Prediabetes is an incremental risk factor for adverse cardiac events: A nationwide analysis.

Background and aims: Prediabetes is defined as a state of impaired glucose metabolism with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels that precede those of a diabetic state. There is increasing evidence that suggests that hyperglycemic derangement in prediabetes leads to microvascular and macrovascular complications even before progression to overt diabetes mellitus. We aim to identify the association of prediabetes with acute cardiovascular events. Methods: We utilized the National inpatient sample 2018-2020 to identify adult hospitalizations with prediabetes after excluding all hospitalizations with diabetes. Demographics and prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors were compared in hospitalizations with and without prediabetes using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the t-test for continuous variables. Multivariate regression analysis was further performed to study the impact of prediabetes on acute coronary syndrome, acute ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and acute heart failure. Results: Hospitalizations with prediabetes had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and tobacco abuse. In addition, the adjusted analysis revealed that hospitalizations with prediabetes were associated with higher odds of developing acute coronary syndrome (OR-2.01; C.I:1.94-2.08; P<0.001), acute ischemic stroke (OR-2.21; 2.11-2.31; p<0.001), and acute heart failure (OR-1.41; C.I.: 1.29-1.55; p<0.001) as compared to hospitalizations without prediabetes. Conclusions: Our study suggests that prediabetes is associated with a higher odds of major cardiovascular events. Further prospective studies should be conducted to identify prediabetes as an independent causative factor for these events. In addition, screening and lifestyle modifications for prediabetics should be encouraged to improve patient outcomes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy caused by infusion reaction to paclitaxel.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) secondary to an infusion reaction is extremely rare in the literature. Here, we present an unusual case of TCM in a patient with cervical squamous cell carcinoma who presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure following the initiation of the first-cycle paclitaxel infusion therapy.

Using brief habit reversal and an interdependent group contingency to reduce public-speaking speech disfluencies.

This study replicated and extended previous research on the effectiveness of brief habit reversal, consisting of awareness training and competing response training (silent pause) in reducing the rate of speech disfluencies during public speaking. Nine university students, divided into 3 groups, delivered short speeches on a novel topic. Brief habit reversal combined with an interdependent group contingency resulted in a meaningful reduction in speech disfluencies with only 1 group requiring booster sessions. Relative to baseline, competing responses increased for all participants but only remained high for 1 participant following training. Reductions in speech disfluencies maintained during follow-up when participants presented in front of a small audience.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Case Series and Literature Review.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important and rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI), particularly among young women without traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. Late pregnancy and postpartum period are associated with more risk for developing SCAD. No enough data exist regarding the ideal management of SCAD due to lack of randomized trials comparing medical therapy and revascularization strategies. We present three cases of SCAD, two of them were postpartum women while one involved an obese young woman with no identifiable risk factors. We describe the pathophysiology, types of SCAD, risk factors, clinical presentation, and management approach. This case series highlights the need to raise awareness of SCAD and to facilitate accurate diagnosis promptly.

Cerebellar ataxia a unique initial presentation of Legionnaires' disease.

We present a case of Legionnaires' disease complicated by cerebellar ataxia. A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease by urine antigen after presenting to the hospital with a main problem of headache and gait instability. He also had a productive cough, as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Initial physical examination revealed a positive Romberg test, positive pronator drift, severely unsteady gait and bilateral upper extremity resting tremors with the remainder of cranial nerves and neurological examination being unremarkable. The patient had a prolonged hospital course requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. He received 14 days of levofloxacin with resolution of the pneumonia. On repeat assessment prior to discharge, the patient's neurological symptoms improved; however, he still had mild residual gait instability, dysdiadokinesia and difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing. Romberg test remained positive.

Large Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm.

Complications of aneurysm include thrombosis and distal embolization, rupture, and vasospasm. The natural history and prognosis remain obscure. Controversies persist regarding the use of surgical or medical management.

Postoperative 'STEMI' in Intracerebral Hemorrhage due to Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes suggestive of cardiac ischemia are frequently demonstrated in patients with ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, little is known of such changes particularly acute ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), especially after neurosurgery. We present a patient with intraparenchymal hemorrhage due to cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) who exhibited acute STEMI after neurosurgery. Serial cardiac biomarkers and echocardiograms were performed which did not reveal any evidence of acute myocardial infarction. The patient was managed conservatively from cardiac stand point with no employment of anticoagulants, antiplatelet therapy, fibrinolytic agents, or angioplasty and recovered well with minimal neurological deficit. This case highlights that diffuse cardiac ischemic signs on the ECG can occur in the setting of an ICH after neurosurgery, potentially posing a difficult diagnostic and management conundrum.

Atrial septal aneurysm with rare comorbid pulmonary arteriovenous malformation as aetiology for cryptogenic stroke.

Atrial septal aneurysms have two mechanisms for cardioembolic events. One is the aneurysm itself can act as a nidus for thrombus formation in the left atrium. The aneurysm creates an area of low turbulence leading to haemostasis allowing fibrin-platelet adhesions to form. If the clot is on the left atrial wall, it may be dislodged by oscillations of the septum and travel into the systemic circulation. The second mechanism is via, an often comorbid, interatrial shunt such as a Patent Foramen Ovale or Atrial Septal Defect. We report a unique case where the associated right to left shunt leading to the cryptogenic stroke is a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

Paradoxical bradycardia and hemorrhagic shock.

Hypotension, poor peripheral perfusion, and tachycardia are the most common presenting signs of hemorrhagic shock. Many patients fail to show initial signs of tachycardia and paradoxically present with bradycardia. An 81-year-old man presenting with lower gastrointestinal bleed showed initial vital signs significant for tachycardia and normal blood pressure. After resuscitation with fluids and blood products, his heart rate stabilized to between 64 and 86 bpm. It later dropped to 30 bpm, which improved after administration of atropine. The patient soon experienced two episodes of hematochezia. The paradoxical bradycardia proved to be a false reassurance that the hemorrhage had resolved. Identification of paradoxical bradycardia is important in suspecting ongoing gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

The Flint Food Store Survey: combining spatial analysis with a modified Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) to measure the community and consumer nutrition environments.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to use a methodology that accurately and reliably describes the availability, price and quality of healthy foods at both the store and community levels using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S), to propose a spatial methodology for integrating these store and community data into measures for defining objective food access. SETTING: Two hundred and sixty-five retail food stores in and within 2 miles (3·2 km) of Flint, Michigan, USA, were mapped using ArcGIS mapping software. DESIGN: A survey based on the validated NEMS-S was conducted at each retail food store. Scores were assigned to each store based on a modified version of the NEMS-S scoring system and linked to the mapped locations of stores. Neighbourhood characteristics (race and socio-economic distress) were appended to each store. Finally, spatial and kernel density analyses were run on the mapped store scores to obtain healthy food density metrics. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that neighbourhoods with higher socio-economic distress had significantly lower dairy sub-scores compared with their lower-distress counterparts (ß coefficient=-1·3; P=0·04). Additionally, supermarkets were present only in neighbourhoods with <60 % African-American population and low socio-economic distress. Two areas in Flint had an overall NEMS-S score of 0. CONCLUSIONS: By identifying areas with poor access to healthy foods via a validated metric, this research can be used help local government and organizations target interventions to high-need areas. Furthermore, the methodology used for the survey and the mapping exercise can be replicated in other cities to provide comparable results.