Shock cardiogénico en el contexto de los síndromes coronarios agudos en Argentina: resultados del Registro ARGEN SHOCK 2 / Cardiogenic Shock in the Setting of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Argentina: Results from the ARGEN SHOCK 2 Registry

RESUMEN El shock cardiogénico (SC) es una complicación grave del infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) y constituye una de sus principales causas de muerte. Objetivos: Conocer las características clínicas, estrategias de tratamiento, evolución intrahospitalaria y mortalidad a 30 días del SC en Argentina. Material y métodos: Se trata de un registro prospectivo, multicéntrico, de pacientes internados con SC en el contexto de los IAM con y sin elevación del segmento ST durante 14 meses (1 de agosto 2021 al 30 de septiembre 2022) en 23 centros de Argentina. Resultados: Se incluyeron 114 pacientes, edad 64 (58-73) años, 72% hombres. El 76,3% de los casos corresponden a IAM con elevación del segmento ST, 12,3% a IAM sin elevación del segmento ST, el 7% a infarto de ventrículo derecho y el 4,4% a complicaciones mecánicas. El SC estuvo presente desde el ingreso en el 66,6% de los casos. Revascularización: 91,1%, uso de inotrópicos: 98,2%, asistencia respiratoria mecánica: 59,6%, SwanGanz: 33,3%, balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico: 30,1%. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria global fue 60,5%, sin diferencias entre los IAM con o sin elevación del segmento ST, y a 30 días del 62,6%. Conclusiones: La morbimortalidad del SC es muy elevada a pesar de la alta tasa de reperfusión empleada.

ABSTRACT Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and constitutes one of the leading causes of death. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, hospital outcome and 30-day mortality of CS in Argentina. Methods: We conducted a prospective, and multicenter registry of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with and without ST-segment elevation complicated with CS that were hospitalized in 23 centers in Argentina for 14 months (between August 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022). Results: The cohort was made up of 114 patients; median age was 64 years (58-73) and 72% were women; 76.3% corresponded to ST-segment elevation AMI, 12.3% to non-ST-segment elevation AMI, 7% had right ventricular infarction and 4.4% had mechanical complications. In 66.6% of cases CS was present on admission. Revascularization: 91.1%, use of inotropic agents: 98.2%, mechanical ventilation: 59.6%, Swan-Ganz catheter: 33.3%, intra-aortic balloon pump: 30.1%. Overall in-hospital mortality was 60.5%, with no differences between AMI with or without ST-segment elevation, and was 62.6% at 30 days. Conclusion: Morbidity and mortality of CS are high despite the high rate of reperfusion therapy used.

Moderate alcohol consumption and depression prevention: A critical review.

There is a clear consensus that alcohol use disorders are associated with poorer outcomes concerning depression, and that drinking alcohol shouldn`t be recommended because of the risk of dependence. Until recently, literature focused almost exclusively on patients with alcohol use disorders and excludes patients with moderate alcohol use (MAU). It’s has been shown that MAU can prevent or improve the evolution of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, but several researchers have suggested that there is no safe level of alcohol drinking due to other effects on health. Nevertheless, there is some evidence regarding the antidepressant effect of moderate alcohol consumption. This critical review aims to sum up the direction and tendency of current research on the effect of MAU on depression and relate the causal or confounders factors that might explain the results.

Chiral Recognition of Dansyl Derivatives with an Amino Acid-Based Molecular Micelle: A Molecular Dynamics Investigation.

In this study, the chiral separation mechanisms of Dansyl amino acids, including Dansyl-Leucine (Dans-Leu), Dansyl-Norleucine (Dans-Nor), Dansyl-Tryptophan (Dans-Trp) and Dansyl-Phenylalanine (Dans-Phe) binding to poly-sodium N-undecanoyl-(L)-Leucylvalinate, poly(SULV), were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) has previously shown that when separating the enantiomers of these aforementioned Dansyl amino acids, the L- enantiomers bind stronger to poly(SULV) than the D- enantiomers. This study aims to investigate the molecular interactions that govern chiral recognition in these systems using computational methods. This study reveals that the computationally-calculated binding free energy values for Dansyl enantiomers binding to poly(SULV) are in agreement with the enantiomeric order produced in experimental MEKC studies. The L- enantiomers of Dans-Leu, Dans-Nor, Dans-Trp, and Dans-Phe binding to their preferred binding pockets in poly(SULV) yielded binding free energy values of -21.8938, -22.1763, -21.3329 and -13.3349 kJ·mol-1, respectively. The D- enantiomers of Dans-Leu, Dans-Nor, Dans-Trp, and Dans-Phe binding to their preferred binding pockets in poly(SULV) yielded binding free energy values of -14.5811, -15.9457, -13.6408, and -12.0959 kJ·mol-1, respectively. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding analyses were used to investigate and elucidate the molecular interactions that govern chiral recognition in these molecular systems.

Effect of a Mobile-based Intervention on Mental Health in Frontline Healthcare Workers Against COVID-19: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

AimTo evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational, mobile health intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based approaches on the mental health of healthcare workers at the frontline against COVID-19 in Spain. DesignWe will carry out a two-week, individually randomised, parallel group, controlled trial. Participants will be individually randomised to receive the PsyCovidApp intervention or control App intervention. MethodsThe PsyCovidApp intervention will include five modules: emotional skills, lifestyle behaviour, work stress and burnout, social support, and practical tools. Healthcare workers having attended COVID-19 patients will be randomized to receive the PsyCovidApp intervention (intervention group) or a control App intervention (control group). A total of 440 healthcare workers will be necessary to assure statistical power. Measures will be collected telephonically by a team of psychologists at baseline and immediately after the two weeks intervention period. Measures will include stress, depression and anxiety (DASS-21 questionnaire - primary endpoint), insomnia (ISI), burnout (MBI-HSS), post-traumatic stress disorder (DTS), and self-efficacy (GSE). The study was funded in May 2020, and was ethically approved in June 2020. Trial participants, outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded to group allocation. DiscussionDespite the increasing use of mobile health interventions to deliver mental health care, this area of research is still on its infancy. This study will help increase the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of this type of intervention on this specific population and context. ImpactDespite the lack of solid evidence about their effectiveness, mobile-based health interventions are already being widely implemented because of their low cost and high scalability. The findings from this study will help health services and organizations to make informed decisions in relation to the development and implementation of this type of interventions, allowing them pondering not only their attractive implementability features, but also empirical data about its benefits. Clinical trial registrationNCT04393818 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

Infective endocarditis in argentina. results of the eira 3 Study / Endocarditis infecciosa en la República Argentina. Resultados del estudio EIRA 3

ABSTRACT: Background: The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE), a complex disease with high morbidity and mortality, have changed over time. Our country lacks updated information since the publication of the EIRA 1 and 2 studies (1992 and 2002). Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological characteristics and hospital outcome of patients with IE. Methods: A prospective multicenter observational study of patients with definite IE was conducted according to the modified Duke criteria. results: A total of 502 patients were recruited from 48 centers (69.5% in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area). Mean age 60.7±19.3 years and 69.9% (n=351) were men]; 54.64% of patients (n=274) did not present underlying heart disease, 19.9% (n=100) had pros-thetic valves and 38.1% (n=191) had history of a healthcare-related procedure. The diagnosis was made within one month after the first clinical manifestation in 73.3% of cases (n=368) [76.5% (n=384) in the native valve]. The aortic valve was the most commonly affected valve (45.96%; n=230), followed by mitral valve involvement (33%; n=150). The most common germs were Staphylococcus spp in 46.3% of patients (n=232), Streptococcus spp in 28.2% (n=141) and Enterococcus in 12.8% (n=64). Blood cultures were nega-tive in 44 patients (8.76%). Complications: heart failure (30.9%; n=155), peripheral embolism (19.6%; n=98) and abscess (15.5%; n=78). Adequate empirical antibiotic treatment was administered to 62.4% (n=313) of the patients and 43.6% (n=219) underwent surgical treatment. Overall in-hospital mortality was 25.5% (n=128). Age, history of chronic kidney failure, mitral valve disease and heart failure were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: A high percentage of patients with IE do not present known prior heart disease. Staphylococcus spp was the most com-mon microorganism. Mortality remains high and similar to the one observed in the EIRA 1 and 2 studies.

RESUMEN: introducción: La endocarditis infecciosa (EI) es una enfermedad compleja con elevada morbimortalidad, cuyas características clínicas y epidemiológicas han variado. Desde la realización de los Estudios EIRA 1 y 2 (1992 y 2002) no se dispone de información nacional actualizada. Objetivo: Analizar la epidemiología, características clínicas, microbiológicas y evolución hospitalaria de los pacientes con EI. Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo multicéntrico de EI definidas según los criterios de Duke modificados. resultados: En 48 centros, (69.5% Área Metropolitana Buenos Aires), se registraron 502 pacientes; edad 60,7 ± 19,3 años, hombres 69,9% (N=351). El 54,64% de los pacientes (N= 274) no presentó cardiopatía subyacente. El 38,1% (N=191) tenía antecedentes de un procedimiento asociado al cuidado de la salud. En el 73,3% (N=368) se realizó el diagnóstico dentro del mes de la primera manifestación clínica. La localización más frecuente fue la aórtica, tanto en EI por válvulas nativas como protésicas (48,24%/N=233) seguida de mitral (25,88%/N=125). Los gérmenes más frecuentes fueron: Staphylococcus spp 46,3% (N=210), Streptococcus spp 28,2% (N=128) y Enterococcus spp 12,8% (N=58). En 9,56% (N=48) de los casos los hemocul-tivos fueron negativos. Complicaciones: insuficiencia cardíaca (30,9%/N=155), embolias periféricas (19,6%/N=98) y absceso (15,5%/ N=78). El 62,4% (N= 313) recibió tratamiento antibiótico empírico adecuado y el 43,4% tratamiento quirúrgico (N= 218). Mortalidad hospitalaria global: 25,5% (N=128). La edad, el antecedente de insuficiencia renal, la afección de la válvula mitral y la presencia de insuficiencia cardíaca fueron predictores de mortalidad hospitalaria. Conclusiones: Existe un elevado porcentaje de pacientes con EI sin enfermedad cardíaca previa conocida. El Staphylococcus spp fue el germen causal más frecuente. La mortalidad se mantiene elevada, y similar a la de los estudios EIRA 1 y 2.