Relationship of Coronary Calcium on Standard Chest CT Scans With Mortality.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores on 3 mm electrocardiography (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) scans and standard 6 mm chest CT scans, and to compare relative strength of associations of CAC on each scan type with mortality risk. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery calcification predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality, and is typically measured on ECG-gated 3 mm CT scans. Patients undergo standard 6 mm chest CTs for various clinical indications much more frequently, but CAC is not usually quantified. To better understand the usefulness of standard chest CTs to quantify CAC, we conducted a case-control study among persons who had both scan types. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2003, 4,544 community-living individuals self- or physician-referred for "whole-body" CT scans, had 3 mm ECG-gated CTs and standard 6 mm chest CTs, and were followed for mortality through 2009. In this nested case-control study, we identified 157 deaths and 494 controls frequency matched (1:3) on age and sex. The Agatston method quantified CAC on both scan types. Unconditional logistic regression determined associations with mortality, accounting for CVD risk factors. RESULTS: Participants were 68 ± 11 years of age and 63% male. The Spearman correlation of CAC scores between the 2 scan types was 0.93 (p < 0.001); median CAC scores were lower on 6 mm CTs compared to 3 mm CTs (22 vs.104 Agatston units, p < 0.001). Adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors, each standard deviation higher CAC score on 6 mm CTs was associated with 50% higher odds of death (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 1.9), similar to 50% higher odds on the 3 mm ECG-gated CTs (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 1.9). CONCLUSIONS: CAC scores on standard 6 mm chest CTs are strongly correlated with 3 mm ECG-gated CTs and similarly predict mortality in community-living individuals. Chest CTs performed for other clinical indications may provide an untapped resource to garner CVD risk information without additional radiation exposure or expense.

Flucytosine-induced colitis.

A 52-year-old man with a history of HIV (CD4 count 155, and viral load 154 K), who is on antiretroviral treatment presented in the emergency room with acute onset of headache. The patient had lumbar puncture and found to have elevated intracranial pressure and cryptococcal antigen was positive. The patient was started on flucytosine. After 10 days of treatment, the patient developed watery diarrhoea. An extensive infectious workup was carried out, which did not reveal any infectious aetiology. A colonoscopy was carried out which revealed acute colitis in the colon and the pathology confirmed the colonoscopic findings with severe colitis in the colon. At this time, the patient's diarrhoea was attributed to flucytosine and it was stopped. The patient's diarrhoea improved after 5 days of stopping flucytosine.

Frequency and psychosocial impact of acne on university and college students.

Objectives of the study were to describe the frequency of acne in late adolescent and adult students and to evaluate psychosocial impact of the disease. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in four institutions, from June to August 2008. Questionnaires with Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) were filled by 950 students. They were examined for presence and severity of acne. Age ranged from 17 to 28 years. Frequency of facial acne was 74.6%. Difference between the genders was not statistically significant. Mean ADI score was 2.67 + 5.35, and range was 0-13. The disease had a greater psychosocial impact on females as compared to males.

Serum sickness-like reaction with clarithromycin.

Serum sickness-like reaction is a rare immunological condition which may develop following exposure to certain drugs such as penicillins, cephalosporins, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, among many others. It is described classically as a type III hypersensitivity response to heterologous proteins. Its true mechanism is still unclear. We present a case of serum sickness-like reaction to clarithromycin, a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. The patient had been taking this drug for 3 days when she experienced generalized body aches, rash, arthralgia, and shortness of breath, prompting presentation to the emergency department. Laboratory studies showed decreased C4 and total complement with a slightly elevated sedimentation rate. After exclusion of other possible causes, the diagnosis of serum sickness-like reaction was made. The patient responded well to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication, antihistamines, and a short, tapering dose of steroids. To our knowledge, serum sickness-like reaction to clarithromycin has never been reported previously. This case emphasizes the need for increased clinical awareness of such an adverse outcome to clarithromycin use.