Use of noninvasive measurement of the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate in patients with septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyse the relation between serial values of the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) with hospital mortality in the first 48 hours of ICU admission in patients with septic shock. METHODS: A prospective observational study was carried out over 12 months of patients admitted to the ICU with septic shock. Each patient underwent noninvasive determination of ICG-PDR at 24 and 48 hours with the LiMON® module. Follow-up was performed until hospital discharge or exitus. RESULTS: 63 patients. Age 61.1±12.3 years. 60.3% men. SOFA score on admission 8.7±3.3, APACHE II score was 27.9±10.7 points. A total of 44.4% of patients died. The ICG-PDR values in the first 24 hours of ICU admission were lower in nonsurvivors: 10.5 (5.7-13.0)%/min vs. 15.9 (11.4-28.0)%/min, p <0.001. Furthermore, in nonsurvivors, there was no improvement in ICG-PDR between 24 h and 48 h, while in survivors, there was an increase of 25%: 15.9 (11.4-28.0)%/min and 20.9 (18.0-27.0)%/min, p=0.020. The silhouette measure of ICG-PDR cohesion and separation for the clusters analysed (nonsurvivors and survivors) was satisfactory (0.6). ICG-PDR<11.7%/min was related to in-hospital mortality, ICG-PDR> 18%/min to survival, and the interval between 11.7% and 18%/min covered a range of uncertainty. In the two-stage cluster, ICG-PDR, SOFA and APACHE II present satisfactory predictive scores 24 hours after patient admission. CONCLUSIONS: ICG-PDR in our setting is a useful clinical prognostic tool and could optimise the decision tree in patients with septic shock.

International experts' practice in the antibiotic therapy of infective endocarditis is not following the guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: The management of infective endocarditis (IE) may differ from international guidelines, even in reference centres. This is probably because most recommendations are not based on hard evidence, so the consensus obtained for the guidelines does not represent actual practices. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate this question in the particular field of antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Thirteen international centres specialized in the management of IE were selected, according to their reputation, clinical results, original research publications and quotations. They were asked to detail their actual practice in terms of IE antibiotic treatment in various bacteriological and clinical situations. They were also asked to declare their IE-related in-hospital mortality for the year 2015. RESULTS: The global compliance with guidelines concerning antibiotic therapy was 58%, revealing the differences between theoretical 'consensus', local recommendations and actual practice. Some conflicts of interest were also probably expressed. The adherence to guidelines was 100% when the protocol was simple, and decreased with the seriousness of the situation (Staphylococus spp. 54%-62%) or in blood-culture-negative endocarditis (0%-15%) that requires adaptation to clinical and epidemiological data. CONCLUSION: Worldwide experts in IE management, although the majority of them were involved and co-signed the guidelines, do not follow international consensus guidelines on the particular point of the use of antibiotics.

Routine invasive strategy in acute coronary syndrome patients with renal dysfunction. Results of the ARIAM-SEMICYUC registry. / Estrategia invasiva de rutina en el síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST con disfunción renal. Resultados del registro ARIAM-SEMICYUC.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use and effectiveness of a routine invasive strategy (RIS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome without persistent ST-segment elevation with renal dysfunction in the real world scenario. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study based on the ARIAM-SEMICYUC Registry (2011-2014) was carried out. Renal dysfunction was defined as GFR (Cockroft-Gault)<60ml/min (moderate dysfunction) or<30ml/min (severe dysfunction). Patients in which early angiography (<72h) was performed due to cardiogenic shock or recurrent myocardial ischemia were excluded. The primary endpoint was hospital mortality. Confounding factors were controlled using propensity score analysis. RESULTS: A total of 4,279 patients were analyzed, of which 26% had moderate renal dysfunction and 5% severe dysfunction. Patients with renal dysfunction had greater severity and comorbidity, higher hospital mortality (8.6 vs. 1.8%), and lesser use of the RIS (40 vs. 52%). The adjusted OR for mortality in patients without/with renal dysfunction were 0.38 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.17 to 0.81) and 0.52 (95%CI 0.32 to 0.87), respectively (interaction P-value=.4779). The impact (adjusted risk difference) of RIS was higher in the group with renal dysfunction (-5.1%, 95%CI -8.1 to -2.1 vs. -1.6%, 95%CI -2.6 to -0.6; interaction P-value=.0335). No significant interaction was detected for the other endpoints considered (ICU mortality, 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction, acute renal failure or moderate/severe bleeding). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the effectiveness of IRS is similar in patients with normal or abnormal renal function, and alert to the under-utilization of this strategy in such patients.

Oleanolic acid modulates the immune-inflammatory response in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis and protects from cardiac injury. Therapeutic implications for the human disease.

Myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are inflammatory diseases of the myocardium, for which appropriate treatment remains a major clinical challenge. Oleanolic acid (OA), a natural triterpene widely distributed in food and medicinal plants, possesses a large range of biological effects with beneficial properties for health and disease prevention. Several experimental approaches have shown its cardioprotective actions, and OA has recently been proven effective for treating Th1 cell-mediated inflammatory diseases; however, its effect on inflammatory heart disorders, including myocarditis, has not yet been addressed. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of OA in prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). The utility of OA was evaluated in vivo through their administration to cardiac α-myosin (MyHc-α614-629)-immunized BALB/c mice from day 0 or day 21 post-immunization to the end of the experiment, and in vitro through their addition to stimulated-cardiac cells. Prophylactic and therapeutic administration of OA dramatically decreased disease severity: the heart weight/body weight ratio as well as plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and myosin-specific autoantibodies production were significantly reduced in OA-treated EAM animals, compared with untreated ones. Histological heart analysis showed that OA-treatment diminished cell infiltration, fibrosis and dystrophic calcifications. OA also decreased proliferation of cardiac fibroblast in vitro and attenuated calcium and collagen deposition induced by relevant cytokines of active myocarditis. Furthermore, in OA-treated EAM mice the number of Treg cells and the production of IL-10 and IL-35 were markedly increased, while proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines were significantly reduced. We demonstrate that OA ameliorates both developing and established EAM by promoting an antiinflammatory cytokine profile and by interfering with the generation of cardiac-specific autoantibodies, as well as through direct protective effects on cardiac cells. Therefore, we envision this natural product as novel helpful tool for intervention in inflammatory cardiomyopathies including myocarditis.

Aging to equilibrium dynamics of SiO2.

Molecular dynamics computer simulations are used to study the aging dynamics of SiO2 (modeled by the BKS model). Starting from fully equilibrated configurations at high temperatures Ti∊{5000 K,3760 K}, the system is quenched to lower temperatures Tf∊{2500 K,2750 K,3000 K,3250 K} and observed after a waiting time tw. Since the simulation runs are long enough to reach equilibrium at Tf, we are able to study the transition from out-of-equilibrium to equilibrium dynamics. We present results for the partial structure factors, for the generalized incoherent intermediate scattering function Cq(tw,tw+t), and for the mean-square displacement Δr2(tw,tw+t). We conclude that there are three different tw regions: (I) At very short waiting times, Cq(tw,tw+t) decays very fast without forming a plateau. Similarly Δr2(tw,tw+t) increases without forming a plateau. (II) With increasing tw a plateau develops in Cq(tw,tw+t) and Δr2(tw,tw+t). For intermediate waiting times the plateau height is independent of tw and Ti. Time superposition applies, i.e., Cq=Cq(t/trCq) where trCq=trCq(tw) is a waiting time-dependent decay time. Furthermore Cq=C(q,tw,tw+t) scales as Cq=C(q,z(tw,t)) where z is a function of tw and t only, i.e., independent of q. (III) At large tw the system reaches equilibrium, i.e., Cq(tw,tw+t) and Δr2(tw,tw+t) are independent of tw and Ti. For Cq(tw,tw+t) we find that the time superposition of intermediate waiting times (II) includes the equilibrium curve (III).

Acute aortic syndrome: a new look at an old conundrum.

The term acute aortic syndrome (AAS), coined several years ago, is now widely recognised. In the light of new findings in aortic pathology and in an era when modern imaging techniques are widely available and interventional management of AAS is increasing, some morphological and diagnostic aspects of acute aortic pathology have been examined and the syndrome updated. This article provides a new, comprehensive overview of the pathology, diagnosis, evolution and management of patients with AAS. As acute aortic disease is the most common fatal condition in patients with chest pain, prompt recognition and treatment is of paramount importance.

Acute aortic syndrome: a new look at an old conundrum.

The term acute aortic syndrome (AAS), coined several years ago, is now widely recognised. In the light of new findings in aortic pathology and in an era when modern imaging techniques are widely available and interventional management of AAS is increasing, some morphological and diagnostic aspects of acute aortic pathology have been examined and the syndrome updated. This article provides a new, comprehensive overview of the pathology, diagnosis, evolution and management of patients with AAS. As acute aortic disease is the most common fatal condition in patients with chest pain, prompt recognition and treatment is of paramount importance.

Atrapamiento de un catéter epidural. Reconstrucción de imágenesde tomografía computarizada / Trapped epidural catheter: reconstruction of computed tomography images

El atrapamiento de un catéter epidural sin la formaciónde un nudo, es una complicación rara. Durante la colocaciónde un catéter epidural para el control del dolordurante el parto, se encontró una resistencia que impedíaajustar su posición dentro del espacio epidural. Un segundocatéter se colocó para realizar la analgesia durante elparto. Retirado el segundo catéter, se identificó en imágenesde tomografía computarizada que la punta del primercatéter se encontraba en una zona próxima a la articulacióninterapofisiaria derecha.En un nuevo intento no se logró su extracción. Ante esasituación, se introdujo una guía metálica por el lumen delcatéter, y con la paciente sentada en ligera flexión lateral dela columna, se traccionó suavemente del conjunto catéterguíalogrando su salida sin que su punta se fragmentara.La reconstrucción tridimensional de las imágenes nospermitió observar la punta del catéter y las característicasde las carillas articulares.Se discuten qué pautas seguir ante la dificultad de quitarun catéter epidural, qué pruebas de imagen son másadecuadas, y qué alternativas disponemos para lograr suextracción (AU)

A trapped epidural catheter without a knot is a rarecomplication. During placement of an epidural catheterfor analgesia during labor, resistance made it impossible toposition the catheter within the epidural space. A secondcatheter was inserted to provide the required analgesia.When the second catheter was removed, computedtomography (CT) revealed that the tip of the first catheterwas close to the the right facet joint space.A second attempt to extract the catheter failed. In lightof this situation, the patient was seated with the spineslightly bent to one side, a guidewire was inserted throughthe catheter lumen, and the catheter and guidewire weregently pulled; the catheter was extracted without causingthe tip to break up.Three-dimensional CT reconstruction allowed thecatheter tip and characteristics of the joint surfaces to beobserved.We discuss protcols and alternative strategies that canbe followed when an epidural catheter is difficult toremove, including the most appropriate images to use forguidance (AU)

[Trapped epidural catheter: reconstruction of computed tomography images]. / Atrapamiento de un catéter epidural. Reconstrucción de imágenes de tomografía computarizada.

A trapped epidural catheter without a knot is a rare complication. During placement of an epidural catheter for analgesia during labor, resistance made it impossible to position the catheter within the epidural space. A second catheter was inserted to provide the required analgesia. When the second catheter was removed, computed tomography (CT) revealed that the tip of the first catheter was close to the the right facet joint space. A second attempt to extract the catheter failed. In light of this situation, the patient was seated with the spine slightly bent to one side, a guidewire was inserted through the catheter lumen, and the catheter and guidewire were gently pulled; the catheter was extracted without causing the tip to break up. Three-dimensional CT reconstruction allowed the catheter tip and characteristics of the joint surfaces to be observed. We discuss protcols and alternative strategies that can be followed when an epidural catheter is difficult to remove, including the most appropriate images to use for guidance.

Eustachian valve endocarditis: Is it worth searching for?

BACKGROUND: Only a few cases of eustachian valve endocarditis have been reported. Whether the eustachian valve is an uncommon site for a vegetation to be attached or whether the disease is missed because a systematic approach to this valve is not routinely performed in the search for vegetations is not known. METHODS: Every patient suspected of having endocarditis undergoes a specific approach, which includes a systematic study of the eustachian valve. In 10 patients with large valves but without signs and symptoms of endocarditis, we identified 2 specific findings: width <3 mm and a regular oscillating movement. A blinded evaluation in the 10 control subjects and 30 patients with right-sided endocarditis, including the 5 with eustachian valve endocarditis, showed an agreement of 97% (39/40). RESULTS: Five of 152 patients with right-sided endocarditis were found to have eustachian valve vegetations (3.3%). Patients were young (age range 22-34 years) and all had predisposing factors (3 intravenous drug abusers, 2 central venous lines), fever, and septic pulmonary embolism. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in all cases. Tricuspid involvement was found in 4 patients, and only 1 patient had isolated eustachian valve endocarditis. All patients did well with culture-guided antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that eustachian valve endocarditis may be more frequent than is believed. Thus a systematic interrogation of the eustachian valve should be included in the echocardiographic examination of a patient suspected of having endocarditis.

Prognostic power of dobutamine echocardiography after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic value of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DSE) after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in elderly patients. DESIGN: We analyzed 59 consecutive patients (42 men) aged > or = 70 years (mean +/- SD age, 75 +/- 4 years) who underwent DSE within 10 days after uncomplicated AMI. DSE was carried out following the standard protocol. Five myocardial responses were considered: (1) negative, (2) sustained improvement of contractility, (3) biphasic response (initial improvement followed by worsening), (4) worsening of contractility in the infarcted area, and (5) worsening at a distance. RESULTS: Mean follow-up duration was 13 +/- 8 months. Twenty-one patients had an event: cardiac death (n = 5), myocardial infarction (n = 1), heart failure (n = 1), unstable angina (n = 10), and revascularization (n = 4). Clinical and stress echocardiographic variables previously related to adverse prognosis were entered in Cox regression analysis, and the predictors of impaired outcome were inducible ischemia during DSE (hazard ratio [HR], 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77 to 4.99; p < 0.001) and resting wall motion score index (WMSI) > 1.6 (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.77; p = 0.04). After excluding revascularization procedures and considering only spontaneous events, the following predictors were found: ischemia during DSE (HR, 2.95; 95% CI, 2.78 to 3.12; p < 0.001) and resting WMSI > 1.6 (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.30 to 4.93; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Inducible ischemia during DSE within 10 days after uncomplicated AMI predicts an impaired outcome in the elderly.

[Thallium-201 scintigraphy and dobutamine echocardiography in the assessment of myocardial viability]. / Gammagrafía con talio-201 y ecocardiografía con dobutamina en la valoración de viabilidad miocárdica.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of differentiating viable from non-viable tissue among patients with severe coronary artery disease and severe left ventricular impairment entails relevant clinical and therapeutic implications since it may influence the indication of patient revascularization. To evaluate the presence of myocardial viability two techniques are available in the clinical setting: echocardiography with intravenous infusion of dobutamine and scintigraphy with myocardial perfusion with thalliem-201 by means of single-photon emission tomography. OBJECTIVE: To compare prospectively the value of these techniques for detecting viable myocardium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with severe coronary disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction were included in the study. All patients underwent an echocardiogram using incremental doses of dobutamine, from 5 up to 40 micrograms/kg/min in three-minute periods. For thallium-201 scintigraphy the rest redistribution protocol with delayed images at 4 hours was used. The criteria for detecting viability were: a) for thallium-201, the presence of redistribution in delayed images and normal uptake at rest, and b) for dobutamine echocardiography, a sustained improvement in regional motion, biphasic response, and worsening. RESULTS: By considering the segmental improvement post-revascularization as "gold standard" of viability, the statistically significant variables in a logistic regression model and, therefore, predictors of segmental functional recovery were the biphasic response and the sustained response for dobutamine echocardiography and normal uptake at rest and redistribution in the delayed images for thallium-201. Taken together, the result was significant for the biphasic response of dobutamine echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: The biphasic response with dobutamine echocardiography is the echocardiographic pattern that best predicts the functional recovery of the ischemic myocardium. A normal uptake and redistribution at four hours is the only scintigraphic pattern that can predict functional improvement. Of both patterns, the biphasic response is the best predictor of the functional recovery of the dysfunctional myocardium.

Atherosclerotic aortic rupture: documentation by transesophageal echocardiography.

We report a case of a 77-year-old woman who had a rupture of the descending thoracic aorta as a complication of an atherosclerotic aortic plaque. Transesophageal echocardiography enabled the diagnosis of aortic rupture and was very useful in the patient's surgical management.