Illicit drug use and cardiometabolic disease risk: an analysis of 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

PURPOSE: To explore the association between illicit drug use (IDU) and cardiometabolic disease risk factors (CDRF) in a nationally representative sample of adults. METHODS: The 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data from 20- to 45-year-old adults (n = 8738) were utilised to analyze the relationship between IDU (ever used, repeated use and current use) and CDRF (hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, elevated C-reactive protein, body mass index, waist circumference and cigarette use) via chi square and logistic regression analyses. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, poverty to income ratio (PIR), and alcohol use were included as confounders in the models. RESULTS: Individuals who reported drug use (DU) at least once in lifetime were more likely to have CDRF than non-DU (NDU) (OR = 1.3, p = 0.004). Females with DU, IDU at least once in lifetime, and with repeated IDU were about 1.5 times more likely than their NDU counterparts to have CDRF (p < 0.0001, p = 0.02, p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest that healthcare professionals should be aware that patients with a history of DU may be at heightened risk for cardiometabolic disease. Females in particular have a heightened cluster of CDRF across drug-use categories.

Aerobic training does not alter CRP in apparently healthy, untrained men.

AIM: Regular aerobic exercise may reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by lowering the concentration of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP). While studies in diseased populations have shown significant decreases in CRP concentrations with regular aerobic training, little has been conclusively determined regarding the effects of aerobic training on CRP concentrations in apparently healthy, untrained populations. Aim of the study was to examine the effects of a 17-wk half marathon training program (TP) on CRP concentrations, aerobic fitness, and body composition in apparently healthy, untrained men. METHODS: Twenty men (29.3±1.0 y) enrolled as training subjects (TRN) in a 17-wk half marathon TP. An additional 22 men (27.8±1.4 y) served as controls (CON). Fasting blood samples were taken at four time points over the TP and were analyzed for CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations. Aerobic capacity (VO2max) and body fat percent (BF%) were measured before and after the TP. RESULTS: No significant post-training changes in CRP (P=0.70) or IL-6 concentrations (P=0.67) were seen in TRN as a result of the TP, despite significant improvements in VO2max (42.2±1.9 ml∙kg-1∙min⁻¹, P<0.0001) and significant reductions in resting heart rate (P=0.004), BF% (P=0.03), and body mass index (BMI, P=0.05). No significant changes in CRP, VO2max, BMI, or BF% were detected in CON over time. CONCLUSION: Regular aerobic training does not appear to affect CRP concentrations in apparently healthy, untrained men despite significant improvements in bodyweight, BF%, BMI, and VO2max.

Associations of age, gender and body mass with 1H MR-observed brain metabolites and tissue distributions.

Recent reports have indicated that a measure of adiposity, the body mass index (BMI), is associated with MR-observed brain metabolite concentrations and tissue volume measures. In addition to indicating possible associations between brain metabolism, BMI and cognitive function, the inclusion of BMI as an additional subject selection criterion could potentially improve the detection of metabolic and structural differences between subjects and study groups. In this study, a retrospective analysis of 140 volumetric MRSI datasets was carried out to investigate the value of including BMI in the subject selection relative to age and gender. The findings replicate earlier reports of strong associations of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, choline and gray matter with age and gender, with additional observations of slightly increased spectral linewidth with age and in female relative to male subjects. Associations of metabolite levels, linewidth and gray matter volume with BMI were also observed, although only in some regions. Using voxel-based analyses, it was also observed that the patterns of the relative changes of metabolites with BMI matched those of linewidth with BMI or weight, and that residual magnetic field inhomogeneity and measures of spectral quality were influenced by body weight. It is concluded that, although associations of metabolite levels and tissue distributions with BMI occur, these may be attributable to issues associated with data acquisition and analysis; however, an organic origin for these findings cannot be specifically excluded. There is, however, sufficient evidence to warrant the inclusion of body weight as a subject selection parameter, secondary to age, and as a factor in data analysis for MRS studies of some brain regions.

Suppression of insulin secretion is associated with weight loss and altered macronutrient intake and preference in a subset of obese adults.

PURPOSE: Hyperinsulinemia is a common feature of many obesity syndromes. We investigated whether suppression of insulin secretion, without dietary or exercise intervention, could promote weight loss and alter food intake and preference in obese adults. METHODS: Suppression of insulin secretion was achieved using octreotide-LAR 40 mg IM q28d for 24 weeks in 44 severely obese adults (89% female, 39% minority). Oral glucose tolerance testing was performed before and after treatment, indices of beta-cell activity (CIRgp), insulin sensitivity (CISI), and clearance (CP/I AUC) were computed, and leptin levels, 3-day food records and carbohydrate-craving measurements were obtained. DEXA evaluations were performed pre- and post-therapy in an evaluable subgroup. RESULTS: For the entire cohort, significant insulin suppression was achieved with simultaneous improvements in insulin sensitivity, weight loss, and body mass index (BMI). Leptin, fat mass, total caloric intake, and carbohydrate craving significantly decreased. When grouped by BMI response, high responders (HR; DeltaBMI<-3 kg/m(2)) and low responders (LR; DeltaBMI between -3 and -0.5) exhibited higher suppression of CIRgp and IAUC than nonresponders (NR; DeltaBMI-0.5). CISI improved and significant declines in leptin and fat mass occurred only in HR and LR. Conversely, both leptin and fat mass increased in NR. Carbohydrate intake was markedly suppressed in HR only, while carbohydrate-craving scores decreased in HR and LR. For the entire cohort, DeltaBMI correlated with DeltaCISI, Deltafat mass, and Deltaleptin. DeltaFat mass also correlated with DeltaIAUC and DeltaCISI. CONCLUSIONS: In a subcohort of obese adults, suppression of insulin secretion was associated with loss of body weight and fat mass and with concomitant modulation of caloric intake and macronutrient preference.

The "differential diagnosis" for multiple diseases: comparison with the binary-truth state experiment in two empirical studies.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: In practice readers must often choose between multiple diagnoses. For assessing reader accuracy in these settings. Obuchowski et al have proposed the "differential diagnosis" method, which derives all pairwise estimates of accuracy for the various diagnoses, along with summary measures of accuracy. The current study assessed the correspondence between the differential diagnosis method and conventional binary-truth state experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two empirical studies were conducted at two institutions with different readers and diagnostic tests. Readers used the differential diagnosis format to interpret a set of cases. In subsequent readings they interpreted the cases in binary-truth state experiments. Spearman rank correlation coefficients and the percentages of agreement in scores were computed, and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were estimated and compared. RESULTS: The between-format Spearman rank correlation coefficients were 0.697-0.718 and 0.750-0.780 for the two studies; the between-reader correlations were 0.417 and 0.792, respectively. The percentages of agreement between formats for the two studies were 50.0%-51.7% and 72.9%-78.8%; the percentages of agreement between readers were 45.0% and 80%, respectively. In the first study there were several significant differences in the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves; in the second study these differences were small. CONCLUSION: The differences observed between the two formats can be attributed to within-reader variability and inherent differences in the questions posed to readers in the multiple-diagnoses versus binary-truth state reading sessions. The differential diagnosis format is useful for estimating accuracy when there are multiple possible diagnoses.

Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia with low doses of intrathecal bupivacaine in women with severe preeclampsia: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the quality of anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD), analgesia for labor (LA), hemodynamic changes, and neonatal effects of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia (CSE) with low intrathecal doses of bupivacaine and fentanyl in patients with severe preeclampsia. METHODS: Of the 85 patients with severe preeclampsia (systolic pressures [SBP] > or = 160 mm Hg or diastolic pressures [DBP] > or = 110 mm Hg, and proteinuria > or = 100 mg/dL), 46 underwent CD and 39 delivered vaginally. The CD group received 7.5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine and 25 microg fentanyl intrathecally with a goal of obtaining a T4 sensory block. Those with levels less than T4 received 2% lidocaine epidurally to extend the block. In the LA group, the intrathecal dose was 1.25 mg of plain bupivacaine with 25 microg of fentanyl, followed by epidural infusion of 0.0625% to 0.125% bupivacaine with 2 to 4 microg fentanyl/mL at 12 to 15 mL/h. RESULTS: In the CD group, all but 4 patients had > or = T4 block, and these 4 patients received 2% lidocaine epidurally. None required conversion to general anesthesia. In the LA group, sensory levels were T10 (range, T6-L2) with adequate analgesia. The baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 122 +/- 13 mm Hg in the CD group and 117 +/- 12 mm Hg in the LA group. After CSE, MAP decreased significantly and reached a nadir within 5 minutes in both groups (103 +/- 12 mm Hg in the CD group and 96 +/- 13 mm Hg in the LA group, P <.05). The maximum decrease in MAP was similar in the 2 groups (-15% +/- 8% in the CD group and -16% +/- 9% in the LA group). The neonatal Apgar scores and umbilical artery (UA) pH were similar, and there were no significant correlations between UA pH and lowest MAP before delivery or the maximum percentage change in MAP in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that CSE with low intrathecal doses of bupivacaine and epidural supplementation, when needed, produces adequate anesthesia for CD and analgesia for labor in patients with severe preeclampsia. The maximum decreases in MAP after CSE were modest and quite similar in the 2 groups.

Results of the 4th ABFO Bitemark Workshop--1999.

Thirty-two certified diplomates of the American Board of Forensic odontology (ABFO) participated in a study of the accuracy of bitemark analysis. Examiner experience as board-certified odontologists ranged from 2 to 22 years. Examiners were given sets of photographs (a cast in 1 case) of 4 bitemark cases and asked to report their certainty that each case was truly a bitemark and the apparent value of the case as forensic evidence. Participants also received 7 occluding sets of dental casts, 1 correct dentition for each case and three unrelated to any of the cases, and asked to rate how certain they were that each set of teeth had made each bitemark. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis resulted in an accuracy score of 0.86 (95% CI=0.82-0.91). Youden's index was used to determine a cutoff point for determining an accuracy score for each case. Accuracy scores were significantly correlated with bitemark certainty and forensic value (P<0.001 in both cases) but not with examiner experience (P=0.958). The use of individual ROC analysis with weighted Youden's index to calibrate individual accuracy was also demonstrated.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of submucosal vs. intravenous flumazenil (Romazicon) in an animal model.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the bioavailability and local tissue toxicological safety of flumazenil (Romazicon) when administered by oral submucosal (SM) as opposed to intravenous (i.v.) injection. METHODS: Six dogs each received SM flumazenil (0.2 mg), and their serum was collected at predetermined time intervals (0-2 h) and frozen (-70 degrees C). Seven days later, the dogs received an identical dose of i.v. flumazenil, and serum samples were again collected, as above. Comparative quantitation of flumazenil levels (i.v. vs. SM) was made using a sensitive HPLC assay (UV detection). Direct/local drug toxicity was visually scored by unbiased raters of color photographs (test and control mucosa) taken at 1, 2, and 7 days following SM flumazenil injection. An oral pathologist examined slides processed from control and treatment tissues (hematoxylin and eosin staining) taken (punch biopsy) 1 week following SM injection to compare with direct clinical scores. RESULTS: Serum flumazenil levels reached a plateau (8.5 +/- 1.5 ng/mL, mean +/- SD) within 4 min of SM drug injection and declined thereafter to -2 ng/mL by 2 h. Bioavailability of SM flumazenil was 101 +/- 14%, based upon measuring the area under the serum concentration-time curves over 1.5 h (AUC 0-1.5 h, SM vs. i.v. drug). Thus, serum drug levels following SM drug administration were broadly comparable to those obtained during the elimination phase of corresponding i.v. drug delivery. Regarding drug tissue toxicity, no evidence of direct drug toxicity was observed by unbiased raters of color photographs (test and control mucosa) taken at 1, 2, and 7 days following SM flumazenil injection. Following pathologic review, no difference was seen in the degree of inflammation between treatment and control tissue. CONCLUSION: At the quantity and concentration used, SM drug flumazenil administration appears to be both a safe and a viable alternative to bolus i.v. drug delivery and worthy of further investigation.

Role of transesophageal echocardiography in assessing diastolic dysfunction in a large clinical practice: a 9-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with respiratory monitoring has been used to characterize diseases that impair diastolic function. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has emerged as a complementary technique to evaluate patients with these diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a large clinical practice the utility of TEE with respiratory monitoring for classification of patients with diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: Over a 9-year period TEE was used to examine 192 patients referred to an echocardiography laboratory for additional evaluation of abnormal diastolic function. We performed pulsed-wave Doppler TEE of the left ventricular inflow and pulmonary veins and respiratory monitoring to categorize patients as showing restrictive physiologic features, constriction with or without effusion, mixed constriction and restriction, abnormal relaxation, pseudonormalization, large pericardial effusion or tamponade, or normal diastolic function. RESULTS: Patients with diastolic dysfunction underwent 3% of the total number of transesophageal studies conducted during the study period. Among the 192 patients referred for TEE, abnormal diastolic function was found in 181 (94%); 11 (6%) had normal diastolic function. Seventy-one (39%) of the 181 patients had restrictive physiologic features. Constrictive pericarditis was found in 54 (30%) of the patients and was confirmed for all 31 patients who underwent pericardiectomy. Mixed constriction and restriction was present in 21 (12%) of the patients. The other 35 patients (19%) had abnormal relaxation, pseudonormalization, or large pericardial effusion or tamponade. The cause of diastolic dysfunction was idiopathic for 32% of the patients, previous cardiac operation for 26%, cardiac amyloidosis for 23%, radiation therapy for 11%, and hypertension or advanced ischemic heart disease for 8%. CONCLUSION: Two-dimensional and Doppler TEE with respiratory monitoring is useful in categorizing patients with impaired diastolic function, primarily into those with restrictive physiologic features or constrictive pericarditis.

Atrial fibrillation early postoperatively following minimally invasive cardiac valvular surgery.

We report a cohort of our first 100 minimally invasive cardiac valvular operations matched 1:1 by age and valvular surgery type with patients undergoing a traditional midline sternotomy approach. The prevalence of postoperative atrial fibrillation among patients with minimally invasive procedures versus traditional midline sternotomy was 26.3% versus 38.0%, respectively (p = 0.08). Neither multiple logistic regression nor Kaplan-Meier distribution analysis identified differences in postoperative atrial fibrillation between the 2 surgical techniques.

Radiation exposure to children during coil occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus.

The risks of excessive exposure to ionizing radiation are well described and measures are routinely taken to limit such exposure to both patient and personnel in the catheterization laboratory. Coll occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as well as other more complex pediatric interventions has raised concern regarding radiation exposure, particularly as minimally invasive surgical techniques are being developed which lack such exposure risk. In eight consecutive patients, aged 0.7-7 years (median, 2.3 years), coil occlusion of a PDA was performed and surface entrance radiation dose determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry (TD). Total cumulative doses (PA + lateral dose) were also calculated for each patient. Entrance and cumulative dose was likewise measured in 12 patients undergoing standard diagnostic catheterization (DC) and in 5 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty (PBV). The groups were comparable in age, weight, and body surface area (BSA). Total cumulative dose in the PDA patients was 97 +/- 25 mGy (mean +/- SE). There was no significant difference between the three groups in entrance dose absorbed at each location or in total cumulative dose. The mean total fluoroscopy time in the PDA occlusion group was significantly less than that of the PBV group (10.1 +/- 1.81 min vs. 19.3 +/- 2.29 min, P < 0.05) but was comparable to the DC group (13.2 +/- 1.5 min, P = NS). When the subjects were analyzed collectively, no correlation between fluoroscopy time and measured entrance dose was observed. The strongest correlates of total cumulative dose were patient weight (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) and BSA (r = 0.62, P = 0.001). Patients undergoing coil occlusion of a PDA are not exposed to increased radiation entrance dose compared to those undergoing standard DC and PBV. Furthermore, surface entrance radiation dose as determined by TD varies according to patient size for a given fluoroscopy time.

Diagnostic accuracy of colposcopic photographs in child sexual abuse evaluations.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of colposcopic photographs in child sexual abuse evaluations and to assess whether such photographs can be reliably used for peer review, second opinion, and court testimony. METHODS: A prospective review of colposcopic photographs at the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. Participants were 189 girls who were referred for evaluation for possible sexual abuse. Interventions used included gynecologic evaluation, colposcopic photographs, and review of photographs. The main outcome measure was the degree of agreement between the examining physician and the reviewers. RESULTS: The reviewers' accuracy for the entire set of 189 cases is uniformly high (93%-95%). Accuracy rates are significantly lower for pubertal girls (83%-90%) and for girls with signs of abuse (58%-88%). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of the colposcopic photographs is sufficiently high to warrant continued use of medical photography for documentation and peer review. One should anticipate some disagreements between the examining physician and the reviewers, and contradictory opinions are more likely to occur with girls exhibiting physical signs of abuse and with pubertal girls.

Aortic valve replacement for octogenarians: are small valves bad?

BACKGROUND: As the population ages, more octogenarians become candidates for aortic valve replacement. Many octogenarians, particularly women, have a small aortic annulus and there is uncertainty as to the optimal management of this situation in that age group. METHOD: To examine this issue, we reviewed 248 octogenarians (mean age, 82.6 +/- 2.3 years; 58% men) who underwent primary isolated aortic valve replacement (n = 99), or aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization (n = 149), between 1980 and 1995. Nineteen-millimeter valves were used in 26% of the patients. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 8.9%, 5% for aortic valve replacement alone and 11.4% for aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization. It was 12.5% for the 19-mm size valves compared with 7.7% for the bigger size valves (p = 0.24). Follow-up (mean interval, 4.4 years) demonstrated survival for all patients of 85%, 60%, and 30% and survival free from cardiovascular events of 80%, 45%, and 21% at 1, 5, and 10 postoperative years, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified triple-vessel disease and preoperative congestive heart failure as associated with increased risk for both in-hospital and late mortality (p < 0.05). Valve size did not influence late survival or event-free survival regardless of body surface area. CONCLUSIONS: The use of small aortic valve prostheses in octogenarians does not adversely affect the incidence of early or late mortality or cardiac events.

Tricuspid valve surgery and intraoperative echocardiography: factors affecting survival, clinical outcome, and echocardiographic success.

BACKGROUND: The impact of echocardiographic-guided treatment on outcome after tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is not well defined. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic factors associated with adverse outcomes after TV surgery and determine the role of intraoperative echo (IOE) in facilitating successful outcomes after TV surgery. METHODS: Four hundred and one patients (279 females, mean age 60 years) underwent TV surgery and other concomitant cardiac surgery at a single institution and were followed clinically and by echocardiography during a 10-year period. RESULTS: Decreased survival after TV surgery was associated with: preoperative increased New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification (relative risk [RR]=2.02), increased left ventricular dysfunction by echocardiography (RR=1.28), and use of a TV replacement strategy (RR=2.92). Decreased event-free survival after TV surgery was associated with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (RR=2.97). Late echocardiographic failure (3 to 4+ tricuspid valve regurgitation [TR]) after TV surgery was associated with increased severity of TR on preoperative echocardiogram (odds ratio [OR]=1.91). Decreased late echocardiographic failure after TV surgery was associated with the use of a TV annuloplasty ring with a repair strategy (OR=0.40). The surgical plan was altered at the time of surgery to insure a successful outcome in 32 (10%) of 335 patients based on IOE findings. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse outcomes after TV surgery can be predicted by several preoperative clinical and echocardiographic variables. IOE is useful in improving immediate, but not late, outcomes after TV surgery.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome: CT evaluation.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) for pneumonia in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans were obtained within 1 week of bronchoscopic sampling in 31 patients receiving mechanical ventilation for ARDS for more than 48 hours. Of 11 patients with pneumonia, five developed symptoms less than 11 days after the onset of ARDS (early ARDS). CT scans were rated for pneumonia independently by four radiologists who were unaware of the clinical diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy was defined by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, or A2. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy for pneumonia was fair (A2 = 0.69 +/- 0.04 [standard error]) owing to 70% true-negative ratings (vs 59% true-positive ratings). The generalizability coefficient was good (0.79). No single CT finding was significantly different for the presence of pneumonia. Nondependent opacities predominated in 10 (91%) of 11 patients with pneumonia and 12 (60%) of 20 without pneumonia. Nondependent opacities predominated in nine (56%) of 16 patients with early ARDS and 13 (87%) of 15 with late ARDS. CONCLUSION: CT has fair diagnostic accuracy for ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with ARDS owing primarily to identification of patients without pneumonia. No single CT sign was significantly different for pneumonia, but dependent atelectasis was more common in patients with early ARDS without pneumonia.

Prospective study of hyperhomocysteinemia as an adverse cardiovascular risk factor in end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective and case-control studies show that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease. We studied prospectively the association between total homocysteine and cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In all, 167 patients (93 men, 74 women; mean age, 56.3+/-14.7 years) were followed for a mean duration of 17.4+/-6.4 months. Cardiovascular events and causes of mortality were related to total homocysteine values and other cardiovascular risk factors. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors for cardiovascular events and mortality. Fifty-five patients (33%) developed cardiovascular events and 31 (19%) died, 12 (8%) of cardiovascular causes. Total plasma homocysteine values ranged between 7.9 and 315.0 micromol/L. Levels were higher in patients who had cardiovascular events or died of cardiovascular causes (43.0+/-48.6 versus 26.9+/-14.9 micromol/L, P=.02). The relative risk (RR) for cardiovascular events, including death, increased 1% per micromol/L increase in total homocysteine concentration (RR, 1.01; CI, 1.00 to 1.01; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: These prospective observations confirm that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease, with an increased RR of 1% per micromol/L increase in total homocysteine concentration. Interventional studies are needed to evaluate the possible effects of modifying this risk factor in these patients.

Pulmonary complications in children with hematologic malignancies: accuracy of diagnosis with chest radiography and CT.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) in patients with complications during treatment for hematologic malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans were obtained 1 week or less before bronchoscopic sampling or biopsy in 48 pediatric patients (age range, 8 months to 18 years at diagnosis) undergoing treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloproliferative disease. Radiographs were obtained less than 1 week before CT. Pulmonary complications comprised fungal (n = 11), viral (n = 4), and bacterial (n = 5) pneumonias; cryptogenic organizing pneumonia ([COP] n = 4); and pulmonary tumor (n = 4). Chest radiographs and CT scans were rated independently by three radiologists who were unaware of these diagnoses. RESULTS: Satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, defined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, was noted for fungal pneumonia (radiography, ROC area = 0.82; CT, ROC area = 0.78), COP (radiography, ROC area = 0.75; CT, ROC area = 0.75), and pulmonary tumor (radiography, ROC area = 0.73; CT, ROC area = 0.83). Generalizability was good for fungal pneumonia (radiography, generalizability coefficient [GC] = 0.84; CT, GC = 0.84) and COP (radiography, GC = 0.75; CT, GC = 0.99). There was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between radiography and CT for any of the diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Radiography and CT have satisfactory accuracies for fungal pneumonia and COP. For these conditions, CT identified more true-positive cases than did radiography.

Cardioversion guided by transesophageal echocardiography: the ACUTE Pilot Study. A randomized, controlled trial. Assessment of Cardioversion Using Transesophageal Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk for embolic stroke. Screening for atrial thrombi with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before cardioversion should, in many patients, safely permit cardioversion to be done earlier than would be possible with prolonged conventional, anticoagulation therapy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the feasibility and safety of TEE-guided early cardioversion with those of conventional management of cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: Randomized, multicenter clinical trial. SETTING: 10 hospitals in the United States, Europe, and Australia. PATIENTS: 126 patients who had atrial fibrillation lasting longer than 2 days and were having electrical cardioversion. INTERVENTION: Conventional therapy or early, TEE-guided cardioversion with short-term anticoagulation therapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility outcome variables were frequency of cardioversion and times to cardioversion and sinus rhythm. Safety outcomes were ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolization, bleeding, and detected episodes of clinical hemodynamic instability occurring as long as 4 weeks after cardioversion. RESULTS: 62 patients were randomly assigned to receive TEE-guided cardioversion; TEE was done in 56 (90%) of these patients. Atrial thrombi were detected in 7 patients (13%) and led to the postponement of cardioversion. Cardioversion was successful in 38 of 45 patients (84%) who had early cardioversion. No embolization occurred with this strategy. Of the 64 patients receiving conventional therapy, 37 (58%) had cardioversion, which was successful in 28 patients (76%). One patient had a peripheral embolic event. The time to cardioversion was shorter in the TEE group (0.6 weeks [95% CI, 0.3 to 0.9 weeks] compared with 4.8 weeks [CI, 3.8 to 5.7 weeks]; P < 0.01). The incidence of clinical hemodynamic instability and bleeding complications tended to be greater in the conventional therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TEE-guided cardioversion with short-term anticoagulation therapy is feasible and safe. The use of TEE may allow cardioversion to be done earlier, may decrease the risk for embolism associated with cardioversion, and may be associated with less clinical instability than conventional therapy. A large, multicenter study to confirm these findings is currently under way.

Left and right atrial transport function after the Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation: an echocardiographic Doppler follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated atrial transport function after the Maze procedure in long-term follow-up and compared left and right atrial function in Maze patients with that of healthy age-matched controls using echo Doppler techniques. BACKGROUND: The Maze procedure is designed to eliminate atrial fibrillation, restore normal sinus rhythm, and preserve atrial contraction. Initial data indicate that atrial transport function is restored in most patients undergoing the Maze procedure. The long-term echo Doppler evaluation of patients after the Maze procedure has not been well described. METHODS: We performed pulsed-wave Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies on 31 patients (24 men, mean age 53.8 years) who underwent the Maze procedure and who had a follow-up study greater than 3 months (mean 16.5 months) after the procedure. Measurements included peak left ventricular and right ventricular inflow A-wave velocity, maximum and minimum left atrial and right atrial areas, and fractional area change of the left and right atria. Results were compared with those obtained from 15 age-matched control subjects (11 men, mean age 53.8 years). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (71%) had left atrial function shown by the presence of left ventricular inflow A-wave, and 25 patients (81%) had right atrial function shown by the presence of right ventricular inflow A-wave on Doppler echocardiography. The left ventricular inflow A-wave velocity was significantly lower than that of age-matched controls (37.5 +/- 15.5 versus 61.0 +/- 13.9 cm/sec; p < 0.001), whereas the right ventricular inflow A-wave velocity did not significantly differ between patients and control subjects (35.4 +/- 9.9 versus 35.3 +/- 4.9 cm/sec; p = Not significant). Although left and right atrial areas decreased significantly after the procedure, there was no significant change in the fractional area change which was smaller in Maze patients than control individuals. CONCLUSIONS: (1) In long-term follow-up of 16.5 months after the Maze procedure, left atrial systolic function was preserved in 71% of our patients and right atrial systolic function was preserved in 81%; (2) the left ventricular inflow peak A-wave velocity after Maze is considerably less than that in age-matched controls; and (3) left and right atrial sizes decreased after the procedure with no change in the fractional area change. These findings suggest that the Maze procedure is effective in restoring atrial function in the majority of patients; however, restored function is less than in control individuals.

Comparison of mortality rates and progression of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and dilated versus nondilated right ventricular cavities.

This study assesses the influence of right ventricular (RV) dilation on the progression of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and survival in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). Using transthoracic echocardiography, we studied 100 patients with IDC aged 20 to 80 years (mean 55 +/- 14); 67% were men. In the apical 4-chamber view, diastolic LV and RV chamber area measurements classified patients into 2 groups: group RV enlargement+ (RV area/LV area > 0.5) included 54 patients; group RV enlargement- (no RV enlargement) had RV area/LV area < or = 0.5. Echocardiographic studies were repeated in all patients after a mean of 33 +/- 16 months. At the time of the initial study, the 2 groups did not differ in age, gender, incidence of atrial fibrillation and diabetes, left ventricular mass, and LV ejection fraction, but the RV enlargement+ group had more severe tricuspid regurgitation and less LV enlargement. After 47 +/- 22 months (range 12 to 96), patients in group RV enlargement+ had lower LV ejection fraction (29% vs 34%, p = 0.006) than patients with initial RV enlargement-. At clinical follow-up, mortality was higher (43%) in patients with initial RV enlargement+ than the RV enlargement- patients (15%), p = 0.002. For survivors, the mitral deceleration time averaged 157 +/- 36 ms; for nonsurvivors or patients who required transplant, the mitral deceleration time averaged 97 +/- 12 ms (p < 0.0001). With use of a multivariate Cox model adjusting for LV ejection fraction, LV size, and age, the relative risk ratio of mortality from initial RV enlargement+ was 4.4 (95% confidence limits 1.7 to 11.1) (p = 0.002). Thus, patients with significant RV dilation had nearly triple the mortality over 4 years and more rapidly deteriorating LV function than patients with less initial RV dilation. In IDC, RV enlargement is a strong marker for adverse prognosis that may represent a different morphologic subset.