patients with CML were further stratified according to their clinical response to IM into those having cytogenetics and molecular responses, and the associations with genotypes were evaluated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We observed no significant differences in the distribution of any of the tested genotypes between the investigated groups. However, on evaluating the risk association, ABCC2 T₋24 G1249 T3972 haplotype was found to be associated with IM resistance (P = 0·046). These results suggest that haplotype variants -24T and 3972T might be associated with lower expression of ABCC2 protein and reduced transport activity and hence might be contributing to development of IM resistance. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the ABCC2 T₋24 G1249 T3972 haplotype was associated with imatinib resistance. However, the evidence is as yet insufficient to establish this haplotype as a predictive biomarker for response to the drug.

Fatal septicemic shock associated with Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides stercoralis infection can persist in the host for several decades, and patients with cancer and other clinical conditions who are exposed to immunosuppressive therapy are at risk of developing hyperinfection. CASE REPORT: This is a case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) in a patient with lymphadenopathy and bulky neck mass. Severe sepsis and episodes of diarrhea were observed upon the first cycle of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, oncovin (vincristine) and prednisone (CHOP) regime chemotherapy preceded by high dose of dexamethasone. There was Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia and moderate eosinophilia. Rhabditiform S. stercoralis larvae were observed in the stool, and this was confirmed by real-time PCR. Strongyloides-specific IgG and IgG4 were also positive. The patient was treated with oral albendazole (400mg/day) for 3 days and intravenous tazocin (4.5gm/6 hours) for 5 days; however he succumbed following multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION: This is likely a case of Strongyloides hyperinfection with secondary bacteremia.

A retrospective prevalence study of malaria in an aborigine hospital in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia.

This was a five-year retrospective study (1999-2004) on the prevalence of malaria at the Aborigine Hospital, Gombak, Malaysia. A total of 94 malaria cases was analysed. The highest case reports were for the year 2000, with 32 cases (34%), and the lowest was in 2004, with only 1 (1%). The majority of cases reported were among the Semai tribe (44%), followed by the Temiar tribe (34%) and the unspecified tribe (s) (20%). Females (53%) were more commonly affected than males (47%). The majority of cases were within the age group 1-5 years (51%). Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species reported in this study, at 57%, followed by Plasmodium vivax (38%) and 5% mixed infection of P. falciparum and P. vivax. Most patients (27%) stayed for more than one month in hospital. Most patients came from Kuala Lipis, Pahang, (78%). The most common complication was anemia (38%) followed by splenomegaly (18%); only 2% had cerebral malaria. All patients were treated with the standard anti-malarial drugs. No deaths were reported in this study.