Pheochromocytoma presenting with upper abdominal pain and hypertensive crisis: A case report.

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) is a rare and complex molecularly driven endocrine disease that can present with a variety of clinical manifestations, including paroxysmal hypertension, episodic anxiety, tremors, devastating acute heart failure and acute pulmonary edema. The variety of PHEO-related symptoms increase the difficulty of identifying and diagnosing PHEO. We reported a case of a 27-year-old Chinese male was diagnosed PHEO by CT scan because of upper abdominal pain. The patient complicated with hypertensive crisis and headache following his admission, and he was underwent adrenal tumor surgical resection by carrying out appropriate clinical, laboratory and radiological imaging. Thus, the patient's PHEO-related symptoms were relieved and the blood pressure returned to normal, and discharged from the hospital with a follow-up plan. Although the PEHO-related symptoms are varied and difficult to diagnose, CT examination can be used for the preliminary detection and diagnosis. This case report emphasizes the importance of considering PHEO by CT scan and atypical symptoms, which help others better understand PHEO for early detection and timely surgical treatment to reduce catecholamine-related complications.

Pulmonary vein parameters are similar or better predictors than left atrial diameter for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after cryoablation.

Left atrial diameter (LAD) has been considered an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) relapse after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, whether LAD or other factors are more predictive of late recurrence in patients with paroxysmal AF remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the value of pulmonary vein (PV) parameters for predicting AF relapse 1 year after patients underwent cryoablation for paroxysmal AF. Ninety-seven patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent PVI successfully were included. PV parameters were measured through computed tomography scans prior to PVI. A total of 28 patients had recurrence of AF at one-year follow-up. The impact of several variables on recurrence was evaluated in multivariate analyses. LAD and the time from first diagnosis of AF to ablation maintained its significance in predicting the relapse of AF after relevant adjustments in multivariate analysis. When major diameter of right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) (net reclassification improvement (NRI) 0.179, CI=0.031-0.326, P<0.05) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of RIPV (NRI: 0.122, CI=0.004-0.240, P<0.05) entered the AF risk model separately, the added predictive capacity was large. The accuracy of the two parameters in predicting recurrence of AF were not inferior (AUC: 0.665 and 0.659, respectively) to echocardiographic LAD (AUC: 0.663). The inclusion of either RIPV major diameter or CSA of RIPV in the model increased the C-index (0.766 and 0.758, respectively). We concluded that major diameter of RIPV had predictive capacity similar to or even better than that of LAD for predicting AF relapse after cryoablation PVI.

Pulmonary vein parameters are similar or better predictors than left atrial diameter for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after cryoablation

Left atrial diameter (LAD) has been considered an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) relapse after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, whether LAD or other factors are more predictive of late recurrence in patients with paroxysmal AF remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the value of pulmonary vein (PV) parameters for predicting AF relapse 1 year after patients underwent cryoablation for paroxysmal AF. Ninety-seven patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent PVI successfully were included. PV parameters were measured through computed tomography scans prior to PVI. A total of 28 patients had recurrence of AF at one-year follow-up. The impact of several variables on recurrence was evaluated in multivariate analyses. LAD and the time from first diagnosis of AF to ablation maintained its significance in predicting the relapse of AF after relevant adjustments in multivariate analysis. When major diameter of right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) (net reclassification improvement (NRI) 0.179, CI=0.031-0.326, P<0.05) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of RIPV (NRI: 0.122, CI=0.004-0.240, P<0.05) entered the AF risk model separately, the added predictive capacity was large. The accuracy of the two parameters in predicting recurrence of AF were not inferior (AUC: 0.665 and 0.659, respectively) to echocardiographic LAD (AUC: 0.663). The inclusion of either RIPV major diameter or CSA of RIPV in the model increased the C-index (0.766 and 0.758, respectively). We concluded that major diameter of RIPV had predictive capacity similar to or even better than that of LAD for predicting AF relapse after cryoablation PVI.

Efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation versus radiofrequency catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation: an updated meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) are the main treatments for drug-refractory symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety between CBA and RFCA for the treatment of AF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched the Embase and Medline databases for clinical studies published up to December 2016. Studies that satisfied our predefined inclusion criteria were included. RESULTS: After searching through the literature in the two major databases, 20 studies with a total of 9,141 patients were included in our study. The CBA had a significantly shorter procedure time (weighted mean difference (WMD) -30.38 min; 95% CI: -46.43 to -14.33, p = 0.0002) and non-significantly shorter fluoroscopy time (WMD -3.18 min; 95% CI: -6.43 to 0.07, p = 0.06) compared with RFCA. There was no difference in freedom from AF between CBA and RFCA (CBA 78.55% vs. RFCA 83.13%, OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95-1.39, p = 0.14). The CBA was associated with a high risk of procedure-related complications (CBA 9.02% vs. RFCA 6.56%, OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.05-2.31, p = 0.03), especially phrenic nerve paralysis (PNP, OR = 10.72, 95% CI: 5.59-20.55, p < 0.00001). The risk of pericardial effusions/cardiac tamponade was low in the CBA group (CBA 1.05% vs. RFCA 1.86%, OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.93, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: For AF, CBA was as effective as RFCA. However, CBA had a shorter procedure time and a non-significantly shorter fluoroscopy time, a significantly high risk of PNP and a low incidence of pericardial effusions/cardiac tamponade compared with RFCA.

Association of two obesity-related gene polymorphisms LEPG2548A rs7799039 and LEPRQ223R rs1137101 with the risk of breast cancer.

Many studies have been performed to investigate the correlation of leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) risk, however the results are inconclusive. To obtain a more precise estimation, we conducted this meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify qualified studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association. Eight eligible studies (2,124 cases and 5,476 controls) for LEP G2548A (rs7799039) polymorphism, and thirteen studies (5,282 cases and 6,140 controls) for LEPR Q223R (rs1137101) polymorphism were included in our study. In general, no significant association between LEP G2548A polymorphism and BC susceptibility was found among five genetic models. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity and sources of controls, significant associations were still not detected in all genetic models. For LEPR Q223R polymorphism, we observed that the association was only statistically significant in Asians (G versus A: OR = 0.532, P = 0.009; GG versus AA: OR = 0.233, P = 0.002; GA versus AA: OR =0.294, P = 0.006; GG versus AA+AG: OR =0.635, P = 0; GA+GG versus AA: OR = 0.242, P = 0.003), but not in general populations and Caucasians. In conclusion, LEP G2548A polymorphism has no relationship with BC susceptibility, while LEPR Q223R polymorphism could decrease BC risk in Asians, but not in overall individuals and Caucasians. More multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are required for further investigation.

Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and the risk of stroke and all-cause mortality: insights from a meta-analysis.

Many epidemiologic literatures have investigated the link between PCOS and long-term stroke risk and all-cause mortality, but the results are surprisingly conflicting. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the link between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the risk of stroke, death from any cause, and assessed whether BMI might explain a higher risk of stroke. We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases with no restrictions. Nine Cohort studies were identified, involving a total of 237,647 subjects. Compared with those without PCOS, subjects with PCOS were significantly associated with a increased risk of developing stroke (OR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.09-1.70; p = .007). However, no significant association was observed between PCOS and all-cause death (OR = 1.21; 95% CI 0.88-1.66; p = .25). Moreover, after pooling the five studies with risk estimates adjusted for BMI, the association between PCOS and stroke was slightly attenuated, although the odds ratios did not reach statistical significance (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 0.98-1.59). In conclusion, PCOS is associated with significant increased risk for stroke, while there is no consistent evidence to indicate that PCOS influences all-cause death outcomes. Increased BMI is an important contributor to the relationship between PCOS and stroke risk. Further study is needed to clarify which subgroups of subjects with the PCOS are at higher risk for stroke and should focus on developing reliable device for risk stratification.