Prognostic Significance of Electrocardiography, Echocardiography, and Troponin in Patients Admitted With Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a clinical condition characterized by typical symptoms of myocardial ischemia along with electrocardiographic changes and a positive value of troponin. After presentation in the emergency department, these patients have their troponin I value and electrocardiography done. Echocardiography (echo) should also be performed on these patients. This study was conducted to determine the prognostic significance of ECG, echo, and troponin. METHODS: This observational study was conducted at a tertiary care cardiac hospital on 221 diagnosed patients of NSTEMI. Electrocardiography was performed to see any particular resting ECG findings and the peak values of cardiospecific troponin were analyzed for associations with major adverse events after a six-month period of follow-up. On echo, the left ventricular ejection fraction was divided into two categories: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and LVEF >40%. RESULTS:  The most frequent finding on presenting ECG was ST depression in anterior leads (V1-V6) in 27.6%. Median troponin I at presentation was 3.2 ng/dl and the median ejection fraction was 45%. The overall all-cause mortality rate at six months was observed to be 8.6%; re-infarction in 5%, re-hospitalization in 16.3%, and heart failure in 25.3% were observed. However, mortality was higher for patients with baseline ECG findings of A-fib, generalized ST-depression, poor R-wave progression, Wellens sign, and T-wave inversion in inferior; the mortality rate was also relatively higher among patients with poor LVEF (<30%). CONCLUSION: ECG and echo were prognostically significant and with the combined incidence of adverse events. However, troponin lacks prognostic significance at six months.

Recurrent Cryptogenic Stroke in a Patient With Left Atrial Septal Pouch.

The incomplete fusion of the septum primum and septum secundum results in the formation of the left atrial septal pouch (LASP). The clinical significance of this entity is a matter of controversy; however, it may act as a nidus for thrombus formation. We report a case of a 57-year-old male who was brought to the hospital by his girlfriend due to his bizarre behavior and confusion for one day. The initial workup for his altered mental status did not yield a diagnosis. The patient was admitted for further workup, which included an MRI of the brain that showed numerous very small-sized foci of restricted diffusion involving bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres consistent with thromboembolic infarct. The patient did not receive a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) as he was out of the window for TPA. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with bubble study did not show patent foramen ovale (PFO) or atrial septal defect (ASD). ECG and telemetry showed normal sinus rhythm and no atrial fibrillation. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was obtained to find the source of the thromboembolic stroke. TEE discovered a 22 x 8-mm cystic structure in the interatrial septum consistent with a LASP. We hypothesize that the LASP may be a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence of atrial septal pouch (ASP) in the general population, its clinical significance, and guidelines for treatment implications.

Serotonin Syndrome Precipitated by the Use of Cocaine and Fentanyl.

Serotonin syndrome (SS) is a condition that occurs following the administration of serotonergic drugs. The syndrome is classically associated with the simultaneous administration of two serotonergic agents. Herein, we present a unique case of SS precipitated by cocaine and fentanyl in conjunction with previously prescribed oxycodone/paracetamol, trazodone, and mirtazapine. The patient was brought to the hospital with chief complaints of altered mental status, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The patient used her friend's fentanyl patch, and her urine drug screen was positive for cocaine. She was intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit for a low Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6 and autonomic instability. All the inciting agents were stopped, supportive treatment was given, and the patient was sedated with benzodiazepines and propofol. She received cyproheptadine, and the patient was extubated and clinically improved over the next 24 hours. Cocaine and fentanyl are not classically associated with SS. We did not encounter any cases where SS was precipitated by the combined use of cocaine and fentanyl in patients taking psychotropic medications during our literature review. This case report underlines the association of SS with cocaine and fentanyl. SS should be suspected in patients using cocaine and fentanyl or any other substance of abuse along with psychotropic agents.

Risk Factors Associated With Contrast-Induced Nephropathy after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of CIN after primary PCI and its association with risk factors in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at a tertiary care cardiac center in Pakistan. Methodology In this observational study, we included 282 patients who presented with STEMI and underwent primary PCI at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Karachi, Pakistan, from October 2017 to April 2018. The serum creatinine (mg/dL) levels were obtained at baseline and 48 to 72 hours after the primary PCI procedure, and patients with a 25% increase or ≥ 0.5 mg/dL rise in post-procedure creatinine level (after 48 to 72 hour) were categorized for CIN. Results Out of a total sample of 282 patients, 68.4% (193) were males, and the mean age was 56.4 ± 9.1 years. A majority of the patients, 78.7% (222), were hypertensive and 34% (96) were diabetic. The CIN was observed in 13.1% (37) of the patients, and increased risk of CIN was found to be associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus and increased (>200 mL) use of contrast during the procedure, with odds ratios of 2.3 (1.14-4.63) and 3.12 (1.36-7.17), respectively. Conclusions The CIN after PCI is a common complication associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus and the use of an increased amount of contrast during the procedure.

Biomarkers and Noncalcified Coronary Artery Plaque Progression in Older Men Treated With Testosterone.

OBJECTIVE: Recent results from the Cardiovascular Trial of the Testosterone Trials showed that testosterone treatment of older men with low testosterone was associated with greater progression of noncalcified plaque (NCP). We evaluated the effect of anthropometric measures and cardiovascular biomarkers on plaque progression in individuals in the Testosterone Trial. METHODS: The Cardiovascular part of the trial included 170 men aged 65 years or older with low testosterone. Participants received testosterone gel or placebo gel for 12 months. The primary outcome was change in NCP volume from baseline to 12 months, as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We assayed several markers of cardiovascular risk and analyzed each marker individually in a model as predictive variables and change in NCP as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Of 170 enrollees, 138 (73 testosterone, 65 placebo) completed the study and were available for the primary analysis. Of 10 markers evaluated, none showed a significant association with the change in NCP volume, but a significant interaction between treatment assignment and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.0014) indicated that this variable impacted the testosterone effect on NCP volume. The statistical model indicated that for every 0.1 change in the WHR, the testosterone-induced 12-month change in NCP volume increased by 26.96 mm3 (95% confidence interval, 7.72-46.20). CONCLUSION: Among older men with low testosterone treated for 1 year, greater WHR was associated with greater NCP progression, as measured by CCTA. Other biomarkers and anthropometric measures did not show statistically significant association with plaque progression.

Low short-term and long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in absence of coronary artery calcium: A 22-year follow-up observational study from large cohort.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the gender-specific predictive value of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). BACKGROUND: CAC score is a robust predictor of CVD and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up in large cohorts in adults with DM. However, less is known about its sex-specific impact on all-cause mortality in DM. METHODS: We evaluated 25,563 asymptomatic participants with no known history of coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent clinically indicated CAC. 1999 (7.8%) individuals had diabetes. CAC was characterized as an Agatston score of 0, 1-99, 100-300, and ≫300. We evaluated the association between CAC and all-cause mortality and CVD mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 1345 individuals died (5.3%) from all causes during a mean follow-up of 14.7 ±â€¯3.8 years. CAC score was 0 in 57.5% females and 34.4% of males without DM, while 36.6% females and 20.3% males with DM had CAC-0. The frequency of CAC ≫ 300 was 18% and 36% in females and males with DM, respectively. CAC score of zero was associated with low all-cause mortality event rate in females and males with diabetes (1.7 and 2.5 events per 1000 person-years, respectively). Cardiovascular mortality per 1000 person years was ≪1 in females and males with CAC score of 0 irrespective of their diabetes. Adjusted multivariable analysis, compared to CAC-0, HR for all-cause mortality associated with CAC 1-99, 100-299 and ≫300 were 1.74(95% CI 0.65, 4.63, P-0.20), 5.54(95% CI 2.16, 14.22, P ≪ 0.001) and 5.75(95% CI 2.30, 14.37, P ≪ 0.001) in females with DM respectively; in males with DM HR associated with CAC 1-99, 100-299 and ≫300 were 1.87(95% CI 0.95, 3.66, P-0.06), 2.15(95% CI 1.05, 4.38, P-0.035) and 2.60(95% CI 1.34, 5.0, P-0.004), respectively. CONCLUSION: Presence of subclinical atherosclerosis varies among individuals with DM. The absence of CAC was associated with very low cardiovascular as well as all-cause mortality events in all subgroups during long term follow-up.

Survival rate variation with different histological subtypes of poor prognostic male anal squamous cell carcinoma: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The prognosis of male anal squamous cell carcinoma (MASCC) and female anal squamous cell carcinoma (FASCC) is variable. The influence of tumor subtype on the survival rate and gender is poorly known. Our study is the largest population-based study and aims to outline the difference in survival between MASCC and FASCC patients. METHODS: A retrospective population-based study was performed to compare the disease-specific mortalities (DSMs) between genders related to the tumor subtypes. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program database was employed to obtain the data from January 1988 to December 2014. RESULTS: A total of 4,516, (3,249 males and 1,267 females), patients with anal squamous cell carcinomas (ASCC) were investigated. The 5-year DSMs were 24.18% and 18.08% for men and women, respectively. The univariate analysis of the male basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) and cloacogenic carcinoma (CC) patients demonstrated higher DSMs (P <0.001). Moreover, in the multivariate analysis, BSCC and CC were associated with soaring DSMs in male patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the cohort of BSCC and CC patients, male patients demonstrated a considerable decrease in survival rate compared to females. A more precise classification of ASCC and individualized management for MASCC are warranted.

Chlamydia trachomatis related knowledge and practices in medical practioners--a survey.

INTRODUCTION: Chlamydia trachomatis is a frequently encountered condition by general physicians, urologists and infectious diseases specialists. It can affect both genders and causes significant morbidity if not treated properly and promptly. In addition, it can cause ophthalmia neonatorum, which manifests as neonatal conjunctivitis in the newborns. METHODOLOGY: The data was collected from fourteen tertiary care hospitals in two provinces of Pakistan during the time period of four months (September-December 2013). Inclusion criteria included all medical practitioners working at those hospitals and there were no limitations of age and gender to participate. The participants were approached through email which included a self administered questionnaire. Written consent was obtained from the participants and the study was approved by the ethical committee of all selected hospital. RESULTS: Overall 130 participants participated with a response rate of 65%. Females were 52.3% and males were 47.7%. In the study 17.7% of male and 29.4% of female participants proclaimed that they referred a patient to an infectious disease specialist in case the diagnosis of Chlamydia was dubious. 72.5% of the male and 55.8% of the female medical practitioners indicated that they yield detailed sexual history from the patients with Chlamydia. Regarding inquiring about the drugs history from the patient at risk of STDs, 22.6% male and 35.3% of female participants informed that they took a detailed drug history. Only 1.5% of the female medical practitioners notified Chlamydia to the partner of diseased patient themselves (provider referral). 24% male and 17.6% female participants had an understanding regarding the definite test of diagnosis for sexually transmitted Chlamydia. CONCLUSION: More sexual health skills development is required in medical practitioners working in Pakistan. The major deficient areas are sexual and drug history taking, management of sexually transmitted diseases and partner notification.