Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infectivity greater than 50 days in a case series of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipients.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has infected tens of millions across the world, but there is a significant gap in our understanding about COVID-19 in the hematopoietic stem transplant (HSCT) recipient population. Prolonged viral shedding is frequently observed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2), but studies suggest viral loads decline 10 days after symptom onset. Current CDC guidance suggests that severely ill and immunocompromised hosts are no longer infectious after 20 days from symptom onset. Cycle threshold (Ct) values are inversely proportional to the viral load and are used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration. Specimens with reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) Ct values > 33-34 have been associated with inability to culture virus, and have been used as a surrogate for diminished infectivity. We report two cases of  allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) recipients who had prolonged durations of infectivity with SARSCov-2, based on culture positivity and persistently low Ct values for greater than 50 days.

Palliative care issues in heart transplant candidates.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Heart failure is a serious condition and equivalent to malignant disease in terms of symptoms burden and mortality. Presently, only a comparatively small number of heart failure patients receive specialized palliative care. A literature search was conducted with the terms, palliative care and heart failure, using the electronic databases of PubMed and MEDLINE. RECENT FINDINGS: Nine-hundred and five articles were reviewed and of those, 78 articles discussed clinical trials in palliative care and heart failure. A complex set of management tools and strategies were used and recommended, including but not limited to lifestyle modification, exercise programs, pain and sleep disorder management, and support in end-of-life care. Limited data are available of using palliative care in heart transplant candidates prior to transplant surgery. SUMMARY: Diminishing quality of life prevails throughout the course of chronic heart failure. Therefore, palliative care should be integrated into heart failure management. Heart transplant candidates may benefit from early palliative care involvement independent of the clinical course and outcome. Because of gaps in current scientific literature on palliative care, end-of-life care, and hospice care and the services rendered, further research is necessary to encourage healthcare professionals to introduce palliative care as an early resource in chronic disease progression.

Switching from nitrate therapy to ranolazine in patients with coronary artery disease receiving phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) frequently coexist. The introduction of phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors has revolutionized medical management of organic ED; however, in patients with angina pectoris, a common symptom of CAD, coadministration of PDE-5 inhibitors and nitrates has been implicated in CAD-related deaths following sexual activity. The mechanism of action of PDE-5 inhibitors results in a potential cumulative drop in blood pressure (BP); thus, these agents are contraindicated in patients receiving nitrates. Beta-blockers and calcium channel antagonists are considered the mainstays of antianginal therapy, but may not be tolerated by all patients. Ranolazine is an antianginal agent that produces minimal reductions in heart rate and BP. Here we report three cases of men with CAD, chronic angina, and concomitant ED. We describe our treatment approach in these patients, using ranolazine as a potential substitute to nitrate therapy.

The beneficial role of spiritual counseling in heart failure patients.

To ascertain the beneficial role of spiritual counseling in patients with chronic heart failure. This is a pilot study evaluating the effects of adjunct spiritual counseling on quality of life (QoL) outcomes in patients with heart failure. Patients were assigned to "religious" or "non-religious" counseling services based strictly on their personal preferences and subsequently administered standardized QoL questionnaires. A member of the chaplaincy or in-house volunteer organization visited the patient either daily or once every 2 days throughout the duration of their hospitalization. All patients completed questionnaires at baseline, at 2 weeks, and at 3 months. Each of the questionnaires was totaled, with higher scores representing positive response, except for one survey measure where lower scores represent improvement (QIDS-SR16). Twenty-three patients (n = 23, age 57 ± 11, 11 (48 %) male, 12 (52 %) female, mean duration of hospital stay 20 ± 15 days) completed the study. Total mean scores were assessed on admission, at 2 weeks and at 3 months. For all patients in the study, the mean QIDS-SR16 scores were 8.5 (n = 23, SD = 3.3) versus 6.3 (n = 18, SD = 3.5) versus 7.3 (n = 7, SD = 2.6). Mean FACIT-Sp-Ex (version 4) scores were 71.1 (n = 23, SD = 15.1) versus 74.7 (n = 18, SD = 20.9) versus 81.4 (n = 7, SD = 8.8). The mean MSAS scores were 2.0 (n = 21, SD = 0.6) versus 1.8 (n = 15, SD = 0.7) versus 2.5 (n = 4, SD = 0.7). Mean QoL Enjoyment and Satisfaction scores were 47.2 % (n = 23, SD = 15.0 %) versus 53.6 % (n = 18, SD = 16.4 %) versus 72.42 % (n = 7, SD = 22 %). The addition of spiritual counseling to standard medical management for patients with chronic heart failure patients appears to have a positive impact on QoL.

Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy: updated review.

The first case of noncompaction was described in 1932 after an autopsy performed on a newborn infant with aortic atresia/coronary-ventricular fistula. Isolated noncompaction cardiomyopathy was first described in 1984. A review on selected/relevant medical literature was conducted using Pubmed from 1984 to 2013 and the pathogenesis, clinical features, and management are discussed. Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a relatively rare congenital condition that results from arrest of the normal compaction process of the myocardium during fetal development. LVNC shows variability in its genetic pattern, pathophysiologic findings, and clinical presentations. The genetic heterogeneity, phenotypical overlap, and variety in clinical presentation raised the suspicion that LVNC might just be a morphological variant of other cardiomyopathies, but the American Heart Association classifies LVNC as a primary genetic cardiomyopathy. The familiar type is common and follows a X-linked, autosomal-dominant, or mitochondrial-inheritance pattern (in children). LVNC can occur in isolation or coexist with other cardiac and/or systemic anomalies. The clinical presentations are variable ranging from asymptomatic patients to patients who develop ventricular arrhythmias, thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Increased awareness over the last 25 years and improvements in technology have increased the identification of this illness and improved the clinical outcome and prognosis. LVNC is commonly diagnosed by echocardiography. Other useful diagnostic techniques for LVNC include cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, and left ventriculography. Management is symptom based and patients with symptoms have a poorer prognosis. LVNC is a genetically heterogeneous disorder which can be associated with other anomalies. Making the correct diagnosis is important because of the possible associations and the need for long-term management and screening of living relatives.

An evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms in acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is characterized by recurrent decompensations and persistent symptoms that decrease quality of life. Shortness of breath and fatigue are commonly identified symptoms but there is limited data on pain in heart failure patients. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was used to identify the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms experienced by patients with acute decompensated heart failure. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated patients with a history of chronic heart failure admitted to the hospital with acute decompensated heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (ESAS) was administered to patients within 24 hours of hospital admission. Exclusion criteria included patients <18 years of age, admission for a noncardiac reason, active malignancy, history of chronic pain, outpatient chronic pain medication use, and those actively followed by the palliative care service. RESULTS: One hundred patients, 67 males, with a mean age of 58 ± 17 years were recruited. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 37%± 18%. Sixty patients (60%) reported pain of any degree. Patients with lower EF (≤ 40%, n=61) reported significantly higher pain scores (4.1 ± 3.6) compared to patients with higher EF (>40%, n=36, 2.7 ± 3.4, p<0.05). Tiredness, shortness of breath, and decreased well-being were the most severe symptoms with mean scores of 6.3 ± 2.8, 6.1 ± 3.1, and 5.7 ± 2.6, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pain is a common, underrecognized symptom in patients with chronic but acute decompensated heart failure. Decreased well-being, shortness of breath, and tiredness are the most common and severe symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction.

Tadalafil as monotherapy and in combination regimens for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the use of tadalafil as monotherapy and in combination regimens for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A systematic English language search of the medical literature using PubMed was conducted between January 1960 and May 2012 using the search terms 'tadalafil', 'therapy', 'pulmonary (arterial) hypertension' and 'combination therapy'. Special emphasis was given to controlled clinical trials and case studies relevant for the use of tadalafil in PAH. The search revealed 113 relevant publications, 31 of which were clinical trials, 52 were reviews and 12 were case reports. Of these, 12 were clinical studies in human patients with PAH who were treated with tadalafil alone, and seven were clinical studies in human patients with PAH who were treated with tadalafil in combination with other agents. Only clinical studies in human patients were included. Exclusion criteria were monotherapy other than using tadalafil and any combination therapy that excluded tadalafil as part of the treatment regimen. Overall, 1353 human subjects were studied; 896 were treated with tadalafil alone while 457 subjects were treated with tadalafil in coadministration. Tadalafil appears to be an effective and a safe treatment option for patients with PAH. It improves clinical status, exercise capacity, hemodynamic parameters, compliance issues and quality of life and reduces the occurrence of clinical worsening. Tadalafil in combination therapy seems to be additive and synergistic in relaxing pulmonary vascular muscle cells but more clinical trials on human subjects are warranted.

Evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure (HF) in an outpatient clinic setting. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study evaluating symptoms of generalized or specific pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) was administered during a routine outpatient clinic visit. The severity of pain and other symptoms were assessed on a 10 point scale with 10 being the worst and 0 representing no symptoms. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients [age 56 ± 13 years, 51 males, 11 females, mean ejection fraction (EF) 33% ± 17%] completed the assessment. Thirty-two patients (52%) reported any pain of various character and location such as chest, back, abdomen or the extremities, with a mean pain score of 2.5 ± 3.1. Patients with an EF less than 40% (n = 45, 73%) reported higher pain scores than patients with an EF greater than 40% (n = 17, 27%), scores were 3.1 ± 3.3 vs 1.2 ± 1.9, P < 0.001. Most frequent symptoms were tiredness (in 75% of patients), decreased wellbeing (84%), shortness of breath (SOB, 76%), and drowsiness (70%). The most severe symptom was tiredness with a score of 4.0 ± 2.8, followed by decreased wellbeing (3.7 ± 2.7), SOB (3.6 ± 2.8), and drowsiness (2.8 ± 2.8). CONCLUSION: Pain appears to be prevalent and significantly affects quality of life in HF patients. Adequate pain assessment and management should be an integral part of chronic heart failure management.