Evaluating three biomarkers as prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality and severity in heart failure: A prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW, %), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (pg/ml), high sensitivity-c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (mg/l), in-hospital mortality and disease severity among patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Prospective cohort. We included adults diagnosed with acute non-ischemic HF in 2015. The dependent variables were in-hospital mortality (yes or no) and disease severity. The latter was assessed with the Get With The Guidelines-HF score. We used hierarchical regression models to describe the pattern of association between biomarkers, mortality, and severity. We used the Youden index to identify the best cut-off for mortality prediction. RESULTS: We included 167 patients; the mean age was 72.61 (SD: 11.06). The majority of patients presented with New York Heart Association classification II (40.12%) or III (43.11%). After adjusting for age and gender, all biomarkers were associated with mortality. After adding comorbidities, only IL-6 was associated. The final model with all clinical variables showed no effect from any biomarker. The best cut-off for RDW, hs-CRP and IL-6 for mortality were 14.8, 68.7 and 52.9, respectively. IL-6 presented the highest sensitivity (100%), specificity (75.35%) and area under the curve (0.91). CONCLUSIONS: No biomarker is independent from the most important clinical variables; therefore it should not be used for management modifications.

A Prospective Analysis of the Simplified Student Sight Savers Program on Open-Angle Glaucoma Cost Burden in Underserved Communities.

(1) Background: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Unfortunately, no noticeable symptoms exist until mid- to late-stage glaucoma, leading to substantial costs to the patient and the healthcare system. (2) Methods: The Student Sight Savers Program, an initiative started at Johns Hopkins University, was designed to meet the needs of community screening for glaucoma. Several medical students at the Rocky Vista University in Saint George, Utah, were trained, and screened patients at local fairs and gathering places using a modified version of this program. Patients found to have elevated pressure (>21 mmHg) or other ocular abnormalities were referred for an ophthalmological examination. (3) Results: Individuals from medically underserved areas/populations (MUA/Ps) were nearly three times as likely to have elevated intraocular pressure as individuals not in underserved areas (p = 0.0141). A further analysis demonstrates that medical students can help reduce medical costs for patients and the healthcare system by providing referrals to ophthalmologists and reaching populations that are not usually screened for glaucoma. (4) Conclusions: Allowing medical students to perform community-based glaucoma screening events in MUA/Ps using handheld tonometers may decrease the cost burden associated with late diagnosis, and raise awareness about glaucoma, especially in underserved populations.

Giant Right Atrial Abscess in a Premature Infant With Fungal Endocarditis in a Developing Country.

Although infective endocarditis rarely appears during infancy, fungal infections remain a concern in the preterm neonatal population as the result of compromised immunity, prolonged hospitalization, and invasive procedures. The increased awareness of fungal colonization and improvements in medical therapy have not reduced the high mortality rate of mycotic infections in premature newborns, especially in developing countries, and there is no consensus on the surgical timing to treat neonatal fungal endocarditis. We present the case of a two-month-old boy with a history of three weeks of hospitalization for prematurity. After being discharged, the patient developed symptomatic candidemia resulting from a large right atrial abscess obstructing the tricuspid valve; despite antifungal therapy, urgent surgical resection was required.

Características clínico epidemiológicas de la insuficiencia cardíaca aguda en un hospital terciario de lima, Perú / Epidemiological Clinical Characteristics of Acute Cardiac Insufficiency in a Tertiary Hospital in Lima, Peru

RESUMEN Con el objetivo de describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA), se realizó un estudio descriptivo en 1075 pacientes de un hospital de Lima. La edad promedio fue 74 años y el 55% fueron de sexo masculino. El 39% tuvo ICA con fracción de eyección reducida, el 15% con fracción de eyección de rango medio y el 46% con fracción de eyección preservada. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron la hipertensión arterial (52,6%) y la enfermedad coronaria (51%). El 29,2% de los pacientes tuvo hospitalizaciones previas por ICA. La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue de 3 días. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria por todas las causas fue 7,2%. La hospitalización ocurre, predominantemente, en pacientes de edad avanzada y con múltiples comorbilidades. El bajo uso de fármacos recomendados, conjuntamente con la alta frecuencia de hospitalizaciones previas, probablemente, inciden en la alta tasa de mortalidad registrada en el presente estudio.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute heart failure (AHF) in 1,075 patients from a hospital in Lima, Peru. The average patient age was 74 years and 55% of study subjects were men. Moreover, 39% of patients in the sample had AHF with low ejection fraction, 15% had intermediate ejection fraction, and 46% had preserved ejection fraction. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (52.6%) and coronary disease (51%). Moreover, 29.2% of patients had previous hospitalizations due to AHF. The median hospital stay was 3 days. The rate of in- hospital mortality from all causes was 7.2%. Hospitalization was more common in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. The low use of prescription drugs together with the high rate of previous hospitalizations may explain the high mortality rate reported in this study.

[Epidemiological Clinical Characteristics of Acute Cardiac Insufficiency in a Tertiary Hospital in Lima, Peru]. / Características clínico epidemiológicas de la insuficiencia cardíaca aguda en un hospital terciario de lima, Perú.

The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute heart failure (AHF) in 1,075 patients from a hospital in Lima, Peru. The average patient age was 74 years and 55% of study subjects were men. Moreover, 39% of patients in the sample had AHF with low ejection fraction, 15% had intermediate ejection fraction, and 46% had preserved ejection fraction. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (52.6%) and coronary disease (51%). Moreover, 29.2% of patients had previous hospitalizations due to AHF. The median hospital stay was 3 days. The rate of in- hospital mortality from all causes was 7.2%. Hospitalization was more common in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. The low use of prescription drugs together with the high rate of previous hospitalizations may explain the high mortality rate reported in this study.

Con el objetivo de describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA), se realizó un estudio descriptivo en 1075 pacientes de un hospital de Lima. La edad promedio fue 74 años y el 55% fueron de sexo masculino. El 39% tuvo ICA con fracción de eyección reducida, el 15% con fracción de eyección de rango medio y el 46% con fracción de eyección preservada. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron la hipertensión arterial (52,6%) y la enfermedad coronaria (51%). El 29,2% de los pacientes tuvo hospitalizaciones previas por ICA. La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue de 3 días. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria por todas las causas fue 7,2%. La hospitalización ocurre, predominantemente, en pacientes de edad avanzada y con múltiples comorbilidades. El bajo uso de fármacos recomendados, conjuntamente con la alta frecuencia de hospitalizaciones previas, probablemente, inciden en la alta tasa de mortalidad registrada en el presente estudio.

Production of cytotoxic compounds in dedifferentiated cells of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae).

This study addresses the in vitro culture as an alternative to obtain compounds with cytotoxic activity from the medicinal plant Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae). We determined the presence of cytotoxic compounds in both whole plants and dedifferentiated cells. We evaluated the effect of auxin, cytokinins and light on callus induction in cotyledon explants. We found that the most effective combination to induce callus was the auxin 2,4-D (5 mM) with the cytokinin 6-BAP (2.5 mM), on Murashige-Skoog medium in darkness. We compared the callogenic potential among accessions from different geographic origins, finding that ARR-251107-MFG7 is most prone to form callus. The roots of J. curcas grown in field produced a compound chromatographically similar to the cytotoxic diterpene jatrophone. The profile of compounds extracted from the dedifferentiated cells was similar to that of the whole plant, including a relatively abundant stilbene-like compound. This study contributes to the future establishment of protocols to produce anti-cancer compounds from J. curcas cultivated in vitro.

Epigenetic Modification Prevents Excessive Wound Healing and Scar Formation After Glaucoma Filtration Surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), in prevention of excessive wound healing and scar formation in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS). METHODS: A rabbit model of GFS was used. Rabbits that underwent GFS received balanced salt solution, or SAHA (50 µM), or mitomycin C (0.02%). Clinical scores of IOP, bleb vascularity, and slit-lamp examination were performed. On postoperative day 14, rabbits were killed and the bleb tissues were collected for evaluation of tissue fibrosis with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and F-actin staining. Furthermore, SAHA-mediated acetylation of histones in corneal fibroblasts and conjunctiva were determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid treatment after GFS showed no signs of edema, corneal opacity, endophthalmitis, or cataract formation. Morphometric analysis of SAHA-treated eyes showed higher bleb length (P < 0.001), bleb area (P < 0.05), lower IOP (P < 0.01), and decreased vascularity compared to control. Furthermore, SAHA treatment showed significantly reduced levels of αSMA (P < 0.001), F-actin (P < 0.01), and collagen deposition (P < 0.05) at the sclerotomy site. In addition, SAHA treatment increased the acetylation status of H3 and H4 histones in corneal fibroblasts and conjunctiva. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that HDAC inhibition is an attractive pharmacologic target to modulate GFS wound healing, and SAHA, an HDACi, can be a useful adjunct to improve the GFS outcome.

Plasminogen deficiency as a rare cause of conjunctivitis and lymphadenopathy.

Plasminogen deficiency is a rare disorder complicated by the subsequent formation of firm "woody" plaques in the eye (ligneous conjunctivitis) or other mucosal sites as the result of inflammation or trauma. The plaques are composed of fibrinogen, granulation tissue, and inflammatory cells. The findings may be considered nonspecific by the unsuspecting surgical pathologist and delay the appropriate diagnosis. We report the first case of lymph node involvement with characteristic eosinophilic hyaline deposits that are periodic acid Schiff positive, stain dark red with Masson trichrome, and contain fibrinogen as detected by immunofluorescence and describe the longitudinal evolution of this patient's disease over a 15-year period. The differential diagnosis of amorphous hyaline material in lymph node biopsies is discussed.