Impact of a pharmacy technician on an interprofessional antithrombotic stewardship program at an academic medical center.

PURPOSE: The need for monitoring and standardization of anticoagulation management has garnered the attention of national organizations, driving the implementation of antithrombotic stewardship programs (ASPs). Established ASPs have highlighted interdisciplinary collaboration between physicians, nurses, and pharmacists and demonstrated financial benefits and positive patient care outcomes. While pharmacy technicians are key members of the pharmacy profession, they are rarely utilized to expand clinical programs. The aim of this report is to describe the impact of adding a pharmacy technician to an ASP at an academic medical center. SUMMARY: The departments of pharmacy and quality at West Virginia University Hospitals (WVUH) developed a business plan and financially justified an ASP. The ASP was implemented in January 2022 and consisted of 2 full-time clinical pharmacist specialists, 1 full-time clinical pharmacy technician, 2 full-time clinical nurse specialists, and 1 part-time physician medical director. The clinical pharmacy technician's primary role was to review patients' sequential compression device (SCD) compliance and newly started oral anticoagulants prior to discharge. The clinical nurse specialists educated patients newly started on oral anticoagulants within 24 hours of discharge and triaged any postdischarge medication access issues. The medical director provided high-level program oversight and acted as a clinical consultant on complex patient cases. In the first 6 months after the program's implementation, the clinical pharmacy technician made 174 recommendations to the clinical pharmacist specialists regarding discharge transitions of care and assessed SCD compliance in 246 patients. Of the 246 patients assessed, 217 patients (88%) were deemed to be noncompliant. CONCLUSION: The pharmacy department at WVUH successfully justified and implemented an interprofessional ASP at an academic medical center, which is the first ASP to date to incorporate a clinical pharmacy technician.

Call to action for drug interactions between tirzepatide and heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy.

BACKGROUND: No drug interaction between the guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists is currently indexed in available drug interaction databases or package inserts for tirzepatide, the first dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist. The objective of our case series is to present 3 patients with HF who required modification in GDMT regimens for HFrEF or loop diuretic therapy after tirzepatide initiation. CASE SUMMARY: Three patients older than 60 years with HFrEF receiving GDMT agents (angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors, beta blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors) were initiated on tirzepatide for weight loss management. After initiating tirzepatide therapy, all 3 patients developed symptomatic hypotension. Two cases had acute kidney injury owing to tirzepatide's direct vasodilation, natriuresis, reduction in extracellular volume, and weight loss. GDMT regimens and diuretic therapy were significantly modified to improve these adverse reactions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians must closely monitor vital signs and volume status after initiating tirzepatide for potential need to modify GDMT regimens. Authors request a call to action to index the drug interaction between GDMT agents and tirzepatide in major drug interaction databases for a potential hypotension or dehydration risk.

6IMPOSE: bridging the reality gap in 6D pose estimation for robotic grasping.

6D pose recognition has been a crucial factor in the success of robotic grasping, and recent deep learning based approaches have achieved remarkable results on benchmarks. However, their generalization capabilities in real-world applications remain unclear. To overcome this gap, we introduce 6IMPOSE, a novel framework for sim-to-real data generation and 6D pose estimation. 6IMPOSE consists of four modules: First, a data generation pipeline that employs the 3D software suite Blender to create synthetic RGBD image datasets with 6D pose annotations. Second, an annotated RGBD dataset of five household objects was generated using the proposed pipeline. Third, a real-time two-stage 6D pose estimation approach that integrates the object detector YOLO-V4 and a streamlined, real-time version of the 6D pose estimation algorithm PVN3D optimized for time-sensitive robotics applications. Fourth, a codebase designed to facilitate the integration of the vision system into a robotic grasping experiment. Our approach demonstrates the efficient generation of large amounts of photo-realistic RGBD images and the successful transfer of the trained inference model to robotic grasping experiments, achieving an overall success rate of 87% in grasping five different household objects from cluttered backgrounds under varying lighting conditions. This is made possible by fine-tuning data generation and domain randomization techniques and optimizing the inference pipeline, overcoming the generalization and performance shortcomings of the original PVN3D algorithm. Finally, we make the code, synthetic dataset, and all the pre-trained models available on GitHub.

Evolution and optimization of clinical trial endpoints and design in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Selection of endpoints for clinical trials in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is challenging because of the small numbers of patients and the changing expectations of patients, clinicians, and regulators in this evolving therapy area. The most commonly used primary endpoint in PAH trials has been 6-min walk distance (6MWD), leading to the approval of several targeted therapies. However, single surrogate endpoints such as 6MWD or hemodynamic parameters may not correlate with clinical outcomes. Composite endpoints of clinical worsening have been developed to reflect patients' overall condition more accurately, although there is no standard definition of worsening. Recently there has been a shift to composite endpoints assessing clinical improvement, and risk scores developed from registry data are increasingly being used. Biomarkers are another area of interest, although brain natriuretic peptide and its N-terminal prohormone are the only markers used for risk assessment or as endpoints in PAH. A range of other genetic, metabolic, and immunologic markers is currently under investigation, along with conventional and novel imaging modalities. Patient-reported outcomes are an increasingly important part of evaluating new therapies, and several PAH-specific tools are now available. In the future, alternative statistical techniques and trial designs, such as patient enrichment strategies, will play a role in evaluating PAH-targeted therapies. In addition, modern sequencing techniques, imaging analyses, and high-dimensional statistical modeling/machine learning may reveal novel markers that can play a role in the diagnosis and monitoring of PAH.

Evaluation of a pharmacist-provider collaborative clinic for treatment of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure.

PURPOSE: Intravenous iron therapy is recommended to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure (HF) with -reduced ejection fraction and iron deficiency (ID), but there are limited published data on the implementation of intravenous iron therapy in practice. A pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic was established within an advanced HF and pulmonary hypertension service to optimize IV iron therapy. The objective was to evaluate the clinical impacts of the pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed to compare clinical outcomes among patients of the collaborative ID treatment clinic (the postimplementation group) and a cohort of patients who received usual care (the preimplementation group). The study included patients 18 years of age or older with diagnosed HF or pulmonary hypertension who met prespecified criteria for ID. The primary outcome was adherence to institutional intravenous iron therapy guidance. A key secondary outcome was ID treatment goal achievement. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients in the preimplementation group and 81 in the postimplementation group were included in the study. The rate of adherence to the institutional guidance was significantly improved in the postimplementation group (93%) compared to the preimplementation group (40%). There was no significant difference in the ID therapeutic target achievement rate between the pre- and postimplementation groups (38% vs 48%). CONCLUSION: Implementing a pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic significantly increased the number of patients who adhered to intravenous iron therapy guidance compared to usual care.

Sacubitril/Valsartan Does Not Change the Use and Dose of Loop Diuretics in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: There is no standard approach for managing the use or dose of loop diuretics after initiating sacubitril/valsartan. OBJECTIVE: To investigate longitudinal trends in loop diuretic therapy use and doses during the initial 6 months following sacubitril/valsartan initiation. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who were initiated on sacubitril/valsartan in cardiology clinics. Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (ejection fraction ≤40%) and initiated on sacubitril/valsartan in an outpatient setting. We investigated longitudinal trends in the prevalence of loop diuretic use and furosemide equivalent dose at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 month and 6 months following sacubitril/valsartan initiation. RESULTS: A total of 427 patients were included in the final cohort. Compared to the baseline loop diuretic use and dose, there were no significant longitudinal changes in the prevalence of loop diuretic use or the furosemide equivalent dose over the 6 months following sacubitril/valsartan initiation. The use of sacubitril/valsartan was not significantly associated with reductions in the use or dose of loop diuretics over a 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The use of sacubitril/valsartan did not significantly change the use or dose of loop diuretics over 6-month follow-up period. Initiation of sacubitril/valsartan may not need a pre-emptive loop diuretic dose reduction.

Sleep macrostructure and cyclic alternating pattern in patients who underwent surgery for hippocampal sclerosis: A prospective controlled polysomnographic study.

INTRODUCTION: Temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) is one of the most common drug-resistant epilepsy. Surgery is currently accepted as an effective and safe therapeutic approach compared to antiseizure medications (ASMs). The study aims to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of TLE-HS on sleep profile and architecture by subjective and objective evaluation of sleep in basal condition after one month and one year. METHODS: Thirteen patients with TLE-HS were recruited to undergo overnight polysomnography and a subjective evaluation of nocturnal sleep utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and daytime somnolence through the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in basal condition (T0), one month (T1) and one year after surgery (T2), respectively. Thirteen healthy controls (HC) matched for age, sex and BMI were recruited. Scoring and analysis of sleep macrostructure and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) parameters were performed. RESULTS: The comparison between patients in basal condition (T0) and HC showed a significant lower sleep efficiency (p = 0.003) and REM percentage (p < 0.001). Regarding CAP, patients at T0 showed higher total CAP rate (p < 0.001), CAP rate in N2 (p < 0.001), higher A3 (%) (p = 0.001), higher mean duration of A1 (p = 0.002), A3 index (p < 0.001), cycle in sequences (p < 0.001), lower B duration (p < 0.001), cycle mean duration (p < 0.001) than HC. Surgery did not induce significant changes in nocturnal macrostructural polysomnographic variables in T1 and T2. Lower CAP rate (T1 vs T0 and T2 vs T0 p < 0.001), CAP rate in N3 (T1 vs T0 and T2 vs T0 p < 0.001), A3 (%) (T1 vs T0 and T2 vs T0 p < 0.001); lower phase A2 index (T1 vs T0 p < 0.001) and A3 index (T1 vs T0 p < 0.001), lower phase A1 index (T2 vs T0 p < 0.001) and cycle in sequences (T2 vs T0 p = 0.002) higher B mean duration (T2 vs T0 p = 0.002). No significant differences were found between T1 and T2 in CAP parameters. CONCLUSION: We found a significant NREM sleep instability in patients with TLE-HS compared with HC. In addition, anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) induced a significant improvement in sleep continuity as evaluated by cyclic alternating pattern already one month later and this effect persisted after one year. ALT seems to restore a more resilient sleeping brain.

ISHLT consensus statement: Perioperative management of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure undergoing surgery.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery and anesthesia. This document represents the first international consensus statement for the perioperative management of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. It includes recommendations for managing patients with PH being considered for surgery, including preoperative risk assessment, planning, intra- and postoperative monitoring and management strategies that can improve outcomes in this vulnerable population. This is a comprehensive document that includes common perioperative patient populations and surgical procedures with unique considerations.

Subjective sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness in patients with restrictive type anorexia nervosa and effects on quality of life: a case-control study.

To evaluate sleep disorders and daytime drowsiness in a cohort of patients affected by anorexia nervosa and their impact on health-related quality of life. We evaluated patients affected by restricting-type of anorexia nervosa (AN-R) and healthy controls by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Beck Depression Index. We also used the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire to assess the quality of life in both AN-R and controls. Twenty-eight out of 34 AN-R patients (82.3%) in contrast with ten out of 34 healthy subjects (29.4%) had a pathological PSQI score compared to HC (p < 0.0001). The overall PSQI score (p < 0.001), sleep quality (p < 0.001), sleep duration (p = 0.02), sleep efficiency (p = 0.002), sleep disturbances (p = 0.03) and daytime dysfunction (p = 0.004) were significantly higher in AN-R than in controls. SF36 showed significantly reduced scores of standardized physical components (p = 0.01) and standardized mental components (p < 0.001), physical function (p < 0.001), physical role (p < 0.001) and general health (p < 0.001), vitality (p < 0.001), social functioning (p < 0.001) emotional role (p = 0.001) and mental health (p < 0.001) in AN-R. We found a significant correlation between the PSQI score and both the physical role (r = - 0.35, p = 0.03) and level of education (r = 0.38, p = 0.02). Our data showed reduced overall sleep quality without excessive daytime sleepiness in AN-R. Sleep quality correlated significantly with quality of life (physical role) and level of education.

Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring in Cardiogenic Shock Is Associated With Lower In-Hospital Mortality.

Background There is increasing utilization of cardiogenic shock treatment algorithms. The cornerstone of these algorithms is the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring (IHM). We sought to compare the in-hospital outcomes in patients who received IHM versus no IHM in a real-world contemporary database. Methods and Results Patients with cardiogenic shock admitted during October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, were identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Among this group, we compared the outcomes among patients who received IHM versus no IHM. The primary end point was in-hospital mortality. Secondary end points included vascular complications, major bleeding, need for renal replacement therapy, length of stay, cost of hospitalization, and rate of utilization of left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation. Propensity score matching was used for covariate adjustment. A total of 394 635 (IHM=62 565; no IHM=332 070) patients were included. After propensity score matching, 2 well-matched groups were compared (IHM=62 220; no IHM=62 220). The IHM group had lower in-hospital mortality (24.1% versus 30.6%, P<0.01), higher percentages of left ventricular assist devices (4.4% versus 1.3%, P<0.01) and heart transplantation (1.3% versus 0.7%, P<0.01) utilization, longer length of hospitalization and higher costs. There was no difference between the 2 groups in terms of vascular complications, major bleeding, and the need for renal replacement therapy. Conclusions Among patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of IHM is associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality and increased utilization of advanced heart failure therapies. Due to the observational nature of the current study, the results should be considered hypothesis-generating, and future prospective studies confirming these findings are needed.

Hereditary Apolipoprotein A-I-Associated Cardiac Amyloidosis: Importance of Endomyocardial Biopsy When Suspicion Remains High.

Cardiac amyloidosis has recently garnered substantial attention. Although the advent of noninvasive diagnostic algorithms revolutionized diagnosis, endomyocardial biopsy may still be considered in select cases to determine the amyloidosis subtype definitively. We report a case of a patients with a known mutation causing hereditary apolipoprotein A-I-associated cardiac amyloidosis. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Association of Body Mass Index With Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Treated With Sacubitril/Valsartan.

BACKGROUND: Only limited data are available that address the association between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who are receiving sacubitril/valsartan. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multi-center cohort study in which we compared 3 body mass index groups (normal, overweight and obese groups) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving sacubitril/valsartan. The follow-up period was at least 1 year. Propensity score weighting was performed. The primary outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of the 721 patients in the original cohort, propensity score weighting generated a cohort of 540 patients in 3 groups: normal weight (n = 78), overweight (n = 181), and obese (n = 281). All baseline characteristics were well-balanced between 3 groups after propensity score weighting. Among our results, we found no significant differences in hospitalization for heart failure (normal weight versus overweight: average hazard ratio [AHR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76-2.20, P = 0.35; normal weight versus obese: AHR 1.04, 95% CI = 0.63-1.70, P = 0.88; overweight versus obese groups: AHR 0.81, 95% CI = 0.54-1.20, P = 0.29) or all-cause mortality (normal weight versus overweight: AHR 0.99, 95% CI = 0.59-1.67, P = 0.97; normal weight versus obese: AHR 0.87, 95% CI = 0.53-1.42, P = 0.57; overweight versus obese: AHR 0.87, 95% CI = 0.58-1.32, P = 0.52). CONCLUSION: We identified no significant associations between BMI and clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction who were treated with sacubitril/valsartan. A large-scale study should be performed to verify these results.

Evaluating Sacubitril/Valsartan Dose Dependence on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence is available regarding low (24/26 mg) and middle (49/51 mg) doses of sacubitril/valsartan. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan dose on heart failure (HF) hospitalization and mortality in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study compared 3 doses of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF. The coprimary outcomes were all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for HF. Propensity matching analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 721 eligible patients, propensity matching created a cohort with an effective sample size of 652 (24/26-mg group [n = 326], 49/51-mg group [n = 147], 97/103-mg group [n = 179]). The HF hospitalization rates were 29.14% in the 24/26-mg group, 19.51% in the 49/51-mg group, and 16.10% in the 97/103-mg group (24/26 vs 49/51 mg: HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.04-2.34; 24/26 vs 97/103 mg: HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.18-2.73; 49/51 vs 97/103 mg: HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.70-1.89). All-cause mortality rates were 29.63% in the 24/26-mg group, 17.58% in the 49/51-mg group, and 9.27% in the 97/103-mg group (24/26 vs 49/51 mg: HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.07-2.59; 24/26 vs 97/103 mg: HR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.54-4.24; 49/51 vs 97/103 mg: HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.84-2.82). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Sacubitril/valsartan 97/103- or 49/51-mg dose is associated with a lower mortality or hospitalization rate for HF in patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan compared with the 24/26-mg dose group.

Sleep Disorders in Patients With Craniopharyngioma: A Physiopathological and Practical Update.

Sleep disorders (SDs) represent an important issue in patients with craniopharyngioma (CP). Nearly 70% of these patients complain of sleep-wake cycle alterations and/or excessive diurnal somnolence due to sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and/or central hypersomnia, including secondary narcolepsy. SDs may severely reduce quality of life, increase disease-related cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, and finally play a major role in increased long-term mortality reported on patients with CP. A major risk factor for SDs is represented by the hypothalamic syndrome, which may develop because of direct hypothalamic damage by the tumor itself and/or complications of the treatments, neurosurgery and/or radiotherapy, and typically includes permanent neuroendocrine dysfunctions, morbid obesity, and secondary metabolic disorders. Despite increasing attention to SDs in the general population, and in particular to OSA as a risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases and excessive daytime somnolence, sleep evaluation is still not routinely proposed to patients with CP. Hence, SDs are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The aim of this paper is to update current knowledge of the pathogenesis and prevalence of SDs in patients with CP and propose practical algorithms for their evaluation and management in clinical practice. Particular attention is paid to screening and diagnostic tools for appropriate characterization of SDs, identification of risk factors, and potential role of hypothalamic sparing surgery in the prevention of morbid obesity and SDs. Available tools in sleep medicine, including lifestyle interventions, drugs, and respiratory devices, are discussed, as well as the importance of optimal hormone replacement and metabolic interventions. Current limits in the diagnosis and treatment of SDs in patients with CP and possible future avenues for research agenda are also considered.

Effects of eslicarbazepine as add-on therapy on sleep architecture in temporal lobe epilepsy: results from "Esleep" study.

RATIONALE: Studies looking at the effect of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on the sleep microstructure of subjects with epilepsy are scarce. This study aims to evaluate the impact of eslicarbazepine (ESL) as add-on therapy on the sleep microstructure in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Twelve patients affected by TLE were recruited to undergo overnight polysomnography and a subjective evaluation of nocturnal sleep utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and daytime somnolence through the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) before and after three months of treatment with ESL as add-on therapy. Ten healthy controls (HC) matched for age, sex and BMI were recruited. Scoring and analysis of sleep macrostructure and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) parameters were performed. RESULTS: Ten patients completed the study. The comparison between patients in basal condition (T0) and HC showed a significant lower sleep efficiency (p = 0.049), REM percentage (p = 0.002), higher REM latency (p = 0.02), N2 (p = 0.001) and WASO (p = 0.01). Regarding CAP, patients at T0 showed higher CAP rate in N1 (p = 0.01), lower A1 (%) (p = 0.03), higher A3 (%) (p = 0.01), higher mean duration of A (p = 0.02) and A3 (p = 0.006), A3 index (p = 0.02) than HC. ESL did not induce any significant changes in nocturnal macrostructural polysomnographic variables and PSQI scores. Furthermore, the ESS score showed no modification after treatment. Lower CAP rate in N3 (p = 0.02), phase A2 index (p = 0.02) average number of CAP cycle per sequences and mean duration of CAP sequences (both p = 0.02) was evident after ESL. A trend toward significance was evident for the decrease of CAP rate in N1 (p = 0.09) and N2 (p = 0.09), and for the increase of B phase mean duration (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: We found significant improvement in sleep continuity as measured by CAP after ESL. These findings suggest that ESL may positively modulate sleep fragmentation in patients with TLE, and hence enhance sleep quality. Our results suggest a favourable sleep profile with the use of ESL.

Heart Rate Variability Parameters During Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures: Comparison Between Patients With Pure PNES and Comorbid Epilepsy.

Introduction: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) may resemble epileptic seizures. There are few data about ictal ANS activity alterations induced by PNES in patients with pure PNES (pPNES) compared to PNES with comorbid epilepsy (PNES/ES). We aimed to compare heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and hence autonomic regulation in PNES in epileptic and non-epileptic patients. Methods: We obtained HRV data from video-electroencephalography recordings in 22 patients presenting PNES (11 pPNES and 11 PNES/ES) in awake, and supine states. We calculated HRV parameters in both time and frequency domains including low frequency (LF) power, high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio, square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent R wave intervals (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of all consecutive R wave intervals (SDNN). We also evaluated approximate entropy (ApEn), cardiosympathetic index (CSI), and cardiovagal index (CVI). Four conditions were considered: basal condition (BAS), before PNES (PRE), during PNES (ICT) and after PNES (POST). Results: HRV analysis showed significantly higher ICT LF and LF/HF ratio vs. each condition. We also found higher POST HF vs. PRE and BAS, lower RRI in ICT vs. each condition and PRE vs. BAS. POST RMSSD was significantly higher compared to all other states. ICT CSI was significantly higher compared to all other states, whereas CSI was significantly lower in POST vs. PRE and PRE CVI lower than ICT and higher in POST vs. BAS and PRE. Also, ICT ApEn was lower than in all other states. Higher LF in pPNES vs. PNES/ES was also evident when compared across groups. Significance: A few studies examined HRV alterations in PNES, reporting high sympathetic tone (although less evident than in epileptic seizures). Our data suggest a sympathetic overdrive before and during PNES followed by a post-PNES increase in vagal tone. A sympathovagal imbalance was more evident in pPNES as compared to PNES/ES.

Non-invasive prediction of tissue Doppler-derived E/e' ratio using lung Doppler signals.

AIMS: Lung Doppler signals (LDS) represent the radial movement of small pulmonary blood vessel walls, caused by pulse waves of cardiac origin. We sought to investigate the accuracy and prognostic value of LDS as a predictor of mitral valve early diastolic flow to annular velocity ratio (E/e'), in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled patients with ADHF (n = 99, mean age 65 ± 15 years, 61% males) who underwent echocardiographic and simultaneous LDS evaluation at hospital admission. Patients with hospital stay over 72 h underwent a repeat echocardiogram and LDS assessment before discharge. Patients were followed for the occurrence of short-term all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Predicted E/e' from LDS correlated with echocardiographic E/e' at admission and discharge (r = 0.67 and 0.83; P < 0.001 for both), respectively. Patients were dichotomized into two groups by the median predicted-E/e'. A high predicted-E/e' was associated with age, hypertension, anaemia, history of HF with preserved ejection fraction (EF), and chronic kidney disease. Over a median follow-up period of 7 months, 22 (22.2%) patients died and 23 (23.2%) patients were rehospitalized for HF. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly lower event-free survival in high predicted-E/e' group HF patients with reduced EF (P = 0.0247). No significant differences were observed in HF rehospitalization rates between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In this single-centre prospective study of patients with ADHF, LDS predicted echocardiographic E/e' measurements and showed prognostic value in predicting all-cause mortality in HF patients with a reduced EF.